The Kiwis’ Nest

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 79, 16 March 1935, Page 15

The Kiwis’ Nest

THE LITTLE WEEDING WOMAN.

A penny a basket for shepherds’ purse Pulled while the ground is wet; Twopence a basket for bind weed Because that is harder to get. Twopence a dozen for thistles, If we get up all the roots, And we must not tread on potato plants €>r break the young bean shoots. Three-ha’pence a basket for speedwell, That’s easy enough to pull, And groundsel, too, and mayweed— They soon make a basketful. That’s what Mother gives us If w« pull them well and true; A ha’penny fine for damage done— I think that's fair, don’t you! Mine l? a big, big basket, Baby’s as wee as wee! But he gets his pay, the darling Exactly the same as me. Grass and nettles and dockweed We leave for Father and Jim. Daddy save he gets bundles But there’s never a penny for him’ Then if I find a rare weed, And learn to spell its name, I get a penny for that one. And Baby gets the same. Although I spell it for him. ’Cause he’s too young, the pet He can’t apeak very plainly Or say his letters yet. Rut he loves to help in weeding. Because when the job is done, We have tea out in the garden And we each get a rasin bun

Dear Kiwis— To-day I am going to continue the interesting information of the Isle of Bacchus, which I began last week. I rame to where the rather forbiddinglooking western part of the island was « inhabited by the Huron Indians, who had sought refuge there from their oppressor*. “After five years, however, the Hurons were finally destroyed. The Iroquois crossed the river ad made a furious and successful assault upon the settlement. The white settlers were not molested. Thus ‘The Land of the Sorcerers’ again became uninhabited. Later, it served as a base camp for General Wolfe during his successful Quebec campaign, and nowadays it is the playground of the people of Quebec. Tn the year 1656 Francois Bethelot, the owner of the island, rechristened it “The Earldom of St. Lawrence.” In 1770, however, it reverted to Cartier’s title.

The history of the island is closely involved with the story of several seigneurial families, and documents relat ing to it are jealously preserved in the archives of Quebec. Lotteries were popular in the Isle of Orleans during the 18th century. A curious document states that on January 10, 1732, the Surgeon Mauvide, one of the old seig' neurs, “Did entreat and beg very humbly the Lieutenant-General of the Quebec Provostship to allow him to arrange a lottery for fifteen hundred pounds worth of merchandise wherein there shall be goods according to the plan attached herewith.” The re mainder of the petition shows that the good doctor was at pains to ensure that the publie should not be swindled. The seigneurs were nothing if not versatile, and reference is made in the historical relations of the Jesuits to the skill of one Jacques Tourdeau of Beaulieu, as a pyrotechnist. In 1836, the festival of St. Joseph was celebrated with great success at Quebec. Jacques Tourdeau de Beaulieu had charge of the fireworks that were let off on that occasion. He acquitted himself of his task to the satisfaction of the French, and one may say to the amazement of the Hurons, who were specially invited to the “fete.” This Jacques Tourdeau de Beaulieu came to * tragic end on May 20, 1863, when he was murdered by a servant, who then burned the house to the ground. The servant was condemned “to have his hand cut off, to be hanged and burned, and the Governor agreed to his death at the gallows, where he was shot on June 8.” Despite its comparative solitude the Isle of Bhcchus did not escape the effects of the numerous wars of the 18th century. Indeed, it suffered severely in the year 1759. when Pitt opened his great colonial offenyve. In May of that year the English fleet sailed up the St. Lawrence River, and in June, General Wolfe disembarked on the western end of the island. The church was bombarded, but fortunately only the roof was damaged, and thereafter it was used as a military hospital. The school was founded in 1701 by two nuns of the Congregation de Notre Dame. It was a structure of masonry consisting of three stories, windows end stone floors, measuring 5o feet bv 28 feet Even to-day the farmer of the Island of Bacchus ploughs with oxen instead of horses. While he recognises the ad 1 vantages of the reaping machine as, against the scythe, he holds that a pro- I perly trained ox is superior to a hor.-e.. Apart from farm work, the ox is useu ■ as a draught animal, and ox carts are not the least picturesque of the sights of the island. Small fruit abounds, owing perhaps to the thoroughness ami industry of the growers. Particularly noticeable is the blue Orleans plum tree imported from France. Each farmer markets his fruit independently in Quebec. A product peculiar to the island is the “fromage raffiue.” a cheese of exceedingly strong smell. The recipe is{

