Aunt Roberta’s Family

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 137, 9 May 1930, Page 10

Aunt Roberta’s Family

AUNT ROBERTA’S LETTER. Dearest Children, — I wonder how many men whose childish ambitions ran to great deeds on a fireman’s -.ladder, or whose hero was the policeman on his - beat, would feel pleased when they grew • up if those ■ ambitions had come true ? Ask father to tell you what HIS ambition was when. he was a little boy, and see if .it has. been realised. You will find, ■ I think, that it has not. Yet many .people say that the talents and ambitions, shown in chiidhood ■ would, if fostered, prove natural . vocations. If that is so, then tliero is one boy in Sydney who is destined to be world famous as a theatrical producer, and another who . should make a good engineer. ' . . Sumner, aged 12 years, is the only child of the late Sumner Locke Elliott, well known throughout Australia for her novels and short stories. His theatre has become a real thing to him. Sumner became obsessed with his work when, three years ago, he was presented with a toy peopled with jointed cardboard figures. He first of all ■ called it the Enquire Theatre, “but,” he explains, “there are so many Empires all ovet v the world that I changed its name to the “Regal.” He has written 13 plays, which he produces himself, and each play runs for at least four weeks. Sumner has all his plays on word perfect. His memory is so good that he seldom changes a word as he speaks it. During the play, Sumner talks for each of the characters, changing his voice as required. He works tho figures from the wings. His actors, even though they be figures cut out of paper and . coloured with crayon, are real people to him. His spotlight is a powerful torch, and a gramophone the orchestra. He. paints all his own drop-curtains to suit hie many changes of scene. The other boy is Ralph Mansfield, 15 years, who has used his brains, his spare time, and his pocket money on; the perfection of an electrical toy that ie unique. Above the ceiling and beneath the roof of his home he has built a miniature railwav system in an area of 435 square feet. Starting two years and a half ago, at »L2i, he painted a foundation of green lieius and brown roads on the floor,-and then proceeded to lay his line —150 feet of it. Gradually he has evolved an up-to-date system, with two electric trains, which , are controlled from the one switch board, i A second board-controls the light of the i garages and farmhouses, with which the l “countryside” is dotted. The 45 tiny i leaden figures who form the "populatior l have a background of smooth grassy hills l to look at as they wait for trains, dnV< I their cars or lorries, or tend tho animal: I on the farms. This was painted by Ralph’! mother and sister. Both stations have ai electric bell, which rings at the starting and stopping of the trains. Trains, stations, garages, petrol pumps road lamps, and farm houses, all lit b; their own tiny lights, make a fascinating picture that causes the visitor to rub hi eyes and wonder if he is Gulliver re turned to Lilliput. Your own,

THINGS. TO MAKE. Marks will bo awarded for suitable things to make— recipos, toys, fancy articles, etc. . (More contributions are required). A GIRL’S APRON. (1 marks-TOPPING.) This apron is made from a serviette. Cut one point of the serviette round for the top. Then sew a border of pretty laee round the edge. To the two opposite corners sew a strip of tape or ribbon for the tiers, and brighten with the wearer s name neatly embroidered in colours. You then have a neat little present, costing practically nothing, and which does not take long to make. CHOCOLATE BALLS. (1 mark—CHRISTMAS LILY). ilb. chocolate (or cocoa), 2 tablespoons milk' or water, 1 dessertspoon butter, 1 teaspoon vanillin ilb cocoanut, ilb sugar. Boil all (except cocoanut and vanilla) together gently. When it begins to thicken, tost bv dropping a little into cold water. If it becomes brittle, stir in the cocoanut and vanilla. Take off the fire till it becomes a thick paste; then roll into balls and dip in dry • cocoanut and crystallised sugar. SPONGE SANDWICH. (1 mark—WINDFLOWER). 1 egg, 1 small cup of sugar, 4 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 cup of flour, 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder. Warm milk and butter, add other ingredients and beaten egg. Enough for two small sandwich tins. Filling—- “ Vienna.” Cream butter (4 ozs), sift_ in Bozs of icing sugar. Flavour with dessertspoon of vanilla. Can bo coloured with cochineal or cocoa. Spread on cake when cool. Put the filling left into a glass jar, securely corked, till needed.

