Aunt Roberta’s Family

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 121, 22 April 1932, Page 10

Aunt Roberta’s Family

OUR MOTTO FOR 1932. “PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.” My Dear Family,— During an exceptionally heavy thunderstorm the other evening two elephants broke loose from a circus, and tore down a busy city street, nearly demented with fear. But I shouldn’t think they had “anything on” (excuse the slang!) the shopkeepers and the people sheltering under the verandahs and awnings waiting for the storm to abate. Oh dear no Those poor things made a wild rush for their homos in the blinding torrent, and the shopkeepers closed their doom and put out their lights. Luckily, tho two madden beasts came to a park in their wild flight, whoro, the thunder aggravating their tear, they toro up trees and shrubs and flower-beds. When tho storm was over they becarno themselves again and were led hack to the circus—but they did not appear that night in tho ring. , But I don’t think tho people who had this terrifying experience with tho elephants were any more frightened than the spectators at a recent performing lions show at a Manchester fair, when a young lion showing fight, tho trainer stuck his leg ’ out to protect his nineteen-year-old daughter, who was in the cage with him, and the growling animal knocked him down and tore it off. Luckily it was an artificial one! The sequel was that while the girl slipped out, attendants held the lion at bay with poles, and tho proprietor’s son, entering tho cage, dragged tho poor trainer to safety, but not before ho had been so mauled that ho had to be taken to a hospital. Do you know, children, I have a passion for wild animals, but only at a distance, mind you! I go to every film that features wild boasts, much to tho surprise of my women friends, to whom such pictrres have not tho slightest appeal. Indeed, they wonder at my queer taste m this direction! , , , . ~ „ , The book prizes awarded in the 2nd competitions should havo been received by this by BETTY AIRD, RONNIE DALEFIELD, SHEILA CROAD and HERBIE CHRISTENSEN, also tho special prizes for 25 marks gained by BETTY AIRD, ARNOLD DALEFIELD and DOROIH3 SMITH. I hope these havo arrived safely, and are giving pleasure to the winners. Much love,

