The Family Circle

New Zealand Tablet, 9 March 1916, Page 61

The Family Circle

v v ~;.' WHAT THE KETTLE SINGS. - ' .. I love to -hear the kettle sing "o ;;!-.*';. ~''"r.;j ;■"."■'. '»■;;.*.;■: .In winter when the wind is blowing; ■''•■-" It somehow makes : me think of spring, :, • ;.••; :? Though it is snowing. v ' A little sort of chirp comes first, 0* 00'rf And then a gentle drowsy humming, : • - That seems to say, 'We're through the worst! v ' : Yes, spring is coming !' ". k I know quite well, outside the room, What isn't snowy must be icy, '■""■" '.. . And yet I dream of fruit and bloom .... In islands spicy . ' .t*% And little running, laughing streams,' And dear green woods, with vines and mosses, And sunny places full of gleams, .-' ■'. , When the wind tosses '- The leafy branches all about . . Make just another sort of singing; And little flurry things come out, Leaping and springing. . / :,'' And always, when I get to this, .'. And feel a sort of pleasant creepy, . ;-. My mother wakes me with a kiss, , ' " '. . : And Oh, how sleepy!' : '\'-\ : AN INTELLIGENT DOG. 0, '.,,"■,' The following story of 'canine intelligence comes from the United States: ■ ; ; r; Rax was one of the most intelligent dogs vI ever knew. ' Now you 1 may wonder what his real name Was; and will laugh when I tell you it. was ' Borax. Wasn't that a strange name for a dog ? ■■-'.. -..;•, He was a nice, clean-looking dog, all white, with very expressive brown eyes. ."■ . He used to come from Boston, his home, down to the beach every summer with his owner, ; Mrs. Aidrich. j\ She was very deaf and 'Rax used to be 'ears, for her,' she said. "When anyone went to the cottage to call; Rax would inform his mistress of their presence by barking loudly, and if she didn't go to the door at once he would go where she was and bark louder still, as much as to say, ' Hurry up, they will'be tired waiting.' . "He seemed to understand that he must look out for her. very carefully, and always followed her wherever she went. '...-.'.'". . ', : -7 - At night when he went upstairs to bed it was his custom -to go to the bureau where the pocketbook was kept and bark till she gave it to him, then he would take it in his mouth and go upstairs, and lie down with it. until his mistress came up tombed. No one could get it away from him but his mistress; either. One night his mistress sent him upstairs,, and, as usual, he had the pocketbook between his teeth. When she -was ready to go to bed she went out into the kitchen where the stairs; led up to the chambers, and said, in an ordinary tone of voice. \ Rax, bring my pocketbook down here. - I want some change for the milkman.' ; She waited a moment and then said, 'Are you coming?' , I As. she spoke the words she turned around and there was Rax with the pocketbook. '. 0 'O. ;; ? ; I was a. frequent visitor at the cottage, and often did the errands for Mrs. Aldrich at the store. When I went to inquire if I "could do anything for her, Rax would jump up and put his paws on" the, bureau and bark and whine till he: had the pocketbook, then : he would come to me-and ask, as well as a dog could, if he could go to the store with me.

