FAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1939, Page 22

FAIRY RING

THE BUBBLE FAIRY

Pixie Ones: \ All your little bits and pieces about winter have arrived for our Special Page next Saturday, and Letterbox Elf and I have been having great fun trying to fit everything in, so that all of you may share in Winter's welcome. The Ring is flooded with sunshine as 1 pjrite my letter to you, and sleepy blue sides make me wonder whether spring has' overtaken the White King along the way, 'specially as violets are peeping beneath purple hoods and jonquils are spilling their clear gold everywhere. The Elf and I have also been busy inspecting scrapbooks, to discover the neatest and most attractive of all. We gave points for neat clipping, the way pictures were arranged, and for original touches. At last we decided on the winner, arid a prize has been sent off to "Silver Star" Johnsonville. Our congratulations to this pixie, who edged each clipping with a pretty coloured border and who printed stories and verses mast carefully. I wonder if you can work out the schoolboy-letter puzzle in to* ~ night's Ring. Letterbox Elf found it great fun! Our love to every pixie. FAIRIEL.

Sunshine and Buttercup

*H AVE you packed the *>°ttles °f dew, Buttercup?" asked Fairy Sunshine of her friend Buttercup."Yes, everything is ready. And look, here come the other fairies." Quickly Sunshine and Buttercup opened the door of their little toadstool house and ran to meet their friends. Soon after Mr. Snail and his sons came, and the fairies jumped on •to the snails' backs and started for Fairyland Creek. It was a slow journey, you may be 'sure, but the fairies had to be content, for Mr. Snail and his sons were the only taxicabs in Fairyland. At last * they arrived, and having said goodbye to the snails they hired some waterlilies from Yellow Shoes, the fairy boatman. Then they set sail across the creek. Sunshine and Buttercup were sharing a waterlily between them, ;so that they could both row and so get there faster. They arrived on the

Queen was there, but. in a 'very different mood from which they had thought they would find her. The poor queen was lying bound and gagged on the floor. Quickly Buttercup and Sunshine ran to their Queen and undid her bonds.

"Quickly, we must stop Yellow Shoes. He brought me here, and has stolen the royal jewels!" As soon as the two heard this they hailed a passing butterfly and, jumping on her back, they were off. Madame Butterfly was a good flyer, and they soon caught up to Yellow Shoes, who, as

other side before all the other fairies, ■and started to look for a place to have - the picnic. They found a large mush- . .'room and settled down tinder it. , Now it was a custom in Fairyland for the -Queen to hide during the picnic and the fairy or fairies that . found her would be rewarded as they . • .pleased. Fairy Spring, one of the 'season fairies, had won it last year, and was hoping" to win againi It was ...the.first time Sunshine and Buttercup had been allowed in the hunt, as they , had been too young last year. "I - know," said Buttercup, when the hunt for the Queen had begun. "What about -looking inside that apple that a human dropped the other day. Perhaps the Queen went inside the hole that was in it."

"What a bright idea!" exclaimed Sunshine. The two hurried off to the plac£ where they had 'seen the apple. Little steps had been cut in the apple, so that Sunshine and Buttercup found i£ much easier to climb up to the Queen. Yes, Buttercup was right. The

WANDERING

"On Friday I went to the zoo. I went on the elephant; it was great fun to look down from his back on the lion's cage. The Polar bears are very good at catching nuts. The monkeys at the zoo eat onions and cooked pota-I "toes." i - • "HAPPY SUNBEAM" (10). City., -

A TRIP TO SCOTLAND

"It is nearly, a year since.l came back from a trip to Scotland, where I had a lot of jfon. I went with my father, mother, and sister. We travelled to Glasgow in the 'Coronation Scot,' and it was then that I found that New Zealand trains are very much slower. The countryside was very beautiful, the fields and hills being totally covered with snow. As it was winter it soon grew dark, and then I could see no more of the scenery. "The last five weeks of my holiday was spent in London, where I had a very interesting time." , , "KILTIE." . Hataitai. v ••* ■ ■ i