GAMES. Marks will be awarded for suitable indoor or outdoor games. RESULTS OF PREVIOUS COMPETITIONS. HIGHLY COMMENDED ENTRIES ORIGINAL VERSE. “CRUSHED HOPES.” (By Billie Boy, 14 years.) With face against the window pane, I watched the world outside; All my joys were dashed to earth, and all my dreams had died. A . canopy of blinding rain was blotting out all hope, Tho bodies of my mounting joys were hanged with sorrow’s rope. If' this day only had been fine, tho pleasures it would bring Made mo too sad for words to tell —I no more wished to sing; I thought of white-capped dashing waves, racing across the sand; I thought of dainty water-maids a-dancing hand in hand. • • And as I watched, the beating rain fell faster, faster down; The aea would soon be lashed with foam and whipped to salty brown; My thought of burnished seashore sands had now completely died, .. And gone were all the glorious hopes of plunging through tho tide. And as I watched my eyes grew dim with more than Sorrow’s ray, . ■ For all tho pleasures of my heart, in floods were swept away. : . I turned my head to quell the pain that rose within my heart, My eyes were blind, my lips were dumb, and sadness played his part.

•QjuuuJo .’lrj&hxtxi 1* ENROLMENT COUPON. Cut out this coupon fill it in, and post to ‘‘Aunt Roberta,” care ‘‘Standard. My Name ia My Age is My Address is My Birthday ia • I read ‘‘Ar.nt Roberta’s Family” Page, Signature of Parent, Guardian or Schoo, Teacher Sent in by » CHATTERBOX. 4, MOERA writes: “I am writing to let * you know that I did not copy the story •Bravo Bobby.’ I try to copy my favourite authors but I do not remember ever reading anything similar to ‘Bravo Bobby.’ I made it out in outline at school one day in my spare time. I know that nothing is to be copied that seniors are not to get help. I hope this is a suitable explanation.” “I think Allen-a-Dale will bo a great author one day,” says TOPPING. “He writes such beautiful stories. Here s wishing him the best of luck. The Dalefields, in the junior division, and Windflower, in the intermediate; are very good, I think. When I stopped writing I did | not think you would miss mo. I wonder if any of my cousins will notice my return to the page; perhaps not, as I r did not write under the pen-name of ‘Topping' very long. Eula Arthur hasn’t written for a while, has she?” OUR MAIL BAG. TOPPING: Of course I missed you, as you were such a persevering and industrious niece. I have rather a hazy mind picture” of you; I think you are fair, I with pink cheieks and blue eyes, and straight ‘‘cropped” hair. You wear glasses, I feel sure, and'are rather a solemn little niece. Your “mind picture of me is true in some respects. Best love. FUZZ BUZZ : I don’t quite understand what you mean about the competitions—but I don’t suppose it matters much. CECILE BAGNALL: Welcome ! I m * delighted to hear that you intend to compete in the competitions once more. I . profor senior and junior entrants to keep to their own class. What has happened 6 to Norv? Love to all. MOERA: Your straightforward explanation is accepted, and you have been awarded 2 marks for the story. LITERARY CORNER. Favourite verses, short descriptive passages out of well-known books, and opinions of various books will be published in this corner each week. Wherever possible author’s name should be given. (More contributions are required). Sent by MERVYN DALEFIELD: — MIRAGE. - : The sun beats down on Bond Street, The pavements scorch my feet, But, gazing in a wiAdow, I quite forget the heat. For there’s a watbr-colour vham’s fishing-fleet. - The buses roar behind mo, I hear them in a dream; Their noise becomes the clamour Of gulls that wheel and scream I’m on tho quay at Brixham, Where silver harvests gleam. Great sails—red, gold and amber * Are scattered o’er tho bay; Outsido the harbour, combers Dash up in rainbow spray; The cool, clean, salty breezes Blow all my cares away. My feet may stand in Bond Street Amid the noise and glare My spirit’s down at Brixham, And finds refreshment there Peace, content and joy of life 5 And happiness to spare. t —Janet Read.

