BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 22721, 7 August 1937, Page 8

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

THE FELLOW WHO WILL HOT PULL 18 HOT WORTH A SEAT IH THE BOAT Tl>e winner of the convpetitions i published on Saturday, July 24, will bo announced next week. Brother Bill would like to congratulate the large , number who entered for the coloured picture competition. The work was splendidly done by all, and it is quite difficult to choose the winner. The deserving one will be announced in next Saturday’s columns. . THE COMPETITIONS The under-tens have a word-making competition in response to many requests, and the over-tens have an illustrated proverb. Send your answers to Big Brother Bill, care of ‘ Evening Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin, C.l. Be sure to mark the envelopes “ Competitions.” A WORD-MAKING COMPETITION. (Under ten years: Prize one shilling.) In response to many requests, this week’s competition is a word-making one. The priae will be awarded to the one who can make the most words from: TERM HOLIDAYS. AN ILLUSTRATED PROVERB. (Over ten'years: Priae one shilling and sixpence.) The proverb written on the sign-post is illustrated by the picture Brother Bill has drawn. One will help you to ' discover the other.

A WLACE FOR'BIW LOVERS The pledge :—“ I promise to car* for »U wild birds, especially New Zealand native birds, to feed them in winter and to protect them at all times. I promise also to protect our native trees and bush, .and at no time to assist in their damage or destruction, since they are the natural home of our native birds.'i Name .' ~ Null postal address

If you wish to join the Bird Club it is necessary to send Is in stamps or a postal note, and a bird book and badge will be sent to you. Address your letters to Big Brother (Bill, care of * Evening Star,’ Stuart street, Dunedin, C.l. Be sure to mark your envelope " Bird Club.’'THE BHIDB The congregation of St. Leonard’s, near Moreton-in-Marsh, have been dispensing with a fire in the church so that a pair of starlings could rear their family in the stove pipe. A pair of golden cables have an eyrie with two eggs in it scinowhere on the borders of Caithness and Sutherland, in Scotland*

THE RLACKWM AND THE THRUSH A blackbird and a thrush have gone into partnership at Spofforth Hill, near Wetherby, in Yorkshire. The blackbird built a nest, and came homo one day to find it invaded by a thrush, which had laid three eggs in it. As soon as the thrush flew on the blackbird laid two eggs beside them. The two birds took turns in sitting on the eggs till they were hatched, the thrushes coming first. Neither bird has shown any resentment, and both have been busy all day long searching for food and bringing it to the five hungry fledglings. The partnership .seems to he having the happiest results. THE PMTIE't BA* Toiro via Balclutha. July 18, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill,—l think it is about time I wrote to you again, so I am going to tell you about a lovely sight I witnessed not very long ago. During the time of the frosts I rose one morning to find the ground covered with crisp, white frost, and when. I went outside I saw a beautiful sight. The plantation of bluegums around our house was one white mass, each leaf covered with frozen mist which had drifted in the night, and when the sun began to shine they were still lovelier. The grass also was covered with glittering frost. Later, when a breeze sprang up, the frost began to fall just like snow. Did you see any trees like this P I was glad you started a Pen Friends’ Corner. I am writing to one of the

bairns; her name is Olive Boss. One of my cousins was in the Hospital with infantile paralysis, but he is out and he writes to you. I am sure all those poor children who were in hospital deserve a lot of jwnaiee for being brave and keeping smiling. Well, 1 think I will ©lose now.—Your loving bairn, June M. Christie. :

[Thank you for your letter, June Christie. Your name is on the Honour' Post, and you are the winner of the best letter prise for this week. Brother Bill agrees with you about the beauty of Jack Frost’s handiwork. He is a chilly kind of fellow to know, but an excellent artist. Brother Bill also agrees with you aibout the bairns who are suffering from infantile paralysis. They are an example to all who grumble about things. Those whom Brother Bill know? are among the bravest people in the world—without question. We say that people should make the best of a bad job, but not many try to do so, and when you meet those who do it is a very refreshing experience. Write again soon.]