hereditary and is the secret of only ten of the island’s families. Personally, I feel that an island hav- . ing the romantic sounding name of Bacchus should produce grapes rather than plums and cheese, though, of course, knowledge of the history of the island lends romance to even these everyday commodities. It will be interesting when at some future date, a superior being loftily mentions having visitted this little known spot, to air our knowledge, and inquire how the plums have ripened this year, and whether the cheese is as strong as formerly! And now, dears, let us have a competition to follow the joke and riddle one, and lets call it “Towns.” Most of you have a favourite town. It m»y be your own, or one you have visited. Write to mo about it, telling me what has most impressed you about a particular town and why it is a favourite place of yours. We will make the closing date for this “Town” competition Monday, 25th March, at 4 p.m. as usual I hope vou will all be interested enougu in the subject to assure me an extra big mail. My love to you, dears. CHIEF KIWI. Bob is the somewhat ordinary mu of our dog. He has a shaggy coat oi grey, but although it is shaggy it does not alter hie character. 1 look forward every morning to the rapturous greeting which I am sure to lx* the recipient of. He is a very friendly old doggy, and when our neighbours come he always has his doggy way of expressing his lack of introduction. He often sits with a rapt expression in his cy<* watching our cat playing about, which makes me wonder whether he is wishing he was a cut. He and Tib (the cat) eat off the same plate and even sleep together. His favourite place is under the tank-stand where it is very shady, end where he may rest in peace Bob is, my favourite dog.

I Love to all. —Blue Certificate to “Marigold,” age i 12 years, Otane. i (“Bob” is a very chummy name for a dog, and I send my regards to the hero of this essay. I don’t think, “Mari- , gold,” that he really has any desire to be a cat. —C.K.) i Last Thursday, which was a very wet day, I went mushrooming. I had a great time. While I was walking along a muddy track 1 went head over turkey, and tipped all my lovely mushrooms out of my basket. 1 got my clean clothes muddy and Mother had to wash them. Wasn’t 1 a naughty girl? Did you ever do that when you were my age, Chief Kiwi? 1 went and collected some more mushrooms and just got half-way up a hill where 1 could see some more and I slipped again. I rolled right down to the bottom. There were all the shepherds laughing at me, so I went home without any mushrooms. —Blue Certificate to Molly Gilmore, age 12 years, Bag 32, Frasertown. (The best essay you’ve written yet, Molly, though I am sorry you lost your mushrooms so unfortunately. I hope you have gathered lots since without causing amusement to the onlookers. It was an adventure, though, and I should have enjoyed it with you. —C.K.) MRS QUICK-QUACK. A DUCKY OLD LADY. Mr* Quick-Quack was ever such a quick and busy little housewile. She got out before any of her neighbours and so got the greenest vegetables, the freshest fruit. She learned to do this from some. French people with whom she stayed for a month when she was young. Wet or fine, off she would go eoon after breakfast with her little wicker basket and come back with it laden with good things to her dear little house. There was a sweet little lime tree in the front garden, under which she ' would sit when her work was done, to watch all the motors and people go by while she did her knitting—this she hked far (letter than going to the | cinema—it cost lees, and to her was i quite as exiciting. I ( ( I As I wandered lazily down the lane 1 s beheld a most inspiring spectacle. S There before my eyes was a beautiful I old-world garden. Hollyhocks stood 1 drowsily against a brick wajl, which J had ivy clambering over it. Here and a there were gay patches of violets and v priniroces. In the far corner were some beds of mignonette and sweet-smelling 1 lavender. Under a walnut tree reclined a dear old lady ih a rocking chair. I Hose bushes laden with beautiful 11 blooms of all hues bordered a pond. 1 with swans gracefully paddling their way to the edge where lily of the valley grew abundantly. After feasting my eyes on this gorgeous sight 1 did not like saying farewell to this beautiful old garden. a With love. (. — Blue Certificate to “Kiwi Bacon,” age 13 years, Hastings. s (Wouldn’t you like to make just such a garden as you describe with its c beautiful, old-fashioned, sweetly-per-fumed flowers? —C.K A 1 POLLY'S ADVENTURES. t (Continued.) \»d th< n something happened which might be considered a miracle. lhe ■ cat suddenh half fell, halt sprang from the tree, hut, ettll having at hast one of its nine lives lett, it anded on its teet ami tan across the paddock like a streak of lightning. What had caused p this hurried departure was that a hoy, e seeing ihi- parrot’s plight, had picked n up a tiii:e uni liitoivn it with accurate p aim it tin i at hitting it on the side and startling it, causing it to lose it<> a balance. Polly sat on the branch ii fluttering liei wings, scarcely realising b that she «as sate. Then the boy t climbed the tree and, after bringing u

