HAPPY COGS

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 288, 5 December 1936, Page 16

HAPPY COGS

JUDGMENT I must not be afraid to tell my teacher what I do not know, so that . she can help-me, I must use judgment in leaving the classroom. • I must exercise most careful judgment in crossing streets. < • I must be sensible on the play■.grounds. - . I must wear the proper wraps when needed without being told. I must use my recess periods in running, walking,- or playing games, getting plenty of fresh air. I must give careful thought to the use of my leisure time. I must use it either to benefit myself or someone else. I must not spend it in unwise . reading or watching worthless movies. ; v . I must read at least one good hook a month. I must go to bed at an early hour so that I will be ready for work the next day. I must eat the right food so I will grow strong. I must not drink coffee or tea, or establish any habit which is not thrifty and desirable. I must constantly realise that success, means service. I must try to be more successful each day. I must learn to express good judgment so that others will have confidence in my opinions. I must always be quiet and sensible, and use good judgment in situations in which there is danger. ; i must never be absent from school unless it is absolutely necessary. LIONESS IS GOING CAMPING Palmerston North. • Dear Hub,—The school gala day will bo held on Saturday and we aro having a procession leading down to the Hokowhitu school. Some other girls and myself arc going to act as Maoris and our leader is to do a haka. At Sunday School we are having a Christmas party, Hub. My aunty is iu Auckland and is coming home for Christmas. We are going camping this Christmas and I am sure we shall have a good time. Lioness. It • will bo fun 1 going camping, Lioness. The procession will look very gay with the many different decorated vehicles. MAKING A CART Dear. Hub, —On Saturday I asked dad to. make me a cart. First I found some old wheels off a very old pram, then a box. It took ten minutes, to make it. Then we got two pieces of thick wood and.tacked that on. I was just going to take it away when he said let me put a seat on it. Christmas is nearly here, isn’t it Hub?, I made some pikelets on Saturday. I made .some toffee to-day. We have a eat named Tiddley Winks. May my pon-name be Minnie Mouse. We have some strawberries and the slug's get, them and the currants. They, also get the goose berries. I have a bad cold. I take cod-liver oil and it is so bitter. .. • . Ngaire Short. ■ X EXAMINATIONS ARE OVER ' .. i ' .. ■ ‘ ' ;■ • Feildiug. Dear Hub;—Wo have finished our examinations and it is nice to think it is over. On Saturday night I went to St. John’s bazaar and got somo presents off-the .Christmas tree. There was a large crowd of people there in spite of it being a wet night. We had broad beans for dinner yesterday out of our garden . and we all thought them quite a- treat. The rain is making everything I grow now, and all the gardens - look fresh.and green. Narcissi.

j .Your beans are ready early, Narcissi, they would certainly, be a treat. A bazaar is jolly, isn’t it? A LETTER PROM DULCIE Palmerston North. •' Dear Hub, —I am.so sorry that I have not written before but I have been very busy with one thing and another. I have solved the skilltest and hope it is right. Our Christmas Page'should be good this time. Hub, can you send in two entries (story and poem). I have a contribution for the Treasure Chest and will come in and see you one day this week. Dulcie. It is lovely to hear from you again, Dulcie. Yes, certainly you may send in two entries for the competitions. The parcel for the Treasure Chest will be most acceptable. LADEN PLUM TREES Feilding. Dear Hub, —Yesterday I went to the pictures and it was funny. It was called “Strike Me Pink.” We have a good few plums on our trees and I hope they will be ripe soon. Black Bantie. It is nice to hear from you again, Black Bantie. The plums will be lovely ■ when they are ripe, won’t they? |

COMPETITIONS REVERSALS Skilltest Winners The prizes this week go to Sweet Lavender, Linton. Snow Queen, Table Flat, Apiti. The entries were so much better this week, Cogs. Other correct solutions were sent in by Laddie,.. Narcissi, Bird, Tho Emu, Iris, ‘Whiskey Bill, Lioness, Carnation, Silver | Bell, Buttercups, Bright Eyes, Ivaclia|loln, Rag, Brown Butterfly, - Daddy’s Sweetheart. Solution to Reversals 1. Part Trap. 2. Step Pets. 3. Deer Reed. 4. Door Rood. 5. Stop Pots. 6. Golf Flog. ’ 7. Pins Snip. 8. Guns Snug. 9. Deed Deed. 10. Nips Spin. HOLIDAYS ARE NEAR llalcombe. Dear Hub, —We are having our examinations at school this week and t hope I pass. We will soon have our holidays here now and Christmas, too. Laddie. The holidays are something to look forward to,, aren’t they. Laddie? Best of luck for your examination.

USED STAMPS The Hub wishes to thank the following Cogs for sending in used stamps:— , Gus, Woodville. WHAT ABOUT THE MOUTH ORGAN? A clock-maker, in Vienna, who was fond of turning his hand to other things besides wheels and springs, fastened some rough strips of metal to a wooden base more than 100 years ago, and made a kind of whistle. . Strangely enough, it was another clock-maker, Matthias Horner, who, hearing of the queer invention, decided to perfect it, and so made the first real harmonica.

| Horner, who was born in Baden, uermany, in 1833, was the son of a poor 'clock-maker, lint quickly decided to for'sake the profession and : to set up in business as the Matthias-Horner'Har-monica Works. '

At first ’mgs- wore pretty difficult, and it was not until people in-America became interested in the new musical instrument that he began to make a success of it.

j Strangely enough there are still many people who do not realise what can be done with a mouth organ, or who know l that there are to-day over 5000 harmonica orchestras in Germany alone, and. that thousands of e-...areu in America are expert mouth-prgan players, quite apart from those who content themselves by merely getting tunes out of it.

1 Possibly it will surprise you, too, to learn that a quarter of a million harmonicas are.sold in Great Britain every [month, and that the firm of Horner and Co. is working at high pressure to supply the steady demand for these simple and yet wonderfully effective musical instruments 6

A “WELCOME IN” The Hub wishes to '‘Welcome In” the following new Cogs. Pat Garnett, Halcombe. Robin. THE RUB REPLIES TWITTERING BIRD.—I hope Oscar didn’t, tangle mother’s ball of wool, Twittering Bird. It would take a long while to undo all the knots. CHICK-A-BIDDY. —It is fun doing Christmas shopping, isn’t it, Chick-a-Biddy? A NEW COG Halcombe. Dear Hub,—May I join.your Imppy band of Cogs. I am eight years old. My birthday is on January L’\ I am in Standard 2. I have a little calf which was born on Sunday. To-day we are having a calf club. Edwin Cowdrey has a pretty little one. It has a white star on its forehead. May I have Tiger for my pen-name. I think Edwin Cowdrey will be getting a prize. Our lamb died last month. We have some chickens. Pat Garnett. Welcome, Pat, I am glad to have you join us. Yes, you may have Tiger for your pen-name. Your calf will make n lovely pet.

THE FIRST DIP Makerua. Dear Hub, —I had a terribly wet swim last Saturday. My sister and I decided to go for our first season’s swim. Wc did not like to enter at first but the water looked so tempting. When I saw my sister plunge in and a friend dive in I plucked up courage, too—and it did seem cold. After swimming round for a while 1 decided to cross the dam. The water did not seem so cold then and altogether I enjoyed the swim immensely. Christmas is so near, Hub, and I don’t know what to give everyone. I want to give some Christmas gift, But find my purse too small, To purchase all I’d like to give It would not do at all. And friends misunderstand one if The gift one gives seems cneap, I‘wonder-what I’d better do , This Christmas joy to keep. And mlay I not this Christmas Day, Although my purse is small, Give gifts to everyone I meet, By- simply loving all? Hike Him, I can give of myself, Be childlike, trustful, kind, And in a wide benevolence, True Christmas joy shall find. The rain is trickling down and everything seems fresh. The vegetable garden looks all . green ■ and bright. Although it is washing day I can not, with .the one who washes, feel at all blue, for the air is so mild and makes me feel cheery. The Girl in Red. The water is not so cold after you have been in a little while, is it? It is hard choosing gifts for everyone but rather fun, don’t you think?

DREAMS Dear Hub, Oh! deaf, the weather’s terrible, The rain is pouring down, I suppose there ’ll be no . playreading That’s enough to make me frown. We put our play on in two days, And need some practice yet, So I’ll be worrying all the night And not sleeping, too, (you bet). Oh! Hub, I’ve had some awful dreams, I’m sure I must have cried — Out very loudly in my sleep If they’d been real I’d have died. A gipsy fortune teller, Enticed me from the crowd, And then he tried to kidnap me,, And I cried out awfully loud, Dorothy couldn’t hear me, While I cried and yelled with grief And then my brother strode along I awoke with much relief. And now the weather’s cleared, I’m feeling pleased again, Because I’m very keen, you know, To rehearse own play again. I am the maid as I have said, I surely love my part, From the time the curtain rises I’m being pert and smart. And, oh! I love my .-.apron, My little cap so neat— I always thought a maid’s attire Was very hard to beat./, I haven’t been adancing, For many, many a day, I wish to goodness this place Would turn out very gay. One concert is coming, That’ll be one bright spot— And ’twill be fun and dancing, I-hope the night’s not hot. And that- is all I know of Until this old year’s past, And now the days of this month Are slipping by quite fast, It’s my birthday this week, it makes me feel so sad, To think of all the happy days, I’ve lived and spent and had. To think they’ll never come again, That they are gone Tor aye, “ I’m sad because in this week, I’ve another birthday. But, Hub, 1 really must end, This letter in' rhyino And leave the other news I have Till some other time, And as usual love' 1 send To Cogs and all and you, And write on this tilling page Your sleepy Cog’s adieu. - Powder and Patches.

A GYMNASIUM ON THE RANCH The Ranch, Canada. Dear Hub)— All the boys are out and it seems quite peaceful here now; but I suppose it won’t be for long, for l can just hear the cook singing, which is a sure sign, that breakfast is nearly ready, and everything has turned .out all right. I like to keep my cowboys in fighting trim so I have a big gymnasium, a swimming bath aud a shooting gallery about half a mile away from the ranch, and every morning they have to spend a couple of hours there. A few weeks ago I had an unexpected letter from a nephew of mine, whom I had forgotten existed. He wanted to learn ranching so I invited him to my ranch and Shorty drove 35 miles to meet him. I had warned the boys to'be on their best behaviour when “the city man” was around. I was rather busy when he did arrive and the boys were entertaining him when 1 strode through the door. He was just in the middle of a big laugh when he saw me and fainted. He is still suffering from nervous, shock and if he recovers I am sure he won’t be very interested in ranches and rich uncles. I think I have beaten Mr Puz. this week. A neighbouring rancher told me that he had rather a near shave when lie was rustling horses. He had just mounted a docile animal belonging to Cowboy Tom who whistled to it. My neighbour found himself on the ground and horses’s feet seemed to be all round him. When Cowboy Tom spoke to the animal it stood still. He must be wonderful with horses. I would like to meet him in town some day. Perhaps he will arrange the time and place. Whiskey Bill.

I think the gymnasium is an excellent idea, Whiskey Bill. I hope that fall taught your neighbour the wickedness of rustling.

