Aunt Roberta’s Family

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 199, 24 July 1931, Page 10

Aunt Roberta’s Family

OUR MOTTO FOR 1931. When a task is once begun, , Never leave it till it’s done; Be the labour/ great or small, Do it well —or not at all. Dearest Children, Are you aware that the whale has more brains than any other living animal ? Now, don’t get excited! The thing that matters is the “pattern” of the brain. The surface of the brain is marked by a great number of depressions, called fissures; It It is this “folding” of the brain surface that enables a very large amount of the precious material called “the grey matter” to be packed within the narrow box which is the head. It may interest you to know that the gorilla has the most highly developed brain next to man, also that ono of the heaviest, known brains doctors ever saw came from- a feeble-minded person, and certain intellectual geniuses have had exceptionally' small brains. The average man’s brain Ts about'l4oo grams. Thackeray had a brain that weighed 1658 grams. The brain of Anatolo France, a write of at least equal brilliancy, *and probably greater, only weighed 1017 grams, not much moro than half the weight. An elephant has a.bout four times as much brain as a man —about 5000 grams. A whale’s brain weighs on an average about 7000 grams. But at. it in another way. How much brain have an elephant and a wliale in comparison with the size of their body ? Man is an easy winner on that score, although I would point out-, in case wo got too conceited about it, that the macaque monkey has a brain of exactly the same ratio! The thinking your brain does for your is only a mild part of its work. The brain has to work your muscles, it has to toll you all about pain, pleasure, pressure, heat. cold, sight, smell, hearing and other things. Thus, the more agile an animal is, the more brain material is needed to work its muscles. This is where an animal’s brains come in—but with man it is different; his brain power lies in the fact that ho “thinks”; therefore, it is not necessary for him to have as large a brain, in comparison with the body, as tho squirrel, which is a very active ltitle creature. ' Tin longing for the golden days of spring, aren’t you ? Tho weather is too “weepy” and cold to suit me at present. Your own, •QajuuJZj ENROLMENT COUPON. Cut out this coupon, fill it in, and post to “Aunt Roberta,” care "Standard.” My Name is : / My Age is My Birthday is Mv Address is I read “Aunt Roberta’s Family” Page. Signature of Parent, Guardian or School Teacher Sent in by .*. SPECIAL PRIZE OF A BOOK VALUED AT 2s 6d. When a member of the Family gains 25 points by highly commended and commended marks in the competitions, including any other marks gained by recipes, something to make, games, interesting facts, etc., a special prize, as above, will be awarded. Please write your name, as well as penname, on everything you send for the page. OUR MAIL BAG. ANNA LEE: Yours is the only letter this week. Thanks for tho wishes. Fancy you remembering the date of my birthday 1 So sorry about tho poor teeth. Although tho “shortest day” has passed, Spring seems long in making an appearance. Tho kisses were very sweet. Love to Jean and yourself. INTERESTING FACTS. I suppose many of you, when out at night in the dark, havo guessed when you saw a pair of eyes shining, whether they belonged to a dog, cat or a rabbit. I have found that almost all cats’ eyes shine yellow or orange, dogs’ green, and rabbits’ pink or red. TOPPING—I mark.. In Europe there are almost as many languages spoken as there are nations in that largo continent. Water power affords such a cheap and constant means of making elcotricity, that its use is expanding rapidly in many countries. Notable examples are found in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, United States of America, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and India. YVONNE—I mark •TVONNE—I Mark (Please send Name.) ]:

