FOR THE CHILDREN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 2

FOR THE CHILDREN

(By AUNT EDITH) SWALLOWS—A TRUE STORY A pair of swallows visited our low I .-died again this year; building in the angle of the beams as they have so often dune before. But this time something quite unusual happened '. You have all seen a swallows' nest, I feel sure, the little muddy cup-shaped structure stuck up so close to the roof and so cosily lined with feathers. Now, it happened that a pair of boys, friends of mine, and great bird lovers, discovered my swallows' nest, and by swinging themselves along on the beam they could look right in. They assured me it was "quite all right." They were not out to destroy, but to admire. 1 know this was' quite true, 'but somehow I felt uncomfortable, for I was sure the swallow, though lie builds under our roof, does not wish un to call on him at close quarters. • I learned from my boy friends one day that there! were three eggs in the nest, and the next time they came to see mo 'they told me there were, young swallows there. Later on they discovered that whon the parent birds left the nest the young ones were hidden under a covering of loose feathers, so that a casual observer would think that the nest was an untidy, empty one. Time passed and the young swallows were fully- fledged and learning to fly, when one morning the older of the two boys came to mo with such a bewildered and wistful look and a plea for me to come with him to the shed. I went, and to my amazement found the young swallows—so full-grown as to appear too big for. the nest—quite dead, their bright eyes wide open, their plumage unruffled! . _ The boys were inconsolable and visited the shed no more. '

I did, however, and found that the parent birds were building again in the next angle of the rbpf beams. I said nothing, and dicKnot go near again until to-day (nearly the'end of the summer), when, to' my joy, I found three fullgrown young swallows learning to fly. In fact, one almost touched me as it scurried and flurried around. A few days later I crept out again, and I found they were roosting on the beam and no longer in the nest. How glad the boys will be when I tell them this bit of news! In my joy I told a mason, who was mending a chimney near by the story of the first nestlings. He was so interested, and came down from his ladder to see this second brood. "Now, '■" said he, "that is very strange, but" the same thing happened when I was a lad, and when some other boys had been watching a nest of goldfinches. But in those days," he continued, "the old folks told us that when boys or girls watched young goldfinches in the nest the parent birds poisoned them." Now, children, what do you think of this true tale? Don't you agree With me that as caged birds will die of fright on being watched by cats, so little wild bird nestlings' die in the same way through the too great attention of little humans? CATS Of all the cats in our. to\vn, The one I like the best Is my chimney-corner pussy, With her patch of snowy vest; She is so black' and shinyAll but her vest and feet, ! Her name is "Purple Cherry," , ; And I giy e her fish to eat. Of all the cats in our town, ■ The one I like the least Is, a horrid ginger pussy\ ._ ''He W a little beast. He lurks in mouldy corners To try and catch my bird; I call him "Ginger-Snappy," For he really is absurd. Of all the cats in pur town, The one that Bob admires ; Is that old Ginger-Snappy With eyes like furnace fires. Bob savs' '.'He is a hunter, That's wfiat I mean \o be. _ And if the birds don't like him n They should stay up in their tree. Of all the hoys in our town, 'Tis Boh I like the best, But I wish he lev'd my pussy , With her patch of snowy vest. Boh says, 'Tm very sorry, But I ,'reallv can t Pretend To prefer vour 'Purple-Cherry ... Wni'le 'CJinger' needs a friend. A TONGUE-TWISTER You've no need to Tight a nightlight On a light night like to-night: , , For a nighthght lights a sight light, And to-night's a night, that's lightWhen the night's light's like to-night's hght ~ ~, It is really not quite right To light nightlights with their slim •lights ~, ' ~ , On a light night like to-night. WHAT AM I? My station is low, and my body quite But my bead's very large_and as round the dire scene that is sure to ensue, • . . i. My youth to afflict and my vigour mbA band'of vile robbers my borders infest Lay w&ste all before them, and spoil my rich vest. T A , Should I 'scape this fell clanger I meet with a worse— . _ In the prime of my life I'm cut oil by • •my nurse. Answer: A cabbage. « A MAGIC SQUARE Canvou arrange the figures 1 to 9 in a square so that whatever way the figures are added-vertical, horizontal and diagonal—the result is 15.' ny what vou can do and then compare yoin result" with the following figures but first make a neat square and divide it into nine smaller squares; this can easily be done by dividing each side ot the square into three parts : * 8 10 3 5 7 4 9 2 You will see, if you add them up in the usual way, or across or diagonally, the; result will be 15. A GOOD GAME All the players but one form a circle by holding hands. If y<«n can have a very large circle it is more fun. lne player left out walks round and round the outside of the circle, and present y touches someone on the back. Directly he has done this he starts to run round the circle, while the boy or girl he has touched does the same, only lie runs in the opposite direction, thus leaving a gap where he steed. The one who can reach this gap first does so, and tho, other walks round and touches someone else, and so Wio game goes on.