FOR THE CHILDREN

Temuka Leader, Issue 10894, 20 August 1932, Page 4

FOR THE CHILDREN

CONDUCTED BY “COUSIN MAUY ANN”

also into their own

Temuka, August 20, 1932. Dear Cousins, You are a lot of Joyous cousins to-day lessons and books are lelt behind, and you are starting off on a fortnight of carefree days. Ducky little people, 1 do hope you have plenty of sunshine, so that you can be out all day to romp with your mates and your pets. I have a pleasant surprise for you this week, my dears, Mr Printerman has very kindly invited you all to come into the “Leader” office any Dime you are in town, and see the little ink imps busy at work, and while you arc there each of you will receive a metal stamp with his or her name set ill, so that you can use it for stamping your name on your school books. We will be very pleased to see you so he sure to come, won t you dears? Our page'is still increasing, as you see we have another new cousin, we are growing quite important, aren’t we. Don’t forget about our competition will . you, I would like as many suggestions as I can, possibly get. I have added an enrolment form to eyir page this week, and I want all cousins, old and new, to fill it in and send it with your next letter. Don’t you think Cousin Snowdrop’s idea for a ‘‘Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard,” is a wonderful one We could bring sunshine into the

NEXT WEEK’S COMPETITION 1/6 PRIZE 1/6 for BEST SUGGESTION FOB WORD OK PHRASE OF WELCOME. sent in to this Page

lives of such a lot of little people at Christmas time couldn’t we; so when you scud in your ideas or contributions mark them, then I will be able to distinguish them from ouv Busy Bees’ Corner. Well I must close now and leave room for our correspondence. Cheerio till next week. Heaps of Love, COUSIN MARY ANN. * * * Hangilata, August 17, 1932. Dear Cousin Mary Ann, —I have heard about your children’s circle, and I would like to join. I can knit. This winter I have knitted a scarf for myself and one for my little sister. I will knit, some sqmv.res for the blankets you are making for the unemployed men’s children, if you let me know exactly how yon want them made. Yours faithfully, RAYMOND POD A SCI IE K. (The very biggest of welcomes Raymond. We would love to have you for a member. You are a clever ittlc person, your little sister would he pleased with her nice wairm scarf, I am sure. Cast on 3G stiches for your squares and knit till it measures six inches square. I would like you to write again soon Raymond and fill in our enrolment form. Perhaps you would like to suggest a pen-name for yourself.— C.M.A.). * * * Geraldine, August 19, 1932. Dear Cousin Mafry Ann, —I am very sorry I did not send my knitting when 1 promised I would, but

’.VAW.VAW.V.'.W.VWV.W JOIN COUSIN MARY ANN’S PAGE Fill this in and send to; COUSIN MARY ANN. C/o "LEADER” OFFICE, TEMUKA. ENROLMENT FORM Name Age Birthday. Address..

1 was unable to linish it, as I have been ill; But I will hit you have it. as soon as possible. Do you think it would be a good idea to start a ‘‘Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard,” for lho benefit of the little children, whose parents cannot afford presents for them at Christmas time? We could all help to make woolly toys or other things. If we made scrap hooks it could he a competition one week as well, couldn’t it? 1 hope you like the idea as I feci .sure the boys like the idea as I feel sure the boys and girls would like to help fill tho ‘‘Cupboard,” don't you? I am sending in a phrase for the competition this week, and I hope it is the kind you wanted. I will he glad when the summer is hare, won’t you Cousin Mary Ann? Do you play tennis? I love playing, but I am not verygood at it yet. Thank you Cousin Mary Ann for awarding me tho prize for tho most suggestions for games. 1 was pleased to see 1 had won.