Strange arc the tricks of an insect called “Reduvios Personates.” This insect in its perfect state has wings, but in its early 1 ifo it has not. In these early days, then, it is exposed to many perils. What is it to do to escapo? It does the strangest thing. It drags itself through tho old webs of spiders, covers itself with web, and dust, and makes itself a monstrous size, and most unpleasant in appearance. It is really the “bogey man” of insects. In this disguise it is quite secure. When tho time comes for it to have wings, and so bo safe, it brushes off tho coverings of dirt and web, and comes forth quite a neat and handsome insect. RONNIE DALEFIELD—I mark. i GAMES. (Moro games aro required). HOW, WHEN AND WHERE. One of tho party must leave the room, while tho rest select a word to bo guessed. The player is then called back, and begins the task of finding the word by asking each of the party tho threo questions; How do you like it? When do you like it? And whore do you like it ? Supposing the word is a simple name liko tea or sugar, tho answers will soon rovcal it; but the game can bo made more difficult by choosing a word with ' two meanings, such as pen or bank. ECHO —1 mark. (“Buz” has already appeared. RECIPES. DATE CAKE. lib dates, 1 teacup cold water, 1 teaspoon carbonate soda, 6 ozs. buttor, 1 teacup sugar, 2 eggs (3 if small), ilb plain flour. Soak dates in teacup of water and soda for 3 hours. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, then flour, and dates (A few chopped walnuts are a nice addition). Mix thoroughly and bake, in a well greased tin for li hours. This cake will keep fresh for a long time. BETTY HAMPSON—I mark. LEMON JUMBLES: soz.s. sugar, £ teaspoon curb, coda, 3ozs. butter, 2 eggs, 3 teaspoons milk 14ozs flour, 6 drops essence of lemon, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, 2 lemons. Rub, sugar and butter into flour in which has been sifted cream of tartar and'earb. soda. Boat ono egg. add to it essence of lemon. Mix to a stiff paste with tho juico of 2 lemons, 1 egg, and milk. Tako a piece and roll into a large strip with tho hands. Cut into equal sized lengths. Brush over with tho egg, dredge with sugar, put on a baking tray and bako 20-30 minutes in a modorato oven. ' -OCEAN SPRAY—I mark. LITERAttY CORNER. (More contributions are required.) Sent by MERVYN DALEFIELD:—

A haze on tho far horizon, Tho infinite, tender sky, The ripe, rich tint of tho cornfields, And the wild geose sailing high, And all over upland and lowland Tho charm of the golden-rod Some of us call it Autumn, And others call it God. SILVER SLIPPERS writes:—l think the following is such a cheery, homely little verso. I feel sure other nephews and nieces will think so too: — JUST A LITTLE. Give a little, live a little, try a little mirth, Sing a little, bring a little happiness to earth. Pray a little, play a little, be a littlo glad; Rest a little, jest a littlo if tho heart is sad. Spend a little, send a little to another’s door; Give a little, live a little, love a littlo more. —Linton. HICHLY COMMENDED COMPETITION ENTRIES. THE QUARREL. (By SPARKS, 13 years.) “How dare you do such a thing!” scolded Stella Dayword, and then added, with an angry stamp of her foot, “You’re awfully mean, you know!” “Am I? Dear me, that’s tragic!” was Elsio Hunt’s cool reply. She added with contompt: “You’re always poking your nose into my affairs-, and it’s quite long enough all ready,” and Elsie shrugged her shoulders elaborately as if to emphasise tho fact. Stella’s sweet face flushed. a deep crimson. Sho new she had a fairly long nose, but did not like to be reminded about it every day of her life. Elsio saw the flush and her expression spftcned. But her heart was hardened.

“Is it? Thank you. I’m much obliged to you. I’ll try to remember you in my will 1 Anyhow, I’d a certain right, for father told me to see that she, my cousin, didn’t get into too mudh mischief as she’s a born imp,” Stella replied. “Boot!” and Elsio dissolved into a fit of immoderate laughter, saying, as soon as she was able to speak, “You!'’ Why You’re in a scrape nearly every day yourself!” And Elsie’s words trailed off into a burst of merriment at tho very idea.

OUR MOTTO : “ CHARACTER AND PERSEVERANCE ”

Again Stella coloured holly, and indignant tears stood in her eyes. If Elsie saw them she gave no indication. “Wo’ro not all Saint Elsies,” was Stella's answer. She added fiercely: “Thank goodness!” “No, of course, you’re not! You couldn’t be one if you tried,” Elsio rejoined good humouredly, and added in a different tone of voice; “Well, I’d a perfect right to tell on Lucy Ilolt as I’m Head Prefect of tho school.” So saying, Elsie drew herself up to her full height with an air of superiority. Sho was a pretty girl with brown eyes which were exceedingly attractive. Sho had a clear complexion, with a little rose on each cheek.

