BIG BROTHER BILL

Evening Star, Issue 24007, 4 October 1941, Page 13

BIG BROTHER BILL

LIKE THE SUN DIAL, I RECORD ONLY THE SUNNY HOURS The winner of the competition this week is William M‘Goy, 9 Krin street, Roslyn, Dunedin, N.W.2. Congratulations. Prize will be posted. .

THE POSTIE’S BAG S Galloway street, Morningtpn. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am going to write you a letter to tell you how 1 spent my holidays at Geraldine. When we got to the Orari station we got into the bus which was to take us to Geraldine. Next day it was not very fine, but we went up the town to see the Waihi River. When wo walked across the bridge wo saw the high green water rushing rapidly’, because it had been raining a great deal. In a clay it was nice and sunny. One sunny afternoon wo went for a walk where there was a great belt of native bush, which had a groat many fir trees round it The .Geraldine Borough Council men were planting some more young fir tiees. When they went to the other side or the bush I went through the dark green trees, and then I saw a case with some spectacles in it. I made my way through the ferns and trees until I came to mum and dad. I gave dad the case and he put it in his pocket. We went to the other side of the bush and came to the men. One of the men had dropped it. and lie gave me sixpence. After that wo came down the “ Priests’ Hill and home to grandma’s. Another day we walked through the same bush to find th© reservoir, but wo could wot him it. As we were walking around the little park, w’hieh has come tall trees in it, wo noticed a lot of tiny purple violets. As these were wild we wore allowed to pick them. The day before we went homo I picked a lovelv big bunch. We ran up a hill and could see the mountains covered with snow. I must close now, - Lenore Gerry. [Thank you for your letter, Lenore Gerry.' The description of your trip to Geraldine was delightful, and your name is on the honour post. Brother Bill'knows, and likes, Geraldine. Its high green hedges, quiet atmosphere, and single main street make it very

like nn English country town. If Brother Bill had a grandma there she would be very popular indeed ; though whether Brother Bill would be popular, visiting her so often, is another matter. What a fortunate thing for the man that you found his glasses. And wild violets! It sounds, Leuore, more than ever like an English countryside in spring. Write again soon.] 18 Durham street, Mornington, W.l. Dear Big Brother Bill, —One day, when 1 used to live in Invercargill, a friend asked my parents and I if we would like to go with her to Riverton and d'g for toheroas on the beautiful long stretching sands. Wo agreed, and, having packed sandwiches, set out. In an hour’s time we arrived at the beach. The way you get these shellfish is this: Spotted about on the sand are little holes about the size of a man’s first finger. You take a spade and, taking a hole, start digging as fast as you can. Tho reason for -this is that the shellfish digs away down into the sand very fast, and if you don’t dig fast, too, the fish gets away. Late in the afternoon we started off home with a bucket of toheroas.. Once home, mother put tho bucket with a sack over the top beside the range, so that the shells would open. Then wo cut the tongues and made somo soup. It tasted like oyster soup, but was much better. I will close now.—l remain, your sincere bairn, John McKenzie. [Thank you for your letter, John M'Kenzie. And thank you for your interesting little description of a toheroa hunt. Your name is on the Honour Post for neat writing. The only occasion on which Brother Bill has met with tho toheroa is when made into appetising soup, which, as you rightly observe, is “ like oyster soup, but much better.” He didn’t know it ran for its life (would that bo the right way to put it?) when hunted. It’s rather astonishing. isn’t it, that a shellfish can move downwards through the sand ns quickly as a man digging with a spade. Thank you for your letter, John. Write again soon.]

