THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 235, 8 November 1940, Page 7

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

What ho, what ho, ma hearties. After your-trip through the Ancles, you should all be as hungry as horses Have a plate full of preserved potatoes and appropriately enough some Lima beans in white sauce. Yes here we are in Lima—the largest ■city in. Peru. The city though sprawling in.a leng valley is fairly solid looking. I suppose that is because most of its buildings are of stone. The people are mainly Indian# from the mountain tribes Avho come to like town life. What we are struck with most is tlie wonderful leg development. Tfreir calves are twice as large as any white man's. That is caused by the generations of hard mountain climbing which has been necessary for them to get used to the hard life they have led. Anyhow Lima is not a very progressive place.. Most of the streets are dirty and little children play about them all day in ragged clothing. They appear happy enough though and always have a broad smile for strangers. X think we will push on at the first opportunity to the little country of Ecuador. There we will find a strange mixture of Spanish and Indian. The main town is Quito which Ave will visit and do the sights. After that it will be Columbia and from there back to New York and into Canada Avhere we will see the great lakes and the mighty St. Laurence River above Niagara. Yes Ave certainly are a long Avay from home but I'm sure your mothers and fathers will not be worried Tor they trust Old Peter the Whaler and feel sure that you are all in safe hands. Till next Aveek then, remember your old friend P.T.W. ' . * OUR STORY

A SOUND OF MUSIC There was no one on the other -side except two little kittens frolliek ing with a grasshopper. "Good morning, little kittens," she said brightly, and they wiggled their whiskers •in a pleasant greeting, and the grass hopper waved his feelers at her. It was very earljn and perhaps people were still doing their breakfast dishes, and didn't care to be disturbed. She. tried hard not to think of the night before, and the homes that-" looked so cheery, but which 'didn't seem to want her. Suddenly, the sound of tinkly Tnusic skipped* toward her over the dear morning air, and Anastasin tilted her head on one side, for with the gay little tune cams the echo of children's flutelike voices and the tapping of small feet. Forgetting * every tiling but the music, she cried: v *'Qh, I must find it!" and the next moment she was off down the street a -i nd had disappeared a~ound the corner. Yes, the cheery music was coming from around the corner/ and also from a funny square-shaped box •with a handle at the side that a smiling, brown-skinned man was turning. - What fun, what fun, thought Anand before she knew it she jfrad picked up her shiny skirts and "ivas/doing a queer' little waltz step of fiier own. The children were hav"uJKj; such , a lovely time themselves Mflppt'hey didn't see her at all. But the ' smiling, brow T n-skinned man did, for he could look over the children's heads, and smiled wider and wider, as Anastasia's little body pirouetted .and swirled. Suddenly the music stopped, and Anastasia could see that the children were dropping pennies in the man's liat. The silver piece that was: left in her pocket made a sound as if it •were laughing, too, and she knew that the little lady would wish her ,lo give it to someone who mademany happy! So holding it in her small, brown paw, she hopped up to the man, and. shyly dropped it in the hat: The man reached down and with -a sweep of his arm picked up An•astasia and placed her on top of the box. She was so surprised, that she could do nothing for a moment but •open her shiny eyes very wide. "Little brown friend,"' he said in a soft, gentle voice. "I have been looking for you all through this big

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world! You shall go along with me. . and inake all the children—all the i children, do you hear—smile day of the year! Hoav'Avill you like that, my little broAvn friend?" Anastasia wiped away a happy tear for she knew all, at once that she had found a home. "I—l'm not pretty," she said, "but, you see- I a nice red dress and hat, and I Avill do my best!" The man laughed and patted her shoulder. "The dress is very handsome. But I noticed first your kindly little face! That is Avliat Avill make children sing, and dance, and smile!*' He picked up the handle of the box again, and this time the gayest tune of all came bubbling out., '■We must be oil our Avay, little friend!" he said. They started off down the street, and the children skipping along behind them saAv Anastasia straighten her satin hat. "Oh, I really am very, very happy," she said. NATURE NOTES THE PHEASANT This bird Avas not originally a native of our country but Avas imported about the eleventh century from the Balkan States. During recent years a number of other .species of pheasants haA r e been introduced from the East. Many thousands are reared throughout the country each year for the sport of shooting. The pheasant favours woodland areas, and its nest which is built of may bo found in thick coverts. The eggs number from ten upAvards and are a light olive broAvn colour. Two or more hens often share and lay in the same nest amicably together. . THE WREN

