FOR THE CHILDREN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 7

FOR THE CHILDREN

(By AUNT EDITH.)

THE WITCH OF NEWMARKET

Here is a. slory about a witch, and if you don't believe it’s true, go to Lincolnshire, and near'.Newmarket you will sec something that will prove that witches did sometimes visit this country. Well, a witch did visit Lincolnshire one day and, like all witches, she bad the power to bewitch anything sic fancied. ’I his one loved to tease the farmers round there, and one day one of the farmers got so annoyed that lie went to a wise man and asked him what lie should do. Ho was told to drive his horses into a pond that night, and then throw a stone into the water. The first horse that raised his head was the one he was to ride away that night to the witch’s hut. Round his waist he was to carry an unsheathed dagger, and when ho saw the witch lie was to ask her to jump on the horse's hack and ride away. ATI these things the farmer did, and when the witch jumped upon tho horse’s back and clasped the farmer round tho waist, the dagger cut her right, arm off, so that she was never able to do any mischief again. If yon do go to Newmarket- bo sure to look for Bynat'd’b leap—the marks made by the horse “Bynard” as he took a leap with the witch upon his back.

WHAT GRANDPA TELLS Three tiny boys pass by my way As on to school they go each day. And when 1 am at my garden gate TJiey chatter to me at a wonderful rato, Telling me all the things they seo As they come wandering over tho lea.

Wondorsome birds, as big! as big! .Mice, as large as a guinea pig ! And queer tilings peeping out of holes, Horrible things! Ob, no, not moles, But something queer, and only they Know the place where the queer things stay.

These three little boys have promised me Whenever my gate ajar they. see That they will shut' it—never fear— To keep out sheep that wander near, For 1 am older far than they, And in my chair must often stay.

But from my window I can spy The three young stalwarts passing by; John trots up and flic gate is fast, He hesitates, and then at last Rattles the latch as though to see The hasp is just where it should be. Tom runs up at a breathless pace And lifts the latch from out its place, Lets it dangle a moment, Wien, Puls it back in its place again, Smiling the while as though to say, >f “That wili keep out all sheep to-day. But Fred strolls up and with a, grin Opens the gale and looks right in, Hoping that I shall bo just where I can see him from my chair; He then nods, as if to say, () “I’m shutting your gate for you to-day.

'GAME: PUFF BALLOON In this game the players are divided into two sides of an equal number. Across the centre of a room, or between* two posts in a field or garden, is stretched a piece of string. One half of the players stand on one side, one half oil the other. A balloon or feather is tossed in the air, and the object of one side of players is to prevent it falling on their side and to try and make it fall in the enemy’s camp. No player must touch the object, only blow. On whichever side the object falls, that side loses a point, and ten points lose the game.

A RIDDLE IN VERSE Elizabeth, Elspcth, Betsy, and Bess, They all went together to seek a bird s

nest; . , „ They found a bird's nest- with hve egga They all took one, and left four in.

Answer:— ■ T „ rl . How could this happen ? V ell, Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy and Bess were the same little girl, so only one egg was taken from the nest. •

HOW TO FORECAST THE WEATHER, By means of an ounce of salt and a small pair, of scales, you , can easily make a reliable weather indicator. Dry the salt in the oven, and them put it oil one pan of the scales to balance a. weight in the other. In damp weather salt absorbs a, good deal of moisture, and if there is a prospect of ram you will find that the pan containing the salt is down and tho weight pail up.

A HOME-MADE COMPASS Rub the point of a needle on the poles of. a magnet, and then drop it gently 'into a glass nearly full of water. You will find that it will float, and that as soon as it, touches the water it will swing round to point to tho north, just in the same way as an ordinary compass. If you move the magnet round the outside of the glass the needle will float about. Should it sink during the experiment, take it out and dry it thoroughly, and rub it on the magnet, again.

THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY An old gentleman sa-\v a littlo boy carrying an open umbrella in the street, and said to him: , , . "Why are you carrying that umbrella my boy? It is not raining and the sun is not shirting.” . '“Well,” replied the bov, when it is raining Father takes it to business with him, and when it is sunny -Mother has it, so this is the only sort of weather wllcn I can use it.”

A SHARP BOY . Teacher: “Make up a sentence using the .word ‘boycott.’ ” Tommy: “It rained hard the othei night, and tho boycott a had cold.

DUE TO THE HEAT . One very warm morning a boy arrived late at school, and the master demanded an explanation. . , •“You see, sir,” said the boy, it took jne longer to come hero this morning because the road is longer. “What do you mean ” asked the puzzled master. “Well, the sun is very hot this morning, sir, and vou told us yesterday that heat makes things expand, so I. thiiik it must have lengthened the road.

PUTTING HIM IN HIS PLACE A gentleman was taking a stroll through his garden when he met a little boy whom he recognised as his chauffeur’s son. “Now I wonder if you know who I ani said tho gentleman, with a smile. “Oh, yes,” replied the boy; “you are the man who rides in my daddy s motor.”

WHAT AM I? If you would my nature know, Seek for me in frost and snow, On the slope of lofty mountain, In the cool and flowing fountain, On Norway’s coast I have been found, But in Sweden ne’er have been. In populous towns you hear my sound, But ne’er on peaceful village green. In Russia you might seek in vain, ’Twould only give you needless pain; But. where the mighty ocean rolls You’ll iind me, and at both tho Polos. Answer: The letter 0.