FAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 17

FAIRY RING

A MUCH-LOVED DOG,

It will;be a long time before New Yorkers forget Paddy Jteilly, for in the twelve years of his life Paddy became one 6i the city's best-known figures.

He used to sit outside the library in Fifth Avenue, and busy New Yorkers, >#ho are perpetually In a hurry to get somewhere, would always slow down and have a 1 few words with him as they dipped into their pockets for loose change. ->'. ■:

A "HOLIDAY CLUE"

NEW YEAR DIARY

ANOTHER "PADDY"

A SOLDIER GRITS HIS TEETH

Millions of people must have stopped and patted Paddy every day. No border terrier .ever had a niore engaging way. Paddy was' born in Wales and went to New York, where he became the mascot of the Humane Society. Should funds be needed for any charity, Paddy took charge of affairs. He helped to build hospitals, sent slum children away for holidays, and fed the homeless, yet all he did was to sit at his post with a tin mug round his neck and appear with his eyes for" funds. Paddy's name has often- made headlines in American papers, for he held 22 medals and 4 silver cups for saving life. Once he rescued ■ three children 'from drowning in the surf at Miami; another time he pulled nine people from a burning house. j • Now the 'little* hero has passed away; but his memory will be kept green in a New Jersey pet cemetery', where: a group of trees shades his resting place' which is marked by these- words: "Here lies Paddy, the King of Hearts."

Paint These Sunbathers

*

3)o«»y 37<»UMf

HOLIDAY ELVES-^—

"Some friends, my sister, and myself have formed a holiday club. We have an old box, and each day we put little gifts for each other in the box. Yes^ terday, we had a club concert in whicnv we all did items. We invited all our mothers and had a subscription towards morning tea. It was great fun, although I forgot the words of my song in the middle of it, and had to hum it." , ->.

"This year I am keeping a diary and so that I won't forget to record my doings..JLkeep it. under-my- pillow^and write in it as soon as I_go. t(? bed; and: would ybw. believe it, instead of it b^ing a nuisance, I quite look'forward, to writing'oiit my thoughts." |

"SJLVER SNAFFLES" (13). Mastertbn."'

How quickly this young New Year is growing,/and what happy memories this January will have for thousands of you. Letterbox Elf and I have watched you this week building forts on the beach, racing with your dogs along the firm wet sand, having grand times in the breakers, and singing, chattering bus loads of you flying up the . . .climbing roads to glimpse the city and harbour beauties from the hilltops. 8 .'...'-'■ No, You didn't spy us! But we were there just the same, enjoying the fun just as much as you. We know just how sad it will be for you when holidays end and. schpolbags miist be packed. All kinds of bits and pieces with a holiday flavour are finding their way to the \Rihg, and how we love to see them in the letterbox. Keep your pencils buisy, pixie ones, because there is still room for more good works. The cameras, too, are clicking and we*re hoping ever so hard that some of your snaps will be clear enough to, print. You'll find two excellent holiday drawings in the Ring tonight and another story of t*Strathaird ns" amusing scapegrace, Tommy. I wonder what new story-makers and artists this schooViyear will bring to the Ring, ......."„'..'. ..... '.,.,., ',,,.."'..•„..!.'

Welcome hachto alkour home'coming elves and to all who intend joining the Ringl "-: . . ■ • - / : -/

THE CARAVAN TOUR

FAIRIEL.

WEEPING WILLOW. Down :. . where.'' a. small • stream . flows '■ Upon Us banks a willow grows, Lonely and lovely weeping there V Its branches hanging like a maiden's hair, ■•.•••■ Now and then It Is stirred from Its weeping, : For * a small breeze through its branches Is creeping. Gaily ; it goes leaping now. Moving each weeping willow bough, Gracefully it' wavers from side to side . Waiting for the restless wind to subside. GUESS! Which pet Is often trodden underfoot? The Car-pet. ■, Why is a slippery step like the letter VI Because it makes "all fall." Why is a prince like a cloudy day? Because he la likely to reign (rain). When is a tree as soft as a bed? When it is down. ■ Why does a clock always look bashful? Because bis hands are to front of bis face. What 1b the difference between a jeweller and a gaoler f One sells watches and the other watches calls. What is tbat which Is so brittle that you have only, to name it to break ••It* •. .•.'.•■•■. Silence,

