THE SMILE CASTLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 May 1925, Page 18

THE SMILE CASTLE

A CORNER ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.

THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

I promise to smile every time I can, -and to chase all the

frowns into tlie dark cave, where the Smile Giant will k’ ll

them with his Magic Sword Happiness.

My Dear Smiles,— Nearly every letter I get from my children lately tells me how glad vou all are to'be back at day school and Sunday school lam so Lppy to know that you have learnt to value your school days. You all no* understand what, parents and 'older people meant when they used to saj days are' best,’.’ and you agree that they are. Remember then tla eiders usually know best in other things too. I notice that most of you are working so well and are kept busy with homework trying to make up for lost time- You have told me that you prefer doing lessons at school to doing them from a newspaper. Ive looked around to find out why. (I’ve learnt that teachers would rather have you at school too.) I think the answer must be this: At school, besides learning ZZ., (oumake friends, you u.ert other children, you learn how to spook to-them, you, form habits of regularity and punctuality, you learn to y Quickly arid willingly—or suffer the consequences—you are trained to be nea and tidy and exact and true in all things. You respect the rules of the school and trv to keep law and order—the more so if you are a prefect or monitor ffhen too, vou find that you better understand and enjoy the beautiful an wonderful things in life and Nature. You are told the best books to read, and thev are put in your libraries for you. Your powers of observation are further developed. You must keep up with the important happenings o the world. Nor is your health nor your fun forgotten, and instead of the teacher being pictured as; some sort of cruel giant, as people used to think Mm he is really your best friend. He often sits up late at night, thinking and!* working out- how he can best teach you, and he goes outside with you to vour games, joining in. and being one of you, quite forgetting he is your teacher. He is so anxious to make you all clever and to teach you ad he possibly can. I think teachers must love you almost as much as I do. Every bov and girl is surely proud of his or her school, and will do everything possible to be an honour to it. Am I not right? These are the reasons why you like school. If you are wise, you’ll be as eager to be well educated as you are to excel in your games.

This week has brought letters from some Smiles who had not written for a long time. We welcome their letters. I had the daintiest little letter from Tom Bowen', who is only seven. He had written it all himself, even to addressing the envelope. Our friends Marjory Tanner and Nina and Doris Brown have written fine ietters too.

I must not forget the Gift Cupboard. Nina and Doris sent in a parcel containing a. dressed rag doll, a knitted ball, dolls’ brushes and hand mirror, a.sheep made from wadding with matches for legs, and a little bunnv. I like these things because Smiles have made them themselves. Scrapbooks are lovely things and are so easy to make. They are nicer if you cut out stories and paste them in ; . and have pictures to match. You can have poetry and jokes, too, as well as funny pictures. Square and round match-boxes make all kinds'of things. The round ends can be wheels. Has anyone tried palindrones yet?

This, week I shall be busy seeing that all the insects are covered up and are beginning their long winter sleep. With enough love to last you the week, I fly away,—

YOUB SMILE QUEEN