THE ENGLISH POLICEMAN

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 9, 4 December 1931, Page 9

THE ENGLISH POLICEMAN

On a warm day in September the writer witnessed a loving act in the throes of a busy life. At one of the entrances to Hyde Park, a policeman stood on “point duty,” directing traffic from four eross roads. In a moment a tiny young sparrow fluttered round the policeman’s feet. He held his hands up to stop all traffic, and stooped down and gently caught the young bird in his hand, and, with the quiet dignity that is so often characteristic of the British policeman, stepped to the sidewalk and quietly placed the little bird behind some railings on the grass beyond any possibility of harm. GLOBE TROTTING Everyone has gone, but me To the mountains, or the sea, Or the city. Just at first it seemed unfair That I could not go anywhere—- “ What a pity!” But in the closet room today I found our old globe stored away On the shelf ; And when once the thing was twirled I’d been clear around the world By myself ! I had crossed the ocean wide, And had reached the other side In a minute. I had seen most every land, I had touched it with my hand. And been it it! I had been to Ecuador, And a dozen places more, Strange and new— India, Greenland, and Japan, Honolulu, and Sudan, Timbuktu. So when the postman brings, someday Greeting cards from far away—- “ Wish you were here!” I shall answer : “Nice of you. Wonderful sights to see here, too. Can’t come, my dear.” THE SHETLAND SHAWL As gray as mist, or white as foam, Or brown as within the creel, The wool comes through the cardingcomb, And then she winds it on her wheel; For long and long she sits and spins, Until at last the whole is done, And then she takes her knitting-pins And casts on stitches one by one. And there beneath her busy hands Gossamer-like a pattern grows Of lovely soft and silken strands Linked up together, rows on rows, Tracing the primitive design, The plain work of the centre-ground, The loose stitch of the border line, And shell-shaped scalloping all round. Who knows what dreams have helped to form This web so airy-light and small, What thoughts have made so cozywarm My little fleecy Shetland shawl! How a Native Named a Township There is a small township named Caia near Tete, in Nyasaland, East Africa. The meaning of Caia is “I don’t know.” When in early days a missionary pointed out the town to a native and asked its name, the native replied, “Caia.” Down it went on the map, and they have called it that ever since! CAN YOU PUZZLE THEM OUT ? Times and Chimes When Big Ben is striking 4 o’clock on Monday morning in London it is 2.5 p.m. in Sydney. What hour will Big Ben be striking when it is 6.15 on Wednesday morning in Sydney? The Two Brothers We are two brothers. We are not particularly good looking, but we are very useful. We have only one foot each, but we go about on four. What are we? [Answers published next week] Answers to Last Week’s Puzzles The Egg Case.—lso undamaged, 40 cracked and 10 broken. A Zoological Charade.—Crocodile.