“WELCOME RAIN.” (By Mervyn Dalcficld, 10 years.) Rain, rain, beautiful rain, Happy aro we to see you again! Now you have come, pray doift go away, Stay with us, please, just for one day.' Rain, rain beautiful rain, Dashing against the window pane— Coming to change brown fields to green, And to wash the hedgerows sweet and clean. Rain, rain, beautiful rain, Raiti, rain, beautiful rain, Flowers wore thirsty, and crying in vam. Now you are kissing the roses so red, Proudly they’re holding up each lovely head. Rain, rain, beautiful rain, How we have longed for your coming again 1 ~ Hark to the birdies, how sweetly they sing, Gardens and fields with their molody ring. “A WELCOME SHOWER.” (By LIGHTNING, 10 years.) I sat beside my window On a rainy day, Listening to tho wind, blow A tattoo loud and gay. And I saw tho tiny raindrops Fall down into tho earth,

Where faded flowers and grass and crops Stirred gently into birth. Most welcome is tho shower That falls ’mid summer’s heat, Refreshing every flower ' That lifts its face so sweet. And though I cannot go to play— Insido I must stay, I know tho leaves and flowers say—- “ Welcome, rainy day.” A DAY IN MY LIFE. AN EXCITING DAY. (By FUZZ BUZZ, 14 years.) It was early in March, and, as wo mad( our way along the road, wc gathered al the insects wc could find. We were goin(

to tho bush, and one of tho party had said wc shall all collect insects, and tho ono who gained the greatest number should have xho biggest piece of fruit cake. , When we were nearing our destination a motor-car came along, /and Joyce tp°h off her hat and waved it in the air. Ihon

the fun began. A gust of wind carried away her hat! Wo ran after it-under fences, over ditches arid through hedges until to our dismay tho hat flew over into a farmyard and landed beside a bulldog which commenced to bark furiously lhat, of courso was enough for us, and we hastily departed without retrieving tho hat. : It was 11 o’clock when we reached the bush, and as wo had an hour left for. insect collecting we wandered among the trees. Wo came across a pond in which water-lilies were growing, and I bent down to get some. I managed to fall lii, somehow, and the next thing,l knew I was sitting in tho muddy water. Luckily it was not deep, and I commenced to scramble out, but it was too slippery, and each timo I fell in again, until my friends managed to pull mo out. • . , Then we wont back and counted our insects, and as I had tho most I received a large picco of plum cake. Wlien wo sat down to Lunch Mary sat in a hole, and wo doubled up with laughter, for there she was with her head and legs only showing. Sho kickod her legs frantically, and in the end wo helped her out. It soomed as though it was our unlucky day for in the afternoop we discovered a horse in a paddock, and 1 could not resist getting on its back. The next moment. I

OUE MOTTO: " CHAEACTEB AND PERSEVERANCE ”

was on tho ground in a heap, and my comrades wero round mo. Fortunatoly I was not hurt. After our mishaps we went homo for tea just as the sun was disappearing behind tho horizon.

A NICE DAY. (By Ronnio Dalcficld, 8 years.) Tho nicest day I’ve spent this year was that of our school picnic. It was held at tho Esplanade, and I enjoyed myself on tho swings thore. Races wore run, and games played. For lunch and tea there were lovely cakes, sandwiches, cream-puffs, sausagerolls and orange drinks. Tho children sat on tho grass whilo they ate tho good things provided. We wero given ice-cream, nuts and lollies, too, during the day, and everybody had a splendid time. I wish that our school picnic came oftencr than just onc6 a year.

