The Children's Corner

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 30 April 1927, Page 18

The Children's Corner

SALLY LUNNS.

Harold Tindall could hardly believe his ears as he stood behind the bushes which divided the cricket pitch from the playing-fields. "It's quite easy," Simpson was saying. "I heard old Mrs. Groves telling the baker she was having a little party, and she ordered two Sally Lunns and a currant' cake." • - "But it would be stealing, wouldn't it?" another boy asked. "Oh, no!" said Simpson. "The school provides old Mrs. Groves with food, the same as us, though she is.too old to be housekeeper now. So it would only, be like, taking our own food." Harold had never heard of anything so mean. Two big boys planning to take a deaf old lady's buns and cakes! He made up his mind to interfere with their-plan. So as soon as school was over he walked toward the little house at the end of the courtyard where old Mrs. Groves lived. He was just in time, for the baker had left a bag and a cardboard box on the doorstep. Picking the parcels up, Harold ran up the stairs and knocked ■on the door. A dear old lady with a lace cap over her silvery hair smiled kindly at Harold as she opened the door. "What do you want, little boy," she s:.id. "I'm rather deaf, so please do speak clearly." "►■ "The.baker left these," Harold explained in a slow, clear voice, "and I thought they would be safer if I brought them in." "That is very kind of you," said the old lady. "I don't always hear the baker knock, so he leaves my things on the step. "Won't you come in?" Harold entered the little sitting-room. As he loked round he gave a little cry, for above the mantelpiece, in the place of honour, was' a portrait of a young man. : . . * "That's my father!" cried Harold. "How strange!" said old Mrs. Groves. "Fancy you being Mr. Tindall's son! He was the nicest boy in the whole school in his day, and he used to come here after school and read my adventure' books. • I often wonder what-happened to him; he had such an adventurous spirit," . "He is in India now," said Harold; "but he is coming home soon, aud when I have finished school he has promised to take me round the world." "That will be fine," said the eld lady. "If you caro to, you may come here, as he did, and look at my books. My husband was a great traveller, and gathered books from all parts ;if the ' globe." • Harold was delighted; and he could not help.being grateful Simpson and Ms companion, mean as they were, for if ho had not overheard them talking he would never have become acquainted with his father's old friend.

HER FETS HELRSD HER.

Mrs. Twigg, who lives in the Isle of Wight, and is the wife of a New Zea-land-born doctor, has had rather a great. honour conferred upon her. "■ At the British Industries Fair, held in London recently, Mrs. Twigg had a little -section which she called the "Mor-in-less" stall, and one of Jier exhibits attracted the attention of no less a personage than Queen Mary. What drew the Royal attention. was a practical nursery chair whose bright "bunny" arms were inspired a long while ago by a family pet rabbit. One of the chairs, which is on wheels, and has a box beneath the seat for the safe keeping of toys and other treasures, was immediately ordered for- baby Princess Elizabeth's nursery, and the Queen complimented Mrs. Twigg on her clever' idea. The "bunny" type of chair has also been adapted for adult use,, and can be used by two people. But the "bunny" chair is not the only invention of Mrs. Twigg. She is known in London as a writer of columns for children about children and their pets. You see, I think she must' be very interested in animals of all kinds, and her love and study of them has certainly helped her in many ways. For instance, sometimes in her writings she inserts little drawings- of her own pets as she sees them, and sometime ago she drew a wee black cat, just -> favourite in the home, stretching itself before the fire, with its tail arched up over its back. This drawing took the fancy o # f a pottery manufacturer in the North of England, who wrote to ask if he might use this sketch as a model for a "black cat teapot." Permission was given, and the first model of this domestic novelty was also on view at the Industrial Fair.

If«you have a pet of any sort, be kind and good to it. You can. learn a lot from watching animals and their habits by good treatment, you can help them ,to trust and love you, and in return they will help you in more ways than you may be conscious ■ of.

FULL MOON.

One night as Dick lay half asleep, Into his drowsy eyes A great still light began to .creep From out the silent skies. It was the lovely moon's, for when,

He. raised his .dreamy head, Her rays o£ silver filled the pane

and streamed across his bed. So for awhile, each gazed at each—

Dick and the solemn Moon — Till, climbing slowly on her way, She vanished, and was gone. . —Walter de la Maro.

ASK YOUB CHUMS.

How do you get down from an elephant's back? You don't; you get it feom a goose.