Stella was a swcet-faced girl of fourteen — ono year younger than Elsie. Sho had deep bluo eye,, with a long fringe of fair eyelashes. Sch was tall for her ago, with a pair of adorably slim,Jogs, which many of her scholfollows envied. Her complexion was white and pink. . “Anybody would think you were a duchess by your manner,” Stella remarked, adding in a scathing tono, “Queen of Prides —quite an appropriate nanio, don’t you think ?” “Quito,” was tho .cool rejoinder. “You aro smart - - - -.” 4 “Of course I am,” interrupted Stella quickly, adding, without giving Elsio a chance to contradict it—“i'll hate you for ever for tolling on my cousin. Wo won’t bo friends again!” And sho turned on lior heols and walked quickly away in tho direction of school. “Mean old cat! Won’t I pay her out!” she said to herself.

Now. those two young girls were remarkably good chums, although they quarrelled fairly frequently. In tho present instance Elsie had found Stella’s cousin, Lucy Holt, indulging in forbidden sweets, in a “surprise” room which Miss Marsh, tho head teacher, had prepared. It was not a very serious offence, although forbidden to tho pupils. Lucy was walking up tho corridor when she saw tho door of the room open. She cast a swift glance around, and, not seeing anybody, looked in. The first thing that met her was a red box full of sweets. She was particularly fond of lollies so tho temptation was great. “Oh, dear! How I'd love one,” she thought wistfully, as sho eyed the sweets longingly. She cast another swift glance arounu—and darted with extraordinary rapidity at tho box. I'll havo just one,” sho said aloud. That ono led to others—and the time flew.

Elsie Hunt on walking past the room cast an eyo in. To her amazement she saw Lucy calmly putting a sweet into her mouth. Sho promptly told Miss Marsh, and Lucy was given five hundred lines as a punishment, and quite a severe ono it was. Lucy was a merry, dark-eyed girl, and looked so repentant that all the teachers smiled inwardly while they chastised her. Sho was always in mischief. Strangely enough, Lucy was a great favourite at tho school. Sho 'was a brilliant tennis player, and, in fact, was good at every game. It was over tho affair of tho sweets that tho quarrel between Stella and Elsie began.

A few da3'3 later when Eslio Hunt had to retiro to bed with a headache, Stella went outside to obtain some ice and earth. In her mind Stella was thinking out a plan to “pay out” Elsio for her mean deed. Having secured what sho wanted, she put .the ice and earth into a dish, covering tho mass with, a handkerchief. She then made her way to tho scienco room, locked tho door, switched on the light, and sc l , to work. First ghc procured somo water and mixed it with tho mud. Then sho rounded the mixture into a “pie.” As she worked vigorously she said “This is thrilling!” This done, she placed a largo piece of ice in the interior of tho “pie,” laughing softly to herself. Then slifc made another “pie.” Putting them into the dish, with a lump of ice, she covered up tho dish again. Hearing footsteps she grabbed the dish, and put out tho light. Making her exit, she made for the stairs. The footsteps stopped at the scienco room, and Stella heaved a sigh of relief. “Near shave,” sho said softly. She then made her way to Elsie’s room, carrying the precious dish. Stella paused at the door and listened intently, until assured that the occupant was asleep. Opening tho door noiselessly Stella darted in, and closed it silently. She looked at Elsie slumbering peacefully on tho bed. Seeing Elsio’s hat on tho table, she carefully placed one of tho “pics” in the lining, and, taking out another “pie,” a smaller one, sho put this in the toe of Elsie’s brown shoo. Then sho took out a piece of ico about thre inches long and put it in the pocket of Elsie’s purple blazer. Her work completed, she smiled sarcastically at the unconscious Elsie, and departed to her own room to prepare somo lessons. Meanwhile Elsie woke up, feeling much refreshed. “What a funny dream I had,” she said to the ceiling. “I must tell Stella. No, of course, I can’t! I’ve quarciled with her. How stupid of mo to forget!” Sho dressed slowly, thinking deeply. Putting on her white frock and purplo blazer sho gazed at herself in tho mirror. Then she put on her tennis*shoes and went along to the classroom, carrying her brown shoes. When she was in tho room she paused to put on her other shoes, -while Stella, who was in the room, watched her movements.