Growing and fading and growing, till I could bear it no more, But arose, and all by myself in my own dark garden ground, Listening now to tho tide in its broadflung shipwrecking roar, Now to tho scream of a maddened beach dragg’d down by the wave, Walk’d in a wintry wind by a ghostly glimmer, and found Tho shining daoffdil dead, and Orion low in his grave. A GOOD CATCH. Ask a pal to write down tho numbers 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 7,9, omitting o. .miv ~..n ■which number he has written worst. Should ho say 5, then tell him to multiply 5 by 9 to get 45, and then to multiply all tho numbers by 45 in a big sum. His answer will bo a row of fives. Whatever letter ho says is tho worst then that will turn up in the answer. Always the number selected first must bo multiplied by 9. Try it with any of the numbers. WHAT IS rr? The tail of an apple, Tho tail of a pig; To this you must add on Tho end of a wig. Answer: Egg. RESULTS OF 3RD COMPETITIONS. Tho book prizes awarded below will be mailed early in May. AN ORDINARY DAY IN MY LIFE: A few competitors misunderstood what was required. You were asked to give an account of how you spend an ordinary day—not a holiday, or a Saturday, or a Sunday. SENIOR DIVISION. BOOK PRIZE: SILVER STAR (14 years). HIGHLY COMMENDED: Topping, Billio Boy. Anold and Mcrvyn Daleficld. COMMENDED: Princess. JUNIOR DIVISION: BOOK PRIZE: THAT GIRL (11 years). HIGHLY COMMENDED: Buffalo Bill, Ronnio Daleficld. ORIGINAL VERSE: SENIOR DIVISION: BOOK PRIZE: GRACE DARLING (13 years). HIGHLY COMMENDED: Billie Boy (you lost tho prize because your entry was not certified, as specified, by a parent or guardian. All other competitors conformed to this rule), Topping, Ocean Spray, Arnold and Mervyn Daleficld, The Cub. JUNIOR DIVISION: BOOK PRIZE: GOLDEN ARROW (11 years). HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rona and Hazel Collins, Ronnio Dalefield. AN ORDINARY DAY IN MY LIFE. SENIOR DIVISION. PRIZE ENTRY. At 6 a.m. I am awakened by tho alarm, and I usually get up about 6.30. The first tiling I do after dressing and washing is to havo a drink of water. Then I wash the “early morning cups and saucers and set the table for breakfast. When finished I put all my clothes away that I took off tho night beforo, and if wo were out, and my shoes aro dirty, I clean them. Then I make my bed, tidy my room, and sweep and dust it. By this tiino breakfast is ready, so we have it, and when finished I dry and put away the dishes. After that I sweep tho kitchen, and holp a little, and feed my cats, then I go and practise the piano for half-an-hour. I always find something to do until lunch time, and then again I help with tho dishes. After I havo finished I get tidied and wash, and then either read, write, sow, or go visiting, and, of course, wo are in town a good deal. If I am homo I get the afternoon tea ready, and when I have finished mine I go to tho gate for the mail, and then I amuse myself till tea-time. If wo do not go out in tho evening I nearly always read or write until bedtime arrives, which is generally about nino o’clock. -SILVER STAR (14 years.) HIGHLY COMMENDED. I rise as tho sun creeps triumphantly over the rim of the ranges to greet the day, flushing all the Eastern sky vyith gleams of pink and gold. Slipping out into the virgin glory of tho newborn day I can drink in tho beauties of tho handiwork of Noturo amongst the hills. All round, the hills and valleys cut fantastic shapes against tho skylino, and, to tho left, roll away tier on tier into the dark line of the ranges. The river—a silver thread of beauty —runs far below me along the plains. Watching this scene is a performance of which I never tire, and it invariably comes as first in my daily programme. Then for a few hours come the ordinary mundane household duties —which I confess hold little interest for mo—and then', freedom! Like a bird that is let loose from captivity, or, and perhaps a moro lifelike comparison, a child released from school, I am away. Perhaps it is my well-loved horse that I spend tho afternoon with, or maybo my journey is made on foot, and my only companions are a bag of books, and tho animals I encounter on tho way. If tho former is tho case, I revel in rushing through the fresh open air “on tho wings of tho wind” (nay, merely on my faithful steed!) admiring the over-changing beauty of the landscape, and at the same time, “dreaming dreams that will never come true.” Oh, I lovo tho ecstasy of galloping across the roads and paddocks with a fresh breeze in my face, and then idling lazily through the fern-grown gullies, and slowly passing the willow-fringed creeks. If I am on foot I wander over the hills—this a wonderful pastime for one’s imagination. After quite a long, exhilarating walk, I will perhaps sit on an old log or in a dry hollow, and read. All who have tried this will surely agree that it is splendid recreation. Somotimes I feel quite decided that when I grow old I will be a hermit and live amongst the hills with books and animals for my friends! However, it is not always that I am free to thus roam at leisure and indulgo in my futile, but satisfying fancies. As every ono knows, there aro thing 3 much more helpful, if less agreeable, to bo accomplished in this utilitarian world of ours. Each season brings its round of daily duties. Quoting to-day as a typical day, I should bo tolling you of how I helped prepare the ground under the walnut tree for tho nuts that aro now commencing to fall. No doubt when winter is advanced, tho usual day will see me before a largo fire—writing, typing, sowing, or perhaps, if I am bravo enough, taking a walk in the wind and rain. Tennis and swimming, I favour in the hot summer days. Howover, tho day is begun, it generally terminates in the same way —a brisk walk in the evenings, just ns tho daylight fades, and Darkness spreads her wings about tho floor of heaven. I watch tho stars come out to ride in a blue-black sky; then, a slow moon climbs amidst tho stars, and all is still. . . . -BILLIE BOY (16 years). JUNIOR DIVISION. prizeTentry. A day in my life! It is very ordinary, nothing exciting but quite full of happiness. In the morning I am awakened by the chirping of the birds and tho sun streaming in at my window. After a cold wash and a hearty breakfast I sit on a box out in tho sun, and wait for tho milkman. When I have washed tho dishes and am dressod for school, I tako my case and bicycle and start off. At school, before lessons, I usually “bang” on the piano. There aro four periods of lessons before lunch and throe after. During tho lunch hour I go over to tho

