THE MISDOINGS OF PIXIE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 20

THE MISDOINGS OF PIXIE

JASK BARBELL was only eight years old when Daddy gave her Pixio for a pet. When first she saw tho little creature crouching in his rather small cage with a most comical look of disgust on his ugly,- wrinkled little face, she laughed, and declared he was just like the pixies in her storybooks, and therefore she would call him that. So Pixio ho was christened, and tho name suited him cxcello ntly, for I believe thoso fairy creatures lire famed for their misdoings, and thoio was surely none more mischievous than Jane's pet. Perhaps before I go any further I had better tell you that Pixie was that ugliest of all pets—a monkey. Jane's father purchased.'him from traders who had discovered tho tiuy creature lying injured in. the .thick African jungle. It was not long before Jane absolutely adored her little pot, and I believe Pixie lavished all the love he possessed on his young mistress. There was no denying he was mischievous. The native servants frankly hated tho ugly little creature, and Pixie returned that dislike with interest. Only let the big fat cook turn his back for a moment, and Pixie would bo on tho kitchen table, very busy in a moment adding his touehes-to cake or pudding. Onco Sambo went from tho room, unwisely leaving a large treacle pudding he had not quite finished on the table. Our Pixie decided that this was an excellent opportunity for mischief, and his .sharp eyes explored the kitchen for something to add to tho un finished pudding. That something was quite near, and Pixie, after one dub ious sniff at the tin cannister ho had disooveredy sprinkled' a liboral doso of its mysterious contents into Sambo's .niliich-suffering cooking. • , . , ... . ■•,, When the Governor's helping was placed before lviiriiat tho next meal, the smell which issued from it was so appetising that ho smacked his lips in anticipation. Ho had only taken one spoonful, however, when to the great surprise of everyone, he clasped his mouth and cried in an anguished voice for water. His wife passed him this w itli a startled face, and when at last he was able to speak coherently he shouted angrily, "Pepper, or I'm a Dutchman! ' , . Koiir tlio Governor was not a Dutchman, but a very loyal Englishman, so the culprit was sought for. The wholo family had suffered so-much at the hands of Jane's pet that his nanio leapt instantly to everyone's mind, and though his guilt was never absolutely proved, the Governor was so nearly certain...thai., he-punished: the.scamp severely. That incident, perhaps, will give yoir'somdid"C.T"or'tlie'"xiia"b6lical .qualities of Pixie's nature at the time this story commences,

(Part I of a Story by "Xaugliiug Jackass," of Xarori.)

Except for a few- minor pranks, Pixio behaved remarkably well for about two months after the episode I have just related. Then camo the fateful day| of tho Governor's annual ball. This, to Sunya society, was the most important day, or rather, evening, of the whole year. There were so few., amuse* incuts in far-away .Africa that any entertainment was ha.iled with immense enthusiasm, and as the Governor's ball was most certainly a great social event, there was no lack of people attending it, . To Jane's father, however, this important evening . was never hailed with any great joy. It was necessary, on account of his high position as Governor, to be so faultlessly dressed and to make so ttiany; speeches in tho courso of the evening, that ho found his ball more aa ordeal than a . pleasure. . . .'--•<■.-.- However, as it was. ho who was giving the entertainment,,there.was nothing else for him to do but attend also, so accordingly, as the important day dawned bright and clear and then wore on towards midday, he gave : orders to his personal "boy," Dwigo, to lay his dress-suit and garments necessary for the evening on his bed. , . To the Governor-tho hours passed slowly, and ho gave a sigh of relief when at last the clock hand pointed to five. Ho had learnt by painful experience that that very obstinate thing, a tie, required a great deal of time to arrange it in a correct manner on important evenings; so, therefore, although the ball was not duo to commence till 8 o'clock, he decided to get dressed at once. l\>r a short while all was peace in the Governor's household, until suddenly the reappearance of Jane's father himself, clad rather sketchily in dressing-gown and without shoes, shattered the quiet once more. "Where," ho roared, "is that boy of mine? I gave orders for my clothes to bo put out, and yet I can't find my trousers! They are not in any of my drawers or cupboards. Dwigo will havo to find them. Jfetch him hero at once." .. ■ The combined efforts of tho family at last ran Dwigo to earth. Tremblingly he confronted his angry master, and listened silently to the cause of the- trouble. When at last the Governor stopped his torrent of Words for want at breath, Dwigo spoke. In rapid nativo language, he declared he had placed tho complote dross-suit on the bed, as his master had. .ordered, and he was tolling tho truth. The Governor questioned the native again and .again, but as Dwigo, with an impnssivo- face, repeated the same words each time, he whs at last convinced that-his servant had had no hand in their mysterious disappearance! .. . • ■•-....