THE PIRST TJMBRELIiA Under a toadstool Crept a wee Elf, Out of the rain, To shelter himself. Under the toadstool, Souir 1 asleep, Crouched a big Dormouse, All in a heap. Trembled the wee Elf,' Frightened, and yet Fearing to fly away Lest he got wet. To the next shelter— Maybe a mile! Suddenly the wee Elf Smiled a wee smile. Tugged till the toastool Broke off in two, And holding half over him Gaily he flew: Soon he was safe home, . Dry as could be; Soon woke the Dormouse — “Good gracious me! “Where is my toadstool?” Loud ho lamented. (And that’s how umbrellas First were invented!) —“Children’s Encyclopaedia.” RIDDLES TO PUZZLE Halcombd. Dear Huo,. Why is ‘‘a’ like a honyesuckle!—A bee (b) follows it. Why are the pages of a book like the days of man?—Because they are all numbered. Which is the lightest place in Ireland?—Cork. When does a lawyer work like a horse?—When he. draws a conveyance. Rose Petal. Many thanks for all the lovely "iddles, Rose Petal.

WELCOME ROBIN Dear Hub, —Please may I join your happy band of Cogs. lam six years of age and in Primer 3. Could I have Rosebell for my pen-name. Robin. I am very pleased to welcomo you Robin, I am sure you will find that being a Cog is fun. Do you know you forgot to write your full name and address so I would like you to do this and then your name will be put in our big register. FIFTEEN LITTLE PHEASANTS Tiakitahuua. Dear Hub, —Wo are having our examinations now and if I pass I will be in class five. The other day one of our hen pheasants died but three days ago a bantom brought out fifteen little pheasants and they arc so small and pretty. Our two pet Jambs, Biddy and Buttons, are growing lovely and big. We will be weaning them in about a month. Ailsa Craig. The little pheasants must be very pretty, Ailsa Craig. Biddy and Buttons will be getting too big for pets soon, won’t they? A RAMBLER ROSE Opiki. Dear Hub, —We have a new wireless now. It is a Franklin and we can get a good many foreign stations on the short-wave. The ram' tM- rose, which creeps over our archway, is just beginning to flower. Iris. How interesting to listen into foreign countries, Iris. The rambler rosewill be a lovely sight. THE ROAD TO SCHOOL Linton. Dear Hub,—l have finished my examinations but I do not know many of my marks or where I came. Hasn’t the weather been dreadful lately? The road I have to go along has not been metalled, so you can guess what-it is like. . Sweet Lavender. I am sure the road must be very muddy indeed, Sweet Lav-end nr. It is quite exciting waiting to hear examination results, isn’t it

i A PAPER FOR THE COGS Feilding. Dear Hub,—We all went to Pahiatua for the week-end. The gorge looked lovely. Christmas is very near now, Hub, and our examinations aren’t finished yet. The flowers in our garden aro growing well now and we have a number of aster plants. The fruit trees aro loaded here. Would you please try to obtain a pen-friend for me. Hub, we are never going to stop getting new Cogs. Soon we will need a whole.paper for them. Have you been in for any swims so far? I have had three. Star Twinkle. A Cogs paper would be jolly, wouldn’t it, Star Twinkle. How pretty the asters will look when they are all in bloom. POOR LITTLE CHICKEN Table Fiat. Dear Hub, —We have 49 chickens and two more bantams sitting. We have 10 bantams but only one did not sit this year. My cat had kittens and she brought four home from the paddocks. Three of them are grey with brown noses and the fourth is black. Our white rabbit has long wool now and we will have to shear him soon. We had one brown chicken and it was bigger than the others but a board fell on it and I am sorry it is dead because I liked it. Snow Queen. The kittens must be very pretty, Snow Queen. What a number of chickens you have. I was sorry to heaabout the little brown one. A FRIENDLY THRUSH ■ Linton. Dear Hub, —I bought a new box of paiuts for a painting competition. Our lambs are very big now. They are becoming hard to catch, too. All this week a thrush has been round the house. I throw crumbs to him and he has become quite tame. I have been for three swims. I am/sorry Timothy’s Diary has finished, Hub. Kachalola. The thrush must be a friendly little bird, Kachalola. 1 think you must feed him well with lots of crumbs. The painting ivill be fun