FAIRY RING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 17

FAIRY RING

Can You Write Letters?

Pixie Folk:—

Such a lean-and hungry mail-bag this week, my elves. Even two or three large-sized Easter eggs, sketched in pencil, didn't fatten it at all. Did Letterbox Elf's important announcement about the letter competition scare you?' "Perhaps'they are busy thinking of something 'specialty good for next week's mailbag," said the Elf hopefully. We arc looking forward to the postman's whistle as eagerly as you when you are expecting letters from overseas peiifriends. "<■••■■ —v Letters, some boys and girls think, are as dull as some lessons; like unpleasant tasks, to be done only when they must. But this is riot the right way to think about letter-writing. If you write just as you speak in desscribing to your friends things you have; done or seen, an amusing experience or a new thought, you would riot find Tetter-writing at all dull or laborious. ; Many people have the gift of good letter-writing, and through their letters give even more pleasure than storymakers or poets. When you are older you may read the published letters of famous people, letters that will help you to understand the writers' actions and their places in history because of their lives and thoughts.* Instead of being merely historical names, these people Vill become vivid and real to you because of their letters. ■ Here is a small piece from a letter written by "Lassie." I hope -you - will enjoy the picture it paints as much as I did, and that you will notice how different it is from a letter which might have been^written like this:'-"/' have just been for a walk along the beach in the wind. The waves ivere very high and there were clouds of sptay^heyqnd the rocks." ' r;.:B;ut""L^ssie" says it like this: "A button-wp-y our-coatday this! But what a glorious one! I think the waves ivere enjoying it most of all. They rushed in, tumbling over each other \, and the wind- and I laughed to see them. Great breakers there were, too, like curtains of; jade-green silk, that suddenly crumpled into the foaming water. And the spray, beyond the rocks at Moa Point, itias lovely in the fleeting sunshine. Living lace it seemed,. flung upward by Hie wind." ' Don't you. agree that "curtains of jade-green silk" and spray like "living lace" describe perfectly the beauty of the sea? To win a prize, letters need not be long. The number of pages will not count, please try, everybody. Both "Mischievous" and "Silver Star" sent very good letters this week • jj, -lu-My love to you all

FAIRIEL

sShOJOL CROSSWORD

Clues Across,

1. That.which calls you to school, 5^ Butter substitute; 6; What this picture represents.. 10. Expression not learnt at school. 11; Exclamation.

12. Another exclamation. -14. This requires some figuring. 18. You like this kind of lesson. 19. Something over a foot. 22. American city. t. 25. Many, many pounds^,; 2& Row of seats. _~ :o§--^---^ .; ■■•■■.i*« Down. ■ " I. Kind of acid. 3. French for "the.". 4.yA';game. . 6. Show shoe. 7. Noise of laughter. ; 8. Electrical measure (pi.). : 9. Portion. V 10. Either. ■ - - ■■' ■ -:: 14. One who paints, or draws. 15. What a bad boy does- to his sister. 16. Part of 19 across 17. One who calls. 20; Cry. f . 21. Preposition. 23. Rhode Island (abbreviated). 24. In explanation (abbreviated). «■ ■ ■» * ■ A QUESTION OF WEIGHT. Answer this question quickly: Which: weighs most, a pint or ■milk or a' 7pint of cream? :

THE HIGHWAYMAN

Most people, without thinking, .answer, "A pint of cream," the\ cream being-so much thicker than milk; but it is obvious;. that, as cream floats on milk, it must be the lighter substance.

Kq>W<l>oo<ii><)!

l(X~>o3'

"Victoria sat staring out of the coach window. It was a dull, misty afternoon, and they were passing through a dark wood. Victoria Alberta was going to, visit her aunt, the Queen 'of England, and was not top keen on going, .v. . ; •'"'■:

"Victoria Alberta," she murmured, "You're going to have a dull time. With a name like yours you could expect little else. Now, if you were called Mary or Ann, or Betsy, it might be different, but-:- 1-" She broke off with a startled gasp. The coach Estopped and the door was jerked open by \ k masked man. l "Would your -Ladyship care ta alight?" he asked politely. "No, I would not!" said Victoria. "Then; I'm afraid, my little friend, I must order you to do so," he said, tapping his pistol.

