Aunt Roberta’s Family

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 69, 20 February 1931, Page 10

Aunt Roberta’s Family

a'X/X/ VVWWVvW\. , \/WW^/^/ , WINDFLOWER: Thanks so much for the interesting letter. I’m sorry to hear that New Zealand is feoling the pinch also. It is a world-wide state o£ affairs. You did indeed get some lovely Christmas presents. The lilm you mention has not yet ben shown in Australia. It is a splendid hook. Daisy Rae was a Southland niece. No, Kiwi isn’t abovo the ago limit, by any means. I expect he has been away on holidays. It has not been necessary to refer to your marks card during the last three or four weeks, and that is how your name was missed. You will receive the 2s 6d about the first or second week of march. I wish you all success during the year. STELLA MANGAN: I thought you had quite forgotten mo. Alan is a very nice name for the baby brother. Recipes for toffee havo already been printed. OCEAN FOAM: Oh, you mustn’t think, because you are now 15 years of ago, that you are too old for the Family. I hope little Beryl will write to mo; I should love to hear from her. BILLY COLLINS : So glad, LHly, that the matter has been adjusted. Yes, the Annual is a really beautiful book. PURPLE HEATHER; You don’t ever QUITE forget, Aunt Roberta, do you? You must be living in a lonely place now—but to my mind there is something very fascinating about quiet spots. Thanks for the good wishes, which arc reciprocated. LITERARY CORNER. We must thank BETTY HAMPSON for sending the following sweet little verse: “FORGET-ME-NOT.” X * When to the flowers so beautiful The Father gave a name, Back came a little blue-eyed one (All timidly it came), And standing at its F'ather’6 feet, And gazing in His face, It said in low and trembling tones. With sweet and gentle grace, “Dear God, the name Thou gavest me Alas 1 I have forgot.” Then kindly looked the Father down, And said, “Forget-Me-Not.” (Author unknown). SOMETHING TO MAKE. BAZAAR DOLL. (FUZZ BUZZ—2 marks.) Her name is Miss Kittic Kitchen. You will need: 1 plain wooden spoon (14in long), 1 dish cloth, 1 yard ribbon, 1 dish mop, a tea or glass mop, 1 coloured duster. Place the spoon, with the hollow side over the head of the dish mop, pushing back part of the threads of the mop, and tic the two firmly together below the bowl, and tie also at the other end. Then on the round side of the spoon mark a face. Pin the tea cloth round the spoon and mop to form a frock. Over this put the duster to form an apron, and place the dish cloth round the neck for a shawl. Then write on a card:— “You stir your porridge with my face, And with my apron dust the place; Wash up the dishes with my shawl, ’Tis strongly mado and not too small. My skirt you see is not a hobble, 'Twill dry your glass without much trouble; But if you want a mop instead, You’ll find one in my wooden head; Although my hair has turned quite white, I’ll work for you both day and night.

OUR MOTTO:— When a task is once begun, Never leave it till it’s done; Be tho labour great or small, Do it well or —hot at all. AUNT ROBERTA’S LETTER. Dearest Children, I was very, very sorry to read of the dreadful earthquakes in Napier and Hastings and surrounding districts. I’m hoping that the death roll will not be as large as estimated at the time of writing—some days, of course, befqre this letter will appear, as it has to travel 1200 miles over the sea. It does seem dreadful that a land so good to live in as New Zealand should suffer such an appalling d:saster. i Sydney Harbour Bridge has a “ghost” ! Eerie wails are heard by the workmen at irregular intervals. The uncanny sounds were first heard on the approach spans of the bridge. They began faintly, then pso in volume, and 'finally died away. Thoy were attributed first to the siren of a vessel passing underneath the arch, but the persistence of the sounds soon attracted close attention. Engineers were informed, and endeavoured to explain the phenomenon. Several theories were advanced and as quickly rejected. It was suggested that riveting machines < were reacting upon certain steel members, causing them to take up vibrations in sympathy, in tho same manner as a tuning fork. ■ This was soon discounted,' for the sounds came on as * strongly as ever when there were no riveters at 'work in the vicinity. It was then'suggested that gusts of wind were responsible.. On the roadway section there are several vertical pipes for drainage purposes, yand it was thought that, under the wind’s influence, thoy were acting like the pipes of an organ. The recurrence of the ,sound on a perfectly still day exploded this theory. A very simple solution of the problem, of the “ghost” has now been found, ’it has been observed that the wailing is heard only on days during which the temperature varies greatly. On a cloudy day, broken by short periods of strong sunshine, the wads are particularly noticeable. On such days there is considerable movement at* the expansion joints of each steel truss. Due to tho weight of steel bearing on the plates, on which each truss slides, friction is considerable. Movement then takes place in a series of backward and forward perks. This irregular movement set up vibrations in the members constituting the framework of each truss, which acts as an enormous tuning fork. Nevertheless, there are some persons of a romantic turn of mind who prefer to retain the belief that the bridge is “haunted” ! Your loving,

