For The Young Folks

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 14

For The Young Folks

THE FAIRY FOLK Last night the moon shone round and red; I saw it as I went to bed. It peeped and peeped and peered at me; But I was tired as tired could be, So fell asleep—till Tsylla woke, And cried, “Come! see the Fairy Folk.” Green mist was on the window pane. That was no dew, that was not rain. I rubbed it with my finger till We two could see our own dear hill, And half-way up, below the oak, , A crowd of dancing Fairy Folk, And in the middle, on the green, The lovliest little Fary Queen. We laughed out loud with joy at this, And one looked up and blew a kiss; And after we ne’er stirred nor spoke When watching all the Fairy Folk. A music swept across the glen. And ail the little Fairy men And Fairy maids went dancing so— I Up, up, and down, and to and fro — I All taking hands, till sudden broke The circle round the Fairy Folk. And while they sped with lightsome feet, A whistle sounded silver sweet; And, buttoning fas their mantles, ran In haste each Fairy maid and man. Green-capped, and wrapt in velvet cloak. i How smart were all the Fairy Folk! And then the music died away. I We huddled close and wished for day; and Tsylla cried, all cramped and cold. : The moon grew pale, a church bell ! tolled ' Twelve times, and, at the last loud stroke. ! Vanished were all the Fairy Folk. Algiers MARY M. CURCHQD. SOME NEW RIDDLES Why should we pronounce the “i” in “child” with a long sound? —Because the “child” would become “chil’d” if not. Which bird reminds us of a practical joke?—The lark. Why should carpenters believe planks can dance? —Because they saw them. What tea is made without tealeaves sugar, or milk?—.Beef tea . Which member of a committee would make the best furniture remover? —The chairman, because “he takes the chair.” TRY THIS CATCH. Have you ever seen a cherry-col-oured cat with rose-coloured paws? Of course, you have! Lots of cats are the colour of a (black) cherry, with (white) rose-coloured paws! TOMMY’S SURPRISE. Mother always kept little Tommy up to scratch in the matter of grace before meals and she made no difference when she took him to tea with her one afternoon at a restaurant. She said to Tommy, after the waitress had served the tea: “.Now, say grace, please, Tommy.” Tommy looked up in surprise. “But., mamma,” objected her seven-year-old little son. “we’re paying for this, aren’t we?” SOMETHING TO GO BY. A youthful poultry-farmer had m his possession a couple of bantam hens that laid very small eggs. Finally, he hit upon a plan to remedy this defect. When the lad’s father went to the chicken-house he was surprised to find an ostrich egg, which he happened to possess, tied to one of the beams, and above it a card with this notice: “Keep your eye on this and do your best.” CLEVER. Auntie had come to stay ,and little Mary, with seme pride, was showing a jumper she had knitted herself . “And did my little niece make this all by herself?” asked auntie. “Nearly, auntie —all but the hole ; you put your head through, and that was there before I started.” NEW MALADY. The four-year-old said to his father—“ Daddy, I think I’se very ill.” “What’s the matter?” asked his father. “I’se full of beg pardons, daddy.” as he put up his hand to his mouth and hiccoughed again. TO CLEAN A DOLL’S FACE j Brush back the hair as much as j possible from the face and cover it j with a piece of soft cloth. Dip a 1 piece of rag into a little turpentine, ' and wipe off all the dirt. This removes all the colour as well, but it I will also smooth out all scratches ! and dents in the wax. Wipe the j face quite dry with a soft rag, then ! very slightly damp with some peri fectly clean turpentine, and dust the 1 face thickly with starch powder. ■ applied with z a puff. Take a little i rouge and mix with powdered starch i until it is a delicate pink, and dust i this over the star.ch powder, taking care that the cheeks are much brighter than the rest of the faces. Remove all the loose starch powder with a piece of cotton wool. The lips are painted pure carmine, whilst