"You would ( not dare to harm me," cried Victoria. ' ;.

The man smiled. "It is not a matter of daring," he replied. % "All I need do is touch this little";trigger and you would be hurt."

"You would not dare!" gasped Victoria. "My aunt,: tlie. Queen, would have you punished;" V '

"That would be a case, of 'catch me if you can,'" he replied with a smile. "But come, I cannot waste time like this." ■ .-. ■< : ..■ ' •:.

Victoria rose and stepped towards the door. Her face wore;a frightened expression. Then,, suddenly, her h|and came, jjjj^^ijth, a jer^^||iesinian^caugb.t by surprise, fell. baejctfaards on to the road. Victoria slammed, the door' and called to the driver to go, as fast as he could. .

Settling back, she murmured to herself, "Well, Victoria Alberta, it -looks as if you're not going to have such a dull, time after all."

Levin,

"COUNTRY MOUSE" (13)

WHERE DO THE FAIRIES LIVE?

(Original.) Where do the fairies live? It is not hard to tell: In the tulip and lily-bud And the golden cowslip's bell. What do the -fairies eat? Honey and summer dew; And they sip. the lip of the crocus- '■■'■■ ■■- -'■bud.,,:..■■.; And .the sweets of the violet' blue. Their wings are lacy and fine, They are light as the thistle-down, Green leaves they use for their tiny shoes, And petals for doublet gown. . 4 "SQUEAK" (12).

A WONDER OF MODERN SCIENCE

PUZZLES TO SOLVE

JUMBLED GIRLS' NAMES,

If the letters "of each of the following phrases are placed in a different order^they-wiir spell' six girls' Christian names. , ?, HUE DAY -• - GOLDEN NEW . . RED BAN , THE TIN EAR ' ■ > GREAT RAM • : FIND WIRE A FRUIT YOU LIKE. A buxom farmer's wife would be Quite-suitably described by me. Without my head a small mass find. Curtailed, a fruit is left behind. • ■ '<■■■ - - '■■- ONE UP. -■• •"Sedentary work," remarked a college lecturer, "tends to lessen the endurance." •.., s"lh other words," interrupted a student, "the more one sits the less one can stand." " "Exactly," retorted the lecturer; "and if one lies a great deal one's standing is lost completely." ■

AT THE BEACH. (Original.) We went to tho beach on Saturday, It was go jolly there. We watched the ships out in the bay, As the wind blew through our hair. We saw the punch and judy 6how,_ Which really was so good," And then -wo went and had a row, In a small boat made of wood. "SILVER STAR" (12)

LAST WEEK'S ANSWERS.

What You Take to School.—Tablet, ruler, pencil. • ... .'..-.. Hidden Mythology.—Psyche, Venus, Achilles, Diana..:: - - .-.'.--.. :..' ' ...;.■ .. School Crossword—

Johnsonville.-.

ON THE FARM. (Copied.) ■ I'll save and save and buy a farm, With every animal, of course; And when I buy I'll specially choose A big black horse and a big white horse, And big fat pigs, all black and white,And little pigs with curly tails • And ducks and hens and cows and calves, A* d milk and cream in shiny pails, Groat carts and ploughs, an engine, too, To hoot and snort and thresh the grain. And 0 i I'll have a 'normous barn And sheds to keep things from the rain. I'll drive my carts, I'll thresh or- plough. Then—for a treat—just once a week, I'll ask the farmer boys to tea, A barn's the place for hide-and-seek! "PRINCESS POM POM" (10).

Lower Hutt.

THE BROOK (Original.)

You babble: along o'er stones and moss, ■ With neither a worry nor care, Whilst beautiful flowers along your banks

Inhale the cool, sweet air. With a kiss, a sigh, you drop o'er the brink,

And.flow on through the trees, Behind you leaving ii waterfall. With a sons like the -drone,.of bees. JEAN HENDERSON.

Lower Hutt.

