16
WHEN Mrs. Stork invited Mr.
THE CHINA✨
Monk to a Christmas party, he was rather surprised, for Mrs. Stork was not in the habit of giv- ing parties of any kind. She would go anywhere and join in any fun provided by her friends, but no ne had ever heard of Mrs. Stork going to the trouble of throwing a party in her own house,
"Come early, and bring a friend with you,” said Mrs. Stork.
"Thanks-I will," agreed Mr. Monk, more and more astonished.
"Bring your toothbrushes and stay the night," added Mrs, Stork, "I shall be having a few friends mon Christmas Eve, Mr. Hippo is coming, and two nice young Spoonbills who sing and dance."
"Fancy me dancing with E Spoonbill!" exclaimed Mr. Monk.
"Well, you'll have to do your bit," said Mrs. Stork. "We're go- ang to make "whoopee', we're go- ing to stir things up."
the
25 an
"Don't forget to stir up mincemeat and the Christmas pudding," said Mr. Monk,
afterthought.
"No, and don't you teach me how to throw a party!" said Mrs. Stork, who seemed rather touchy.
Mr. Monk saw he was treading on sacred ground, so he just waved a paw and told Mrs. Stork she could certainly expect him and his friend early on Christinas Eve. After leaving Mis. Stork. M.. Monk hurried to a friend's house to pass on Mrs, Stork's invitation
The friend Mr. Monk intended to take with him to Mrs. Stork's party was Jumbo the elephant He knew that Jumbo had been left out of a good many parties on account of his size, and Mr.
Monk was determined that
his friend should have a
elephant
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT; DECEMBER 19, 1940.
Stirring Things Up
good time for once in a while, They both set off in good time to Mrs. Stork's house. Jumbo put some holly in his hat-band to give himself a festive appearance, and Mr. Monk carried a bunch of mist- letoe to be put to good use at the party.
Jumbo walked very quickly, it was almost a trot, and Mr. Monk had some dificulty in keeping the
"Not
said. fast!" he "There's plenty of time."
pace.
50
"It's those new boots you are wearing," said Jumbo. "I don't know anyone who can walk pro- perly in new boots.”
"Maybe you are right," retorted Mr. Monk, "but you don't expect me to go to a party in old boots, surely."
זי*
said
know
aris thing about it.**
Jumbo, so I don't
Mr. Monk thought his friend ought to be wearing
a pair of boots on this occasion, but he didn't like to say so. He got Jumbo to carry the week-end case for the rest of the journey, and this ar- rangement enabled them to move more rapidly.
At last they arrived at Mrs. Stork's little villa. She was stand ing at her gate waiting for them..
"My friend, Jumbo," said Mr. Monk, introducing the elephant. Jumbo remembered to raise his hat with his trunk.
such a big boy friend," she cried. "I didn't expect you to bring
"I'm sure I don't know where I shall put him at bedtime, for I haven't a bed big enough to hold
don't wear boots myself," him."
༈ནA% ཀ ཨཿsk,Å-°3-
JUMBO RAISED HIS MAT
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW GOOD WHISKY
WITH HIS TRUNK.
AWARDEE 30 MEDATE
ERTH
"Don't worry
about me." said Jumbo, "any old spot will do for I've hit the hay many a time."
me -
"All right. I'll think about that later," said Mrs. Stork. "Come inside, both of you.”
Jumbo pushed his way into the house through an open French window, and managed to break the glass in doing it.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear" cried Mrs. Stork, "Whatever shall I do?"
"Stuff an old apron through the hole, that will keep the draught out," suggested Mr. Monk, "I've
often done it."
"Yes, but what will the guests say?" inquired Mrs. Stork, looking very distressed.
**Jigger the guests," said Mr. Monk. "They are coming to make *whoopee' and they will not notice a little thing like that."
While Mr. Monk and his hostess were talking two Spoonbills were seen coming through the gateway. followed by the third guest. Mr. Hippo.
Mr. Monk gave Mrs. Stork a poke under the wing.
"Now straighten your face, your guests have arrived, and they will not want to see you looking doje-
ful. I know," he said.
A tear was trickling down Mrs. Stork's beak, but she hastily flick- ed it away and went to meet her guests,
The two Spoonbills seemed to be full of beans, and Mr. Hippo waved a portable wireless set he was bringing to the party.
