THE HOLIDAY.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 22

THE HOLIDAY.

(By Noel Fair Hoggard.) After a long day tramping over hill and countryside, we arrived tired and hungry at Otaki, where we put up at the. boardinghouse where ■Aye were staying for three weeks. : ...• By we, I mean my sister, Mavis, Mum, and myself. None of us stayed up late that night, and after a hearty meal, in die big dining-room we sought our beds, glad that the long day w,as finished. In spite of my weariness somehow I couldn't sleep. I suppose it was the strangeness of my surroundings. Anyhow, it seemed hours I lay awake listening to the roar and booming of the waves .along -the seashore, and wondering what the morrow would bring forth. -At length sleep claimed , me, and I dozed off ... ' : •... ■• : .;' It was about 8 o'clock next morning when I awoke to the sound of the gong which echoed clangingly along the passages. It was a beautiful . day, the sun streaming in through the window of my room, and the sight of the placid blue expanse of glislening sea made me long for a dip. - - Breakfast didn't take me long, and away to, the beach. s> The boarding-house was situated in a delightful spot. To go to the beach you had to walk along a sandy track bordered by "clumps of scrub and grass. The salty taint of the sea prevailed. I^umerous sheltered spots provided picnic-places, which we made full use of before we left for home. ' '. .•■;.■.:'.. On thSkbeach I made friends with another Boy, who, though a parson's son, was full of pranks. It didn't take us .long to chum Up. "Coining for a dip?" lie exclaimed, after we had been chattering for awhile. '. ."■■;■ ' - . "Righto!" I relumed, and finding a suitable nook to undress, we «oon had our togs on, and then into the sea.' .. ..... '-.. .: _ As the day grew on the heat grew proportionately, and we lay for for several hours in the baking sun, chattering occasionally, arid watching the gulls sweeping round, and other attractions which the beach has to a country-dweller. '•'''.. _.' : ' l "'■■] ,' : .-'. ■'■.■"'..;. ■ ; ■ At the end of that time my friend said; "How ; about exploring the beach* it goes on for a considerable distance."' ;.•:-■' ■ " I agreed. So we dressed and started off. V-Fartlieron. we came to the sleel mast of some vessel wrecked years ago, buried in the sand. A few strands of rigging was still clinging, relics,of.bygone days, when with all sails spread like some huge bird, she winged her "way to.distant lands. =••■ : How she came to be wrecked we didn't knoiv, though we discussed it for awhile between us. - : After lunch that afternoon an old sailor who lived by himself in a "ramshackle cottage farther' along the beach, invited my sister, myself, and my friend, to come with him in his motor-boat to Kapiti Island. We set off, die old sailor sitting stolidly, sucking an old black briar, steering. Over the vast expanse of blue wesped, the water shooting from our bows. Then, on nearing the island,: the. engine was shut off, and we glided serenely into a rock-fringed inlet, .where die anchor was dropped and we waded ashore, full of curiosity and anticipation. ./Kapiti Island was a paradise ... .though rocky, it is covered by forest, filled with wonderful and beautiful birds; ::.;. ... ■;.; "Yes," spoke die old sailor, "war and,strife^-and bloodshed, has'this .island seen. Aye, diey were wild days." ■He fell to musing. We climbed some of the rocky crags from whence we could see, though faintly, Otaki Beach shimmering.in. die. afternoon sun. . . Far out over die sea we caught a glimpse of smoke- ate the -horizon—-a steamer! At lengdi home time came, and reluctantly we retraced our steps to die boat. The engine was started, and away we skunttied, leaving behind us die island. Beautiful it looked in the sunset glow .;. . ..lower and lower came die evening mists, and soon the island was lost in the. grey.

DREAM PLAYMATE. V' >"" Panttla, Joan, and Lisabeth Anne, Pamela. $Bys> • they ; nave sueih tun. • All through tha sunshiny weather, For"*nW:k:quibk and'eleven :. Play on the; edge of the silvery creek. %^£?™» igW^: Play on its edge together. How tt«y lasjh tti« Una day through! Pamela carries a bonnet of blue. . TK» hourj they seem so short and. And I believe that Anne does, too; „ few! ■^WiS.TLrt pwir n .ar, And little socks turned neatly down;- brings— .. Pamela has a butterfly bow And yet," it's strange, there is no doubt. That bobs about on her dear head so; For lh««Bh I see Pamela about, And In these details, small and sweet. And lirolc asharffase'er I can,: . • Lisabeth Anne Is quite complete! . '; . l. v«;i'.«y«.'> r«.t_ seen Lisabeth Anne! ••■• '■■■■•■■■ . '~-~~?-. .-P'. .'.W. -Evelyn- 'Motttralm.'-: