BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 9

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

A WEEKLY TALK The winner this week i« Joan Mason, 10 Carson street, Mornington. The winning names are Moore, Goldsmith, Johnson, Burns, Chesterton, Emerson, Noyes, Masefield, Gore, Kipling, Poe, Bacon, Butler, Handel, Kitchener, Lamb, Beatty, Drake. Joan wins because her answers were written so very neatly, and she quite clearly wrote the answers herself.

The official station, 4YA, has now been opened, and is doing its duty for listeners. It is a very, very beautiful place indeed, and the children’s studio is the very place in which to tell wonderful fairy stories. The walls are of gold, and the carpet and furnishings are soft gray, like the beauty of a silver beech. The carpet is so thick that silence is preserved even when one walks across the room. Hie golden walls are beautiful golden curtains, of course, but the effect _is like one of those palaces told of, in the Arabian Nights Entertainment. We shall be able to have some perfectly happy times in our new studio. The opening of the station means that the clebration party will now come very swiftly. It will be in the month of November, so that we can make it_ a Christmas party, 100. Brother Bill may be able to announce the date in next Saturday’s ‘Star,’ but this is not a promise, but he will do so if possible. If you have any suggestions for the next party, suppose you write Brother Bill a letter at once.

Your always affectionate, BIG BROTHER BILL

BABY KANGAROO

All baby animals are delightful, but some are made particularly atti’active by a certain elusiveness, and the Zoo’s latest baby, a kangaroo, belongs to this variety. He is old enough to scramble out of his mother’s pouepi, and likes to jump about the cage investigating his surroundings; but if anyone approaches suddenly or startles him in any way he at once climbs back into his shelter so that only his little head can be seen.

A mother kangaroo carries her offspring in her pouch for a considerable time before tho little creature is able to walk, foi at birth a kangaroo is only an inch long, and by no means developed enough to look alter himsell. So, although this particular kangaroo was born at the beginning of September, he was not seen at all until the end of Novembeu, and even then ho gazed out upon the world from a safe place in his mother’s pouch for another couple of weeks before attempting to move' away. Once having taken the plunge, however, he felt brave and strong enough to leave his mother several times a day, and now he spends all Ids time scrambling in and out of the pouch. His mother, Mollic, never raises any objection, yet if a kangaroo casts her baby out of tho pouch before he is able to look aftei himself she will never take him back. This fate overtook Mollie’s first son, for after carrying him about for several weeks she suddenly turned him out and took no more in-, terest in him. Tho keeper could not lift him back into the pouch because Mol lie would not let him, and the poor baby died, too weak and undeveloped to endure the exposure. The new baby kangaroo will bo of interest to Zoo visitors, as lie is the grandchild of Hilly, who was the Zoo’s famous boxing kangaroo Billy used to wear gloves and have regular boxing matches with his keeper, and to keep himsolf in training he taught his son, Billy 11., in box. But when Billy died and the keeper wanted Billy’s son to take his father’s place the animal refused all his challenges. Yet, though he will not fi"ht with a man, Billy 11. is a boxer, for he trained one of his companions to be a sparring partner, and each morning and evening the two kangaroos box. It is now hoped that Billy 11. will teach his offspring to box, and that the new arrival will follow in his grandfather’s footsteps THE FOSTIE'S BAG 518 Leith street, Dunedin. Dear Big Brother Bill, —May 1 join your happy family? I am nine years old, and 1 am in Standard 11. at the George Street School. I have no brothers or sisters. I am reading a book called ‘ The Traitor of Double Bar Ranch.’ 1 have a canary, and it is a great whistler. We made some Everton cream toffee from your recipe, and it was very nice. 1 have made a scrap book, which I am sending to you. I will close now with best wishes.—-James Neilson. [Thank you for your small letter, James Neilson. You can certainly be a member of the family. Since you have become a member of the family you have gained a big brother also, so it won't be time to say in future that you have no brothers anyway. Your book sounds like one of those exciting cowboy stories in which the hero is a wonderful fellow with a six-gun. He shoots equally well with both hands, always shoots swifter than tho bad man of the story, has most hair-breadth escapes from death, and marries the perfectly charming young lady at the end of the story. All of which is very entertaining and exciting, little brother, but don’t let 1 The Traitor of Double Bar Ranch ’ interfere with lessons or anything else more important than your interesting story. You won’t be able to send “ Tho Traitor of Double Bar Ranch ” to interview the head master in the matter of lessons left undone; neither will the cowboy gentleman put out his hand when the head master reaches _ for tho str but enough of that painful topic. However. Jim, do be careful and keep cowboy stories in their proper place. Congratulations on your whistling canary, and Big Brother Bill is glad that vou liked the Everton toffee made from the recipe. You must write again soon.] 77 Carson street, Mary hill. Dear Brother Bill, —1 hope you are keeping well. 1 have not written to j ? ou for quite a while. We have finished our three-valve wireless set now, and on Tuesday night at half-past 11 dad tuned in for ‘2FC Sydney, and he got it on the loud speaker. lam sending you six riddles, Brother .Bill, On

