YOUNG FOLKS

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1927, Page 6

YOUNG FOLKS

AN OLD COBBLER’S HOME. Once upon a time an old cobbler decided to build a new house for his wife. He said he would do all the work if his wife would fetch the materials up from the village, bring the water from the river, cut down a couple of trees in the forest, and hand him the bricks. It was summer time, and, as the cobbler could not afford to hire a pony, the old woman got very hot pushing barrows of bricks from the town to the edge of the forest. When people asked her what she was doing she always answered: “My' husband is building me a house.” So the nows spread far and wide, and on a line evening the children used to flock to the forest to see the cobbler building his house. There was his wife staggering about with a pail of mortar on her arm, or knocking in nails, or measuring windows, while the cobbler built the house! .He gave all the orders. Even the king heard of this house, and he sent a message saying he would 'reward the builder when it was finished. The, cobbler was busy after that! He shut his wife to buy green paint, and actually held the ladder while she climbed on to the roof and fixed the chimney pot in place. At last it was finished, and the’ whole village turned out to see the king drive up with tlic reward. “See what a beautiful house my husband has built me, your Majesty,” smiled the old -woman. The king was most interested, and asked who had painted the door so well. . “Oh, I did replied the old woman. The king asked a great many questions, and, strangely enough, the old woman seemed to have done everything. The children giggled, the birds twittered, the new house simply cracked with laughter, and the cobbler's face became longer and longer. “Bring out the sack of gold for the builder of the house, ” said, the king, \And—would you believe it?-—he presented it .to the old woman! There was a great cheer, and the cobbler's face got so long . that his beard took root, and he'wiggled down into the ground, and hid himself. He has been there ever since, and you can see bits of him coming up in the garden and hedge, —he's called Old Man's Beard. ! ’V - The old woman lived quite happily, and every evening she gave the. old man a can of; water to drink.

THE KITCHEN CAT. I wish I had some faWbitsJn a little : rabbit hutch They have such funny habits ahd I love them very much, I wish I had a squirrel or some white mice, or a , rat. • But the only pet that I can have is just the kitchen cat. I wish I had some tadpoles to see them grow to frogs, ■ . I wish I had some puppies or any kind of dogs, I wish I had a guinea pig or any thing like that, But the only pet that I can have is just the kitchen cat. I wish I had a poiiy or a donkey of my own, I’d like to keep a baby lamb till it was fully grown, Mum says its no use wishing, cause we live in a‘flat And the only pet that I can have is just the kitchen cat. —Author Unknown.

PUZZLES. (1) Why .does a duck put his head under water? ' —'For diver’s.'reasons., (2) What fish cannot swim? —A fried .herring. (li) Why is the toffee 'apple like a horse? —Because the more you lick it the faster it goes. (4) What animal is often sent by letter? . —A seal. (5) Why is a watch never thirsty? —Because it always has a spring inside. (6) Why is a carpet like an egg? —Because after it is laid it is often taken up and beaten. (7) Why are a little boy’s hands like a camel. —Because they can go for a long time without water. (S) Why should you never write your lessons on a desk? —Because an exercise book is the right thing to do lessons in. (9) What is it that is full of holes and yet holds water? ■ —Bponge, (10) What are the most handsome letters —You (U) and I (I). (11) What is the strongest day? —Sunday because all the rest are week (weak) days). (12) Why are fixed stars like pen, ink, and paper? —Because they are stationary. (10) Why arc cliffs like the letter D 1 ■ —Because they come next to 0 (sea). (14) What four letters would fright* on a thief? —O.X.GUU, (Oh, I see you.)