FAIRIEL SENDS. . . "Gtorla," Auckland*.—Just a peep at Wellington, thia time. We're all hoping you'll come again very soon. "Irish Jean's" Ring friends will be glad that your letter Is on its way. to Ireland. Heaps of love and good wishes from the Ring people 1

"Lassie," Kelburn.-^You see that I have used you for an "object lesson." The Elf and 1 did enjoy the salty breath of the sea that your letter brought. The Elf and I are looking forward to our visit to "The House In the Hollow." . ■ ; •■'

"Mary G.," Wanga.nui.^-I must tell the King about your "Greenwood" next week. It was exciting to find its new green . cover In the 'letterbox.... . and we'd love to know whose pen makes the dainty "tops and tails" for the poems.

'Mariri Elf," Roseneath.—Could you make your writing a little taller please, pixie. We almost missed the poem about "Pip" and that would have been a tragedy. I like the tiny drawIng of the black-nosed puppy. '

BEST LETTER CONTEST.

Prizes will be given for the best letters sent to the Ring each month by boy and girl members. Letters may be any length and may include everyday topics, hobbies, descriptive paragraphs, or amusing experiences. Neatness will count when the entries are judged, and all competition letters to Fairiel should be written in ink.

"Butterfly Blue," Petone.—We"ye : been trying to guess how many T's. there are in the Tlppety verses. Wouldn't it make a good competition 1 It's almost a . tongue-twister. Our lore to you, Littlest. "Silver Star," Johnsonville. —What a jolly picnic you had at Eastbourne. It was an interesting letter of news and . views and glimpses of eea and bush . . . and thank you for the beachy poem that you made up. "Day-dreaming Elf," City.—Good news that you, too, decided to join the Ring, <?Diana." May we have some of your day-dreams for our storymakers' corner? ■' ■"Phflippa W.," City.—Twins! What fun to | have you in the King. Are you the like-as-I two-peas kind •of twins? I hope you'll come visiting one day but you must choose another-pcnname, please Philippa, as "Daydreaming Elf" Is taken. You'll find your i questions answered in Rules-of-the-Ring, I fay. .. ' ' '" ■ i"Milmay," Northland. —Another Animal Page poem Thank you, Milmay. I think I have a small sketch that will fit it perfectly. "John W.," City.—A parcel of boys' magazines I from you, John. It was. a pleasant surprise ; to find them in the Ring. We know of just 1 the right bookshelf for them. 'Helen 5.," Brooklyn.—Nice-of- you to pay a ! midday surprise visit, Helen, I hope you were not late for afternoon school. Thank you for the verses and the dainty drawing.

THE DAZZLING QUEEN

Salutes are the order of the day, and it is interesting to remember how the naval salute came into being.

After the defeat of the Spanish Armada Queen Elizabeth had a busy time , rewarding her- men for their gallant conduct, presenting the prizes in person. ' "On account of the dazzling loveliness of her Majesty," the officers commanded, "ali seamen, upon receiving their prizes, should shield their eyes with their right hand,"

• • • THE CUBS' GOOP DEED

A pack of Wolf Cubs in an English village was debating what could be done as a special '?Good Deed" for Christmas. The boys talked over this plan and that, and' then their Pack Deader had a good idea. "Why not make a Christmas cake and send it to a Wolf Cub Pack which cannot have a Christmas party like ours, and which wouldn't be able to afford the pennies to buy a cake?" she suggested. The Cubs thought this a splendid idea, and decided that each boy should contribute a certain part of the ingredients needed for the cake and bring his share to the next Pack meeting.

When the following week came, the twelve boys who composed the Pack arrived with their parcels in their hands. Some had brought currants, others raisins; one had brought candied peel and another flour; and between them all there was enough for a really fine cake.

"The Pack Leader provided the little extras which the Cubs had overlooked, and then three of the biggest boys were chosen to help with the actual making. They went to the Leader's home, where large aprons were tied round them, and set, to work sifting flour, beating eggs, picking over dried fruit, making bread-crumbs, until, \ when ■ everything was ready, they all took a hand in the stirring.

