Aunt Roberta’s Family

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 4, 4 December 1931, Page 10

Aunt Roberta’s Family

OUR MOTTO FOR 1931. When a task is onoe begun, Never leave it till it’s done; Bo tho labour great or small, Do it well —or not at all. Dear Children, — It does not seem possible that a fish's egg could bo hatched in a pin-tray, and yet the following is true. The egg was squeozod out of somo moss used for packing, and the finder, curious to know what it was, decided to keep an eye on it. Ho took it to his office at tho Ministry of Labour (Whitehall, London), put it into a pin-tray filled with water, and kept it on his desk. After a short time ho noticed a change in the transparent egg, and one morning he arrived to find a tiny fish swimming about in tho pin-tray. That night ho took it homo in a medicine bottlo, and placed it in a bowl of pond water. This he suspended in the pond with the top just above tho surface, so that tho bowl could be refilled without change of temperature, and at tho same time the little fish was safe from hungry enemies. The latest news is that it is doing well, and has been identified as a Golden Orfo. Now, what do you think of that? Youra affectionately,

A CLEVER LITTLE TRICK,

Here is a clever little trick for your next party. Remove the tablecloth, and hand a penny to one of your guests, saving: “I want you to spin the coin on tne table, and I will tell you whether it falls heads or tails.” You thereupon get under tho table, and the spinning commences. “Heads !” you cry —and, to the surprise of tho audience, you are right. The coin is spun again. “Tails 1” you cry. Again you aro right. And no matter how the coin is spun you are always right. Amazing? Woll, not quite so amazing as it appears. You see, you have an accomplice who lifts his right foot off tho ground when the coin falls heads, and his left foot when it falls tails. A CATCH. Say to your chum; “Two men went into a. fish Bhop. One asked for ‘Fish land CVips,’ aid the other asked for ‘Chips and Fish.’ How did tho waiter know which was the sailor?” The answer is: “The one in sailor’s clothes.” HAVE YOU READ? “On the Rocks,” by C. Shaw. “The Beach Picnic,” by Sandy Tucker. “Try Again,” by Percy Vere. “The Explosion,” by Dina Mite. “Tho Front Seat,” by I. Seymour. “The Innocents Abroad,” by Ewon Meo. 13th COMPETITIONS. CLOSING DATE. SATURDAY, 19th DECEMBER, 1931. EACH ENTRY MUST BE ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER, boa ring tho name, age and address of the competitor. (Nom-de-plumcs are NOT sufficient, and AGE must not bo omitted). SENIOR DIVISION. —12 years and up to 19 years. JUNIOR DIVISION. —Under 12 years. Address: “Aunt Roberta,” care “Manawatu Evening Standard,” Palmerston North. LETTER TO AUNT ROBERTA: Stating your aims and aspirations for the New Year. Senior and Junior Divisions—and a Book Prize each Division. LIMERICK.— Find two suitable lines to complete the following Limerick: A pompous inspector of schools, Who thought boys and girls were all fools, Had tho shock he deserved Senior and Junior Divisions—and a Book .Prize each Division. HIGHLY COMMENDED COMPETITION ENTRIES. SPRING. Spring—oh, lovely Spring! As I rest on a lofty hilltop, I can sco a world of beauty. Tho monotony of Winter has disappeared under your warm fingertips. Your dexterous fingers have woven a web of soft colours.

•QujuJb; i^ertixtOi

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 My Address is I read “Aunt Roberta's Family” Page. Signature of Parent, Guardian or School Teacher Sent in by REQUIRED I Will contributors please write their names, as well as pen-names, also their addresses, on EVERYTHING they send for tho Page. SPECIAL PRIZE OF A BOOK VALUED AT 3s 6d. When a member of Family gains 25 points by highly commended and commended marks in the competitions, including any other marks gained for recipos, something to make, games, interesting facts, etc., a special prize, as above, will be awarded. INTERESTING FACTS. There was a moonless month once. It was in February, 866. It had a moon, but no full moon. January had two full moons, and so had Maroh, but February had nono. This had not occurred since the creation of the world, and it will not occur again, i according to the computation of tho asi tronomers, for 2,500,000 years. The boll in the Great 801 l Tower at Pekin was cast in 1415, and weighs fiftythree tons and a half. It measures fifteen feet in height, is nine inches thick, and has a circumference of thirty-four feot at tho rim. To hang it nowadays would requiro the most up-to-date mechanical apparatus, and how it was hung hundreds of years ago is a mystery which has never been solved. —RONNIE DALEFIELD (1 mark). SOMETHING TO MAKE. (More contributions are required.) A DOLL’S SOFA. * Take an empty chocolate box, and somo pieces of silk and cotton-wool. Take off the lid and pad it with cotton wool, also tho bottom of tho box and cover it with 6ilk. The bottom of the box forms tho seat of the sofa. Pad tho two ends, turn them up, and gum them and tho lid to the scat. Mako a pleated frill, and gum or tack it round the front and ends, and then make a tiny cushion, and your sofa is complete. BETTY CHRISTENSEN (1 mark). GAMES. A JOLLY GAME.

