FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1928, Page 6

FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

YOUR FLOWER AND STONE. j SYMBOLS FOR THE MONTH. I IN WHICH YOU WERE BORN. Do you know what stone find flower belong to your birthday month? In the old days much importance was at-j tachod to the flowers and stones which | were supposed to be connected in sonic mysterious way with the different months; and although we do not now believe in such superstitions it is still iutereating to find'out the meaning of our special symbols. For instance, if yon were born in August your flower Is the poppy, which stands for peace; and your stone, the sardonyx, which means a happy marriage. So your future is pretty well assured if you are an August child. September is equally lucky. Her flower is morning glory (what a beautiful name!) and' her special stone the chrysolite, which is said to make your mind peaceful and contented.

The January child should wear garnets (for constancy) and snowdrops (for purity). The amethyst, which, calms the angry, belongs to February, the primrose, which means unfaithfulness, alas! is its flower. Are you a March child? The violet for shyness is your flower; the blood stone for steadfast affection, courage and wisdom, is your stone. Lucky March child!

April’s flower is the daisy, which stands for beauty; Her stone, the diamond, for purify. May is symbolised by the hawthorn (sweetness) and the emerald (which was once supposed to discover false friends and insure true love). CURE FOE NIGHTMAEE. To June belongs the agate, for health, long life and prosperity; and the honeysuckle. To July the ruby, which (so the ancients said) tells you what is poison; and the water lily, for purity of heart. October children: should wear opals, which are unlucky for those born in any other month; November claims the topaz, which stands for faithfulness and friendship, and (so it is said) prevents nightmare! the Chrysanthemum is November’s flower. Last of all, the turquoise, for love, and the holly, for happiness, belong to December. NEWS ABOUT LIVINGSTONE. David (Livingstone is-one of our bestloved heroes, and the world is still eager for news that concerns his memory in any way. We hear tidings from two quarters. From Scotland we hear that children who attend Sunday Schools have subscribed over £750 to the memorial fund which was raised to purchase Livingstone’s birthplace. From North-east Rhodesia we hear that his grandchildren carry On fine work among the natives *of Tchitambo. The Scots boy who went to work in a factory at the age of ten laid down his life for the Africans, but his work did not end'with his life. Perhaps no iine work'ever is ended in that way. Once such "work is begun there will always ibe someone to take the torch and to cany on the march. What is the difference between a Scotsman and a banana?—Because “you can skin a banana!’’ • « • • When does a caterpillar improve its morals? —When it turns over a new leaf.

NO ICE CREAMS. SELF-DENIAL OF SCHOOLBOYS. TO HELP MATES. It is hard to have money for ice creams «and ginger beer during this hot weather and yet refrain from spending it, particularly if you happen to be * schoolboy. Still, the classmates of Sydney Fletcher have proved equal to the ordeal, and have waved all temptations aside (says a Sydney paper). Young Fletcher’s life was saved by the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, when he recovered from an attack of tetanus. Towards the cost of the anti-toxin his classmates have contributed £3 11s. Coming soon after the school’s annual effort on behalf of three hospitals this was regarded by the headmaster (Mr James Paterson) as a remarkably good result.

Edward Donaldson, who had played with young Fletcher on the Soccer fleld, led the school movement to express gratitude to the hospital. With a number of other boys he refrained from buying ice creams and other “eats” dear to the average schoolboy. The money went to the fund.

ALL IN GOOD TIME,

It was at a children's picnic, and they were playing at farmyards, each youngster pretending to he his or her favourite animat The woods echoed with grunting, barking, and crowing—■ but one little girl sat silent.

“Why don't you play?" asked one of the teachers.

“Please, miss, I am playing," she replied. “What are you, then?" “Please, miss, I'm a hen, and I'm laying an egg. When I’ve finished I shall cackle!" • » • • » ‘ SMART BOY. The teacher was heartbroken over one dunce of a boy in his class, until at last, to see what the boy would do, he said: “Here's twopence. Go and ask Dr. Brown to give you two penn'orth of brains."

The boy came back with a dull, disappointed look, and said to the teacher, “The doctor wouldn’t give me any brains; shall I go back and say they’re for you?" • f • * ■CONTENT TO REST. Kind Lady: “And what do|3 your father do?" Urchin: “Ain't got no fatheronly a step-father.' ’ Kind Lady: “Well, what does your step-father do?" Urchin: “He ain't done nothin’ since we’ve had Ijim." * * * RECEIVING ATTENTION. *‘Well," said mother when Eilsie arrived home from the Christmas Party, “did. you have a lot of attention paid to you, darling?" “Yes Mummy," said the tiny tof, proudly, ‘ ‘two boys made faces at mel ’ ’ *¥« ■ • JUST LIKE A BOY. The school children were being instructed in the elementary principles of arithmetic. “Which would you rather have, Tommy," asked the master, “three bags with two oranges in each, or two bags with three oranges in?" “Please, sir, three bags with two. oranges.'' “Why? Don’t you see, boy, that you would have the same number of oranges in each ease?"

“Yes, sir; but there'd be one more hag to burst!’’