This- .fearless' little bird is easily recognisiabl© on account of its small size ancl powers of song. It is abundantly distributed throughout the British Isles. Such places as a tree, thick bush, hedge, sheltered bank, or an ivy-clad wall are favoured by the when as a nesting site. The nest is large for such a small bird, being covered all over and having a small opening in the side. The nest is generally made of moss and leaves with a lining of feathers. The eggs number from six to twelve, and are white, with rusty red spots chiefly at the larger end. RIDDLE POT What paper is likely to give you a cold? —Tissue paper. Whj r should very fat boys never go out in ( the rain?— Because they might come home dripping. If Mississippi gave Missouri her New Jersey, what would Delaware? —Alaska. Why does a dog turn round twice before sitting down? —Because one good turn deserves another. Why is the letter V like an angry bull?— Because it comes after U (you). What always conies after a mouse? —Its tail, of course. What lias a head but no face?— A match. TRY THIS ON TEACifER THE UNBELIEVER "Figures can't lie,' 9 said the professor earnestly. "For instance, if one can build a house in 12 days, 12 men can build it in one." > "Yes?" interrupted a student. "Then 288 will build it in one hour, 17,280 in one minute, and 1,036,800 in one second. And I don't believe they could lay one brick in that time." While the professor was still gasp ing, the smart 'ready reckoner' went on: "Again, if cne ship can cross the Atlantic in six days, six ships can it one day. I don't believe that either; so whore's the truth in arithmetic?"

NEXT WEEK'S COMPETITION ORIGINAL VERSE Here is a competition I'or budding poets. Make up a short original verse about anything. If you are clever you will win a free picture ticket. Just try it and sec if you can surprise mother and father. Send the result into me and I will tell you what I think of it. Also you may be lucky. P.T.W. NEW MEMBERS Welcome to Reg TlieUaby, .loan Kelly and Esther Biddle. Your membership tickets leave to-day and should reach you soon. Esther tells me that she is 15 years old. Wel3 I have made her a senior member, but as our age limit is 14 years she will not be able to enter for competitions. That is only fair to the smaller ones, but she can send in contributions and if she so wishes can try all the competitions though her answers wili not be judged.- I think I will try and get some harder ones for the older members of my crew. LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION ARTICLES BEGINNING WITH 'B' Some of you must have had belter eyesight than I, for I can't see half the things you seem to. There are some too that I can't allow. For instance who pill 'boko' and who put 'bloke' and who found out that they V were 'brothers.' Some even saw a 'bruise' on the poor chap disappearing through the bricks, others saw 'biffs/ 'blows,' 'bangs' and 'bulges.' Well, well, I' don't know, but I must be going blind. I had to take four aspros, and a big dose of headache medicine before I sorted out the winners. You must in these competitions only put in articles, or 'nouns' not 'bare legs,' 'beautiful girl' or 'bald head.' The things you see must begin with 'B* themselves, not with an adjective before them. Here are the winners: Janette McLeod (14) Frank Beveridge (12) Donald McKenzie (11)

Here are Jeanettc's: Biceps, bricks, backs, boots, boxers, boxing-ring, boards, boxing gloves, backbone, bowler hat, brows, bow tie, brim, blazer. Your tickets await • you at the BEACON Office. STANDARD IV STAR I have a copy of Stcl IV Star and next week will put in some of the very well written articles for this page. EASTER In song and praise we remember Thee, Who died for us on Calvary. A crown of thorns upon His head, As with His cross He was led. And there He hung, for hours so long, His hands were pierced with nails strong. '4' ' In all the world the darkest day l , Until the ninth hour, darkness lay. There He suffered on the crossi, While His mother mourned her loss. He died to take our sins away, So happy we can be to-day. : Out of the darkness of the grave, He rose, joy to all He gave, Then Mary Magdalene, with gladness saw, That Jesus was living once more. This time it was the brightest day, So to Him we all do pray, Remembering Him in this way, This Easter Day.

TYRE TUBE TOYS A man lias discovered a use for discarded rubber inner tubes, which lias brought him extra dollars: He conceived the idea that floating toys could be made from th;is. rubbur by cutting it into various shapes —fishes,, turtles, frogs, alligators, etc. He would cut a top and a bottom piece for each animal; but before cementing the two pieces together he would fill the centre with soft cotton, so that the animals would float. Buttons were used for eyes and the features Avere painted in with enamel. Children love these water animals, which can float and swim in the bathtub; and he has found a ready sale for his toys in stores and shops, as well as among friends and neighbours. t