SCRAGGLES

\ • Visiting hours to the Fairy Ring are 3 to 4.30 V •'clock on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. ■ L Address letters to Fairiel, "Fairy Ring," ' ""Evening Post," City, CL

£. Tell your age, name, and address as well a* your pen-name. ' .'.^.Always say whether your work is original or copied.... 4. Do drawing on unlined white paper in - wncll or.lndian ink. 5. Leave a margin when writing stories or venae, and' write In INK on one side of the paper only. 6. The Ring closes at 4 o'clock on Wednesdays, so post early in the week.

"At home we have a 'Ring Eye' with a broken wing. I found him up the ,lane from our place, thin, knockedabout wee thing. I took him home and put him in a box with some bread and milk, now we have him down the garden in an aviary which the budgies used to- have. He has grown very tame now and feeds "from your hand and also hops into it. His wing has grown no stronger anpt he has no tail, so you can imagine how scraggly he is. We call him 'Scraggles.' For food I give him apple, honey/ bread and milk, and the blight of roses and wild plants." "BUSY BEE" (12). Hataitai.

"Planted" Treasure

> (Written.by Jean Grigs, 13, Rongotai.) - £ f*%> NE hundred and ninety-nine, two hundred. Ah! that's finished," said *■• ij Marie, who was writing lines. "Have you finished yet, Lorraine?" - "One more line." , ; "Hurry up! Don't forget we promised Jack and Clarrie we would be" ■ there at two, and it's ten to now," said Marie, as she gathered up her papers and put them away. "'I must not play pranks on my superiors.'" "Finished Now for some fun," Lorraine said, as she,"too, put away her papers. > ' ' ' ■ * ' "Torch, knife, and string; is that all" said Marie. . "I will take mine, too," said Lorraine, as she rummaged about in an untidy drawer for her torch. They were going to explore some caves about half a mile away from. their school. They had just finished- an imposition which they had got fpr putting a mouse in their Latin teacher's desk. They had been given two hundred lines and were told it. was a very slight punishment indeed. Jack and -"■'- Clarrie, who were going with them, belonged to the neighbouring college, which was for boys. v ;' "Here we are at last," gasped Lorraine, for they had been running and now they were five minutes late. . "But where are the ?" But Marie was interrupted by a sudden shout. "Hi there, here we are." "Where?" shouted the girls both together. "Come out and show yourselves." "In here." "Oh!" said Marie, as she ran into a cave which was next to them. "Sorry we are late, but we had to do lines," said Lorraine. "Come oh; let's get started," said Jack. After they had searched all the caves and; tunnels, which led off the first cave, but had not found anything interesting, Jack,. Clarrie, and Marie were sitting on some rocks, and all of a sudden they heard Lorraine call out, "Quick! Come and look at what I have found." "Coming!" they called; and they ran off in the direction of the shout It seemed to come from right next to them. "Where are you?" called Jack, who was beginning to feel' anxious, for Lorraine, had been away. quite a long.time. They were in; a '•■cave which had only one entrance, and her voice seemed right next to them. "Here I am," laughed L6rraine, as she came from a small cavity in the wall which they had overlooked. "Look what I have found," and she held up a small box, rusted with age. i r . , -'■'•■■ "Now sit down, my little chickens," she said in a motherly tone, "and I will tell you all about it." "All right, Mum," teased Clarrie. She1 looked at - him pityingly, and said, "My dear-boy, I sympathise with you for your poor sense of humour," at which Marie and Jack began to laugh. "Now would you mind piping down and let me get on with, the story* Well," she said after a pause, "after I left you I we"nt into a small cave which we had not seei». I examined it, hxid in a crannie In the wall, hid by a jutting piece of rock, was this box. i saw this hole," and she. pointed to the hole which she had just come through, "and here I am, safe and sound." • s "What an adventure," scoffed Clarrie, who was Lorraine's cousin. | "Did

