Big Sister’s Page

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 10

Big Sister’s Page

BIG SISTER’S LETTER

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Another week gone by and hero wo nro definitely in Spring—how time hurries on! And here are the results of our fourth Ladder I’oints Competition. The competition for the Seniors, an original poem, was very well attempted. Everyone, of course, cannot compose poetry—in fact, it is very difficult. So that I was particularly pleased with the efforts sent in. As you may see thero is very little to clrooso between the entries ol Topping and l’udney Tame, while Minnie Mouse's was very good, too. 1 should like to commend The Cub and Te Rauparaha for their nice poems, but care is required with their metro. And now the Juniors —a story about “My Pet.” Me have to congratulate Joint Ballance on his story of “Billykin, the Tortoise,” Snowflake, who is awarded second place with her little description of “My Dog, Ginger,” and Lorna Cocks third, who wrote about “Toss, the Collie.” Little Edith Oliver’s story was very good, * and so were Trooper Tex’s and Ronnie ► Dalefield’s. Of course, it must be ► remembered that special consideration ’ is paid to age, and also to spelling, ► grammar and neatness. ’ Please, Brothers and Sisters, write * on one side of the paper, otherwise ’ your work will be overlooked and dis- ’ qualified. I should be pleased if you * would remember this, all of you, bc- ’ cause it would save a lot of bother for ’ Big Sister. And another point. Pro- , per names must be supplied with pen- . names in everything sent in. . Did you see the quilt in the window of the C. M. Ross Coy. ? lam giv- ■ ing it to tiro Mayoress for some needy * family. By the way, several squares have been sent to mo which, unfortunately, were too late for inclusion in the quilt, but when I received twelve beautiful squares from “A Lover of Little Children” (you will remember that she knitted a previous dozen) I thought “Now, we cannot waste all those lovely squares, so why not make a little cot cover?” M’e shall not require very many squares, and those Brothers and Sisters who had commenced knitting squares but which were too late for the quilt will please Big Sister very much if they would finish them and send them to me, c jo “Evening Standard.” Other squares would be gratefully received within a fortnight, tor soon it will be too warm for woollen covers. By this time 1 suppose you have all . settled down at school and working ever so busily. So I shall wish you all happv times. Love from BIG SISTER.

G.P.O. AXSM’ERS TO LETTERS. JOHN BALLANCE: I’m glad you had such a jolly time at your Aunt’s home during the holidays, Brother. The tennis court must have looked strange with its sheet of water during the flood. Your brother must be a quaint little fellow. I guess he gave you a surprise with his letter to Big Sister! Well, you haven’t missed the mail this time, Brother John, so love to von and to Tiny Brother.

TOPPING: So glad you have not forgotten me, Sister Topping. Oh, but what a busy time you must have had with Mother away—cooking, washing-up, sweeping—no wonder you have not lrad time to write to me. You are a lucky girl to receive so many letters from friends —but 1 don’t think you get as many as Big Sister does from her Brothers and Sisters! Y r our entry was in time. Best wishes, Topping. PUDNEY TAME: A letter from another Sister who missed last mail. And such a nice long one, too. What a lovely swimming pool yours must be — I can just imagine how popular it Is going to be in the summer. Good luck, Pudney Tame, and I hope you keep—and improve—your place on the Ladder.

ROSEBUD: Yours was a very sweet letter, little Sister, and I’m so glad you like our Page. Your entry was verv aceepatble—of course, to be a Sister of Big Sister’s Page it is not compulsory to enter for every competition. Thank you very much for the recipes. I’m afraid your squares are too late for our quilt, but we shall be able to use them in the cot-cover. Yes, I have read the “Anne” books aren’t they beautifully written? Much love, little Sister. POLLY PLUM: That is a quaint pen-name, Sister —but I am sure you haven’t a heart like a plum’s! I’m glad you saw our quilt —it looked quite pretty in the window, didn’t it i Thank you, Polly, for the jokes and riddles. And your entry was not too late.

THE CUB: Sorry you were disappointed at tho results of the competition not being published last week, Cub. but hero they are to-night. M'hat a pity you couldn’t come to town to see the quilt! 1 can imagine wliat jolly times you must have with such a big family as yours —but as to one of your sisters being afraid of cats —well, iny little “real sister” is, too! I’m so pleased you are kind to the wild little kitten —I do so love their soft fluffiness, don’t you? Many thanks for your cheery letter, Sister. RUBIN HOOD : This week seems to I>e “revival of correspondence” time, and I am receiving letters from Sisters, who, I thought, had temporarily forgotten me. So lam very pleased to hear from you again, Robin Hood. But what a busy person you are! Sheep to tend, cows to be milked, hay to be carted, wood to bo chopped, garden to bo attended to —no wonder you have been too busy to write. I’m so sorry you missed the last competition, but “better luck next time.” Love to vou, Sister. MOCKING EYES: Y’es, indeed, I was wondering what had happened to you, my Sister. How tired you must have been after pushing against tho wind on your bicycle—particularly with nil your heavy books 1 But it does not seem to have impaired your cheerfulness, judging by your little letter. It’s great fun to watch our Page growing, isn’t it ? Best wishes, Sister.

