SCHOOL ESSAYS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2829, 3 January 1925, Page 4

SCHOOL ESSAYS

The following are the two essays which were awarded special prizes (donated by Mr Jas. Me Knight) to pupils of tiie local State School: — “THE UNINVITED GUEST.” (Founded on Fact.) By Margaret Tver. It was a beautiful mom this merry Christmas day, and the garden under the spell of the sun s dazzling rays, lent a real New Zealand Christmas atmosphere to the whole scene. Although everyone had lost all their beauty sleep in getting everything in readiness the night before, they were up soon after dawn making raids on their stockings, for in this happy home the whole family from the youngest child up to the father, hung up a stocking in the old English style. » After breakfast the fa mi y loop ed out into'the garden to spend a delightful morning in the open air. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and at twelve o’clock the maid called “the happy family,” as they had named themselves, into dinner, and a royal dinner it was, with turkey amongst other things pleasing to the palate. “How about a picnic over at the hills this afternoon?” asked the elder boy, suddenly, amidst all the mirth and merry making at the table. “Now that’s a good idea,” said his father, turning quite buoyant at. the mention of a picnic, “I second the motion.” “And I, and I, and I, chorused the other three children. “Very well then, as you have finished your dinner you may run and get ready said Mrs Dunderedda,' looking round the eager faces at the table. After about two hours’ run the car pulled up at a shady spot by the side of a little stream, where the mother and the two girls proceeded to lay the cloth while the hoys who had declared themselves already ravenously hungry, wandered tip the stream. Just as they were enjoying themselves (as boys will) they were startled by the sound of feminine screams, mingled with inhuman squeals and clattering dishes. Eagerly they rushed to the scene whence the weird sounds issued, and there they beheld a sight which for merriment in the midst of disaster, surpassed anything they had ever seen, for there, on a mound, stood their mother and sistei's, with their skirts held tightly around them gazing with mingled horror and amusement, at a trespassing pig, of the piebald variety, standing in full possession on the clean table cloth with its fore feet in the jellies, devouring with many grunts of appreciation. plum cake, bananas and anything else that took its fancy. What a wonderful digestion a pig must have!

The loud guffaws of laughter which proceeded from the boys and their father, who had arrived on the scene just after his sons putting hard and almost tumbling over himself in his haste, echoed and re-echoed through the trees. Ivan, the younger boy, picked up a small portion of rock and with considerable force — not thinking of the dishes he might break—threw it at the strange guest. The boy had taken good aim, so the pig must have had a sore head for some days after, for the stone struck it between its two eves. The little creature made a dash to escape but after going two yards the oher side of the table cloth it dropped down and lay as if dead. The boys, of course, ran up to it, hut, just as they were about to inspect it, the animal jumped up and with a grunt, trotted off. “How about going home?” asked Ivan, after the excitement had subsided. “I don’t fancy anything now.” “I was just thinking the same,” replied his mother. In a few minutes they were all packed comfortably in the car and were whizzing down the country lanes. They arrived home safely although very hungry, but what did that matter —they knew what they were to have for tea. The other prize-winning essay by Vernon Moore, entitled “A Christmas Ghost,” will appear in our next issue. •