THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 October 1928, Page 18

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 kiU them with his Magic Sword Happiness. j Dear Smiles, — i For many weeks now we have had. all the allotted by the printer occupied with letters from the Smiles. , and therefore I have not been able to publish the verses ot poetry, riddles and other items forwarded to the Castle. You know that the Smile Castle roll is growing- bigger every week, so that if any of your letters do not appeal the week thev arrive you will know it is because there was not ! sufficient space. Letters received later than Thursday can ■ seldom be published the same week. j Have you noticed how busy the birds are just now ! j This is the season of activity in the feathered kingdom. I . j love to watch the blackbirds and the thrushes budding . their nests and also the starlings. It is very interesting to watch the blackbirds and the thrushes searching for food ; for their young. You may have noticed how they hop across your lawn. The beat of their feet ot the giounc j brings the worms to the surface and in this way they col- j leet °;i very large number at one time, for the young | thrushes and blackbirds are very hungry little fellows and , require a great deal of feeding all day long. Blackbirds , also feed their young on spiders and I have often watched , the parents searching on fences for them and collecting large numbers. Thrushes are verv fond of snails and these pests get a bad time just now. Have you noticed how the thrush breaks the shell of the snail? It carries it in its mouth and drops it on a hard surface, or beats it on a stone. I may be able to write something more about birds next week. Love to you all, — ' . , . Yours affectionately, SMILE QUEEN. j