How beautiful are your azure skies, and how soft and white your floccy clouds, which seem to molt imperceptibly into the blue vault of Heaven 1 A zephyr, faintly suspicious of the odorous breath of many flowers —boronia, daphno and daffodils —arises from the valley bolow mo. Strotching behind the few cottages which snuggle in tho valley are orchards —and such orchards, just a fairyland of fluffy blossoms delicately tinted with pearl pink; and tho cottage gardens aro so daintily protty with tho sweet Spring flowers. The delicate green of the woodlands sets off these scenes, making them look more charming and quaint in all thoir beauty. As I descend tho hill, although these scenes disappear from my gaze, there is joy in my heart—tho joy of Spring. —GRACE DARLING (13 years).

SPRING. Spring! Tho glorious season of happiness. The timo when birds sing for sheer joy, and tho bulbs come peeping out from under their warm blanket of brown earth to greet us once more. Wo see them swaying in the gentlo breeze, nodding to one another, perfectly happy. We see green fiolds, dotted with daisies and buttercups, and green hills, _ on which sheep aro peacefully grazing. Wo see. littlo lambs frisking about and playing with one another.

VVe see littlo streamlets, which murmur softly as they flow over the tiny pebbles which lie on their sandy bed. Old Mr Sun comes beaming out upon us with his warm and cheery smile, and everything and everyone delights in his warm rays. Hurrah! for Spring—the season of happiness 1 —THE CUB (12 years), SPRING AS I SEE IT.

This is a jolly kind of rnco for outdoors or in. All the players but one stand in a row, and that one, called the “leader,” stands facing the others. Then the leader must be blindfolded so that he (or she) does not know to whom he (or she) is giving orders. He (or .she must say, “Hop like a frog twice.” And the first one goos down on his haunches and hops twice. Then the leader says, “Jump five steps,” and the next playea- doeß that. Then the leader says, “Skip five steps,”

Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees. Bulbs are bursting into the warm air and sunshine. The babbling brook goes merrily oh its way. Beautiful yellow daffodils fringe its banks. When I awake in the early morning of Spring, I can hear the merry chirruping of tho birds as they build thoir nests. As I walk through the Esplanade, I see the beautiful hues of the spring flowers, and the green foliago of tho trees, with their shady branches overhead.

and the next player does it, and so on, all down tho line to the start again. The lucky one who is able to touch the leader first is the winner of this queer race. —MERMAID (1 mark.) RECIPES. JOHNNY ALL SORTS. Half lb butter, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of baking powder, 1 cup of sugar, 14 cups flour, 4 cup milk, any fruit to taste. Beat sugar and eggs well, . then add butter melted, then flour and baking powder, milk and fruit. Bake in a greased moat tin for half an hour.

Tho animals are changing their coats of winter into coats of spring. Tho lambs and calves frisk in tho meadows all day long. Tho bees fly from flower to flower, collecting the pollon to make honey for the young bees. Wo shall not need any more fires to warm us.' Instead, wo will bo able to go out and enjoy the Spring sunshine. -AO-TEA-ROA. NATURE STORIES. THE WHITE BUNNY. (A True Story.)

ELSIE’S FINGERS. Quarter lb butter, 2 small cups flour, 1 egg, 3ozs. sugar, 14 teaspoons baking powder.

