YOUNG FOLKS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1624, 23 December 1887, Page 8 (Supplement)

YOUNG FOLKS.

WATER OF LIFE. Ee upc>n a time there «as an old Iviniz who ftk: faithful servant. Then; was nobody ft wli-!: Torld like him. Ami this was '•» wri*t as r ft - P>l he as strong as ten can be.' the old King felt that his end was and he called the faithful servant to K) ami besought him to servo and aid the ftsert t. ami aided the old i\in.".vh > was to go. Tba faithful servant promised that which wig aeked. And then tie oil King closed bis eyes and folded his hands, and wi-nt the way tbat those had travelled who had gone Lim. one day a utranger came to that jftui " Tcr the bills an i faraway. With Whr;.;-/nt out :t was / *!'""Tfth a cirr.-.n that nobody it fte dr?w aside the curt.vn and showed the to the yotini: Kin:r. And it was a of tic ni')-t b-'auti/ul Priticc-s in the world : for her eyes were as black as Hfe's win?, h*r ehe ■•'-:• were as red as ■fee was natural that seemed Him •ttiing to to open ft • and looked ft'!" have a as Hwhieh bird H - that happened the world, H tell the Princess H". ftc^SS She keeps the dead binl Hglass casket, and has promised to marry HPBefCT will brim/ a cup of water from the W fountain of life so that the bin! may be ft brought back to life again." That was the ft story the stranger told, and then he jogged ft on the way he was joiner : and I f «r one do ■ not know whither it led. Hf Bnt the yourg King had no pence or corain I fo for vninking of the Princess wh > WlrVedover bejond the three rivers. At last ft be cal'ed faithfu! V> him. - And be, " pet me a cup of the water of life?'' "I know not." said the faithful servant, M bnt 1 will try." So ont he into the wide world to seek for what King wanted, though the way thither is both and thorny. On he went, and on, until his shoes were dusty and his feet were sore; and after a while he came to the end of th2 earth, and there was nothing more over the hill. There he found a little tambled-dowrt hut. and within the hut sat an old woman with a distaff, spinning a lamp of Max. ■ Good-morning, mother" said the faithful servant. son.' said the old woman ; are you travelling that you have so far?" said the faithf-.l servant. "I am for the water o* life, and have come Bfcfar as this without fi ding a drop of it." toity!' said the old woman ; "if you are after you have a long ftgo yet. The fonntain is in the country HrWv's east of the son and west of the Kaon, and it is few tbat I ave gone there and B|b*. back again. I can tell you. Besides is a great dragon that keeps of him before you can touch a ftlfoi' it. AH the same, if yon have made pp your mind to go, you nay stay here until was come home, and perhaps they can you in a way of getting there, for I am the Four Winds of Heaven,