you find any skulls we can put in the museum?" "Now stop quarrelling, you two, and come with us," said Jack. They all made their way out of the caves and sat down on the sands to open the box. "It's hard work," muttered Jack, as he probed about the lock with » his pocket knife. "Hurrah, it's opened, and now to see what's in it," said Marie excitedly. The lid fell open and Clarrie broke into hysterics. "Haj ha! ha!" he laughed, "caught you napping that time," and off he went tearing down the beach, with Jack hot in pursuit, yelling wild threats after him. The girls looked at each other dolefully, and then broke into peels of laughter, agreeing it was a great afternoon, and ran after the boys, who were now fightjftg wildly on the sand. When they had finished they both stood up, dirty and untidy. It was then explained. "I arranged this 'surprise' with Lorraine during the term holidays She was to find the box, and the rest you know," said Clarrie. "I am going to keep this empty box on the shelf above the fire," said Marie- r

THE TERRIBLE PLOT. (Original.) The sun was slowly sinking, The birds had gone to rest, Dirty. Tom was slinking Where strawberries grow best. Slowly he crept forward, Quickly he made a grab, Now he's feeling sorry v In a prison drab, "COUNTRY MOUSE" (12). Levin."' * * ' , *

(Original.)

The day was scorching hot and thej sunbeams were merrily dancing on the! concrete, but Betty couldn't think of j anything to do. She'd played with her dolls, she had played with Nancy, who lived next door, and she had read all her books, but she couldn't think of anything else. . Suddenly a brain-wave popped into her'head. "I'll play bubbles, of course," she said, rushing into the house. She got a basin'of water, a cake of soap, and a little clay pipe. "Now I'll begin," she said, excitedly, and bubble after bubble flew round her and burst. It was so lovely to feel the gentle showers as the bubble burst above her. The ( next bubble that came popping out of her pipe grew bigger and bigger, then flew off her pipe. The colours were beautiful, and, strange to say > they all crowded, into one corner and formed a fairy. "Hullo," she said, "I hope you see my sister in another bubble." Betty was amazed, but something told her to go on. "Tea's ready, Betty," called mother from out the kitchen window. "Can I have just one more lucky last, mother?'' "Just one more," said mother. And what do you think that, lucky last one was? Well it was the fairy's sister. . Betty rushed inside and brought Mummy out, but the bubble had burst and the fairy gone. . —Unsigned.

FOR BOY GARDENERS

A cheap imitation stone for the rock garden can be made with coke and cement. Place some cement in a tub and add water until a".;creaniy con-; sistency is secured. "then immerse some big lumps of coke in the cement solution and allow them to remain for a few minutes until they are well coated. When the cement has set-place the lumps of coke in water for a few days or leave them where ;fhey will be exposed to rain. The imitation stones thus made will be, found quite good for the rock garden.

THINK TWICE

I^IDDLE-ME-KEE. (Copied.) My first is in rabbit but not in 'hare, My second's in' apple and also in pear, My third is in robin and also in wren, My fourth is in pencil and also in pen, My fifth is in crimson but not in red, My sixth is in sleep'but is not in bed, My whole is a game that in summer we play With rackets and balls every fine * holiday. I'ELFINELLE.". j City. WHAT IS THIS? My first is in liorse, but not on back, My second's in orange, but not dn peel, My third's in unwrapped, but not in a pack, My fourth's in sat, but not iii kneel, My fifth's in eel, but not in trout, My whole is a thing which we cannot be without. ■- ■ —Sent by "BUSY BEE." Hataitai. ■ v <■.■■.•.■•.. -. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. . What-is that wnich is inside the wood arid outside the .wood at the same time? • ."' ,'i^ '■•■■ I.'-''"/ ; ■;'.' : LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS. Word Pairs.— Black, true; Touch, fro; Ups, frowns; Bread, flutter; Hips, paws; Pens, drink; ■Bricks, daughter;.- Sugar, ice; Stars, pipes; Peep, dry; Friend, woe; Sun, spoon r Bhiver, quake; Twist, burn. : f , Picture Puzzle.— Meat, tame, l team, niate ; Slap, laps, .Alps, pals. , • .' .. .;