Q. LX Jb

ENROLMENT COUPON. Cut out this coupon, fill it in, and post to “Aunt Roberta,” care "Standard.” My Name is My Age is My Address is My Birthday is I read “Aunt Roberta’s Family” Page. Signature of Parent, Guardian or School Teacher Sent in by SPECIAL PRIZE OF A BOOK TO THE VALUE OF 2s 6d.

Suspend this from the doll’s neck by a ribbon, using one halt for this, and tie tho other round her neck. GAMES. t, A NARRATIVE GAME. (WINDFLOWER-1 mark.) Each player is named after a part of a vehicle, such as a motor car or bicycle—that is, excepting the one who hae to stand in the middle of the ring, tho others sitting. He has to tell a story which brings in the names of the various parts. Each time he mentions one, the player to whom it belongs must arise and turn round quicklv, while the one who is “he” counts 5. If the player is not sitting in his place by tho time the counting is finished, the one who is “he” takes his place and his name, and the other player 'becomes “he.” RECIPES. MOONSHINE. (SILVER STAR—I mark.) loz gelatine, ilb sugar, 1 pint boiling water, 2 lemons. Dissolve the gelatine in a little cold water, and then add the boiling water, sugar, and the grated rind of the lemons. Boil for a quarter of an hour, and then pour it through a strainer into a dish and add the juice of the two lemons. When nearly cold, whisk till it is snow white. Set till tho next day in a wet mould.

When a member of tho Family gains 25 points by highly commended and commended marks in the competitions, including any other marks gained for recipes, something to make,_ games, ininteresting facts, etc., a special prize, as above, will bo awarded.

INTERESTING FACTS. ancient”timber. (MERVYN DALEFIELD, 2 marks). Probabiy the oldest timber in the world, that has been subject to the use of man, is that which is in tho ancient temple of Egypt. It is found in connection with stone-work, which is known to bo at least four thousand years old. This wood, and the only wood used in the construction of the temple, is in the form of ties, holding the end of one stone to another in its proper surface. When :vto blocks were laid in place, then it appears that an excavation about an inch deep was made in each block, into which an hour-glass shaped tie was driven. It is, therefore, very difficult to force any stone from its position. The ties appear to have been tho tamerisk, or chittem wood, of which the ark was .constructed, a sacred tree in ancient Egypt, and now very rarely found in the valley of the Nile. These dovetailed ties are just* as sound now as on the day of their insertion. Had they been of bronze, half tho old temples would have been destroyed ages ago, so precious would they have been lor various purposes.

ALMOND FINGERS.

(ECHO—2 marks)

flour, ilb. butter, 2ozs. sugar, 1 egg and a teaspoon baking powder. Beat butter and sugar to a cream, add yolk of egg, and beat well, then add flour and baking powder. Mix very stiffly, and roll out thin. Make the icing, white of an egg, spread on paste, and sprinkle with chopped almonds. Cut into fingers. Bake in a moderate oven. FRUIT SQUARES. ilb. butter, ilb. sugar, ilb. flour,l egg, li teaspoons baking powder, stoned dates. Rub dry ingredients together, and mix with beaten egg. Roll half, half an inch thick and spread dates over :t. lut the other half on top and rub on. Bake half an hour in a moderate oven. A DETECTIVE STORY. “THE INGENUITY OF DETECTIVE LEWIS.”