an 1 it is few places that they have not seen." So the faithful servant came in an 1 sr.t down by the lire t > wait u-.tii the Winds came h me. The first :iiat came was the East Wind, bit he knew not'.iin- of toe *u'-r >.f lifcand the land that l.vr < .-.-: »f the sun an I west of the ir. -n; lie hj: i :. .t: 1 ! >!ks ta k of ♦.' • both now and ::u;i, i> it 1 uet, ame the v . . ■.:.■] ■:■ '-:: •* jw. c : wa- • S .■• -i ' Th en p . ..in pive ana »au a iift over there to-morrow," said the old woman. At this the North Wind mumbled and shook his head. Hut at last he said " Yes," f./r he was a good-hearted fellow at the bottom. So the next mornins he took the faithful servant on his back, and away he tkw till the man's hair whistled behind him. On they went, until at last they came to the country that iay east of the sun ami west of the m<on. "Thank you," said the faithful servant, and then he was for starling away to rind what he came f>r. •'Sip a bit," said the North Wind. " Here is a ft.ittier ; wi. n yon want me cast it into the air,.anl I will not be lug in coming." The faithful servant walked alonz a great distance, until by-and-by he came to a field covered all over with sharp rocks and white bones, for lie was not the lirst by many who hr.d been that way for a c;;p of the water of life. There lay the erp.it fiery dragon in the sun sound asleep, and so the faithful servant had time to looK about him. Not far away was a great deep trench, like a dram in a swampy fiel 1 : tbat was a path that the dragon hail made in going to the river for a drink of water every day. The faithful servant dug a h<>le in the bottom ..." i'..is trench, and then he hid himself as snugly as a cricket in the crack in the kitchen fi-»or. By-and-by the dragon awoke and found that lie was thirsty, and then started down to the river to drink, and the faithful s rrvant lay as still as a mouse until it was just above where he was hi Iden ; th"n he thrust his sword through the drain's heart, and there it lay, after a turn or two, a* d< ad as a stone. After that he had only to fill the cup at th*» fountain, for there was notioiy to say nay to him. Then he ea-t the feather into the air. and there was the North Wind as fresh and as sound as ever. Ho took the man <n his back, and away he (lew until he came home aeain. The faithful servant thanked them all around—the Four Winds and the ol 1 woman —and as they would take n-'thin? else, be just gave them a i">-w droi>s of the wa:<-r of life, and that is the reason that the Four Winds and tie.ir mother are as fresh and young no-v as they were when the woild be?an. Then the faithful s.-rvant set off home airr.in. riirht foot foremost. As S'»in -is the Kimr saw the nun of the water of life he had the b'irsfs saddled, and off he and the faithful servant role to find the Princess who lived over beyond the three river-. By-and-by they came to the town, and there wns the Princess mourning and erievingover her bird just as she had done from the first. But when she heard that the King had brought the water of life she welcomed him as ihouirh he were a flower in May. They sprinkled a few drops of water over the dead oini. an ' up it sprang as lively and as well as ever. But now before tie Princess would marry the Kintr, she must have a talk with the bird ; and there came the hitch, for the wise : bird knew as well as you and I that it was not tbe King who had brought the water of life. i "Go and tell him,"said the wise bird, " that i you arc ready to marry him as soon as he i saddles the wild black h<>rsc in the forest i over yonder, for that is easy onoueh to do : for the hero who found the water of life." The Princess did as the bird told her, nnd , so the King missed getting what he wanted after all. , " And can yon not saddle and bridle the

wild black horse for me!" said he to the faithful servant. " I do not know," said the faithful servant, - but I will try." So off he «v. .it to the forest to hunt up the wild black horse, the saddle over his shoulder and bridle oyer his arm. By-and-by came the wild horse galloping through the woods like a thunder-gust in summer, so that the ground shook under bis feet. But the faithful servant was ready for him. He caught him by the mane and forelocks. The wild black horse could not stand against the strength of two men such as the faithful servant had, so byand-by he fell on his knees, and the faithful servant clapped the saddle on his back, aud slipped the bridle over his ears. •• Listen now," said he ; " to-morrow my master, the King, will ride you up to the Princess's house, and if you do not do just as 1 tell you it will be worse for you. When the King mounts upon your back you must stagger and groan as though you carried a mountain." The horse promised to do as the other bade, and then the faithful servant jumped on his back, and away to the King, who had been waiting at borne for him ail this time. i tic next day the King rode up to the Princesss castle, and ttie wild black horse did just as the faithful servant told him to do. He staggered and groaned so that everybody cried out, " Look at the great hero"riding upon the wild black horse 1" Hut the wise bird was of a different mind, for when the Princess came to talk to him about marrying the King, he shook his head. •• No," said he. ' Listen : you must say to him that you will marry nobody but the man who wears such and such a golden armlet with this and that written on it."' So the Princess told the King what the wise bird had bidden her say, aud the King went straightway to the faithful servant, " You must let me have your armlet," said he. •' Alas, master," said the faithful servant, •' that is a woful thing for me ; for the one and only way to take the armlet oil my wrist is to cut my hand oil my body." "So I" said the King. " That is a great pity ; but the Princess will not have me without the armiet." •• Then you shall have it," said the faithful servant. But the King had to cut the hand ciT, for the faithful servant could not do it himself. l'.ut. bless your heart 1 the armlet was ever so much too large for the King to wear ; nevertheless he tied it to his wrist with a bit ot ribbon, and oil he marched to the Princess's castle. •• Hers is the armlet of gold," said he. •' And now will you marry me?" But the wise' bird sat on the Princess's chair. "Hut! tut!" said be, "it does not fit the man." Yes, that was so ; everybody who was there could see it easily enough. And as for marrying hiin, the Princess would marry nobody but the man who could wear the armlet. What a hubbub there was then ! Every one who was there was sure that the armlet would tit him. But no; it was far too large for the best of them. The faithful servant was very sal, and stood behind the rest, over by the wall, with his arm tied up in a napkin. " You shall try it too." said the Princess; but the faithful servant only shook his head, for he could not try it on as*the rest had done because he had no hand. But the wise bird was there, and knew what he was about. "See, now," said he; " maybe the water of life will cure one thing as wtdl as another." Yes. that was true ; and one was sent to fetch the cup. They sprinkled it on the faithful servant's arm, and it was not twice they had to do it, for there was another hand as good and better than the old. Then they gave him the arm!"' H< slipped it over hi" Var.i, and 11 tilted bin like •' !>i« - tt" rn.1.1 for in"." «.V'i • »£ ,'rn- -. • anu 1 »... >•'■• ■• : for *he . i «(■•• vv • -v I■. tna; lie was ihe ■ been \. •. trie wf ier'..;l :h:ne« that ia : ha; ; :." 1. i • a i-e said