Then the three boys carried the big bowl very carefully to the village baker, who had promised, as his share in the present, to bake the cake for them in his large oven. As soon as.it wes ready the Pack Leader undertook to ice it, but the boys were so keen to help with this exciting part of the work that they ..insisted on providing the needed materials.

The cake looked very fine and rich L.. its covering of white sugar icing, with the words "Merry Christmas" written in pink across the top. Then it was packed up v/ith the greatest care, and sent off to the poorest part of the city of Birmingham.

When the Wolf Cubs opened the parcel they found, in addition to the wonderful cake, nuts, figs, dates, and other Christmasy fare, contributed by the villagers, who had been so interested in "what the Cubs had done that they insisted in adding their share to the present.

* - '

Speed is a fascinating study. We express it in "miles per hour." Motorcars, motor-cycles, and some bicycles are equipped with speedometers, from whose clocklike face may be read the vehicle's rate of speed. Lacking a practical speedometer of a mechanical sort for pedestrians, let us see if there isn't some other way of achieving the same result. A means of estimating your walking speed in miles per hour may be worked out if you have several hundreds of feet of fairly strong string, a yard stick or tape measure, some sealing wax, and a watch with a second hand.

Before making the speed test, tie one end of your ball of twine to a tree or post. Measuring along the string from that end, drop a little dab of sealing wax as a marker every 88 feet, until all the string is divided into 88----foot sections.

With the marked string stretched along the path you intend to walk,

BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO DO.

Where am I going? I don't quite know; Down to the stream where the king-cups growUp on the hill where the pine-trees blow — Anywhere, anywhere! I don't know.

Where am I going? The clouds sail by, Little ones, baby ones, over the sky. Where am I going? The shadows pass, Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

// you were a cloud and sailed up there, You'd sail on water as blue as air, And you'd see me here in the fields and say "Doesn't the sky look green today?"

WJiere am I going? The high rooks call "It's awful fun to be born at all." Where am I going? The ringdoves coo: "We do have beautiful things to do. 9"

If you were a bird that:lived on high, You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by You'd say to the wind wlien it took you away: "That's where I wanted to go today!"

Where am I going? I don't quite know. What does it matter where people go — Down to the wood where the bluebells grow—r Anywhere, anywhere. I don't know.

—A. A. Milne.

HOW FAST YOU WALK

you are now ready to determine your walking speed. Letting the string run loosely through one hand, and holding the watch in the other, start walking from the post when the second hand points to 60. Letting the string slip through your fingers, keep going until the second hand completes its circuit and again points to 60. Then stop, and the number of sealing-wax markers which have passed through your fingers during that minute will equal the speed at which you were walking, - expressed in miles per hour.

It is easier to see how this comes about when you multiply 88 feet by 60, and discover the answer to be 5280 feet. Since 5280 feet is one mile, 88 feet is 1-60 of a mile, and since one minute is 1-60 of an hour, you walk as many sixtieths of a mile in a sixtieth of an hour as you (if you continued walking at the same rate) would walk miles in one hour.

AN ANSWER TO . . .

"Jonky," Northland.—Who thought out these quaint, gnome-land names. • They make me think of three little people in autumn-tinted tunics, with buckled shoes, pointed caps, and" wide smiles. I 'spect the smile part is right. "Tressa," Northland.—Welcome to three-from-one-mushroom. It was a surprise to find three new people in one envelope, and we're very glad to have you in our King. . . , "Midge," Northland.—The smallest of all Iras a welcome, too. I think, .your bright crayon drawings are splendid, Midge. They remind me of some I saw at the Exhibition. Did you see them?

"Nancy J.," City.—Sucn » tluy voice at the telephone. ... I thought it was a :real pixle-voice. Yes, you may have your painting back, Nancy. I am keeping it safely for you.

"Blue Veil," City.—l did ... and I spent many minutes looking at those dainty pictures and marvelling at the cleverness of a needle that can make a picture as finely as a brush.

