BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 22252, 1 February 1936, Page 6

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

NOT FOR OURSELVES ALONE The winners of coin petitions published on January 18 are Alan Hannan 9 Fernhill street, Dunedin (under-ten); and Cliff Jones, King street, Mosgiet (over-ten). Congratulations. LETTERS FOR BIG BROTHER BILL Big Brother Bill is glad to receive letters from bairns who read the ‘ Evening Star ’ children’s columns, and will publish as many as possible. They should be written about things of interest to children, but must be written on one side of the paper only. THE COMPETITIONS The under-tens are asked to do a little tree planting, and the over-tens have a grocer’s riddle-me-ree. _ Send your answers to Big Brother Bill, a/o the ‘ Evening Star ’ Newspaper, Stuart street, Dunedin. Be sure to mark the envelope “ Competition.” TREE PLANTING. Under-ten years: prize one shilling. Plant ten trees in five rows, so that there will be four trees in each row. You can do this by drawing lines on a paper, and marking the place of the trees with dots. THE GROCER’S RIDDLE-MEE-REE. Over, ten years: prize one shilling and sixpence. My first is in tapioca but not in honey. My second is in bill but not in money. My third is in flour but not in pegs. My fourth is in biscuit but not in eggs. My fifth is in cheese but not in basin. My sixth is in ginger hut not in raisin. My seventh is in sultana but not in butter. My eighth is in saveloy but not in •cutter. My ninth is in rice hut not in soap. My tenth is in mutmeg but not in rope. My eleventh is in essence of lemon. My whole is necessary on washing day, THE POSTIE’S BAG 11 Morrison street, Caversham. January 26. Dear Big Brother Bill,—As I have not written to you for a long time, I am doing so now. For my Christmas holidays 1 went to Wellington, and I never enjoyed a trip more. We left Dunedin on a Saturday, and soon we saw the harbour and also some ships going out of port. At Port Chalmers there was a boat in dry dock, and we vere greatly interested in it. We halted at Oamaru for dinner, and also fed the seagulls, which were flying overhead. Soon we crossed Waitaki Bridge and were in Canterbury territory. Many of the passengers alighted at Timaru, where we stopped for quite a while. Then on again towards Christchurch. Towards the end of the journey we grew tired of just sitting and watching the countryside flash by, so that we began watching out for mileposts. When we reached the “ City of the Plains,” we had just time to have tea in the station refreshment rooms before boarding the boat train. All the way througn the electric tunnel we had the window open. At Lyttelton we boarded the Eangatira and soon were moving out of the rocky-sided harbour Next morning I was up early, and soon I saw Wellington in the distance. There were several lighthouses in the harbour, and I also saw Massey’s grave. At the wharf our aunt met us, and soon we were in a motor travelling towards Lower Hutt, where we were to stay. On the morning of Christmas Eve we went into Wellington to do shopping, and went up two escalators. On Christmas Day we received our presents and met friends. Several times we went to Petone beach and had enjoyable times on the safe beach there. One day we went on an observation trip on which we saw Wellington from several places, and where we saw Massey’s grave. We also went through a tunnel. Another day we went to Masterton by way of the Rimutaka Range and saw where the wind had blown a train over the cliff. We also visited the Museum where some of the relics were being removed to the new one. At the end of a fortnight’s stay we embarked again and the next day saw us travelling southwards to Dunedin. We were glad to be home again, although we had thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the capital city.—l remain, a true bairn, Alice Lyon. [Thank you for your letter, Alice Lyon. Brother Bill is sure that the bairns will enjoy reading the interesting things that you did on your holiday in Wellington. There are two things to do when on holiday; the first is to be sure and notice things, the second is to write them down for your friends to enjoy. You seem to have done both things very well. Brother Bill would like to congratulate you on the description. The Canterbury Plains are a little monotonous past Timaru, both by train and motor, but they have a beauty of their own. Don’t you think so? Brother Bill was glad to know that the Straits treated you so kindly; after all, it is a jolly good thing that some folk do not feel the motion of the sea. Write again soon.] North-east Valley, Dunedin. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I have not written to you for a long time, and thought I would do so before we go back to school. We have had a lovely holiday, and I shall be glad to be at school again. My uncle has a sheep farm in Otago Central, and I spent a good part of my holiday there. There was a good deal of rain about the time the. sheep were being shorn for their wool, and it was not very nice for the men. 1 liked being in the big shed where they sorted the wool, and my two cousins and myself had many

games together. We helped the men, too. Well, I must close now, as I have to go to bed.—Your affectionate bairn, John Ahderson.

