Dots Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 21

Dots Little Folk

THE WEEK'S POEM Here Is another poem about a party, children. This time it is about one that the Saturdays held in Fairyland. Of course it is all nonsense, but It Is very delightful, and I think you will like It. DOT. THE SATURDAYS* PARTY IN FAIRYLAND All the Saturdays met one day (Bach was very polite, they say), Tljey shook each other by the hand, And had a party in Fairyland! They wouldn't let any Monday in, And not one Tuesday at all could win Her way past the supercilious crowd! And Wednesdays—why, they weren't allowed) Thursdays could only stand in the street And look through the door at the things to eatl And the Fridays and Sundays pretended they Didfi't like parties anyway! But the Saturdays had the greatest fun! They played " Hop-scotch " and " Run-sheep-run," And " Frog-in-the-meadow " and " Fullaway ! And everything else they wanted to play! They, used the throne for " Musical Chairs," As it the Fairy Queen's house were theirs! In rdoms enchanted they ran and hid, * And whatever they wished they could do, they didl And. after they'd played and played and played, They had pink straws in their lemonade! And the cookies and tarts were like a dream, And all the Saturdays had ice-cream) I'd my doubts when I heard (and you have yours), But estrange things happen on foreign shores, And they say that the best fete ever planned Was the Saturdays' party in Fairyland! ■} —M. C. Davies. TO ALL Dear Little'Folk,—The other day I came across a book of stories about animals, in which were the following ones about cats. A cat was kept in a public hall and had a family of four kittens, which were placed in a basket behind the platform. Here they were out of the way. and yet In their mother's care, while she could keep her eye on the mice, which made their home in the walls and. under the floors in the building. One day the hall was found to be on fire, and while attempts were being made to overcome the flames, puss was iieen rushing through the hall towards this platform where she kept her little family. Soon the thick smoke made it difficult for anyone to see or breathe in the building, but the cat succeeded in reaching her kittens, and soon appeared with one in her mouth. This she laid down at" her master's feet in an outer rdbm away from the fire and again ran off, Three times the devoted mother performed this daring deed, though half-blinded and choked by the smoke she had passed through. But she could not rest while she knew that any of her kittens were in danger. So for the fourth time she made her way through the. mass of flames. Her master tried to prevent her. but she would not be kept back. Almost frantic she dashed into the hall, which, by this time, roared and crackled like a huge furnace, and was immediately lost to.view. Her master anxiously watched for her return, but she did not come back. She had given her life for her offspring. Wl\en at length the flames were put out, and 4he firemen were able -to examine the ruins, they found the blackened remains of the mother and the kitten lying side by side where the fire had overtaken them. Do you not think that that is a beautiful story of mother love? Cats are not generally credited with such fine feelings, but this shows us that pussy can love her offspring just as dearly as any other mother.

There is said to be a school for cats in Paris, kept by a man who is very fond of animals, and who shows great patience in training them. He picks up cats which seem to have no homes, and which are running about the streets or playing on the roofs of houses. To give them a feeling of. freedom, he allows them to do as they please for some months, carefully watching them all the time to see what sort of temper they have, and how they behave. Then He begins to train them to do his bidding. All the time he shows them every kindness, and gives them plenty of good food. They thus become so attached to him that they are eager to obey his slightest wish. He always teaches them their lessons by coaxing, as he does not believe in the effects of fear. Not only do they learn to perform all sorts of tricks at the word of command, but they also sheathe their claws when he gives them birds and mice to play with . ' There is a' story told of a gentleman who took home a green parrot, which was placed on a perch in his room, where his favourite cat had been for a long time the only pet. He wanted the two animals to be friends, and so he carefully watched them. He felt sure he v/oultl be able to prevent the cat from harming the bird, should she attempt to seize It in her claws. Puss, from her position on her rug, looked with surprise at the newcomer on the perch. She did not know just what to think of such a queer creature as a green fowl. . Suddenly, before her master could prevent her, she made a spring and alighted on the perch by the side of the bird. The gentleman sprang to his feet to save the parrot, but his assistance was not needed.

