Girl Guides

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 19

Girl Guides

By

“BIG GUIDE"

Thought for the Week. If your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care: To whom you speak, of whom you speak, And how and when and where. BROWNIES. As this is very specially your own column this week, the thought also has been chosen for you. I am sure that it you learn those four lines, and remember to think of them before you speak, you will be real Brownies and later on real Guides and Rangers. Perhaps 8.0. would allow you to repeat them together during “Pow Wow.” Will you ask her? IF I KNEW. If I knew the box where the smiles are kept, No matter how large the key Or strong the bolt, I would try so hard, ’Twould open, I know, for me. Then over the land and the sea, broadI’d scatter the smiles at play, That the children’s faces might hold them fast For many and many a day. If I knew the box that is large enough To hold all the frowns I meet, I would like to gather them, every one, From nursery, school and street. Then folding, and holding, I’d pack them in, And, turning the monster key, I’d hire a giant to drop the box To the depth of the deep, deep sea. Those Germs. “Dear, oh dear me,” said Fairy Queen, “I’m at my wits’ end.„ I just don’t know what to do next.” The Council of Rata Land was holding a meeting and Fairy Fuchsia had just finished making her report. She told the meeting that the Germs who inhabited the Swamp on the western border were “on strike.” Now you must know that these "wee ’ people were the Measles family, Influenza family, Scarlet Fever family and ever so many more, all related to each other in some way, and all having the most enormous families. A Measles and an Influenza had decided they were tired of Swampland and wanted to explore. They are very tiny and they can travel very fast and do you know they landed on the Earth World amongst the mortals. They had so good a time that

when they returned all their brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts even down to the forty-second cousins made up their minds they were also going exploring. That is why Fairy Queen and her councillors were so worried. “What do you suggest we do,” asked Pixie Kowhai. No one answered until suddenly Sprite Clematis jumped up and shouted “I know; I have it. You all know those “littlest ones” amongst the mortals, our Brownies who belong so specially to us and join in our games and leam our lore.” All the fairies began to look interested. Clematis continued, “Sprites, Gnomes, Pixies, Elfs, will all go down to Earth to-night. You can travel quickly on a Moonbeam and ea \ of you will whisper to a Brownie all about the invasion of the Germs.” Quite breathless she sat down again. “Thank you,” said Fairy Queen, “that is a splendid idea, but you must tell the Brownies that the Germs are their enemies and they must fight them. You will tell them how they must carefully look after their bodies, eat good, plain food, take plenty of exercise, wear suitable clothes and sleep a reasonable time with their windows wide open. Tell them also to keep away from people who are ill, because those wicked Germs will do everything to cause an epidemic.” The Fairies did exactly as they were told and the Brownies of course did as they were told and that is why in a very short time all those germs Mr Measles and his family, Mr Influenza and his family, Mr Scarlet Fever and his family and hosts of brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts even to the forty-sec-ond cousins returned to Swampland in a very bad temper indeed. Ten little germs all waiting in a line Somebody sneezed, and then there were nine. Nine little germs prayed they would not be too late, Another vicious sneeze and then there were eight. Eight little germs fighting shy of air from heaven, Someone blew a hearty blow and then there were seven. Seven little gerrns getting up to naughty tricks, Sent one flying from the office, then there were six. Six little germs feeling very much alive, One set out to spread a cold and then there were five. Five little frisky germs, playing on the floor, One got caught up in a draught and then there were four. Four little germs went out upon the spree, One got roasted on the pipes and then there were three, Three little squirming germs, to diseases true, Another went on illness bent, and then there were two. Two little saucy germs, out to have

some fun, One got stifled in the office, and then there was one.