NEW NAMES IN THE RING

City

"Day-dreaming Elf" (9) "Jonky" (14) Northland "Tressa" (12) ... Northland "Midge" (10) Northland

"Medea," Northland.—Letterbox Elf would, like to know if your address is still the same, for he has found the book you wanted. Perhaps you'll call for it. We'd like to see you.

"Brian 8.," Seatoun.—lt dosn't matter at all . . . how long or short, your letter is, laddie, for even a note of a few lines may carry a vivid word picture or a little piece of humour. I hope you'll be amongst next week's triers.

"Mother Bear," City.—l began to feel Easter in the air really and truly when all those pencilled chickens and eggs tumbled out, of the letterbox. Happy holidays, pixiekin.

"Silver Streak," Johnsonvllle.—Try to make your verses flow more smoothly, lass. There were several bumpity bits Jn this week's poems tho' for the most part they were good . efforts. I'm glad you enjoyed the book we chose for you.

'Tap 0.." Dannevirke.—The daintiest dancing elf we've had in the Ring for many weeks. Your ballerina leads the way to a treasure of a shop in a tiny street. Can you guess its name? ■

"Mischievous," City.—Pixie Penfriends will find it a task to write a more Interesting letter than this, so many thoughts of happiness and beauty were tucked between its lines. I hope the working world does not swallow you altogether, Kathleen, for we all love your stories and letters.

TINTS OF AUTUMN

Where do the leaves get the colouring matter for their tender hues of fading? They have them always, but they are kept back by the green, or hidden under the green imparted to them by their green chlorophyll, which is their life fluid. When the chlorophyll's life fluid begins to falter, and its purpose in using the rays of the sun to manufacture food for the plant is, at an end, then the yellow, red and purple dyes come into their own. They have no longer a powerful green competitor in the field.

"Ye lie!" savagely hissed the. Arab,

AN UMBRELLA STORY

One Sunday morning one of the most absent-minded professors imaginable arrived home from church and brandished an umbrella at his wife, who met; him at the'front door. "Well, my dear," he said to^ hery "you see I did not leave my umbrella behind in the vpew today!"

"No," she said with a wry smile, "the trouble is that you didn't take one with you. Yours is in the hall!"

BUSH AND SEA

"Not long ago we decided to go to Eastbourne for the day. , We walked down the lately-completed Ngahaiiranga Gorge where, u^pon reaching the end, we caught an Eastbourne bus. As we rode along we could see the breakers crashing over the rocks in the harbour. We rode round about a mile into Eastbourne, where we alighted and walked back towards the seashore to see some of the scenery. The, hills on the right of us. were covered with native trees and shrubs, from the direction of which came the beautiful songs of many birds. We walked to Day's Bay, where we fed some ducks and; a large snowy white swan which glided smoothly along on the water."

Johnsonville.

"SILVER STAR."

Wings Across the Desert

(A Tale of Arabian Adventure1, by J. D. Wilkinson, 15, City.)

THE whir from the engine of the Puss Moth echoed'across the desert as .the small aeroplane soared high above the scorching sands. There was scarcely a cloud in the sky to hide the blazing sun as it sent its golden beams through the listless air when Jack Benton reached over for nis field glasses and raised them to his eyes. "What is our position now, Ralph?", he inquired, keenly scanning the endless wastes of sand dunes that lay beneath. s . "Near the Oasis of Golden Dawn, I should say," answered his brother, leaning forward and taking a glance at the chart. "It is strange that we can't see any trace of wreckage, although we've searched over 100 square miles:" " * . .

The object of the two lads' task was that concerning the disappearance of the regular mail plane which had set out from Cairo on its usual route to Ashwah, and had failed to arrive at its base. After it Jiad been three days overdue the Commissioner had begun to be worried, so he asked Ralph Benton and his younger brother Jack, who owned a machine, to search. the country surrounding the route in case it had run out of petrol and had been forced to make a landing. . Ralph was about to turn the plane around the head for Ashwah, when his brother's keen eyes spotted an object on the distant horizon. "It's the oasis!" exclaimed Jack, placing the binoculars back oh ttie ledge, "and there are horsemen tpere, too!" .;..-..;.■.' He was right, and the Moth quickly covered the strip of sand that stretched over to the glistening, mirror-like water, and soon began to hover over it. Tall green palm trees encircling'the bank gently rocked in the cool, refreshing breeze, while stalwart Arabs watered their mounts in the sparkling waters. . . .

