AT THE SEASIDE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 80, 30 December 1918, Page 3

AT THE SEASIDE

HOW "MUM" TOOK A EEST. "Tuck his pants up, Sybil-right above his knees. . . . Tiiat's better. jNw lie can-paddle. . . . Sybil, come back at once and take his hand! Ah! Oh—he's down! Now he'll be soaked through, the darling. What did you rim away for, you littlo vixen?" "I thought he'd bo all light," said Sybil, "and I ( wanted to finish my sand castle." "I wish Tommy 'd sat on it instead of in the water. Be off and get him some dry clothes in the top drawer in my bedroom. ■ Never mind, Tommy, diddums sit down in the cold wet?" And Tommy signifies in more,. ways than one that the ''cold wet" was utterly repulsive tp him. Then mother's eye roves seaward' once more, and a look of frozen horror comes over her face. "Clara! Clara!" "Yes,, mum!' , said a human-seal fifty yards away in the breakers. "Come hero at once! Didn't I tell you not to wet your hair? You little monkey, it's soaking!" "I couldn't help it, mum. Jimmy Jones pushed me under—that's him on the surf-board out there!" "I'll Jimmy Jones him :f I catch him. Now run up home and have a good shower or I'll never be a'blo to get the salt out of your mop,. and you've got to go to town this evening." "Can't I have one more shoot?" pleaded Clara. "Not another one—it's a wonder you've not been drowned or knocked silly by that great board. Go on, be off villi you!" By this time Sybil has returned with some miscellaneous clothing. "Come on, Tommy; now we'll make him comfy!" said Mum. Then her tone changed. "Sybil, (What have you brought me? These are Percy^ - " pants—his good 6erge ones. AVhy on 'earth can't you use the few brains you possess?" "They were in the top drawer," interrupted Sybil. - "Of course they . were. Oh, dear,, denr! Take these back and get the little white ones."

As Sybil goes off panting Tommy sets up another vigorous howl. "What is if. my precious; what did they do to him?" crooned tho mother. "That little boy there flicked some sand into his face with his spade," volunteered a youngster from a neighbouring beach group. t "You bad boy!" barked Mum. "I wonder they allow such boys' as you to enmo to the seaside. You littlo fiend! T)o you know you'tnight have blinded my toby!" , The offender took his giniel sullenly^ "Now, you've got them right, Sybil. Who is that little boy—the ono with the spado ?" , "That's Et>s.?y . His mother's taken that nice house opposite us. You. know the fair lady that drives the car." "Oh, is that so!" (Chiinste of temperature.) "Eogpry. Boggy, denr, como here for a moment!" •• But Hwgy lins not forgotten the ranging he has been given, .and he only glares sullenly as he forces his spado unconsciously into tho sand. "He didn't mean it, did yon. dear." coaxes Mum. "No, and he wouldn't do it ncrain. Where are those chocolates, Sybil?" - ''In your bag!" "Ah. yes,' here they are. Have a chocolate, Rpggy—this nice bic one with the pink all over the'top—do!" Flesh and blood could not. resist it.. Reggy smiled eheepishly and sidled up for the tempting ewectment. , "Now we're friends, aren't we? And how's your sweet mummy? Isn't she a pretty lady?." Iteggy igrunts as he masticates the big chocola-te. "You must come over to our place and play with the girls to-morrow. Tell your mummy you won't be anj' trouble'!" "What's the time, Sybil/' "About five." "What, five already!. Good heavens, and I haven't got the meat en yet! Run to the store and get eixpeniorth of potatoes and a tin of peaches. . . . Come on, Tommy, home to bye-bye. Bring those wet things along, Sybil, and don't forget the towels. How dreadfully sunburnt your legs are, to be sine. Give them a good rub with coconut oil 'before you go to bed, d'ye hear!" With that, "Mum," Sybil, and little Tommy faded from earshot, and I turned over and went to sleep once more. 1 ' ' - ** i