One little sorry germ playing all alone, The window wide let in fresh air, And then there were none. One little, two little, three little, four little, five little saucy germs, Six, little, seven little, eight little, nine little, ten little cheeky germs. The Two Bags. There is a very old story that says that every man carries two bags, one in front and the other behind him. In the front bag he puts other men’s faults, and in the other his own. Thus it is always easy to see the faults of others, but very hard to remember those he has himself. The Owl. I don’t suppose that every Brownie has seen a real owl, but I expect 8.0. has told you she lives in the bush. Owls build their nests in hollow trees, or sometimes on the ground at the foot of a tree. Sometimes they are lazy and use a nest left by other birds. The feathers on Mrs Owl’s back are reddish brown, and underneath they _ are lighter brown. Unlike most other birds, she wears trousers, that is to say, her legs are feathered down to her toes. She lays three or four glossy white eggs. The owl stays in her own part of the bush all the year. She does “good turns” by devouring mice and destructive insects and so protecting the farmer’s grain. What noise does the Brown Owl make? Contributions. Brownies I want this column once a month to be yours, but it can’t be that truly if I do all the writing, now can it? I know there are things you could have told me. Some of you took part in a swimming carnival, some in a flying up ceremony and I expect there are things I don’t know about at all. However I haven’t been altogether neglected. A Brownie from St. Peter’s Pack (Invercargill) sent me a collection of berries she had made. Thank you, Phyllis. Then, too, I received a tiny collection of feathers from the same pack. I think we might try that collection again next year. Best of all. I received ever such a nice letter beautifully tidy and neat from a Brownie of First Church Pack (Invercargill). Some of it I am publishing, but I can’t show you how well it was written. You should have most of your autumn leaves by now, because very soon the trees will have lost their leaves. I wonder if you have noticed which trees have yellow and red leaves, which have only red and which only yellow. I am asking you for those collections, immediately after the term holidays; be sure and ask 8.0. what to do with them when they are quite dried. In the meantime here are some questions and I shall give a prize to the best set of answers I receive before next Saturday. You may find out the answers in any way you like, but I’d be gladdest if you discovered them for yourself. 1. What badges does Brown Owl wear on her tie? 2. What badge does Tawny Owl wear on her hat? 3. What does Pack Leader wear which shows she is a Brownie? 4. What is a lanyard? 5. Does Commissioner wear a lanyard? . , , 6. What colour is captains tie? 7. What does Commissioner wear on the side of her hat? 8. When do you get your Golden hand? 9. What does “Lah” mean? 10. What colour is Brown Owl’s tie? Here is my letter:— Dear “Big Guide,”—l am writing to tell you about the social we had for our Tawny Owl. We commenced it by playing games, which were most exciting. We then had a small concert with about 12 items. We had a potato race for every child there. Gloria Dawson came first in the children’s race; we had a woman’s race, and my mother came first. The Brownie received a rabbit with an Easter egg on it. My mother received an Easter egg with pretty, coloured silver paper wrapped round it. After the prizes were given out, we had supper. We had cakes, sandwiches, buns and biscuits. We presented Tawny Owl with a box of tea spoons and put notes on the presentation and the last one was ‘To Towny Owl from all the Brownies.’ We formed a ring and gave her the Grand Howl. After that the committee gave her two coloured bowls in the same manner. She then thanked us and we went home. On her wedding day, we formed a Guard of Honour. —Sent in by Brownie Betty Peterson (First Church Brownie Pack). GENERAL NOTES. ’ Child Nurse Examinations. I would remind the Invercargill Guides who have entered fox* the Child Nurse badge that to-day at 3 p.m. Miss Wameke will give her first lecture at Karitane. Lectures will be given on the three succeeding weeks-and candidates must attend three out of four times. Badges for May. Ambulance, artist, embroiderer, health, needlewoman, writer, fire brigade. It has been my intention to give some instruction in badge work this year and I propose to begin next week with the health badge. Easter Camp. Yes, it was evidently an enormous success and I am hoping that someone who was there will write to me about it. I’d like a letter from Otautau, Ryal Bush and Lumsden Guides, because none of them had ever camped, before. Do tell me your impressions. “Wharemoana” has been vastly improved. There are two “de luxe” fireplaces with oven and all and a good chimney and you don’t have to stoop till your back is broken and weep with the smoke. Our very grateful thanks are due to Mr Alington for these necessary and valuable additions. The bunk room will be a great asset. There is accommodation there for 12 guides, which means that small parties can camp at any time without tents. This room has still to be paid for, but one feels sure that, realizing how valuable this extra room will be, the Guides will all get together and earn the necessary money. What is urgently needed now are cupboards and shelves in the main building for storing. At present there is nothing at all for this purpose. However, in the meantime, payment has to be made for what has been done and it is up to you, Guides. Provincial Meeting. The next meeting will be held on Friday at 2.30 p.m. Please note the time. The local association will hold its bi-monthly meeting on the same afternoon at 4 o’clock Guiders’ Meeting. The first guiders’ meeting will be held on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. The meeting will be devoted to consideration of ceremonial, enrolment, company and roll call drill etc. Please call come; a meeting is only successful when every one attends and contributes her share. GUIDES. Our Recruits. I expect that you still find that you do forget the order of the Guide Laws unless you say them straight through and that is rather cumbersome. Leam these lines; they will be very helpful:— “Trusty, loyal, helpful, Sisterly, courteous, kind, Obedient, cheerful, thrifty, Pure as the rustling wind.” A Useful Game. It is adapted from the “Priest of the Parish” and can be used as a company or Patrol Game. Guides sit in a circle

and captain sits in the centre and says: A Tenderfoot Guide must know her laws And never, never, never pause, Number "five.” As she says the number, she points to a Guide, who must give the main word “courteous” before Captain counts 10. Thus:— Captain: Number 5; 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, — Guide Courteous. Captain: Yes, courteous. Guide: No, not courteous? Captain: Well, what then? Guide (pointing to someone else): Number 2 (she then counts 10). The same conversation follows with

“loyal” instead of “courteous.” A Guide who fails to answer in time loses a mark for her Patrol. Each Patrol could begin with 20 marks. Therefore, Gretchen, leam your laws thoroughly, otherwise you’ll lose marks for your Patrol and you don’t want to do that Composition of the Union Jack. To-night P.L. has put the Union Jack on the notice board and below it you will see three other flags. The first is the red cross on a white flag; that is the flag of St. George (England). The next is white diagonal cross on a blue flag (Scotland) and the third is a red diagonal cross on a white flag

(Ireland). These three together form the Union Jack—the national flag of the British Empire. Now look at the flag carefully and see the correct way to fly it. The red diagonal arms of the flag have a narrow white band on one side of them and a broad one on the other. The broad one should be at the top of the flag on the side nearest to the flag post, that is the “hoist,” and towards the bottom of the flag in the loose end, the “fly.” For next meeting will you draw all the flags on stiff drawing paper and label them clearly. We need several sets, because they come in for games and making them will assist your memory.