the eyebrows are painted in with burnt umber if the doll has dark hair, or raw sienna if the hair Is light. Use a fine camel hair brush for painting the lips and eyebrows. THE FLOWER MAIDEN This is a pretty game to play, and even the tiniest children can join in the fun. Every child who is playing must have six flowers, which she must hold behind her back. The players sit or stand in two lines. Six on one side and six on the other. The girl at the top of the right hand row tells the opposite row of girls to shut their eyes, she then advances and holds one of her flowers to the nose of the girl exactly opposite to her. This girl has to guess the nams of the flower by the smell. If she guesses right the flower is handed to her, and the girl w r ho held it retires to her own lines. It is then the turn of the girl who has guessed right to advance and offer a flower to the second girl oh th© opposite side to her own. If this girl does not guess the right name she passes on down the line until she finds one who guesses the right name of the flower. Each side takes part alternately, un til all the flowers have been gained by one side. Then a line is drawn across the centre of the floor, and all the girls advance and link hands with the girl opposite to them., each endeavouring to draw the other over. If one side conquers the other, the conquering side takes their prisoners to different seats in th* l room and each prisoner has to tell a story or legend about any flower their conqueror may hold up. Finally sweets shaped as flowers, arc handed round and eaten, and the game is finished. If played with spirit it makes great fun, as so many children do not remember the names of flowers simply by their smell. LOST IN A WOOD ‘Rat-a-tat.” “The postman! ” cried Betty Watson, running to the door. After looking at the letter she said, “It’s for me.” She tore the envelope open and read the letter quickly. “It is from Cousin Agnes, and she wants me to go to Shelton. Do say 1 can go, mother,” she said pleadingly. “if it Is fine, dear you may go on Saturday, Mrs. Watson replied. Saturday wa sas lovely a day as she started. Shelton was about Betty wanted, so about ten o’clock, the Watsong lived. It was near the the Watsons lived. It w-« end of spring, so Betty thought she would go by bus, as she would pass the woods. About five miles from Shelton the bus stopped. Something had gone wrong with the engine, and everybody had to get out. On one side of the road was a wood with golden primroses and little violets. After clambering over the railings Betty began picking the flowers intending to take some to Cousin Agnes. She. went further and further into the woods, seeing more beautiful flowers as she went. Suddenly she thought she had better go back and see if she could get into the bus. but she had forgotten the way. Each path she took brought her to the same place from where she had started. She sat down and tried to think, but instead she cried. Betty got up, and tried to go another way, but she only went further and further into the heart of the wood. Poor Betty went on like this till dusk. Each way she went she thought she saw strange things and heard weird sounds in among the trees . After a while she saw a big tree with lots and lots of green, soft moss beneath it . Flinging herself down, tired with fatigue and hunger, she fell asleep. Waking up with a start, Betty found herself i n the heart of a wood, with sunshine streaming upon her. Noises and banging soon brought her to her senses. She got up and went to the place from where came the sounds. It was wood cutters, who were amazed at seeing her there. “Hallo! little missie,” said one, “what are you doing here? ’Tisn’t often we see little kiddies like you in the wood.” Bursting into tears, Betty told them her story. All were very sorry and one, whose I house was near by, took her to his I home. I The wood-cutter’s wife was very kind, and after a good breakfast she made Betty lie down . When the wood-cutter had taken Betty to his wife he sent a telegram to her mother. As soon as Betty was well rested, she was sent home vpth her flowers, which she had rescued, by her new friends. When the bus stopped at Betty’s own village her father and mother came to meet her. Betty had to tell her story over and over again before her parents were satisfied. I do not think Betty will ever forget the time when she spent a night in the wods! STOCKING FEET. Silently through open door A great load of toys he bore, Now he treads with footsteps ligh*,, To the stockings hung in sight. And, while little children sleep, Crams them full, though some -ire deep. Love is beating in his breast, And while other people rest, Up and down the world he roam*?, Searching for the children’s homes. NICE TRICK FOR HOT DAY. Can you cut a block of ice so that it will not be cut when ffhished. Here is the way. Place the ice on swu chairs, one end on each chair. Get a piece of copper wire, and a weight about 71b. Put weight on wire and place round the ice. As it gradually cuts it ways through the block of ice, it becomes frozen on top. The weight falls to the ground when cut right through, and the ice remains firm.