THE WENDY HUT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 9

THE WENDY HUT

LONG AGO STORIES

STRABO AND .THE SNAKE-STONE

Strabo was proud of his name, because it meant ‘thirty men.” And why shouldn’t lie be as strong ancl great as thirty men, though lie was only fourteen years old? As he stood outside his father’s hut, he pinched the muscles of his legs, then threw great stones across the valley. He knew lie was a fine, strong fellow—which was an advantage, seeing that he lived in the wild

mountains of Wales where one King was always fighting another. But it was not enough; it would notopen the door of the King’s palace for him or give him a place near the King where he could grow powerful. Only a snake-stone could do that, afcid where was he to find one? If lie- stole tjie one that the doetor-man used for curing had eyes, the people might be so angry that they would take him to the Druids to be sacrificed on their altars. Strabo clid not relish that, so he set out to find a snake-stone'. ’ The Druicls said that these serpents* eggs; could only be -found when tlic mooii was new, and,, although nobody knew where they came from they thought the snakes' laid them. They were more like beads than eggs,.' for cac-h had a hole through the middle, and could he worn on a leather thong round the neck. Strabo never suspected that the Druicls made them of vegetable matter, pressed to a pulp, dried, and coloured. They were very precious things, these snake stones, a charm to all who found them; but there was only a few hiding in the forests and hills. So when the moon was new, Strabo took a staff and a* skin bag containing food, and went to; the forest in search of snake stones. He wandered about for two days, and cm the evening ol the third day he saw tjie King’s chief Druid standing near a majestic oak. Thinking that he might be about to perform some mysterious ceremony, Strabo hid, and watched the Druid lift his hands to the sky, then fall clown-into the;grass. After, that, the Druid walked away, and Strabo darted to the oak and looked eagerly between its knotted roots. In a little round hole there were three snake-stones—-two green ancl - one pink.

Strabo could have shouted with delight, but he was afraid the Druid might hear him' and demand the serpent’s eggs; so he slept in the forest all night, and the next morning presented himself at the King’s palace. “I am Strabo. I have the strength and wisdom of thirty men,” he said, “and the right to speak with the King.” When the guard 1 saw the snakestones, they let Strabo pass, and even t4ie King’s Druid made way, for him, though he was not bjest pleased to see such*a young boy with so great a charm in his hand. So, by virtue of the snake-stones, Strabo walked,, proud - ly to power and fame. WENDY’S LITTLE DRESSMAKERS A KIMONO DRESSING GOWN A Wendy girl has asked how to make a Japanese kimono dressing-gown, and I hope the one pictured here will suit

her! Tink made one like it for Wendy, and it was a great success. You’ll need from four to four-and-a-half yards of cotton material, according to your size. The kimono is cut in one piece, with the loose hanging sleeves added. Cut off two strips of stuff for the -sleeves, which are ten inches wide and fifty inches long, front the length of material. Then fold the

rest'-in half lengthways, and in half wiclthways. Cut off the extra piece left over from the strips—this will do lor bindings, the sash, and so on. Now cut as shown in diagram A; the back is left uncut, of course, but you must slit clown the front for the front opening, and slant a- deep V up to the shoulders, as shown by XX in the diagram, Sew up the side-seams; then join on tin/ pieces that will make the loose hanging sleeves, ‘and seam each one along the inner side—shown by EE in the diagram. Now sew the bottom edges of each, as shewn at 00 in the diagram. Horn the bottom, and turn in a narrow hem all round the fronts and across the neck of the kimono—unless you like to cut two-inch wide strips of material and bind the fronts, instead of hemming them. Make a sashbelt to tie round your waist, and you’re ready for the decoration. This takes the form of a big circle of colourful cretonne, about the size of a tea-plate, sewn on the centreback, as you see in the picture; applique it on with coloured thread buttonholing, like diagram B. You can add little cut-out motifs to the fronts of the kimono if you like, and small sprays stitched to the long sleeve-encls will complete a very pretty garment.—Wendy’s Dressmaker. THE TINKITES’ TOYSHOP HOW TO MAKE A CRICKET BAT AND STUMPS To make this fine cricket bat you will require a piece of straight-grained wood, at least one inch thick, twentyone inches long, and three and a half inches wide. The stumps can be made from a three-quarter inch dowel rod, four feet six* inches long. Saw away the wood not required, so that you form tlie handle and sloping shoulders of the bat, keeping the saw just outside the marked lines. With a sharp chisel, curve the shoulders, as shown in diagram B, and carefully pare away the corners of the handle till you get it as round as possible. When this is done, remove any roughness with a coarse file and .finish with glasspaper. Saw off the bottom corners of the bat, as indicated in diagram A, and finish this part with a chisel. Now 1 * lay the bat on ips face, and plane a tapering bevel along the two back edges running from the shoulders to the bottom as shown at C.C. After this, round the corners of the bevel, as in diagram D, which shows a section of the hat.-

