For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2110, 8 February 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

For the Children.

THF. JOURNEY OF JACK.

(By Auntici Bones.) It was August. A real, proper August, too, not like the miserable specimens wo sometimes have. Jack was feeling about as sleepy as they make them, and was barely able to gather up “Just So” Stories and carry them and himself as far as tho hammock under the copper beccll on tho other side of the croquet lawn. But he did it. The afternoon was exceedingly hot altogether too hot for the exertion of opening the hook —so Jack stretched himself out in the hammock andgazed upon the elephant, the crocodile, and the bi-eolored-p.vthon-roc.k-snnko on the cover. And as lie gazed tlie elephant grew larger and larger mi Li Iho was quite as big as the biggest mammoth in tho Natural History Museum at South .Kensington. Anil the cvroeodilo and the bi-colorccl-python-rock-snalco gradually become tmo and changed into a whale, about the size of the second largest m the wlinlo-room. Of course, the crocodile could no longer hold on to the elephant s new trunk. And tho first thing the elephant did with this ‘trunk was to take .Jack up very carelllll.v and put him inside the whale’s mouth, lie wasn’t a bit frightened because they wore both so particular not to hurt him. , , „ It was suddenly quite dark, ion see tho whale had shut his month. And Jack coiled up. lie was very comfortable in a delightfully cool, soft place, and could hear a pleasant sound like moving water, as well as what ho thought was his mother singing “Sweet and Low.” Alter lie had lain there, as it appeared to him, ior a hundred years or the whiilo opened his mouth and it was light, only it seemed to Jack as if he woio looking through red glass. There was the elephant standing outside, and he said, “Como along, youngster, you’re in luck s wav. We’vo brought von to Mars, -and you’ll sec things to make you open vour eyes.” You may bo sure Jack los., no time in scrambling up and rushing out. There he was in a queer red-looking country, with red grass, and red trees covered with blue anil green (lowers, and reddish soil. The sun looked ridiculously small, and .Jacic was cold and shivering. The elephanttherefor© picked him up and tucked Him away underneath liis own ear with onlv his head peeping out-, so that ho might bo warm and calc, and yet able to see what was going oil. This hannened to ho a cricket mutch. Jack noticed a great peculiarity in tho cricket. The players walked and rail oil their hands, while they hatted, bowled, and fielded with their feet. This didn’t seem to him a good arrangement, but lie supposed they knew their own business best. Nbw lie didn’t- know how ho knew, but -lie did know, that things are not so heavy in Mars as they are at home. "Moreover, tho climate being colder, people take no end of exercise., and thus become enormously strong. Likewise they arc gigantically tall. These things being so, they need much room. The wickets that day were a mile apart, and a hit to the boundary meant fully twenty miles ol fielding. Jack didn’t think much of the neatness of this same -fielding, but ho was obliged to confess that it was smart. The ball, naturally, had to be big, and was, as a matter of fact, a good yard in diameter. By degrees lie felt a little less strange, and found himself longing for something to cat. but feared it would be useless to try and make himself understood. However, he wriggled a little way out from tlio elephant’s ear, and called, “Hullo” as loud as ho was able.- When the queer persons near turned to see where the unwonted sound came from lie pointed down his throat, trying to look pleasant.

Thereupon a great girl, who was walking on her hands like the rest, gave a tremendous spring and caught hold with her feet of the branch of a red. tree, fifty feet or more above her head. She disappeared for a moment among the leaves and returned bringing a delicious-looking blue fruit with creamy streaks- oil it, four or live times the size of the very largest lemon you ever saw. This she handed to Jack, who with great glee tried to get his arms round it- and his teeth into it, but in neither of these attempts was he successful. In tlie first place, it was much too large for him to hold, and in the second place •the skin, though easily manageable by -Martian teeth, was quite too much for those of a rather small so-Kool-boy. So the much-desired food slipped to the ground, and the poor lad could have crie-d with hunger and disappointment. Luckily -lie remembered that that would -never do with all those outsiders looking on, so ho pulled himself together with a -brave attempt to laugh it off. It was at this moment that good old Jumbo came to tho rescue. With great presence of mind ho placed a foot upon 'the fruit, -broke it into convenient pieces, lifted one of these with his trunk, -and passed it up to Jack.

It turned out to be exceedingly good, like rich, pulpy wedding-cake, nicely mixed with meringues, chocolate, almonds, caramels, Turkish delight, tangerines, and bananas, and having a delightful -flavor of ginger to tone down its lusciousness. The inner part of the thick skill was in taste like a breakfast roll, but its color was pale green, while the pulp was pink. Having made an excellent meal. Jack looked on the ground and saw that the elephant had finished tho fruit. He also noticed that the whale had vanished, and began to wonder who would take .him home, but for the time being fixed liis attention on the cricket-.

After a bit the batsman sent- up a nice little catch, as catches go in Mars, and everybody screamed out that it was coming to Jack. He tried to mako Jumbo stop the monstrous ball, but .the poor beast couldn’t understand what was wanted, and missed it. Then there were horrid yells all over the place, and ferocious men began to crowd around most unpleasantly, kicking violently, and roaring out that they would do for Jack. He tried making signs to explain how he had done his little best, but it was no good, and the uproar becamo still louder and more appalling, till he'thought his last moments had come. But when things were at their very worst ho heard through the dm the Round of the harking of his dear dog Peter, and then his own mother s voice, saying, “Why, laddie you re been asleep and are quite excited. You must have been dreaming. A alee up, dear, and come and have your tea. There are some lovely salad sandwiches.”

MY MOTHER’S PAISLEY SHAWL

Among the pictures, fair and bright, That hang on memory’s wall, Is one of vivid hue and tone — My mother’s Paisley shawl.

All, well I mark the distant time, And well I mark the place, When mother wore, in lengthened folds, The shawl with stately grace. Wide-eyed, admiring, I’d watch Dear mother making calls On friends and neighbors who, perchance, Could boast no Paisley shawl; Or, proudly walking by her side . To church or festival, l shared -reflected glory from That wondrous Paisley shawl. The Paisley shawl is folded safe Away from moth and soil; • Safe-folded, too, are mother’s hands, Forever free from toil. Like that old shawl my mother’s life, Rieli-hued, and warm and fine; God umnt, her, sweet beneficence a