BOYS and GIRLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25048, 11 November 1944, Page 4

BOYS and GIRLS

Our Best Always DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS,— Every day our membership grows bigger and my wise old pussy-cat, Grey Malcolm, and I have been wondering if all the new members know the motto of the Herald Circles. It is "My Best Always"—and an excellent motto it is, too, for if we always do our best in everything we can feel that we are doing a great, deal toward helping to make this world a better place. Second best is never good enough. We should put our whole effort into our work or play; otherwise we might just as well leave it all undone. Imagine what a state the world would be in now if the men of our forces were content with second best. They have put their, heart and soul into their fight for freedom and because of that we now know that soon—in the near future, we hope —freedom will be won for all nations. So let us too be like the sailors on the high seas, the airmen in the bright blue skies and the undaunted soldiers in the shelltorn battle areas. Let us give of our best always and we'll find that only the best will come to us in return. I hear rumours of exams, lurking in the classrooms soon, so the very best of good luck, boys and girls, and if you follow our motto there, too, I know you will not fail. Gay days of sun- '• shine and smiles and love to you all from flv*^*^ Rainbow Terraces Dear Anne Shirley,—Once we went to Orakei-Korako. There we saw terraces formine When the sun shines the Rainbow Terrace coes all the colours of the rainbow. It has a ereen, alum wishing-pool where only ladies can wish. It is tapu for men. On the way there is a rock called Witches Rock." We were taken over the Waikato River in a punt near Atiamuri.—From Lynette Main (8).

—Original sketch by Bernice Rowell (14), D.D.M.B G. I Love the Little Things I love the Utile things along a roadway. The brave flowers blooming in a sea of grass, Brown sparrows chirping by the high fence, And leaves that change as seasons pass. I love the little things that make a garden Like snowdrops on a stormy winter's day; Rosebuds in their splendour, petals fluttering down. And on the lawn a daisy blooms away 1 tnve the little things vou do, Like giving crumbs to hungry birds, And drooping flowers some water cool, All these are fur above my words. —Original, by Valerie Spanner, D.D.M.B.C. Riddle Question,-—What is the difference between an old mouse and a young mouse P (Answer elsewhere.) ■:'! —Original, by Perrey Gilmore (11).

Christmas Competitions SPECIAL ILLUMINATED HEADING: To' contain the words "Christmas Greetings— Boys and Girls" in the neatest possible lettering. Size of heading: Ilin wide by Uin deep. Must be in black ink on plain white drawing board or paper. (Open to boys and girls 19 years and under.) 7/6 prize. SHORT STORIES (19 and Under): Christmas setting. Length, 500 words or less. Two 5/- prizes. CAROLS OR POEMS (19 and Under): Christmas subject, grave or gay. Length, 24 lines or less. Two 5/- prizes. SKETCHES (19 and Under): Christmas subject. Black ink. Four 5/- prizes. CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD PUZZLE (12 to 19 years): Festive shape. Give solution and clues separately. Black ink. Two 2/6 prizes. JUNIOR ESSAY (11 and Under): Imagine you are Santa Claus and write a short essay on what you would give to the little children of the world if you were Father Christmas. Length, 250 words or less. Four prize copies of "Wing-Commander Red-Bill, D.F.C.," autographed by the author. Senders of original Christmas games, party tricks or other interesting festive items published will receive twenty-point mark-cards. Mark-card consolation prizes for all sections. All work must be original and bear the competitor's name, age and address. Send your entries to Anne Shirley, Herald Office. Box 32, Auckland, C.1., and mark your envelope "Christmas Competitions." THE CONTEST CLOSES ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9. Junior Painting Contest Results Nearly 500 paintings wore submitted in the recent contest for juniors only, and some of the pictures were very bright indeed. Here are the details of tlio results: —Half-crown prizes <jo to Margaret Davison (11), John French (10), .Jeremy Commons (!)), and Fay Neill (7). Mark-card consolation prizes fro to Adrienno Morris (4). Peter Hose (5), Garry Shaw (G), Graeme Kelly (G), Ken McFarland (7), Frances Mace (8), Hazel Collecutt (8), Alwyn Kniftht (8), Alma Nicholas (8), Jim T?ao (0). Jill Gilmour (0), Anne Finlayson (f)), Patricia Ide (9) Anne Wright (10), Laurine Johnson (10), Joan Frost (10), Aileen Baldwin (10), Mavis Porter (11), Patricia Wagstaff (11), Patsy Thompson (11),' Fay Powdrill (11), Kathleen Bell (11), Judy Munro (11), Mary Dawn (11). Ducklings' Foster Father Dear Anne Shirley,—Have you ever heard jf a bantam rooster mothering ducklings? We have a bantam rooster and he Is in the coop with the clnckv hen and every night he goes to sleep with a duckling or two under his winprs, and seems very proud of his adopted family.—Yours faithfully. Margaret McQuoid (10), Mangatarata. Letters Received Loiters have been received from the following boys and girls. I may not be able to answer every letter personally, but I do thank you very much for writing:. Best wishes to yon all and write again Roon.—A.S. Josephine Fa hey. John Buckland, Nancy Jackson, Graham Jellie. Eileen Tone:, Shirlev Scott, Noreen Moncriof, Ivy Carleton. Nora Sheppard, Isabel Robinson, Maureen Otwnv, Shirley Mildon. Mavis Houghton, ,7. Smith, Judith Hooton, Glen.vs Fraspr, Peggie Madgwirk, Daphne Stanaway, Shirley Gate. Janice Woofe, Valerie Simpkin. Dawn Gosncr. Elsie Dcering, Marlone Yates. Lynott* Town, Alice Thrupp, Nellie Thrupp, Noeleno Da vies, Elaine Keepa, Shirley Hainge, Joan Bowler. Eric Jnhnston, .Marjorie Price. B. T."v.rriicp Fishor, Perrey Gilmoro. GerakUne Ward.