Hello Everybody!

Wednesdays we go to swimming, where wo have good fun. At school I am sewing a pink dress for ray little sister, who will soon be going to school. On August 17 L went to a birthday party, where I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Before we came home wo got a piece of cake with a candle on it. My birthday is on December 14. Last Saturday my uncle Alex came to see us, and he stayed two days with us. I must close now, with love to all the aunties and uncles, and especially yourself.—l remain, your loving sister, Catherine Gray. [You must have been having some happy times lately, Catherine Gray. Big Brother Bill thinks that radio is the most wonderful thing in the world, of course: perhaps you experienced some of the wonder when dad tuned in to Sydney and snatched away some things that were happening the other side of the waters. It beats the old fairy tale witches right out of sight, and is as exciting as the good fairies waving their “magic wands. Thank you for the riddles, little sister. Riddles are getting very scarce indeed. We seem to have used all the riddles in the world at 4YA; now we have to make our own or remake the old ones over again. Swimming is good fnu, and useful, too. The next step to knowing how to save your own life if you happen to fall into deep water is knowing how to save somebody else. Brother Bill expects that you will learn life saving too. That pink dress will be simply splendid, Catherine. Brother Bill knows it will be, even though he will not see it. There are no finer things on all the earth, little sister, than things done kindly for somebody 'se, and every stitch in that pink dress is making three people happy—yourself, your little sister, and Mother Gray. Brother Bill imagines that Mother Gray is happiest of yon all, and not a little proud that her daughter is such a handy little bairn. Birthday parties are rAI good Inn. The fun changes as yon grow older, Catherine, but it doesn’t grow less. When a boy, like every other boy and girl since the world began. Big Brother Bill was made happy by the things on the table; now he is made happy by the joy of other folk. Of course, he still likes the things that appear on the table, but an unkind doctor has robbed him of the fun of eating most of them. So there yon are. But if [ Brother Bill came to your party he would have a good time, none the loss. You must have your birthday called over the air when tho date arrives nearer.] Commercial Hotel, Green Island. Dear Big Brother Bill.—Flense may I join your happy family? I am sending a reply to your competition this week. T have two little brothers who are twins. They will he three years of age on December 2. Their names are John Ross and Desmond Dyens. Wo have a cow called Jean, and if you call her she will come to you. Dad has seventy hens and seven ducks, and gets quite a large number of eggs each day. We are quite pleased to be back at school. I am in Standard IV. As I have no more to say, I will close with love to Aunt Anetta, Uncle George, Uncle Allan, and yourself.— From your loving sister, Doreen Sharp. [Thank you for your very interesting letter, Doreen Shari). You arc very welcome to the family, and Brother Bill is glad to be your third brother. You must say a kind word to my twin brothers, John Ross and Desmond Dyens; tell them that Brother Bill’s full name is William David. It must be ver.v nice to have a cow named Jean who will come if you call her. Brother Bill isn’t quite sure that he likes cows at all. Those that come when they are called are very nice and convenient milk cans; but those who come when you don’t call them, and keep on coming when you move away from them, are very awkward beasties indeed. And the bull--well, the least said about him the better. His manners are so rough, Doreen, and his way of butting in where he isn’t wanted is most embarrassing. Collecting eggs from seventy liens and seven ducks sounds much safer; Brother Bill hopes they are all working hard for a living. Brother Bill’s hens haven’t been laying at all, and you may remember that he told another member of the family that he proposed to walk in front of the pen and shake a sharpened tomahawk at the wretched things. It has worked like a charm, Doreen. It isn’t the sort of food recommended in the hooks on fowl culture, but the birds have decided to lay in the nesting box rather than lie on the dinner table, so that’s that. There are a few, however, that look like having a chop for breakfast one of these fine mornings. You must write again soon.]

