LAUGHTER

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 23 (Supplement)

LAUGHTER

—PRIZE— When life’s all joy in the Springtime, Then laughter lives in the breeze, And dryads tiptoe, laughing, For Spring’s in the rustling trees. Then laughter thrills through the bird-songs. And babbles along the creek, Whispers along the sunbeams, And in every word we speak. An undercurrent of laughter, That lifts us up to the sky, When we chase such dancing shadows, Nor pause to wonder why. When the world is lilting, laughing, And feet are light as air For laughter thrills through the sunshine, And has found its way in there. ■—Prize of 2/- to Cousin Isobel McKenzie (14), Dipton. —PRIZE— Laugh if the day is dreary, Raindrops a-pattering down; Laugh though you’re feeling tired, Nobody likes a frown. Laugh if the wind blows hard, Laugh if it hails and snows. Who cares for Mr Wind. And all the tricks he knows? What if the folk around vou, All seem inclined to mope, Tell them that Laughter makes one Full of love and hope - T 1/- to Cousin Dorothy Jellyman (12), Queen street, Otautau.

VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. Behind the blue mountains, Stretch low level plains, Where the gum-trees are growing, In the hot dusty lanes. Something laughs, and he laughs Laughter so free, That the very still air, Rings with laughter of glee. His throat is ashaking, His bill opened wide, His laughter aquaking, I laughed till I cried. When I heard the old “Jackass” Laughing at me, Behind the blue mountains And over the sea. —3 marks to Cousin Ray McLeay (13), Otahu-Blackmount R.D., Otautau. VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. Laughter, and the song of birds, Make life bright and gay, Bringing joy and mirth to us, All the live long day. Then try to be bright and happy, And laugh life’s troubles away, For a wonderful cure is laughter, And there’s no doctor to pay. Laughter brightens up ones heart, When everything seems drear, 'What a gladsome thing is laughter, To our hearts it brings good cheer. —3 marks to Cousin Mabel Clarke (12), South Hillend, Winton R.D. VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. A lonely heart, and sad, And never a kindly word, No smile ever wreaths that face, No laughter here is heard. Winter’s gone, spring has come. To make his nest, goes the bird Sees the little lonely heart, That laughter never stirred. But soon the heart grew happy, Made so, by that bird of spring, Laughter filled the aching heart And helped the lips to sing. Smiles wreathed the lonely face, That life is full of cheer, The heart is bubbling over, With laughter rich and clear. —3 marks to Cousin Lilian Todd (16), Toa P.O. VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. It came upon the evening clear, The laughter of the hills, And, as I listened once again, I thought of all the thrills, That happy laughter brings. —3 marks to Cousin Gwen Waterhouse (14), Orepuki.

HIGHLY COMMENDED. Light fairy laughter, Floating through the air, It is ringing everywhere, Small fairy feet, Scarcely touch the ground. Dancing round and round. The laughter stops, The fairies startled turn, Go rushing through the fern. —2 marks to Cousin Constance Lloyd (12), Nightcaps, Beaumont R.D. HIGHLY COMMENDED. For laughter is just like a magical cure, It’ll cure all your various troubles I’m sure, Because nothing but laughter will help you along, Unless Jesters are bough* to sing many a song. —2 marks to Cousin Ita Griffin (12), Te Wae Wae, Southland. HIGHLY COMMENDED. In the twilight, after sundown, Behind the fems, and in the glen, I heard a silver gladsome voice go rippling, To the shadows on the hill. Golden laughter falling softly, From the clouds; as a gift from Heaven, Just a slight sweet peal of joy bells, As she passed, so silently. In the twilight after sundown, Behind the ferns and in the glen,. I heard a soft melodious echo go ripling, To the shadows on the hill. —2 marks to Cousin Frances Gibbon (15), 44 Cranley street, Tainui, Dunedin. COMMENDED. Summer is the time, when children are full of laughter; When they go rambling through the fields, And, Oh! how their voices echo mid the valleys, When holiday time appeals. —1 mark to Cousin Teresa Mary Knowler (11), Lillbum, Tuatapere. COMMENDED. Laughter makes the world so gay, Especially in the cold month of May, ’Cos the summer months are past, And the winter’s reigning fast. Even if you do feel sad, Whether or not you have been bad, Laugh and smile the time away, i And you’ll feel better the live-long day. —1 mark to Cousin Mary Lobb (13), Box 23, Edendale.