for the Kin.;, wL), ad that was left ; u tu do was but to pack ell borne a 3 'ain, and I for one am glad of it. By Howard Pile. A GIJIL WITH A JiRIGHT IDEA. i. II r hair was always flying about In away that was quite distressing ; So to keep it in place and away from her face, Sne gave it a mucilage dressing. 11. 'Twas a bright idea, and the little girl laughed, Then suddenly stopped, and said, In a tone of surprise, " Why, I can't shut my eyes, Anil something seems wrong with my head." 111. Kver since then this dear little girl Has been a fit object for pity, With her wide-open eyes, her look of surprise, And the funniest hair in the city. IV. It bristles in such a ridiculous way That she can't tie her hat, nor yet pin it; For perched in the air on the ends of her hair, It won't stay in place for a minute. v. And if she eoes out on the street for a walk, The people she meets stop and stare. "Just look at her eyes I ' each one of them cries. And, •' What very remarkable hair I" VI. She declares she would rather not have any hair, Though, she knows even then she'd look queer; But she'd rather be ball than always be called The girl with the bright idea. KiliK MUHBOE. GAMES. Hen A it d (Jh ickens. A boy is chosen Fox, a bit: girl is Hen. The rest of the children are Chickens. The chickens are ranged back of one another each graeping the waists or jackets of the one in front. The foremost chicken takes firm hold of the Hen in asiniilar manner. Thus tlury stand in file behind the Hen. who holds out her skirt like wings to protect her chicks. The Fox is hidden behind a tree or bush. The Hen walks to and fro before this bush with her chicks, singing: " Chickany, chickany, crany crow, I went to the well to wash my toe, When 1 came back my chicken was dead. " What o'clock is it old Fox?" , " One o'clock," says the Fox. T"en she repeats the rhyme. '• Two o'clock," says the Fox. And so the Hen goes on repeating the rhyme six times, and each time passing to and fro before the den. To each question, "What o'clock is it?" the old Fox tells her it is an hour later than it was last time she asked, until he reaches six o'clock. Then he makes a rush for the chicks. Now the Hen must protect her brood by heading off the crafty Fox, and the chicks will have to be smart in order to keep in line behind the old Hen. If the Fox catches a chicken he carries it off to bis den, and uheii supposed to eat it, the chicken

