SCHOOL ESSAYS

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 51

SCHOOL ESSAYS

ELIZABETH AND HER RING. (By Doeothy Bowden, aged 12£ years.) Queen Elizabeth ruled over the whole of Eng« land. Of all her courtiers Essex was her favourite, and she Was so fond of him that she gave, him a sing, ana tola him Hurt i£ be eeufc

her that ring when he was in trouble she would do all ehe could to help him. At last Es6ex got into a scrape, and was tried and condemned lo death. Far away in thab lonely prison poor Edsex wondered how he could send the ring to Elizabeth. At last be seized the opportunity of sending it by the Countess of Nottingham, who promised to give ib to the Queen ; but the Earl of Nottingham persuaded his wife to keep the ring, and Elizabeth signed the warrant for her poor favourite's execution. Soon after this the countc-S3 became very ill, and, having senb for the Queen, told her all. Elizabeth would not forgive her, for she had loved Essex dearly, and was almost mad at the thought that he had died thinking her false.

By Kate Black (aged 13 years).

When Queen Elizabeth reigned in England she took a great liking to a young nobleman named Essex, who was very reckless, and consequently had made many enemies. He was cne of the tfficerß in the army abroad, and &o his enemies took advantage of his absence and told the Queen many bad things about him. Still, however, she remained as fond oi' him as ever, and presented him with a riog to send to her whenever hs might get into some sariou3 trouble. Soon after Essex was tried and condemned to death for being concerned in a revolt. He saw there was nothing else for it, and so hs gave the ring to the Counfcsss of Nottingham, who had visited him in prison. Her husband (fche Earl of Nottingham) would not let her give ib to the Queen, for he was a mortal enemy of Essex. Elizabeth, thinking h« was too proud and obstinate to send the ring, signed the warrant for his esecution. A few years after this the Countess of Nottingham fell sick, and, knowing she would die, her mind grew uneasy, and so she confessed her treachery to the Queea. Elizabeth became furious with passion, and in her rige shook the dying countess, and said she could never forgive her. A few weeks after this Eiizabeth died, and some historians say grief tor the loss of her favourite was the ca,u«e. THE LAND OF "HAKE-BELIEVE." It lies in the distance, dim and sweet, On the bordeia of Long Ago, And the road is worn by the little fes-t That have journeyed there to and fro ; And tboogu you may seek ifc'bj' night or day, The task you will never achieve, For ouly the little ones know the way To the land of "Make-Believe." Clad in the armour of F^ith they ride On the wiugs of theic fancy fleet. And we hear, aa we listen and wait outside The echo of laughter sweet. It lightens the burdens cf toil we bear, It brightens the hearts that grieve, Till we wish we could follow and enter there In the land of "Make-Bslieve." And ob, the wonderful tales that are told Of the marvellous sights they see ! For the weak grow strongandthe young grow old, And are each what they wish to be. Oh, the deeds of valour, tbe mighty things— Too bold for mind to conceive ! But these are everyday happening* In the land of "Make-Believe." Would you follow the print of the tiny feet You must walk, as they, undented ; Would you join in their fancies vure and sweet You mwt be as a little child. But in vaic should we seek it by night or day, The table we should never achieve ; For only the little ones know the way Td the land of " Make-Believe."