“Oh, bother. I can’t get my foot in this shoe,” sho said to her other friend, Mary Hanford. Having succeeded at last, sho complained of her foot feeling cold and sticky. Stella could scarcely repress a smile of triumph. Presently, Elsio proceeded' to take off her shoe, and started to investigate. Taking her foot out of the shoe, Elsio gavo vent to a mingled cry of anger and astonishment. Hro foot was covered with mud and ice!

“’Pon my word!” she snorted. “How did that”—indicating tho stuff spread over her foot—“get thoro?” She added viciously; “I’ll get tho wretch who did it!”. She put her hand in the shoe, but drew

it out again quickly, as it had come in contact with the ico and mud. Her eyes, as she turned them on the girls present, flashed fire. “Who did it?” she demanded. “Own up!” No one answered, and Stella had a look of such astonishment on her faco that Elsie did not, at first, suspect her. She left the room for her own, and changed her stockings and put on different shoes, saying, over and over again, “I’ll get the wretch!”

She put on her hat, which felt so uncomfortable that she could not account for it. When she arrived at the classroom she sat down at a desk. A little later one of tho girls remarked that she had mud on her hair. Elsie snorted an indignant denial, but took off the hat, and surveyed it. “Your - - - hair!” gasped ono of the girls, while tho others burst into shrieks of laughter. Elsie took out a hand-mirror and looked at her hair, and angry tears sprang into her eyes. Her brown, wavy hair was saturated with mud and ice I I'he ice was melting and running down her neck. Tho appealing glanco she cast on tho girls who wero laughing made them feel ashamed.

Then Elsio vanished again into her own room. Here she gave vent to some angry words. “It’s Stella! It's Stella!” she cried wrathfully. “I saw her turn red and try to stiflo her laughter,” and Elsio stamped her foot in indignation. Sho washed her hair, which dried very quickly, combed it, and went down to join in tho games which were in progress. Stolla was as good a baskotbalt player as EUio. Stella's side won tho game, and Stella, who was captain, flashed a triumphant glanco at Elsie, who was captain of tho other side.

Elsie took no notice of tho glance, hut went to the Lceturo Hall whera. the girls wero now assembling. When tho lecture was in progress (it was ono about health), tho lecturer asked tho girls to show their handkerchiefs. Everyone obeyed, but Elsie, who thrust her hand into her blazer pocket, but withdrew it hurriedly. “Elsie Hunt, whore is your handkerchief ? Answer me at once,” was tho stern command of Miss Watts, tho lecturer.

“Please, Miss Watts, I must have dropped it,” stammered Elsio, colouring liercoly. “T'vo had enough of these excuses,” furrud Miss Watts. "You’ll kindly go to Miss Marsh, sharp at seven, and receive two hundred lines.”

Later, Stella wondered at Elsie not reporting tho affair. Elsie, however, was keeping her suspicions to horseil. feme lelt certain that Stella was tho culprit, but was too loyal to report her.

Meanwhilo Stella’s conscience began to prick her, and try ns sho would she could not quell her longing to “make it up” with Elsie. So at last sho summoned up courage to go and confess to tho nasty pranks she had played upon her pal. Elsie pardoned her freely and graciously, and with an “Oh, Elsie!” and a “Dear Stella,” they hugged each other warmly. OUR SERIAL. . THE RAGAMUFFINS. Soft tho mother sea is calling, “Come, my children, come to me.” Forth the lazy ships are crawling, Dawdling idly out to sea. P. J. DWYER. CHAPTER 13 (Concluded.) GUSSIE SEEKS ADVENTURE. Gussie plunged over tho rocks, breathing in painful gasps, his child-face damp and white with fear. He heard a voice in the distance calling, but was so obsessed by terror that ho thought only that the ghosts were after him, and ran faster than before. He did not see the friendly gleam on the small torchlight, as, with head down, lie rushed on. The next thing ho realised was that he was in his mother’s arms, and she was hugging his trembling body close to her own. She called him “poor little lamb,” and “sweetheart,” and other terms of endearment.