"Let's land!" eagerly cried "his brother. "Perhaps they can give us some information leading to the whereabouts of the plane." He pulled out the throttle' and the Puss Moth went into a smooth, graceful dive. The earth sped up to meet them and they prepared to land. When they were near the ground the Arabs turned \in their saddles and threw their rifles to their shoulders.

A volley of shot screamed through the air with staccato crackling. Ralph, gave,a surprised gasp and gradually started to climb. The engine sprang into life but gave vent to a series of sputters and suddenly died out. "The petrol tank's been hit," shouted Jack, "peering out of the window where 'streams of the precious liquid spurted down to the sand, leaving a long, uneven trail. "Look out, we're going to crash." The onrushing air howled past them in a fury and >a cloud of sparkling spray shot up towards the sky as the plane rushed ■ across the oasis and came to a standstill. It slowly began to list heavily, as streams of water rushed into the battered cabin. Both boys scrambled out through the doorway and plunged into the lake. "With a few deft strokes. they gained the banks and struggled in the powerful grip of a dozsn Araba, "Infidels!" one hissed. "What are ye doing here*** "I'll loosen their tongues if I have to rend them out with red-hot irons,"; jeered one fat individual, striding up to;the group.; , '' s "Enough, Ben Houmin," said the other, holding up his hand for silence. Jack and Ralph were seized by two dark horsemen and hurriedly bound, with strong cord. They were roughly picked up and carried to, two white steeds and flung across their backs. After the leader had seen that there ■was no possible means of escape, he gave a command and the band galloped away. ;■■■ ' ' *; # * ■' *■" # t ' *. ' '• ■ Over fifty-miles had been ridden and dusk began to encircle the riders,; The two guards rode alongside the boys, leading the horses by their bridles, and keeping a sharp ey6-on their movements. An hour laterra.group of tents appeared in the distance, scarcely visible in., the surrounding darkness..

' A hundred yards away stood the dark-silhouette of a wrecked monoplane. "The mail plane!" shouted Jack. It was it all right, or rather what was ■ left of it. The body was split in two from nose to tail and its back.was smashed beyond recognition, with its tail and rudder standing in a heap fifty yards away. One wing slanted upwards towards the bright, yellow moon, while the other lay crushed and crumpled under a blanket of yellow l sand.

Their captors were met at the camp by a number of Arabs, and the brothers were hauled off the horses and carried to a nearby tent. "There, thou infidel! What were you doing?" questioned one, bending over their bound forms.

"Searching for that wreck out there," replied Ralph in a calm tone.

"but you shall speak tomorrow*

With this he left and strode over to the flames of the camp fire. l "Cheery fellow, isn't he?" A voice from the back of the tent made them start. "Don't be scared," it continued. "I'm Tom Hawkins, of that airliner you ■ see out there." He cocked his head in the direction of the wreck.

"Oh, you're the pilot," exclaimed Jack in a relieved tone. "Yes, and those fiends tricked me into smashing my plane."

"How!" asked Ralph. "Well, it was like this. I was flying very low on my. usual' route and I saw these villains bending over what seemed' the body of one of. their comrades. Seeing me they began waving, so I, thinking they needed medical attention, attempted to land, but they fired on me. A bullet entered my head and the next thing I remembered was being tied up here.

Hours passed and gradually the Arabs retired to their tents, leaving no guard over the three, thinking they were too securely trussed up to * escape. It was close on midnight when Ralph Benton raised his hesfd and • peered out into the darkness. * "There is no one there," he whispered. "I'm going to attempt to read* that plane and wireless for help."

(To be continued.).

d>

"In the last week of the holidays ,w# went to Petone. There is a bargtf anchored some way from the shore, saf; we swam out to it and had great fuiij jumping and trying to dive from it.*.'-

"GREAT GREENFEATHER" (14). Johnsonville. '