Give the bat a good rub all over with glasspaper, and then bind the handle with thick black thread, as shown in diagram E, starting about one and a half inches from the top. Fix the finishing end of the thread with two small tacks at the back of the handle, and then give the bat a coating of varnish. To make the stumps, take the dowel rod and cut i off three pieces, each

sixteen and a half inches long. Chisel one end of each to a point, as shown in diagram E, and finish smooth with glasspaper., If you' wish to use bails, chisel a curved slot across the middle of the top of each stump.—The Hut Carpenter. OUR SWEET-MAKING CORNER ' CHOCOLATE ROUGHS These sweets are delicious and quite easy to make, but the chocolate must be melted with care or it may lose its nice glossy look. Take half a pound of coating chocolate, or good plain ordinary chocolate; break it a little, but leave it in fairly big pieces, and put it in a basin. Now boil some watci' in a large saucepan, remove it from the fire to the table,, and place the basin containing the chocolate in it. The hot water should not come too near the top of the basin, for if any gets into the chocolate it will spoilt it. Stir the chocolate with a wooden spoon till it has melted. Have ready.;a good cupful of chopped nuts: peanuts, brazils, almonds or walnuts. When the cliocolate lias melt-. ed, take file basin out of the hot water, add the. nuts/ and stir, slowly till the chocolate becomes quite thick. Now, with two forks, shape the mixture into rough balls, and leave to dry on a sieve. If cocoanut is used instead of nuts, ‘ this mixture makes delicious chocolate kisses.

LOOKING AFTER MOTHER Poor mother’s not been well to-day, She had ail aching head, So I have done her work for her, While she stayed snug in bed, I’ve dusted all the furniture, The tables and the chairs, And then 1 took the little brush, And swept right down the stairs. I washed the spoons and forks and things, And only broke one plate; I made my bed, and smoothed the quilt, And blacked the kitchen grate.

“Looking after Mother” “And then for mother dear, I made a cup of nice hot tea.”

(I blacked my face as well, but still, I’ll wash it off to-night, And mother said it made her laugh, I looked such a funny sight!) I gave the puppy and the cat Their dinners punctually, And then for mother dear I made A cup of nice hot tea. And ho! She’s so much better now, She says I’ve cured her, quite. I feel so very proud and glad To think that she’s all right! THE SNEER THAT STAYED Said the porpoise: “I never have seen such a crush! Wherever I go it’s all muddle and rush. It’s time that we made a few laws in the sea, And settled this scramble with rule and decree.” “Indeed you are right,” said the cumbersome cod. “That shark has just given me such a sharp prod! Every fish gets in another one’s way— We ought to make rules that we all can obey.’.’ This talk of the sea traffic wasu’t quite new, But all the sea' creatures expressed the same view, And now got together to choose a wise fish Wlio’d make law and order to everyone’s wish. They decided that no one should get in the way ' Of any sea creature by night or by day . But when they had banished prods and collision They couldn’t decide who should sign the decision,,,

“The honour is great, so let’s race,” said the pike, “I’ll give the signal and judge if you like; Line up in a row from the sprat to ' the whale, And swim to the rock called the Hardy Sea Snail.” This seemed very wise, so, with fuss and commotion, They formed a great line in the midst of the ocean, '“Away!” cried the pike, and like arrows of steel They started—excepting the deaf conger eel! Now in that great race the flat flabby sole •*’’ I '-‘5 Was so far behind that he ne’er reached the goal. “Who’s first?” he cried shrilly, “Tell me who’s first!” “The herring!” they shouted with one mighty burst. “The herring! So common, such very low fry,” Sneered the sole, as he twisted his mouth all awry And ever since then it’s been crooked, my dear, As a'punishment for that unkind, nasty jeer. " TINE’S CROSS-WORD PUZZLE This week, for a change, we will have a plain, straightforward puzzle, with no hidden word or anything of that kind. Here it is. Clues:—■ ACROSS , 1. Twinkles at night. 4. Shell-fish. 8. Your father, is one. 10. Girl’s name. 11. Teaches. 12. Full of energy. 1(3. Road to be taken. 17. Tart of verb ‘to bo.’ 19. Girl’s name. 20. Therefore. 22. Not bad. 24. In the midst of. / 26. To possess. 27. Conclusion. S DOWN 1. Look pleasant. 2. Brownish colour. 3. Reply. 5. Give a recitation. 6. Insect. 7. Forming the base. 9. Conjunction. 13. Highway. 14. Weapon. 1.1. Volcano in Sicily. 17. Gone by. 18. Cut (grass, etc.) 20. Transgression. 21. Not even. 23. Upon. 25. Pronoun.