CHATTERBOX. WINDFLOWER, Palmerston North, Jan. 23rd : The results of the Junior University Scholarship examination have just come out, and you will be pleased to hear that Eular Arthur has gained one. Yesterday some friends and I walked up to Cliff Road. When we got to • the end of it we climbed through the fence and walked along to the top of the cliff. From there we had a beautiful view of the city and could see the spires of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, St. Paul's Methodist Church and All Saints’. The golf links were very pretty stretching in all shades of br:ght green, besides the brown and extremely muddy waters of the Manawatu—there has been heavy rain recently. SKYLARK, Bunnythorpe, 23rd Jan.: — I liked the story called “Recompense,” sent in by Windtlower; it is a little different from the others. Wo have had some lovely, roses out —all colours, red, pink, white, yellow, and mauve-pink. TOPPING, Rongotea, 24th Jan. : —There was a half column in a recent issue of a paper about Audrey Drummond. It said she has had 35 poems and 30 stories published, although only 14 years of age. What a wonderful record ! CORRESPONDENCE CLUB. IRENE FARMER, Rough’s Road, Bunnythorpe, would like ANNA LEE to write to her. She hasn't many friends, and says it would be nice to have someone to write to. , OUR MAIL BAG. MOLI.IE DIEDERICH : The drawings of yours I have seen show merit. By the time your Christmas sketch had been reduced to take up a emqll iilace in our page, it would not have make a good picture at all. I thought it would bo kinder no to disappoint you by reproducing it. SKYLARK : . So glad, my "dear, that you had such a nice Christmas. If there had been more response to the competitions they would have appeared fortnightly, as usual My children only have themselves to blame. Thanks for the nice kisses. Lots edit your work, I’m sure you would be surprised at the progress you would make. Very best wishes.

(By BILLIE BOY, when 13 years). ’“I think he went this way,” said Detective J. Lewis to his comrade Detective Kussell, as the two groped in the light ot their torches on a misty winter evening. They were tracking a thief who had broken into a wealthy dwelling, taking notes and silver amounting to x,121 los. As they shone their flashlights into a solitary corner of an old shed they caught sight of a man in a long grey overcoat, blinking at the light. . . As quick as lightning he tr:ed to dash away, but Detective Lewis sprang at him. He slipped, however, in the muddy yard, and full. Whilst his mate was helping him up the fugitive saw his chance. Throwing a stone, which knocked llussell & head and caused him to fall backwards, ho disappeared round the corner of the shed and_ raced into the nearby bushes. Lewis discovered his friend was unconscious, and drawing from his pocket a flask of brandy, moistened Bussell’s lips with it. He was soon conscious, and they put their ears to the ground to listen for the steps of the burglar. After a while they could hear a faint tapping, and silently fol- j lowed the sound. . I Though they ran. very fast, the thief | evidently was faster, for the steps grew fainter, until at last thoy were heard no more. Thinking perhaps they would have more chance of capturing him, the twcwj decided ;to separate and take different j directions, arranging to give a certain i call if one wanted the other. ' j Befrosbed by the short rest, they--raced I' off once more, and nothing happened to cither for about an hour. At last Lewis i came to a small . deserted • shanty in a j forest glade, and, feeling suspicious, stop- [ ped to listen. Deep breathing seemed to'' como from inside, and silently forcing open the door he stepped in. On looking j about, however, ho could not see any- h thing but. a. sheep or two huddled in a corner. Still, ho could hear that same i

OUR MOTTO: "CHARACTER AND PERSEVERANCE ”

sound, which seemed to come from inside the wall. Deciding to call Russell, he sent a loud shrill bird-call through the forest, and an answering call soon brought Russell to his side, and in a few soconds the two were standing together inside the After looking round, and still finding no one, thoy started to pull down tho old shanty. As Russell was lifting down a board, it slipped out of his hands and struck the wall, and lo and behold ! a small door shot back and revealed to view a little room in which lay a sleeping man, whom they recognised as the thief they were tracking. At onco they began to bind and gag him, despite the now wideawako man’s efforts to force them off, and soon they had a helpless prisoner sitting on tho floor.