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, then flour mixed with baking powder. Roll small pieoes between the hands, dip in' sugar and put on cold tray. Bake in a moderate oven till slightly browned. —PRINCESS (2 marks), LITERARY CORNER. (More contributions are required.) ftffiRVYN DALEFIELD sends the following :

(By MERVYN DALEFIELD, 12 years.) Some children once had a pair of lovely white rabbits, with pink eyes, long ears, and coats as soft as silk. They were fed on nice juioy apples, tender lettuce leaves, grass, cakes and broad, by their owners, who loved watching them feeding. Such a number of times a day those bunnies washed their faces, using both paws, instead of ono like a cat does 1 On Christmas morning, when the children went to feed their pets they wore delighted to find some wee baby bunnies there. They only lived a few days, though, thoso littlo rabbits. Perhaps Mrs Bunny didn’t understand about babies—for they all died. Often the white rabbits were allowed to ran about on the grass, and they enjoyed that very much. They were afterwards shut up in their hutch, which was thought to be

THE LITTLE TREE. I saw a strange and piteous thing, The murder of a tree in spring— A little tree, all green and bright Its new leaves dancing in the light, An if amid their April mirth , The young year’s joy had sprung to birtn, And set each dancing leaf to sing A gay green song to gay green spring. Its brown stem was a column strong Set in brown earth, that bore its song To where the swifts went whirling by And wove a pattern in the sky. Throughout the blue and golden days The young tree song its song of praise: Then sunset came, and the bright blade' Of axe about its stem was laid. The white chips flew, and with a sigh The little tree lay down to die, Its springtide promise unfulfilled, Its springtide song untimely stilled, Its April beauty crushed and killed, i And yet not killed, but set apart [ To live for ever in my heart. _ _ Swot© Mncnamara.

a safe place for them. But ono night a sad thing happened. A greyhound which lived nearby paid a visit to tho poor bunnies, and, tearing the wirenetting off their run, killed both the pets. The children grieved over tho death of their lovely white rabbits, and so the parents bought another pair, which looked very like the lost ones. These bunnies were given more liberty than tho first had, for the wicked greyhound had gone away to ' another district. They were allowed to run about as they pleased, and wore very one day came another tragedy. Poor Mrs Bunny was killed by a small dog, which happened to bo passing along the wliito rabbit left by himself seemed very lonely without his mate, and no one had the heart to shut him up, so ho was allowed his freedom.. For a long time he

OUR MOTTO : “ CHARACTER AND PERSEVERANCE ”

seemed to bear a charmed life, free • and happy, making frionds with tho farm dog, and the cat—perhaps even with his cousins, tho wild brown bunnies who lived in the blackberry patch in a nearby field. Did they try to persuado him that a wild life with them in their burrows beneath the earth was better than being tho pet and plaything of children ? If they did, it v.as all in vain, for tho whito rabbit remained loyal to his littlo owners. Perhaps, too, he loved the apples and cakes, and know that these things wouid be his no more if he joined his wild friends and becamo one of them.

Ono of his queer little ways was to run ahead of any person, who camo up the drive, to the house, as if he wished to show them the way to the doorl Indeed, he seemed to keep watch at tho gato, for it was seldom that anyone came in—-without tho whito bunny running in front of thorn. So two years went by, and then tho. tragedy of tho other threo rabbits was repeated. Poor whito bunny ! It was a lovely spring day when he met his fate. Just a man who happened to bring a dog with him—a dog which at once sprang on the white rabbit. In a moment ail was over—tho children’s pet was killed. No more would visitors tell of how a beautiful whito rabbit had appeared at tho gate—to run in front of them up the long drive. Never again would tho white bunny come when his littlo friends called. But tho memory of their pet, and his quaint wa3'B, is enshrined in their hearts. Perhaps, who knows, thoro is somowhoro a special Paradise for bunnies, whore cruel dogs cannot come to harm them, and where tho children’s lost pet waits by the gate to welcome newcomers and show them tho way to the fields of sweet-smelling clover in the bunnies' Paradise 1

HOW THE LINNET RECEIVED ITS

GREEN

(By YVONNE, 13 years)