[Thank you for your letter, John Anderson. Brother Bill is sure that you had a good time on the sheep station; he has been there himself at shearing time, and, whilst it is busy, there is good fun too. Once in Australia he stayed with the owner of very many thousand sheep' and a sheep station with land reckoned by the square mile. A tremendous place. It was shearing time, and no rain at all. The hot sun, dust made by the movements of countless sheep, the harking of dogs, galloping of horses, and the great sheds in which the men worked during the long days made a picture that he will not soon forget. You will remember your holiday, ho is sure. Write again soon.] Dunedin. Dear Big Brother Bill,—l should like to join your family. 1 enjoy reading the columns in the ‘ Evening Star each Saturday night. I like the pictures, too. 1 have a brother who will bo in the Sixth Standard when we go to school on Monday. I shall bo in the Third Standard. My brother and myself spent part of our holiday by the lakes, and we enjoyed it very much. Don’t you think that wo had good weather for the holidays? I am, your loving bairn, Esne Gerrold. [Thank you for your letter, Esne Gerrold. Brother Bill hopes that you will like school when it begins, i.ho value of a holiday is that it makes us strong and rested for another year s work. You must have had a good time by the cold lakes. Brother BiH will be taking his holiday there at Easter, and he is already looking forward to enjoying it. There is no lovelier p»aoe anywhere, at least Brother Bill thinks so. Write again soon.] 16 Gilfillan street, Tainui. January 2u. Dear Brother Bill—l am writing to ask you for a badge and book for the Bird Lovers’ Chit). I put a scone and a piece of on the,bird tray, and next morning there was none left. There are mostly sparrows thrushes, and wax-eyes round our place: f go to the Tainui School, and am in Standard IV. I must close now.—Yours truly, Bob Stark. [Thank you for your letter, Bob Stark. Brother Bill will send your letter and badge as -soon as he can. Ihc Bird Lovers’ Club' will soon be getting' ready for winter feeding again, and Brother Bill is glad to know that the feathered folk will have many extra friends this coming winter. Write again soon.] 28 Albert street, Dunedin, January 20. Dear Brother Bill, I am entering for this week’s competition, and hope 1 have it right. We have a_ stray dog, which comes to visit us every morning and afternoon. My grandmother has four wee canaries; we had six, but two died just recently. We also have a parrot, which talks just like a human being. The parrot enjoys himself talking to the people as they pass up and down I must close, with love to all your bairns and yourself, Emily Ledgerwood. [Many thanks for your letter, Emily Ledgerwood. AVith all those feathered pets that your letter mentions you will be a member of the Bird Club. The parrot will make a lot of fun for you. There is a galah, that is an Australian parrot with dove coloured .and pink plumage, in a house known to Brother Bill. It can say very many things in a most comical fashion. For instance, at daylight, it calls out “Get up, you lazy lubbers. Polly wants a cup of tea.’ - Of course, Polly doesn’t get it at daylight, because the folk put a black cloth over her cage. Write again soon.] 10 Canongate, January 26. ■ Dear Big Brother Bill, —My name is Betty Marshall. On holiday from Alexandra, I am staying with grandma. I’m eight years. I would like to join your Bairns’ Club if I may. The weather has been- lovely all the while I’ve been here. I’ve been to all the nice places in Dunedin and have enjoyed them all. I hope you have had a good holiday yourself, Brother Bill. I’m due home this week for school, —Yours truly, Betty Marshall. [Thank you for your little letter, Betty Marshall. You are welcome to the family. Brother Bill hopes that yon had a nice holiday at grandma’s place. When you get back _to school there will be lots of experiences for you to tell your chums. You must write again from Alexandra.]

