JACKO STORIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 21

JACKO STORIES.

JACKS GIVES A HELPING HAND, Adolphus never eared much for walking- He eaid it made him tired; and when he and Jacko were asked out to tennis one day he wanted to refuse the invitation. “It’s a mile to go,” he groaned, “and nearly all up hill.” But in the end he decided to go. Ho simply couldn't resist wearing his line new blazer, which had jue-t come home.

When the party day arrived Adolphus did look a swell. He had beautiful white flannels and a new straw hat, and his cherry-coloured blazer couM be seen for miles, eo Jacko hastened to tell him.

They hadn't gone far before Adolphus i’elt tired. He began pufliing and blowing half way up a hill and said that he must take it more easily. “It’s very hot,’ he said anxiously. “1 shouldn’t like to get a touch of sunstroke.”

“Jacko was disgusted with. him. “Lazybones!” he said to himself- "He’s too fat, that’s what ho is.” But Jacko was always ready to lend a hand where it was really needed; so when he saw a cart toiling slowly up the hill he rushed after it . and offered his assistance.

The driver, who was walking beside the horse, gave him a friendly nod. “I don’t know that there’s much you can do,” he said. “Fact is, my nag’s tired, and she’s got a heavy load.” He was right about that. There were six big barrels in the cart, and they must have weighed a lot between them. Jacko took off his coat.

“Well, I’ll push,” he told the driver. “They’re always saying at home that I'm as strong as a horse.” The man grinned. “Have it your own way,” he said- “Though it’s more than I should care to do oil a hot day.’ Adolphus, who was some way behind, was disgusted when he saw Jacko put hie shoulder to the back of the cart and give it a shove. “I shall send him home,” he said indignantly. “He’ll be in such a mess that he won’t be fit to go out to tennis.” But just then something unexpected happened. Jacko had got tired of pushing, or, rather, his curiosity, as usual, had got the better of him. He wanted to know if the ban-els were full, so he clambered up into the cart to have a look. And, as he was rather clumsy, he managed to knock one of them over the side!

It camo careering down the hill at a terrific rate.

Adolphus scamp-red about for all he was worth to get out of the way, but he wasn't quick enough, and the barrel bowled him clean over.

He was in a mess when he picked himself up. It was Adlophus, and not Jacko, who wasn’t fit to go out to tennis. JACKO WOOL-GATHERING. Jacko always liked a seaside holiday for the first few days, but ho generally got discontented towards the end of the time. There was far too much hard work about it, he said.

And there certainly was some truth in what he said, for he had his work well cut out for him looking after the baby.

There was plenty of other jobs that fell to his lot. Adolphus was much too lazy to make himself useful, and it was Jacko who did all the fetching and carrying. One day he really did get rather wild. No sooner had the family settled on the beach than Mr. Jacko discovered that he had left his glasses behind in the lodgings. Of course Jacko had to rm and fetch the glasses, and as soon as he came back with them Adoipsius bent him off for some cigarettes. And then the baby began to cry because he had lost his spade, and Jacko had to find ’that.

He hadn’t come io the end of his troubles, either, for Mrs. Jacko suddenly discovered that she wanted a fresh reel of cotton, and away went poor Jaeko again. But he didn’t get very far this time. An old lady was sitting just the other side of the breakwater, and when Jaeko came clambering over she called him to her.

“I’ve noticed hew good you are running errands for your parents,” she began. Jaeko’e face- brightened. He thought he was in for sixpence at least. “And I wondered if you would be kind enough to help me to wind some wool,” she added.

It was a sell. Still, Jacko thought he might get that sixpence, even if he had to earn it. So he stood at attention, and the old lady held out her hands, and Jaeko began to wind. But the sun was very hot, and gradually the old lady began to doze, though she still held out’ her hands with the wool on them.. Even Jacko felt sleepy, and at last he slid down on the beach and wound away lazily over his ehoulder.

It really seemed if that skein of wool would last for ever! Jacko wound and wound and wound, but etill it didn’t come to an end. Ho got tired of winding, and dropped the ball; and just then the old lady sat up with a start.

“Dear me, I feel quite chilly,” she exclaimed. And she put up her hands *o And her shawl.

But the shawl wasn’t there! Or, rather, the last bit of it was fast disappearing over Jacko’s shoulder. Somehow he had eaught hold of a thread in it, and had pulled the whole thing undone!