Many years ago, in the land of birds, lived a tiny insignificant bird called the linnet. This little bird went about its work, always whistling a very merry song. When the sun rose at an early hour, the linnet was awalco at the same hour to greet Father Sun with a ( cheery call. Thus the little linnet began its work one very sunny, eventful day. The sky was an azure blue; the greening lake, from which the birds drank the refreshing waters, lay still and clear in the balmy air. All tho world was happy. Birds busied themselves in tho various ways of bird life. Ono little bird, however, was exceptionally happy. It sang all tho morning in a joyful manner, tho sweet sounds vibrating on tho air. It was the linnet, a drab, grey, unimportant little bird, who lived very much to itself. As tho sun shone down on the beautiful nost the linnet had made for the bonny brood, he was vory pleased, indeed. Then Father Sun whispered to himself that ho would see that tho linnet was well repaid for such diligent work. It was nearing noon when the linnet went down to tho lako to drink. Suddenly the lake spoke in soft reassuring tones to the extremely shy bird : “Tho Master over us all lias asked me to repay you for your serviceable work in your world of birds. Now, the gift I have been asked to give you is a piece of my own green. You are to wear it around your eyes and on the tips of your wings. The little linnet was speechless with Never had it thought of anything liko that. A TRUE NATURE STORY. My father and I wont for a walk ono Sunday afternoon. Wo lyont ovor tho Fitzherbert bridge, and down tho other side of the river. Wo took my dog Romp with us. We saw two or three rabbits, and quite a number of hares. One of the rabbits was pure white, and it seemed a strange thing to see a pure white rabbit running about in the lupins with the others. I had Romp on a rope, and when he saw tho rabbits he pulled so hard I could not hold him. So my father had to take the rope and lead Romp for me. We hod a good afternoon’s outing, and arrived home late, feeling tired and hungry. —BILLY KALE. OUR SERIAL. THE RAGAMUFFINS. Soft the mother sea. is calling, “Como, my children, come to me.” Forth tho lazy ships aro crawling, Dawdling idly out to sea. CHAPTER 23. FEAR. A sickening fear paralysed them, and their shrieks died away, as they heard the secret door in tho cliff shut behind, them. Gussio was too young to analyso his feelings, but the others were seized with despair; they felt that they wero shut in a dark dungeon from which there would bo no escape. Tho four were unceremoniously pushed by their captors up the rough stairway, stumbling blindly in tho dark. Not the faintest gleam lighted tho deep and awful gloom that enveloped them, but when they were propelled into tho secret cave it presented quite a cheery spoctaclc, illuminated as it was by lanterns. For a moment or two tho children ushered swiftly from darkness into light, could not see clearly. Then the' well remembered features of Ragamuffin Sammy Brown confronted them, and their relief at tho sight of a friendly face was pathetic. Ril, tho impulsivo one, and also tho most daring and reckless of the four, sprang forward with a glad cry, and fondled Sammy’s sinewy hand between her two cold ones. But ho pushed her aside, commanding her to “Get away 1” Bewildered and terror-stricken she fell into lino with tho others. An icy breath stolo over tho young adventurors. Something was very, very wrong. It was moro than plain that Sammy Brown was not pleased to see them; in fact, ho had a most unpleasant expression on his face. They waited, dumb with fear, thoir minds dazed. Ho dismissed the men, who disappeared in tho shadows at tho back of the cave. Then ho took a seat on ono of tho packages, which contained pirates’ treasure, so tho four young people still thought. .

Ril noticed dully that tho big cave was almost empty of packages, although only last night there had been a number there. Gussie’s face was twisted into an extraordinary grin of acute anguish of mind. Ho had no idea he was smiling, jf smiling such a grimaco could be termed. Ho had a nasty queer sensation at tho pit of his stomach, and felt sick.

March, David and Ril shook in their shoes,, their faces whito and their eyes glittoring unnaturally. Sammy viewed them silently. At last ho spoke: “Well, hero wo are!” Tho words wero friondly enough, but the tono of his voico was not.