PETS CORNER CLOSES DOWN The season for the Pets Corner at the Zoo has now come to an end, the weather being no longer suitable for the animals to remain out of doors for any length of time. This feature, . however, has proved such a success that it will he opened again next year on a much larger scale. But visitors are still able to be photographed with a young chimpanzee or a tame monkey, for a small studio has been fitted up- in the Monkey House. All through the summer the chimpanzees were the stars of the Pets Corner, and the most in demand for photographs. There were in such demand, in fact, that one of them, Jackie, has become quite professional; he no longer needs any instructions

from the keeper, but knows precisely what is expected of him. As soon as lie sees anyone preparing to sit on the studio chair ho moves forward and sits down close to his visitor. Then he (Hits one arm affectionately round the neck of the sitter and gazes steadily at the photographer till ho hears the click of the camera. Mok and Moina, the gorillas, now have a weighing-machine that they cannot break. One of the ropes in their home is attached to , a machine fixed above the overhead bars of the cage, and whenever they swing on it their weight is registered on a dial. While the machine was being fitted the gorillas had to be shut up m their sleeping apartments, but they watched what was going on, and as soon as the workmen had departed, and they were released, they went to investigate the new fixture in their home. As a rule Moina is the more daring and inquisitive of the two, bu.t this time it was Mok who took the lead. He seized the rope and hung on to it, and, hearing the click of the indicator, looked up at the dial as though anxious to know his weight. Apparently he was gratified to learn that he weighs Ifi stone, for he often weighs himself. Moina followed Mok’s example and swung on the rope; but as she seldom repeats the experiment (though she tugs at it viciously from time to time and scowls at the dial) she is evidently annoyed to find that she registers over 17 stone. In addition to showing the gorillas’ weight the machine gives some idea of their great strength, for if Mok just sits down and gives the rope a slight tug the indicator registers over a hundredweight. GOLDEN KOWHAI Long, long ago, in the days of fairy gods and giants, there lived in the land of the Long White Cloud one of the Sungod’s fair maidens named Kowhai. Kowhai, like her sisters, wore a beautiful golden frock. Now Kowhai was a mischievous little nymph who loved to play tricks 911 people. Once she pulled one of Tui's toil feathers, and was punished severely by her stern master, the Sungod. However, this did not cure her, for she still loved getting into mischief. One lovely day when the sun almost dazzled the eyes, when the brook laughed and chuckled, as it danced oyer the smooth, white pebbles, Fairy Kowhai sat and dabbled her toes in the cool water as she planned a naughty plot. She had been awakened by another of the Sungod’s waiting maids, and was scolded for being late. In the afternoon she ran away deep into the bush, right to the Forest-god’s beautiful palace; in she crept very cautiously, till she reached the leafy couch on which he lay sleeping, and loudly snoring. On she went, nearer,_ nearer, until she reached his head; his beard looked inviting. She pulled it, once . . . then again. Oh, alas! the Forestgod awoke! “Stop!” he cried, as poor Kowhai tried to hide. “ I have seen you.” There he sat, stern and forbidding. “ Listen,” he continued, “ there is_ a tree which has no flowers to adorn its delicately foliaged branches. You shall beautify its branches, oh unwise Kowhai.” Sadly, Kowhai pleaded, but all in vain, for the great god only frowned. She was turned into a golden flower, and placed on a tree, which is now called kowhai. Gradually she spread, and an abundance of flowers now brighten