THE WENDY HUT OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 12

THE WENDY HUT OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER

Aly Dear Children. February 4tli already and to-day marks the starting out point of niy holidays. You know we are like, an old-fashion-ed weather house. When you return to study 1 set out on holiday and while you are busily engaged upon spending leisure hours I am hard at work upon my mail. Those who have seen the weather-house of my comparison will know from whence 1 draw my parallel. Well, let’s dip deep down into our treasure, chest for a good story. Ah, yes, the very thing, you’ll agree. It’s about'the “Ti: <e Fishes™ The story of the three fishes comes from Persia, where they are said to have, lived happily together ill a beautiful pond,. Their names were Wise, Half-Wise and Foolish, and they enjoyed one another’s company very much and shared everything. Then Wise discovered a little stream leading out of the pond, showed It to his companions, ami remarked that it would be extremely useful if ever they wished to escape, from their home. “Bid what should ever want to escape from?'’ asked .'.’tlf-Wise. “Oh. ue don't want to hear any bogy stories!” cried Foolish. “I’ll race you to the other side of the banki” Away went the three, like beautiful arrows beneath the water, and two fishermen who were, sitting on the bank saw them. The three fish rested in the shadow cast by the fishermen ami heard lliem planning Io have a day's fishing as soon as possible. They remained quite still until the fishermen left, and then \\ ise darted to the stream and made his way bravely out into the unknown. ‘‘They may never come,” thought Half-Wise. “I’m not going to give up this lovely pond for something I know nothing about until I’m forced to.” “We shall soon have Wise back looking ashamed ot himself,” remarked Foolish. The very next morning the two fishermen arrived, and lhe first thing they did was to spread a net over the mouth of the stream. Half-Wise, peeping out from his bed under a stone, saw Ihc shadow of lhe fishermen, darted like lightning Io the si ream, saw the net, and was in a. terrible panic. Nothing could save him but strategy, and he did not know whether that would he good enough. Quickly he turned himself over on his back, floated on top of the water, and pretended to he dead. “Throw that dead one out!” called one fisherman to the ot her. If was a terrible moment foi' Hall-W ise. He felt liimsell tossed into the air, and down he came with a thud on to the grass. There he remained for a minute, dazed and bruised, knowing that he would die if he could not return Io the water, (fathering together his strength, he wriggled painfully through the grass and just managed to flop into the water. 'Io his tremendous relief he realised that he was in the little stream, and as he had revived he swam slowly away, thankful that he had escaped with his life. Alas! Poor Foolish was caught. He had exactly the same chances of escape as the other two. but had not taken advantage of them. Cheerio, dear everyone! I’ll lie back with you in our jolly Land of Make-believe in three week’s time. Mr. Printerman will be my deputy until then. All my love and kisses from your ever affectionate—