The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 5 March 1914, Page 61

The Family Circle

WISHING wishes If wishes only grew on trees ' For girls and boys to pick. . And wish-trees grew in every park: . Oh, wouldn’t it be slick I I’d. pick a wish that summer time . Would last for evermore. And wish to play and have good fun Upon the sandy shore. I’d wish that school would not begin . , For ten years and a day,. And then I’d wish for all the toys With which I love to play. And even now my mother calls To hurry for the train That takes us from the ocean’s roar To city life again. But ’spite of all my wishing, The summer’s gone away, And school instead of stopping Was opened yesterday. So what’s the use of wishing . For things cannot be— For wishes never grew, you know. Upon a wishing tree. THE EMPEROR’S FACE In the outskirts of a little village not far from Vienna lived a widow with one child—a boy of ten. She was very poor, and had great difficulty in keeping the. wolf from the door. But she was also patient and pious, taking all her misfortunes as coming from the hand of God. One morning in winter she awoke feeling very ill and unable to rise. The child brought her a cup of warm milk, which usually relieved her. But on this occasion it was of no avail. ‘ Go, my son,’ she said at last, ‘ and ask the doctor .to come to me. I cannot endure this pain any longer.’ . • ‘ Where shall I find him, mother ?’ asked the child. ‘ He is generally driving along the road in the morning about this time,’ answered the poor woman. • ‘lf you go outside you will see him coming very soon wrapped in his big cloak.’ The boy ran- to the road as quickly as possible, and had not been long there before he- saw a one-horse vehicle being driven briskly by a tall man in a heavy mantle. ‘ Stop, sir! I beg you to stop!’ The gentleman reined in his horse and inquired: What is it, my child?’ \ Oh, Doctor,’ said the boy, ‘my mother is very ill, and she wants you to come in and see her ! She sent me out to watch for you.’ . The occupant of the vehicle at once alighted, tied his horse, and followed the boy into the poor cottage, ■on entering which he was much impressed by the bareness of the room and its exquisite neatness. In front of the fire sat a woman wrapped in a shawl. She looked very ill. * Mother, here is the doctor,’ said little Franz. ‘ He was just coming up the road as I went out.’ .. ;1 . The sick woman turned to the physician, who stood, hat in hand, his cloak thrown open,. bending over her. , ‘This is not our doctor, Franz,’ she said, . ‘This ipoks like q very grand gentleman. ; Oh, sir,’ she continued, ‘ I could never . pay your bill it would be too heavy!’ • - The doctor smiled.

‘ Do not disturb yourself, my good woman/ 'he said. ‘ I may not be your physicianindeed I am ' not a physician at all —but I have some knowledge of medicine, and shall, perhaps, be able to relieve you until your own doctor arrives. What is your ailment?’ v ’ ‘A terrible colic,’ replied the suffering woman, not forgetting to add, in the midst of her pain ‘ You are very kind, sir— are very kind.’ The gentleman produced a flask from his pocket, went to the cupboard, from which he took a glass, and poured some brandy into it. Then taking the kettle from the hob, where it was singing merrily, he half filled the glass with water. ‘ Drink this.’ he said, placing the draught to the woman’s lips. It is a strong dose, but it will help you.’ She obeyed at once, and hardly swallowed it before she began to feel relief. Her feet and hands, which had been very cold, experienced once more the glow of life. ‘ The pain is gone, sir,’ she said, looking up at the visitor gratefully. ‘ The medicine acts like magic. God . bless you !’ Once more the gentleman glanced about the room. ‘Will you not sit down, sir?’ asked the widow. . ‘ No,’ was the reply. ‘ I must go. But before I do, tell me how you live and what are your resources.’ ‘ I live by washing and cleaning for my more fortunate neighbors,’ she answered. ‘And do you manage to live comfortably?’ For a poor widow, yes,’ she said. We do pot require much, my boy and I.’ ‘Can you save anything?’ That I never expect to do,’ she replied. ‘ But I trust in God.’ . The gentleman buttoned his cloak. ’ ‘I am leaving a small gift on the table,’ he, said. ‘Continue to trust in Providence.’ With these words he left the room. As the gentleman left the house, the doctor and Franz were entering the gate. To the surprise of the boy, the doctor removed his hat and made a deep bow, which was returned with courtesy. ‘ Frau Katherine, do you know whom you have had for a visitor?’ brusquely inquired the physician of the widow, as he opened the door. ‘ A very' kind gentleman, that is all I kndw,’ answered the poor woman. And he left a gift on the table, which was very kind. There it is, doctor—near your hand.’ The physician took a twenty-crown gold piece from the table and held it up to the eyes of the sick woman. ‘ Do you recognise that face, Frau Katherine ?’ he asked, turning the gold piece toward her. it -be possible?’ ‘ You see it before your eyes,’ replied the doctor. ‘ Your kind visitor God bless him and. grant him length of days ! was no other than our most charitable and beloved Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.’ A SUGGESTION Little James, while.at a neighbor’s, was given a piece of bread and butter, and politely said ‘ Thank you V . ‘ That’s right, James,’ said the lady, ‘ I like to hear little boys say “thank you.” ’ ‘ Well,’ rejoined James, ‘ if you want to hear me say it again, you might put some jam on it.’ FIRST TALL HAT The tall hat was first seen in London on 'January 15, 1797, when John Hetherington, a haberdasher, emerged from his shop in the Strand wearing a silk Bat, and was promptly surrounded by an astounded mob of such proportions that he was arrested and charged before the Lord Mayor with inciting to riot. The officers who arrested Hetherington testified that he 'appeared upon the public highway wearing upon his head

