1936-12-09 — Page 30

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

FRISK'S CHRISTMAS

NRISK might have boasted

F

that he lived at the hall.

He was a goodly-sized rodent:

a born hustler who knew every of the old cranny and corner

The eve of Christmas place. found him picking his way from a stream at the rear of the out- buildings.

(By Leonard Woodward)

•

He had done this before, and had sometimes made attacks Hav- upon large flour sacks. ing eaten his all of the satisfy. ing millfiour, he wandered about A white-whiskered nervously. face is a vexing problem when s the about large retriever is place. Frisk always dreaded being 'retrieved." of the

A very

singular thing had happened. Every night there had been a quiet visit to the banks for the Slaking

furry creature's thirst: and a rat can thirst. He used to sip at the same place every night, in the shelter of a leatless, hollow willow trunk which looked as if any mument it would topple in- This day had to the water. seemed especially wintry, and a deep layer of white fakes had· fallen from heavy grey chud.

Frum a secret look-out Frisk had waited and watched until all around was quiet, and the sun had gone down behind the woods, leaving rosy lines across 10 One good track the snow. the stream, where some men had hauled a heavy yule log from By this the fields, was clear. winding pathway the Fodent stole down to the brink. Little ripples ran across his furry back as he thrilled with the prospect of a much-needed drink.

Chilling disappointment came. and Frisk drew back and shud- dered. The surface was glassy and too cold for his shivering condition. Things often ha pened like that to a rodent,

Strangely enough, there were -heavy footsteps now on the same floor." The rat followed an vid rule of turning back and running in a straight line for the nearest friendly ambush. A moment later he thrilled with alarm, for a lantern shone close by him, and here were two luminous green lights which were the keen eyes of the dog. be the little Speed seemed to creature's undoing for a. ment, but then came swift events so unforeseen by a poor. scuttl- ing trespasser like the rat.

he slipped. In a twinkling

down such a glided, tumbled sheer slope as ever creature had experienced, and landed safely Frisk had on a straw-litter. slithered down a sack chute in- to the most surprising place of all.

It was the outhouse where the black retriever spent most of his meal-times. Here was a large biscuit, a meaty bone, and shallow dish of some cold broth. excited A yule treat for the Frisk. the

Within a short time the crea ture had hurried back to dark seclusion of the old build- ings, just as the first star in the eastern sky glowed above the shadowy gable beyond.

When life's disappointments came to Frisk he used to climb an old strut and obtain access through a hole to the floo above, there to think out a plan This was NO of campaign. much more sensible than sulk- ing. A rodent can never afford: to sulk.

To-night Frisk altered his reached the plan and, having floor above, started

to rove about, for the night was cold.

a

To make the event so much more happy, the dog safe- iy scampering about above be- gan yelping, and there was none to hear a rat sipping or carry- ing off a hard biscuit through a round cat's hole in the door.

Upon the drawn blind of the hall was the shadow of a de- corated spruce tree, gay with a tinsel reflection and dancing Children's voices candle-light. pitched high an old melody of an old-time monarch who once stepped out with his page to seek a poor peasant who lived close by St. Agnes Fountain.'

Frisk bolted away into the do-

main of door beams and knew of 3 nothing of the romance mouse-family under the ball floor who were in total darkness streaks of except for narrow

from the light which

the between

planks. spaces Above them was the striking mellow tinkle of the old spinet and children's carol.

came

There was the temptation for Mr. and Mrs. Greycoat to make a Christmas-eve excursion for food, under cover of the music. but the wise parent mouse gave a knowing twist of the head which always meant, caution."

Then followed much bustle and movement in the room over the home of the Greycoats; the rattle of crockery and all the noises which to a hungry mouse- family meant the family was soon retiring for the night. Mrs. Greycoat was so intent "on all this that when her mate slipped away out of the horsechair-and- no know- wool home, she had ledge of his departure.

It was half an hour later that, the usual having explored haunts of her partner. Mr. Grey- coat shinned up a leaning rafter in an old passage where antlers and old paintings showed upon the walls in dim lamplight. Here was a long ridge running along the wall, and with much cau't- tion and timidity the mouse reached the sill of a small col- oured window with queer diam- At this surprising- ond panes.

she ly out-of-the-way place caught sight of her mate. who was standing erect upon his hind legs, his pointed face lit up with a pale-blue ray from the win- the surprised dow, which to

very Mrs. Greycoat, seemed

and very strange, unexpected, silly. It always was so neves- sary to know what a mouse-par- ent was up to.

moment the But in the next truth of the situation was quite

clear.

