Mother Goose at Kaitaia

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 5, 6 November 1931, Page 4

Mother Goose at Kaitaia

Girl Guides Personate Historical Characters The Kaitaia Girl Guide Company with their cadet Brownies—there are 39 of them all told—held a nursery rhyme party to celebrate Halloween on Thursday night at the Parish Hall, and they and their elders who attended, got a good deal of very lively fun out of it. The numerous family of old Mother Goose was present in full force—from old Mother Hubbard with her dog, who, however, did not look in any great need of a bone, except to sharpen his teeth for his next meal ; Little Miss Muffet, who was twins, complete with the spider, though her bowl was empty of curds and whey; the Queen of Hearts, who was triplets; the Knave of Hearts, whose innocent look belied “his” reputation, but looked capable of doing a good sprint; Jack and Jill with their pail; Mary, Mary quite contrary, with visible evidence that her garden did grow ; Little 80-Peep, still looking for her sheep, with her crook decorated with ribbons; Little Boy Blue—more twins—not troubling about the cows and sheep ; the Old Woman who lived in a shoe, bearing her shoeresidence which seemed a small dwelling for a large family; Humpty Dumpty, still intact, a perambulating calico egg, Strewell Peter in a lamb’s wool wig—in short, the whole of the delightful Mother Goose family. It was stipulated the dresses were to be inexpensive. Some charming effects had been attained by the use of crepe paper, and the quaint old-fashioned dressesi had a very pretty effect when massed in the Grand March. In the judging the various characters formed a ring, and passing before the seated judge, each said her little piece. Judging was no easy matter, but little Audrey Johnston carried off the honours with a presentation of little Jack Horner, and the smug satisfaction with which she proclaimed “What a good boy am I!” Nono Ramsay made a very pretty Little Boy Blue and carried off the second prize. For the Guides, the first prize went to Mary Puckey and Alma Gallacher, who flopped on the floor in a most realistic fashion while reciting the sad tragedy of Jack and Jill ; the second prize going to Myrtle Wallace who, in Puritan breeches and a disreputatble straw hat played the part of Simple Simon with his hankering after a pie. All the characters entered into the spirit of the occasion with zest, and it was a pleasure to see the whole-hearted way they seemed to enjoy themselves. On the 27th of the month the Girl Guides will celebrate their fourth birthday when their godmothers, the Girl Guide Association, will entertain them at a birthday party with the traditional birthday cake decorated with four candles.

Hallowe’en Party The members of the Kaitaia Presbyterian Bible Classes celebrated Hallowe’en on Friday night with games and music. As an appropriate wind up, the lights were turned low and an ancient Scotsman related some Scots ghost stories, one a personal experience of his own and two others warranted genuine.