Those who bring happiness into the lives of others briny it

What is the age limit, for cousins joining I he page? Well 1 have no more news so I will close. Love from. COUSIN SNOWDROP. Hullo Cousin Snowdrop i you rlre quite a busy little person these days. 1 am so sorry you have been ill but. a good holiday will soon make you all-right again, won’t it. Thanks ever ,so much for your bright idea, yes, I am certain our little friends will help us. Thanks for your word of welcome, it will be kept and judged with the rest next week. There is no age limit to our page, so ask any of your little friends to join us and they will lie ever welcome.—C.M.A.). * * ♦ WHAT AM 1? In Die centre of fashion, I am over at home. Though never In Paris, in London. or Rome. 1 shun every city, (every village, and town. But reign in a hamlet like a king on his throne, Yet 1 speak hut in whispers of gentlest breath, And when honour is mentioned I am silent, as death. I am heard in the mansion and seen in the hall, And often am heard when not seen at all. ! I have one seat at home and two in the church. And here I’ll be found at the end of your search. Answer next week. * * * DIRKS A Duck before two ducks, a duck behind two ducks, and a duck between two ducks. How many ducks were there. Answer next week. (Sent in by Fairybell) Why is your coat like a banana skin ? Because it is easy to slip on. » * * WHAT AM I? In huts or places I am found, In corners high or low. And often though 1 have no wings, I take a little fly. Answer next week. I'm a cheerful little fellow Rejoicing in the heal. Whether it comes from warm coal } fire Or log of wood or peat. Again f love the sunny day. In park or grassy held, Where neuth my banner man or child, Their utmost prowess wield. (Answer next week). • * * HIDDEN NAMES OF FIS FIT In this little verse are hidden the names of five fruits. Can you lind them?” Go, range through every clime, where'er The patriot muse appears, His deeds of valour antedates, Tils ban an army fears. Answer next week. ♦ * * FAMOUS FILM STAR Take three consecutive letters from each of the following three sentences, and you will have the name of a famous film star. ‘‘l have asked him to bring it many times,” she said. The shelves were piled with tins of toffeo and sweets. Just as they arrived. Elsie was putting on her coat. Answer next week. * ♦ ' * SQUARE WORDS See if you can work out this set of four words each having four letters, in order to build a word square. The shape of an egg. A valley. Montains in Europe. Not so many. Answer next week. * * * GIRLS’ -NAMKS There are three girls names of three letters each, which if you place them in a column will form a wordsquare. Answer next week. ♦ * * WORD building Can you make live different words out of the following letters, using all of them for each word, and adding no others, E R S A P Answer next week, * * * RIDDLES As I went through the garden gap, Who should 1 meet but Dick Red Cap! A stick in his hand, a stone in his throat If you’ll tell me this riddle I’ll give you a groat. Answer next week. (Sent in by Tinkerbell). » * * THE MOUSE AND THE FAKE A mouse found a beautiful piece of plum-cake, The richest and .sweetest that mortal could make; | ’Twas heavy with citron ami frag-

rant, with spice, And covered with sugar all sparkling as ice. “Hurrah!” cried the mouse, while his eye beamed with glee; “Here’s a. treasure I’ve found! what a feast it will be! But, hark! there’s a mouse—’Lis my brothers at play, So I’ll hide with (he cake, lest they wander this way. “Not a bit shall they have: for 1 know I can eat Every morsel myself, and I’ll have such a treat!” So off went the mouse as he held the cake fast, While his hungry young brothers went scampering past. He nibbled, and nibbled, and panted, but still He kept gulping it down till ho made himself ill; Yet lie swallowed it all, and ’lis easy to guess, He was soon so unwell that he groaned with distress. His family heard him; and ais he grew worse. They went for the doctor, who made him rehearse How he’d eaten the cake to the very last crumb, Without giving his playmates and relatives some. “Ah! me!” cried the doctor, “advice. is too late; You must die before long, so prepare for your fate: If you had but divided the cake with ’ your brothers, ’Twould have done you no harm, and been good for the others. “Had you shared it, the treat had been wholesome enough; But oaten by one, it was dangerous stuff: So prepare for the worst.” And the word hud scarce lied, When the doctor turned round, and .patient was dead. Now, all little people the lesson may take. And some large ones may learn from the mouse and the cake Not to be over-selfish with what wc may gain, Or the best of our pleasures may turn into pain. —Eliza Cook. * * * OUB SERIAL THE MONEY LENDER Part I There was once upon a time a rich man who had a hard-working servant named .John, Every morning .John was the first to get up, and every night he was the last to come in. Whenever there was a job that needed special care, this servant always offered to do it. Moreover, John ‘never grumbled, but was contented with whatever his master gave him. After his first year of service was ended, his mauler gave him no wages. “I will save it for you.” he said. During Die second year John did his work as well as he had done it during the and again his master said lie would keep his wages for him. At the end of the third year, however, John said; “1 have served you well these three years, and now, my master, I should like the money which you have kept for me. P have a mind to go and have a look at the world.”

Thereupon tho master went to Ins money chejst and brought up a hag of gold, which lie gave to his servant.