LORNA COCKS: Your entry, luckily, was just in timo, Lorna. It was nice to hear from you. But what of Brother Austin? Has lie forgotten poor Big Sister? But I’m pretty sure that one morning soon I shall hear the postman’s whistle and find, not only a letter from Austin, but also another one from Sister Lorna. Well, I hope so. Love to you both. FAIRY FAY: Wliat a pity your little story was too late for the Competition ! I was greatly amused at the part when the kitten put his paw in the clock's workings and stopped it! Is “Sammy Smiler” another puss, too ? I hope you will not miss the post next time, Fairy.

TUI: That pen-name will do very nicely, my Bister. I was glad to hear so promptly from you—-and such a nice little letter. I’m sure all your little Brothers and Sisters return your love and best wishes—Big Sister docs, too.

FOURTH LADDER POINTS COMPETITION.

SENIOR DIVISION

FIRST AWARD (5 Points.)

“THE STRUGGLE.”

A long white twist On a red wand curled, And writhings and twistings Now plain and now purled. And the wand yields the stitches As flashing they go Backwards and forwards, Row upon row. And a round white ball, Whoso life’s just begun, Goes rolling and tossing As tbe stitches are won. The white twist has lengthened It’s firm and it’s strong. As the fierce battle rages It’s grown great and long. A sighing wand surrenders; The battle is won, Tho white ball has vanished— The knitting is done. —TOPPING (16 years).

SECOND AM’AItD (3 Points.)

“SONG OF THE SAILOR.”

Oh, I sigh for the throb of a lifting deck, And the cry of a gull on the wing; For the glamour and peril of tempests at sea, The soft sway of the boat, and the swing. . . . The swing of the ship, and the blue skies at noon, MTiere the rollicking waves are my friends; And all 1 can see there is endless and blue, . . . . And the blueness never ends. Where the white gulls swoop down to dip in the foam. With the glistening sun on their breast; Where there’s oceans of space, and aeons of time, And ever, and ever, to rest. . . .

For restful to me is a broom and the deck, And bare feet—the blue sky above. And a messmate to throw me a jovial quip, - . . . . And a mother, in harbour, to

love. —PUDNEY TAME (17 years)

THIRD AWARD. (1 Point.)

“APRIL AND MAY.”

April comes with budding trees, And the hum of busy bees; April comes with soft green grass, Creeping everywhere we pass.

Maytime comes with budding flowers, And through all the sunny hours; Biisv bees make full their cells, M’itli sweet nectar from bluebells. —MINNIE MOUSE (12 years).

float near him. He only cats raw meat or chopped up worms and sometimes likes a flv for a cliango. My cousin has had him for over Uvo years, but no one can say bow old lie is, though wo have read that some tortoises live for hundreds of years. He came to my cousin from China Town, San Francisco. Billykin knows his master’s voice and will come out from under the grass when his name is called. I have often tried to imitate my cousin’s voice and call him out, too, hut little Billykin knows tho difference and won’t take any notice of me. Isn’t that wonderful? He goes te sleep in the winter timo and stays hidden under his shell for two or three months without any food. How would you like to go as long as all that without having anything to eat? —JOHN BALLANCE (9 years). SECOND AM’ARD. (3 Points.)

“MY DOG GINGER.”

My dog is called Ginger and is six months’ old. His mother was taken to a small farm. Ginger is very playful, and if ones leaves the door open, he comes in and barks; and then one has to give him something to cat. If Ginger is- kept waiting too long he becomes impatient, and snatches his food. M'lien I have a short message to deliver, 1 take him with me. I run races with him, too, when I can. Sometimes when Ginger is free he jumps the fence and runs away, and I go after him, in hot pursuit. He is very good if lie is treated well, hut otherwise rather naughty. Sometimes, when he lias _ been extra good, I run races with him, and he laughs at me in his doggie way. —SXOM'FLAKE (9 years).

THIRD A AVAR D. (1 Point.)

“TOSS, THE COLLIE.” Mv pet is a collie dog whose name is Toss. We have had her ever since she was a pup, and she is a very big dog now. 1 play with her every night. Father had her trained for a farm dog, and sometimes takes her pig hunting. One time Toss caught a little Nannygoat, which father brought homo and gave to my brother. 1 oss is a very prettilv coloured dog. Father has two other ‘dogs, and in the summer time he takes them every night after work to the river for a swim and they do love it. It is good exercise for them

after being tied up .all day. If we did not tie them up they might annoy our neighbours. —LORNA COCKS (10) years).

JUNIOR DIVISION

FIRST AM’ARD. (5 Points.) “BILLYKIN, THE TORTOISE.”

