MR. WINKLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 696, 22 June 1929, Page 31

MR. WINKLE

Mr. Winkle was looking at his barometer. It was a very large barometer and its large indicator was pointing straight at rain. “Most remarkable!” said Mr. W'inkle. He went out into the garden again to see if the smallest speck of a cloud could be seen. But the sky was so clear and sunny that it showed Mr. Winkle plainly that it didn’t intend to rain at all that day. “Most remarkable!” exclaimed the old man again; and this time, forgetting the treacherous barometer, he went to look at the duck pond. “Quite dry,” he murmured. “Poor, poor ducklings!” For at ten-thirty every morning the nine-and-twenty ducklings went to the pond for a bath, and, as Mr. Winkle said, “If there’s no water how can they wash themselves?” Then he sat in the porch and stared

__ . - ] hard at the sun until an idea came < into his head. 1 He painted a large notice and put it up by the pond to warn the ducks: ] Pond Dry Owing to Hot Weather. ( “Not that it could be owing to anything else,” said Mr. Winkle to his wife, who had come out to admire his handiwork. “But, anyhow, it certainly looks impressive.” “It’s grand!” Mrs*. Winkle agreed. “Now, here’s a riddle, my dear. How could I know that notice was yours, even if you hadn’t told me?” “Well, I’m sure I can’t guess,” said Mr. Winkle, looking puzzled. “Because I know 'tisi” said Mrs. Winkle, and then they both laughed heartily. But suddenly Mr. Winkle’s face changed and he asked his wife where they could find some water for the poor things. “I thought the barometer said it was going to rain,” said Mrs. Winkle. “Well,” her husband replied, “I think the barometer isn’t telling us the truth. It has pointed to rain for the last five hours, and meanwhile the pond has dried up.” “Dear, dear! I wonder if there s any water in the well?” “What a bright idea!” cried Mr. Winkle, and he rushed off to see. And while Mr. Winkle was puffing hard and drawing buckets of water from the well the nine-and-twenty little ducklings arrived. “Good morning, my dears, said Mrs. Winkle. “Mr. Winkle has a surprise tor you. Ah, here he comes!” Mr. Winkle had been puffing and blowing till his face was red, but he had managed to get a lot of water. “Now, come along, my dears, he said, “and you shall have the nicest shower of your lives.” So the ducklings lined up, and waddled, one by one, under Mr. Winkle’s watering-can; and how they quacked their thanks when they had been made fresh and clean again!

SONGS. WITHOUT WORDS I sometimes wonder what the birds Say in their songs, if they have words. Perhaps they do not really sing A word at all of anything, But live as flowers day by day, With thoughts too beautiful to say.