"- -' ''"'"' ■ ■■'•' '" " "" '"' "" ■ '■'"' * •*'"■-'"■ & ■ - One night Rax was lying on c the foot sof" his mis-. tress's bed .as usual, and although apparently ■ asleep"' yet was on the alert for any disturbance. list' then there rang out on the air the old bell, clanging wildly the alarm of fire. ,'• Rax heard the noise; and rushed downstairs, but was driven back by a cloud of smoke which was pouring up the stairway. ---•' '""'' r^:'o_\ 0 ;He jumped around wildly, i and -barked^ trying to arouse his mistress, but she was a! heavy i sleeper and ■ did not awaken. Then he quickly jumped on ; to the bed, and gently put his paw on her face. She started up quickly -and, realising her danger, , hastily: threw some wraps on and, opening the window, tried to crawl out on the roof. Rax was there before her, and, jumping 'down to the ground, ran around the corner of; 1 the avenue as quickly as his four paws would carry him. By this time the .firemen came rushing! along and, guided by the dog's frantic movements and' barking, rushed to the room, and in a few minutes had rescued Mrs. Aldrich from the burning cottage. ■ '."•s. They soon had the flames extinguished, and found that there was not much damage done to the cottage./ . Rax was the hero of ...the hour, however, and seemed to understand what he had done, as he went to his mistress and lapped her hands and face and looked at her with those expressive eyes. All agreed that if it had not been for his. efforts, Mrs. Aldrich would have been burned to: death. . '!V ,■"s' " M ■•■'.■.; . "■! . : ; '.— o,m ■ '■'■'■ ™. ?. ■ 0- BOYS THAT SUCCEED. ~.. K- ; ' A new boy came into our office to-day,' said a wholesale grocery merchant to his wife at the supper table. 'He was hired -by the firm at the request of the senior member, who thought the boy gave promise of good things. But I feel sure .that the boy will be ;out of the. office in less than a week.' v-"'' * ~- % ; V ' What makes you think so?' inquired his wife. ... ' Because the very first thing that .he> wanted to know was just exactly how much he was expected to do.' ■;.;;', ..; '..;;' •; . Z-o:,' Perhaps you will yet., change your mind about him,'; .'-'•■' 0 v 'Perhaps I shall,' replied the merchant, 'but*! do not think so.' ' . .' ■ ■ *..■'• y;; Three days later the business man said, to his wife: About that boy you remember I mentioned two or three days ago. Well, he is the best boy who ever entered the store.' ,'. v J " :' " How did you find that out?' , > 'ln the easiest way in the world. The first morning after the boy began to work he performed very faithfully and systematically the exact duties assigned him; which he had been so careful to have explained to him. When.he had finished, he came to me and said :• ." Mr.— • , I have finished all the work. Now, what can I do?" . '■•'• ] ;' 'I was a little surprised, but I gave him a little job of work, and forgot all about him until he came into my room with the question, " What next?" That settled it for me. . He was the first boy that ever entered our office who was willing and volunteered to dp more than was assigned him. I predict a successful career for that boy as a business man.'- -J? >. ~*:." ".::'.'■ 0- ';!-'.!:" DUMAS AS A COOK. ; ' ;'W , .-. ..... 10:0' '■'-'•"■' - Cooking of ,the compounding of salads and, sauces has the authority of .historic precedent as a suitable hobby for French gentlemen of distinction. It was fashionable among the "aristocracy: in; court circles before the Revolution, and became of essential service to more than one noble fugitive from 'the Terror during his exile. "One young gentleman, rather narrowly - escaping; the guillotine, hid his name : under an alias? and served for .several 'months as an .* assistant in v a famous London restaurant, where he . was 'Soon given the entire; responsibility for the riiinced meats, entrees, and ragouts. After'the partial restoration „of his fortunes; he delighted; in ; telling the story r of his adventures, " always concluding 1, with a. phrase that , may per--1 haps ■'; best be ' rendered.: -;.'. /-■•;■. Z " ■ *'. "'■" y - 'W'■■..' :

