OUR STORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 19, 29 October 1943, Page 6

OUR STORY

AN AUTUMN PICNIC It was Saturday morning and Dick -was wandering miserably round the . house. "I do hate ■winter coming," he said to his brother. "There doesn't seem to be anything exciting to do." Mother thought a minute and then said, "Would you like to ask the three children next door to a picnic in the! garden?" "Won't it be too cold?" asked Dick. "Not the. Avay we shall plan it. f ' mother replied. Dick ran next door to ask .lill, Betty and, John to come thai afternoon. When they arrived Dick's father said they must, have a bonfire for the picnic, and asked the children to help him to build it. They were not very keen at first,, but they began to help politely. As time went, on, however, they found it exciting. They gathered up stalks and leaves and palled up dead plants and threw them on. The bonfire grew amazingly. In the meantime Dick's mother had brought out a bowl of 'potatoes: in water and some brushes. Rather, puzzled, the girls helped her to scrub the potatoes clean. When they were done daddy called out that the lire was ready to be ■lighted. AVhat a glorious blaze it made, in the darkness! The children 'were as warm as toast and very hungry. Then, telling them to bring seats near to the lire, mother sprang her surprise. She and daddy showed the. children -how to put the potatoes in the glowing parts of the lire. They made such a delicious smell that the children could hardly wait lilt they were cooked. At last they were done, and daddy pulled them out of the lire. Mummy showed them how to split them in half, put in butter and salt, and scoop out the middle with a spoon. They were thrilled with this unexpected, meal and wanted to do more bonfire cooking. By now it was quite dark, and fioni time to time daddy and the boys built up the fire to make a ■ fresh blaze, until they were nearly toasted themselves! .Mummy suggested games. The garden was strangely exciting in the dark. Ordinary hide-and-seek became a dangerous Red lindian bunt. All too soon it was time to go home. When the children had. said thank you for their picnic, John .said, "J... am going to ask my mother ':f wc can tidy her garden and have n potato picnic in it next Saturday. Will you come. Dick?" And Dick' "Rather!"