He recovered quickly in that sweet haven of refuge, and in a very few minutes was walking in the direction of homo between his mother and David, a hot, damp hand clinging to theirs. And, as they went, he told them in a high excited voice about the ghosts. His mother and father said Gussie’s story was imagination, but nothing could shake the boy’s belief. In order to try and pacify him. they went with him to the little beach the next morning; but even in the cold light of day, with a bare cliff face, and not one footmark on the sand, he still clung with great obstinacy to his tale. When they were alone that night, Mrs Bronson said to her husband; “Do you think our Gussio really did see anything ?” “No, my dear, I’m sure it was nothing but imagination—or perhaps a bad dream.” But the mother continued to look troubled. “I don’t know, Dick,” she said slowly. “I have an idea that Ril and March, and also David, know more about it than we do, and they are inclined to believe Gussie, It is the Ragamuffins’ Band that is at the root of all the trouble. I’d like to forbid them ”

“But, dear,” her husband interrupted, “you cannot take away the children’s pleasure because of a foolish prejudice, and mako ‘mollycoddles’ of them.” When Gussie repeated his story to Captain Sinclair, the. child was so much in earnest, and told it so convincingly, not deviating one iota from his first account, that the old man was impressed, and began to believe it might be true. He thought it over, but could not arrive at any definite conclusion. Any ideas he had were

far too wild and improbable for nioder days. Ho trusted, however, that children had had a lesson they would not forget, and that they would shun the in future. Ho blamed himself for having first put the idea of searching for t rea “. re into their minds, and, had it been possi , would have willed them to forget it. March annoyed Gussie very much by taking tho credit of the incident to himself, saying that if HE had not found the wood nympth it would not have occurred to uu sio to go in search of adventure.

i CHAPTER 14. ENTER. SAMMY BROWN. “Show us again where you saw the hole, Ril commanded her youngest brother. Gussie hammered on the hard surface of the cliff with his plump fist. “Just about thore, and it was bigger than two or threo men put together, quite an enormous hole. His voice quivered with eagerness. “You wero behind those rocks over there?” March asked, pointing. Gussie nodded. “Yes,” lie said, breathing heavily. Tho throe elder children critically measured the distance between the rocks and tho cliff with their eyes. Then Ril cried sharply: “I don’t believe you could have seen anything from that distance in tho dark! You must have dreamt if I” Gussie looked unhappy. “I did, I tell you, I did!” ho cried quite fiercely. “Anyone could see, with even half an eye, those big men, and their bundles, and tho motor launch out there.” Ho waved a fat hand at the sea. It lay trembling under the distant blue of the sky and under tho near piled whiteness of tho clouds —a scintillating plain of liquid violets, greens and greys, glittering to tho horizon with points of fire, rdlling up to the sand with the clearness of river water, vvliero it broke in a curve of white crystal. David saw that the pointing hand shook slightly, as if tho owner were very much disturbed. He thought Ril was most unfair. He knew sho believed what ho and March

also believed —that Gussie undoubtedly had seen what ho had described to them many times.

“I beleive you, Ragamuffin Gussie,” he said' soothingly. “Of course you couldn’t have dreamt it all. There’s a secret, and we’ll find it, soo if wo don’t.”

Tho hurt expression vanished from the young boy’s face. He grinned at David happily. “Yes, wo will, Chief, and we’ll make it hot for them when we DO find the treasure.”

Tho Ragamuffins were working very carefully and secretly, and biding their time, knowing that their elders were on the alert, and if they gave them any cause for alarm might curtail their freedom. Their repeated warnings to Gussie had at last sunk into that Ragamuffin’s brain; he no longer confided in tho old Captain. It is true, thero was nothing to divulge, because this was tho first occasion on which the Bqnd had operated since Gussie’s great adventure—nearly five weeks ago. But Ril was in ono of her aggravating moods that day, and turned on her small brother, saying, “i think you must suffor from too much imagination, for how could a hole appear in tho cliff one minute and vanish the next? And thero wasn’t a trace of a footmark the next morning - - “That, Ragamuffin Ril, is easily explained,” David interrupted. “Tho tide was high during tho night, and, of course, wiped out any such evidence.” March had seated himself on the sand, pulling his hat over his eyes in order to avoid tho glare of tho afternoon sun. He glanced up at David. “What wo want to do is to oomo along here at night and watch.”