The next thing was to search for the missing money, which was soon found tied in an old handkerchief, marked with the name “L, Baker,” in the pocket of tho burglar’s ragged coat. Then they looked around tho room, and Lewis noticed a small cupboard in a corner, which was found to contain a valuable diamond ring, which Baker had stolen a few months before.

They also found Baker’s diary, in which was written: “Ring from T. Loach on "Nov. 14, 1918. £l2l 15s from M. Carson on July 12, 1919.” The diary, the money and the ring, wore carefully put away into the knapsack I Russell carried, and the two detectives started off for home in the moonlight, dragging Baker with them. As they entered the police station the next morning they were praised heartily for their great deed, and, as you may guess, were well rewarded. As for Lloyd Bakor, ho was dealt with very differently from Detectives Lewis and Russell. OUR SERIAL. “THE RAGAMUFFINS.” Soft the mother sen is calling. “Come, my childern, come to me.” Forth the lazy ships are crawling, Dawdling idly out to sea. P. T. Dwyer. CHAPTER 2 (Concluded). THE SECOND ENCOUNTER. Suddenly Ril jumped right in the midst of the Ragamuffin’s yachts, schooners, cruisers and boats, and energetically destroyed them with her feet, before ho awakened from his stupefaction. ’ Perhaps now you’ll speak, Ragamuffin !” David forgot she was a girl. He sprang at her —and Micawber was sent sprawlingyards distant, too confounded even to croak. The girl, however,. was too quick for the Ragamuffin, and she fled to the water. Her merry laughter was flung back in his face by the breeze. He literally danced with ruge on the beach, where the waves spread with a gentle hissing sound. “You’ll have to stay thero—-if you don’t want to bo killed 1” he shouted. Ril did not hear the throat, and would not -have heeded it if she had; sho was diving . and swimming like a fish. He went back to the untidy patch of sand that had been proud craft, as real to him as any that sailed the sea. Pete had made friends with the elder brother, the younger one, down on • his knees, before Micawber, was coaxing the bird to taJk. David viewed tho scene with miserable eyes; he felt that the whole world was against him; it was the last straw to find that Pete aiid Micawber had gone over to the enemy. “I’ve a good mind to give you boys a thrashing,” ho said slowly. “You can’t hit a gill—but I could make you two pay for what she’s done.” He added spitefully : “Anyhow, she’s nothing but a ragamuffin herself.” March gently kicked Pete away with his foot, and sprang on guard. “Come on, if you want a fight,” lie muttered. March was getting much the worst of it, when suddenly something hit the Ragamuffin a -stinging blow on the side of the temple. He reeled and clutched his head between his two hands. He was very surprised when a familiar voice, close beside him, shouted : “That was a very cowardly thing to do 1” Opening his dizzy oyos, ho saw his grandfather savagely shaking the youngest boy. Then almost immediately afterwards the dark girl was hanging on to the blue-coated arm that was dealing out punishment. Her figure was all [wet, and gleamed brown like a young savage’s, and her black hair was plastered down on her head, so that if David had not known her sex he would have mistaken her for a boy. At last Gussie was released, and slunk behind his sister, whimpering like a hurt animal. “Look hero, young miss,” tho old man’s voice thundered, “you make that young whelp understand he’ll got himself into serious trouble if he hurls pieces of rock about. As for you, miss” —tho old voice was loaded with biting sarcasm—“you give yourself aifs and graces no end, and, let me tell you, you’re nothing better than a ragnmuffin.” Ril—gave a guilty start, and then lifted her head with a regal air. “I’m sorry Gussie has misbehaved himself. He is a kind little boy generally. I don’t think ho intended to do anything bad. lam to blame — because She left the sentence unfinished. “Gussie, come here and apologise,” she commanded imperiously. The youngster, with marks of tears on his chubby face, shuffled forward. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It really was only a very small piece of sand-stone—and I thought I’d miss,’cause”—he looked samefaced “I never can throw straight like Ril and March.” * The Captain was mollified. “That’s all right,” ho. said gruffly. Then he turned to the girl. “It’s a pity, missie, that four young things, planted down on this beautiful beach, miles away from anywhere, cannot agree.” 110 shook his head. “Must be the sea that has got you—tho wild and peaceful, unchanging and everchanging sea. \ “Come, Davey lad, we’ll be going inside.” Gussie bent quickly, and picked up the cockatoo, holding it out to tho Captain. “He can say anything, can’t he?” he asked enviously. Tho old sailor took the bird, and scratched its head affectionately. “Mostly everything; and what lie can’t say he thinks.” Pete would much rather have stayed and played awhile with his new friend, but duty was duty, and he trotted off at his young master’s heels. Before the cott»ge was reached sounds of laughter came from tho three children on tfto bench, who had started a game of “leap frogging” into the sea. “You know you’re too soft for anything,” the old man admonished his grandson, as, first of all, he bathed with warm water, and then smeared with ointment the big .angry-looking lump on tho boy’s right temple. “No one would dream that you came of a line of hardy seamen —and that your fnther went down in a submarine at the end of the Great War, God help him.” l Exasperated, David wrenched himself I away from the ministering fingers. | “But, grand-dad,” he protected miserably, “I wasn’t ope bit soft! When she jumped on my boats and destroyed them, I —l chased her into the sea.” 1 “She’s got a strong grip—hung on to !my arm with the tenacity of a bulldog,” ! tho'Captain said with grudging admirai Hon. I' “Did you hear what queer names- they have?” David asked eagerly, tho cloud of annoyance passing from • his . sunny face. I “Ril, March arid Gussie.” Later in the day ho developed a bad headache, tho result of the accident, so his grandfather put him to bed, grumbling under hi 3 breath that Davey was “too soft.”-' * 1 During the afternoon the invalid heard the sound of voices coming from the beach,

