Friendship

Southland Times, Issue 22194, 9 December 1933, Page 22

Friendship

—Prize— One of the greatest things that helps to link together the peoples of all nations is friendship. It is a great help because you get to know more about the world and its inhabitants if you become friendly with, say, for instance, the natives of the countries in each hemisphere. Friendship also helps to tame and conquer the wild beasts, and passionate tempers. Think of all the things that you can do with animals if you are friendly towards them. You can make pets of them and teach them to do tricks. (My little brother has a doggie that will sit down, shake hands, and stand up, when you tell it to!) I remember reading a story in which there were two dogs, one, “Old Bob,” the other, “Chubby.” Well, these two were inseparable companions and if you saw one, the other was sure to be near at hand. One day a sad thing occurred. Poor “Chubby” died! The next day “Old Bob” was taken to his playmate’s grave. He seemed to understand, and every day after that he would visit the place where his doggie friend lay at rest. Now, what do you think of that for friendship? If you are friendly towards anything or anyone that thing or person will be ready to do anything at your bidding. So remember what can be done with friendship. It is always nice to get new friends, but the old ones are the best. It is best to make friends with someone you can trust—if you cannot trust a person with whom you have made friends you should guide that person back to the track of trustworthiness. If you are in danger, and you have many friends, you can stand more chances of being rescued, because a true friend would never - turn away from you. —2/- and 4 marks to Cousin Daphne Shields (12), Kennington. —Prize.— Pearl awoke with the pleasant feeling that something nice was going to happen. What was it now? Ah, yes a picnic! The day before a letter had arrived to say that her big cousin was coming over in his car to take her and her sisters to the beach. The big luncheon basket was already halfpacked. At ten o’clock the car would be here, then, what a time! There would be the long ride in the car, which in itself was a rare treat. Then the beach and bathing, exploring among the rocks, lunch under the shade of the trees, and all the delights of a seaside picnic. What a pity that Mollie could not be with them. Mollie was Pearl’s dearest friend, and lived some distance away. Alas, she was a little cripple, and had to be wheeled in a chair if she left home, which was not as often as she wished. Having no brothers or sisters, and with her mother busy it was not often that she got out very far. Pearl, however, went over every chance she had, and either wheeled her out or stayed and talked with her. With a bound Pearl leaped out of bed. The morning was beautiful, which was all that was needed to make a heavenly day. She soon had everyone astir, and the preparations went busily on. At nine o’clock everything was ready and everyone impatient to be off. Half-an-hour later a neighbour called in and left a note for “Miss Pearl.” Pearl recognized Mollie’s writing and eagerly opened the letter. “Dearest Pearl,” it ran, “Mother has to go to town to-day and Dad is away at work, come over for the day will you? Yours lovingly, Mollie.” Pearl’s heart sank. She loved to spend a day with her friend, but to-day, of all days! It was so unfortunate that she could not go, just when Mollie was left alone. She would go over to-morrow and explain. Then she thought of Mollie, alone all day, not able even to get out into the sunshine. Pearl made her decision—she would forfeit the picnic. She explained to the rest, who did not worry very much as long as it did not prevent them goin.'j. Then she cut off across the fields, for she could not bear to wait and see the others off. As she neared Mollie’s house she saw her cousin’s car raising the dust as it flew to gather its happy load. However, the delight in her friend’s eyes as Pearl stepped inside, did much to ease the pain of missing the picnic.