DREAMLAND. (Original.)' As soon as I have gone to bed, i The fairies gather round, . They play such lovely games, And dance without a sound. The Kairy Queen is .dressed In pink, • With lovely, gauzy wings, : And In her. hand she holds a Hvand, Which she always brings. "/SILVER ST.AX" (11). : Johnsonville. ' MY PLAYHOUSE, I have a playhouse, Which Is very large; My sisters play In it, And my best friend MarJ. Outside the windows Gardens you'll find, Full of many flowers Of every hue and kind. JOAN McFABLANE. Johnsonville. THE GOBBLER GNOME. (Original.) Under his toadstool tent Sat the cobbler ■ gnome; Tap! Tap! Tap! he cried, Rap! Rap! Rap! he sighed. As lilb hammer went. "Never time for any fun!" Sighed the cobbler gnome, "All the fairies want their shoes, "Doesn't matter what I choose, They must all bo done." * "ANNABELLA" (13). Lower Ilutt.

The Wisdom of "Blue Sky"

The Indians called her Blue Sky. They called her that because she had such a pleasant face. It was like the sky, they said, )vhen the sun was shining.

In the big woods there stood a little schoolhouse where every day the Indian children went to school. Blue Sky was their teacher. The Indians thought she was very wise, that the Teacher knew everything.

One day in the woods not far away from the schoolhouse two Indians Were cutting down some trees. One was a very large tree and they had to chop-for a long time. At last the big tree began to tip. A loud crack— a swishing sound—and it fell to earth. The Indians cut the branches off and when the long trunk of the tree was clear they stood for a time looking at it. . /

Each Indian wanted half of the big log. The tree belonged to both of them. But how could they divide it equally when one end was big and the other end was small? As they talked their voices grew louder and louder. They began to quarrel-—they started to fight. Suddenly one of the Indians held up his hand.

' "Come," said he, "let us go to Blue Sky! She will tell us what to do. The Teacher is very wise." x

\ So they came to the schoolhouse door.and asked. Blue Sky to go with them to look at the tree and tell them how to divide it. Of course she did

go With them, for Blue Sky never refused to help an Indian in any way that she c6uld.' ■' V * She followed them into the woods, walking slowly—very slowly in* diced—but she was .thinking fast. However could that tree be divided so that each Indian; might hiprve exactlyhalf. I ~ At last tKey came to the place where the trunk of the tree lay stretched upon the ground. Blue Sky stood still, looking down at the great log. It was three feet through at one end, a few inches at the other. A tarn of horses was standing near. Blue Sky lurned to the Indians and said, "Hitch your team to the log. Draw it over this otlser log. I will tell you when to stop." The Indians did as Blue Sky said. "Slowly now—steady!" she called. "Just a little further. Hold! Take off your horses." There lay the log—perfectly balanced. Blue Sky put her hand on the right spot. "Cut here," she said. "Now-—each one of you will have exactly half."1 The Indians clapped their hands. How they laughed! They laughed so loudly that a squirrel in the top of the next big tree dropped down ten branches to see what the clatter was all about. Said one Indian to another Indian as they went home that night, "It is true—Blue Sky knows everything."

"Playfellows"-A Sketch by "Gillyflower"

