FOR YOUNG FOLKS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2066, 13 January 1925, Page 6

FOR YOUNG FOLKS

A GENTLE HINT. Winnies parents were entertaining a rather large party to dinner, and as a special treat the little girl was allowed to. be present. When the sweets were put on the table, the conversation among the elders had become so animated that Winnie was forgotten. She sat and watched for a few moments, and saw all the ices, jellies, and cakes disappearing, and could bear it no longer, so she lifted her plate above her head and cried in a broken vcice, "Does anybody want a clean plate?" A SPRING LEGEND. The old Greeks had a beautiful idea that the whole earth, the woods and the waters, were all people with spirits, something like our old belief in fairies, and in this way they used to explain many things which we understand better to-day. But their stories will always be loved for their beauty, even though we know they are nothing but myths. Here is the story which tells why we have summer and winter. De-meter, the Karth-mother, who gave men corn and fruits for food, had a beautiful daughter, Persephone, whom she loved dearly. One day, as the maiden was gathering flowers in the meadows, there suddenly appeared to her a king- in a chariot drawn by coal-black horses. This was Dis, lord of the Under-world, and, seizing Persephone, without heeding her tears and entreaties, he placed her beside him in the chariot, and disappeared into the earth as quickly as he had come. Poor Demeter, in the deepest grief, wandered all over the world in search of her lost daughter, and at last the gods in pity decreed that Di 3 must give back Persephone to her mother for nine months of every year, but that for the remaining three months Persephone should reign as Queen of the Underworld. And so in the winter, when there are no flowers and the world seems sad, the Greeks used to think it was because Demeter was mourning for her absent Persephone, and when the Earth burst into blossom in the spring, it was with joy at the daughter's return to her mother. A FABLE. There were once three brothers who made up their minds to choose a hobby. '■t shall collect birds," said the oldest. "I shall collect pictures," said the second, who had a private fortune from lus god lather, and was the wealthiest of the three. "I shall collect sea-shells," said the youngest, "because you can get them for nothing, if you search diligently and patiently on the shore." Here re was wrong, for diligence and patience are both great things, so after all he would not get his she-Is tor nothing. The eldest brother bought a gun, and whenever he saw a beautiful rare bird he shot It and had it stuffed, so +ha after a few years he had to build a large hall on to his house to hold bis huge collection. By that time, too the rare birds for miles round bad disappeared, either killed or frighten'id away, but. the man was tro stupid to understand that the tickets bearing the words "Now extjnet in "he district" were nothing to be proud of.

The second brother hud carried out his intention, and formed a great pic-ture-galley- He always had to get Fomeone else to decide whether a picture were good or bad, because he had nr-.ver learnt anything about painting, but he delighted in showing Ills treasures to people, and in telling them how much money each had cost him And as it is no use saying that sori of 'bing to anyone who really cares about, pictures, he always had to see -hat his visitors did not. know more than himself.

The youngest brother meanwhile stuck to his shells. He spent much o r his 'ime oi. the shore grubbing about ii> cdd caves, and rarely came home without something, lie bought specimens when he had the money, from sailors who went lo distant lands; and when he had none he made exchange with other men who also collected shells. He studied, and missed no opportunity of meeting men who could tell him something about h s chosen subject. This led nun to take an interest in many other things. He was fascinated by the sailors' accounts of distant lands, arid he began by reading all he could. Then he saved all his money till he could afford to take a voyage, and this opened out before him a newworld. Pc his hobby was a source of perpetual pleasure, and kept his heart and mii d always young and fresh.