THE BROKEN CORKS STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1928, Page 20

THE BROKEN CORKS STORY.

Theodora was pulling a cork out of a bottle of ink, but the cork refused to come out whole and broke into little bits. “It's not my fault,” murmured the cork. “I was a first stripping." ‘Tieasc explain, dear cork!” said Theodora. “With pleasure, dear Theodora! I was once part of the bark of a tree which grew in Portugal. When the tree was about twenty years old its master decided to strip it. He ripped off all the bark, taking great care not to harm the inner skin of the tree, and sold it. The bark, or cork, was boiled to remove the acids in it, but because it was the first stripping of the tree it was sold cheaply; it was not fine, and in places it was full of holes.” “And will there be a second stripping?” asked Theodora. “Yes; in about ten years the tree will produce excellent cork, and it will go on giving cork every ten years or so til! it dies at the ago of seventy or a hundred. Cork is extremely useful, Theodora, as you will see if you look round.” Theodora looked round, but saw nothing, and the cork smiled. “I’m not only used for stoppers,” it said. “Ground down to powder and compressed, I’m used for bath mats; and if you look at your father’s cigarette you will probably see a cork tip.” “Of course!” cried Theodora. “And you make life-belts, don’t- you, because, you float in water? And I’ve seen cork floors in hospitals because you kill noise, don’t you? And soldiers in tropical lands wear cork helmets because you keep out the heat. Fancy all that really growing on a tree for ten years! Cork, you’re much more interesting than I thought.” A PRESENT FOR DADDY This ie a nice present for daddy, children, and one which you will enjoy making. It is a stand, to hang upon the wall, in which ho can keep his pipe clearers and spills, and which he will find very useful when he is sitting smoking in the evening. Get a good, stiff piece of cardboard, pencil the outline of a big moth, then cut it out. Cover the cardboard with leather, cloth, or velvet; glue the covering on, and punch little holes all the way round through which to bind the edges, using strands of leather, cloth, or ribbon for this purpose. You will notice that the body of the moth is double. Cut the second piece of material a little bigger than the cardboard body, fix it in position and hold it in place by the binding. The eyes are beads, and a ring is sewn to the top of the head by which the moth is hung on the wall.

The spots on the wings can be painted on, or they may be rounds of material glued on. A brown leather moth with purple velvet spots is most attractive.

Why is an eel like a P oe f?— Because he is a Long-fellow. • * * # What sort of a watch is always trying to make his fortune?—A gold hun- , ter.

A stand for pipe-cleaners and spills, to hang upon the wall.