KATHLEEN HALE, OBE (1898-2000)

MASTER HARNESSED THE HORSES TO THEIR WAGGON AND LIT THE LAMPS AT THAT MOMENT THE GLOW-WORMS TURNED ON THEIR LIGHTS AND SHONE BRIGHTLY ON DINAH AND THE CATS. ORLANDO'S WHISKERS SUDDENLY QUIVERED AS HE SENT A WIRELESS MESSAGE TO VENUS, FOR HELP. 'THERE'S JUST TIME,' CRIED DINAH, 'TO CATCH A COMET. CLIMB ON MY BACK AND WE'LL ALL GO HOME TO MASTER.'
THE SUMMER VISITORS HAD ARRIVED, GREETING EACH OTHER WITH SHOUT OF JOY. THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED TO SEE SUCH FUN THE MAGIC FIRE HAD THAWED THE ICICLES, PLANTS AND CREATURES, WHO HAD BEEN FROZEN FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS. THE BULBS GLOWED WITH THE COLOURS OF ROSES, BLUEBELLS, DAFFODILS AND GREEN LEAVES.
BUT WHEN HE WANTED TO PUT THE FISH ON A DISH THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON. 'OH DEAR,' SIGHED THE MAN, 'THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING THAT; THEY HATE GETTING DIRTY.' THE MAN PUT THE CATS IN HIS HUGE POCKETS, TUCKED HIS PRESENT, GRACE'S SOFA AND THE GLOW WORMS UNDER HIS ARMS AND LEAPT OVER THE MOUNTAINS. 'HOW PEACEFUL IT IS,' PURRED GRACE HAPPILY
THE CATS FELT DIZZY THE CATS PUT ON THEIR HELMETS, AND MASTER PACKED THE LUGGAGE IN THE SAUCY CATSULE THE SPACE-SUITS WERE ALSO MADE OF RUBBER, TO BE BLOWN UP LIKE BALLOONS; THE HELMETS WERE GOLD-FISH BOWLS
THE SAUCY CATSULE NEXT DAY THEIR DEAR FRIENDS VULCAN AND VENUS, WITH THEIR FOAL CALLED CUPID, TOWED THE ROCKET THROUGH THE RAIN TO MASTER'S HOUSE. ORLANDO CALLED THE NURSES WHO CLUSTERED AROUND THE CATS
ORLANDO AT THE OPERA   

KATHLEEN HALE, OBE (1898-2000)

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