To the cat's astonishment, a deep bass voice said, " Have you had your breakfast? "

The cat jumped backwards on hearing the words, just as if a pistol had been shot past her ear. All her ideas of birds had been upset. She had heard birds utter

InaoiOureited Julij 16,1886,

u by th.e OTAGO WITNESS

Dot Invites letters of not more than 300 words In laegth from hor young friends throughout tho Dominion on any matters In which they are Interested. Now members must enclose their name and addresß. These will pot be published, and are«'for registration purposes only. Little Folk should write on one mie of the paper only, and In Ink, and should address their letters " Dot, care of Editor, Otago Dally Times." Every lottcr must state the age of tho writer for Dot's private Information The retiring age Is 21, after which Little Folk become Old Writers Dot's Little Folk's Badge, with pin, for use as a brooch, Is obtainable on application to Dot. I'slce 2s 6d, In stamps or postal note*.

their various cries in the yard, in the garden, and in the trees. Hens might cackle, cocks crow, ducks quack, and other birds whistle-, but she had never before heard one that could talk. The parrot continued, " What did you have? Why, a bone, a bone! Ha! Ha!" Then the parrot began to sing a little song. This was too much for puss. She no longer regarded the bird as an object on which she could satisfy her appetite. It could talkl In despair and fright she jumped down, ran off and hid herself under a sofa for the rest of the day. I know most of you are very fond of animals, and later on I hope to tell you some more stories about them. Meantime, for the next three weeks the page will be filled with the Old Writers' letters, and no letters from the Little Folk will appear, so you will have a rest. Wishing you all a happy New Year.—Your loving DOT. LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK Motto: We write ioi the benefit of others, not for ourselves. BEST LETTERS JUNIOR SECTION (under 14 years) Dear Dot,—Our school concert was on Thursday, December 15.. It started at 8 p.m. First of all we had choruses. The stage was packed full with children when we sang them. After this one of the boys gave a mouth organ solo, which was very tuneful. The next item was a play called the "Ten Little Nigger Boys." Some pf the girls and boys sang the song. My little brother was one of the nigger boys. Later on I sang " The Road to the Isles.

