FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

A LESSON IN HISTORY.

"Who lives in that fine old 'House opposite ? * The one Whose back garden joins yours, I mean." .J ■'■'■■I' ...■■■ '■'■■ . The speaker was Roger Trent, a stronglocking boy of 14. He. was" spending a month of the summer holidays with his three boy cousins, Lance, Roy, and Julian, who were all younger than himself, being 13, 11, and nine years of age respectively. At the present moment "he was sitting on a broad window seat* in the boys' playroom, and gazing acroes the long stretch of garden, at a large grey, house beyond the high brick wall which divided/Mr. Trent's property from his neighbour's. " Oh, Mr. Graham lives there," answered Lance. "He is rather an old y gentleman, and he lives quite alone except for the ser- .-.«, vants." _ " ,■ Roger was silent for a moment, then he said: ■: ■ vv ■. "Don't you think it would be great fun to go exploring in Grahamdand?"; . '?«;, Julian's eyes grew round with wonder at '. -,- such a daring suggestion. Roy and Lance ' »"' only, laughed. ' l " ~> :," Yes— but quite impossible!""said ■:■. t| Lance. ;.•■ ;'•'':].'" * - Roger faced round with a- mysterious ;V smile. ■ ■ "' , v. ; -.:.■■■;, - • " : "Never 'be in a hurry to declare anything '-' he observed - calmly. ; ; 'vv." "Now listen to me, all of you." ' " '.; His cousins looked attentive. ..'• ' ; . "'■"■ '" I propose," said Roger, proudly, "that * we have a splendid historical game." .-•• ■ .-. " All right, but I don't see ; what that has f to do with Mr. Graham's garden," returned ..•'] Lance. "Oh, yes^Lance—*lon't you remember? ' Mr. "Graham writes histories. 1":- heard ' father : say so," exclaimed Roy. •' . i v "Does he?" cried Roger excitedly. "Then he can't possibly object." -i- <; ; . "Object?" repeated Lance. ' "Please don't talk in riddles, Roger. What are you . y driving at?". ■■;•" I'll explain," answered -Roger/, obligingly. "You see if this Mr. Graham writes (; , histories, he is naturally interested in the > subject, and will be more pleased than angry if we have a practical lesson in history, even ' > if we have to invade his territory." . "What do you mean?" ; "Well, I*propose to have a siege—there are any amount of sieges in the history books. ; Mr. ! Graham's house ; shall be a ■ ■ castle in— France, and we will besiege . it. Of course, we shall have to scale the wall, and then »go scouting in and out ■ < amongst the trees. Oh, it's a splendid idea!" cried Roger waxing enthusiastic as ■'■'■■■ ' .' he warmed to his subject. "I don't suppose anyone will see us if we are careful, but if they do, I'll explain." • His cousins were rather,.doubtful,about the plan at.'firer,' but, Roger succeeded in overcoming their scruples, and that' very afternoon the " siege " began. ', Roger was full of resources!' He dis- ' I covered that the Trents' garden ladder placed against the angle of the wall overhung by one of Mr. Graham apple trees afforded a fairly easy means of access to the neighbouring garden. One at a time the four boys scrambled up the ladder, on to the wall, into, the apple • tree, and then down to the ground again, Roger, of course, being leader. '-•;.' Then the .scouting began. In and out amongst the trees and bushes they crept till Rogers gave the signal of alarm. * . . * , .' " A gardener!";he,'whi6pered. ' "Into that tool-house— !"j ; Into that tool-house, i and quickly, .they ; -went, but not before they had been seen by .the'gardener, who approached swiftly >jj. '. •and silently and locked them in! * ."Trapped! By a spy," cried Roger, as:,, , the "Asty, key grated in the lock. "I say, ' boys' Isn't it realistic?" ~' • *; ; .;.' '.'.'Too much so for me!" responded Lance,. . • grimly. 