THE FAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 8

THE FAIRY RING

FOUND—A FAMILY

(Original, by "Bobbolink," 14, Koro Koro.) IT was Easter-time. The shops were full of biightly-colouicd eggs of the same shape, but all sorts> of colours and 'sizes. Many eager little faces «ould be seen against the- window pane, with their little noses piesscd llat. How eagerly they watched the shops, noticing each egg that disappeaicd. iwerything- seemed to know Easter was approaching. At last it wa.s the day before and still the faces could bo seen. More eagei, thov weie, ami their eyes glistened. Let us follow two, evidently brother and s'ihtci-. Tliey were ragged and their faces pinched. At last they reluctantly diew a way, and wita slow, lingering steps they departed. Soon Joan and Billy for those were their names, came to what they called home. Two dingy 100 ms, badly lit, and in every cornet poverty. On a broken chair sat a bab\ whimpering and crying. Joan crossed over and spoke to it, hootliino- Us ? » Joan.and. Billy badly wanted to buy mother an Master egg. But how? Then Joan said, "I have it. We will sell the diawings wo did at

_ Altogether there were about fifteen. Joan took the baby and Billy the drawings. Then they stood in the busiest part of the town. They would k^ 0"6., I\ SlX> w^ their mother camo home fronl work- They did not iSETu,^ ' W3S Pi t0 haV° a fatilcl'> *=* thriis they knew nolhin* of! ta^lt l ml S- paS\ Stanced. curiously at the, three children but did not stop to listen to their pleadings. At-last Joan suggested going from door to door. Many .people shut the door in their faces. EventnWtho trio arrived 5 a^ anS >I<°£- ThQy braVCly sr kc?. Bt the dOOr' "hi<* ™» opTncd Wyaway >'' 'Bgßcd urcllins>" sh<= «W. to they turned

midtlle^pV^ -l ' S? w CO- 3le else callcd> and lhero !lPPcar°d a well-dressed middle-aged gentleman He them inside, fed them, then heard their Thr-n'^ w *l Sl r bouSht.. the drawings, giving the children half-a-crown. Then he took^them home m his car and the rooms told the story again, stranger the- chda«n'« >»°th <* «"«e tome, she was surprised to see tl.e

''W^ y e v^n2. 110t~BeddingtoD 'Ss^ J she stamm«^- ■ ''Don't you recognise me," she said. "I'in^your— sister '■ "Joan, my long-lost sister," he cried.

"AN ELFIN DELL?"

. I had started down the long, windy trail of turnt grass leading to the Burnt House,' when I suddenly descended on a beautiful little dell, covered in fern and flow'ring currant trees. In another, nook, dear-wee Irish Shamrocks were embedded by the roots of the., trees. Then came the archway of pines, with a floor, of rusty pine needles. The pines swayed to and fro with the north wind, and sighed to their hearts' content. Up' on the hill could be seen a heavy, dreary mist. This poem jnst fits in" nicely, too:— I '' The pin# trees wore sighing; O'ercast and chill was the day, I A mist on^the valley lying Blotted the pleasant May." ■" • "LITTLE GLADNESS." Karori.

SMILE AWHILE

There fcas a small boy who was ohvavs answering the questions at school nnd was not often wrong. The teacher (bought l\a was getting a tit conceited and played this joko on nim... __. . . «3??.™ a?ir sWes has au octason?" he said. "Eight," the smaU boy answered. "And how many a circle'" The boy grinned. "Tno." he said; "an outside and an inside." He was right again. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. : the scene was laid in a teashop. A man approached another who had just taken a hat from the rack and asked: "Are you Henry, limkins!" "No." said the other with surprise. . '-Well, I am. And that's his hat you are wearing. A FEAT OF STRENGTH. The famous athlete was beinp interviewed 'Just look at this muscle." ho s,aid. "With this arm,l can stopi a tram." Ho paused, and the Interviewer registered a look of amaze'•Yes,"'continued the athlete, "you see, I'm an engine-driver." .{ ■'■ .4. A LONG WAIT. A London express'stopped each day at Slocombe. -.j,.',--. ;■-■ ■ ■--.-, -j, '.. Aman.ataost breathless, arrived at the book-ing-offlce. "Am I late for Hie London train?" he gasped.* "No; there's plenty of tlnic," replied the stationmaster. . "What time is it, then?" "It is now eight,o'clock," replied the stationevening." Aj : A HEADWORKER. After the examination the doctor told his patient that he must not do any headuork for two or three months. "But, doctor." protested the patient, "it is my livelihood." "What are yon then? A scholar?" "Xo; I'm a hairdresser. ~ THE CURE. The farmer had been using a new horse and found it very satisfactory for the work. But it would not hold its head up. Tha farmer complained of this when he met the man from whom the horse was purchased. "Ah, that's its pride," said the man. "That horse wIU hold its head up as soon as it's ;pald for.": .; :;i-: - : ;;