Hall road, Sawyers Bay. Dear Big Brother Bill, —May I. become a member of your happy circle? I am eleven years of age, and my birthday is on the sth of August. 1 am in Standard IV. I have four brothers and one sister My eldest brother and my sister are married, and 1 have two nephews. Our head master left school to-day. and Mr Ellis, Irom Leith \ alley School, is to come to-morrow. 1 am going to try my luck in the competition. We have not got a wireless, but I enjoy reading tho columns in Saturday night’s paper. J will close now and do the competition. With love to yon and your happy family.—l. remain, yours faithfully, Jack Broadley.

[Thank you for your woe letter, Jack Broadley. Brother Bill is glad to welcome yon to the family circle, and to grant you all the rights and privileges belonging thereto; not the least of which'are the rights of being able to attend parties and picnics. Wo have jolly times on occasions. Yon say some nice things about the columns, and Brother Bill is clad that you find them interesting. All sorts of good wishes for your school, little brother, and the best of good wishes for your new head master. White again soon.)

43 Whindhaugh street, Woodhangh. Dear Big Brother Bill, —Is there any room for another sister in your happy family ? t have a little sister named Joyo and a little brother six years old named Colin. The other day 1 went up to my mate’s place at’Opoho, and she gave me a dear little kitten. As my brother is very fond of kittens. I gave it to him, and he is very proud of it. My father has two greyhounds. One is called Grand Rapids and the other Grand Jewel. We used to have the dog called Grand Slam. It was

a lovely animal, and we have a nice silver cup it won. My father brought us home a yellow and green canary, which whistles so loud that you can hardly hear yourself speaking. I have just learnt to ride a bike, and I think it is great fun as long as I don’t fall off and hurt myself. _ I will close now, as I am enclosing this week’s competition. and I do not want to miss the mail. With love to all the bairns and yourself.—From Nellie Matheson. [Surely there is room for you, Nellie Matheson, and you are very welcome indeed. Is your little sister named Joye or Joyce? You will know that both names have the same meaning—that of happiness and sunshine. Brother Bill expects that Colin values the littlekitten that you gave him. Those_ dogs must bo magnificent bcasties, Nellie. Their names suggest rather wonderful animals, and greyhounds are that sort of animal, too. Brother Bill has seen both greyhounds and whippets racing in England; it is more exciting than any other sort of sport, and very much more beautiful to watch. Congratulations on that singing canary. Is it a really truly canary, or is it a mule? The colour of the feathers _ doesn’t sound like a golden _ singing bird._ Be careful about that bicycle, little sister. They are very nice indeed to ride, but there is only one comfortable way of getting olf thorn. You may have discovered that much already. Thank yon for the letter, and be sure and write again.]