must remain there quietly until the end of the game. After a chicken is caught the Hen continues to walk with her remaining chicks before Mr. Fox's den, saying the rhyme as before, and as soon as it comes to "six o'clock," the Fox rushes out as before, catches a chicken, and carries it off. The game is continued until the last chicken is captured. Simon Says. The leader of this game is called Simon. He sits at the head of a table around which the company are seated. Simon and all the players close their hands with the thumbs turned in. All hands must rest on the table. Unless Simon prefaces his remarks with " Simon says," the players must pretend not to hear his commands. If they are taken otf their guard they must pay forfeits. The game proceeds as follows :—Simon begins : " Simon says, thumbs up." He must suit the action to the word, as must all the players immediately. Then Simon says, " thumbs down," when all thumbs must be instantly turned down. Simon must say quickly, " Thumbs up," which command many of the players will obey, and will consequently have to pay forfeit, because they should not obey the command unless prefaced by the words, " Simon savs."' Properly played this is a most amusing came for young folk. CONUNDRUMS. 1. Why does a wooden-legged man surprise you ? 2. Why are young ladies like bells ? !i. What is the dilTerencc between a hurdygurdy man and a double tooth .' 4. Which is the most dissipated city in the world .' 5. When is a baby n four-footed animal ? fi. When is good tea like pure water? 7. What vice is that which it i 9 frequently advisable to follow .' 8. When is a butterfly like a kiss I !•• What time by the clock is the best for a pun? 10. Why do ladies have to replenish their wardrobe so often ? 11. What is the difference between a railway train and an insolvent bank ? 12. Why is the indorserof apromiss irymte called a surety .' 13. Why is a hotel ghost like a policeman 1 11. Why are good husbands like dough / 15. When is a chimney like a chicken f ANSWERS. 1. Because he is one foot less than when born. 2. Recause you can never find their metal until you have given them a ring. 3. One is an organ grinder, the other a grinding organ, 4. Berlin, for it is always nn the Spree. 5. When it is a little dear (deer). ii. When it is well drawn. 7. Advice. 8. When it alights on tulips. S>. A joke takes best when it strikes one. 10. Because their new clothes are sure to be worn out as soon as they get them. 11. In one case the break causes a stoppage, in the other the stoppage causes the break. 12. Because he is almost sure to have to pay it. 13. Because it is a:i inn-spectre t 14. Because women need them. 15. When it is a litt'efml.

ENIGMA. Mr. Ledger Account, a shrewd sort of man, And as punctual as man nec's to be. Never likes to go down to hi> oiiice in town. Until he has looked over me. Now his son. Ma*t>»r Ma«h r. whose brains are but few, Never thinks > 1' ; , • n\ ■.':• - •:■■ : But mikes use of in i« a ■.: urn to be B»*1 *l::i ;■!- rig? Uil he v Mr- Ledger .-«■• •■ ...; : cnritty i!d daini'. I':' 1 . j..st ii. 'l'ioncd. :ares naught i,..: in spring. ■ '••a:>.:i.: tin.- her ■•up. .ird's My assistance is ea.'< riy sought. And, it; fact from the .alace right down to t tie c it, I am welcome for purp isesmany ; If often abused, yet most frequently used, And sometimes I'm sold for a penny. Axswek.—Newspaper.

I'll A HADE. Free from evil, Man primeval. Dwelt in Eden's garden fair; All he needed Nature yielded With spontaneous beauty there. On earth's bosom, Golden Wlm-shu An>l ambrosial fruit were borne ; Heavenly duty, Light and beauty, Glorified that sinless morn. Naught vexatious Marred life's gracious Aspect to the sire of men ; Baneful ftature, Had no creature, And my firs! was harmless then, E len's blessing, Man transgressing, Lost with Ins first innocence. And the lonely Harbour only Gained my third when banished thence. Weak 'twere reckoned, Should my second Sigh on Eden's vanished bowers; Value daily. Smiling gaily In her wealth of leaves and flowers. O'er inglorious Aim victorious, Let my whole inspire each breast, Till the spirit Shall inherit Paradisal peace and rest, ANSWER. —Asp i-ra'ion. The Discontented Mouse.

A young mouse of more than ordinary inquisitiveness watched a cook as she was preparing a dinner. " Ha!" said he, " there must be something wrong, something askew in the schema of things. Why should these huge giants called men and women have such delicious things to eat, while we poor mice have to forage for a piece of stale bread or cheese at the risk of being gobbled up by some cannibal cat." The more he thought over the matter the more this young mouse grew discontented. He gradually developed a socialistic, or, rather, anarchist temper, and came to the conclusion that suffering from such grave injustice there could be no wrong in helping himself to the good things to which he bad as good right as any other creature. In this temper he watched the cook put by the stock pot for soup. Seizing his opportunity, he scrambled up the sides of the pot, and leaned over the edge to taste the contents. Alas 1 he overbalanced himself, and fell in, and was drowned in the rich liquor. In the morning when the cook was about to make the soup she discovered the corpse floating in the stock. " Ah I" said she, " mice is like men and women. They're alius hankerin' arter other people's good things instead of bein' content with what Proridence has awarded em," and •ha threw the mouse to the cat.