' ■/,Y. 0 »f you"-:- see, I disappointed v them;, finely—-the I Sans^mottes^^-By^-',the."'chopping' knife they would.have had behold:! By • the chopping knife I lived •'!' Frenchmen .of more*' than merely aristocratic^dis- 1 tinctipn^authors,;'.' artists, '; and ; ' scientists—have . also : yielded t6'the clinking lur.e :of little pots and pans, and the bright- beckoning of kitchen ; fires. But among , many wh6>dearned to, cook a little, or even to cookcreditably,:there Was only one who . really became a cook. ''That, was Alexandre Dumas, the elder, and for his qualifications" we ■_ have the word of*his chef. • '. V /•...The chef, Monsieur Edouard, after some monthsCi; in Dumas' service, came to him with a very gloomy . '■ face to give notice ;of ..his departure. ' - " ' : M' -'/•' But, my dear v Edouard, why?' expostulated TDumas. r 'lf it -is 'fa,* matter of i money, you : shall have v > more, ;§I do not wish ;to let you go you cook admir- ~; : ably, Your; omelettes, especially-—■— ' "'" v : -fjf' //*;•■; '.•:'" 'Ah, monsieur!' cried Edouard, with outflung • hands. - ' So. I have always thought myself; ? yet it is because of"a little matter/of omelettes that I depart. Monsieur will remember that we had omelette. 1 for breakfast both 'yesterdayarid,toHdayT .'. Yesterday. I pre-' ; pared it': an omelette'.'with parsley and little marrow balls, on/which I pride 'myself: Monsieur approved it, and so did the.two' gentlemen, Monsieur's guests. But to-day, it was monsieur's fancy to : make' omelette // '. himself, after fa/} recipe of .his' own, with chicken liver.and small red peppers. ; /T /passing by the door, overheard^monsieur's guests cry out in ecstasy: "But,! good heavens,. Dumas, this omelette is exquisite!'. It N is '.divine !j?. It ; , is surpassing !// Even the omelette of yesterday is as nothing to this!'' There was a .little left.. I slipped in !. I tasted;. they were right! .'• 'I must; monsieur will understand, depart at once,- N to refresh* my art by study and experience. lam / willing tot admit that monsieur is no ordinary amateur; het may rank '"with, professionals still I cannot remain tranquilly in his kitchen, permitting myself to be surpassed. i?! -B.fi depart with homage and regret—but".' ; I depart."- ~ '*'"'/ r-^-^- -' ' "-">."'••" -'/",■'■" ";"' ; AN INQUISITIVE YOUNGSTER. / V ■' ' ' ..^CvV"/. : '"''•: \T' V : ' ' ■'■'•.'> ',^-ff^Wi.f . .■•". ' Carry yer bag, sir ?' said an eager urchin to a man" in Rattray street, as he was hurrying toward the Dunedin Railway Station. -./' ~" • _. /. ' ."//v No;-, thanks!' replied -the man shortly. , .... ; ./- 'l'll ;carry, it all the way for a penny,' persisted . ; the lad. /^;v--'\,..--'' "'l',;'..' "*'•"■ -iS-' ; \ ''"l. tell' you/I. don't want it carried !' retorted, the ■ man. ( - t .'"' ; '-..,"■;>'//- ■•■'"""■ //, "■ ' - , / 'Don't yer?' . T /-' 'No, I.don't!' 1 -X;,.:.. • ■■*£ "■ '"■ ' , '•'' '■„■"■%'&. ;/v, The lad broke into a' quick trot to keep up with "his/ victim's hasty strides, as he asked- in innocent . curiosity: . -;. •„.•■.. """-,/- ' "v./ .;".' 'Then what are you ■carrying it for?' v ; r- * TOO MUCH OF AN EFFORT. r", i; { \ .-."■. ■■ „'; ■'!'.-%«? ' ::, '-\_' ~.■.';'.■• ''"* '" ' . "'-. •'■' ''• ■"" % /" -■'.'. / ■'">".!■■ i - /:,; ;/ A charming English , girl she was, but'she could/ not;. see the.-point ■of a joke. ; ;Her classmates: at col-- '-. lege, jolly, .fun-loving girls, regretted, this serious defect &in their*%ear friend and determined upon a reform. J ' v-^^ So they made a little joke to spring upon Evelyn adjhat -night. M Accordingly, when ,they had all met in ■-Evelyn's room, Doris propounded the joke, which was really a riddle.. *■/'../, ' ', i» ■ V;; ; 'Maud,' she.said, '-can you tell me the best way to make.a Maltese cross ;> .> /';'/■..' >'/ ; ,:.-/;. -j r.-s« No,' replied • Maud,, after due .; thought. • 'How do you. make a Maltesexcross?'. . j V'^.'-f" ./; ' Pull its tail,' said Doris, promptly. ■■■-.';■'.'■"/ ■\ TBte 'oi her girls tittered . obligingly, but Evelyn * siafc solemn, as an owl, with a puzzled frown on her classic.ferow.> -. ".;' /'-'/ "-■'.'/ - , , '"- ' That's the matter, with you j Evelyn V cried the girls, justly indignant. Can' ypu see the point!'/ • Evelyn shook her. head v -! I know it's awfully St but I the life of me 'seehow could make a r Maltese cross out' of a pullet's jsAw- ":- -r.V~"-v-i--'-•'•■'- '-'.'. "■'■ ,"■.'■'.•*■ '•',' ■•• : ■V V; ''-