After she had made a cup of tea for them both, she .wheeled Mollie out to the road for a little outing. They enjoyed the beautiful morning so much that Pearl thought very little of the treat she had given up, and as Mollie knew nothing of it Pearl never mentioned it. As they were turning a sharp bend a car came quickly round, in the opposite direction. Had Pearl not turned the chair quickly there would have been a bad accident. As it was the chair tilted over, and upset Mollie on the road! The car was quickly pulled up, and the driver, a gentleman, came over and courteously asked if any damage was done. “I am a doctor,” he said, “so I may be of use.” Mollie assured him that, beyond a shaking she was not hurt, but he insisted on making an examination. At the same time he inquired about her ailments. When he had finished he said to Mollie, “Do you know, I believe I could cure you with a slight operation? Would your parents let me try?” Minnie was sure they would, so he arranged to call next day. Consent was eagerly given and Mollie was sent to where the operation would be performed. Three weeks later Pearl was pulling the weeds from among some flowers when she heard a footstep. Looking up she saw, to her amazement and delight, Mollie walking, cured! What a joyous reunion it was, and what happy days they could now spend together, but Pearl sometimes trembles to think, that, if she had been selfish and gone to the picnic, her friend may never have met the doctor who was able to bring about such a happy state of affairs. —4 marks and 2/- to Cousin Connie Jellyman (14), Queen street, Otautau.

—Highly Commended—- “ Friendship is a chain of love, That binds two friends together, If this chain you do not break, We will be friends for ever. Author unknown. Friendship—what a wonderful word, full of friendly feeling, known by all inhabitants of our world to-day. What would we do without friendship? I often ask myself. Ah! my answer is this: The world would go to wrack and ruin. No one would care for us, no one would think of the suffering and dying but it is well to have a little friendship how small it may be. Friendship—this word has a wonderful warmth of feeling in it. In every home in Southland every one is linked up with this wonderful thoughtful feeling. If it wasn’t for this word every one would be in the background, no trade would pass between our neighbours, no happy faces would shine on the earth, and no kind word would greet the poor, weary labourer as he wearily trudged home from a good day’s work alone. Friendship—it is the relationship between all trading countries. If it wasn’t for friendship no trade would pass between each country. They would have no exports and no imports, all would be “New Zealand made.” The country would not progress but for this feeling Nothing would be marked, “British made,” or “Foreign made.” All countries would break out into war. Britain would not be linked up with New Zealand or any other country. Everyone would be ill at ease, but—Friendship—it is a natural living element everyone feels it, even the little Southlanders young or old. Everywhere she goes, she makes a loyal, true and faithful friend as she passes by. She makes every one happy, drives away the blues and makes her home cheery with her merry chatter, love, loyalty, freedom and goodwill to everything and everyone, is what I call Friendship. —3 marks to Cousin Lilian Todd. (13) Toa. —Highly Commended.— The boys at St Albans had all received a lecture on friendship. Albert Rockland walked off, away from his comrades, to think of the lecture. He was a ready, willing lad, always happy to help anybody. Ronald Allen, with a few other boys whom he thought were his friends, as they always went together taunted and teased him continually. Albert was meditating over the lecture when Ronald and his followers came up. “Good afternoon Al,” said Ronald mockingly. “Hullo Ron, so you’re here again,” replied Albert quietly, “have you been so kind as to made another joke for me?” It was the habit of Ronald to invent some joke for Albert each day, so you can see there was no friendship to Albert from Ronald. “Certainly,” said Ronald. Two weeks later we find Ronald and his friends walking along a riverbank. Spying a bird-nest in one of the trees Ronald climbed swiftly up the tree and soon reached the nest. He started down, but before he had gone very far he found he was locked in the branches. After struggling for some time, and not succeeding, he asked his comrades to help him. But his followers just laughed and went on. After a good deal of trouble, Ronald at last succeeded in freeing himself. He soon reached the ground and went on his way. He bit his lip with anger as he remembered that his best friends had not even offered the slightest help