"Sunshine Silver," City.—Your crinoline maid seems to belong to spring. Shall we keep her safely till Winter Page Is gone? "Fairy Candle," City.—The Elf and I were glad to see you in the Ring, pixie. We wonder whether your pen makes drawings or verses. "Fireside Fairy," Kelburn.—l like your winter playlet very much, but Letterbox Elf wants to know if a Fireside Fairy could live in a snow house. "Miraflora," Kelburn—Happiness wishes to this mushroom. We hope you, too, have many jolly hours in Storybook Land. "Dopey," Seatoun.—All .paths, seemed to lead from the Ring to the books-shelf this week. Do you like the prize the Elf chose for you? "Patience F.," Northland.—One of the Ring's best triers 1 Good work for a very young pixie. The Elf says he is looking forward to finding a letter from you soon. •'K.G.H.," City.—Good work, Klaus. Keep carbon copies of your stories and notice slight alterations when you see them in print. Do you want a pen-name? "Squib," City.—A parcel for you, too, Audrey. Have you found your feet again after your ■ , tumble? Our love to !'Mary Ellen" and yourself. "Jumbo," City.—There have been dozens of pixie people to admire your water-fairies. The Elf hopes you like your book. He liked the little mermaid pn the cover. "Pom Pom," Island Bay.—Ever so much better, pixiekin. Now we can give Jack Frost a place in our Page for Winter. "Lassie," Kelburn.—Greetings, Poet Laureate. King Winter confers his highest honour on you ,■ . . and the Elf says its sure to be a pair of skates. "Mary of Argyle," Lower Hutt,—Nineteen years is ever so old for a cat. -He must be near the end of his nine lives. Make your scrapbook of any bright pictures and cuttings.

THE MOON-MOTHER. (Original.) When the moon comes out at night, I shut my eyes so very tight, And dream the moonbeams run away Behind a cloud at break o' day, Old Mother M6on has a great big smile, [ I wonder if it'll change in a while? 'She looks after the stars throughout the night, I While all the time she's giving us light. "MOON-BLOSSOM" (10). Karori.

FLUTE MUSIC

The flute has always ''been popular with listeners as well as players. Numerous points stand in its favours It: tone is! cool and sweet without being tame, and palls the ear less quickly than that of any other woodwind instrument. Though less rich in quality than the oboe or clarinet, it is capable of admirable variety within its compass of three, octaves. Great brilliance and great intimacy can be achieved with equal success. The agility of the instrument is proverbial.1 It can play almost anything, and it is popular with amateur players because it is much less hard to master than reeded instruments «uch as .the oboe and clarinet.

The evolution of the modern flute is a record of common sense: The origin of the instrument belongs to the beginning of history. Man's instinct for music-making found its natural outlet in the blowing of a pipe. At first this pipe had only a single note. The next step was to put some holes in the pipe. These /increased the range, but the quality remained poor. The position of the holes, corresponded to the lie of a man's fingers when holding a wooden tube, and this position had nothing to do with musical accuracy. By degrees there'developed, from such crude enterprise, a straight flute fitted with a mouthpiece by means of which simple tunes could be played with quite praiseworthy intonation. It was upon this principle that the medieval recorder was constructed. .-In later times the. straight English flute was displaced by the German or transverse flute which is in common use today.

A LIVE DOLL

"Starlight Blossoms," Petone.—Your little poem, came with the first blue violet hoods. Drawings must be done on plain white paper, and, if you can manage it, in Indian ink. "Helen C." Lower Hutt.—The poem will certainly be used, Helen. The Letterbox Elf thought it was very good, tod. What a bußy knitter you are! , "Betty M.," City.—Your violets etill look as' fresh and dewy as when you brought them, Betty. Their perfume fills every corner of the Ring. "Little Bud." Hataltai.—We'd love to see you doing your pixie-dance. Is it part of a conj cert programme ? I think -1 can guess the " puzzle. Is It a puppy and a bone? "Princess Pompom," Lower Hutt—A snowy scene that made the Elf and me long to go snowballing. And what a gay fellow your "choir cat" is in his blue vest. "Daphne Rose," Picton.—lt i&. a grand surprise to find you in our Ring tonight and to read your long, interestlne letter. The Elf and I hope you'll come to see us .next time you fly to Wellington. ■ > --

I "On Saturday night another girl and I were in charge of a bazaar stall for some time. We were selling f .dol)s dressed as children, of "all nations. There were also some dolls merely dressed as babies in little knitted frocks. One buyer wanted to buy. a doll's dress—but not for a doll. It seems that she had a pet monkey whose mother had died. She -had taught it a few tricks and it was performing in "one of the sideshows. She wanted to dres_ it in one jot these dresses." • , "STRAIHAIRD" (14). Hamilton. ; ;

JUDY'S PARTY

(A Story for Tinics.)