I was dressed in kilts. On my head I wore a Glengarry bonnet, and I carried a Walking stick. Queen Autumn, my sister, was in a pierrot dance. The girls were dressed in black and white dresses, with white ruffles round their necks and wrists. There were other items after the dance. The prizes were then presented. I came third in my class, and got an interesting book. Supper was then ready, so everybody enjoyed it. After it all the seats were put into heaps, and the grown-ups danced. The children collected sufficient money to buy both the teachers a small gift. One of the boys in Standard VI made the presentation. Soon after we went home after enjoying ourselves very much. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. PUKE MAKO (Saddle Hill). [What a splendid concert you must have had, Puke Mako, and how well you have described it! I should like to have heard you singing " The Road to the Isles." I am glad you got a prize at school.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is growing near Christmas time now, and our young sister Jenny has a stocking full of toy's. We have had a flood,'and the water is not all away yet. It is still in the paddocks and on the lawns and gardens. I will be in Standard IV next year. We are going to Brighton for our Christmas holidays. I have had the measles, and had to stay away from school. We could not have a school concert this year, because there are too many away. I shall give you some more news soon. With love to you and your happy band of Little Folk. LITTLE BLACK SANNA (Mosgiel) tl expect you will be getting toys, too. Little Black Sanna. What a pity you could not have a school concert! I hope you will have no more floods or measles either, and will enjoy your holiday.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l think it. is time I picked up a pen to write to you. Since the last time I wrote I have twin brothers. They are three weeks old on Saturday night. One is fair and the other is dark I think we are calling the fair one Trevor and the dark one Colin. One was born early in the night, and the other just got his birthday in before midnight or they would have had their birthdays on different days. I must close now, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. HAPPY HIGHLANDER (Milton). [How excited you must have been, Happy Highlander, when the twins arrived, and what a lovely Christmas present they were! You must write and tell me more a.bout them. Trevor and Colin are very nice names.—DOT.J ¥ v # Dear Dot,—Last Friday we had our annual school picnic. We were lucky to get a bright sunny day after all the rain we have had. We all left about 10.30 a.m and arrived at the lakeside about half an hour later. All the children played in the sand and water until dinner was ready. We had a game of cricket with our teacher, .and we all went for a walk away down the road. Some of us went in for a swim. We had afternoon tea, and then our driver presented us with our prizes. After that we all packed into the truck for our homeward journey. We sang all the way home. Now I must close, wishing the Little Folk and your own dear self a merry Christmas and happy New Year. WHITE■ SOAPSUDS (Catlins). [You were fortunate to have a fine day for your school picnic, White Soapsuds. I am so glad you had such a happy time. Thank you for your good wishes.—DOT.l * '(■ * Dear Dot,—Once more 1 have my pen in my hand. We have two little mules now. They are cheeky little things, as they run up to the fence, and just as you get near them they run away. We had our school concert on Thursday night. We have two budgies. They are green and blue. It is raining here and we cannot shear. We have got another pup staying with us just now. I shall close now, with kind regards to all. LITTLE BROWN BUNNY (Kyeburn) [I am interested to hear about the little, mules, Little Brown Bunny. Vou must write and tell me more about them and the budgies, 100. I hope the weather will soon clear up.—DOT.] BEST LETTERS SENIOR SECTION (14 and -incler 21 vears. Dear Dot,—l thought that, instead of continuing with my animal letters this week, I would say something about this city. and the weather in general which I have experienced in my two months stay in the North Island. Before I left I was told that it rained every day for three months, and last week I was beginning to wonder if it was true. It has not been so bad as what you have had in Dunedin, but to

have, day after day, a few hours oi sunshine, a few hours of wind, and the remaining hours storms, was quite bad enough. However the city has no signs of storms left, even though it is a bare twenty-four hours since the rain ceased People talk about farmers always wanting rain, but the householders here can sit and gaze contentedly out and say, "Well, it's doing the garden good," and that after rain has been coming every day Tor several weeks! I have heard it said that the Wellington ladies' salutation is to clutch at their hats, but there are very few who have to do that, as they all wear close-fitting one's, and it .is usually the unwary stranger who has to cling tightly all the time. Really it is amazing in how many ways the wind can blow In ten yards on an open street (not only when rounding corners). However, we have had some very good days, and pleasant hours. This morning at six o'clock the air felt really splendid, promising a marvellous day, and though a strong wind of gale force at intervals sprang up we have had quite a pleasant day. Nobody can deny that Wellington is a healthy place. It must be, because the air does not stay in any place for more than a few hours (seconds, usually). Kindest regards and the compliments of the season to yourself and all the Little Folk, and hoping that 1939 will bring happiness and prosperity to all our readers. NEW ZEALAND ROSE (Wellington)