“You have served me well,” he said, “so 1 will treat you well also. Here is a bag which will make you rich for the rest of your days.” John was delighted with his good fortune, and thanked his master for his kindness. “Now I can buy a farm for myself,” he said, a.s he went off “and he happy as long as 1 live.”

He went along as happy as a king, skipping and jumping about from one side of the road to the other. Presently, he met a dwarf who was dragging his feet along heavily. His face was worn with care, and he looked full of sorrow. “Whither away, my merry brother?” said the dwarf. "I see that, you have no bundle of cares like mine."

‘“Why {Should I he pad?” said John. ‘‘My master has given me wealth enough to keep me for the rest of ray days.” “Well,” said the dwarf, “t am poor and needy; 1 can no longer work. But you are young and strong and can easily earn your bread by the sweat of your brow. Pray give me some of your money.” Now John was as kind as lie was honest. He felt very sorry for tho man in distress, so he handed him his hag of money. “You may take what I possess,” he said. “I shall never waul, it.” At this the little man was well pleased. He weighed the bag in his baud as he looked at John.

“You have a good heart, I see," he said, “so 1 will do you a good turn, I will grant you any three things you wish.”

“Well,” said John, “this is most strange. A man so poor as you are can hardly lie able to give me whatever I wish. However, [ suppose there is no harm in seeing whether you can do what you say.

“The things 1 would wish are: first, a gun which shall bring down whatever I aim at; second, a fiddle which .shall make all who hear it dance; and third, whatever 1 shall

ask of anyone he shall lie unable to refuse.” (To be continued). ♦ * * THE CLEVER SWAXS The two biff swans had built their nest at the bottom of Betty’s garden, where it sloped down into the river. It was a very big nest, built up of old reeds and dead weed, piled high up into a mound. On top of this Mrs Swan sat all day long, hatching out her eggs, while her husband stood close by, on guard, ready to attack any enemy that came too near. When she grew hungry, and went off in search of food, he would take her place on the nest, and keep the eggs warm until she came back. They did not mind Betty coming quite close up to watch them, for she was an old friend, and had fed them when they were babies three years before. When they thought she was coming too near, however, they would hiss gently, just to show her that though they were very fond of her, their babies had to come 'first now. Betty bad built a little rock garden for Sabina and Jane, her dolls, down at the edge of tho water. Here they would play together all day long, while not many yards away the swans were busily hatching out their family. At night Sabina and Jane would be put to bed in two hammocks in the rock garden, for Daddy had said that fresh air was as good for dolls as it was for other people. One day, Betty saw that the I swans were very busily building their nest up higher. Mr Swan was luirridly bringing up rushes and reeds, "which he passed to his wife for her to stuff under the eggs. All day long they worked like this, and

1/- PRIZE I/to The Cousin who sends in the MOST JXTJBUKSTI.N« IjKTTIBKto this Page each week.

by the time the sun went down, the nest was very much .higher up than it had been in the morning. "What are they doing it for?” asked Betty, when she told Daddy what she had seen. “I expect that means that there is going to be a flood, and that the river is going to rise,” answered Daddy. “Swans are very clever at knowing when things like that are going to happen. If I were yon I should bring Sabina and Jane into the house to-night, if you don’t want them to get wet.” Betty did not really believe that the swans could know when tho river was going to flood. But when she went out after tea, and found them still hard at work raising their nest, she thought that perhaps it would be safer if she did take Sabina and Jane indoors that night, as Daddy had suggested. It would be terrible if anything happened to them. The next morning, directly after breakfast, she heard Daddy calling to her from the garden. “Come out and look,” he called, and as she had finished her breakfast, she ran out to him. “Oh!” she cried. For, just as Daddy liad said it might the river had flooded and risen much higher during the night, and was now well over the top of Betty’s rock garden. Mrs Swan's nest was still above the water, but if she had left it as it liad been the morning before, her precious eggs must have been washed away. “Wasn’t it clever of them to know?” cried Betty. “If it hadu t been for them, Sabina and Jane would have been drowned by now!

iiimmimmmmiiimmmmiiiiiiiiunn TO COUSINS Come along to the “Leader” office any time yon like, and the Printerman will set your name in type. You will he able to print it on your school books then. Geraldine Cousins who cannot get down, give your names to our Geraldine representative. Come along to the ‘ ‘ Leader ’ 5 Office any time you like and see how the wonderful linotype machine works, and how modern printing is done.