THE FOURTH FORM AGAIN

(Original.) "Good inorhing, boys," the teacher cried; Good morning, Sir,'" the boys replied. "Now, then boys, please listen, pray, ■ We're going to have a busy day." ■ "A busy day?" said Standford, \who Had really nothing else to do But ask questions all day long (The teacher always answered "Wrong"). "Yes, my boy, . a busy day. If you don't learn someone .will pay! . Pay attention, Bottomleyl ' We're going to take geometry. But geometry it had to wait, For in came Greenbottle (always late). "What's your excuse this time, my lad? And tell it quick, or I'll get mad." "Well,", said Greenb,ottle. "it's like this: My old cook forgot a dish." "Well, well you ass, now that's just fine, I know the story line by line. Now, hurry up. no fooling, please, You know I use a cane with ease." ' " "Well, my. old cook forgot a ■ dish v - . And,for breakfast w?e .had flsh, ' And I can't eat without a plate, , v I had to wait. That's -why I'm ilate." "Well, now you've got that off your chest You'd better go and take a rest. Hop" in the corner for a snooze,'' Your company Isn't much to lose. • Now, boys, back to work we go. • You know that everyone should Jcnovr All about the queens and kings And lots and lots of other things. .But still you'll never learn, I guess, ■ -^ . So break off now," ten minutes' recess. • Good morning, boys," he said' once more,! And all the boys tramped through the door. LORRAINE WALKER (13). , LyaU Bay.

A GOOD DIET.

j During a natural history = examina- j jtion a small boy was asked which of all the creatures eats less food than any other. He. replied that it was the moth, because iit eats holes.

THE ELF'S TOADSTOOL. (Original.) 9" a l««e toadstool . Sat a little elf, Combing his hair And washing himself. S°cloth laid hit Bttli Oyer the. toadstool, broth.then llad fals And then came a storm, So the wise little elf Sat under the toadstool To shelter himself. That's a chair and a table, And umbrella, too! The toadstool was useful, 1 think, don't you? —Found by . "WESTERLY BUSTER." Johnsonville. **h i "ELBOW GREASE." (Copied.) It's not a powdef, It's not in blocks, It's not In bottles, Or in a box; But people (say * It is good for glass, Furniture, china, ! And steel and brass. Mother says use It, And Nurse the same, But how caw you use What's just a name? Whenever I ask They only tease. And say, "Rub harder I" So tell me, please. Have any of you Seen "Elbow Grease"? Sent by "BIDDY" (11). Miram*?, ,

It was Judy's birth&ay^.and she was very excited, for in the afternoon she was to have a party to which she had invited a number of her friends. All the morning' she had been very busy helping her mother ice the cakes and arrange fruit and sweets on dainty glass dishes. Now all was in readiness and i* was time for her to change her party frock and prepare to receive her youthful guests. By half-past two all the little girls had arrived and Judy's mother 'suggested that they" should play in the garden till tea time, to which plan they all agreed. The garden was large ,and they had played many an exciting game before the silvery tinkle of a bell warned them that tea; was ready. And what a lovely tea it was! There were cakes, jellies, buns, salads, and drinks of all _ descriptions, besides^ a balloon and a" paper hat for each ' of them. After tea Judy's father took them for a ride in his car, and when they returned at 9 o'clock supper was set for them in the porch, which . was brightly lighted with fairy lamps. At ten o'clock the happy guests were taken home, each • one with a large piece of birthday . cake tucked contentedly under her arm and a balloon in her hand. "PEARL OF THE, EAST" (12). Eastbourne.

