For the Children

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 9

For the Children

THE MONKEY AIAN. T wos once a man. Not a real, live man, but a, toy mail. I was made of wood. All my limbs, my legs and my arms, were fastened to pieces of string. All these pieces of string were fastened together. When, they were pulled I jigged about in a dreadful way. I could never see inside myself, so T cannot tell you exactly how this jigging cam©, about. But I really did jig, and when children were about I jigged a great deal. I was bought from a man in the street last Christmas and tied to a tree. Then I was given to a child who had many Brothers and sisters, I am sad to say- They broke me up, and I was thrown away. Think of it —thrown into a dustbin ! After that I was found by a poor man who made ai living by sorting rubbish. When he came across me ho said (I heard, him say it) : “ This will do for my Topsy.” Then he took me home and made me into what I now am—a monkey-man who lives on two sticks* The only real change in me is that I have a tail. I am quite happy, thank you. Topsy is very kind, and I make her happy by my antics. But I wish I had not got a tail. THE BROKEN SLATE. u You are really a very naughty girl, Alice,” said Alice’s mother. You know you ought not to have played with that slate. Now see what you hare done. It is broken, and no good at all.” Alice began to cry. She made a very ugly face in crying. Most little girls do this when they cry. Alice cried at first because Mamma was cross; after thinking for a little time she cried because she had no Hate to write on, and Mamma had said she would not buy lier a new one. Just you fancy, all this crying because Alice had not used the slate properly. It is always the same. Little girls—and boys too—who do not obey their parents are always unhappy. u Mamma,” said Alice presently. “ I’m so sorry I was naughty and broke my slate : please forgive me.” “I will this time, dearie,” said Mamma, and she kissed •her. Alice told her afterwards that tho kiss was better than a new slate. A day or two after, Alice’s papa did buy her a. new slate, which she is going to take car© of %

THE BATTLE. It was going to be a. great battle. And Simmy felt rather afraid. He was to be the drummer boy—there wasn’t any drum, ready, only a large tea tray, but, as Reginald Jenkinson said, that didn’t matter at all, and Reginald Jenkinson was the Captain, so, of course, he knew. They aJI sat waiting for the word of command down by the brook. Reginald was very busy; he told them all what to do a* soon as they saw t-lie army of the Avenue boys. “ I shall go first,” he said, 11 and lead the way to- victory 1” It all sounded very fine, and when Tommy Snooks said, ££ What shall vs do if they hit us back?” Reginald Jenkinson said that be ought not to say such things, and if he didn’t want to be led to victory- he needn’t come, and Tommy said he didn’t mean anything, and of course he would not desert them. But Simmy felt rather anxious, and banged his tray hard to cheer himself up until the Captain told him to be quietThen he gave them their orders, and they all marched forward, with Reginald Jenkinson in front shouting to them to come on* It was all very well, but all at once the army of the Avenue boys came round the corner, and then- Reginald Jenkinson stopped, turned round, and said, ” I’ve forgotten my pocket handkerchief !” and ran away. Then Simmy came to the front. He banged his tray and shouted and waved bis arms, and all the others shouted and waved their arms and made such a noise and looked so fierce that the Avenue boys thought they had better go home. So Simmy led the army to victory after all. THE NEW GEOGRAPHY*. Asked, if he had been through “algebra,’’ a man replied: 11 Yes, b»t it was dark and I didn't see it.” Though on the map I cannot trace The faintest sign of such a place. My faith is most emphatic In Algebra as just tho spot To cure a fellow who has got A bit too mathematic. So, too. allhough l scan in vain Morocco maps and maps of Spain, My faith were still unshaken, Should someone reading in the train Look round the carriage and explain. Abracadabra’s taken.” A. IV.