Bay View road, South Dunedin. Dear Big Brother Bill, —As 1 have already joined your happy family, I thought I would write to yon again. F have two pets—a dog and eat—and they are great pals, but I like the dog best. Ho ran do many tricks, and it is very amusing to watch the two play together. Wo have not a wireless set, but I listen in at my sister's place. Fvery Saturday nip-lit 1 make a_ rush for the ‘Star,’ and from the time f start rending about Big Brother Mill and the bairns I am deaf to all who speak to me. I have no small brothers nr sisters, as I am the youngest of the family, my next sister being seven rears older than 1. f have two sisters and two brothers, counting you. 1 Hionld like to write to Aunt Shelach Say very much. T must close now. With 1 best wishes and lots of love—l remain, your little sister, Marvic Clarke. [Yon have written a neatly-penned letter, Marvie Clarke, and you will find your name in another ' part of the columns. Brother Bill remembers that yon have joined the family, and lie is glad to receive another letter from yon. Perhaps one flay you will have a radio in your own home, and he able to enjoy bur sessions by your own fireside. Till that time comes it is pood to have a sister kind enough to allow her young brother the run of her house. ft is kind of yon to include Brother Bill among your own brothers, and lie likes it very much Jndced. Certainly you must write to Shclagh_ Pay, Marvic', and she does wrote most interesting letters. She will be glad to hear from yon.] A SOT FOR LOVERS OF COURAGE In 1893 a young American named James Frcomonb Wellington took his medical degree. Iln was an enthusiastic young man, frank about his ambition to do big things, new things, epochmaking things in his profession. Six years later ho was struck down by a disease, which has kept him bedover since. Bub the disease has not conquered his manhood. It has not formed him to give up the profession lie loves as much as life. 1

His sick room is a laboratory. A special table is stretched across, the bed, and cabinets on either side hold chemicals and glass slides. He examines blood and makes other chemical analyses for brother _ physicians. Tims he earns his own living and continues to servo suffering humanity. If lie had not been able to work ho says he would have been _ dead long ago. Perhaps many invalids do not realise that tho worst part of their suffering is boredom, and certainly most of them think that their idleness is enforced. The bravo doctor who turned his sick bed into a laboratorv proves to us that idleness is hardlv ever enforced

A woman paralysed all down one side used to do exquisite needlework with one hand and the help of a heavy cushion, to which the stuff was lacked. Hardly anything is impossible to_ a gallant spirit, however much a. sick body may hinder it.

The ambitious youngster who went to bed for life more than thirty years ago is a grey-headed man now, but his friends say ho never speaks bitterly. “Sickness is a good school, ' ho rays, and never complains that fate lias kept him at school too long. ■ THE COMPETITION , Are you very observant ? This competition demands that you sluu id askdad for a penny—you will give it back to him afterwards, of course—and IVnd the answers to all the printed questions. They arc all on the pcniiv, both sides of it, somewhere; and and they are not very hard to discover. Try it and see. There is a prize of two shillings and sixpence to the one who discovers the answers and writes them down in the neatest fashion. You must send your letters to Big Brother Bill, care ‘Kvcning Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin. An Oriental fruit: Date. A naughty child? A colour ? A chief ? The word which means unity? Neptune’s symbol? Barts of a table? The most important part of a needle ? Found in a mussel? Used in war? Fngland’s glory, but not the ling? What an isthmus means? The farmer likes these, to he fat in his field? Impertinence? Where the river joins the sea? Used to protect the head?

THE STORK OH THE ROOF

VERY LIKE A FAIRY TALE One day, in the north of a German province, some children noticed a pair of storks nesting in the roof of their house. Their home was in a lonely part of the countin', where friends were none too many, and the children’s delight was great when one of the storks allowed them to make a pet of her. But when autumn came the stork made ready to wind her way south, and the children, sorry to see her depart, wrote a little note and tied it with some ribbon round the bird’s neck. In their note they said the stork was a great pet of theirs, so would the people in whose country it, spent the winter be very kind to it : d send it back in the spring The following day the stork set off on her long journey. Then something wonderful happened, just like a fairy tale. On a, warm day of early spring the stork returned to Germany and to the nest of the year before. The children soon found her, and were delighted to find another note tied round her neck with a differentcoloured ribbon. This was from a missionary in an outlying region of the Sudan, who had befriended the children’s pet. He had been very pleased to see the care they had for the bird, and he hoped the kindness they gave to the stork might be extended "to the little native waits under his care, who would be glad of a little help with clothing and food. . It is beautiful to think that children in countries far apart can be brought together by the friendliness of a bird.