[The weather in Wellington, as in many other places this season, New Zealand Rose, seems to have been very unsettled, but let us hope that it will soon improve. Thank you for your good wishes, which I cordially reciprocate.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l am glad that all the Little Folk are not like me, or when we picked up the page to read it I am afraid it would be mostly blank. I am one of those who early in the year promised to write regularly, but it is evident that I have not kept my promise. We just get the Otago Daily Times on Mondays, and, through a mistake in the news office, it stopped coming for about three months. The last letter I wrote, and by this I mean the third I ever wrote to the page, was in the first paper that stopped coming I waited each week for the paper to come, and also inquired about it, but it was not until we went to the office and found that our name had been missed that we commenced getting it again. So, Dot, that is my excuse for not writing for three months, but I cannot find a proper one for all the other months. I can only say that I feel rather ashamed of myself. I always read the page, and take a very deep interest in it, and in the future I hope to do my share in helping It along I am going to try and push all minor excuses out of the way and go straight ahead. I am sure, if it were possible, that all the other Little Folk who feel the same towards the page as myself would give three cheers to you. Dot. all the faithful Little Folk, and those who in any way have helped to keep the page up to its standard for another year, so, on their behalf, and through the page, I say " hip-hlp-hurrah, hip-hip-hurrah, hip-hip-hurrah." Best wishes to all for a happy 1939. ALLY SLOPER'S NIECE (Kapuka). [lt was too bad, Ally Sloper's Niece, that your paper should have been stopped for three months just when you had written to the page, but I hope you will see your present letter in print, and that you will write again very soon. Thank you very much for telling me how much you appreciate the page, and also for your good wishes and the sketch you have sent. You draw very nicely.—DOT.l LETTER FROM OVERSEAS Dear Dot,—When last I wrote 1 was busily preparing for a trip to the Homeland, and I now take the pleasure in giving an account of my voyage overseas. The Rangitiki left Wellington on March 10 at 11.20 p.m. carrying with her 400 passengers, amongst whom was yours truly, Golden Sunbeam. My old friend Apia at whose home I stayed the previous night came to see me off, and the beautiful calm evening, together with the twinkling lights dotted all over the harbour and surroundings, the many coloured streamers, and the laughter and jokes heard all around, gave one the impression of a carnival night. Although everyone appeared jolly and carefree, it was with rather a sad heart that I bade au revoir to my native country to cross a "long stretch of ocean to another land However, after a few days at sea I had soon forgotten all about being downhearted, as I gradually made friends with some of the passengers on the ship, and also passed the time in writing letters, reading,

playing deck games, and practising on the piano in the music lounge. There was also an up-to-date library, where once a week we could procure books to read or exchange them for others. For the first lour days the majority of the passengers were too sick to venture far from their cabins, but fortunately I was not troubled with sea-sickness at any time during the voyage, and also had a twoberth cabin all to myself, which I again consider fortunate. The food on the ship was excellent, and wonderfully fresh considering how far away from land we were We even indulged in Royal ice-cream. The day after we sailed we were all given lifebelts, together with special instructions as how to use them in an emergency. However, I am thankful to say we did not need them during the voyage. That same day a great number of albatrosses flew round the ship and followed it for some considerable distance. Quite a number of amusements were held during the trip, such as amateur concerts, dancing, whist drives, tov horse-racing, community singing, talkie pictures, and blindfold boxing. There were church services twice every Sunday. The morning services were held in the first class lounge, the captain officiating. The evening services were either held on the bottom deck of tourist A or in tourist B music lounge, and the Presbyterian clergyman and Anglican missionary took turns in officiating. With us on board were four dark fellows from the British West Indies, members of the Trinidad athletic team to Australia (19..3). They were very intelligent, friendly fellows, and how they could dance! They were far superior to the Europeans in that respect, and were very light and agile on their feet. Also travelling with us were five Pitcairn Islanders, who disembarked In boats when the Rangitiki stopped within half a mile of the island, nine days after we sailed. Three boatloads of their own people came to meet them, and they also came on board the ship to barter fruit and curios, such as baskets, novelty walking sticks, souvenirs of Pitcairn Island, gaily coloured beads, serviette rings, and many other articles, which they either sold to the passengers or gave in exchange for other goods it was fun to listen to them bargaining, and even arguing, with some of the passengers in regard to their wares. It is but seldom that a vessel stops at Pitcairn Island, and usually this happens only when there are passengers bound for the island the islanders are a mixed race numbering about 165, and are a simple, kindly people. One day, about thirteen days after we had sailed, some of us heard the cry. a ship! Look, a ship!" and on rushing excitedly up to the top deck we could, with the help of binoculars, clearly discern a ship about four miles away. It was the Ruahine, and she was returning to New Zealand from England. Two clays later our sister ship, the Rangltane, was supposed to pass us at night on her return journey to New Zealand, but although some of us stayed up late mat night with the hope of catching a glimpse of her. she did not pass until the eaily hours of next morning. In the morning everyone was having a jolly loke about