CAMPING WITH THE SCOUTS. (By Billy Collins, 10 years.) Just recently I went camping for a day with the scouts of our troop. Early in the morning we set out for the river, laden with a billy, frying-pan and everything necessary for cooking dinner. We selected a suitable site, and then, assisted by the scoutmaster, erected a tent. Above it flew the Union Jack, which we saluted. . . , Each scout made his own firo and cooked his own dinner. The day was very hot, so tho wise ones built thoir firo in tho shade.. Each boy carried hi 3 own matches and paper, and, with plenty of dry chips, there wero soon a number of fires burning, while tho scoutmaster cooked his own dinner and supervised our work. With meat and vegetables wo had a hearty meal, and never did food taste so good. Our appetites satisfied, wo cleaned our dishes and carefully extinguished our fires. Tho afternoon was spent in swimming and in games, and in shooting at tins in the river. Wo lit our fires onco more for the evening meal, and then prepared to go home. The flag was saluted and hauled dow-n. Tho tent was taken down and the poles hidden in a bush for another time. Then we left for home, delighted with our day in camp. ROLL CALL: Ralph Holmes. A STORY. ,

“BRAVO BOBBY.” (By MOERA, 14 years.) In the slums of London, Court 161, lived a small boy and girl. Deprived of parents through an influenza ep.Aemic, these two little mites pf eight and ten lived in a small' attic at the top of a tumoledown house. The boy was a manly little fellow, a contrast to hie weak little sister. He sold matches and odds,and ends, generally managing to provide Katie with food. Katie wae left alone during the day because nobody knew of their plight. One day at dusk, while Robbie was out,. Katie saw a stray cat walking along the window sill. Feeling lonely she tried to get it to play with, but' in tho attempt knocked over the lighted candle. Her weak heart failjng her she could not give the alarm, and tho house began to. blaze merrily. The people saw to their amazement that a fire had broken out. in the supposed vacant house in 161 Court. The usual crowd gathered round to witness the spectacle of a fire. What was that at the window ? Not a face, Surely. -No. . Yes, it was a face! Suddenly the - startled crowd heard a heartrending cry, and a little boy darted forward from among them, and began climbing up to the window. A period of suspense elapsed, and then a figure appeared holding a white bundle. A man ran forward with- a ladder, and, in danger of his life, climbed up to the .now blazing windoow He reached out for the bundle the boy was holding, but at the critical moment Bobby collapsed and fell back into the flames. With great difficulty the man was able to get in through the window. With their hearts in their mouths the people watched him disappear, and then he reappeared with a bundle in his arms and another across his shoulders. It was then that the onlookers seemed to realise that the rescuer and the rescued were m great danger, and helped them down the ladder. With satisfaction tho nurses and doctor around the bed saw the little girls eyes ° P “Bobbie, Oh Bobbie I I can see Mummie! She’s coming to meet me—Look. Uh Mummie, I’m coming, I m . The outstretched hands fell, and with a sigh, little Katie passed into the Great Beyond to live with her mother and father. “Your sistor has gone up to the sky 10 Jesus,” the doctor said to the bewildered Bobby, as ho led him out. So you 11 stay and live with me, won t you, my brave little fel And ? although Bobbie missed Katie he was never unhappy with the kind , doctor.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNY, ' “A LIFE OF ADVENTURE.,. (By BLUE EYES, when 11 years pld), Oh, dear, this is a topsy turvy sort o! world! What a lot of changes I have seen One day last week I found a home insid( a fashionable lady’s silken purse-such i dainty sweetly perfumed nest for a humbh brown penny. I was just beginning to pu on airs when I had a terrible fall an< found myself lying in a gutter with rnudd; water owing over me. lhis accident hap pened because I was too inquisitive am poked my head right out to th<? top of th bag to see what was going on outside But, oh, how I did wish I had stayed cos ily in my proper place when I overpalancci and found myself in that horrid dirty wate Hero I lay all day and all the long nigh through-till the road cleaners came roun next morning, when one of them picke me up and put mo in his pocket. ini was a little better than the gutter, but did object to his horrid pipe ithicli lay be side me. When he, got home he gave m to his little son Tommy, who promptl popped mo into his money-box. Goodnes knows how long I’ll have to be here. One before I got into a child’s money-box, an it was months before I got out agair Heigh-ho I While. I’m resting 111 contmu the story of my life. . hiy earliest recollections of a noisy place full of’machinery,-and of a horrid heav hammer banging my head. This was not bit nice, and I was glad to find myself late at a placo called" a bank in a bag full c other brown ‘coins. How we jingled an rattled when the bag was moved! and w quitei enjoyed the fun. One. day, how ever, , the bag was opened, and was sent out ’into the world to begin nr useful work. Into shop tills I ent—the into various bags and purses,, then int other'shop tills, and thus my life has gon on, full of changes—and very little res ' I’m getting quite worn now. My edge are not as sharp ns they were when I wa new, and my markings are getting fnintci Still, I’m just as valuable.now as the da I was made, and thatss something to b proud of, isn’t it ? “THE OLD PENNY’S STORY.” (By TOPPING, 13 years. In Susan’s money-box six pennies wer having a party. One, a bright new penn called out, jokingly, “Old Penny’s stor is stale; do play a game, now.” But ar other penny noticed “Oldy’s hurt look, an said good naturcdly: “Go on, Old Pennj , I’m interested. Give him a clap, boys. | So with a merry jingling the story wt continued. ’ I, like you, was once young, and I, toe had adventures. How' happy I waa as

