THE CHILDREN’S HOUR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 15

THE CHILDREN’S HOUR.

(Conducted by “Uncle Robbbt.”>

the dark and the jdaylight, When the night is beginning to tower, . ;; Gomes a pause in the day’s ocbupar'tiohs' v . ’ ; /v;; ' s .That is known, as the s .vv'; •' _ Hour/ ” * INTRODUCTORY. •v.My Dear Nieces and Nephews,—Your *tJncle Toby” is Very busy just now, and lie has. asked me to take charge of your column, for a little while. I am very glad,, for I love little children, oh, so ' much, and would like to do something for them, and, still because I love them, 'Would like them to do something for me. We can do a. great deal for each' other if we try; and, if we try hard, we all together can do a great deal for this |>ig world. ■■, Z have bought: , a “Big Book’* into ‘ Which I am going tor write the names ; tod addresses of all •my little ‘ nieces and nephews, ~ hut, f frtefdre '* doing' soy I want »oq all to prom.se to remember the following three fines - * ' - • First l —That we were created to i . enjoy life and help each other. • Beeond-—That whatever hinders any one from enjoying life is wrong % and wicked.; ~V; it is our duty to try v V and remove all .such hindrances. J Nowy all who agree with these simple . rffW, and are % wiili n g tp. get others to •übscribe to the m> sh ouid send me their names and addresses for nay “Big Book.’’ ,‘ r ; ; :• - * #», fßemember, children, this column is your' column. It is to be made up, mostly 6f what you you {-selves write. Tbn irs 'to wr' te me letters, you know, «s Beautiful letters” as you can write.: I3u£ indeed, all your tetters must: be •Iwautifttl .to me if t love you; .that’s clear' I shall welcome letters about your “Hoihe Pets?’’ the;- you Best,” yoiir “Schoolfellows” 1 and “Mates,” ybur “Holidays”-—when they any other sifH iect that, may be of interest to your " You fritist not be "niraid to “speak dot” iri your letters to <r tTncle Robert,’ ’ for " ‘Tiiole R-obert ’’ children.'; Although he is an old man now, he 'has a child’s heart yet. iih/''''it'' : is a grand thing td have; a child’s .heart. ' Mondv is not much', but ’• chifd’s heart i« Wealth untold. Hear. : what'the poet says about it - ' THE HR A RT. v , Aboye all thejumbearas That brighten my .'rfe, r ,.;,,,1n sorrow and pleasure,.. . t.. In peace..and ’in strife, 1.: Give me the child-heart ... , ...Simple and gay— ,-V The grace to. he homely—— „. .. . The humour to pi ay . Through stern aen f a-Hpns—■ , ; '. ; . The bent of the fightrrof Breezem, . " . .And ach ltd-love of Right, ... : ’’ , When 'my snirit within me> Ts bit+er wi+h Pain; Give me mv child-hen”t—- ---... - .My ch'ld-hone again. ’ For the child-heart is ever .’. , £ ~’ v . _ Unfettered, and' so The child-heart is never JEmbittered by wee. . . . *!fis bright, as a sunbeam Flashed from afar, . - . *!Rs pure as a dewdrop, And cool as a star. “A man-chil't in pleasure” .1 "“A in riniri,” ' Oh, give me my cM Id-heart—- . My child-hope again. L , " Isn*t that" a pfe + tv IPtle poem ? Well. I want you ali' to cut it out and put it fW year .Scrah - '▼’hen you will learn it by heart,; won’t you ? i. : suppose, you "have all been reading in., the “Mail’ . about the recent visit of the young King of Spain to London, and so- I will tell you a little story •bout him. When the Ring of Spain was about sis years of age, a famous sculptor was engaged to make a statue of His Majesty. The seulotor had difficulty jn finding a “pose” for his subject, which ■hould be at once spirited and natural, flkhd §at one day in a brown study, regarding the boy-Kirig as He looked out of the window. . : Alt at once .the sound of a band of music was heard in the street.'The King m>rang up arid 'brought his hand to his forehead in the milita v salute. , “The flag. sir! the flagthe boy exclaimed. “Salute it.” £J r TEe .sculptor had found the pose be Bought, and made ti e statue represent the King in the act of saluting his country’s Sag./ . As he at work the boy asked the sculptor: “Are you going to make me tiig - : : ”r‘*Tbo • statue will repiesent yoiir Majesty a T'ttle larger than you are,” said the sculptor.

“Well,” - said the Royal youngster, “I want you to make me very big, with a long moustache 1”

And now that’s all for this week. Next week I will tell you a lot about things. Let. me have a letter from you, please, from you, and you, and. yoiij from any of you who choose to write to Your affectionate TINGLE ROBERT.