her down with him, he carried her over the paddock. Polly raised no objection, but though she was very tired of adventures, she cok'ld not help wondering what was going to be the next. (To be Continued.) —Blue Certificate to "Tiny Twig,’ age 13 years, Hastings. (I hope that Polly b afely reaches her cage in the next instalment, “liny Twig,” lor too many adventures may demoralise her so that she acquires the habit of taking risks in the outside world of cats and other enemies.— C.K.) I ,Y MOTH S TOYS. “Mummie! Mummie!” shouted little Monty Moth. “Just come and see what I’ve found 1 Hundreds of big ) w !hite balls!’ Mrs Moth followed her little son to : the corner ot the wardrobe, to see I what ho was so excited about, and j there she found quite a quantity ol bik white balls. “Are they sugar, Mummie?” asked Monty, his little eyes shining with excitement. Mrs Moth shook her head. “No, my dear; they are not sugar, and they are not good to eat. 1 wish they were, j because they would make such a nice i change from coats and trousers. The j humans have put them there thinking | to annoy us. but I rather like the I smell myself.” Just then Baddie Moth Hew out of ■ a dress coat, wiping his mouth. “That was tough horribly tough!’’ i lie remarked. “But what have we here?” “iSuch a lot ot balls, Baddie,” said Monty, “1 was hoping they were good to eat!” “Mr Moth laughed. “No —1 know the things,” he said. “You can’t eat them, but you cun play with them, Sonny; you and your friends can have some line tun, rolling them about, and, well —wait and sec- Perhaps you 11 get a surprise!” 1 And Monty uid! In a very little while the bulls began to get smaller. At first it took two or three moth-boys to roll one ball; but soon they were quite a nice size lor tootbull. Then, by the time the iootball season was over, the balls were just the rignt size lor cricket, and they enjoyed many a game. But the balls kept on shrinking till they were only big enough lor marbles; then they ladcu away altogether, and the moth children were very sorry. But one glad uay another supply ol balls appeared in the warUrouc,and the tun uegan all over again! Now, the moral ol my story is: Il you have any young moths in your cupboard, don't lorget to supply the poor tilings with toys!