came from the mint a shiny, new penny. I was first .taken by a tall person to the bank, where, with a heap of other pennies, I was perfectly happy, till I was given to a butcher, who, in turn, gave me as change to a kindly grocer. Here, in the dark till, I lay among a host of silver coins, who jeered at me for my low value. However, Mr Goodheart, the -•grocer, in duo course gave me to a beggar-boy, who was very fond of me. How I wished I was a sovereign and could buy the things dear to that little fellow’s heart. Great was my grief when I was dropped by him from a hole in his pocket, but a passerby noticed me and said to tho beggar, “Sonny, did you loose a penny* ” My owner, felt in his pocket, and a look of horror overspread his face. “Oh, yes, sir, ycsl Have you found it?’ Tho man held me up, and said gently: “What were you going to buy with this penny, my bow ?” Tho kind gentleman took threepence from his pocket and handed it to the lad. , “Hero, sonny. Now run homo, like a good chap. Good-bye.” So once again I changed hands, and stayed for years with this new friend. Then one day I was given away to a girl who was collecting' for a hospital. She gave me, with other change to Susan. That is my life. An uninteresting one, it may sound, my young friends, but it has been an extremely happy one; yes, a very, very, happy one. A BRIGHT NEW PENNY. (By RONNIE DALEFIELD, 8 years.) I am a bright new penny—only one year old. I am dated 1929. People use me a great deal, and I suppose some day I shall be an ugly black penny like many others. I am often put into stamp machines to buy a penny stamp, and sometimes into a chocolate machine, when,out comes a cake of chocolate. /. If you want to know how heavy you are, just put mo into the first weighing machine that you come to, and it will tell you your weight Such a number of nice things I have bought for little girls and boys to eat —chocolate fishes and eggs, straps cf liquorice, ice-creams, and even a liquorice fountain pen. So you see I am very. useful. Just now I am having a rest in a little boy’s money-box. Hie father gave me to him because I was so bright, and new. I hope that I shall not have to stay here too long. I think that we are all to be taken out at Christmas time, and used to buy presents. There are some very old pennies in this money-box, and the stories that they tell me are so interesting. Now, good-bye. Perhaps I shall see you again some day.