the kowhai, _ And little Kowhai has long ago ceased bewailing her fate, for she brings brightness to the bushlands every springtime, and all the bushfolk are her callers. Even Tui has forgotten his grievance and his missing tailfeather, and enjoys nothing better than a cup of nectar wine with her. HOLIDAY FUN AN EXPERIMENT Take an ordinary deep dish or soup plate, place a threepenny bit in it, and cover it with water. Then ask your friends if you can remove it from the soup plate without wetting their fingers. Of course, they will say “ No,” and you will show how it can be done. Procure an ordinary cork and a tumbler and two wax matches. Cut a piece of cork about -Jin in depth; make a small hole in the middle and insert one of the matches in the hole. Float this in the w'ater. Then light the match and put the tumbler over the same, and cork and press. This causes a vacuum, and the water is sucked up into the glass, leaving the threepenny bit dry to be picked up in the fingers. THEY REALLY FLY. Take a thin sheet of typewriting paper and draw on it a few small butterflies or moths. Colour them and cut them out. Then glue to each a length of cotton, about 4in, and glue the free ends of the cotton to a sheet of stout paper. Next take a sheet of brown paper, put it in a hot oven for a few seconds, and when nice and hot rub it vigorously for a short while. Hub one way only. Immediately hold the paper over the sheet with the butterflies lying on it; they will quickly come to life and begin to fly round. Repeat the experiment as often as you like MYSTERY OF THE FLOATING EGG. If an egg is put into a jar of water it will sink to the bottom. But have you ever seen an egg float halfway down the water ? You can make it do this. Take a long, narrow glass jar and fill it with water from the tap. Place in it an uncooked egg. At once it sinks to the bottom of the jar, because it is heavier than the water it displaces. New pour out half the water from the jar. take a funnel, and attach a piece of rubber tubing. Put the funnel

in the neck of tlie jar, so that the tubing reaches to the bottom. Then pour in gently from a jug a saturated solution of salt —that is, water in which salt is dissolved —till it will not hold any more. The brine, being of greater specific gravity than the ordinary water, will remain at the bottom, while the water rises to the top. The egg will rise to the top of the brine, but remain at the botom of the water, so that if enough brine is poured in to reach halfway up the jar the egg will float midway and look very strange. A BALANCING TRICK. See if you can perform this little balancing trick. Take hold of your right ankle with your right hand and try to touch the ground with your bended knee. Then rise again without touching the floor with your hands or right foot. It sounds rather difficult, doesn’t it? But you will soon be able to do it with a little practice, and then vou will have such fun watching your friends trying to do it. They will look so funny trying not to fall over. MAGIC BROWN PAPER. Warm a piece of brown paper before the fire. Then rub it quickly over a rough woollen surface. This is a good way. Hold your arm close to your side and pass the paper beneath your arm. You must, however, be wearing a woollen jumper or tweed or wool coat. Now take the piece of brown paper and place it against the wall. You will be surprised to see that it will remain there for a minute or two. HONEY BEAR “ Bring our camera! Quick, Bobby 1” Bobby knew when his twin sister, Jewel, spoke in such an excited tone she had discovered something worth photographing. . “Hero it is, Jewel!” cried Bobby, passing their camera to his breathless, aroused twin. , , , i( It’s a cub bear! Isn the the cutest thing!” squeaked Jewel, as she hurriedly took a picture of the wee visitor. “He does look so funny,’ allowed Bobby with a chuckle. “ Whatever has he got all over him?” “ Looks like