FOR THE CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2634, 16 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

A SON OF A GUN.

stools and opened the be«.k which is railed "Grm:'.e Gm-bodles." in England we Slave a ij-ok cai.eu " u jio’s who T- toI! s us about famous people. In fairyland have -Gncim Gnol:i “Gnome G.i->b-nd:e.>” The gnome.' react abcut gnomes who are not turnons. Screwwonn opened Ins enchant.--:; book at the letter T. and fumed the pages t.i! he came to the name Tcnipni. Vina is what he read: "Tornpin is a duffer, and flighty. He was born m toe planet Mars in the year 12. and emigrated to the earth in the nor man ho attached himself to _ the Normans, and fo lowed them to linghint], ills iavorito recienticii is stroK\\lz chin. lie neither reads nor writes. He earns his living by doing nothing. His favorite reticle me is the muzzle trims, which he prefers to oldfashioned clubs. He can swim backward as wch as forward. His present address is H.M.6. Dreadnought, At Sea.” When Screwworm had read tins account of Tonipin, lie 6aid : “’l hat’s the little fellow tor my mcney. The very tiling.” Something stirred at- his side. He looked up and saw the Lizard. “Good-evening,” said Screwworm. ‘'Certainly.” answered the Lizard. “How did you find I.andsend?” “Rocky,” rep'iod the Lizard. “Now listen to me,” said Screwwonn, resting his arm on a toadstool and regarding the Lizard over Ids glasses. “Do you. or do you not, know Tompin?” “I’ve seen him,” answered the Lizard, “but I can’t say as how I know hi in. Yfe don’t speak. He’s a son of a gun.” “Quito so. Now, I’ve invented a omn myself; it’s a beauty. It, fires soashells on the seashore. The shells are sells; that is to say, the sea-rhe Is it, sells are seashore sells. Not Wilkie’s, for those •«t~» It -rd—but Winkle’s! Do you follow?” ••Von mean to say, your gun fires winkle-shells which are sells; that i» to say they are not genuine. You are using slang?” “You have me. I use slanguage for this reason —the mouth of my gun likes it. If you want to make a hit nowadays, you must use slang. I want to make a hit. Do you know what I want to hit?” “Hush!” whispered the Lizard. “He’s here!” Screwwonn turned his head. Tompin was regarding him over a toadstool. “Good-evening, monsieur. Do you speak German ” asked Screw worm. Tornpin said nothing. His old face had a set smile, which was neither pleasant nor merry. You might have caller! it a blind smile.

“Don’t you speak at all?” demanded Serewworm, frowldng. After waiting a long time for an answer. Screwwonn got up, laid “Gnome Gnobodies” on the ground, and, walking over to Tornpin, said: “Come hither, little bird!” Very gently lie took the left car of the old fellow between his finger and thumb and led him away. “Monsieur,” ho said, “I have a gun.” Tornpin stopped dead. His face quite lighted up. “Wlmt’s the matter?” asked Screwworm. “I am saved,” said Tornpin—“if it’s at all fatherly. “Explain yourself.” “The British Navy,” said Tornpin, “is practising gun-fire just now. Thera’s is not a single gun that is safe for mo to sit in. The consequence is—” “Yes.” “I am an orphan, a waif, a homeless and fatherless wretch. It is immensely sad.” “You arc welcome to sit in my gun. It shall adopt you.” “It won’t go off —and leave me?” “I shouldn’t think so.” “Oh, thanks! For this relief, much thanks. Get to your gunnery, as Shakespeare says. I’m your boy. Lot us fly to it.” They continued their way. When they came to Screwworm’s gun, the face of Tornpin became very green. “It smells fishy!” he said, suspiciously. “Try it,” said Screw worm. “I don’t like the smell.” muttered 'Tornpin, poking his nose in the muzzle and sniffing deeply. “It suggests sea-shells. Too much mussel to be strong. I fear I might be oysterod. If you will allow me, I will limpet.” Ho made to go on, but Screwwonn caught him by the ear again, and said : “Try it, poor orphan.” “You are sure you don’t mind?” asked Tomnin. “TufcJ.” “Here goes, then 1” cried Tornpin : and he'- jumped into the -muzzle of Screwworm’s gun. Quick as lightning Screwworm ran to the back of it, and applied a match to the touch-hole. A bright flame shot into the air. Something went fiz-z-z-z! And tlxeii there was a tremendous explosion.

The. air for miles was black with '1 n--.u-.aaus and thousands of gnomes came rushing front all directions. They f und ihe gun lying on ike ground, <:u;>k;ng her, and emitting yellow and g.v-c.i name:-. Soivwworm and Tonipin hern mi-koipe. who was among the At that moment Lizard appeared in "My dear friends.” he said, "if you will t.-e patient for a few momepis, you will see a sight worth seeing. Let me explain. This gun i? so perfectly ha’pnced that tlie pace of discharge is equal to the pace of recoil. The force is exactly equal to ike circumference of ‘he earth. Now, what has happened? Hnuni jrom the mu:::do of the gun and Screwwonn from the Creech of the gun are now at this moment going round ti:v world. Do you follow me? If you wait a moment, you will see what I Scarcely had Lizard ceased speaking when To input from the east and Screwworm from the west appeared in the air, rushing towards each other at a pace so funcus that all the gnomes instantly rushed for shelter under the toadstools. ■'They passed each other half-way round the world,” said the Lizard. “Now they will meet and embrace. Dang!” At that minute the two bodies came together with a whack- Then fell straight to the earth in each other’s nr’MS. "Did you enjoy it?” asked Serewwsrm breathlessly. "You have impressed me,” said Tonipin. with a sincere admiration. For a moment ho regarded the gun, stil' smoking upon the ground; then, with a rush of "tears to his eyes, and quite overcome with emotions, lie fell upon one knee, laid his arms lovingly about the gun. and, pressing his cheek against it. exclaimed; “Papa, papa, I have come hack to you 1” The Lizard turned to Screwworm, and said: “Let us leave him where lie is. The poor orphan is now at peace.”