THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 May 1925, Page 16

THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

I promise to smile every time I can, and to chase all the frowns into the dark cave, where the Smile Giant will kill them with his Magic Sword Happiness.

Dear Boys and Girls,: — •' ■ You should have seen the fun when we were practising basket-ball! Serseua you remember I told you about him before —wanted to run. the whole length of the field with the ball under his arm. The first time he forgot, and got as far as the touch line: that is, he went to the goal end of the enemy, tjut forgot the hoop and touched down instead. I knew yo.it girls would just roar with laughter over that. Oh, yes, we had a referee —with a dinnerbell, as no one could find a whistle'. We have since' persuaded a parrot to come and referee for us. He has mimicked sueh a good whistle. It. was so difficult to remember that' there are lines to keep us in our pens. No! that’s wrong, bases is, the word. Most of our workers thought the game was dull at ■first. This was- because for such a. long time, we had all trooped off to sugby football on- holidays and Saturdays., . Most [of mv retinue have been all'over New Zealand to shield and competition matches, and' we have been ao interested that- we have played the game with zest. At- least I watched usually. Prom rriy special seat in the stand I have often had to send my Attendants to take one of my more impetuous courtiers off the field, where he drvaa actually trying to take the ball from .the players. On our return to the -Castle the culprit., was'given a tea of bread and-, water to quieten bis ardour. SKn’ee, we have been invited to games between teams of gnomes and of elves 'ju{td' fairies, and have made such a noise barracking that- we were.sure you d "bear us on Earth. Can you wonder, then, that when we decided' to try the girls’ favourite game we were all over the ground, and found it- most difficult to refrain from kicking the ball and tackling each other ? Puck—our funny fairy-—would persist in calling out “Collar him low!’’ But we are improving wonderfullv now,- and fairies' of both sexes are keenly interested. • >So, girls, your Queen highly approves of your fun and she hopes.to see bright, happy faces when you meet other schools at basket-ball. One word: Try to do without penalty throws, 1 - A visitor to the Castle this week asked whether the girls or the boys were the favourites in our big family. Fancy anyone talking of favourites to us.! You are all favourites. lam your Queen of Smiles, and Icive each one the same. What could be fairer? I watch all your little manners and acts of courtesy; I’m proud of you when you do well at vour lessons, ®ven when you try and fail; I delight in girls who are neat and tidy and who »et a good example everywhere, who are kind and loving to their elders;, yet just as much I love the boys who come in with little dirty hands arid knees from marbles, or covered with mud and dripping wet from football. You are all my family, and I’ve a smile for each one. I hope you appreciate Marjory Tanner’s description of Tasmanian bush life. Could not some of the boys tell us about camping out in New Zealand? I’ve been thinking, and when we have between twenty and thirty more names in the big roll book on the table in Smile Castle Hall, then I’ll have (Something very interesting to tell you., Now, do you think we can get some new members? I’m sure, if you Jpaew. what. is coming when we do, that you would have all your little friends eoaxed into writing to me. Then I should be snowed under with letters and the roll of our Castle membership would make one long line of smiling faces from here all the wav to Christmas. Until our total muster reaches a mark Which I and my fairies have.set ourselves, my lips are sealed over, the secret of this surprise. Then —but I’ll sav no more about it until I may tell you all. . Your loving friend, • THE QUEEN OF SMILES.