honey by the gay way he’s licking his paws.” ~,.T . “Honey!” shrilled Bobby. Hot Aunt Jane’s prize honey for the contest in the Town Hall. I hope!” “ Maybe it isn’t,” consoled Jewel, as they readied an overturned pail of honev, their near presence sending the little"cub scamp ring back to the woods, so near to their Uncle Jake's shack, where they were visiting his western lumber cainp. “ It is Aunt Jane’s honey, all right, wailed Bobby. “ And it’s all my fault “Your fault?” questioned a bewildered Jewel in a quiet, serious tone. “ Yes. Aunt Jane was suddenly called over to help with the sick Drew baby. She set the honey tin on the back stoop and asked me to put it safely away. I—I— : ’ . _ , . n “ You forgot,” supplied Jewel in a sympathetic, sisterly way. “I’m sorry, Bobby.” . ~ „,, ~ T “ Yes. I forgot,” said Bobby. 1 got interested in Ray Grove’s new kite and—but what’s the use? You know the rest. Now Aunt Jane won tbe able to enter the contest. To make matters worse, I know she had a good chance to win. She wanted the prize money to surprise Uncle- Jake with a new easy chair. I heard her telling Mrs Briar of a dandy leather one she saw in the store catalogue.” _ . The twins sighed m unison as they turned away from the upset, empty Sidney tin. lying on the ground. Truly Aunt Jane had been very sweet about Bobby’s forgetfulness. However, Jewel knew by the look in her kindly grey eyes she was keenly disappointed. Days later Jewel hugged a secret that made her blue eyes glisten with i Then, one noon, walking down to the mill with Bobby to take their Uncle Jake’s lunch, Jewel laughed softly. “What’s so funny?” queried Bobby, with a frown, something that so often appeared on his face these days. “I was just thinking how nice your face is going to look wearing a smile for a change!” answered Jewel with a mischievous grin. . , “ Now I know you are trying to be funny!” “You wait and see. Look! Jewel held out five sdol notes. “It’s money!” “ Right. And half belongs to you. Bobby stopped still. * 1 me ?” ' “ Absolutely! Don’t you own half of. the camera, and don’t you remember the Utile honey bear? Well— —” “ Will I ever forget the little pest?’ interrupted Bobby. “ Don’t call him that. You see, he turned out to be a real honey bear. 1 sent an enlargement of his picture to the best animal picture contest and we won third prize.” “Jewel!” gasped Bobby. “ Now Aunt Jane can get the leather easy chair for Uncle Jake. I’ll give you my share. That’s what I did it for, and so you wouldn’t forget how to smile.” „ , ~ , “And learn "not, to forget! added Bobby, grinning from ear to ear. MRS NOAH’S COOKING The Ark was brightly lighted, the hour just on eight, When Captain Noah and Mrs Noah were dining tete-a-tete; She looked sophisticated in her gown of cobweb lace, It somewhat irritated, ss she took her usual place. The captain seemed disgruntled, as lie grasped his knife and fork, Glanced around the table, and at length began to lalk. “Nora Noah,” he demanded, “there is surely some mistake, Where’s the nice date puddingy you promised you would make?’ “ I forgot it,” answered Nora, who was rattling the plates. “ How often have I tdd you that 1 can’t remember dates?” “ And you know,” went on the Captain, “ how for veeks on end 1 dreamed , , Of that big canary pudding, the kind that’s slowly steahed.” “ I’m sorry,” answered Mrs Noah, ‘ to see you discontented, But you know as well ai I do steam has not yet been invanted.” The Captain’s voice continued, in accents of despair, “ The custard puffs arc pretty, and the trifle’s light as a:r, But unless 1 get hard vittles soon, the Ark will have tc stop. So I’ll take it very kiidly if youTl go and grill a chop.” “ The gorilla isn’t working,” Mrs Noah cut him short, “ But dimly I rememlior in my schoolclays being taujjit, That the ocean’s full cf currents, so I 11 see what I can do About a roly-poly pudding, if you’ll fish me out a few.”