" crossing the line," and I was asked if I had felt the bump the night before when we crossed it. Of course this was the day that Father Neptune intended to catch his victims and give them a thorough dipping in a bath of water. All the men and boys who were crossing the line for the first time were dipped whether they desired it or not, but the girls were dealt with less severely, and were given the chance of choosing for themselves whether they would " take the plunge " or not. They dipped Father Neptune last of all. The ceremony was held at 5 p.m., and before it took place the chief performers were photographed. They all had a rather gruesome appearance, with their long thick beards, red and black faces, knives, swords, and outlaw types of costumes. Next day just before lunch we watched some porpoises jumping up and down in the sea. They are very large black fish, and some of them could leap verv high above the water and dive again gracefully. It was interesting to watch them. Two days later, at approximately 8.30 p.m., we arrived at Balboa, and almost immediately went ashore. As it was night time when we arrived, we did not have the same chance of seeing the city as we would have done had it been daylight. First of all we went to the Y.M.C.A., where we had some of our English money exchanged for American cents. Following this we went along to the famous Beer Garden, where we partook of deliciously flavoured drinks, which had pieces ot real ice piled on the top of the glasses. and a cherry sweet on a stick stuck into it We were served by black waiters. After spending about an hour here we left by taxi cab for Panama City, which is two miles from Balboa, but is really part of the same city They are both very pretty tropical cities. The shops at Panama are very picturesque, and the majority of them kept open late that night for the convenience of us visitors. At Panama I had mv first taste of water melon, and it was good. At 12 p.m. our party returned to the ship by bus. Later we went ashore again to inspect some of the wares which the natives had displayed just outside the wharf, and also to buy some fruit which the native women were selling from makeshift shops nearby. It was 2 a.m. before I retired to bed, and it seemed no time until we were called at 5.30 to bid, good-bye to Balboa, and watch our entry into the canal. The canal transit took about 8 hours, and it is difficult to describe all the wonders that we saw as we passed through each gate in the great Miraflores Lock. The ship was towed along by locomotives, four on each side, and these were driven by natives. The water was very shallow for a time, but as soon as each gate closed it would rush in. and the ship rose higher and higher until it was on a level with the sea. At last, after a very interesting transit, we set out across the Carribean Sea, leaving Colon and the town of Cristobel behind us. Gradually the sea lost its smoothness and became rather choppy, although it was still very hot, and the sun was strong. Two days later we were on the Atlantic Ocean, and the sea was less rough. The next item of interest was the fancy dress carnival which was held lour days afterwards It was most enjoyable, and the characters in it were splendid. Some were dressed as swaggers, others as Arabs, sailors, signposts, traffic inspectors, dolls, dancing ladies, Pierrettes, and ghosts, whilst quite a number represented animals of all descriptions. I attended as "Spring. The prizes were awarded to "The Pcnguin, M " The Traffic Inspector," " O-dol,' " Baby, " The Scarecrow," and " Egg Basket Following the judging of costumes, a dance was held, which ended up at 11 o'clock. The weather had by now become much colder, and everybody was looking forward to our arrival in England in a week's time. As we drew nearer to our destination it became still colder, and the sea was verv rough. Hugh waves like mountains were rising up and down, which made the ship sway from side to side. The stewards had to wet all the tablecloths with water to prevent the dishes from slipping off on to the floor and being broken A few evenings later a wind-up concert was held in the music lounge, during which an opportunity was taken to present pri7.es to those who had been successful in sports I received a silver serviette ring with the ship's monogram on it foi boing one of the winners in the ladies' doubles in deck tennis Next day word was passed round that there was a ship in distress, and that the Rangitiki was travelling at full speed to her rescue. However, two other vessels arrived thsre first, so our ship was put back on her right course again. The distressed ship carried explosives, some ot which had accidentally exploded, and the vessel, was split in half by the explosion, quite a number being killed. Thirteen men were rescued, however, and two were drowned whilst they were clinging to