'Qjuuxk.: QXi 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 SPECIAL PRIZE OF A BOOK .VALUED AT 3s fid. When a member of the Family gains 25 points by highly commended and commended marks in the competitions, including any other marks gained for recipes, something to make, games, interesting facts, etc., a special prize, as above, will be OUR MAIL BAG. MARGARET TUTTY AND ROYCE TUCKER: Two new members. Both very welcome. GRACE DARLING: I expect the members of “your family” aro more troublesome than mine! Yes, sometimes animals show that they possess pity and love and other emotions. I know of a fierce tom-cat which, when a little sick baby rabbit nestled up to him, showed his pity by licking tho small head. Yet, before that, ho had tried more than once to kill tho bunny! You have 16 marks to your credit, 60 you won’t have long to wait now for a special prize. Love and best wishes. SOMETHING TO MAKE. If you know of a little gift or a toy which is easy to make, please send along for publication in this corner. INTERESTING FACTS. Did you know there is a city called “A” in Sweden ? Frau Lobert, mother of sixteen children, died at the age of ninety-three and left 1258 living descendants (114 grandchildren, 228 groat-grand children, and 900 great-great-grandchildren) . There is a Hindu of Mysore, India, with hair 7 feet 2 inches long. James Hetherington, of London, invented tho “stove pipe hat” and was fined £SO for wearing it. —TOPSY TURVY (1 mark). GAMES. Games are urgently required. VEGETABLE HINTS. Peel potatoes very thinly, ns tho most nutritious part lies just under the skin. New potatoes skin more easily if boiling water is poured over them. Add salt to tho water when scraping new potatoos, and this keeps them from staining the hands. Never use the water old potatoes havo been boiled in, as it is very unwholesome. —BUFFALO BILL (1 mark). RECIPES. FUDGE CHOCOLATE. 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of milk, 4 teaspoons of chocolato (or cocoa), 2 teaspoons of butter. Boil togethor for about 15 minutes. Beat to a cream and pour into buttered plates. BAKED BANANAS. Peel ripe bananas and place in a piedish. Sprinkle with a little sugar and add a little lemon juice (also a little butter if liked), half cover with water and bake twenty minutes. When cold servo with custard, cream, or milk. —AO-TEA-ROA (1 mark). LITERARY CORNER. Contributions .of short paragraphs of prose and not more than 24 lines of verse will be welcomed. Sent by SILVER SLIPPERS:VERSES FROM “MAUD.” (Tennyson). Cold and clear-cut face, why come you so cruelly meek, Breaking a slumber in which all spleenful folly was drowned, Pale, with tho golden beam of an eyelash dead on the cheek, Passionless, pale, cold face, star-sweet on a gloom profound; ~ Womanlikc, taking rovenge too deep for a transient wrong Done but in thought to your beauty, and ever as pale as before. Growing and fading and growing upon me without a sound. Luminous, gem-liko, ghostlike, deathlike* the night long .

OUR MOTTO : " CHARACTER AND PERSEVERANCE ”

baths and swim, or sometimes I watch. After school, when I am at home, I either read or play tennis with my friend next door. After tea I do my homework, so that I will bo finished early in tho evening. Then I play table-tennis or read till bedtime. —THAT GIRL (11 years). ORIGINAL VERSE. SENIOR DIVISION. PRIZE VERSES. SPRING. (By GRACE DARLING, 13 years.) Spring comes tripping, tripping, Tripping through tho world; Beneath her feet Tho flowers sweet Bloom with leaves unfurled. She trips along, And sings a song To all who caro to hear; For sho’s a maid, A merry maid, Who works through all the year. Spring comes tripping, tripping, Tripping sweet and new, Through wood and glen, By brook and fen, O’er meadows wet with dew; O’er sunkissed bills. Near rippling rills, Her magic works its charm; But always in Tho hearts of men Lingers her joyful psalm. HIGHLY COMMENDED. THE VALLEY ROAD. (By THE CUB, 13 years.) It’s a dear little road—tho valley road— That leads through a woodland glade; A white little road, a twisting little road, Tho prettiest road ever made. I wander ’long tho valley road, Thinking of dreams to come true; It’s a lovely road, tho valley road, Whether skjes are grey or blue. JUNIOR DIVISION. PRIZE VERSES. LADY MOON. (By GOLDEN ARROW, 11 years.) Oh fair Lady Moon, In your silvern shoon, You go sailing through tho starlight sky, Through the cloud-flecked sky, on, e’er so high, O’er country and town, and fields of down. Oh, kind Lady Moon, In your golden shoon, You go sailing o’er tho billowy sea, Making a pathway, a golden pathway, O’er the calm quiet sea, or tho angry rough sea. Oh, sad Lady Moon, In your fading shoon, You part reluctantly, poor drowsy head, To your own soft cloud bed, your feathery cloud bed, In tho pink-flushed clouds, in tho dawn s sweet clouds. HIGHLY COMMENDED. AFTER THE RAIN. (By HAZEL COLLINS, 9 years.) When I lay in bed last night I heard the falling rain Beating with a thousand hands On my window pane. To-day tho earth is fresh and sweet, The rain-drenched meadows glow, For diamonds glitter in the grass Wherever I may go. The brooklet sings a merry song, All Naturo seems most fair, The flowers in their garden plots Wear brilliants in their hair. Tho sun is smiling on the earth To see it clean again. And everything is full of mirth This morning—after rain.