a tali’ structure, which he called a silk hat, having a shiny lustre, and calculated to frighten timid people. Several women fainted at the \ unusual sight, while children screamed, dogs yelped, and a young son of Cordwainer Thomas, who was returning from a chandler’s shop, was thrown down by the crowd Which had collected, and had his right arm broken.’ The defendant pleaded that he was merely exercising a right possessed by every citizen, to appear in any headdress he chose, and had not violated any law. He was, nevertheless, bound over in £SOO to keep the peace. HENCE THOSE TEARS A sad story was told us the other day by a man of a lad in his town who, like many another boy, has been obliged to wear the cast-off clothing of his father. One afternoon this lad was discovered in tears. ‘ What’s the trouble, my boy asked the man who tells the story. ‘ Why,’ explained the youngster, between sobs, ‘ father has gone and shaved his face clean, and now I s’pose I’ll have to wear all them red whiskers.’ THE SPECIALIST’S ADVICE The eminent specialist leaned back in his chair. What you need, my friend,’ he said, is broadening of vision. You should read more. You should read the opinions of leading writers on the current events of the world. Your mind is stagnated. The pretty happenings of the little sphere in which you move have dulled your mentality. 1 advise you to read the newspapers and become familiar with daily happenings. May I ask your business?’ The patient sadly smiled. ‘ I’m an exchange editor,’ he replied and drifted away. HIS FEAT Have you ever heard Jimkins relate about the time he got half-way up Mont Blanc with one of his little nephews and no guide?’ asked one man of another. ‘How long ago did 'he tell you about it?’ was the evasive reply. ‘ Last March, when he’d just got home,’ said the first man. ‘ Well,’ said the other, * in eight months since then he has climbed the rest of the way, succored a fainting guide, and sustained a snowstorm on the summit, resuscitated two benumbed strangers on the way down, and guided the entire party to the foot, where a group of frantic relatives were waiting.’ ACCORDING TO CUSTOM Sally, from the slums, was the guest of a great lady who interested herself in the poor.’ Sally, perfectly self-possessed, sipped her tea, and proceeded to engage her hostess in small talk. ‘ Does yer ’usband drink?’ she queried politely. ‘My dear child—no!’ * ’Ow much does ’e make a week ?’ ‘ He——does not do any work.’ Her ladyship was beginning to feel slightly annoyed. ‘ Well,’ continued Sally, * I ’ope yer keep out of debt? , ‘ Why, of course, child! Don’t ask such ridiculous questions! Don’t you know you are being very rude?’ Sally was amazed. ‘Rude is it? Well, mother says to me: “Now, be sure, and behave like a little lady,” she says. And when ladies comes to our ’ouse they always begins by asking those questions !’ DEW-PONDS There are found in Great Britain many shallow excavations known as dew-ponds. These are very ancient, being remnants of what is known as the Neolithic age. The purpose of these ponds was to furnish drinking water for cattle. An exposed position was selected, the bowl hollowed out, and covered with straw or a similar non-conducting material. Above this was spread

a thick layer of clay strewn with stones. At night, the / cold surface of the clay caused an abundance of I moisture to condense. Some of these old dew-ponds are / still in use, <; • ' THE SKIN OF A UNIT W The blunders of children are often due to bad > teaching. ‘ This,’ said a teacher to her class, in arith- " metic, is a unit.’ She held up a pencil. ‘This book is a unit, too,’ she said; ‘and these are units.’ And she showed them a ruler, a flower, and an apple. Then ' she peeled the apple and, holding up the peel, said. Now, children, what is this ?’ A little hand went up slowly. ‘Well, Johnny?’ said the teacher. ‘Please ma am, the skin of a unit.’ NEVER MORE A well-known author was making a pedestrian excursion in a wild rural district. Feeling rather hungry, he looked at his watch to see if it were nearly dinnertime, but found the watch was stopped. Just then, happening to meet with a country boy, he asked him’ What time is it, my lad?’ The boy replied, Just twelve, sir.’ ‘Only twelve?’ said the minister. ‘I thought it was more.’ ‘lt never is more round these parts,’ said the boy simply. ‘lt begins at one.’ HELPING ALONG When a stowaway is found on an ocean steamer he is immediately set to work to pay for his passage. One such was discovered- in the hold of a Mediterranean liner, and was ordered to*the galley, where the cook found plenty to keep him out of mischief. A lady on tour of inspection paused near the stowaway as he sat busily peeling potatoes. * How soon do you think we’ll reach Naples?’ ‘Well, madam,’ he replied cheerfully, ‘ I’m doing all I can to get her in by Tuesday.’ A TRAMP OF RESOURCE Much experience of thirsty tramps had caused the author of An English Holiday (J. J. Hissey) to foreknow almost exactly what they would say to him. One day, when-sending his motor car slowly along a shady English road, he met one of this guild, who accosted him with the preliminary touch of his cap, Mr. Hissey anticipated him by exclaiming : ‘ I be mortal thirsty! ■ Have you, good sir, the price of a glass of ale about you ? I’ve driven nearly fifty miles to-day, and since the morning not a bite of food has passed my lips.’ The look of astonishment that tramp gave me was a delight to observe. But this tramp was a man of ready resource, and seeing I was a hopeless case, he rose to the occasion, and promptly exclaimed, with what dignity he could command, and with a comically serious expression : : If there were a policeman in sight I would give you in charge for begging, that I would !’ FAMILY FUN Finding the Sum of Odd Numbers.— The sum of the odd numbers beginning with 1 will, always be found to be the same as the square of the number of terms added. Thus the sum o*f 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 is 25., We used five terms, and the square root of 25 is 5. It thus will be easy to tell the sum of any number of odd numbers in succession if the first term is 1, for all that is needed is to square the number which indicates the number of terms taken.