one half of their vessel. From a distance we could see the lights of the ships quite clearly. At last in the early hours of the morning of April 14 we arrived at Tilbury docks, and after having had our passports examined on board we went down the gangway towards the custom house to have our luggage passed. When this was done we immediately boarded the train for St. Pancras Station. Here I met my mother's cousin, who was waiting for me, and so I took leave of the friends with whom I had travelled all through the journey. After a long wait we found a porter to take my luggage on a trolley to a waiting taxi cab, and into it we bundled en route to Euston Station Here we boarded the train to Boxmoor, and on arriving there we then motored to my cousins' home, Beechwood Home Farm. As we sped along in the car I noted the lovely green meadows, the spring flowers growing all along the roadside, and the beautiful old farm buildings with their thatched or tiled roofs. Later on I shall write an account of my stay land. In the meantime "au revoir. GOLDEN SUNBEAM (Beechwood. England). [I am glad you had such a good trip. Golden Sunbeam You were fortunate not to be seasick. I hope to hear more about your experiences abroad.—DO 1.1 OLD WRITERS' NOTES A special meeting of the Old Writers' Association will be held in the library. Otago Daily Times office, on January 9, 1939, to make arrangements for the picnic to be held at Oamaru. The picnic will be held in conjunction with members■ ot the North Otago branch on January-W----and all those who intend going are asked to notifv the secretary as soon as possible, so that train arrangements can be made. A good attendance is desired. MAID OF KILLEENA, President. CLARA, Hon. Secretary 128 Union street. Dunedin. OLD WRITERS' WEEK Letters for Old Writers' Week will be published on December 31 and January 9 and 16. NOTES Fairv Fox (Kurow).—Your letter arrived "too late to be answered last week. I have made a search for the information you ask for, but regret that I have not been able to find it. * V * I have to thank all the Little Folk who have sent greetings by cards. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS Little Folk wishing to correspond with residents in U.S.A. and Canada should write to Miss M. A. Vernon, Private Bag, Central Shotover, Queenstown, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for reply and stating age. address, hobbies, and requirements. , Miss Vernon has intimated that she lias also some Australian addresses which she can supply to any Little Folk who desire them. FAMILY AFFAIRS AT THE ZOO While the penguin was sitting on us egg, hoping to hatch the first baby penguin of the - zoo, other families were collecting, , „ „,.,,, The Indian tigress Jezebel led oil with quins, and. so that there should be no sad mistake about their bnnging-up (for past events have shown her to tit anything but an ideal parent; she was persuaded by a joint of meat to leave them to the care of a large dog as foster-mother. Their future will be watched with interest, for Jezebel s torn sons are strong and healthy, and the smaller daughter is the image of her The father of the tiger cubs, Amur the Siberian, took no interest in this family event. It was otherwise witn Alastair, the handsomest of the zoo lions, and mate to Lurline, the African lioness who has just become the mother of cubs. Lurline has gone into retirement with her family, and the zoo keepers adopt the the practice of letting sleeping lions He. But Alastair guards the door where mother and cubs are in retreat. Paternity seems to have made him so amiable that no has allowed visitors to pat him through the bars of his cage.—An exchange. A SHELL ROCK GARDEN Wouldn't you like to have a rock garden of your very own, even if it was only a miniature one? When you are at the seaside, collect as many shells as possible of different shapes and sizes, take them home with you—or, perhaps, you are already at home and have taken lots of shells bacK with vou—and paint them in pretty colours*. Arrange these artistically in vour own little patch of garden, and you will be surprised how pretty they wnl look. You can add a tiny pond sunk in flat tin, with a few flowers and a tiny figure here and there.