■ and, dragging himself to the window, saw the three children enjoying another dip l in the sea. He did long to be there with ! then?, as their friend; but, he thought, with a sharp pang, that Ril would not want to associate w-th a little ragamuffin, even if her brothers were not quite so particular. CHAPTER 3. FRIENDLY ADVANCES. When Ril and her brothers were lying on the beach the following morning, they 1 were perturbed to see the old Captain comi ing towards them. } He halted before Ril, and said: “Do you know if your mother has a dose or { two of sweet nitre she could let me have for the boy? I though I had some by me, I but when I went through the medicine 1 chest I found tho bottle was empty. The 1 lad’s feverish to-day.” I When Gussie heard these ominous words 1 he tried to burrow deep into the sand, as l if to hide his head. Something heavy seemed to press on his littlo heart, squeezI ing all the joy out of it. If tho Captain s grandson should die he would be a murderer—and murderers were hanged ? It was i a dreadful thought. 1 Ril’s tell-tale face showed her concern. | “I’ll run homo at once, and ask mother, i she said. “She is sure to have the medicine you want; she keeps all kinds for us, you know. Don’t you wait; I’ll bring j it over to your place.” j She sped away, and the Captain, withi out a glance at tho two very quiet boys, j retraced his steps to the cottage. I In a few minutes Ril appeared at the ’ doorway, holding a small bottle out to him. “Here it is. Mother said if she I could be of any assistance to let her know.” Her dark eyes tried to see beyond hint into the room, which was like the cabin of a ship, where the Ragamuffin lay in a restless sleep. “Is - is he very bad?" she whispered tremulously. Then she clasped the Captain’s arm. “Please, if mother comes to see him, don’t tell on Gussie. It would break her heart ’if she knew what he had done. Really, he Js little more than a baby, and it was my fault entirely. I —l encouraged my brothers to be rude to your grandson In fact” her voico sank to an ashamed whisper—“l nicknamed him ‘The Ragamuffin.’ It was because I couldn’t bear to think I had to share my beautiful beach with a stranger. You don’t think—he will die?” she added piteously’. The Captain shook his head reassuringly. “Prohaby after a dose or two of this stuff the fover will leave him. He got a nasty blow that would have upset anybody. He’s a fine little lad is my Davey.” He »was anxious to hide from this slip of a girl, in fact, from anyone, that Davey —sensitive, highly-strung Davey—was “too soft,” in his opinion, both in constitut:on and in character. “So you called him a ragamuffin?” he said, simulating surprise. He glowered at her from beneath shaggy brows. ‘‘The name is more suitable for yourself, miss.” She accepted tho reproof in silence, knowing that ehe well deserved n. “You won’t tell mother, will you?” she pleaded. “Not a word !” he said with heartiness. “Thank your mother for the medicine, and say there is no need for her to come down here. It’s only a slight touch of fever the lad’s got,” and he winked an eye. “Thank you, thank you,” she breathed gratefully; and added: “I suppose I couldn’t see him?” “Better not. He’s asleep.”