THE HONOUR SQUARE

lor neat writing; Marvie Clarke, Bay View road, South Dunedin, is awarded five marks. For interest: Nellie Matheson, 43 Woodhaugh street, Woodhaugh, is awarded five mark:?.

THE TRICK THAT FAILED I know a wonderful land, I said. Where the skies are always blue, Where on chocolate drops the bairns are fed, And cocoannt ices, too; Where puppy dogs romp at the children's feet, And tho liveliest kittens play, And little tin soldiers guard the street 1 o frighten the bears away. This land is reached by a wonderful ship That sails on a golden tide; But never a grown-up makes the trip— It is only a children’s ride. And never a cross-patch journeyed there. And never a pouting face, For it is the Land of Smiling, where A Irown is a big disgrace. Oh, you board the ship when the sun goes down, And over a gentle sea You slip away from the noisy town lo the land of tho chocolate tree. And there, till tho sun comes over the hil!, You frolic anti romp and play, And of candy and cake vou eat vour fiH. With no one to say you “ Nay.” So come It is time for tho ship to go To this wonderful land so fair, And gently the summer breezes blow To carry you safely there. So come. Set sail on this golden sea. To the land that is free from dread—- “ ! knov. what you moan,” she said to me, “ And I don’t want to go to bed.”

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

A BED-TIME TALE Hans was a little shepherd boy, who lived in Germany. One day he was keeping his sheep near a great wood, when a. hunter rode up to him. “Hon far is it to the nearest village, my bqy? ” asked the hunter. “it is six miles, sir,” said Hans. “ But the road is only a sheep track. You might easily miss your way.” “ My boy,” said the hunter, “ if you will show me the way 1 will pay you well.” Hans shook his head. “ I cannot leave the sheep, sir,” he said. “ They would stray into the wood, and the wolves might kill them.”' “ But if one or two sheep are eaten by the wolves I will pay you for them. I will give you more than you can earn in a year.”

“ Sir, I cannot go,” said Hans. “ These sliceji are my master’s. If they are lost I-should ho to blame.’’ “ If you cannot show mo the. way, will you get me a guide I* I will take care of your sheep while you arc gone.” “ No,” said Hans, ”1 cannot do that. The sheep do not knoni your voice—and ” Then lie stopped. “Can’t you trust me?” asked the hunter.

“ No,” said Hans. “ Y'ou have tried to make me break my word to my master. How do J know that you would keep your word? ” The hunter laughed. “You arc right,” he said “ I wish I could trust my servants ns your master can trust you. Show me tho path. I will try to get to the village alone.” Just then several men rode out of the wood. Thev shouted for joy.

“Oil, sir I" fried one, “ wo thought you were lost.” Then Hans learned to his great surprise that the hunter was a prince. He was afraid that the great man would bo angry with him. But the prince smiled and spoke in praise of him.

A few days later a servant came from the prince, and took Hans to the palace. “Hans,” said the prince, “I want you to leave your sheep to come to serve roe. 1. know you arc a boy whom I can trust.”

Hans was very happy over Ins good fortune. “If my master can find another boy to take my place, then I will come to serve von.”

So Hans went back and tended the sheep until his master found another hoy. After that he served the prince many years.

THE LOUIE RECIPE A little girl in Oamaru wishes to know just how to make candied orange peel. Cover the orange pee! with cold water, and bring slowly to the boil. Simmer until soft. Drain the water off, and scrape away all the white portion of the pel. Cut the yellow portion into thin strips, using the scissors. Make a. syrup by boiling a cup of sugar in halt a cup of water, until the syrup will thread when dropped from the tip of a spoon. _ Cook strips in this syrup, about five minutes, drain, and roll in fine granulated sugar. This makes a very nice lollie indeed. • Cheerio everybody, BIG BROTHER BILL.