MAGIC PUZZLE. Ilumpty Dumpty sat on.a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. . . . And there ho is, smashed to bits at the foot of the wall. But though all the Icing's horses and all tHe king's men could not pnt him together again, you" can be a magician and make a -whole egg from the broken pieces. Cut out the drawing and fold it over at the points shown, so that A conies on" to A, and B on to B. Then you will find that Humpty Dumpty has disappeared from his wall and there is a whole egg without a crack at the foot of the wall.

PRINCESS BLUEBELL-,

(Original.) Princess Bluobcll: lived in the Land of Forget-me-nots. r Her mother arid father, the King and Queen, had gone to ,vi&it the-, .land ,o£ "HiggildyPiggildy," and Bluebell was reigning, and doing it badly at that, until the King and Queen letnrned. Now, Bluebell was very ptoud and haughty, and liked to have her ' own way in everything; so before tho King left he offered a leward of a bag of .Stardust and a Ipag of buttercup-gold •to the person who could cuic her of her selfishness. All the Elves, Pixies, and Fairies met ■with no success, until one day a-shy little Pixie called Tippitty Tumble went to Ihc Princess and said,' "If your Highness.will coinc with riie, I will try to cure you with a simple experiment.'' Tippitty Tumblo took her to a little glade, and toldher to sit on the ground and say three times a magic saying which he taught her. This she did. When the King came home Bluebell was as kind and loving as any other pixie; fairy, or elf. Tippitty Tumble received his reward and was very content, and so that was how Bluebell, who is now kind, and good, was cured. '' SPAEKLING EYES 1' (11).Lower'Hutt. ' r

THE LITTIiE WHFKE 3OSE

;■■■•■ (Original, by "Old Witch," Chelsea, Victoria.) "jVyfTOTHES NIGHT stuffed a few more shadows into her case, and sat on XYJL -the Ji4 t0 make it shut and glanced over to where the full moon lay, smiling fatuously in his sleep, couched on a bed of soft clouds. "Sorry I ever undertook the job. Why doesn;?t he do/his own work?'', she muttered. "One of these nights I'D give everything the; wrong shadow, and then there'll be some fun." But the moon only drew the clouds over his head. Then she peeped" over the edge of the; hill, drawing her dusky garments about her, her pet owl perched on her shoulder. "Not yet, not yet," she said to to hei -waiting horde ot mosquitoes and l>ats. "Day, the brazen, lowdy hussy, is still flaunting her skirts in the west. , "Why docs she linger so; suieK she knows how much i'have to do, and how short is the time I have. I'm afiaid I can wait no longei," and, stepping softly, ever so softly, she glided through the tiees, touching then tired leaves with her wand, and laying shadows along the giound. "Sleep, sleep, -while those- noisy birds arc silent," she wluspcied. The lucerne tiees had tolded then leaves tidily downwards, and the sleeping flowers tvcre in different attitudes, the Aveo faces of some being hidden l>y the curled petals, and others again uere drooping. Fairy-liko moths, the r.iitternies of the dark, helped in the ivork, and the bats daitcd hithci and thither to see if the tiees sleeping. ' Coming to a cottage gjiden, she found a ■vvhito iobc, awake and sleepless.. Why arc jou not sleeping""' asked Old Mother Night. Stay a moment," ansivcml the lose, "and I will tell you ivhile jou aio tang those shadows. A little while ago the maiden who lives, in that house bought me as a few sticks and roots. She loved my name, 'Snow Queen, and I have been living heie ever since. She used to come out to sco me wben. I was a tightly-folded bud m my green cloak, and sometimes she would lie on a conch, nad, one day I heard her tell her father that she was, longing to see the 'Snow Queen' in bloom. I was slowly discarding my green cloak, and yesterday, when the fahies gave me my fragrance, I threw off my green robes f orJ ever. All day I waited, but the little one- came not, and as you know, the rose's age is but a day, and tomorrow when the wind sprites return, I maynot be here, and I did so'want "her tb'see me." Just then, in the darkness, a door opened,'and a man came out, holding, a torch-, which he flashed around until it forma the white1 rose. With 'his Jaife he carefully'severe the flower .and a spray of leaves, trimmed off the thorns, and returned to a sick room. • , "Here it is, datling," he -whispered to a little girl as he sat beside'her The little one inhaled the fragianee, piessed the rose to hei lips and smiled her thanks. "My beautiful 'Snow Queen,'" s he whisked, as she sank into a wakeless sleep, with the rose clasped in hei tlnn finjjcis. Old Mother Night, hearing a rammm in the tiees and grasses and a movement amongst the waking fkmeis, knew that the Mind childien were returning. Just then the shrill elaiion. t;all of a looster ciowine- lent the air. "H'm, the Herald of the Dawn. Q mto time I went. Those silly empty shadows kept,me late," ana, with a sigh, she dcpaitcd over the restless ses. ' ■ ■ - -- : -