“You might as well suggest a trip to the moon in an aeroplane,” his sister remarked flippantly. “It could bo managed,” the boy went on, disregarding tho interruption. “Ril and I could sneak out when the household wero asleep, and - - - -” “Me, too!” Gussie interjected. “Yes, of course, you too,” March agreed, winking at Ril and David. “What about you, Chief ?” David looked doubtful. _ “If Grand-dad found out he’d never forgive me,” ho said in a low tone of voice. Then, remembering his grandfather’s word, he threw back his head, and said, “No, Ragamuffin March! 1, as your leader, forbid anything of the kind! The Band must always act in a perfectly honourable manner.”

“You’re right, Chief,” March agreed, his face flushing. “Mum and dad won’t bo going to Sydney again for weeks, as some friends arc coming to stay with us,” Ril grumbled. “If, therefore, wo do act in a perfectly honourable manner’ ” —mimicking David, a naughty gleam in her finc eyes—“there will be no chance of our coming to this bench in tho night for ages and ages. By that time tho treasure will have passed into other hands,” and she gave a gesture of resignation. March said, “I flatter myself that, without boasting, I’m rather an authority on secrets, because of all the mystery yarns I’ve read; and I’m certain there is something VERY queer about this beach.” “How clover you arc!” Ril cried derisively. “We all know there's a secreteven fat Gussie.” Sho affectionately tweaked that young gentleman*; ear, as she spoke, anxious to make amends lor her unjust words of a few minutes ago. It was at that moment they all saw the stranger together, though, afterwards, Gussio claimed lie had sceii him first, and the others made a similar assertion.

Ho was a jolly looking man, and had appeared from nowhere, it seemed. Ho was sauntering along the little beach in their direction.

The children stared at him. Of course there was nothing mysterious in an ordinary man being there, except that never before in the experience of the Bronsons, who had lived in Golden Bay all their lives, had a stranger of either sex been seen in that neighbourhood. When the man was a couple of yards away ho doffed his hat to Ril, with an exaggerated sweep, showing a head of closely cropped dark hair. His face was bronzed as if he had been out in the open all his life. A penetrating glance from eves set rather too closely together swept the four. He exclaimed in a pleasant, deep-toned

•voice: “This is a surprise 1 I.thoughtl was the only person in this small universe. 1 Ril replied haughtily: “\Vo hvo in Golden Bay. Do you know where that is. He nodded absently. (To bo cojtinued). CRISI-TES. Father had his little daughter on his knee. “What are you going to do when vou grow up?” h e asked her. “I’m going to marry au engineer, replied the child: . , P “And what kind?” ho asked. A civil CD “Oh ” f replied the little miss, “it doesn’t matter what kind ; I’ll soon make him civil!' “How arc you getting on at school ? ’ asked Dad, -ffhen John came home after his !” U was the reply. “Fvc learnt to say ‘Thank you’ and ‘lf you please Tn replied Dad.“ That's more than you ever say in English.^ A very stout old lady alighted from an ancient station cab. She paid the driver ln s fare without a tip, then made way to pass the horse's head on her way to the house. “Don't go that way, missus! cried tl-e not, man?” asked the lady. “Weil, if my iiorse sees what he pulled for eighteenpcnce, he won’t survive tho shock. SCHOOLBOY" HOWLERS. King John was lost in the wash. The Adriatic is a sea running round the North Pole. Piano is a famous line of steamships. Soviet -is a cloth used by waiters. In the United States of America - pcopie are put to death by elocution. LIKES AND DISLIKES. The requirements for this little trick are a magnet, sonic needles, and some corks. Take the needles and stroke theip, one by one, with the North Polo of tbo magnet, stroking from the eye to the point. Stroke each needle six times. Now take the corks; push three needles into <-corks with the eyes uppermost, and tho other threo into corks with the points uppermost. Then float the corks in a dish water, and notice how the little company behaves. They are not all friends. When two heads or two points come together, “pv try to get away from each other as. quickly as possible. But when a head and a point come together, they lean over to each other, and object to being separated.