"JOHN WILLIAM"

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 10

"JOHN WILLIAM"

(Written by "Emily of ; New Moon," 15)

Whenever I start playing in- the coal-stack in the yard, My mother' comes and calls "John William!" I just begin a-chatting to the fattest railway guard, When Nannie comes and bawls, "John William!" I really don't see why it is" I'm not allowed to take My sandals off and paddle, and when Cookie starts to bake, If I eat a little spoonful from the mixture for a cake, Then Cookie glares and says, "John William!" I gave my brother's jacket to the monkeys at' the Zoo, And brother fiercely stormed, "John William!" I said, "Why can't the monkeys have a cosy jacket too?" Mother said reproachfully, "John William!'' . ( I even got in trouble when I bathed the pussy cat; ' I'm sure it wasn't1 my fault when he wriggled round likethat, And fell from out the basin on to father's Sunday hat! But father spanked, and said "John William!" ' ; I love to splash around inside a lovely fat drain-pipe, , But mother says-, "Come out, John William!"' And when the towel is missing, and I use a shirt to ivipe My feet, my sister cries, "John William!" . ■'•;.- I think, when I'm a grown-up man, and go to work in town, And take my children with me now and then when I go down, I'll tell my friends and family, "Now call me MR.-BROWN! And never any more, 'JOHN WILLIAM!'"

PIXIES OF THE RING: So many rain fairies, with grey gowns and pale little, faces, have peeped into the ring . .. and so many wind-sprites, playing a hundred blustering tunes on silver pipes . . . that I am sure the • Weather Man must be playing "bran-tubs." I expect he DOES get tired of looking at days in neat little jars, in neat little rows, ■with very neat little labels. And sometimes, I think, he just mixes them all together . . .shuts his eyes . . . and plays dip! Then a Picnic Day tomes out with, tears in' her eyes andjt bad little temper, and a Schoolday, who "should be very prim and proper, loses her hair-ribbon and forgets every single table, except that "One goes into the sea many times . . . and twice times holiday times wouldn't be enough." < Bran-tubs must be great fun for the Weather Man . . . but for my elves, with only a few precious holidays left to spend, and the Summer Maid waiting on golden-slippered toes at the Edge-of-the-Ring, there isn't really a minute for the Weather Man to spend in making Fun-of-the-Fair. Exactly one .week ■ from today we'll give the blue-eyed Maid pur very special welcome . . . little songs of Summer . . . tales of the loveliest days she brings, and pictures that ask for every flower-shade in elfin paint-boxes. But pens must be swift as Summer's little feet . . . for all must be ready very soon. My love to you all, and a specially magical wish for end-of-holiday fun. i T FAIRIEL