THIS PEN-FRIEND BUSINESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

THIS PEN-FRIEND BUSINESS.

By GERALD B. SOUSTER, Sykca Avenue, Manurewa (12 marks).

It was pouring with rairi. I was sheltering in front of tho grocer's shop when Harry Mann rushed up, soaking web and breathless.

" This weather's awful," he said

" I just go errands on days like this. Haven't got anything to do at home. I suppose you're tho same ?"• " No," I said.

"No!"' he ejaculated. "Then what in the riarric of wonders do you do ? You can't play cricket, and it's the same with footy!"

" I take up a pen and a pad, think a bit, and then start to write." What for—who to?" " For the ' Boys and Girls 1 in tha Herald."

" Oh! I'vo seen you're name in there. But what's the use'/ There's no fun in that" *

"What!" I shouted. "Xo fun! There's no fun in sitting still doing nothing!"

" il'm. 1 don't set* much use in writing all the time," said my companion.

" Well, there's a lot of use in it," I said.

"How do you make that out:"

" Easy. You were telling me only a day or two ago you wanted to he an author."

" I said I would make ifc a hobby, then, if I was successful, I would make it my work." "Well, you've got to start sometime. Why not now?" " I'm too young," said my companion, stubbornly. "Go on!" I exclaimed. " i'ou're thirteen. I was only ten when I started! I got my ' M.B.G.' when I was just under twelve. And my ' D.M.B.G.' when I was less than thirteen." "'What's ' M.B.G.' and ' D.M.8.G.,' " ho asked. At last I saw a gleam of hope. "Member ofßoys and Girls' and Distinguished Member of ' Boys and Girls,' " I answered. " Well, I should think you'd be a member as soon as you joined. You started at ten and yet it took nearly two years to become a member." "Let me explain," said I. "Xn start with you fill in a form, and then the editor' of ' Boys and Girls ' enrols you. \ r ou can be a pen-friend till you're sixteen. Then you can join the Senior Circle till you are eighteen." " And what do you do ?" asked Harry.

" You receive a certificate showing your membership. You can fill in another form, and post it, together with Is 6d, and you get a badge. Then, at Christmas, and in June—that's the Birthday Month—there are special competitions—stories, essays, poems and drawings—for all ijiembers." "What else?" asked Harry.

" Well, you can send in original or copied drawings, letters, stories, essays, poems, riddles or jokes; but sometimes so many of these are sent in that you are not allowed to send in any more for some time." • " But how about this ' M.B.G. V

" Well, you send in a contribution; it may be original or copied, and if the latter, must bo marked - as such. Markcards are sent you if your story, or whatever it may be, is published. These cards have names. The five-mark card is called Fantail, the ten Tui, and the twenty Kiwi, in the case of boys. The names differ for girls. When you get a hundred you become an M.B.G. That means you are a fully-qualified member. You also, upon sending your cards in, receive ss. You get your cancelled cards back, too. When you obtain your second hundred you become a distinguished member,, or a D.M.B.G. This carries a prize of 7s 6d When you'reach three hundred yon become a doubly distinguished member of the ' Boys and Girls, or a D.D.M.8.G., and get another 7s 6d." " I say, that sounds cood," said Harrv.

" And it is good, too," I said. And you can get star-cards, too, for good triers."

" And what do you get then?" " A book for every twelve, and there are book prizes and money prizes forwarded for single contributions, too. \ou get marks in the ' Boys' Own,' too. That is quite different from the others. If your article is published it. has underneath the heading the number of marks you receive. Then you cut out your contribution, and when your marks total sixty you send in the cuttings and receive a book worth ss. You can wait, however, until you have more marks and thus get a, more valuable book." "What, next!" exclaimed Harry.

"Only one thing." I said. "When you get your M.B.G. your photo is put in tin! paper. You just send in a recent studio uliuto and vou see yourself in tlio

paper. " There's plenty of scope, and it roust lie excellent practise," said llany. " It is." 1 said, " and what's more, it encourages tlie spirit of competition and makes you live up to that excellent motto, ' Effort brings reward.' Well, 1 suppose you'll join J asked. "Hnther!" said llany. "and I'll try to get others to join, too." " Well. I'll get you the rules. I've got several copies, and then you 11 ihe abliJ to become an .V.B.G. if you try." " I'll try, all light !" said Harry. And with that w5 parted, both with a feeling of joy and excitement: his because he was going to join our merry circle, and mini*, because 1 knew I bad found another pen-friend. (A humble attempt to encourar/ moro bov readers to oil) our circles).