TOMMY'S ' recovery from the nr\ -r* • -• /^ "I • measles was slow for he had been I OTTITTIV TlT*l 11 o*Gi tHA Si 111Q rl ITI P very ill. After he was better A \JXMJJ.MJ.] UL-XIXUp ILIU kJ UIIOXIIIIC he was not strong enough to go back - to school and he found great pleasure .. ■"— — in sitting on a chair in the sunshine, watching his less fortunate comrades gef"*y- "It's "cause it's against our like snails unwillingly to Principles." school*" After a, week of convalescing Tor > the love of Mike!" ejaculated Tommy threw his books into his bag Tommy, as he left them. He wandered and announced thai he was returning arP«nd the playground, speaking to to the hated school. It had not been vaiious boys and finding to his disgust so bad missing school: but while he th. at *ney all seemed to be affected was not there he was not allowed to w«h the same strange malady as Peter play Red Indians or pirates with his aiid Jiramy. Finding little or no amuse"Sassenachs." ment In the playground, he entered the Tommy walked into the playground schoolroom. On the doorstep he stood with a jaunty air. On the way he had „,,„ ~,D +1 -. .. .. , fought two boys and beaten both of « f^Jffi ß ??' 1S? n<KS l W? S lO them, so he felt he had regained his l°° d talking to .Mr.^SutherW? Was reputation. Jimmy Patterson and *L«L arf el or a^falrlylargfe fairy? Peter Jordan, who had been standing Jf?^' of course ' + ? eme? thf existence n, f r the gate, rushed over to Mm. g %»%&& meTn^^tad^ot^ jJS'SSF. 'hR* yoTSeen GJhe tSS&^ * ' ** *>*" irfssionary?" "Hullo," she said, sweetly. "I don't "Missionary? What missionary?" think we've met before, have we?" "Miss Delia Martyn," said Peter, roll- It wasn't often that Tommy was rening the name round his tongue like dered speechless, but njow his tongue tasty morsels. "Oh, he wasn't at Sun- seemed to have lost all power of moveday school last Sunday, was he, ment. ■ HoVever, Mr. Sutherland Jimmy?" . answered for him.

"Of course, that's right," agreed Jimmy. "Peter and me we're going to be missionaries when we grow up." "You're going to be missionaries!" repeated Tommy weakly. "Gosh! I think it's about time I came back. Listen," and his face brightened. "I licked! John West and Billy Leddon on the way to school s'morning!" "Did you?" cried Peter, excitedly. "Billy is two years older'n you, too! I'll bet ". . "Peter," interrupted Jimmy in a scandalised tone. Peter coloured. "You really oughtn't to flght, you know, Tommy," he said then. "No," agreed Jimmy. "It's against our principles. Peter and me—we haven't fought since Sunday. That's," he counted on his fingers, "four days." "That's," retorted Tommy, bitterly; "because you're scared." "Oh no, we're not," said Jimmy

"No," he answered, "Tommy has been absent for some weeks with the measles. Quite a relief foi the rest of the school. Tommy, thi s is Miss Delia Martyn, a missionary from Japan. Miss Martyn, allow me to present Tommy Kentley." So this was the missionary! "How do you do?" said Miss Martyn. "V* hat'can you do? All the other boys have told iSle about their prowess on the football field, cricket pitch, and the swimming bath. What are you best at?" As Tommy still could not speak, Mr. Sutherland again spoke for him. "I think Tommy's one claim to fame is that he is the worst boy in the class and bottom of it," he said airily. "Surely not!" exclaimed Miss Martyn. Then Tommy found tongue. "I'm in the football team and I licked John West and Billy I^eddo^ on the way to school s'morning.** '.

"What?" gasped Miss Martyn. "Yes," said Tommy, mistaking her cry of horror for one of admiration. "And Billy Leddon is two years older'n me, and I made his ; nose bleed," he concluded in satisfaction.

When the Athenia was hit by a torpedo, Mr. Bowen, of Vancouver, who was a sergeant-major in the Great War, but Is now a/ missionary in Western Canada, did not bother about himself and did not even trouble to look for a lifebelt, states an overseas writer. Instead, he set about doing all he could to help those around him, and his crowning act was to rescue a ten-year-old boy by lowering himself into a lifeboat with this child in his arms while holding to the rope himself mainly by his teeth, j When, Mr. Bowen arrived back home in Vancouver he found that the tale of his heroism had been, told by other survivors of the wreck, but it was very reluctantly that he told the tale himself. "The youngster's father was looking after the mother, who is an invalid. Someone had. to take him down, so I volunteered. I remembered reading about children using their teeth to come down ropes, so I tried it. I picked up the child and down we went." Mr. Bowen rubbed his jaw, arid then, as though to explain the deed, he said, "Well, I just happened to be an old soldier." ..'■■■ Now to Vancouver (and to us) he just happens to be an old hero!