RULES OF THE RING

I. Address letters la Falrlel, "Fairy Ring," "Evcninu Post" City, Cl. 2.-Tell your age, name, and address as well as your pan-name. S. Always say whether your work Is original or copied 4. Do drawings on unlined white paper, in pencil or India Ink: 5. Leavb a margin when writing stories or ( verse, and write one side of the paper. 0. The Ring oloses at 4 o'clock on Wednesi day's, so cost early In the,week. , visiting hours to' th» Fairy Ring are three to Tour o'clock on weekdays.—FAlßl EL.

FAIMEL SENDS...... . "H iSm ,Jin' <s'" Brooklyn.—They make the most delicious onesl I, too, had some. "Chatterbox," Seatoun.—You liad all the fun-of-the-fair, pixie. Do you think we could have a snap of you in your Old English frock for our book of pictures? "Valencia," Karori.—Splendid. I'll expect to see you ... and "Sammy Snowball," too. l/xams. again so soon? "Italian Rose," Island Bay.—Try a shorter one next time, lass. Long poems are act to become rather involved. "Penny Ha'penny," Hataitai And joiTll be able to keep the little pink basket when the egg has disappeared! I loved the small poem. "Audrey MacLeod," Kelburn.—But-we have two of that name already. Perhaps "Child" will help you choose another. "Cherrystone," Miramatv—We all hope you'll be playing outside again soon, pixie . next time Mr. Sun smileb! "Bobbolink," Petone.—No, I ha\e never played that particular game, but I'ie often watched tlut fl>ing ball . . . and held my breath. "Terrible Terry," Masterton.—Like a town of ctrds . . . jubt a social shake, aft one newspaper said. It mean "local'shake," of

course. "Starling," Petone.—And have you really, fcopt it? Once the paper's off, it's generally "goodbjo" to Easter 'eKKS. "Tinpetty-Toes," Brool^lyn.^-P.ecmi-ic its. dark at tea-time ... and it you. ha\o a parti tea there can bo caudles. "Rainbow Girl," Brooklyn.—Don't you wish you had a birthday soon. Smallest? Will you wish "Tippetty" many happies for me. soon as sho opens her eyes? "Brown, Owl." Wadestown Nearly live thousand mushrooms in our Ring I Our biuall Island will scarcely hold it soon. "La FJeur," City.—What a comical expression of surprise your Easter chickens-wears. Too late for this page . . . perhaps uext time ... f "Hill .Nymnh," Rosenoath.—A lovely idea to have •one guest for each jear of your age. May I'wish late> "happies"?

"Master Puss," 'Miramar.—All righti lad They were interesting puzzles, specially the travelling one.'

"Buller Maid," Nelson.—A rambling holiday . . . and the loveliest discoveries! I'd Mo to sec that bank in spring.

"Silver Bullet," Wellington South.—ls, it your own Euster cgc tli.it you've drawn for nin» Black. Knight is a splendid name foi jour puppy.

"Flying-Arrow," Wellington South.—l wonder if. jou'ie ever found one in jour garden. So imzzlos this week?

"Melting Moment," Pctonc.—A MuprlsliiKly Kood flrst attempt! Shall we Keep it for Bird Page?

"Tahbyskin," Brooklyn.—And a liuppy Easter to you, too. One wrong, pixie—steamer. "Starlight," Murchison.—o, not flrcary .. . merry and glowing . . . with clear air and games in the open!