9a Dairy street, Mornington, Dunedin, W.l, July 20, 1937. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is the first time I have written to you, and I would like to become a member of your happy family. I am 11 years of age, in Standard V. at High Street School. I am entering for this week’s competition, and I hope to be successful. My grandfather caught . a thrush in the greenhouse, and when we saw it it was as big as a pigeon. He let it go because it is cruel to keep wild birds. I would very much like a pen friend in England. Do you know where I could get the address of one? —I remain, your loving friend, Hazel Fleming. [Thank you for your letter, Hazel Fleming. Your name is on the hqnour post as a reward for neat writing. Your name also is in the Pen Friends’ CoAitr. Brother Bill hopes that you will be successful in your quest. Three loud cheers for grandfather. Hazel! Birds were given wings to enjoy freedom, and the boy or girl, man or woman, who remembers is a friend of

the feathered folk—and has a kind heart. Write again soon.] 9a Dairy street, Mornington, W. 1., July 19. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is the first time I have written to you. I am eight years of age, and in Standard I. lam trying the limerick com?e tit ion, and I hope to be successful, am very fond of birds. We have nine pair of budgies and a goldfinch. My father made a bird-feeder, and mother puts in it pieces of bread with sugar on them. If is great fun to watch them eating. Well, Brother Bill, I must close now, with best love. —I remain, your friend, —Richard Fleming. [Thank you for your first letter, Richard Fleming. Brother Bill hopes it will not be the last. The fun in watching birds eating, Richard, comes from two things. Their manners are comical always, alert and knowing in the way they go about enjoying their meals; but the best part of the fun comes from knowing one is beiug friendly toward helpless things. There is always good fun to be found in doing good. Write again soon.] 22 Malvern street, Woodhaugh, Dunedin. N.], July 20. Dear Big Brother Bill,-—I would like to become a member of your happy family. I am 11 years of age, and I am m Standard V., at the Dunedin North Intermediate School. I have a pet cat, which is very playful. It is a pure black cat, and it is a tabby. It plays with the wool when grandma is knitting, and jumps upon our knee. I am entering for this week’s competition, Love to all the aunts, not forgetting yourself.—Yours sincerely, Doris Law.

[Thank you for your letter, Doris Law. A very cordial welcome to the family. Has the pet cat a nameP Brother Bill has always thought that “ tabbies ” are cats with tiger stripes in their fur. But they do have a way of getting mixed sometimes. He was shown a Persian puss the other day. >lt was shorthaired, Brother Bill Said so.' The lady said the Persian part was inside. Perhaps your black tabbie has the stripes inside. .Write again soon.]

22 Malvern street, Woodhaugh, Dunedin, N.l, July 20, 1937

Dear Big Brother Bill, —I would like to become a member of your happy family. I am nine years of age and in Standard 111. at the George Street School. I am very fond of reading your page in the ‘ Evening Star ’ each Saturday night. lam entering for this week’s competition, and hope to be succsesful.—Yours sincerely, Moira Law. ,[Thank you for your letter, Moira Law. A cordial_ welcome to the family. Brother Bill’s is the kind of family where we can always make room for an extra one. He is glad to know that you enjoy the columns each week. Write again soon.]

3 Chetham Avenue, Dalmora, Dunedin, N.E.I, July 21, 1937

. Lear Big Brother Bill, —I am entering for this week’s competition, and hope to be successful. Every day I put bread out for the birds, and I have no sooner put it out than it is all gone. I have a cat named Polly, and she is very clever. I also have a budgie coloured blue. I am going to get a young budgie so that I can teach it to talk. I know a lady who has a budgie, and it can talk. I have begun to save stamps, and I am getting quite a collection. A man sent me a number of stamps from America.—l remain, your loving friend, Rona E. Robinson. [Thank you for your letter, Rona Robinson. It would be kind of you to write and tell ns why Polly is clever. Does she do tricks? Good luck with your budgie when you begin to teach it to talk. Perhaps you know, already

that there arc two things—important things—to remember. Keep budgie in a cage of its own, and allow only one voice to do the teaching. If these things are remembered, Ilona, you are sure to have a talking budgie. What you say about, stamps is splendid. You will like the hobby very much indeed. Write again soon]