CRISPIES. A parson was having afternoon tea at a house in the village where he had preached, when all of a sudden out of the bushes came a small, dirty boy, holding a dead rat high above his head. , . . , “It’s all right mum, he s dead. I him and beat him, and thumpedhim until” —catching sight of the parson until God called him away.” * * * * " Two Englishmen were cut riding in India, when suddenly a native dashed out from amongst the bushes, running foi life, and hotly pursued by a gigantic lcopar“ile’s making a good race for it,” remarked one of the Englishman. V yi thime you can spot the winner. “Tho winner is spotted,’ came the dry retort. # * . * * Little Betty: “Mum, is it true that cn apple a day keeps tho doctor away . Mother: “That’s what they say, darling. But why ?” , . T l Little Betty: “’Cos this morning I kept eight doctors away, but I fink 1 11 ivant one here this afternoon.” . One night, while a detachment of the New Army was camping out at Aldershot, it was very cold. One man who shivered could not find any of his outer clothes. ~ “H-lias a-anyone s-seon my b-blankct, he said. “H-h-has a-a-anyonc s-s-sccn m-rn-my tu-tunic or t-t-trousers ?” “No!” . The man scratched his head a . ment. “W-w-wcll I’m g-g-glad th-h-hat X h-ave g-g-got a w-w-warm p-p-p-air oi b-braccs on!” “Now, Charles,“said the teacher, “if your father can do a piece of work in one hour, and your mother can do it in one hour, how long would it take both of them to tlo it ?** “Three hours,” answered Charles, “counting the time they would waste in arguing. Examiner to pupil: “Where is Sydney ? Pupil: “In New South Wales.” n Examiner: “Where is New South Wales? Pupil: “In Australia.” Examiner : “Where is Australia ? Pupil: “I’m afraid if y&u don’t know that, sir, you’ro a hopeless case.” * * * * Stage hand: “Shall I lower the curtain, sir?” Manager: “Whatever for?” Stage Hand: “One of the living statues J has got hiccups!” I Teacher, giving children an object lcs : [ son on tho heron: “The heron has no 1 tail to speak of.” I The next day she asked the children to write an essay on the bird, and one little girl concluded her’s by.saying: “The heron has a small tail, but it,must not be talked of.” \ * * » * Circus proprietor: “Well, Jumbo’s cough seems better. Did you give him a bottle

A JUBILEE PENNY. (By MYRA NEWMAN, 10 years.) I was once a bright new penny, made at the Royal Mint in the year 1887, which was the jubilee year of the late Queen Victoria. After a while I was sent with a number of .other pennies to a bank in London, where we were put in a safe, rectH- for use. One day Mr Stuart came into the- bank and asked tho cashier to change a tenpound note, and I was among tho pennies given to him. He was a, tourist, and we visited many English cities together, until one day I was given as payment for a tram I passed through many hands in Scotland, Ireland and England, and at last I found myself in a sailor’s pocket. He took me in a submarine where I enjoyed watching the fishes swimming by. However, I was pleased when I reached land again, as I did not like the motion of the submarine. • , f The sailor gave me away, and atter a time I found myself in a New Zealand soldier’s pocket, and on the way to France. I was then 29 years old, and very much the worse for being used so much. This soldier, however, prized me very much, as his English’ cousin had given me to him as a keepsake. Many times I was in danger of being damaged by bullets. One day, during a battle between the English and Germans something hit me, and the soldier declares I saved his life. Some years j later I came to New Zealand, and now ] the soldier is a married man, and his little ■ boy never tires of hearing how I saved , his daddy’s life. I heard his daddy say that • I am going to bo handed down as an heirloom. The latest adventure I have had is a | ride in an aeroplane from Christchurch to i Palmerston North, where I am at present staying. Soon I hope to go on a tour of the world.

of whisky in his bucket of water, as I told you?” . SCHOOLBOY HOWLERS. The people of India arc divided into Ca The a Dcad U Lctter Office is a place where P To‘cto?s say I*'that 1 *'that ‘fatal"diseases are the W The cuckoo is a bird that doesn’t lay its The 0 hole at the top of a volcano out of which the lather comes is called the “parallel lines are the same distance all the way round and don’t meet unless you bend them.