"Little. Gladness." Karori.—The tittle verso might he true of many parts of Wellington. l»id jou race Ihc r.-iindtups iihcn you lan from the i'airy Ehik-' ,

THE BROWNS' EASTER

It was a week Tjeforo Easter. ■ Joyce and Betty Brown gazed longingly at the chocolate eggs in the shop window. Joyce and Betty were twins, twelve years old, and as their father-had been drowned when they were small their mother could not afford them Easter eggs. "Gome along, Joy," said Betty. "It's no good wishing we could have one." Slowly the twins made their way home, but. a surprise was in store- for them. Going into the dining-room the twins were surprised to sec a tall, welldressed man sitting talking to their mother. As the twins entered, their mother1 rose and said, "Girls, this is your uncle from Egypt and he is coining"to stay with us for Easter." The girls liked him at once and chatted meirily. That night Uncle Jack took them shopping and bought lovely things for them, and, lastly, gave them ten shillings each to buy Easter "eggs. So Joyce and Betty had a happy Easter after all. "STARLING" (12). Petonc.

"FROM A SMALL-£LF"

''My dollies are all p'tending to- be asleep on the bed. But my best one, called Betty, and china dolly called Nancy, are asleep in the pram. Poor! Teddy Bear is ever so sad. He's been to the war. He ■ has no arms, only one leg, and no eyes to see with. But Teddy is my oldest toy.;, I've had' Him; ever since. I was a year and three■ months old. O, Pairiel! We nearly forgot. We have a mummy and two baby canaries in an aviary. Their names are Fluff—^she's the ;mummy. bird, and Boss and Jack are her babies. They're just starting to. sing. . This morning a friend of my mummy's bought a cup and saucer with an Easter egg in it. And a wee chick sitting on the saucer. But do you know what? When I opened the box, instead of only one egg there were two! I s'pose the wee chicken must have laid it coming home." AUDREY MACLEOD (3). Kelburn.

"THREE LITTLE CHICKS.I', Said the first little thicken with a iiueei little b<imrm, "I ,wish I could find :i little fat worm.1" Said the second.: little chicken, with A sad drooping eye, "t -wish I could find a nice butterfly Said Ilvo third little chicken with .1 sigh of i Rnef. , ,"I v lsh 1 could find a tiaty green Icil 1" ] Then called 'tho mother from the grcon garden I patch, "If y<ni .-want any breakfast, just you-como and | scratch 1" | Sent by "SILVER SUPPERS". (12).

JjK» - ELVES-OF-THE-RING: I3jlk/^L^ It has fiecn the most exciting morning . . . even though ive are ringed about ivith rainYy^y^ff clouds and the drops are running merry races UljN^Q ' * down the panes and lap-dancing on the ivin/iHJ W Sl"' le little sun-daisies in my vases jgsT /vY • must think it is dusk-bejore-night, because Wy ' , they've drawn up their petals, oso sleepily! Ijj But you'll be wondering what is exciting! \R I'll tell . . . This morning I found a small ill note in my letterbox: "Fairiel — Expect a surAj I " prase tomorrow .. . one ivith lots of paper Rn \__jv °"^ string. — 'Lassie.' " / ivonder what it'll be. y*i (^%v{, ' cos Lassie is almost all paper and siring i Vwv^/''* herself at the moment .. . she's packing, and V4j/*jti that means holidays. 5t\N<ST ' Of course, by the time you read this I'll VJi know all about the "surprise,'' because, you A3 M I (C SCe ' Prinler-Man calls early in the week for y 7 I y my letter to you. j/*F~)A [} i You'll be in the midst of holidays your*st A.2»/ft ! selves ' ana> ' hope they're the happiest kind. j*f\/f] I've found that something specially nice gen'Tjk rf\(/ erally happens at Easter-time ... and it's holttt|t^j/w days and surprises that make it something like ViC/^T Christmas! ry/\Cr Heaps of joy to ebeiy one of you . . . and yn / you'll keep open eyes, to tell me of your fun? c »cia*ia=> ', FAIRIEL

" THE EASTER LILY"

(Orioinal, by "Lassie," Kelburn.) "^Th'.'r. Vv y; h What Hdo 11111 of> "Tho (lowers drooped m that ssriJon.