WATER WISDOM FOR HOLIDAYS If you are to get most fun and benefit from your bathos there arc a number of little rules which .you should know. It js this sort of “ water wisdom ” which makes the difference between the experienced swimmer and the novice. Never go into the water until at least two hours have passed since your last meal. More accidents are caused by ignorance of this rule than by anything else. Don’t begin a bathe when you are cooling down after hard exertion. There is no harm in going in when you are hot, providing you arc not exhausted, too: but it is bad to begin your dip while you are cooling. There is always a right time to finish your bathe. It is not when you arc beginning to feel chilly—that is already too late. Como out when you are still in a fine glow, and then you will have the glow afterwards, instead of a headachy feeling. Dive if you can, but certainly duck your head right at the start, for this helps to keep your body temperature oven. Get used to being in deep water as soon as you can swim about 20yds. But don’t take risks before that. Should you bo swimming out from the bank or shore make allowance for the return and don’t go farther than you intend. Never play silly pranks—ducking nervous bathers or pretending that you are in difficulties. And never bathe in an unknown stretch of water. Should you be taking a dip in the sea always choose a time when the tide is coming in. When it is ebbing there are often dangerous currents and eddies which can trap a bather and suck him out into deep water. If py any chance you should ever find yourself faced with a hard swim against a current or tide, do not try to go right in the face of it, but set across, diagonally, so that you do not have to meet its full force. It is not safe to dive into water unless you know the depth and are si re that it is quite clear. Accidents often happen in crowded bathing places through divers striking swimmers who are under the water. If you do need to go into strange water quickly always jump feet first. There is a right and wrong way of getting into a boat from the water. The wrong way is over the side, for that may make the boat capsize; the right way is by the stern or the bows—but in che stern look out for the rudder hook. Cramp is not really dangerous itself —it is panic that causes mishaps. Should you ever get cramp—which is not very likely if you remember the common-sense rules I have given—do not be scared. Hobble or swim to land as soon as you can and rub the affected part, straining it in the opposite way to which the cramp is drawing it. Any good swimmer should be able to get to shore by the use of arms or legs alone, or even by a single hmb. Get used to handling a lifebelt—throwing it and tipping it over your head when you are in the water. , At the end of your bathe get tuor. oughly dry. Don’t leave your hair damp. Follow up with a brisk walk.or other bit of exercise. On a cold day dry your feet first and slip on your stockings—warm feet mean a warm remember that swimming ability does not come by chance. Put some real work into all your bathes if you would become an expert. SUMMER DAYS Sing a song of sunshine, Of gardens gay with flowers, Sing a song of rain drops, In slanting, silver showers, , Let us tread the white road That climbs yon fresh green hill. Then wanders in the valley Beside the sparkling rill. See the field of daisies, The patch of golden broom. Sets our feet a-dancing To a magic tune. Hear the lilt of birds’ cries, Sounding far and near, Singing songs of gladness, For summer days are here, —Molly Wenborn (14 years), 96 Sutherland street, Dunedin, C.2. ELEPHANTS “ We are going to-day to see the Zoo with uncle,” said curly-headed Rob to his 12-year-old brother. “ And we are going to take some nee for the baby elephants.” “Why rice?” he was asked. “ Surely big animals like elephants want something better than that.” “ Uncle savs that a man from Rangoon brought them to England, and that they are quite tame now, but also very cunning. When they were in Rangoon they knew where the nee was kept, but they also . knew that it they stole it they would be punished; and so when the boys went to see them they would coil their trunks round the boys’ arms and pull them along to the stable. Then they would take them up to the rice bag and -push their arms into it. When the boys took out a handful of rice the elephants would turn up the ends of their trunks and open them like cups, thereby inviting the boys to drop the rice in. Should the boys, for fun, drop the nee back into the bag, the elephants quickly seized their arms and put them back into the bag, until at last the hoys gave them the rice. Then they would joyfully scamper off.” “How interesting,” said Jim; we must really see them.” Off they went to the Zoo, each holding tightly to uncle’s hand. How exciting it was to see all the wild animals ; but on account of hearing about their tricks the elephants seemed to be first favourite with the boys. “ You have only heard of their good and amusing points,” said Uncle Peter, “ and now I will tell you of an adventure I had that was far from being pleasant, and one that I will not be able to forget. I was quite a young man at the time, and was drifting clown the Ceylon River on a raft guided by natives. . My servant, a stalwart African named Mibrak, was with me, and he so protected me that I had no dealings whatever with the other thieves. These men are very superstitious, and will not move an inch on the water after dark; and so, as dusk approached, they pushed out to midstream. The moon was full at the time, and I could plainly see for a long way into the jungle. The jungle is full of noises at night, but the natives are so accustonied to them they sleep soundly through them. Suddenly I heard a shrill noise that I knew was made by an eleohant, and soon 1 heaicl crackling branches, and the ponderous animal approached the stream. His trunk was erect, and he was in a great state of excitement. He tore up a tree by its roots and started stamping towards us. Not hfeing sure of his intentions I woke my servant, who sprang to his feet, caught me in his arms, leapt into the water, and with a few bounds reached the shore. He then ran to a large tree and pushed me up into the branches, hurriedly climbing after me. , , , T ~ , “ It’s only an elephant! I disgustedly informed him, thinking he had mistaken it for a wild beast.

