THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 230, 25 October 1940, Page 2

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

What ho, what ho, ma hearties. We are now in Chile, the long thin land which runs like a snake along the western coast of South America That great mountain range known as the Andes forms a natural boundary between this country and Argentina. The Chileans are a very mixed race of early Spanish and Indian blood. They are fond of colour and you can see by their dress that they like all bright things. Now if you remember, we have crossed the mountain ranges from Patagonia and are making our way up the west coast. We have passed Santiago and we are just reaching Valparaiso. You can see that it is a. city with a lovely, setting as we approach it. Surrounded by high blue hills it stands on a bay washed by the blue Pacific Ocean. The climate is just a little hotter than we are used, to in Whakatane, but there is always a cool wind from the snow-covered Andes. Well, we are liere now and I think we will put up at the big hotel by the wharves. It. is very pretentious, and has all the fittings of a first class hotel in England or America. The servants are half-breeds and are in spotlessly white uniforms, but you see they are all barefooted. That is why you scarcely ever hear them coming. Next week I intend taking, you through the curious land of Bolivia and then on to Peru and Ecuador. They are countries seldom visited by Europeans and are full of strange people who live very hard lives in rough mountainous country. In the meanwhile let's have a look about the pretty Tittle town of Valparaiso.

OUR STORY DAY DREAMS Marjorie was only a little girl, 1 but, before many years of her life had passed, she had fallen into the bad habit of day dreaming.. Whether at home f or at school, at work or at play, she would gradually sink into a world of her own. alone with her thoughts and fancies. Her parents and teachers found it very hard to keep her concentrated on her imagined dreams.. /What she thought of, no one knew, but certhin it was that this occupation amused her more than any other. , One day, while reading in the garden, she began pondering over the ideas that the ,book gave -her and was soon far away, imagining herself a heroine or a fairy—any characters that appealed to her. Suddenly the surroundings changed, and she was in a large surrounded by dark trees and containing many flowers growing amidst the grass. Flitting through the air, and all about her, were fairy-like things, with wings that glittered-with all the colours of the rainbow. "We are your day dreams/' they •said in chorus and stopped their flight. Immediately Marjorie recognised some of her best-loved characters, while others were named with titles that recalled all her half-thought-of ideas. In each way she recognised something connected with her tasks for, if a thing was dull (and even if it wasn't) she. would become unconscious of everything going on around her, and enjoy herself with these other companions. "Gome and sit here," they then said, and dragged Marjorie to a grassy seat, each trying to talk at once. At last one stood up, the leader. no doubt.

"Are you not the earth-child who is forever day. dreaming?" he said. Marjorie nodded, bewildered. "You are here to-day to learn what we think of you and to see how you have been playing havoc "with our land. We permit you mortals a certain number of day dreams Imt you have been far too greedy and taken more than your fair share All through the day you summon us. and all our work has been neglected. Hence the baby dreams have l>een left to grow up by themselves and are sadly in need of attention. You, and those like you, must learn to be happy in your own land without trespassing on ours. If it is nic'er here, that is no fault of ours and you must correct-it by making your wvn world better. It is far more