Letterbox Elf's Corner

"Johnathan," Ngaio.—We both liked you- i?l*bit story very much, "Johnathan."' i V, sure you are going to be. one of cor best storymakers when you are older. •'Nancy W.," Ngaio.—A happy birthday to you^ I Nancy. I iiope you have a lovely dar '*.- ! town to celebrate it. The plans sOJrt." wry I exciting. : "David i." Island Bay/—You are a member of the King nt)w, David. I like the crayon ■ pictures you tucked, in with your letter. Do ; you want an elfln penname? J"Chickle." Petone.—l have shortened your penname, Mavis. Do you like It? I hope you ' have never had to wear a dunce's cap like ■ the girl in your sketch, You are going to I be an artist-elf. 1 "Pen o' My Heart," Ngalo.—All three parts of Anne's story .are safely here, elf. I shall keep it for our very special Bird Page. The Elf sends his love. "Periwinkle," Eketahuna.—Good sketching, pixie. I like the two jolly Jack Tars. Your Fairytown models should look splendid mounted on cardboard. "Huckleberry Finn," Eketahunal—Your hut must be an exciting place for games of th« jungle and castaway island. The Letterbor Elf would like to know if you have any goldfish in the pond. "Dolly Dahlia," Eketahuna.—So you will become a Brownie and a pixle-oMherßing at almost the same time. Lovely times ahead for you. I like the animal poem you sent. "Busy Bee," Hataitai.—Poor little prisoner! I hope the broken wing is mending. tPosti* left with a package for you today. If you havo already read your prize-book will ypu write and tell ?: "Elflnelle," Johnsonvlile.—A dainty pixie-name, Beryl. Tho poem of the woods: is gay with colour-words. I will find a place for it soon. ' "Queen Anne,"-Hataitai.—Love to our "Wandering Lass." Is her pen making a winter tale or a welcome to spring? I hope you like your book, dear. "Pixie Postman," Miramar.—The Ring Postman says he is very pleased that you want to be his namesake. 'He sends you a special call on his ; silver whistle. Thank you for the little poem, Derek. "Sunray Sally," City.—Two very good jokes, Sally, but we1 did feel sorry for the poor ■ singer. All original work must be signed by a grown-up, fay. Your sketches .are beautifully penned. • . , "The Skipper," City.—Welcome to- our senior circle. , May we see your stories and sketches in the Ring ? "Mavis 1.," Kilbirnie.—Another new elf. "Snowdrop" belongs already, Mavis. Will you please choose again? What a dear little kitten Timmy must be. ■ ' ' "Marietta," City.—l think Nigger must prefer chocolates to biscuits. What a clever dog he is. Printer Man will find a place for -your little story in the Animal Page. "Halcyone,"' City.—Welcome, Joan. The Elf and I were disappointed to find only two lines of letter. Do tell us more ..About yourself and your hobbies. "Golden Flower," City.—No real name or address with this letter, elf. Ever so many thanks for the coloured pictures.;. How carefully you've tinted them. j;, "Silver Star," Johnsonville.—The Elf and I' send our congratulations,: Kathleen. Your 1 lovely scrap book will delight many llttl* people. . , ' "Pussyfeathers," Island,.. Bay.—Two dainty drawings from this mushroom. The Winter ' Page heading is not signed. Please tell whose clever pen made it. for the Ring. "Nini's Pal," Lower Hutt—Lucky Elizabeth to -have such a large wardrobe of woollies. She must look like a real baby. "Dancing Toes," Brooklyn.—Then you really have dancing toes. Were the exams, for dancing or music, dear? Good news that you passed. "Lovebird,." Johnsonville.—A versemaker among the new pixies 1 .We're glad .to have you in the Ring, Freda. May I see some of your poems? * r , ' "KHtie," Hataitai.—You've sent more than a breath of heather with your letter, lass. The Elf and I think we'd liks^ to explore "Scotland one day. "Nutmeg," Island Bay.—The', drawing isn't quite up to printing standard, dear, ibut you aro getting on nicely; * Keep on practising, and you may use pencil, if ;you like, . "Shining Moon," Island Bay.—A big welcome, new ptxie 1 Glad you. like tennis. It's a splendid game. We'll look for "Shining Moon" every Saturday.