- a NEW designation: - ' / . .j r ' i A workman'; employed 'in '. street: scavenging /by . a*- -l ";'■-'•. "i corporation ; when filling -up hisi/' National Registration ' form was doubtful how to describe his occupation, and J ';■■' consulted a better-educated,; neighbor, who was also a *ji*: / bit of a joker. ; "■'->■ ' ; ~: '• , '''"': -/ r-"'- /''"■-:. r :, s-../ -\ vc a/ ~/ '*■ v / ;f' '/■ ' Oh,' said the wag, 'that's easy enough. , -Ypu're, in the 1- Highways Department; put down "highway- «. man."' And as a highwayman he,was entered. / /■•-■. : GIVE.YOUR: BEST. ■ ,*' rf ■•' : _'\ A gentleman, was walking :up the ■ street/carrying "%[\''\ ■£ in his hand a bunch of beautiful water lilies, '/ . ; ' which he had gathered as he returned from; pleasant /./' i sail on the bay.* .■ - --■ :k l ' *" / v 'What lovely lilies!', exclaimed an acquaintance,;. -;.' 3 a young girl, as she \ inhaled their fragrance and - looked / longingly at the bouquet in his hand. s /;/• '.• ■ ' ~"•''',.' ,Yes, they are rather nice,' he replied. 'Takev, your pick if you care for one.' 1 ;, / 0 -/>; H>>r"/ '/ I • ... 'May. I? You, are very kind,', she said as she reached out and. selected aj; medium-sized /'flower- ;■ from the bunch. ■-• /"/'/ ■'--'"" r fV::,i] :[ : .^ : ', ". .*""..•./• J/'^'/.^/r^v.-.:•; vr ■ ; .-'How modest ( you 1 are; I do believe,; you have : -, , chosen the smallest one you could find. * Here, take this. ; one,' he said, : as he detatched the largest and finest ..'.'; / : flower from the rest and handed it to her. /;. ' /;' jv-'■/...'.: x You are "generous, indeed,' she said. 'You have// given me the best, among the lot.' '.."■ _ v l/;' i' Well, it is a pleasure to give, and still more of a« pleasure when we give bur best,' he replied. " ;/• /Is hot this sentiment worthy l of thought? It may riot/always be easy/to give our best. / . Selfishness .says ''Keep the best/for yourself and give what less valuable to' your companion :or friend.', _ .; :.f ,-■•'(■■■' ; ;' A GOOD REASON. . T ; .- - The teacher was.trying to make his pupils under-., stand that all good comes from one source. . " As an illustration, he told them of building a house and putting waterpipes with taps in all the rooms, these pipes riot being, connected with the main in the street. . - .;-v •'• : .'.f ''; •*••• v; :'-./. • a ";...,' ' Suppose I turn on a. tap and no . water comes,. what is the matter ?'/" f 'v " . " ''• ; • . : He naturally supposed that some of the boys would - '■ answer that the water c was not turned on at the : main;'. ;' but they "; didn't. On 'the contrary, one boy iat the ; ■;-•> foot of the class called but:/ . ;. ; '.'.'•■"■rP> : '''v : ■':.;' '' 'You didn't pay/your'water-rate V,l >''^l'^ "'■'•■ ■/£ DRESSING A SCARECROW. : 4; v . : ■ '"'• ■'..-' / . :!-I* can't get any old clothes to put on the scarecrow,' said Farmer Wurzel to his wife. . . .. \ I':. /%; '; You might use ' some of the ;alleged latest/f ashions that our/girl •brought 1 from the city last week/ 'suggested '• % Mrs. Wurzel.. f • - ,'"" -" -• " ' '. ■ S . Good gracious, ''] woman !"i. ; I ••: want ; to-scare the. ■ .', blackbirds, not to v make them laugh.' : ,/ - ' -."-/'".• : "*'"-:' '-•■'■•••■.■--■•■■•'■■• '-. <-\ •■ ■ . ",-',. ' - - THE SCARCASTIC INSTRUCTOR r ' / : The cavalry instructor : was 'lecturing, severely a ~ • particularly wooden-headed recruit. v > ' \ f ; ' * How many times have I got to tell you,' asked, • ' never to approach- horses from the rear without s # : ingto them?' One of these days they will be kickiH|p> " you on the head, and then we shall have • a lot of lame ; • horses on -our hands!' « ' - ;,.'