An Airman's Prayer The wide blue sky has a call for me, It calls me now, so insistently; And the higher 1 soar on a heav'nward flight, In the pearly morn or the starlit, -night, The higher I fly from the earth's rovgh sod The nearer I feel I am climbing to God. Rut, if I should see a Messersrhmltt I know it's my job to tackle it. And I move my lips in a silent, prayer And pull hack my joystick and scorch through the air: And if that plane doesn't, burn all right, I knew that my prayer was not backed by mil fight. —Original, by Itobin McFarland (13). Thumper and Fluffy Dear Anne Shirley,—As yon like animals ! thought you .would like to hear about my pels. I have a Jiltle white rabbit which is railed Thumper, and he is quite tame. The other morning when wo looked in his hutch we could not see him. Looking up at that moment we saw the runaway contentedly feasting on some juicy thistles a few yards away. When we came close to him he hopped

A TRUE SCOT —Original sketch by Julie Kusabs (11). just out of our reach and twitched his ears at us as if to say, "You can't catch me." However, after much coaxing he went back to his hutch. I h»vc also a tortoiseshell cat named Fluffy. She is a very loving puss and is now the proud mother of five baby kittens. One kitten is ginger, there aro two tortoiseshells, ono is black and white, and the other is grey.—from your sincere member, Rose Anderson, Milford. Fishing Anne Shirley went a fishing, And caught a lovely sprat, Then proudly walked back home with it, And gave it to her cat. —Original, by Avonne Rogers (12), D.D.M.8.0.

Snipers? Blinkie Bunny sat beside the gorse bushes cleaning his whiskers. The sunshine was hot. Blinkie's eyes closed. Pop! Bang I \*nwl Blinkie leapt up, rubbing his ear. Something hail hit him. He peered around but not a sign of anyone did he see. "Funny, lie thought, and sat down again. His, eyes closed, his head nodded. Pop! Banff! "Wow!" Blinkie was furious. His other ear stung now. He ran around the bu.shea, expecting to find one of his friends playing jokes on him. Hut not a bunny did he find. Very puzzled, Blinkie returned to his cosy corner. Mrs Rabbit was sweeping by the front door of their burrow. * "Mother, someone's been throwing things at me and hit—" Pop! Bang] "Wow!" A tinv brown round thing flew out and hit Blinkie on his nose. "Oh-o-ol" cried Blinkie. as lie danced in his agony. "S-see what 1 mm mean?" ~ , ~, "Oh, you silly boy, laughed Mrs Rabbit. "It is the gorse seeds popping from, their pods and you've been in the way. What a funny little bunny." —Original sketch and story by Jean Fortune (l(i), D.D.M.B.G. Thank You Thank you to the following boys and girls for items which have been accepted for publication in this corner later on: Lesley Moir, Jean Fortune, Philippa Dixon, Doreen Vincent, Tilly Vujnovich, Marjorie Price, Faith Brent, Shirley Druinmond, B. LawrenceFisher. Thanks also go to the following boys and girls whose items were not Quite suitable for publication. Better luck next time. Daisy Mehrtens, S. Turner. Elaino Keepa. Una W'augh, Faith Brent Jean Bartlett, Tilly Vuinovich, Doreen Vincent. Zelma Campbell, Helen Colbeck, Betty Armstrong, Loma X«#irn. Donald Dwyer. Patricia kempton, Marv Cummins, Alison Campbell, Adole Smith, Pat Lewis. Freda Bird, L.vnette Town, Douglas Grierson, Avis Drinnan. Janice W'oote. Valerie Simpkin. Tongue Twisters Sav these several times quickly:— Five flippy, floppy, flat, flying fish flopped flatly. Six stewing chops to chew. Pretty purple popping poppies popped prettily. —Original, by Diane Slnton (11). Bobby Blue blew his bugle by Betty. "Sen-saw!" says Shirley Slight. My mother made me my mittens. Sally saw seven shillings swinging on the see-saw. • • —Original, by D. Campbell (14). Answers Riddle. —Their ages.