''O-ooli!" Ijiciilhed Emily as «| IU gazed :it the- bcautiiul c" ff tint waiting on her plate at breakfast time." "O-ooh,» *!,„ went agaif. "„ ~«« rn!f ?.» «Sft ? VY h°l0f *"""y-VS'y EaSter 'SB; aU.,'for henojf. T^ other chU™ ron were not down to breakfast yet-tko' liltleis ones—Biit Emily at tru had not expected to see an egg all her 6wh this Easier. Daddy £& ho didn't lave any money at all-poor daddy, thought Emily sympathetically at the I™C- being a daddy with four little children, and having no money at all. So Emily, alone in the breakfast-room, gazed at her egg in delight <r T C }l \ a-! Wy', f fresh lnorniDS « was outside. And it was ever so earJv vet ye ar Sold^itrthe th|o£f .SS-*^ " th ° b*™ teof ti^mfln™ liVS a JUSt fiJ° mi"UtCS -aWay- EmiI >' l3cePpa «»™a the door of the htt o grey house, ana was surprised to find the old lady.was not yet up. Usually she was up early as early feeding her chicks. So sho knocked vJ^ZalWS™^™* gett3ng M° "■""' »«t. i--^M«- ShEmily clapped her hands in glee. "Goody!" thought "'she. -And sho scurried round and made the bed, tidied the room, ana set -the-table. Then she set to work and_ cooked the breakfast. Eggs ana bacon sizzled in the pai toast ww browning under the warmth, and the kettle was singing. Arid Emily put her own beautiful egg in the middle of the table, and tip-toed

into the otherroom to await the amyal of the'old lady. Not long--for very soon she- heard the footsteps crunching on the gravel. "Now "< thoucbt Kfco?^ T^ sur^!->^ Put hefeyo Closer tHhecSin breakfast Til rlady astonished look of Mrs. Shaw when she ;>aw -her fairy''fs^" heart aDd . S(?ul!" she n«™nred. "I wonder who the good Emily suppressed a giggle; and watched Mrs. Shaw look around into all the corners rn.seareh.of-the.good-fairy. And she found.her-!-Eunly ran home a little while later with great -joy in hol- heart Her Easter egg-the shining golden egg sho loved 5 0-sh7had Ictt beh nil bu she chdn't mind one bit, for Mrs. Shaw had been so pleased f And on the table at home was another suiprise awaiting her Imagine a little brown basket, all wood togcthc? to fuim a nest with six httle chicks insido, and six jrlorious coloured eggs ' And the noto on it haid: "'Emily, f rom Mrs Shaw " ' H.nv l ai S Whe-° t! le "I' 1 lacly had bee" 5O P!llly 511 lhc nioiiung. And 0* °ath °thel> bee<inh° Emlly Uaa Skij'pcd «« th° wcJ'^'V/ 110"8111;. E'^'y,.happily, 118 die flrcw out six shining eg-s 'there's a blue one for little sister, a Ma ilet one for Babe, a gicen ono tor Jimmy, a pink one for mummy, and a .speckledy one for daddy, and still a *f th&—

"WELCOME TO . .

Audrey MacLeod (5) ..^ Kclbtrh. "RainboW'Girl" (3) : ......... -J.±.-;~. Brooklyn. "Blue China Lady" ..;....:.... Lower Hurt. '-'Easter Chicken" (8) .. ........:. City. •tßusset Gold" ........ Island Bay _C6uld any' elf let "Tcrribie Terry," 31 Perry StrecHMasterton, have the words of the poem 'i-Kif"? Boy.. BIue" •■eslnniiig . , . "The little toy soldier was red with rust.... - ."? "rce-cream"— Write to "Brown Owl," 5: Sefton Street, Wadestown. ' .. ' n "Twinkle-Toes"—Write to "Heart of Silver," ■19, Myrtle .Crescent,^ WelllngtQn. .

