Young Folk’s Corner

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 12, 22 December 1933, Page 8

Young Folk’s Corner

NORWEGIAN WOMAN’S HEROISM REWARDED A daring life-saving deed by an elderly Norwegian woman, Mrs. Bertha Wasmuth, of Langnes in Kafjord, Troms county, and her 13yr. old adopted son, Erling, has just been rewarded by a silver medal and 300 kroner (about £ls). A farmer was out fishing in a driving gale in a Nordland boat when his craft was overturned. He could not swim but managed to climb onto the bottom of the boat, which was carried out to sea again by current and gale. No one ventured out to his rescue at first, considering it an impossible task. Mrs. Wasmuth then took her adopted son Erling with her out in a little rowing boat, and succeeded despite the tremendous gale in reaching the upturned boat and getting the farmer on board. They reached land again only after a stern battle with the high seas. A notable aspect of the feat was that Mrs. Wasmuth always has been afraid of the sea, but when a human life was at stake she said she thought only of those in peril and forgot her fear and that she was an inexperienced oarswoman.

JAPAN CELEBRATES ANCIENT FESTIVAL FOR TINY CHILDREN Tens of thousands of Tokyo children were dressed in the finest new kimonos on November 15th for the annual festival in honour of children of the ages of 7, 5- and 3 years. The festival goes back to the days when Tokyo, known then as Yedo, was the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns who for centuries kept the emperors of Japan prisoners in Kyoto

Tens of thousands of Tokyo children were dressed in the finest new kimonos on November 15th for the annual festival in honour of children of the ages of 7, 5- and 3 years. The festival goes back to the days when Tokyo, known then as Yedo, was the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns who for centuries kept the emperors of Japan prisoners in Kyoto while they exercised all temporal power of the nation themselves.

Japanese always are notably kind to their children and the festival today is typical of efforts put forth by parents to please their little ones. Even the poorest of families have managed to buy new kimonos and footwear for their children by a summer of hard work. Many foreigners usually attend the colourful festival. Children of the wealthier classes, particularly little girls of 7, were clad in gorgeous kimonos and sashes called obi, made of gorgeous silk brocade. Some of the sashes cost thousands of yen and require years of work by a skilled weaver.

JACKO MISSES SIXPENCE Jacko was miserable because his father would not raise his pocketmoney. “You can’t do much with a mouldy sixpence a week,” he grumbled. “It’s more than double as much as I had at your age,” said his mother. “What is it you want to buy?” While Jacko was trying to think of something suitable there was a knock at the door, and a telegram was handed in. Telegrams never failed to send Mother Jacko into a flutter. “Oh, dear! I hope it’s not bad news,” she said, fingering the envelope nervously. Jacko relieved her of her anxiety by snatching it out of her hand. “Coo!” he cried, as he read. “Uncle George’s coming to dinner, and he’s bringing the whole lot with him!” “Jacko!” reproved his mother, “that is not the way to speak of your cousins.” But she had no time to bother with Jack just them, for there was dinner to think about. There was that leg of mutton. Would the butcher send it in time?

Jacko was sure he wouldn’t. “Better let me fetch it,” he said, with an eye to businesss. “Yes, dear,” agreed his mother. “Run off at once. Here’s the basket. If you are back in ten minutes,” she added, “I’ll give you sixpence.” Jacko ran all the way; and he made such a commotion at the shop that the butcher served him at once to get rid of him. But, alas! on the way home he picked up a copy of his favourite Comic. As he read Jacko began to grin, and at every step he took his grin grew broader. By the time he reached home he was shaking with laughter. The basket was shaking too, but that was because two large cats were fighting over the leg of mutton. His mother caught sight of them from the window. She dashed out of the house, rescued her joint, and gave Jacko a sound box on the ears. There was nothing said about the sixpence.

CAN YOU PUZZLE THEM OUT? How Wide? A room 21 feet square has a carpet in the centre. The rest of the floor is covered with oilcloth. The carpet cost 16/6 a square yard. The oilcloth cost 8/6 a square yard. The total cost of covering the floqr was £35 4/6. JR* What was the width of the oiSloth border ? Backward and Forward I’m often seen upon the ground, On water and on land I’m found ; I’m flat, I’m smooth, and, as you’ll see, The water does discover me. I’m used by men in various trades ; When found I place men in their grades ; And now five letters tell my name, Forward and backward, I’m the same. [Answers published next week] Answers to Last Week’s Puzzles How Many Stamps?—Jack 5, Tom 7. Built-Up Word.—Dip-h-thong.