and made him get all the scratches he had. A few minutes later he decided to have a bathe. He cut back to school and returned to the bathing-shed with his costume and towel. In a few moments he was in the cool water of the river. After swimming lazily about for some time, he turned to swim back to the shed. He was getting along all right when his head suddenly struck a rock. He was half dazed by the knock, but at that moment he saw his companions who had left him in the tree, strolling along the bank. “Help! help!” he cried. “Why should we?” asked one of the boys, and went off with the others. Ronald drifted on and no help came to him. Many times he called, but without success. At last, when he had almost given up hope, a figure came bounding through the trees. It was Albert Rockland. Swiftly he dived into the water and rescued Ronald. Pulling him ashore he tied a handkerchief round his head and carefully brought him back to school. “You are my best friend now.” said Ronald. Later Albert was asked by the head, what made him rescue Ronald. “Er-er friendship, sir,” he said. —3 marks to Cousin Gray Anderson (9), Don street, Invercargill. —Highly Commended— The dog was a long haired, silvergrey collie with beautiful, big eyes. Its eyes were lifted now in a supplicating appeal to the tall, thick-set villainous figure that was standing over him in a threatening manner. It was a tinker, dark, sturdy, strong, and every inch of him proclaiming his laziness—his boots broken and dusty, his top-hat—-if it could be called such—and his widely-cut trousers falling so far over his boots that they wrinkled up in many creases. The dog was held on a leash close to the river bank, while the ruffian belaboured the unfortunate brute mercilessly with a club; two stones were fixed to the dog’s collar by two pieces of thick, cordy twine. The air was filled with piercing yells, while the poor brute struggled madly to escape that brutal club. Bursting through a screen of young pines, Drummond took it all in at one glance and dashing forward he yelled to the man, “Drop that club!” “Hold vour tongue, man, I’ll beat him till he hasn’t a bone left in his body and then I’ll drown him!” and with these words he raised his club to strike again. Drummond seized his wrist and wrested the club from him, but the tinker was too quick for him, for ducking under his arm he dragged the dog to its feet and flung it into the river, where, the poor thing weighed down by the stones vanished at once. Drummond pulling his boots off jumped in where the dog disappeared but the river being very deep and swift the descent seemed endless. At last catching a glimpse of a dark bundle at the bottom he was forced to propel himself with a mighty shove of his feet to the surface, to fill his lungs, and with a dive, swift and sure he had darted down again. Keeping the muzzle of the unconscious brute’s head above the water he struggled manfully to reach the bank. It was doubtful if he had succeeded, but by grasping a handful of tough reed he managed to draw his burden and himself out. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered himself he set to work on artificial respiration. He was, after a work of about half-an-hour, rewarded by the faint beating