Billykin is a. fresh-water tortoise belonging to my cousin. He lives in an enamel basin that measures about 18in across, with sand, gravel, some tufts of grass and a little water in it. He is quite a small fellow, for his shell measures only inches around the edge. It is a rough looking greyishgreen shell, and ho can draw in his head, and his four legs and tail, until not a sign of them is to be seen. Underneath he has a much smoother shell —light yellow with pretty green markings. His head looks something like a frog’s with a big mouth and staring eyes. Billykin is put in a soup-plate half full of water to have his meals, and he turns his head on one side and snaps at the little bits of food as they

THE DELIGHTS OF SWIMMING

Topping, in a letter to Big Sister, tells about a lovely, cool swimming pool. “I just learned to swim last summer,” she writes, “and 1 cannot do over-arm yet so I’m looking forward to the warmer weather for that. The baths are three miles away so, as neither my chums nor I have bicycles, wo have to do a good amount of hiking for a swim. After tramping along a dusty road you can’t imagine how pleased we are to see the cool watei and to take out some fruit or some delicious lemonade from our lunchcases, as “morning-tea.” And don’t you just love lying on the edge of the pool on the comforting, warm ground munching sandwiches (oh, how extraspecially nice they taste I) and feeling your arms sunburning pleasantly ? And then tho walk home with lighter cases and the triumphant 'I swam so-many-vards to-day’ to cheer us and make us forget the aching feet and bedraggled hair.” Topping sends her love to all her Sisters and Brothers.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS

To Pudney Tame, who celebrated her 17th birthday on M’ednesday. Best wishes, Pudney Tame, from Big Sister. and ail your other Sisters and Brothers.

“A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME.”

That Sister Topping has quite an artistic bent, and in a recent flower show she took two first, two second and two third awards! Congratulations, Topping!

Competition Ladder;.

SENIORS. Pudney Tame 8J marks Topping 0) marks Merry 11 Dalefield o marks The Cub 5 marks To Rauparaha 41 marks Ocean Foam 3 marks Vera II marks Mocking Eyes 1 mark Mother’s Help 1 mark Minnio Mouse 1 mark JUNIORS. John Ballanco 131 marks Ronnie llalefield 81 marks Trooper Tex 6 marks Lorna Cocks 4 marks Snowflake 3 marks Porker 2 marks Doris 1 mark

LADDER MARKS

John Bailance and To Rauparaha, having each gained 5 points for published contributions, have 1 mark each added to their Ladder marks. Others with points to their credit are Mocking Eyes 4, Minnie Mouse 3. Ronnie Dalefield 4, Mervyn Dalefield 2, The Cub 2, Tickles 2, Isabel Edhouse 1, Fairy Fay 1, and Rose Bud 1.

NATURE STUDY CORNER

THE ALLIGATOR

The alligator is a monster of the reptile world. He is greatly feared by animals and people. The home of the alligator is in the mud on the banks of African rivers, where the water is shallow and muddy. A full grown alligator reaches the length of about twenty feet and some have been known to live until ninety years of ago. The young are hatched from eggs which are placed in the mud and hatched by the heat of the sun. The alligator will wait below the bank until some animal comes along and then seizes it by the nose and drags it under the water. Men go hunting for these reptiles, but it takes a good bullet to pierce the hard scales which cover its bodv.

TE RAUPARAHA (1 point.)

IN THE KITCHEN

BETTY BROM’N BISCUITS

To make these, you need 2 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of plain flour, half cup of cocoanut, half cup of sugar, half cup of goldeti syrup, 1 large teaspoon of soda, ilb. melted butter and 2 tablespoons boiling water. Mix oats, flour, cocoanut and sugar, and pour in butter; mix soda and syrup and add water and stir till it

frotlis. Mix all together and drop on to cold, greased tray; cook tor i minutes in good oven. BRANDY SNAPS.

Ingredients: Two ozs. butter, 2ozs. flour, ioz. sugar, 2 tablespoons treacle, I teaspoon ginger and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook in slow oven, lift off and roll. - ROSEBUD (1 point).

GAMES

“MUSICAL FRUITS.”

I’m sure you will all like this game. Sisters and Brothers, so try it next rainy day when it is too wet to plaj outside. Now, vou want sonio oranges —as many as there are players— and ono lemon. Put the fruit in a pile on the floor, and pass round it in a circle. Someone plays a piano, or controls the gramophone, and when the music stops each player picks up a fruit. The one who gets the lemon drops out of the game. The fruit is set out again with one orange less, and once more the players go round. So the game goes on ■until there is only one orange and the lemon. In the last round the player who gets the orange is the winner. RONNIE DALEFIELD (1 point).

JUST FOR FUN

a schoolmaster was trying to explain jy buiuvi . word ‘ widowor to Ins , voll l<] you cull a r battleship fired a «ahit e °i tmi gun, Thf old s» £thed her’ patted Sr SK’ «d said sweet.y “Como in. , * • Uncle: “Willie, what do we learn fr W.llfe? ? ”“To leave them alone. Uncle.” _ * , * * * Father to son: “What is an a verson . “An average is what ( the lien in arithmetic lays an egg^on. * * * \ man was up from the countiv an>l was staying at a small hotel. I!., man-servant showed the visitor lu“Look here, sir,” said the servant, “when ye want to get up in the morning ye just press this button and 1 come and wake ye.

TE RAUPARAHA (1 point)