Laughter has its Moments

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 17

Laughter has its Moments

IT was a rainy, cold spring morning. The fifth form girls were inarching from their classroom to the hall for drill. Cynthia and Angela, who, being the lankiest, were at the end of the line, splashed through the puddles trying to imagine themselves warm and dry. They hoped fervently that the exercise would warm them up. Once in the hall they changed into drill shoes and lined up ready for work. "Distance, forward pace," said the mistress briskly, and Cynthia and Angela, just as briskly, did as she said. Angela, in her eagerness, forgot the tact that she was standing very near the outside step, and stepped jauntily over it into the rain. While Cynthia, seeing her friend slithering about on the wet ground, heaved with silent mirth, and Angela, catching Cynthia's eye, did the same. From that moment neither could stop giggling nor could they do anything right. At last a loud outburst from Angela drew the mistress' attention to them. "The two girls at the end, come here," she said, and the two, inwardly quaking, "went there." But inside Angela was still bursting with laughter and, catching sight of Cynthia in a similar predicament, she doubled up with mirth, all the worse for having been checked so long. Cynthia followed suit. "I. think I shall have to put you in the corner like babies," said ihe mistress, when they had subsided. She was as good as her word. Cynthia was despatched to one corner, Angela to the

Original, by AUDREY WADDEL (17). M.B.G.

other. The drill lesson went on without them. At the conclusion Angela ami Cynthia were kept for a .small "lecture" and then, slightly ashamed hut still laughing, they went to join their friends. As they splashed back to their classroom they both had to admit ruefully that they felt even colder than before.

I More Honours \ \ We have pleasure in announcing : : that honours have been gained by j : five more members of the Herald : : Circles, 7he title of D.D.M-B.G. ; \ (Doubly Distinguished Member of j : Boys and Girls) and cash award of f : 10s each (for 300 points) go to j \ ELEANOR MILSON, of Tauranga, \ ■ and : j NANCY HANSEN, also of j : T auranga. : \ The title of M.B.G. and cash \ : award of 5s each (for 100 points) \ : go to : j BETTIE GRAHAM, of Morrins- \ [ ville, '■ : JOY DEIHL, of Putaruru, and : ] BERNICE ROWELL, of Stratford, j : All these girls have done excellent [ \ work for our pages and have proved : themselves thoroughly loyal members j | of the Circle. Hearty congratulations, : : girls, and our very best wishes for j : continued success. • Spring Feeling TMISTLING grasses, leafy boughs interlaced 'gainst the skv, and the sweet scent of lilac. Such is Spring. Overhead there flies a kingfisher, alive with all the gay zest of life, while big, brown bees buzz busily by, in search of liquid gold from the kowhai. All the land is throbbing with the pulse of lite, while I can say with Richard Le Galliene: I meant to do my work to-day, But a brown bird sang in the apple-tree, And a butterfly across the field; And all the leaves were callintr me; And (lie wind went sighing over the land Tossinsr the Brasses to and fro, And a rainbow held out its shining hand, So what could I do but laugh and go. And I am sure as I think of this verse that Richard Le Galliene could feel in Nature what 1 feel in her to-day. I —Original, by Nyro McLean (13).