The Inside-out Stocking
The Inside-out Stocking
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| The Inside-out Stocking |
Once there was a little boy called Rex, who was always having bad luck. People were quite sorry for him because he was so unlucky.
If he ran too fast he fell down and hurt his knee. If he climbed into a swing, he soon fell out. If he had a pound given to him, it was lost through a hole in his pocket. That was the kind of little boy he was.
There was one thing he was very good at, and that was running races. He could run really fast, and could beat anyone if only he didn't catch his foot against something and tumble over! He wasn't good at jumping, and he wasn't good at swimming, but it really was marvelous to see him run.
Now in the field near his home a sports day was going to be held. All the schools of the town were to meet there and see which one was the best at running, jumping, slow bicycle racing, be great fun.
'I hope you will win the running race for us,' said the headmaster of his schoolto Rex. 'You ought to, my boy, for you are a splendid runner for your age.'
'I'll do my best, sir,' answered Rex, 'but I'm a very unlucky person, you know. I never win anything. I'm always losing things, or hurting myself, or getting into trouble. I can't seem to help it!'
'Rex is sure to get measles or mumps on the day of the race!' said one of the bigger boys. 'He caught chicken- pen on Christmas Day. He has no luck at all!'
Now Rex had a small sister called Lucy, who loved him very much indeed. She was quite a lucky little person, and she was always very sad because Rex was so unlucky. Just fancy, he hadn’t even been able to go to the seaside in the holidays because he had broken his leg and had to go away to hospital!
Lucy was always afraid of what might happen next to Rex. She hardly dared to plan anything nice for him in case something unlucky happened. She was very pleased when she heard about the sports day, for she felt sure that if only Rex were able to run in the race he would win it, for certain! But suppose it was another of his unlucky days?
'I do wish I could make certain sure that Rex would have a lucky day instead of an unlucky day on the sports day!' thought Lucy. 'I think I'll go and see old Mother Brown, who lives in that funny little cottage at the end of our village. People say she is very old and very wise, so perhaps she could tell me how to help Rex.'
The very next day she went. She took with her an egg laid by her own little white hen to give to Mother Brown. The old lady was very pleased and told Lucy to sit down in the big rocking- chair.
'Mother Brown, could you tell me how a person can be lucky?' asked Lucy, rocking herself to and fro in the big chair.
'Well, a black cat brings luck,' said Mother Brown. Lucy thought that was no use to her because there were no black cats near her home.
'What else?' she asked the old woman. 'Well, a piece of white heather is lucky,' said Mother Brown. That was no use to Lucy either, for no heather of any sort grew near her village.
'Then, of course, it's lucky if you get up in the morning and put on your stocking inside- out without noticing,' said Mother Brown. 'That's really very lucky – only most people notice what they're doing and turn their stocking the right way out.'
Lucy's eyes brightened. Ah, here was something she could do! Suppose she crept into her brother's bedroom the night before the sports and turned one of his stockings inside – out! If he didn't notice it, it might make him very lucky that day and he would win the race. She would try it!
So on the night before the sports day Lucky lay wide awake in bed, waiting for Rex to fall asleep. When she thought he really must be asleep she crept into his room and quickly turned one of his stockings inside – out. Then back to bed she scampered and soon fell asleep herself.
The next morning Lucy looked anxiously at Rex to see if his stocking was on inside – out. It was! He had put it on without noticing it. Lucy was full of delight. Now what would happen?
Everything went smoothly that day. Rex was happy, and felt certain he was going to win the race. He and Lucy went to the sports field at the right time and stood there waiting to be told what to do. Then suddenly Lucy heard one of the teachers talking.
'Look at that boy over there! He's got his stocking on inside – out! How careless of him. It looks very untidy. Lucy, you're his sister, aren't you? Go and tell him to change his stoking and put it right. Quickly, or there will be no time!'
Poor Lucy! She didn't know what to do. Then she made up her mind that whatever happened, she wouldn't take away Rex luck. She ran up to him and instead of telling him about his stocking, she whispered to him to go away to the other side of the field with her. Off they went, and the teacher who had sent her to Rex watched them both in annoyance. What-ever was that naughty little Lucy doing?
But the races were beginning! First one race and then another_ the jumping_ then the slow bicycle race_ then the egg and spoon race_ and whatever do you think, Rex won that! He didn't drop his egg once, and he was so surprised and pleased.
He won the running race too! Once he stumbled and almost fell_ but not quite! He finished well ahead of all the other children and everyone clapped and cheered loudly. Lucy clapped loudest of all.
'Well, wasn't I lucky today!' cried Rex, very pleased and proud. 'I can't think what happened to me! I really can't. Look at my running prize, Lucy_ a fine football. You and I will have plenty of good games with it! I saw your excited face when I was running that race. I shouldn't be surprised if you brought me luck!'
Lucy didn't tell him what she had done. His stocking was still inside – out, and he didn't know it!
'I'll creep into his room each time I want him to have a lucky day, and turn one of his stockings inside – out again,' thought the little girl. 'I mustn't tell him or he might notice another time. How lovely that I know a lucky trick like that!'
I think she was rather a nice little girl, don't you? Rex often has lucky days now, and he can't think why. But I can!