• • . AN ANSWER TO

"Dow Daisy," Hcretaunga.—A surprise letter . . . and a drawing. Sad that it was just too late,,elf. The picture-man had called. "Shy Pansy," Kilbirriie.—Not only fairy drawings, elf. We like a change, sometimes. Mrs. Duck and Jte?. Goose will be welcome visitors to the Kffig. "Laburnum," Kelburn.—An original poem is one that you have made yourself, Jean. The verse you sent was not. original. "Red Rover," Island Bay.—Tramping! It's jolly, isn't it? Have you ever tramped over <the hills to Lyall Bajii . .; it's quite as good as the Happy Valley tramp. "Griselda," City.—Did you go? Soon we'll have as many girl cricketers as boysl "Green Linnet," Ohiro Bayl—Twas quaint of you to tell me the title In the very last 1 line. I had a surprise, : too. "Blue China ..Lady," Lower Hutt.—lt's- the sweetest pen-name you've chosen. Almost too fragile to sit on a mushroom." What age, Piije? 'Hunca-Munca," Taihape.,^. Tbiso , f'wind sprites" must have .whisked away my-','good luck" wishes to* jou. Never * mind, they'll be there in time for next tournament. "Easter Chicken," City.:—Have you found your name in tho new pixies list* It was .clever of you to write that:.verse for me. "Mananna," Moera.—lt must have been the nippiest evening. Easter chickens should lime all been in the Ring last week, girlie, i "Starbeam." Moera—.No space for fuller criticisms, elf. Marion must have looked rather jolly ab a fisher-lass! "Heart of Silver," City.—So busj? Tve answered your request. You'll ha\e to keep an ■lddres'i book, pixie "Twink," Island Bay.—Docs It make a corner of brightness in your bedroom? 'I hope you uero pleased "Sunkist," Greytown.—And jou were at the prize-giving too' Perhaps next jear you'll win, elf. "Wandering. Thoughts"—But we've 1 just said "au revoir" to Sea Page. . . Xot till' next year, pixie. "Sleeping Beauty," Greytown.—Did jou» Calves aie quaint 'with their ,long wobbly legs "Harold Lloyd." ■Greytown.—Wouldn't "it have been thrilling to have won a prize' Did you enter for, it? Delphino Hooker, Island Bay.—We've found you a pen-namo'; ; '. an;'autnmn "one ... "Russet Gold" ... but jou forgot to- send your ago and address "Myself," Island Bay.—See Dclphine'-i answer, I hope jou find an egg like lour inky one on Libttr morning , "■ "Purplo Pansy," Seatoun And did jou have J- Josgitj-jogKity ride.' I think I saw the donkey and ills litfle cart, "Rabin," Ngaio—AMiat a long bolid-iy'. And .moilier so soon., you'rq a lucky-elf. Thank, jou lor that vcrj good composiHon i

AN EASTER ..PINCUSHION. 'Perhaps mother's birthday falls this Eastertide, or' even if it doesn't .you may like to surprise her with a. little Easter gift. The pincushion in our sketch is just the very thing. Cut the top off an. egg End thoroughly clean out the inside. Now, ,with your paints paint some flowers (violets look very nice) on the outside of the shell.-.Make two little holes on, opposite sides ,of, the egg, about half-way down, and thread through them piece of mauve ribbon, eight inches long, sticking the ends to the inside of tho shell.

Fill the egg with cotton wool or ..bran and cover the top with a round piece of mauve-coloured silk, making/it a littTo bigger than, the part to be covered. Stick the -edges to tho inside of the shell. Nowjitie- a piece of ribboil round the top edgevjof the' egg. Lastly, put a few pins into -the. cushion, ancf "your dainty 'i&eWit' isvk*omplctc.

AN EASTER EGG TALKS

(Original.) One day 'when I was being packed away into a box, the girl bjoke me. The Jady in charge said, "Don't put that one'in.- Give it to the first little child that passes." About 2 o'clock in the afternoon I was picked up"and given to a poor little girl. I was taken down a dirty, mean, little street arid into a poor, mean little house: On the floor were two inovo little children' playing quite happily with their old bits of toys. . The little girl said,'"Look!" to them, and they both looked up very quickly. When their mother came home, she said: "AVell, have you been good children?" Then the little girl ran to the cupboard and took me out. Their mother said it was an Easter egg. li. ,the morning when they woke up they found a. giant Easter egg outside thoii* door. When they opened it they found hot cross buns, broad, butter, cakes, and lots ci other things. At the bottom were three of'my brothers. How surprised tho children were to know that someone had thought about them at ■Easter-time! HILL NYMPH (10). Kosoneath.

the Surprise

.'..".■ (Original;) There was a house that had trees growing about its grounds ana also a hedge. One day a little boy went to stay at the house, just a -week before Easter. The day before Easter was most beautiful and. the lady of the house asked, the little boy to look for a nest" with .; five eggs in it. He at once set out to look for it. The first place he looked about was the hedge. He had been looking there for an hour-when he found a nest with five eggs in it. Qne of them he noticed was brown, and.two of the, others were silver. He at: once took/the nest to the lady, who said:'"Yes,,that is the nest. I wished you .to find. That is the nest with -three Easter.'eggs and two heir. eggsV. Therefore, you can have eggs for . '. :.":■:;/;..;. "crusty" (13). Qity, r, ":.'; ..';■.

