FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1930, Page 7

FOR THE YOUNG FOLK

UNCLE PETER’S IDEA.

Oil, look at. that beautiful big one,” cried Diek, pointing upward, as he ami his sister Betty stood, together watching the gulls swoop around them.

“Yes,” Betty answered as she gazed around at the eireling mass of birds, “they do have a lovely time sailing about in the air. Look! They Just eomo down on to the water and float up and down on the waves as easily ns anything. It must be glorious to be a. bird ! ”

Diek looked at his new birthday watch. “Como on,” he -said, “Pll race you to the .station,” and off they flow, arriving just as Uncle Peter’s train was signalled.. It was Dick’s birthday and after lunch ho showed all his 'presents to his uncle. Uncle Peter greatly admired the wrist watch but when a box of clay was opened he asked: “What can you do with this stuff?”

“Make things,” Dick answered' — “all sorts of things,” Uncle Peter thought a. moment anl thou exclaimed: “I’vo got an idea. Lot’s see if you two children really use .your eyes. Take one roll each and sit down at the table; we’ll have a competition.' 7 ’

The children rushed to the cupboard for their modelling boards and in less than no time were waiting intently to hoar what they were 'to do next.

“What were you doing before you came to meet me?” asked Uncle Peter.

“Watching the gulls circling around us on the b>ac!i,” answered Betty, after a moment’s thought. “Did you watch them, long?” questioned her uncle.

“Yes, quite a while,” Dick put in. “It was wonderful —tho way they just spread -out their wings and sailed with the wind!”

Ten Minutes.

“Now listen," said, Uncle Peter, quietly, “I will give you just ten minutes fey Dick's new wrist watch and we will see which of you can make the 'best model of a gull with its wings spread out, floating on the wind."

Dick looked at his watch; it wms just 2.30. Uncle Peter said, "go," and the competition began. Both children started off gayly. A gull must have a body and head before the wings can go on, so the beginning was not so hard. Presently, however, Dick stopped and thought for some time, and a moment later Betty came to a standstill, a perplexed look on her face, but as it was a competition, neither Tspoke. Wings must somehow be fastened onto the body so they set to work again. “How goes the time?" queried Uncle Peter. “Three nfore minutes," answered Dick, surveying his effort with a perplexed and dissatisfied air. More alterations, another pause, and finally time whs called* “Ob/ sighed Betty, “something is wrong with mine; it might be almost anything." “Mine doesn’t look right either, does it, Uncle Peter?" said Dick holding his model up as if it "were flying. Their uncle smiled, “Not so bad for a first try," he said. Then turfing to Betty he added: “What did yen find most difficult to remember?" “What sort of .tail it had and-whore the wings joined on," replied Betty

promptly. “And you, Dick?”

“What shape the wings'"really were and what happened to the gull's legs when it flies.” Dick know exactly what had stumped him.

“Now listen to me,” .said Uncle Peter with a. twinkle in hTs eye. “I am going to put your two models side by side on the table. You run up and get your hats and coats bn and we will

go down together ami Lave a look at the gulls.”

'lsn’t it funny,” remarked Dick as they plodded along, ,( wc look at things hut we do not J'eally see them. Anyway I know just what I want to loolc for this time,” and he ran on ahead arriving lirst at the 'beach.

"Oh. look! he shouted, as tie other two approached. "The'legs lie hack against the 'body and the wings have a sort of elbow in front, and I made my tail all wrong, ton,” "Ho did I,” said Betty, her eyes following a lovely bird as it swooped down and alighted on the crest of a wave, "Look! The wings come, out from the top of the body,” she added.

Both children gazed 1 Intently at the flying birds, drinking in every detail, trying to remember all the points they had found especially difficult' when they had been making the models.

Two New Models.

“We don’t always use our eyes even when we think wo do,” smiled Uncle Peter. “And now let us get back ami you can have another try before tea.” Shouts of laughter brought Mother into the sitting room.

“What are you people up to?” she said. i ‘ Anyway you all seem very happy.” “Oh!” exploded Diek between the laughs, “do look at the tail Petty put on her gull, and mine is all wring, tod. The wings are wrong and the logs shouldn’t hang down when it’s in the air.”

“They do look a little peculiar,” Mother admitted, “but it’is difficult to do a bird on the wing.” “Oh, no,” cried both children together, “Undo Peter, do let’s try again! ” Silence reigned for ten minutes while the children worked steadily without a break.

“Time,” called Uncle Peter, “Well done!” he added as he looked at the new models. “BplemlidT” 'said Mother.

“•Wasn't it fun!" saTl Dick. “Why Uncle Peter, we tan have such lovely times now seeing whether we really look at things." ' , “Although these new models are so very much better than the first ones you did," replied, his unde, “if you look it the gulls next time you are by the sea, you will find ever «d many more little points that you have not noticed, and" lie added, w r ith a jolly smile, "I think wo have had a lovely time together, so nbw let's all enjoy the wonderful tea Mother has been preparing Tor us, and then I must go. And on the w r ay to the station shall we have one more peep at the gulls?' “Oh, yes, do let us," cried both children delightedly-

RIDDLES.

Q. When are umbrellas eatable? A. When they are dripping.

Q. "What is» the difference between your story-hook anti a .donkey? A. One has its tale inside and the other has its tail outside.

s(i ★ ♦ Q. Why is the history of England like a wet winter? A. Because it is full of reigns (rains).

Q. Which tree do we all like in summer? A. The beach (beech).

♦ ♦ * * Q. What is nothing? A. Shut your eyes and you will see

Q. Why is a slow clock like a puppy dog’s tail? A. Because it is always behind.

,Q. What is the difference between a schoolmaster and a, postage stamp? A. One licks with a. stick and the other sticks with a lick.

Q, When is a little gnd like ;1 win" dow ? A. When she wears a sash.

■> * ♦ * q. What -city is always! gay? A, Berlin, because it isl always on the .Spree.

Q. What fish is it impossible to eat? A. A skate. 1

Q. Why it a rooster sitting on a fence like a penny?

A. Because its head is off one side and its tail on the- other.

***** ♦ Q. What (lay of th*e 'year ils Uko * command 1 ? A. March forth. *

HUSH MONEY. ' ’

Snobbifc bad matlA a largo fortune. He retired to a big house in- Hay.fair,i and began to yearn for crests and coats-of-arms and ancestry. So he asked the advice of his friend, Squelch, who gave ,hira the name of a man who conducted such research work. The two men did not meet again fbr several months. Then Squelch saw h*is friend at the club. /

“Hello, Snobbit,” he exclaimed.. “Did that fellow dig you out any an-

cestors i ,J

,< 'Hu3h! ,, whispered the other looking round nervously. ft l should think he did. I’m paying him a handsome yearly income to sny nothing more bn the subject. f}