1940-12-19 — Page 32

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.16.

WHEN Mrs. Stork invited Mr.

THE CHINA MAIL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 19, 1940.

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 one 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-1 will," agreed Mr. Munk, more and more astonished.

"Bring your

Louthbrushes and slay the night,” added Mrs. Stork. * shall be having a few friends in on Christmas Eve, Mr. Hippo is coming, and two nice young! Spoonbills who sing and dance."

"Fancy me dancing with Spoonbill!" exclaimed Mr. Monk.

a

"Well, you'll have to do your bit," said Mrs. Stork "We're go- ing to make 'whoopee', we're go- ing to stir things up.

"Don't forget to stir up the mincemeal and the Christmas pudding," said Mr. Monk, as afterthought.

an

"No, and don't you teach ne how to throw a party!" said Mrs. Stork, who seemed rather touchy.

Mr. Monk saw he was treading on saeved ground, so he just waved a paw and told Mrs. Stork she could certamly expect him and his friend early on Christmas Eve. After leaving Mis, Stork, MY Monk hurried to a friend's hous to pass om Mrs. Stork's invitation.

The friend Mr. Monk intended to take with him to Mrs. Stork's party wis Jumbo the elephant. He knew that Jumbo had been left out of # good many parties of account of his size, and Mr.

Monk was determined that his elephant friend should have

Stirring Things Up

anything about it."--

"Don't worry about me," said Jumbo, "mny old spot will do for friend me I've hit the hay many a

good time for once in a while. said Jumbo, "so I don't know They both set off in good time to Mrs. Stark's house, Jumbo puL. 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 trol, and Mr. Monk had some difficulty in keeping the pace. "Not

fast!" he 50

said. "There's plenty of time."

arc

"It's those new boots you wearing," said Jumbo. **I don't know anyone who can walk pro- perly in new books."

"Maybe you are right," retorted Mr. Monk, "but you don't expect to go to a party in old boots, surely."

me

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don't wear boots

FRANK on whom

Jumbo reached over the table with his trunk and-picked up the cake, he opened his great mouth and popped the cake-inside it:

A gasp of dismay. came from "everyone at the table, and Mr. Mank was obliged to say some- thing to break the ominous. silence which followed this lapse.

* "I must apologise for my friend Jumbo," said Mr. Monk. "He is "All right. I'll think about that not used to Christmas parties, and later," said Mrs. Stork. "Come" is inclined to forget his manners.” inside, both of you.”

Mr. Monk thought his ought to be wearing a pair of time.” 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 more 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. Tumbo remembered to raise his Monk, introducing the elephant.

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 bed big enough to hold myself," him."

haven't a

JUMBO RAISED HIS HAT WITH HIS TRUNK.

FOR THOSE WHO KNOW GOOD WHISKY

WARDEDE EAMEDATE

ERTI

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 suggested Mr. Monk, "I've out," often done it."

"Yes, but what will the guests say?" inquired Mrs. Stork, looking very distressed,

"Jigger the guests,' sald 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.

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 guests were saying goodbye and the time her

wishing her a Merry Christmas, to think she was racking her brain trying

of somewhere for elephant to sleep.

the

After the others had gone, Jumbo settled the question for· himself. He picked up a big rug from the entrance hall and made bis way through the open window to the garden.

"Where are you going?" shout- ed his hostess in alarm.

"I'm going to sleep on this rug under the roof of the wood shed, Mr. Monk gave Mrs. Stock a said Jumbo. "I shall be all right poke under the wing.

"Now straighten your face, your guests have arrived, and they will not want to see you looking dale- 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 M. Hippo waved a portable wireless set he was bringing to the party.

"We shall be all right for dane- ing," bawled Mr. Hippo gaily.

After everybody had entered the Mrs. Stork sighed. All her house Mr. Hippo enlisted the ser- vices of Jumbo to help him 1 move the furniture.

"We want plenty of room for dancing." he said, "all we can get."

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 win dow had Jeft the poor dear with a dazed kind of feeling which rendered her incapable of taking any part in the pre-

there, whether it snows or not.” guests seemed to be doing just what they liked, and she powerless to raise any objections.

was

"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 1 am tired."

"Don't open your bedroom win- tow," said Mr. Monk.

Why not?" inquired his hostess wearily.

"Jumbo snores," "enough said."

said Mr. Monk,

Mis. Stork had hoped to sleep a little later than usual on Christ- mus morning, but soon after sun- rise she heard an awful banging sound in the garden. In great haste she opened the window and looked out.

There was Jumbo with the hall ug 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.

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Mr. Monk did better" with the other bird, for they kept it up as

"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 vald, "I'm stopping in 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.

long as there was any dance music "I mean- just that," said Mrs. on the radio. Then supper was Stork, closing her bedroom win- served, and Mr. Monk had to con- dow with a corzinging, bang.. fess he had never faced a more

generotik” „spread on anybody's Mr, Monk turned to his friend table,

Jumbo. "What do you think about that?" he said. "Cari you beat it?1⁄4

The behaviour of his elephant friend was his only regret. There "Forget it," said. Jumbo. "Let's was only one Christmas cake on get a move on, I've to join a carol the table, a splendid cake it was, singing party this morning, it, will with almond icing an inch thick be more fun than beating carpets." and

decorated with crystallised