"QUITE TRUE."' " " " (Original.) In a-shop window, sido by side, A big and .1 --raan "Easter egg did abide. Said.fhc.blc ecu: "I'm' toiiicli better than jou" "Olil" said the..small "egg, !"l'm important; (00. Children HUe rile, for I don't cost n lot." "Ho! Ho! Don't be stupid; your talk is all rot!" "No, no," answered tlici'small egg, "Fbc I knoiv-there ar.eTmany Who can't buy an Easter egg for more than a. penny." "PEXXT HA'PrjXNY" (12). ILitaitdt. KIDS. bhrdl cmfw cmfwyp

AN EASTER REUNION

(Original by '.'Starbeam," age 13, Moera.) "Can we have Easter eggs, Mummy?" lisped little Joan. "I'm afraid iot, darling," answered Mrs. Lewis, with a sigh. "Mummy lias no,pennies for Easter eggs." "Oh, Mother, I have that- threepence that old Granny Eden gave mo for getting her 'milk, that could buy three," spoke up Doris, tho eldest child, anxious to please the wee mite. "I .come .with you and see pretty windows, Doris," said Bruce, the "•middle" one of the family." "All light,, chicken. <Ye won't lie long, Mother," said Doris: as'she pui Bruce's coat on. . Doris gripped Bruce's hand ana ran quickly down the street, the lignt snow drifting past them. In front was a tall man, loaded with parcels. "Oh, look! Man's dropped parcel, Dorry!" shouted Bruce. Running quicldy, Doris soon caught up.to the gentleman; -with the parcel in her hands. sir, my little brother Bruce saw you drop this in the snow." "Thank you; and the little chap, too. Did you say his name- was Bruce? "Well, that's funny, my name's that, too. I'm looking for my sister, Mrs. Lewis, who's supposed to live here somewh ." A gasp broke from Doris. "Why, you're not . . . you can't bo Uncle Bruce from Africa?" The gentleman blinked at the children, and then laughed. "How silly of me not to have recognised those big brown eyes of yours. You're Mary's eldest girl, and you arc the image of her, toot But, quick! Take me home to sec the family. I'll be breaking all these Easter eggs." Help me to carry them, Bruce, you too . . . umn . . . ." > "Oh!.I say, I don't know your name. What is it?" "Doris Kgaire. Charlotte Lewis," that person answered pr'oudlv. "Quite a mouthful," laughed Uncle Brace. By this time- they,,had reached the house where the Lewis's lived. As they weie all loaded up, little Bruce was forced to kick tho door with his foot. His mother came hurrying out, wondering what the commotion, was all about. Upon opening the. door: she almost fell back in sheer amazement. "Bruce, where have you come from?" she gasped. '.'l've been hunting for this house, Mary, and if I hadn't met your two bonny, youngsters here,"l'd never have found it." "B'ing man in, Mummy. Snow comin 5 in door," said a little voice from the kitchen. "Yes, Joany's right. Come in, all of you, and tell me all about the happy meeting," said Mrs. Lewis. ■ _ • So, after everything had been explained, and they had all embraced each other, the long-lost brother and sister talked and talked, while little Joan, and Bruce. enjoyed a. large Easter egg each, and Doris made-supper, which, was a very joyous meal.

FULL MOON

It is a fact, never yet fully explained, that when a Full or nearly Full Moon rises the clouds usually .vanish from the sky. This .happening has been noticed for centuries in many ■ countries, and there is a saying current in Franco which means "The Moon eats up the cjpuds." '\v ith this disappearance •of the clouds,- the Earth loses its warmth more quickly, so that gardeners can. expect coldest nights at Full' Moon;

"A BIRD BATH"

"We have put a bird's bath Tip on top of an arch and each day from, our breakfast-room window we can see them drinking and splashing round. Fancy drinking your bath water!" "CHERRYSTONE" (9). Miramar.