Aunt Agatha Settles The Question

(Written for the Rinjf by "Strathaird," 14, Hamilton.)

PETER and Lorraine Foster were usually the best of friends, as they wei* twins, but once they had a very fierce quarrel, and the cause of thetrouble was—Montjj! • -^ You see, a few years ago, old Mrs.' Fussypot (a hen) had a number of chickens, two of theni being little hen chickens. Mrs. Foster gave one ,of these to Lorraine and the other to Peter. Lorraine called hers "Dame Elsie" and Peter (who was reading "Treasure Island" at the- time) called his "Dame Silver." When they had passed the chicken stage they ceased to be a novelty to the children, and they soon forgot all about "Dame Elsie" and "Dame SU-,; ver," Then Peter and Lorraine both got the measles, and as soon as they were better they were sent away for a holiday. When they returned home again, they discovered that a number of the hens had had chickens, but amongst them all there was only .one little rooster. "That belongs to one of the 'damsels,'" said Mr. Foster. The Fosters always called "Dame Elsie" and "Dame Silver" the "damsels." "Oh, which one?" cried Lorraine. "Is it 'Dame Elsie's'?" "Why. my dear," laughed Mr. Foster. "I'm sure I don't know. Both Jhe \ damsels had chickens. By the way, Peter, that little speckled hen-chicken belongs to 'Dame Silver.' You'd .better take special care of her. She looks a delicate little thing." "But, Daddy," said Lorraine, "can't you think who the rooster belongs to?" "No, I can't." answered Mr. Foster. "I only found out jthe other day that there was a rooster amongst them." ' ' '■' "Oh, dear, I'm sure he belongs to 'Dame Silver,'" said Peter. "Why, he ; looks like her!" - I "I think he looks more like 'Dame Elsie,'" retorted Lorraine, spiritedly. "Oh, these family likenesses," laughed Mr. Foster. "Well, I will leave you two to fight it out." ; ' • After a few days Peter and Lorraine had stopped glowering every time the other entered the room, but the family wisely avoided the subject of Monty—as the rooster was soon christened. Then Aunt Agatha came, and for a little while the twins forgot all about their enmity towards one another, and joined fdrees in dodging Aurit Agatha. She had an annoying habit of patting Peter on the head, when he had a friend at the house, and sayings "He was such a dear little baby! When he sucked his pink little foot he looked perfectly adorable! You've no idea." And saying to Lorraine, when she was trying to appear grown-up because there were visitors, "My dear Lorraine, how nice you looked in your first little button-up coat! You were simply sweet! I don't think ril ever forget it. And, of course, it wasn'* so very long ago, was- it, dear?" So you can'probably gather from this that Aunt Agatha was n^ iqq popular with the twins—but the climax came when mother was invited ir another Aunt's house for the weekend, and ten minutes after she had gone a telegram arrived from a bishop to say that he and his wife were t>assins, through the town and would probably drop in for tea. Now this bishop -*a» a very important friend of Mr. Foster's, so the only thing to do was to havt a very special tea. Aunt Agatha and the twins sat down to think—at least Aunt Agatha thought and the twins amused themselves by digging up ol& treasures from the back.of the sofa. At last Aunt Agatha jumped up. ! "I've got it!" she cried. The twins jumped too. "What?" they chorused. But Aunt Agatha just bustled away without answering them. The following evening the bishop arrived and they sat down to a lovely tea. Half-way through the meal Mr. Foster casually inquired as to which ; fowl Aunt Agatha had killed. "Oh," she said airily, "that young rooster there,was such a fuss over. The hens are all laying too well and, besides, I thought that it would be a ' good way to settle the question as to whom it belonged." Lorraine and Peter left the table hurriedly and were seen no more that evening, but, anyway, as Aunt Agatha said, it had definitely settled the argument. But it was a long time before either of the twins could be prevailed upon to eat fowl, and the subject of Monty was never referred to again.