HIGHLY COMMENDED. A MESSAGE. (By a little girl, RONA COLLINS, 6 yrs.) Though I'm just a little girl, With tiny hands and feet, I can run the messages ! To tho corner of the street. i I take my basket on my arm, And buy tho rice and tea, i And then I hurry homo again j Where mother waits for me. OUR SERIAL. THE HOME OF “LAME DOGS.” CHAPTER 5 (concluded.) j TWO LETTERS. ! Cedric wagged his head knowingly. “I 1 wouldn’t mind betting, Mum, it s another lame dog wanting a homcl” There was silence for a few moments while Mrs Loveday read the letter. When she raised her oyes there was a bewildered expression in them. “This is from a Mrs Weston of Ivoonoodah Station, Koonoodah, via Young, who is a great friend of Mrs Sinclair,” she explained in a breathless fashion. “She begs mo, as a special favour, and on Mrs Sinclair’s recommendation, to take her son into my homo as a paying guest. He is I not happy whoro he’s bearding at present. Ho is studying at tho Sydney University.” Cedric assumed the famous Napoleonic attitude. “Behold, the Seer, Cedric Wil- j liani Loveday! I predicted it was another, lame dog, if you will cast your memories back a short space!” “How old is he?” Sonia enquired, with animation. | “Eighteen.” Then Mrs Loveday appealed : fo her three children, with an air of help- , lessness which was comical —“But where . COULD I put him? I cannot afford to j furnish another room, just yet, and, besides, ho might not suit, or we might not suit him - - - Her eyes sought Cedric’s face. “Tho only way it could be managed would be for you to give up your room, and sleep on a stretcher on the smaller verandah, or anywhere elso you fancy. Would you, Rick? I’m not asking too much, dear ?” Of course not! I don’t mind where I sleep, Mother. String me up on a telegraph post—and I’ll, sleep just as soundly!’ “You dear boy! Thank you! I’ll write at once and accept. The money will be a great help. And, no doubt, our prospective paying guest will provo to be a very nico young ihan; he comes of a good old squatting family.” , Ann, who was hanging over her mother s shoulder, asked: “What’s his Christian name, Mumsic ?” Mrs Loveday hesitated for an imperceptible second or two. Her eyes fluttered to the lettor in her hand. Then she said bravely, “Egbert.” ICcn Evatt and Ann burst into rude laughter. Cedric groaned “What have wo done to deserve this?” And Sonia said, "I just couldn’t bear to havo anyone qf that namo near ine!” Mrs Loveday rose, and little Billy hopped up, too. “Nonsense, children I” sho said. “Tho poor boy cannot help his name. His parents gavo it to him, you know.” “I shall call him ‘Egg,’ ” Cedric said firmly. “You will not do anything of tho sort, my dear!” liis mother returned. “If tho young man comes into our homo ho must be treated by all with every consideration and respect. “If anyone of you,” and sho glanced sharply from one face to tho other, “feels that tins effort would be beyond liis or her powers, just say so, and I will write to Mrs Weston and refuso to take her son.” Cedrio blinked rapidly behind his glasses. "Right-o, Mum! Lot him come!” he said cheerfully. , Ann, her eyes dancing with mischief, cried: “Egbert will help to keep Rick in order!” Sonia was the last to speak: “111 never, never like his name, but, as you say, Mother, ho can’t help it.” Sho added pityingly, with a supercilious lift of the brow, “Poor thing.” That night Mrs Loveday could not sleep. She lay awake planning how sho would manago with two more added to the family, and sho so busy with music pupils, too. She realised, however, with thankfulness, that tho generous sum of money