THINK TWICE

DO YOU KNOW ME? My first is in'darling, also in'dear. My second's in seaside, also in pier, My third is in jacket, also in coat. Jiy fourth is in steamer, alsp in boat, Jiy firth is in pencil, also in point, Sly sixth is in sirloin, also- to joint,' My seienth's in saucepan, also in pan, My eighth is in able, also in can, My ninth is in roebuck, also in deer. My tenth is in century, also in year, Sly whole is a volume that's needful to all. And oft by its nelp we're saved many a fall IN THE GARDEN. In the'fork but:not in the hoc. In the till but not in the sow. In the crop but not in the tree. In the wasp but not in the bee. In the spade but not in the dig. In the grow but not in,the big; In the radish.but not in the bean, In tlie garden all may be seen. WHAT COUNTRY IS THIS? In tho furze but not in the gbrse, In the spring but not in the source, In the grain but not in the wheat. In the cloth but not in the sheet. In the throat but not hi the mouth. In the north but not in the south. In the bread but not in the roll, A Baltic country is my wiole. ♦ * « LAST.WEEK'S ANSWERS. WORD SQUARE. RURAL U N. I T E RILL A ATLAS LEA S T HIDDEN WAYS OF TRAVELLING. I. Steamer. '2. Balloon. 3. Tram. - • J " — ' 4; Train. 5. Cycle. HIDDEN COUNTKTJ Holland. PICTURE PUZZLE. 1. Ball. 2. Ring. 3. Girl. The picture printed last week was Sir Walter Raleigh laying down his cloak for Queen Elizabeth to step across the muddy street. "Answers found by . . .» "Brown Ov,\" (0); "Red Rover" (9); "Grisolda" (14) ; "Blue China Lady"; "Master Pubs" (8): "Tabbysjrtn" (10); "Little Gladness" (12); "Marianna." (14);. and "Starbeam" (13); "Sleeping Beauty" (S); "Harold Lloyd,. (10) ;• "Sunkist" (13). "Myself"- (9); "Crimson Rose" (.')).

THE FLOATING TOWER

(Writtengby "Goofy Ghost," 15 years, Miramar.) LDNG-, long agoydiiifithe days of witches and wizards, a very kind king and Queen reigned;qyer a fair land. One day the queen's most axdent wish was fulfilled, and;in a crib lay a baby princess. She had big blue eyes, golden hair, and t iqsy;?<sheeks. A few days after^rincess Eleanor's eighteenth birthday every head wa« bowed in sorrow—the'gbod.queen had passed away. Now, Princess Eleanor had no mother, so the king married again. The woman whom ho married was really a wicked witch, although she was sweet as honey to the king. After the niarriage the princess knew no peace. Her stepmother grumbled whenever the king's back was turned. The witch thought that by Ecolding she would make the princess; ugly. But the princess grew more beautiful every day, and the witch^became angry. She went to see her brother (a wizard) and together they^made;,their plans. Bogita, the wizard, was to make a tower that would floaty-steal "thesprincess when she was sleeping, lock her in the tower, and set,;itvflo.atirig."dowy?the river. This was v all accomplished, and in a £ew;days;-{the''plM,c^Si^S^tegQn-ber journey. Tho next 'clay: heraldiiwere3sM* far and near to say that Princess Eleanor had" disappeared, ah§ B thaf whoever found her could name his reward. When the,princes and,nobleSsKeafd this they set out to find poor Eleanor Meanwhile, Eleanor had' r awakened and was pacing up and down. th« small room. Lookiug. out of •the window she saw that the tower had stopped for a .mmute where the river branched off. la one direction lav th« Country^yher.c,-Nobody-Liyed, while in the other lay the town. Before th» Wr had departed-Bogita had thrown a magic lotion over it so that it would'float:to thft country.- -But the Wind liad taken a hand and had blown the magic lotion from, the-tower, and now it blew the tower towards the tow*. The wizard's plan had failed. ' '■ '■ . , Soon the-princesscameto the outskirts of the town. "Waving her handkerchief s^e called loudly^for-help. A poor labourer, hearing her cries, came f,o^* o..*^ fve^ ank-?e had hoard of the lost princess, Ind when he saw the beautiful face framed in the tiny window he knew it was she. Jumpinz into the water he swam out to the tower and gasped: "My princess." Now these were the magic words with, which to open the door, although th« labourer did not that. Immediately ho said the two words the door flew open and John stepped into, the tower. : " *\. ■ H« helped the priacess back to land and hired a horse you^ewart»CT a ?d^a^e^o^S e rne^^^ ™ °^°^ "*™ prin " e l g h°P9yonr Majesty will not be displeased," said John. "May th« The king immediately consented, and then left the room, returning in. a few minutes with the queen and.Bogita, whom he threw into niison for lire. ■ ' - L "What did .they do, father!" inquired Eleanor. It was they who put you in that tower, and Bogita was going to find you and. bring you back, so that he could marry you," replied her fathe* . "Thank goodness John found me," sighed Eleanor happily.