' ft was on a Friday when we thought we would go for a visit to Cornwall Park, lhe journey was very enjoyable because the sun was shining right in the car. As we arrived in Cornwall Park it was 10 o’clock. We bought some peauuts for the monkeys and parrots. The water in the park was very cold. The birds were very pretty and the monkeys were humorous, scratching themselves and crunching the peanuts. Alter lunch we went to see the swans and ducks on the creek, and they were very pretty. The creepers ferns and grass were very green and looked so nice and fresh. When it was time to go home 1 was very sorry as 1 had enjoyed myself wonderfully. —lied certificate to Irish Colleen, ago 12 years, le Kura. A day of that kind passes quickly, doesn’t it. Irish Colleen Perhaps, before the winter comes, you will he able to spend another day in Cornwall Park. C.K. 1 hope you are well. Just after Christmas my .Mother had to go into tho Hastings Hospital. Roy aaid 1 went to the Children’s Home. 1 was at Eskdale. There are two hills called “Sugar Loaf” and “Magog,” we used to go sledging on Sugar Loaf. I found two sets of goats’ horns on Magog. When school started we had to walk two and a quarter miles to school. Roy was in the Napier Home because he was too small lor Eskdale. \V o were very giad to come home. Love to you and all the Kiwis. —Red certificate to “lubby”, age II years, Hastings. You will always have a kind thought lor the boys whom you were with during your Mother's absence, most of whom have no other home. I hope ■ your Mother is quite well again ■ lubby. C.K. — The other morning some friends and I decided to go mushrooming. The dew was still on the ground, so before we got far our shoes were wet. What fun it was tramping through the grass, our hopes were that we would I obtafti some for breakfast, so we did- j n’t mind our wet shoes. After long | trudging we saw the first two and made a scrambio lor them. We were feeling pleased with ourselves because we would not have to return with an empty basket. Then we came to a creek which looked to our dismay too wide to jump. On the other side we saw a small group of mushrooms. Suddenly we came upon a narrow place, but one of my friends didn’t jump Lar enough and fell into the middle of the creek, so we thought it best to abandon our mushrooming till another morning, and we returned with only one. — Bed certificate to Linda Lee, age 14 years. That was poor sport, Linda Lee, but I hope that you may have since been more fortunate in your efforts. Mushrooms seem plentiful just now. C.K. HIDDEN AUTHORS The names ol six well-known are buried in the following sentences. Can you discover them all? 1. The bravery of Dick ensured the safety of the house. 2. They passed a row of workmen's cottages. 3. The general made foes honour him. 4. He was full of ennobling qualities. 5. He made a swift exit. 6. Jack was a hard youngster. Answers: I, Dickens; 2, Scott . 3. ■ De toe, 4, Fenn; 5, Swift, <>. Hardy. A PROBLEM lhe length of a pencil i« three inches plus half its length. Can you find the complete length of the pencil? You mustn't measure the length of the pencil to find out. You woik it out. Here is the answer Aou know already that part of lhe pencil is three ‘ inches long, then the other part must be three inches, mustn’t it? This makes j the total length of tho pencil six i inches i |

A FEW RIDDLED

Why is a borrowed penny like a single man? Answer: Because it is a loan (alone) What is the first thing you do when you fall into water? Answer: Get wet. Which ifc the tidiest bird? Answer; The hen, because it always carries a comb. Which two flowers may always be found at the zoo? Answer.- The dandy lion and the tiger lily. Last Friday 1 went to the school picnic which was at Napier. We went in the railway train, and alter we left the station we walked up to the parade. After dinner we went for a walk round the town which looks very j nice. After taking our last glance at : Napier we moved off towards the station to catch the train. We had to wait a little while but coon we were on our way. When wo reached the Waitangi river there were men camping there and working on an embankment. 'There were also lots of horses and carts. 1 arrived home tired but happy. —Orange Certificate to “lop Knot. ’ age 11 years, Hastings. (1 wish you could have picked our one special event to write about, “'lop Knot,” and so given more interest to your account ol the day’s outing.— U.K.) Mr Mole poked his nose out ot hie hole, decided that all was well, ami moved carefully towards the dead bony of a mouse lying nearby, lie was just about to hasten back with his prize when his leg was seized by a rodent who was also intending to be the owner of the mouse. There followed a brief struggle. Mr Mole shook off and finally killed his opponent, and was looking round about him, when the sight ol another more deadly toe set him to tunnelling furiously. His foe, who was a long-billed fishing bird, came over to investigate the Hurry on the earth. Mr Mole knew well the power of the bird, and did not slop until he was very secure. 'Thus it was he learned his first lesson in the training of the wild. Love to al! - .“Buster Brown,” age 12 years, Hastings. (Your last sentence has rather spoilt your attempt, ‘'Buster Brown,” and the moral of the essay is not at all clear. —C.K ) May I join your Kiwi page please? 1 promise to do my work by myself. 1 am ten years of age and my birthday’ is on September 16. Please may 1 have a Kiwi badge, and a list of rules. Could I have ' Cobweb” for my name please ? —“Cobweb,” age 10 years, Otane. (Yes, indeed, “Cobweb,” we are delighted to have you, and I like your uncommon pen-naiue. I shall post you a badge with a copy of the rules. — } C ix )