of the pulse. He seized a flask and forcing the brandy down the dogs throat he was rejoiced to find the dog recovering strength quite quickly. He looked round, the tinker had disappeared. Later on that evening-he was preparing his supper by the riverside when the dog, now fully recovered, slunk up to him and rubbed itself against him. Drummond pretended to take no notice and setting down a plate of scraps before the dog he turned away. Packing up later he was setting out on his lonely road when the creature refreshed by the food, rose on its hind legs, and, putting its paws on the man’s chest, licked his face. Drummond fondled it gently and said it’s a beauty! a thorough bred every hair of it! I took you from the jaws of death and I’ll keep you! I need a pal to talk to.” Understandingly the dog raised its beautiful eyes to its master’s face, whined softly and followed quietly in his footsteps. —3 marks to Cousin Evelyn Cameron (13) 13 Bann street, Bluff. —Highly Commended— Pamela and Philippa were inseparable chums at Sherwood Priory, a boarding school in England on the border of Sherwood Forest where in olden times Robin Hood resided. Now, as is the usual custom at boarding schools the girls of the “Little John” dormitory (called after Little John) held revels in the middle of the night. These revels or games were generally held on the first night of the term. Each term the girls played a different game so as to baffle the prefects who were bent upon catching the conspirators. The game this particular term was called “seeking” or “hunting;” the players having to select a “fox” who hid herself somewhere and the first one to find her received a prize. After drawing lots it fell to Pamela to be the “fox” so she set off just as the clock was striking midnight. By the time the minutes allotted to hide were over Pamela was well hidden and was sure she would not be found for a long time so she dropped off to sleep. In the meantime the others were searching diligently for Pamela and no one saw a dark phantom-like figure slip noiselessly into the very room where Pamela hid; this room happened to be Miss Larke’s studio. When Pamela awoke two hours later she little knew that something very valuable in the shape of a gold watch had been stolen out of the studio while she slumbered peacefully. Creeping back to the dormitory she discovered that the rest had gone back to bed, so she tumbled in again too. Next morning when Miss Larke discovered her loss she asked if any girl had been in her studio during the last twenty-four hours, and Pamela being ■ an honest girl confessed that she had. Everyone stared at her in disgust but she calmly told her story. As she was the only one who appeared to have been in the studio the rest of the girls (except Philippa) condemned her for stealing the watch, and taunted her cruelly. In other words they had sent her to Coventry but Philippa still remained Pamela’s staunch friend till the right had conquered the wrong. In other words, one day the watch was found in a girl named Peggy Grant’s drawer and the culprit then confessed to having stolen the watch. She was punished severely. Of course Pamela was cleared of all suspicion but she declared that she, at least, knew what true friendship was during those hard, cruel weeks of taunting and jeering at the hands of her school-fellows. —3 marks to Cousin Iris Tuffery (12) Dacre. —Commended — One of the most common things in the wide world is “Friendship.” This is caused in different ways; one most popular way being by correspondence. The meaning of friendship is: intimacy based on mutual esteem. We often notice different papers where people in foreign lands wish to correspond. For instance one girl in Saskatchewan, Canada, wants to write to people in New Zealand. Sometimes we might be walking along a street with one of our friends, and she might meet one of her pals who she will make shake hands with us. This is called introducing, and it is certainly a way of making friendship. One of the most common sayings is: When true friends part they should lock up one another’s secrets and change the keys. This is also called friendship; and the meaning connected with it is: if one friend parts with another they should keep each other’s secrets to themselves and never mention them. However there are many other ways by which friendship can be joined and not disjoined. —1 mark to Cousin Doreen Isabelle Thomson, (11), Limehills, Centre Bush. —Commended — What a joy—an inspiration—is friendship! The innermost parts of all are stirred to living fire by the thoughts of a true friend whose love bums fiercely for you! Someone, who can hear all griefs and joys—failures and accomplishments—with an unfailing sympathy which no other can offer. What a weather of meaning and understanding there is in friendship! That poignant thing which stirs all the senses as one—the thing which is a deep, yet quiet, affection made and founded on mutual agreement. Friendship is always mutual—stirring unspeakable emotion in two minds. Love rises to intensest passion but friendship cannot be spoken of passionately. What a true friend we find in the One above —how He shows us exactly what friendship is! And so the world goes on—petty friendship made and marred constantly —but true friendships never failing. —2 marks to Cousin Edith Mclnnes (14) 9 Duke street, Invercargill —Commended— Far away from any town, lived a little boy. His name was Jack, and he would have been very lonely, only for his dog, whose name was Roy. They were very close friends, and Jack was very kind to his pet dog. In fact their friendship was so close, that never once did the dog stray from his master’s side. Jack, who was only nine years old, lived with, his father and mother on a farm, where a few cows were kept. Every afternoon when he set out for the cows, he took Roy w - ith him. One day, when Jack and his dog were quite a long distance from home, Jack stumbled and hurt his ankle. As he lay on the ground, quite unable to walk, and thinking of what he should do, away dashed his faithful dog, straight for home. When the dog reached there, Jack’s father was alarmed to see no signs of his son. Roy wagged his tail, ran back a little then forward, till he had the man following him—right to the spot where Jack was. His father quickly picked him up and carried him. safely home. Was he not a very clever dog to think of going home to attract attention? It was friendship indeed! —2 marke to Cousin Annie Lawrie, (14) Glencoe R.D.