Young Folks’ Corner .

Northland Age, Volume 5, Issue 3, 18 October 1935, Page 6

Young Folks’ Corner .

THE UNKNOWN HORSE In Budapest a monument has been unveiled to the Unknown War Horse. Past the statue of this dumb unconscious hero the horses of the regiment of hussars quartered in the Francis Joseph cavalry barracks filed, led by their riders. It was the salute of the horses to a dead compatriot who had perished in a cause which none of them understood, for an evil in which they had no part. The ceremony was yet another reminder (which seems to be sorely needed by those who were too young to share in that world catastrophe, and by others, older but unteachable) of the unending cost, both to innocent and guilty, of war. There is a building in London dedicated as a memorial to the thousands of God’s humble creatures who suffered and perished in the Great War ; and on the casualty panel is an inscription recording the death of 484,000 horses, mules, camels, dogs, and carrier-pigeons who were drafted into the service and died for it, God knows why. JACKO HANGS ON Adolphus didn’t think much of fishing. “Nothing to do but stand still and hold a rod,” he said scornfully one day. “Hold a rod?” piped Jacko. “No jolly need for that. I catch fish as

easy as winking without doing anything at all.” “Marvellous lad —as always ! ” diawled Adolphus.

Jacko flared up. “All right, then,” lie retorted. “Come with me to Tutt’s Meadow and I’ll show you.” It happened to be Adolphus’s halfholiday, and as he was doing nothing special he condescended to go with his young- brother. When they reached the river Jacko stuck two bamboo poles into the grassy bank. He tied them together crossways at the top and balanced his fishing-rod on them where they joined. The line dangled over in the water with a tempting bait on it. “There you are!” cried Jacko, flopping lazily on the ground. “We’ve nothing to do now but wait.” They waited. So long, in fact, that Adolphus at last got bored. “I’m off to fetch a newspaper,” he grunted. “Perhaps things will get a move on while I’m away.” They did ! He had only been gone five minutes when Jacko heard a sound. “Coo! A catch!” he cried, springing up. But it wasn’t the fish that was caught. In his haste Jacko tripped, and his legs got tangled with the bamboo poles. Plop! There was a wild shriek as ho swayed, overbalanced, and then shot into the water!

Luckily Adophus came back just

then. Seeing Jacko floundering in the river he grabbed the two poles and held them toward him. “Here! Quick!” he shouted. “Hang on to these!” Jacko hung on—and with a mighty tug his brother hauled out a dripping little object. “Some fish, eh?” grinned Adolphus, as Jacko shook himself on the bank. “Let’s hope I land a bigger catch than a shrimp next time!” he teased.