On the far side of the sill was

a number of small shelled filbert nuts, and the male mouse had

been in the act of crossing over to them when the blue shaft of light had struck across his face, his bewildering completely sharp wits, and making him see - things very hazily and mistily.

Taking in the whole danger moment, and urgency of the Mrs. Greycoat was in the act of uttering a low whimper of mouse-code, but the effort was not needed, for in a brief instant everything was pitch-black be- cause of the switching of all the house lights into a silent obli- vion.

No need to tell of the skill and patience of two grey mice who travelled so carefully and sure- footedly back along the ridge to the hall. under the floor-nest The Greycoats were now sure of their Christmas fare.

The truth of all things that night was that the life of a rod- ent at the festive season was to get what one could and be quick about ita life-strategy which could never claim to be a moral Out at the rear of the old hall a lone silver birch caught the soft light which came from starry sky, and a pair of robins were swaying on a pendant half- coco-nut, picking at a mixture of snowflakes and bread-crumbs and feeling the zero nip of the midnight hour.

a

Twelve deep strokes sounded from a bell tower somewhere a very sudden near, and then crash down by the stream.

The hollow willow-trunk had fallen upon the glassy surface. sending up thousands of little jewels of sparkling, ice.

That first hour of Christmas found Frisk back at the bank sipping ley water. with a fat water-vole squatting opposite on the other bank.

So many creatures of the "un- der-world', are so very content if they can only celebrate their Yule with water.

aur Own We shall add to Christmas pleasure if we re- member how much a few bread- crumbs and a pan of water are needed by the birds. Let them not share the hard times which come to the rodents.

CHRISTMAS PARTY GAMES

THE

HE Christmas season is rich in that assembling of mis- cellaneous companies whose en- to the tertainment presents harassed hostess a problem at distressing. once urgent and

and. of food The application drink, however varied and ex- tensive, however exhausting in its search and preparation, can- not occupy more than a limited space of time; the exchange of family or friendly news is end- ed; bridge is too intimate, too selfish; the wireless palls or, with the uncanny prescience of the inanimate world, stages one of its infrequent breakdowns, And the agonising question arises: "What shall we do?" -

At the first glimpse of paper and pencils the guests, wilt visi-

couldn't do any bly. "Oh, I thing at all clever, dear," pro- tests Aunt Minnie. "Not all those things beginning with A," wails Cousin Chloe. "Shall I do some of my card tricks?" intervenes Uncle Harold. Forcibly pressing

Pictorial Consequences

materials into their hands, you explain that almost no intelli- gence is required, that no al- phabetical alacrity will be de- manded. that perhaps if Uncle Harold will be so kind...after A new and bitter out- supper. cry: "Oh, but I can't draw.": Ruthlessly you reply that the worse the level of art the better the result.

requirement, re-

comparative re-.

The first ceived with signation, is merely to write the title of a possible picture at the head of the sheet and pass it on "to the person on your right hand." Immediately every mind is intent-forgetful of personal vulnerability-on devising suit--| ably recondite subjects for its "The neighbour's affliction: Boat-race," "Scene in an Operat- ing Theatre," "A Car Smash," “An aspidistra" (Aunt Minnie), Over" "After the Ball "Pass on, please!" From your

was

left comes to you a simple re- with quest for "A Rabbit," which you can comply with com- fold over parative ease. You the top of the paper, concealing the original title and leaving your putative rabbit alone.visi- ble, and "pass on" again.

You hare now to retitle the picture just perpetrated by your left-hand neighbour. Another fold hides the picture from view, leaving a new title to be illustrated, and so on until the circle is complete.

Then comes the unfolding and startling dis- the somewhat closure of the extent of devia- tion from the original subjects. was Over." "After the Ball passing through a series of re- cognisable football scenes, has by way of "A Corner" and "90 deg," become "A Heat Wave," its triumphal and

concludes career as "Cows Under Trees." Scenes in an Operating Thea-

tre Baby Show Pigsties Stonehenge Bakewell Tart.. A Day at the Seaside Leap- ing White Horses Scene Strong Man histopheles.

Circus Mep-

A Cricket Match Fleas' Circus Herd of Buffaloes = Ants' Eggs Goldfish Bowl = Bowler Hat.

come

And your "Rabbit" has be- "Nero Fiddling while Rome Burns." But your guests are laughing helplessly and, surprisingly, an hour has pass-

éd. Supper-time!

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