Mrs Weston had mentioned in her letter as payment for her son’s board and lodgings would lighten, the financial bunion very considerably. Evo Mcllor was domesticated, sho reflected, and no doubt her help would prove useful in the house, it was a pity, however, that the girl “ high-spirited and full of mischief. W such an example before him, Ken Evatt would grow in naughtiness, it was only reasonable to suppose. And onco again Mrs Lovcday's mind was filled with vague misgivings. Eve was indeed a scallywag ot a i girl, though a lovable one. Ihcn Mrs noveday comforted herself with the thought that Eve had turned sixteen, and no doubt would have quietened down considerably in a year, which was the period that had elapsed since Mrs Loveday had last seen her. . ~ , ~ , , Ann lying boside her. in the double bed moved and muttered in her sleep. She •was lying high up on tho pillow in a small huddled heap. The moon- suddenly looked out from a bank of dark and tho little pointed faco was clearly visible to the mother’s eyes. A spasm of pain rent her heart. Pan who had been her lather s darling was as liko him in features as it was possible for a girl to be Sonia and Cedric took after her own sido of the family. Her thoughts drifted on. She saw again, with her inward sight, tho white slopes of tho lonely mountain that held many secrets. Two were of vital importance to her—the secret of her dear husband’s going, and the secret of the whereabouts of tho gold lie bad found. But the mountain, for all its beauty, was grim and cold, and, Mrs Loveday felt drearily, would never givo up those secrets. She did not want the gold, she told herself passionatoly, if only sho could havo her children’s father back again. But she know intuitively that this was a foolish dream. CHAPTER 6. EVE MELLOR: | Evo Mcllor arrived ono afternoon tho following week. She walked in at the back door, carrying a small suit-case, and greeted tho astonished Mrs Loveday casually: “Hulloa, Auntie Ellen! Hero I ainl Mother said: “Thanks awtully, for having me, and sho’ll ho along to sec you as soon as she has the ifare.” I Airs Loveday kissed her warmly, asking: “Is it as bad as all that. Eve ?_” A suddon sadness clouded the girl’s merry eyes. “Yes, —desperate, Aunt Ellen. In • fact,” her voice sank to a low repressed I note, “cnee or twico wo haven’t had enough to cat.” “Uh, my dear!” Mrs Loveday exclaimed in great distress. Sho was thinking how sho would havo 'felt if her Sonia and Ann and Cedric had gone hungry even for a few hours. ‘•-Mother wouldn’t have bothered you. Auntie Ellen, in your own sad circumstances, if our plight hadn’t been so bad. I’vo tried and tried to get something to do, but it’s no use.” Ivon Evatt took an instant liking to the over-tall, slim girl, with the happy hazel eyes, who smiled at him in such a friendly way. Perhaps lie sensed in her a kindred spirit. (To bo continued.) CRISPIES. Old Salt: “Yes, guv’nor, I was shipwrecked and lived for a week on a tin of salmon.” Listener: “By Jove! Not much room to move about, what ?” ' Teacher: “Can you mako five go into ono ?” Jimmy: “Yes, teacher.” Toucher: “How?” Jimmy: “Well, teacher, I put five toes into ono sock this morning.” * * * * Mothfer: “You boys promised me you wouldn’t eat your apples before midday.” Tommy: “Yes, wo kept our promise. Wo didn’t eat our apples—l ate Peter’s and ho ate mine.” * * * . Mother: “Why do you keep rolling tho dust-bin round the yard, Tommy ?” Tommy: “I’m just amusing baby, Mum.” Mother: “But I don’t see baby.” Tommy: “Ho’s inside tho dustbin, Muin.” * * * * Wife: “I wish wo lived in a house where everything is done by touching buttons. Husband: “I wish I lived in a shift that had buttons to touch.” * # * • Mrs Smith: “Mrs Brown, lend me a drop of vinegar.” Mrs Brown: “I am sorry, but I haven’t any in tho house.” Mrs Smith: “What a bad housekeeper you must be. Whenever I come to borrow anything you haven't it.” Joe: “How do you like your new [house, Bill?” Bill: “Oh, it’s very nice, but full of

mice. One actually ran up the curtain, n(}thi A sewing machine ran up the leg of my trousers the other day.” , » * Mary heard a milkman shouting ‘‘M llk ' o-oo!” She said: “Papa, why do milkmen alwayscall ‘Milk-io-o-o! instead of just '"“Well,” replied her father, “you see, ‘o’ (eau] is Jor water. Teacher- “What arc the peculiar characteristics of the Quakers? For instance how do they speak differently from jou “"schofar': “Please, sir, they don’t swear.” TONGE TWISTERS. !,Y, S .i.. ““Cr" fully-flown’” thistles flourishing thickly. * * « * • “An old woman in a red cloak suddenly took place? )( Tom- “The 'g°oat turned to butter (butt her) and iho old lady bccamo a scarlet runner.” # * * “Sonny!” called a man in the train. “HWa twopence. Get mo two buns and 'Wo/ 0 ™ °o” to I ..J 0.0.0 ‘■S’-ig* {.'wrtaw'jfr.— a penny!' “but they only had onejeft. Teacher : “Whj »£• ,hI””o”5 : th.l 'si,.. ’School Go Slow, BO I did.”