CHRISTMAS. Christmas once more I No marvel that a singular joy thrills all Christendom, for he surely must be dull clay who refuses to rejoice at the advent of Christmas tide. He must be a sour and morose creature who, amidst the kindliness, charity, and pood-will which rule during this great festival of the year, stands aloof untouched. There are not many such, we may be sure ; and so, look where we may, we shall discover joy and kindliness, smiles, and haply tears—though not bitter tears of grief. If there be those who weep, the tears they shed are those of tender retrospection. Fond memories may open the floodgates of the soul, but gently and kindly. It will be thus for the old, who live in memories of the past. With the young, this is the season for laughter and mirth. They, happy ones, live in the future. Hope is theirs—and they surely have a right, at this auspicious season to cherish it. The children do so; young lovers do so; the sfurdy valiant youth, just entering into the battle of life does so. And, no less, though in a more serious mood, so may those who arc going down the hill of life cherish hope at 'Jhristmas tide. For He in whose memory this sacred fea=t is held, came to us to give the hope and blest assurance which i console the old. At tin's time then all Christendom is elate. In the torrid as in th- frigid zones, joy reigns With punkahs swineing, and iced brandy pawnee at hand, the sweltering Anglo-Indian cuts his Christmas plum pudding. In dreary Lapland, the sealskin-clad convert, celebrates the feast as taught by his pastors. In Rome the censer swings and the priests chant upon a hundred altars. In Russia the spirit of hospitality runs riot in peasant's as in noble's hearts. It is the season of divination for the simple superstitious Russians. Fortunes are told, nativities cast, and happy marriages pr ignosticated, the while the merrymakers sine: •' May the bread and salt live a hundred years. May our Emperor live still longer I May our Emperor never grow old 1 May his goo 1 courses never be tired I May his shining garments ever be new I May his good servants ever remain faithful I' Anion.' Scandinavian natives this is the great festival season of the year. In Sweden several families gather together, each bringing a supply of provisions for the Yule-tide feast. As George Withers quaintly sings : " Now ail our neighbors' chimneys smoke, | And Christmas blocks are burning; I heir ovens they with baked meat choke, And ali the spits are turning. With, nit the door let sorrow lie, Ani if for cold its hap to die, We'll bury it on a Chrismas fire, And evermore be merry. An old Norwegian law provided that any one who did not prepare several gallons of beer and a bushel of malt for Christmas festival had to pay a penalty. A traveller writes of Norwegian cheer :—" Having taken our seats our work of demolition began. Fish, poultry, meat, cakes, pickles, preserves, and sauees went round and round again, considerable intervals being allowed for the singing of national s >ngs, and for appropriate toasts." We may discover in all this gorging and swilling a lingering relic of old heathen customs, for the end of the year was a s ason for great feasting among the Scandinavians before Christianity supplanted the worship of Thox and Odin. We all know how Christmas is kept in old England : how it s the season for the exercise of all kindlv vir'm s. Thepo rest wretch s >m-'how manage s t--.-crape together a Christmas liite and sun. !"" .1 ■ 'd enough. >rdinarily,in the old •x' .ndr- for the nonce, and the *tarv:i ■-.iv ' ■<!. the naked clothed. So al*o >'i v. •!.••: ••::' of Europe, where Christmas ; ?i' 'gritv of ifev irits and sig- ;: ■ .: H-'r-iw"<iv in Australia, where tin i: • ..• ;\< : dimate are reversed, and '.viu-r a •■ '.he middle of summer in--t.-ad •' w.;,..!. our method of celebrating Christmas is necessarily difficult. Pic-nic-ing is the rule, though there are plenty who keep holiday at home. But it matters little 'now the festival is celebrated so that its as-ociations are preserved, and its spirit m ves us to kindly thought and action. May this be so with our readers, so that they may, with honest conscience, fulfil old Tusser's admonition: — •' At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year I"