Children's Page

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 13

Children's Page

19 Those who bring Sunshine into the lives of others a cannot keep it from themselves $

$ DEAREST LITTLE PEOPLE, % Do you realise that the Christmas Ship Competitions close in £ *:* less than two months? All toys and scrap-books must reach me by £ £ Wednesday, 7th December, and I would like Circlians to send in their 'J £ “bits of sunshine” just as soon as they possibly can, so that I will * £ have plenty of time to get them ready for Judging Day. I have £ q. reprinted the list of Competitions, and would like all new Circlians * £ to read them through carefully. J* A number of little people tell me they are making “Peter Pan” £ 4 scrap-books, and. as we have not had this competition before, I am q. £ looking forward to seeing ever so many of these special books. (A £ £ “Peter Pan” scrap-book must be made entirely of pictures, stories, £ £ poems, etc., taken from the Children's Page.) The scrap-book £ £ Competition is always popular, and lots of gay, interesting scrap-books £ J; have reached me already. I have not received many well dressed £ £ dolls yet, and hope crowds of clever little needlewomen are busy fash- £ £ ioning dainty clothes for Christmas Ship doils to wear. Biuecap has £ 5; been making friends with all the jolly Topsy dolls and golliwogs, but £ £ says he has not met any Judy dolls so far. Judy is just as nice a £ £ plaything for a small sick-a-bed as Topsy, and I am reprinting the £ £ directions for making these cuddly dolls next Saturday. There are £ £ not a very large number of rainbow balls in the Toy-Box. and if you £ £ knew’ how much these gay playthings were appreciated last Christmas, £ £ I am sure each Circlian would try to make at least one for our Ship. q. £ Very-tiny children can often play with rainbow balls when they can- £ £ not manage dolls or scrap-books, and if you ask Mother very nicely, £ £ she might be able to find some spare bits of wool for you to turn into £ £ one of these lovely toys. £ £ Although dozens of boys and girls have sent in fine original toys, £ £ there are lots of little people who cannot decide what to make, and who £ £ have asked me to give them some ideas. —But alas, that is much £ £ harder than it sounds, for there are so many different kinds of toys £ q. that I cannot decide which to tell you about. I asked Biuecap and £ £ Laughter Lady what they thought about it, and Biuecap immediately £ £ said, £ £ “Tell the boys to make aeroplanes, ships, tops, guns, toy animals, £ £ trains, kites ” £ £ “Stop! Stop!” I cried. “That is quite enough to begin with, thank £ £ you.—What do you think, Laughter Lady?”—And Laughter Lady, who is, £ 4 fortunately, a much quieter little person than Biuecap, merely smiled 4 £ and pointed to the picture you see beneath my letter. —“A wonderful £ £ idea!” I exclaimed. “A dolls’ house like this one would be just the £ 4 thing to send to the Children’s Ward in the Hospital. How the sick- £ £ a-beds would love it! lam sure some of our older Circlians could £ *;♦ make it. too!”—What do You think, little people? Perhaps Father £ £ would help you with the house, and you could easily make the tiny £ £ furniture yourself. Other jolly playthings are jig-saw puzzles, or soft, £ £ cuddly toy animals, and all small girls love a nicely made doll’s cradle, £ £ with a wee doll tucked up snugly inside.—But just make any kind of £ £ original toy you wish. lam sure it will be splendid, whatever it is, * £ and I wish you the very best of luck with your Toy-Making. £ £ Did many of you go to the Flower -- £ Show last week? I spent a wonderful / ,/j ’ £ £ half-hour there, and thought the j ”rC-> £ £ flowers were beautiful. / TaL j £ £ LOVE, " S £

or cement will help you to build rockeries. For trees you can grow acorns or date stones in your garden, and plant tiny growing things in any suitable spot. Such additions as bridges, small boats, pagodas, figures and iittle animals can be purchased very cheaply in many shops—especially toy shops. A good home-made bridge

can be made from a piece of bamboo or cane. Split it and soak it well in water. While it is still wet put a weight on each end and place it over a tin. When it is dry it will remain in a curve. Of course you may prefer to turn your garden into an old English one, and then you would have swans to glide over your looking-glass lake, a little dovecote, and a summerhous# instead of pagodas and Japanese figures. A toy farmyard is another idea, with tiny cows and sheep dotted about a field of grass seed sown on a piece of damp flannel, with a hayrick or two, and a red-roofed bam to finish the scene. Take care to keep your miniature garden damp, and remember it does not like draught or too much heat. A GAME TO PLAY. This is an exceedingly good game and when played properly can be very amusing. At least eighteen or twenty players are needed. They are divided into two parties and arranged along a centre line. About ten yards away from this line are two boundary lines, along which are placed about a dozen handkerchiefs. A whistle is blown and the play begins, the object of both sides being to get as many of their opponents’ handkerchiefs as possible without getting caught. The players dash across and, seizing a handkerchief, run back, but if they are caught they are imprisoned behind their enemies’ boundary line. They may be rescued, however, by I their own side, but the rescuers may only do one thing: either get a handkerchief or rescue a friend. After about five minutes play stops, and the side which has the most handkerchiefs wins. A CATCH TO TRY. This is more of a catch than a trick; yet it is quite bewildering. A person is asked to take several coins in his hand, and close his fist. Then the magician takes some coins in his hand. “I will add my coins to yours,” announces the magician, “and if you now hold an odd number you will then have an even total. But if you hold an even number, I will make your total odd.” The person counts his coins, and finds that he has, say, an odd number. The magician adds his, and the total is even, just as the magician stated it would be. The method is so absolutely simple that very few persons "catch on” to it. The magician merely has to take an odd number of coins. Then, when they are added to the other’s coins, they will surely make an even total odd, or an odd total even. THOUGHT READING. Hand a piece of paper and pencil to a friend and say: ‘“I am going out of the room, and w’hile I’m gone write something on the paper, then put it in your pocket. When I come back, on another piece of paper, I’ll write exactly the same as you. When your friend has written something and put in in her pocket, you stalk in, looking very wise, and on a piece of paper you write “Exactly the same as you.” Then give it to your chum and she will see that you have written what you said you would. A clever catch.