PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 72

PETER, PATTY, AND MR PIP.

THE JAZZ BAND’S NIGHT OUT. (Special for the Otago Witness.)

Patty was playing the piano, Peter was leaning over her shoulder, and Mr Pip and Kittv were ■dimirm’ Do you know,” remarked Peter at last, “ Daddy has a jazz band in his study? ” * ° “A jazz band?” echoed Patty. “What do you mean?” Mell, Ive seen a drum, and* a great big trumpet, and a wheezing thing vou pull out and squash in, and some queer thing as well.” 1 “ Let’s go and see,” suggested Patty. So they went to see! “What fun to play a jazz, band,” giggled Patty. '“Shall we try?” Yes, said Peter, “but not in here. .Nanny would hear and tell us not to touch. We'll go into the shed.”

Patty took the drum, Peter took the trumpet, I’ip took the “queer thing.” and Kittv took the “thing vou pull out and_ squash in.” They reached the shed in safety, and then they set to work with a will. You never heard such a dieadful din. The hens and chicks flew in all directions, the roof nearly fell oft. and the door almost came away from its hinges! “Well, I think we’re getting on famously,” declared Patty after a while. “Why shouldn’t we go outside and play? We might earn some money.” “An idea.” agreed Peter. “Come along everyone! We’re going to make money now.”

Its quite dark,” said Patty, “and no one will recognise us. Matter of fact, we ought to have been in bed hours ago.” “Well, we’re not,” grinned Peter, “and this is much more amusing than going to sleep.” By this time all the hens and chicks in the farmyard were wide awake and cackling as though their last hour had come. “What’s wrong? ” bellowed the old cow over the barnyard wall. “Yes, what’s wrong,’.’ squealed the little pigs, ranging themselves beside her for safety’s sake. " ° But the jazz musicians had departed. Going very warily, not to awaken anyone, they reached Mr Farmer’s house, then they sat down on a bench below his window, and tuned up. “Let it go, boys!” shouted Patty, banging on the drum. And they let it go! Presently Mr and Mrs Farmer came to the window to find out what all the noise was about.