“ Yes, master,” he replied, “ but he is a rogue, and has lost his mate, so will be very savage, and is after revenge.” Then before he could say any more there was a crash and a splash as the elephant dashed the tree down on the unfortunate men. The beast lashed at them till there was no trace of them left, and then, with a shrill cry of triumph, went on his way. It seems that one of the men had, many days before, killed the elephant’s mate. He had followed them day after day until he finally had caught up with them and revenged his dead mate. My servant told me they jnever forget a hurt, and even after many years they would still exact punishment. I was very glad when daylight came and we could return again to the coast in safety.” The two boys listened with bated breath, and eacli vowed silently that he would go big game hunting as soon as he was a man. AT THE FAIR There was great excitement, in the village where Mary and Ronald lived, about a fair which had arrived for a two-days’ stay. But the pair had only fid apiece in their money boxes, and after spending on the swings, the roundabouts, and a toffee stall, they hadn’t one penny, left by the time they came to a tent outside of which was a notice which said ; Sixpence to See the Snake Charmer. Two Performances Daily, at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. “ Oh, dear,” lamented Mary. “ How thrilling that would be if we could only afford it. I wish we had seen this tent before we spent our money. We have had rides on swings and roundabouts before, but we’ve never seen a snake charmer.” “It’s half-past 3' now. I wish we could earn some money somehow—quickly,” Ronald said longingly to his sister. “ Eut I don’t know ot a way; do you?” Mary shook her head. “ But we might if we think for a bit,” she replied. “Let’s sit here behind'the tent in the shade for a few minutes.” Ronald was as glad as she was to be out of the hot sun for a while, but he left Mary to do the thinking. Taking a small mouth organ from a podket he began to play it softly. They were sitting with their backs to the tent, one of the fair caravans being close behind, them, and after Ronald had been playing for a few minutes, something long and wriggly dropped out of the slightly open door of the van, followed almost instantly by other long, wriggly thing* . Suddenly Mary gave a frightened cay and her brother turned his head to see several snakes slithering towards them. Too frozen with fear to jump up and run away, the pair stared in horror till Mary gasped: “ Keep on playing, Ron! Go on! Perhaps it will keep them from biting us!” But as the reptiles wriggled nearer and began swaying their heads to the music, she screamed desperately for help, and a few seconds later, out from the 1 van leapt a sleepy-eyed Indian. “ They are harmless,” he told the children smilingly, when he had popped his pets back into the basket accidentally left open. “But you did not know that and you are brave. The snakes might have escaped and frightened many other people. I am grateful. Yoii shall see me charm them presently—for nothing.” , . , So pluck earned the two their great treat. OMG WANG'S PIGTAIL A GOOD-NIGHT TALE It was the great Festival of the Moon, and Ong Wang shuffled up the marble steps to the . Temple of ien Thousand Buddhas with his offering ot purple grapes from his father’s vineyard. A high pyramid of chrysanthemums was erected on the terrace, while the altar itself was covered with offerings. Ong Wang laid his luscious grapes beside the gifts of rich and poor alike, and bowed low before the altar. The Festival of the Moon was gift time to those in need, and as Ong Wang made his