CHILDREN’S CORNER

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6143, 29 July 1921, Page 3

CHILDREN’S CORNER

(By “MARIE”)

What is the best a friend can be To any soul, to you or me? Not only shelter, comfort, restinmost refreshment unexpressed; Not only a beloved guide To tread life’s labyrinth at our side, Or with love’s touch lead on before: Though these be much, there yet is

more. Can friend lose friend? Believe it not! The tissue whereof life is wrought, Weaving the separate into one, Nor end both, nor beginning; spun From subtle threads of destiny, Finer than thought of man can see; God takes not back His gifts divine; While thy soul lives, thy friend is thine. —Lucy Larcorn. WHO BIDES HIS TIME. (By James Whitcomb Riley.) Who bides his time, and day by day Faces defeat full patiently, And lifts a mirthful roundelay, However poor his fortunes be — He will not fail in any qualm Of poverty —the paltry dime It will grow golden in his palm, Who bides his time. vVlio bides his time—lie tastes the sweet Of honey in the saltest tear; And though he fares with Slowest feet, Joy runs to meet him, drawing near; The birds are heralds of his cause, And like a never-ending rhyme, The roadsides bloom in his applause. Who bides his time.

Who bides his time, and fevers not In the hot race that none achieves. Shall wear cool - wreathen laurel, wrought With crimson berries in the leaves; And he shall reign a goodly king, And sway his hand o’er every clime. With peace writ on his signet ring, Who bides bis time. GUSSIE. “Pelham Augustus Beyerly—did you ever hear such a name!” remarked Jim Selby in a tone of bitter disgust. “Gussie!” added his brother Archie, with fine scorn. “I’m sure he's called Gussie at home.” He loaned out of the window. “There he is!” he went on, bitterly. “Look at him!”

Jim came across to the window. On a bench under a big tree opposite sat a thin, rather mournful-looking boy of about fourteen, with a book in his hands. His hair was very black and his face very, pale. He was dressed with a neatness which was in striking contrast to the very rough kit of the young Selby’s. As for his book, it certainly was not an. adventure story. “And we’ve got him on our hands for the whole of the holidays,” groaned Jim.

“And Dad says we’ve got to be civil to him,” chorused Archie. “I know one thing—l’m not going to show him the Den,” he said. “Not for anything!” declared Archie fiercely. There was silence awhile. Then Jim spoke again. “I was going fishing.” “I am going fishing,” said Archie. •“We must take Gussie,” said Jim. Mr Selby’s word was everything to his two sons. A few minutes later they were inquiring of Pelham Augustus if he would come fishing.” “Th-thanks, awfully,” stammered their guest; “b-but I don’t know anything about fishing. And—and I have to unpack. Do you mind if- —” “Not a bit,” cut in Jun. “We’ll take you another day. Come on, Archie!”

They disappeared in the wood below the house. It bordered the marshy banks of the Diver Pune. . The boys dived down a twisting path through the shrubbery, and from under the bushes hauled out a small, home-made punt, which they launched with great care and secrecy. "Is—is that what you go fishing in?” Both started. There was Pelham Augustus watching them mildly. “I thought you were unpacking!” snapped Jim. Pelham went red. “I —thought I’d see you off,” ho said, confusedly. He turned and, without another word, walked quickly away. “Sneaking round U> see what we were doing,” growled Jim. “Now lie knows where we keep the punt. “He’d be snared to deathfto use it,” replied Archie. “Anyhow, he doesn’t know anything about the lien. “He’ll probably' watch where we're going,” grumbled Jim, as he got in. Tall reeds fringed the bank for some way out. They paddled the: punt through and landed on a tiny island. This was their own particular secrethaunt, and here, in n sort of dug-out called the Den, they kept their snares, their fishing tackle, and other most private property. As far as they knew, there was not a soul alive who knew of it. except themselves and old Dan Waddy, the poacher, and lie was in prison. They had never even tola their father. - They got their tackle, pulled baeb and hid the punt. She. was much too crazy to go fishing i,n. Besides, it was a pond up by Spin croft where they fished.

Sport was none too good that afternoon, and they decided to come home for tea, which was at five. Airs Selby was out, and so was their mother, hut tea was laid and ready for them in the school-room. Pelham Augustus, however, was apparently not ready, for there was no sign of him. “Suppose we must call the chap, grumbled Archie. “I’ll go up, Jim. Ho went, but came hack presently with the news that Pelham was not in the house Jim sprang up angrily. “I’ll bet he’s taken our punt!” ho exclaimed. “Don’t get in a bait, .Tim,” advised Archie.. “Let’s have our grub, then we can go and see. “I don t believe the fellow would trust himself in the punt.” Jim was not convinced, however. Ho swallowed his food in a hurry, and marched off. Archie, following more slowly met liis brother coming hack. Jim’was in a towering rage. “The punt’s gone! He’s taken it. No one else could.” “The punt gone!” echoed Archie. “Oh, I say Jim, that’s a bit thick. Ten to one he’s found the Den.” “If he has, I’ll skin him!” declared Jim, savagely. “What can we do?” asked Archie. “We can’t find out till he comes hack.” “Yes we can,” said Jim. “I’ll swim out and give him a bit of my mind.” As ’he spoke he was peeling off his things, and inside three minutes was in the water. It was warm enough, but horribly muddy. Archie saw him, vanish among the reeds. Five minutes later there was a slight splashing, and here he was again—in the punt. He brought the punt in quietly to shore and got out. “I didn’t see him, hut he must be there.” he told Archie. “And now he can jolly well stay here. I’ll teach him to do a dirty, sneaking, trick like this.”

“You don’t mean you’ll leave him there all night?” said Archie, rather alarmed.

“He’ll jolly well stay there till after dark, anyhow,” vowed Jim. “Come on back to the house, Archie.” (To be concluded next week.l