“You know the old saying—‘Curiosity killed a cat?” Ho paused, and David, thinking ho was waiting for a reply, quavered forth: “Y-y-yes, s-s-sir.” Sammy ignored this. “I did my best to keep you out of mischief,” ho went on. “But it'was no good, and now you’ll have to put up with tho consoquoncos. .Little fools!” Ho rapped out tho two words so loudly, and in such a rasping voico, that tho three elder children gavo a frightened start, and Gussio put his knuckles into his eyes and began to snuffle noisily! “Stop that howling!” Sammy commanded. . Gussio dropped his trembling hands to his sides, and ■ hung his head. But the tears still continued to fall from his eyes — big tears thatglistenod liko drops of water on his dark wool jumper. “With your peering, prying ways,” Sammy Brown went on addressing the four, “you’ve upset the plans of men.. It is galling to think that four insignificant whipper-snappers have dono this! Well, you WOULD have your wilful way, no matter what good advico Sammy Brown gave you. I’m afraid to think what the Big Boss will do with you when he knows.” “But we didn’t mean any harm,” Ril breathed piteously. "We—we just wanted to find the treasure; it’s as much ours as anyone’s.” Sammy . smiled most unpleasantly. “You’ve found it all right—but it's not tho sort of treasure you expected it would bo. I would not mind. taking a bet, that if I gavo it to you, not one of you'd know what to do with it. As far as it being yours as much as anyone's, tako my vice and don’t mention THAT to tho Boss when ho Comes. It would not bo safe.”

“Wo thought it was pirates’ treasure, David explained hastily, and continued m low, eager tones: “Please let us go, and we 11 promise never to tell anyone anything about this Sammy interrupted him with derisive laughter. , , , , “Ten to one, Rd's mum and dad and your grand-dad know everything that yen four know,” and ho leered into Davids face cunningly. .-rrmwe i “No! They don t know ANYTHING! We’ve never told them,” tho boy asserted. “My grandfather thought, we wero only going for a picnic to this beach to-day. Ril’s mother and father are in Sydney'. We promised to be home before tea, and so we would, only David tried to continue, but to his own secret horror and mortification he would have broken down and sobbed had he said anything more. “Ah! I wanted to make sure that no one outside of yourselves, poor muts, knows anything,” Sammy said, with extreme satisfaction. “Now we’ve got you in tho hollow- of our hands!” And ho looked so wicked that Gussie’s tears fell faster than ever. Sammy Brown became very cheerful after that. Ho still continued to harangue them from his scat on a . box of treasure, but it was dono in quite a pleasant, goodhumoured fashion, as if he pitied rather than blamed them. Ho drow a heart-breaking picture of the misery and anguish David’s grandfather and Ril’s mother and father would suffer when they realised that tho children had mysteriously disappeared, and never would bo seen again. Gussio burst into loud sobs, and the tears welled up in tho eyes of tho other three. (To be continued.) CRISPIES. Georgia : “I don’t like our new teacher, daddy.” Daddy: “Dear me, why is that?” Georgio: “Well, she borrowed my penknife to sharpen her pencil to give me a bad mark!” A horseman stopped at a wayside hotel and throw tho reins to little Jimmy. Jimmy was not enthusiastic, so he said, “Will he bite, sir?” “No.” “Does ho kick, sir?” “No, my boy.” “Will he run away?” “No.” “Then,” asked Jimmy, “what on earth do you want him held for?”

“You aro an honest bpy,” 6aid tho lady, “but the money I lost was a ten-pound note. Didn’t you see that in tho advertisement?” “Yos, mum,” replied tho boy. “it was a ton-pound note that I found, but I had

it changed so that you could pay me the reward.”

Teacher (to small boy who has price ticket on his trousers) : “Why is tho price ticket on your trousers?” Tommy (lazily): “ ’Causo they have to go back to-morrow.” * * * # First Lady (at an “at home”) : “My dear, these cakes are as hard as stone.” Second Lady : “1 know. Didn’t you hear tho hostess say when she jiassed them round, ‘Take your pick’ ?” * * w * The butcher’s boy had just delivered the joint at the vicarage, and was standing watching the vicar nailing up the creeper on the house. “Well my boy, is there anything else you need?” asked the vicar. “No, sir,” said the boy. “I was just waiting to hear what a parson says when he knocks his thumb.” * * * * “Strategy,” declared Murphy, up for examination, - “is when you don’t let the onemy discover you are out of ammunition, but keep on firing.” In a big shop an old woman badgered tho assistant for an hour without making a purchase from the numerous fabrics presented her. “After all,” she said, “I think I want muslin.” “You certainly do, madam, agreed the assistant. ■» * * * Maiden Aunt: “And what’s brought you up here, Joe?” Country Nephew : “I coom up to toon to nee the sights, so I thought as I’d call on yc first.” * * * Vicar: “My sermon on ‘Thrift and Economy’ made a very good impression on tho congregation this morning.” His wife: “I’m so glad, dear. But how do you know?” Vicar: “I could tell when I counted the collection.”