way from the temple he pondered over the thought. To 'could he give a present? There was no one . . . but wait, there was the old beggar. Omo, and his granddaughter, Lotus-Lily, who begged ‘before the Central Pagoda. He suddenly remembered that they had no bowl, as was the custom, but that the few coins received were thrown on the cobble stones. How Lotns-Lily had sobbed when one of the coins had fallen into the flooded gutter and thus been lost! Ong Wang’s mind was made up. He would buy Omo and Lotus-Lily a gift, and that gift would be a beggar’s howl. Hastily he went to the market and halted before the potter’s wares. Screens with' familiar Chinese scenes; pagodas, wonderfully carved; statues of former Chinese Emperors; and golden Buddhas squatting cross-legged on mahogany bases were all displayed,

but Ong Wang did not seem to notice them. His eyes rested on a day bowl, painted in bright crimson and yellow ochre. He stepped through the heavly-cur-tained opening, and a wise, bespectacled man calne forward, his aged hands tucked in ±he wide sleeves ofliis tunic. “ The bowl,” he said sharply, when Ong Wang had told him his errand. “Ah! there are many who have longed for that bowl, but they have not been able to pay the price.” ' “I have money.” said Ong Wang quickly, slipping bis hand into his. jerkin, but the man cut him short. “ The price of the bowl is your pigtail,” belaid quietly. Ong Wang’s jaw dropped, for m China a man’s greatest possession was his pigtail, and there were only a few who had to suffer the humility of having their pigtails cut off. Why, his pigtail meant more than anything elso in the whole wide world to him, ha couldn’t ... . . , The potter was speaking again. A Mandarin gave it to me,” he : said slowly, his eyes on the geranium-red of the' bowl, “ and I gave him my promise.” ' _ _ r “ And that?” prompted Ong Wang. “ My promise was that I would sell the bowl to no one until he paid tha price of his pigtail. The Mandarin, confided to me that the bowl, if given as a gift during the Festival of tha Moon, would for ever give riches to the one it was given to.” . Ong Wang breathed hard, and, although he clenched his hands tightly together, he said unhesitatingly: “I shall, give the bowl to Omo and LotusLily as a gift.” He walked over to the ebony bench. and resolutely raised the scissors. Snip! His pigtail , was off, and he was an outcast for the time being, but there seemed to be something new and glad in Ong Wang’s heart as he clutched the red bowl and ran down the street. What was it that the white man had said that day ? Ah, yes! . . . “It is better to give than to receive ”... that was it! _ Omo and Lotus-Lily were standing in their uusual place when Ong Wang rushed forward and pushed the bowl into the beggar’s hands. “But what does this mean?” Omo asked in a shaky voice, and little LotusLily stared incredulously at the bowl. “ ’Tis for thee, Omo,” said Ong Wang. “ ’Tis for thee and thy granddaughter, Lotus-Lily. ’Tis my gift to thee both at this festal time.—l “ But thy pigtail, Ong Wang,’ Lotus-Lily faltered. Ong Wang silenced her with a gesture. _ “ Quick, open it, Omo,” he said excitedly; “let us see what the bowl holds.” Omo took off the lid with shaking fingers, and as he did so a continuous shower of golden coins fell on the stones. “ ’Tis magic, magic,” Ong Wang cried happily. “The learned Mandarin’s words were true. Never again shalt thou have need to beg, Omo, for the red bowl will always be full. Praise be to her Imperial Majesty the Moon and to the Little Red Bowl.”- “ Praise also be to Ong Wang and his pigtail,” echoed Omo, tears of joy running down his pale cheeks. ■