Aboard for the Goodwill Cruise PETER THE WHALER yf WH ALE ISLAND

pleasing to enjoy yourself among your mortal companions than to call us for your amusement." With this he sat down and the forms of the v fairies began to fade from Marjorie's eyes and she found herself once more at home. But ever since then she has taken more trouble with her work and is liked more by everyone. AT THE ZOO Daddy said to me one day, In the sunny month of May. Let us go to the Auckland Zoo, I'll take you there; yes all of you. As we entered by the door, A snow white Llama there we saw, And in the next pen was a Goat, With a long and shaggy coat. The timid Deer who saw us come, Leaned over the. fence and licked my thumb: But all the other scampered away, To have a merry romp and play.. The Kangaroo was really best, Because he sometimes tickled his chest:. TVlousie'drank from his water trough, If he swallowed him I'm sure he'd cough. v The lovely Herons are best of all, They stand on one leg and never fall; The Polar Bear in his coat of whit?. Lives on the cold ice day and night. The Jaguar has a pretty coat, He once caught fish in the forest moat: The Lion is the king of beasts, On many animals he feasts. The Tiger with his coat of stripes, A hero is of many fights; The Monkey had us in laughing fits, With funny tricks for tasty bits. We saw the Elephant, oh, so grand. The biggest of all in animal land; And when the keeper gave him tea. He said "thank you" as plain could beThen home we went from our day at the zoo, Dad said: "You're satisfied row aren't you?" So away; we gc and happy are we. Home to a lovelyi great big tea. A SUNNY DAY Down by the river, The willows gently sway, In the shallow waters. The little children play. O'n the calm cool water, A duck is swimming by, While the birds are flying High up in the blue sky. Soon the sun will be Setting in the west. Little birds will fly * Home to their cosy nest. NATURE NOTES NATURAL SOAP'S There are two natural soaps found in the Western States of North America. o[ne is the seed of a plant, and works up into quite a satisfactory lather. The other is a white rock called soapstone (scientifically known as amargosite). which is now being mined near California. The Indians have used both of these soaps from time immemorial.

DAY DREAMS

Here is a pretty little essay by a southern girl aged 13 years. I wonder if any of my crew could do as well. As the gentle Spring breeze fanned the trees and flowers arouno me, I cast my book aside for another day. Several gaudy butter Hies hovered above me, while the scarceI 3' audible hum and drone of the bees, nearby, soon made me fall into a pleasant day dream Where am I? As I straighten my back from picking bundles of golden red, orange and different coloured tulips, my gaze falls.upon one oi the many, picturesque tulip farms in Holland. More intriguing than this, however, is the quaint Dutch costume I find to be my dress, while the plentiful windmills,, scattered here and there tell me that I am in the pleasant land of Holland. The scene changes. No longer am [ picking beautiful tulips, but I am being carried along in a rickshaw by a yellow stranger, Avho appears to be Japanese. From under, rows of bending cherry trees I can see the Japanese workers planting rice in the water-logged fields. You are right! I am in Japan—'-"The Land of the Cherry Blossom." - Once again the scene changes. Now I am 011 a Pacific Island, 011 the foam-tipped shores of which the tiny, dancing waves are gently lapping. The coconut-palm grows in profusion? here, while the sweet melody of native singers and players lends a pleasant touch to the romance of my Pacific Island. All ,ray dreams fade into darkness when I am aroused by Jib pulling at my leg. He is tired of my dreaming, for he wants a scamper in the bush. Once again I see the butterflies and. hear the'bees,'but I do not forget my day dreams. LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION ARTICLES BEGINNING WITH 'B' This was a very interesting competition and there were so many sharp-ieyed competitors that I didn't realise myself just how many things there were in the picture which began with 'B/ Now I know, and I will keep a sharp lookout and see if 1 can beat you all next week. The winners were: Charlie Armer (24) Audrey Butler (19) Pat Comiskey (21) Janette McLeod- (16) Here is Charlie-Armer's list- Build ing, builders, branch, beam, bag, bolt, balloon tyre, board, braces, band, barrow, basement, bay window, boots, back, bare tree, box. bits, back wneel, brand, bare arm, buttons, background, brim (on hats) boy grown up, the last one though clever was not counted. Other entries included belts, blocks, brickbarge boards, bars, backdoor bark, bodies and black (overalls). WELCOME! TWO NEW MEMBERS Welcome to two new members of the crew in the person of Polly Kelly and Pat Comiskey. Your certificates leave to-day and we wish you a very happy stay with us on the S.S. Good Endeavour. NEXT WEEK'S COMPETITION ARTICLES BEGINNING WITH 'S' Here is another picture competition. See how many articles you can see in this picture beginning with the letter 'S.' When you have completed your list, send it in to Peter the Whaler, BEACON Office and the three answers with the great est number will receive free picture tickets with my best compliments; Yours ever P.T.W.

HOME PASTIMES A JOLLY GAME Here is an amusing game to play. First of all get the Christian names of the players. Now write the names on separate pieces of paper. Choose one player to hide the papers while the others are out of the 1 room. At a given signal the players all come into the room-, and the search begins. The player who first finds his name must not let the others know. He must just leave it and pass on, without saying whose name it was.