and the Bairns

22 Noil street, Green Island. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is my first letter to you. 1 am eight years of age and in Standard 11. at Green Island School, and would like to know if I could join your Bairns’ Club. Wc once had two budgies, but they flow away. 1 will be glad to get back to school. On Friday I was at my grandma’s, and my cousin took me down to the beach on his bicycle. I think this is all the news I have just now.—l remain, vours truly, Noln M'Mullan. [Thank you for your letter, Nola M'Mullan. Your first letter was welcome, and Brother Bill welcomes you to the Bairns’ Club. You will be back at school by the time you read this, on tlie last lap before Christmas. It will not bo manv weeks now before Santa Claus and the “ hanging stocking brigade ” are with ns again. The sooner it comes the better, say all of us. It is getting to be quite nice weather for the beach, so Brother Bill suspects you .had a good time. Write again soon.] S3B Princes street, Dunedin, C.2. Dear Big Brother Bill,—l would very much like to become one of your happy bairns. I think your competition this week is very interesting indeed. _ 1 understand that you were at Kensington School on Arbor Day. giving a talk about trees. Unfortunately I was not there, because my mother was ill and I had to keep house. 1 am in Standard VI. at school and am 13 years of age. 1 listen-in to you every night and think your programme is very good.—l remain, yours truly, Phyllis Harris. [Thank you for your letter, Phyllis Harris. Welcome to the Bairns’ Club, Phyllis. Brother Bill hopes mother is bettor long before you read this letter. It’s not the best of experiences to be ill, bnt it must have been a comforting thing for mother to be able to roTv on a growing daughter. Like the Boy Scouts, Phyllis, you did your good deed. Write again soon.] 34 Richmond street, Caversham. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am six years old and in P. 3 at Caversham School. Can I join your club? We have three wee birds. Granny has a dog called Tiny. This is all just now.— Isobel Freeman. [Thank you for your letter, Isobel Freeman. Welcome to the Bairns’ Club. For a six-year-old person your letter was very nicely printed indeed. Perhaps next time, and Brother Bill hopes it will bo soon, you will bo able to print a longer letter. What kind of birds are they? And does Tiny do tricks? Write again soon.] 125 Glen road, Caversham. Dear Big Brother Bill, —Here I am once more writing to your Bairns’ Club. How do vou like these lovely days, Big Brother Bill? I like them very much. We are making military coats. I was wishing I was back at school so as I

could get some holidays. All the same, 1 am glad to be at work helping tho soldiers. My mother is in Dunedin just now for the term holidays. Hoping you and the Bairns’ Club are all well.— Yours faithfully, Phyllis M. Mageo. [Thank you for your letter, Phyllis M. Magee. So school is now a memory, and you have joined those who work. Well, Phyllis, time marches on, doesn’t it? The "bairns who were young writers in time become older writers, because like everything else they grow up. It’s a happy idea, however, to drop Brother Bill a line occasionally to say tho Bairns’ Club is not forgotten. Good luck be with you always. Write again soon.] 7 Peel street, Mornington, W.l. _ Dear Big Brother Bill,—May I join the Bairns’ Club? I am eight years of ago and iu Standard I. at High Street School.—Mavis Forrester. [Thank you for your letter. Mavis Forrester. Welcome to the Bairns’ Club. Yours was a short letter, and nicely printed. Now you are a member of the Bairns’ Club Brother Bill will look forward to a longer letter—and soon. Write quickly.] 10 Patrick street, Mornington, W.l. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I wish to become a member of your happy family. I have often seen your competitions in tho paper, and thought it would be nice to go in for them. lam going to paint tho ‘ Red Riding Hood ’ painting. Wo have a dog which is a black cocker spaniel. He is about five years old, and he won’t let any cats or other dogs como inside the gate. Well, I hope the entry brings me luck. I am 12 years of age.—l remain, yours sincerely', Joyce K. White. [Thank you for your letter, Joyce K. White. Welcome to the Bairns’ Club. As a rule dogs do not care for cats. An Indian tiger is a big cat, and the only animals it fears are the packs of wild dogs. It has good reason to fear them, too. When they gang up on it it rarely escapes; and they tear it to pieces as

easily and ferociously as it tears its own prey. Possibly there is something of this ancient hatred between cat and dog in the strong dislike pet dogs have for” house cats, though they sometimes live happily together. Write again soon.] A LULLABY Go to sleep, baby, for now the day ends; To-morrow you’ll meet all your little wild friends That live in the meadow. Again you will see Your curly gold snail and your little brown bee. Your green-coaled grasshopper, what will he say? A buzz—and a buzz—and he’ll hop high away. You’ll find your friend robin, the larks in the sky, The shaggy small lambs, and the swifts darting by. The round-about rabbits that .pop in the ground— You might see the mole dressed in velvet you found. So sleep and dream, baby, for closed is the day. The sooner comes sleeping the sooner comes day. FOUR BAB UTILE MONKEYS Four bad little monkeys swung high on a tree; And they were as naughty as monkeys can bo. They cheeked a fierce lion below that they saw; When he gave a big growl they just laughed all the more. They pelted an elephant, snake, and a bear; And when they seemed angry they said: “ We don’t care!” When a tree panther came—who climbed up stealthily— The bad little monkeys were on tho next tree.