For the Children

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 3

For the Children

BABY AND BENNY. Baby had been fastened into a big basket with Fancy, tlio doll, to keep him company, and a largo spoon for him to play with, and left out in the garden while his mother did her washing in the kitchen close by. The garden was close to a large wood, and in this wood lived Master Bunny. Ho was out for a walk and he came to the garden where Baby was. He bad never seen a baby before, and be did not know what it was, so be came up very quietly to look, and Baby, who was not taking any notice, went on playing with Fancy and the spoon. Master Bunny came nearer and nearer, and presently ho was quite close to Baby’s basket. Then lie sat up and Baby saw him. Baby was not a bit afraid : bo thought that Bunny was a new kind of pussy-cat, and he shouted and laughed and Bunny was very much startled. Baby made so much noise that his mother left her washing and came out to seo what was tho matter, and as son as Bunny saw her he ran away aa fast as ever ho could. “•I wonder,” ho said to himself when ho got home. “I wonder what it was? 1 don't think it was good to oat. What a noise it made, to be sure !” TELE ASS AND THE DOG. (A Fable.) Along a country lan© jogged an ass, followed by his tired master. At tlie heels of tlio man came a dog, who was hungry and tired. The ass carried a great deal on his back. They turned out of tho lane and crossed a meadow. Here tlio man lay down, lie very soon fell fast asleep. Th© ass bc.gan to eat tlio grass and was in no hurry at all to move. Tho poor dog could not eat tho grass. Ho found the time bang very heavily, for bo was very hungry. “ Pray, pray, dear companion,” lie said to tho ass. “ please, bend down, so that I can take my dinner from off your back.” The food was .in a basket which the ass carried. Th© pretended that he did not hear. Ho wont on eating the grass. The dog asked him once more for some food. At last the ass said: “Wait, can't you, until your master wakes. He will givo you your dinner, I am sure.” When lio had said this a. hungry wolf came into the field. I To crept slowly up to the ass and sprang at him. Tho ass cried out. “ Help, help !” dear Towser !” The dog pretended that ho ditl not hear him. “ Help, help !” cried tlie ass once more. This time tlio dog answered, “ Wait until our master wakes. He will come to your help, I am sure.” r J he words were no sooner spoken than the wolf had killed the ass. Always do for others what you would like them to do for you. FOR BUSY FINGERS. Very useful gifts may easily and quickly be fashioned by any girl who is able to do ordinary crochet stitch. The materials needed are some bone rings the size of a halfpenny, sown mercerised -cotton in two shades, and a crochet hook. Double crochet tightl, round each ring, and when a number of rings arc so covered, make them ttj into a pattern. Stitch the rings firmly together with a thread of the mercerised cotton. Other articles suitable for making of the rings are table centres,

serviette rings, ling covers (lined with silk), girdles (with ribbon run through; and teapot stands. THE RETORT DISCOURTEOUS. A particularly talkative clergyman, having wasted a great deal ot' the time of a parishioner, a very busy man, was asked bv the long-suffering one : “Why are you like the bell in tin steeple of vonr church?” “I'm sure I cannot say." replied the clergyman, after thinking lor a little while. " Why am 1 “ Oh, because yon have a long tongue in an empty head.” There was no more time wasted that day. An ignorant visitor to an observatory manoeuvred into position. A moment later his attention was drawn to a falling meteorite. • T say.” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “that was a jolly good shot!” A MA N TO COPY. ITiK BOY WHO DID WELL IX AUSTRALIASeven years belore tbe Victorian era began a boy named 3\l Bride was born in Ireland, and was christened Robert. For a lung time after he became a man he was considered rather a failure- He tried one thing and another, •‘gathered no moss,” and at last, like many “rolling stones” in the middle oi last centurv, lie went to AustralisAVhon he landed here in 38-52 he had five shillings in his pocket, but lie had in his heart something worth many five-shilling pieces - courage and determination to overcome difficulties. He took any work he could get at first; it was in copper mines, and it was very hard work. But he stuck to it and saved a little money every week, and in seven years he was able to buy a piece of land. That was the beginning of a great fortune. He went in for farming, on a large scale, and for mining too, and he became a very rich man. He also became a very generous man. Some years ago on Australian newspaper added up what he was known to have given away, and made the total *IOO,OOO. He did not distribute his wealth indiscriminately or rashlv. He regarded it as a sacred tmst, and studied liow he might dispose of it to the best advantage. Here is an Australian that Sunshiners should copy. I HAD A LITTLE PONY. 1 had a little pony, it’s name was Dapple (Ley; T lent, it to a lady to rule a mile, away She whipp’d it. she lash’d it. she rode it thro’ the mire: 1 would not lend my punv for all the lady’s hire.