A 'WHEELBARROW WELCOME'

I "Last week Vvtw6 of my; cousins ar«, rived from Auckland to stay with an uncle. My uncle lives on a farm and is about a mile from the railway, station. When the time arrived to meet the train uncle went out to the garage to get the car. Picture his horror when he found that the engine had been turned on and that the battery had run down. The result was that my cousins had to walk while their luggage was wheeled in the wheelbarrow* It was discovered that the culprit was my small cousin, aged three." "CHRISTOPHER ROBIN", (14). Masterton. .

Miss Martyn gave a low moan and fled from the room. Tommy watched her go; then he turned to Mr. Sutherland.

"Doesn't she like fighting?" he yea tured.

"No," replied Mr. Sutherland shortly —then: "Tommy, it there's just one thing that must not be mentioned that's the first thing you'll talk about, isn't it?"

"I guess so," agreed Tommy dole' fully.

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AN IDEA FpR BOOK-LOVERS

Then the bell rang and. the rest o± th*, school came in. Later on Miss Martyn came back and began to tell the children all,about her adventures in Japan. ■ "Now," she said in conclusion, "You l 4ttle boys and girls can't go to Japan— at least not until you are older. I'U tell you what you can do, though. Think of somebody very lonely who, hasn't a little son and daughter to cheer him and try to bring a little sunshine into his life. Oh—and another thing! Please, please do not flght other boys! Why, you anight hurt them!" she shuddered. "Hands up all those who promise not to fight!" A pleasing array of hands went up and Miss Martyn retired in a burst of cheering. Ag soon as the bell rang Tommy made his way between the rows of desks to where Billy Leddon and; John West were standing. "I say, I'm soj?ry I hurt you, Billy," he said. "Is ypur nose still sore?" "Eh?" Billy gazed at his conqiierer in bewilderment. "Do you feel sick?" "No," replied Tommy.

, I have decided how to write down 4n an exercise book all the books 1 read and under the title I write what I think of the story. I have read eleven books since the end of Pecem.ber."\. • ■ •■•■■.'■■•: .■■■•'•■'•■■ ■•■: : -'--•

"CHRISTOPHER ROBIN" (14). Masterton. -, .

RIDDLE IN RHYME, My first' 1b In : juggle , but not in trick; ' My second's In cudgel but not in stick, My third Is In leaping but'not in lump, . My fourth. Is In cistern but' not In pump, My fifth Is in bushel but not In ton, My sixth Is In sorrow but not in fun, My seventh's in castle but not in house, My eighth is in "-cockroach but not in mouse, My ninth is in every but not in all. My tenth Is in stockade but not In wall, My eleventh's in anchor but not in ship, My twelfth is in birches but not in whip, . My whole is the work of a writer great, Think now with care and the answer state. NEVER. Mother: John; bow many times must I tell you not to eat the Jam? John: For the last time, Ma, because there is no more jam. HER MISTAKE. Guard: All tickets, please 1 Old Lady (first time on train) ; No I Go and buy yourself a ticket.

hour, I think you've got a touch of sun-stroke."

''Yes," said, Tommy, clenching his lists; then he unclenched them and walked out.

Tommy tried very bard to "bring the sunshine" into his own home that evening but after carefully tipping the potatoes down the sink while trying to drain them and cutting his hand while carving the meat and spilling salt all over his father's dinner, . he gave it up. The following afternoon Tommy, Jimmy, and Peter went over to Mrs. Derman's house. Mrs. Derman earned her living by selling the flowers which grew in the gardens around her house. The "Sassenachs" had seen Mrs. Derman go out earlier in the day and Old Donald, the stationmaster, said that she had gone to London, As there, was no return train until iive o'clock the "Sassenachs" thought they were safe; Laden with trowels, spades, forks, etc., the boys set to work. They worked so hard that they did not notice how time was flying, nor did they hear the creak of the garden gate. They were completely taken by surprise when Mrs. Derman cried—

"Well," said Billy, "if you want a little friendly advice, I'd say to keep out of the hot sun during the lunch-

"What ARE you boys doing?" "We—we're bringing the sunshine," explained Tommy lucidly,

"You're WHAT?" "Bringing the sunshine," repeated Tommy patiently, Mrs. Derman gave r cry and fell to her knees besides the pile of "weeds." "These—these are the prize roses my brother sent me from England, and these —Oh!" she choked in her fury and began wringing her hands. The "Sassenachs," seizing their opportunity, crept silently through the gate and rushed down the lane. At the end of the lane they met Billy and John, . "Whoops!" cried Tommy and went for Billy. Soon there was nothing to be seen but a mass of arms and legs; then Tommy rose and dusting his hands gazed at William—the conquered. "Therel" said Tommy with aatisfacfaction.