5 'Listen! He's"coming. backhand ' ■ •someone with" him. It'll be 'Mr. ". -. Graham himself! Sure as. fate!" ' : j •'•'',-■ .. : "Leave him to me," said Roger airily. . ' ■ and' a • moment later, the i door opened, and , '' the'gardener, accompanied by, an elderly gentleman, confronted the boys. i"May I ask what brings/you in my tool- r . - house?" inquired a mild, though grave voice. K * ;* \-% "I am sorry if .-you are vexed,• sir," "began . \' Roger, stepping,- forward, " but the fact is - - '.• we, are having a S practical history-lesson; , '. your house is a castle and we are besieging it—*;: •.■'■■:■•>■•;.•• ' : '■■."■; -. ' ~.. • "Ahem! What' cast]*, may I ask? An ■historical siege, I think you implied;" said. _■•. the gentleman:- -'\ ' • ■':■ , Roger's ready tongue failed him at this • ;■■,.:, direct question. * , -• '. ■'• ' quite decided," he stam- ■• mered. ; "Ah! There were a great many sieges in by-gone days," said his questioner affably. " You?had better decide which one you ar« . enacting, and ;in the meantime I shall tak« you all prisoners. 1;. Come this way. I ma? add 'that I ;am a; justice of the peace." The boys followed their captor, who led -them* into T the I. house and then to a : large library. Here he abruptly left them, and the boys exchanged awed glances. ■:, ; ../. "I wish we were well out of this business/' spoke-Lance, after an uneasy silence. "Did you hear him »say he was a justice of the peace? I shouldn't/be surprised if ha ,»; has sent for a policeman, and will have us up for .trespassing. I don't know what father will say!" . . ' ; Before anyone could reply,' the door opened, and a maid servant entered. The boys watched with' wondering eyes, while she proceeded to lay a cloth on a small table,... and then to bring in plates of cake and fruit. .-..'' " What on earth— muttered Roger. "He must have forgotten we are here!" The maid withdrew, after placing four chairs at the table, and Mr. Graham enter-. ed. - He looked at the boys and waved them 'towards the table. ' *.' Pray be seated," he said. Feeling distinctly uncomfortable, the boys obeyed, and Mr. Graham gravely handed the contents of the plates to his amazed guests. But despite covert uneasiness, the dainties >' * were very good, and the prisoners managed -. \ to make 'a very good meal.- When no one \ would have any.more, Mr. Graham studied each face in turn, : then remarked gravely, " This is, a practical lesson ;in history. Per- *.—. haps you can tell me - what scene iwe are representing ?" " ■ ■ ," "- ; :'';- ; ;-^' J ?", : '_ .■ ';} -The boys coloured, but no one could reply? ? ".•, "Then you ; must remain mv prisoners till • ./ you can solve the riddle," said the historian. ' '■.-, "It 'is 'very important that j schoolboys ': should be well acquainted with the historv '.;" of l their country, j Here are book shelves," : : : he*' waved ■ his" hand towards the library walls. " Select histories for yourselves, and wßen you have found the answer to my , question ring that bell." ■ • So saying, he departed, and after the first V few - astonished ; moments, -. four ' boys were, eagerly searching amongst the shelves, and - }? later through" the ; pages of the ; history, each M; had selected. After a great deal, of leaf- < ; ~ turning had? gone on, Roger gave; a trium-. ; - , "1 phant shout. ' . I :-..' 'iv'.!-1 have"it!".; he cried exultantly. "The Black Prince, son of Edward lIL, took King John of ; France prisonor at Poictiov.s and afterwards waited on him himself in his own' tent! Hurrah !" The information was duly communicated . to their host, who -then allowed himself ft hearty laugh. " And now, young men.as.f, ,suspect you have-had enough of practical history for one day, you may go home." , , ' v.-- ," '■--■■:■: :- . ■ -■ - .:--."■■>■ ■ - ■ > ; H . * f "'