“I’ll run back now and put poor Gussio out of hie misery. I’m sure ho is more punished than your Davey is hurt,” she added, with intuition. But twenty-four hours later, after their morning dip, the children cast anxious glances at tho small cottage, where no signs of life showed. Even the dog Was nowhere to be seen. (To be continued). CRISPIES. Jack: “Billie, what is the funniest thing you ever knew ?” Billie: “A man walking a mile and only moving two feet.” * * * * When is a field like a target ? When it has a bull in the centre of it. * * * * When is a storm like a teapot tWhen it pqurs. (Sent by BETTY HAMPSON). * * * * Millionaire (speaking to a body of students about his financial success) : “All my success, all my tremendous financial prestige I owe to one thing alone, and that is pluck.” Student: "Yes, but how are we to find the right people to pluck?”

A young couple who had just married one morning received two theatre tickets, with a note which read : ‘ Guess who sent the**© * They went to the theatre, returning very late. To their astonishment everything ot any value in the iiouso had been carr-ed tt 'on ’a tabie in tho dining-room they found this note : “Now you kqow ! ’ + t Teacher (to parent): “Do you know, your boy spells ridiculously? Parent: “Does hd really? It’s the first word I’ve ever known him to spell. What is the difference between a dead bee, a sick horse and a waterhole , A dead bee is a bee deceased, a sick horse is a seedy beast. Here you stop and wait for the. • “Whore docs tho waterhole come in .' Then you answer, “That is v.'hcro you fall in.” Tho brakes had failed. Women scream- J cd. strong men turned pale. With rapidly increasing speed the bus rail backwards down the hill. But the driver did not lose his presence of mind, j “Quick, Bill,” he yelled to his conductor, “chango tho destination boards.” * * * • » WHAT AM I? Pronounced in one letter, and written in three, Two letters there are, and two only, in me. 1 I am double, I am single, I am black, blue and grey; I am red from both ends, and the same either way. I am restless and wandering, steady and fixed. : I know not one hour what I may be the • next. I melt and kindle, beseech and defy, I I am watery and moist, I am fiery and dry. Answer: Eye. j

CAN YOU READ THIS? ; Here is a little puzzle to try on your friends. If they give it up, show them j the answer shown below: E FRIENDS SIR FRIENDS STAND YOUR I BEARING DISPOSITION A MAN THE WORLD IS CONTEMPT WHILST THE AMBITIOUS RIDICULE ARE l Solution : Sir, between friends, I understand your overbearing disposition. A man even with the world is above contempt, whilst the ambitious are beneath ridicule. A SHILLING CATCH. ) Go up to a friend and say to him : “Divide one shilling among two people, so that one gete a penny more than the ! other. At first he will be sure to be wrong, or Hesitate in answering. The easiest solution is: Give one penny to A which has to receive a penny more than ’B, and divide tho remainder (eleven pence) equally among A and B (fivepencehalfpenny each). A CATCH. If you have any friends who are learning French and are proud of it, here i - a catch to trv on them. Say to them: “So you arc learning 1 French ? But can you say ‘thank you in German?” They will shake their heads, and then you say: “Well, I .can.” And then you cry: “Thank you in German.”