FOR THE CHILDREN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15973, 15 November 1919, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

“Elves and Fairies.” (A. D. Willis, Ltd.) At this time of the year children are sacking out the most appealing books; aud tirero is nothing better on the market than “Elves and Fairies.” When it was issued iu 1916 much attention was attracted by “Elves and Fairies,” consisting of drawings in colour and black and white by Ida Rehtbhl Outhwaite, with vei-sCs by Annie Rehtoul, edited by Greubry Outhwaite. The high merit of the pictures and the fancy shown in the verses have justified the issue of the selected edition which has now been published by the Lothian Company, Melbourne. The book will give great pleasure to children, and it also deserves attention from their elders. TWO WAYS OP SEEING. Two little girls went berrying, On the very same summer day; Down in the meadow across the brOok, They went tire self-same way. Two little girls came home again, When tho summer da.y was spent— Up, from the meadow across tho brook, Tho very same way they went. And, “Oh!” said one, “I found, a Jot, So juicy and big and red! And all the time I was picking them A bird sang Overhead. “It was nice and cool beside tire brook, Where the moss was green and thick; And I sat oil a great big stone to rest, And I played 1 fished with a stick. “I picked some pretty flowers, too. All that my hands could hold; Arid I saw a web as lino as silk. And a spider yellow as gold.” And “Oh 1” said tire other, “I couldn’t find A berry fit to eat! But a lot of wasps and creepy worms, Kepi; wriggling round my feet. “I’m sure there was a large, green snake Di*wu where the grass was thick; And I stubbed my toes on a great big stone. And scratched my hand on. a stick. “I thought I saw some pretty flowers. And when I went to look, A horrid spider crawled on me, And I nearly fell in the' brook.” Now, which of these would you rather be? And what do you think your eyes would see? THE GOOSE AND HER GOLDEN EGGS. Once upon a time there was a foolish goose. She lived in a farmyard, and every day she wuld wobble over the cobble-stones crying: “Kak, wak! I’m very beautiful to-day.” One fine morning she went swimming in the round pond under the alders. “Ah!” she thought, “I would like to be the queen and make all the others look at me.” Just then a’Tittle frog jumped upon a lily leaf, and the big goose made a sudden flutter and nearly gobbled him up. “Stay,” -gasped the frog, as she squeezed him between her yellow beak, “let me go and I will give you whatever you want most.” She opened her mouth to say “No,” and the frog jumped into the water with a splash. On his head was a yellow crown, for he was king of all the frogs. He called back over Iris shoulder; “Swim round the pond three times and wish, and I will give you whatever you want most,” and life was gone. She stared for a long time, but lie did not come up again, and she began to think what she should wish for. At last she slowly swam round the pond —once —twice—three times. “Wak, wak,” she cried, “I would like to be able to lay golden eggs.” Nothing happened, however",’ and she waddled off home awain. By-and-by it was laying time. The hens always made a great fuss when they laid an egg. Ybu could hear them shouting the good news all over the yard, and the farmer’s wife would come out and gather np all the eggs in a backet. The goose laid one, and then turned to see the result. It was a beautiful golden one, that shone in tiie sun! “Wak, wak,” cackled t*he goose, “come and see what is here.” The brown mare came out to see and tossed her head and said “Grrh.” The fat pig. came as well, and the hens were as envious as they could be. When the farmer’s wife came out she was so surprised that she dropped all tiic other eggs and ran into the house screaming out the news. “Wak, wak,” cried the goose, “I’m the queen now,” and walked all round the yard followed by all the other farm-yard creatures—the horse, the pig, the hens—all except Tray, the watoh-dog. He lay in the sun and said nothing. Soon it was time for the hens to hatch their chicks. They hid away their nests so that the farmer’s wife would not find them, and the goose did the same. “How cold my eggs are,” thought the foolish creature. “I cannot get them warm at all.” She sat on and on, and by-and-y the eggs seemed to feel a bit warmer. One day the hens came' to pay her a visit. Each one had a crowd of dear, fluffy little chickens behind her. “Come, Mrs Goose,” they said, “when will you show us your babies too?” “Oh, to-mor-row,” she answered, and heaved a long sigh. By-and-by the old dog Tray came along and cried, “How, how!” and then, “you can’t hatch golden eggs, you silly!” Poor Mrs Goose shook Jier head, c.na In.'.j tears relied c’.cavu her face. Boon the liens took their morning walk past the door. “Poor thing, she doesn’t know the way to sit. Come along babies,” they said, and tossed their heads. When all animals were asleep in the noonday sun the goose waddled off to the round pond. “Dear Frog,” she said, “please give me back my nice white eggs again.” The wind softly shook the trees, but there came no otheranswer, and she turned sadly away, she got back, however, she found to her great joy that her wish had been granted,and soon she had some dear little yellow goslings of her own.

PLEASURE. An individual who would possibly liav« answered to the name of "Weary Willie," was presented with sixpence by a kind old lady. "I am not giving you this sixpence," she said, "because you begged, but. for iny own pleasure." "Oh, ma'am," lie replied, "make it a quid and have a thundering good lime." THE COLONEL'S IDEA. The colonel beckoned in his orderly* "Smith, 1 wish you'd ride into town and get the correct time." "Why, fir." Smith hesitated; "I haven't got a watch." "A watch, a watch," five colonel rcured. "What in the name of smlso do you want a walch for!' Writs it down on a piece of paper, man." A LESSON FOR SCAREMONGERS. In certain Eastern lands, where the people are far more wild and lawless than in most countries of Europe, punishments for wrong-doing are most severe, and sometimes very cruel. "But," say the rulers, "our people don't understand gentle treatment; they only obey when they are ruled strictly and punished sharply." A friend of mine, when travelling in .Afghanistan, heard the following story. lie has cause to believe that it is a perfectly true one: The Aiuir, or king, had boen much disturbed by rumours that a Russian army was advancing to capture Kabul, the capital city (i'hi.s was some years ac.o, and before the war just past.) Time, after time ihz alarm was spread, but it always proved unfoinded. The Amir grew angry, lie resolved to stop these scares by punishing the scaremongers. Bo when, one day, aii excited young man )>egged leave to see him and declared that the Russian army had been seen that very morning approaefiiug Kabul, he got this answer: "You say the Russians are coming? You are sure of it? Ye-ry well. You shall be taken to the top of yonder hill-tower, and stay there without food tiJl you catch sight, of them. Then you may return—but not till then." The Russian army never appeared (it had never been anywhere near), and the wretched man starml to death on his lonely watch-tower. You may well believe that alarmist stories were very rare after that.