—An exchange. CORAL You must all have seen pieces of coral at one time or another, says a writer In an English exchange, but perhaps you didn't know that it is made of skeletons. Coral Is not a rock: it is an animal something like a sea-anemone, jelly-like and soft, and of an olive-brown colour. It has many tentacles round its mouth, and when it has caught its food It floats it through its body on a stream of water, which it is continually sucking in. This sea water contains lime, and somehow tne coral animal draws the lime from the water and uses it to build a tiny platform for it to rest on. Gradually it makes a home for itself out of lime, and in that it lives till it dies. Then the next coral animal comes along and builds its lime shell on top of the old one, and so on. After thousands of years billions of these creatures will have made a huge mass of lime, which may come above the surface of the sea and make a coral island. The Great Barrier Reef, off Australia, is hundreds of miles long, yet every inch of it was made by these tiny creatures. THE TALE OF THOMAS THE CAT Miss Lucinda Fett lived in a red brick house with a basket of geraniums over the porch, and a cushion for her cat Thomas in a warm corner of the kitchen. If she had not made him very comfortable, Thomas would not have stayed with her a day. for he liked his freedom, and every night at 9 o'clock Miss Lucinda would take the front door key off the nail and turn it in the lock so that none could go out or in again that night. " Early to bed, early to rise,' Miss Lucinda would say. hanging the *.oy up on the nail again Thomas would stare sulkily back at her out of his golden lamplike eyes. Night time was the time he enjoved best a stroll in the garden or a little visit to relations. Sometimes Mis. Lucinda would forget to lock the panti\\ window as well, and Thomas took care not to remind her, for he could push it open quite easily with his paw and enjoy a whole night leaping over (ho flower beds and singing songs with his friends. When morning came he would be sitting beside the can of milk on the doorstep, waiting to be let in; anvl then all the day he would sleep on his cushion, making up for lost time, which meant that he was very poor company for his mistress. " Really, Thomas is so inconsiderate." she told all her friends. " I would send him away to-morrow if it were not that I am so afraid of burglars." Thomas did not know in the least what a burglar was like, but he was not afraid of anyone. When the moon shone bright then was the time he mo* grudged spending his nights in th'.' house. At last one evening when Miss Lucinda Fett had gone to visit a friei.rl. he took the door-key carefully clown from its nail and hid it under a bowl on the dresser. Miss Lucinda searened and searched without success So she had to be satisfied with a chali pushed under the handle to keep the door shut, and a poker and tongs arranged so as to fall down with a clatter and warn her if a burglar tried to get in. Thomas waited until she had gone up to bed. Then he softly and carefully threaded his way between the flreiron* and the chair, pushed the door open with his paw, and was out in the moonlight in an instant. His friend Peterkin from next door was waiting for bun, and together they, had a very pleasant time, sitting on walls together and climb ing various roofs. At last Thomas said regretfully i think I had better go home now." and was crossing the lawn, when to his Intense surprise he saw a large black something go up to the front door and slip through it before him " What's that? " squeaked Peterkin ' I think it must be a burglar.' said Thomas, and opening his mouth gave a terrible yell, so that Miss Lucindj should hear and come down to protect him. "My goodness! the nurglai sata to himself, "that's a noise fit to waken the neighborhood! I'd better be going' And he rushed away again, quicker than he had come. " What is it? " cried Miss Lucinda, sticking her head, with a big nightcap on it, through the banisters. " Don't be afraid," said Thomas grandly, • that was only a burglar. He's gone awav now I frightened him." "Brave Thomas!" said little Miss Lucinda. ' You shall have a saucer of cream this minute, although it is 12 o'clock at night. And in future I shall leave the pantry window just a little open at the top, so that you can come in and out as you like."

Thomas walked purring towards the little white saucer she laid down for him. And Peterkin, seeing he was not invited, walked sadly into the garden again, wishing very much that he could find a burglar, too.—An exchange.