ANSWER TO NURSERY RHYME COMPETITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18832, 21 March 1931, Page 12 (Supplement)

ANSWER TO NURSERY RHYME COMPETITION.

ONE MISTY MISTY MORNING a little girl came walking along the road. When she reached THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, who should she see but PETER PIPER leaning over the gate. “Good morning, LITTLE MISS MUFFET,” said he; “WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO, MY PRETTY MAID?” “I’m going TO MARKET, TO MARKET,” replied LITTLE MISS MUFFET, “to buy a PEASE PUDDING HOT for dinner.” “RIDE A COCK HORSE,” cried PETER PIPER kindly. “Wait a minute and I’ll saddle him.” “HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON?” “Four score and ten. Now then JACK BE NIMBLE and we’ll soon get there. As LONDON BRIDGE IS BROKEN DOWN we must turn up this road and HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH.” Presently they met TOM, TOM, THE PIPER’S SON and POLLY FLINDERS. “Give me a lift,” Tom panted, “I’m going for DOCTOR FAUSTUS, as old SOLOMON GRUNDY has been taken ill. “POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON,” said PETER PIPER, “and give him PEASE PUDDING HOT. We’ll soon be back.” So saying, they galloped off at a fearful rate. DOCTOR FAUSTUS was petting his THREE BLIND MICE when they knocked at his door. “THE | NORTH WIND DOTH BLOW, so I must put on my ulster,” he cried, “but I’ll come immediately.” On the way back they heard a bell toll “DING, DONG, BELL.” “I’m afraid we’re too late,” cried LITTLE MISS MUFFET. “MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY,” said TOM, TOM, THE PIPER’S SON. “Just now I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING up the river, and they will probably have left some wonderful medicines at his house.” When they reached the house of SOLOMON GRUNDY by the river, they all sprang out. But he was so much better, that they joined hands and played RINGA RING-A ROSES, and began to SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE for joy. And LITTLE MISS MUFFET forgot all about the PEASE PUDDING HOT she was going to buy; but when she explained to OLD MOTHER HUBBARD what had happened when she got home, she was forgiven. PRIZE-WINNERS. Jessie Taylor, Timaru, aged 14. Mary Bolderston, Clandeboye, aged 10. Hazel Donald, Timaru, aged 10.

passed him on to me, who would willingly accept as pet anything from a kitten to a crocodile. For some time Peter lived in a little hutch on the back lawn, the hutch having no floor and being frequently moved so that he could nibble the grass. Often he escaped, and great was the excitement until he was shepherded safely home again. At length Peter ' discovered that the big drooping palms at the bottom of the lawn made a secure refuge for him; no human would risk a jab from those sharp fronds. There he would stay immune from capture till it pleased him to gallop home. Soon the hutch was abandoned altogether, except on very wet days, Peter living entirely in the deep shadow of the palms. At first we feared he would wander, but save for one excursion into the next door garden he kept exclusively to the wide lawn. He had no fear of us. Presently he learned that an extra dainty—a piece of apple or a cabbage leaf, his favourite delicacy—-would be his if he ran to I us when we called “Peter! Peter!” and so learnt his name.

For years Peter was the delight of our friends. They loved *to see the way he came bounding to us when called; loved to hold and stroke his soft body and to touch his tiny feet, which had three toes to the forefeet and four to the hind. Most of all, 1 they loved to see him eat. His jaws mo veer ceaselessly; he took no bites. A blade of grass slid smoothly into his mouth and was 'gone. Twenty-four inches a minute was his usual rate of eating. His diet consisted almost entirely of grass, and the whole lawn was barely sufficient for his needs. At last old age overtook Peter. He lay down and died. Great was the lamentation in the house! Firstly because we loved him for his quaint appearance and endearing ways, but also because a large slice of work which he had taken from off our shoulders now settled there again. For in all the years we had had him never once had it been necessary to take a mower to the lawn. Peter had kept it smooth and trim as a bowling green! PONIES THAT WILL NOT .RACE Every now and again little ponies that work in the coal mines are brought up to the surface to have a rest and to see the’ green fields. The light is so strong for them that for several days they are kept with sacks on their heads, but when they do see the green fields, they nearly go mad with excitement. These ponies won’t race, because in the mines they are trained never to pass another pony in front of them, in case of an accident.

“Jenny Lynn,” Otipua: Thank you for the jumbled names of flowers, Jenny Lynn. “Dawn Queen,” Hazelburn: I was so pleased to get a nice little letter from my Dawn Queen. It must have been fun driving the horses out in the harvest field. I hope all my Circlians will follow your good example and cut out the Circle Rules and keep them. “Pom-Pom,” Timaru: Such a neat wc-e letter from Pom-Pom that she really must tell me more news next time she writes, and try to win a Good Scribes’ Merit Card. I am sure “Heather of the South” would be pleased to get your letter. You must have had a lovely trip that day. So you are starting to make toys for our next Christmas Ship already! That is 'splendid, dear. “Miss Puzzle,” Pleasant Point: I am glad you have given your calendar the place of honour above your bed, Miss Puzzle. Yes, I have seen the Burnett Memorial Church, and think it is very lovely, and most picturesque. I hope | you will be able to swim before the ; bathing season closes altogether. ! Wouldn’t that be fun?

“Fairy Sunset,” Timaru: I was sorry to hear that my little Fairy Sunset _ikd been a sick-a-bed, and hope she is quite better again now. I hope >o« will have a happy birthday next week., dear. “Fairy Marigold,” Waimate: What a lovely holiday my Fairy Marigold had in Timaru and Balclutha. It would be splendid having your little cousins to play with. lam sorry the wee pet bird did not live. "ChristopTier Robin,” Dargaville: I am glad you entered for the Nursery Rhyme Competition, Christopher Robin. It was fun fitting the rhymes into the spaces in the story, wasn’t it, and the Competition was really much harder than it looked. lam sending several big “thimbles” to you and “Little Brown Maiden.” “Poppy Pixie,” Timaru: I am so glad you like your pen-name, dear. I think it is such a pretty one. I hope you will be able to find a doctor to mend your dolly’s broken head! You are lucky to have so many dolls to play with. I am sorry you were a little sick person, and hope you are quite well again now.

“j'opsy,” Seadovvn: Such a happy. iihiHg little poem, Topsy. I liked it very much, and hope you will keep on with your Verse-Making. Several big “thimbles” have blown into my room lately, and I am sure one of them was from you. I think “Twin” is an excellent name for that calf. “Cream Rose,” Waihao Downs: Quite a neat letter from my Cream Rose. You have been reading some good books lately. You had quite a chapter of accidents, and I hope your ankle and foot are quite better now. Do you look after the pet lambs? I have put your new address in my big Address Book. Thank you for the “thimbles,” dear. The wind is carrying you a big thistledown “thimble” from me, “Sea Jewel,” Timaru. Your penn&me is very pretty, my dear, and I am glad you like it. Your are getting on well at school, and your wee letter was nicely written. I hope you wdll have lots of fun at Temuka at Easter. You must write and tell me all about it, when you come home.