"We shall be all right for danc- ing." bawled Mr. Hippo gally.
After everybody had entered the Mrs. Stork sighed. All her house Mr. Hippo enlisted the ser- vices of Jumbo to help him to move the furniture.
Jumbo reached over the table with his trunk and picked up the cake, he opened hisˆ› great-mouth and popped the cake inside it..
"
A gasp of dismay came from everyone at the table, and Mr. Monk was obliged to say some- thing to break the ominous silence which followed this lapse.
"I must apologise for rny friend Jumbo;" said Mr. Monk. "He is not used to Christmas parties, and is inclined to forget his manner§.”
The elephant gave a grunt of contempt. He was too tough to excuse himself. After that-the sup- per fell rather flat, and Mrs. Stork was relieved when some of her guests said it was time they were getting ready to go home.
She remembered that Mr. Monk and Jumbo would be staying the- night, and during the time her guests were saying goodbye and wishing her a Merry Christmas, she was racking her brain trying to think of somewhere for the
elephant to sleep.
After the others had gone, Jumbo settled the question for himself. He picked up a big rug from the entrance hall and made his way through the open window to the garden.
"Where are you going”” shoul- ed his hostess in alarm.
"I'm going to sleep on this rug under the roof of the wood shed,” said Jumbo. "I shall be all right there, whether it snows or not," guests seemed to be doing just what they liked, and she was powerless to raise any objections.
"Toddle off to bed," advised Mr. Monk, giving her a push with his foot. "I'll look after Jumbo."
"I'm so glad," said Mrs. Stork. "Yes, I will go to bed now, for i am tired."
"Don't open your bedroom win- dow," said Mr. Monk.
"Why not?" inquired his hostess wearily.
"Jumbo snores," said Mr. Monk, "enough said.”
Mrs. Stork had hoped to sleep a little later than usual on Christ- mas morning, but soon after sun- rise she heard an awful banging
"We want plenty of room for sound in the garden, In great
dancing," he said," get."
"all we
can
win-
No one seemed to consult Mrs. Stork, who simply looked on while her furniture was being push- ed about the room. The smashing of her french dow had left the poor dear with a dazed kind of feeling which rendered her incapable of taking any part in the
pre-
haste she opened the window and looked out.
There was Jumbo with the hall rug hanging over his trunk and Mr. Monk was standing near. Mr. Monk soon became busy on the rug. He picked up a carpet beater and started to bang the dust out of it.
"What on earth are you trying to do?" bleated Mrs. Stork.
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He picked up a carpet beater and started to bang the dust
out of it.
parations for the event. Mrs. Stork was beginning to be sorry for herself already.
Mr. Monk noticed how pre- occupied she was, and he tried to reassure her. "Take it easy, we'll stir things up for you in a bit," he said. "Leave it to Jumbo and to me."
Jumbo tried to dance with one of the Spoonbills, but she com- plained that he was trying to choke her with his trunk.
Mr. Monk did better with the other bird, for they kept it up as long as there was any dance music: on the radio. Then supper was served, and Mr. Monk had to con- fess he had never faced a more generous spread on anybody's table,
The behaviour of his elephant friend was his only regret. There was only one Christmas cake on the table, a splendid coke it was, with almond feing an inch thleic and decorated with crystallised fruits,
"Just shaking the old rug be- fore taking it inside the house," said Mr. Monk, looking rather hurt. "Is breakfast ready?"
Mrs. Stork had stood a deal from these two guests, but there. is a limit even to a Stork's pati- ́ence, "You are not staying here for breakfast, Mr. Monk,” she; said, "I'm stopping "în Bed for several hours yet, so you may consider your visit at an end.”/
"Do you mean that we have to buzz.of?”. exclaimed Mr. Monk, looking very astounded.
"I mean just that," said Mrs. Stork, closing her bedroom win- dow with a convincing bang,
"Mr;' Morak turned to his friend Jumbo. "What do you think about that?" he said, “Can you beat it?”
"Forget it," said Jumbo. "Let's get a move on, I've to join a carol singing, party this morning, it will be more fun than beating carpets.":
[The End.]