THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 268, 7 February 1941, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY

- What ho, what ho, ma hearties. Stretch a brown hand across the gun'alc and give a shake to your old cofnrade, Peter the Whaler. Ay, its a long time since I left you all. "Safely anchored in the harbour ot Vancouver. You will remember that Ave decided to spend Christmas there in the course ol" our world tour. Well, well, it seems so long sincc Christmas that I had almost forgotten it, but going through my letters I sec a lot of nice Creeling Cards from some of my good sailors. How glad I was to get these. I showed them to Butinsky, and he started to 'knaw the envelopes until I rescued them. He has taken the seat out of my best Sunday duck suit, and I can't afford to buy, another. ' I'll have to go round with my bathing suit on underneath till I get rich again. Well, lads and lassies, its certainly good to be with you all again. I have been waiting impatiently for school to start so that I may. compile our happy page again and listen. Ma Hearties. I have a surprise in store for you. "We aic going to a wonderful place next, j You've heard of the Yukon Trail ? Well that's in Alaska, and - that's ivliere wc are going. 1 have bought a complete outfit of fuis for each of you (in fact that's why I'm so dashed poor), and I want you to tiy them on before we go to the frozen North. There is gold up there too— but wait till we get there, and I'll guarantee to show you some of the finest ice scenery in the world. Now then First Mate, look alive and marshall your men. The old ship needs a bit of sprucing up, and the engines oiling and' cleaning. We sail this week, so stcy 'on it my good crew, we're leaving for a strange and little-known land of mystery.

OUR STORY HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK!

•You know lie did, been use ever since you can remember they have told you so. What you don't know, perhaps, is what happened after he ran up the clock. "Well, here is t story: about it.

The clock was tall and stood in a corner of the hall. And, what's more, it had never once stopped ticking in 25 years. It told Cook when, to get up, it told Nurse an hen to rub the children, it told Gigi. the governess, when to give them their lessons, it told Daddy when to leave for the city and their Mu'mmv when to look out the window for his return.

It didn't tell the mowse anything and very likely that is Avhy he stopped the work*. -At any rate, Avhen the family Avent to bed the clock was ticking exactly as it had ticked for 25 years. For three long hours it ticked to the darkness and Avhen its hands pointed close to one the mouse came out of his hole and scampered across the hall. He Avas a very young mouse and lie Avas feeling tip-top. He looked at the tall clock Avitb his bright eyes and suddenly he decided to run. Hie side was 'smooth and slippery, but he clung fast, and Avhen he got to the top The clock struck one, And doAvn he run! Hickory. Dickory, Dock! Straight bacx to his mouseholc he ran, but eA'en by then the clock had stopped ticking. Not a sound now in the he use. Time stood still. But not outdoors, oh, no indeed! Outdoors time moved on. The black sky became gtfy- the bright stars grcAV pale, the lark stirred in th? tree. And still the- clock said one. Cook, in her snug bed, opened her eyes. "It must be near time to get up," she muttered, and Avrapping her dressing gown about • her she tip-toed to Ihc hall to look ut the tall clock. "jMierev me." c "'.ic whispered, -bliUKing and Avinking, "it's only one clock." And she hurried back to bed for another nap. "When she aati--; sound asleep again and dreaming of cream, puds and porridge, Nurse, in !:■••• opened her eyes. It «

time to get up, " she muttered, and wrapping her dressing gown about her she tip-toed to the hall to look at the tall clock.

"Snakes alive.'" she whispered, blinking and winking. "It's only one o'clock!" And she hurried back to her bed for another nap.

She had just got to sleep and was dreaming of soap suds that smelt of violets when Gigi, the governess, in her snug bed, opened her eyes. "It must be most time to get up." she murmured, and wrapping her dressing gown about her she tiptoed to the hall tc look at the tall clock. "Why, " she said aloud, "it's only one o'clock.". And she hurried back to bed to dream of multiplication tables.

The sky grew light, the sun .shone red, the larks burst into song, aivl out of his mousehole came the mouse, wondering why he didn't smell bacon cooking. He danced across the hall, he climbed the banister post, he ran up the banister rail. Cook's door stood ajar and into her room he went, on to her bed and across her nose.

"Snurrrrrrrr-hufffff." cook snorted and sat up in bed. The room "was full of sunlight. Cook bustled about and waked Nurse. Nurse bustled about and waked Gigi, and Gigi bustled about anil waked the fanv ily. There was a racket and a din. "The clock stopped," cook said. "So I see," answered nurse, who was buttoning the children hi nilside before.

But the wee mouse hiding by the banister post speaked:

"Hickory, dickory, dock, What a wonderful thing is a clock? It tells sleepy heads

When to rise from their beds Yet all it says is tick-tock."

NAUGHTY DOG PETER Now. Peter, that is not polite, You ought to learn you must not bite. You should run and wag your tail When the postman brings our mail. When pussy-cats are having l'un, To frighten them you should not run, And to your mistress and to me You should be a? kind can be. CITY GIRL "Oh, what a funny looking cow!" said the fair young visitor from the city. *'Why hasn't it any horns?" "There are many reasons," answered the farmer, "why a cow does not have horns. Some are born without horns, and do not have any until the late years of their life. Others are dehorned. While still other breeds are not supposed to have horns at all. So you see there are many reasons why a cow does not have horns. But the chief reason why this critter does not have horns is that it isn't a cow at all. l!|V> a horse." TWO SCOTCH JOKES j TH!<: REASON A Scot appeared in an English police court., Ins head swathed in bandages. An Irishman, charged with assaulting l'.im with a kettle, pointed to the injured party and said scornfully: "Those bandages are all show. He was walking about without them yesterday." "Is that true'.''" asked the Magistrate. "Yes,'? replied the Scot. "I wanted to keep them clcan for to-day." , LAVISH Late one flight a Scotsman Avas • disco\ r ered by a policeman op. his hands and knees on his neighbour's doorstep. "What are you doing here?" demanded the policeman. "S-sh, mon, I'm giving a party," replied the Scot. "Giving a party. But not here . "No, mon, no. It's 10-morrnw. and

THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION" SHORT ESSAY WANTED Here's an op port unity to get your hand in again for school work. What T want you to do is to write me a brief account of your holidays. Where you went, what you did and how you enjoy.d 'yourself. Just jot it down and scud the results into your old friend Peter c/o the Beacon Office. The best three will receive free picture tickets with my best compliments. RIDDLE POT What is the difference between a gossip and a mirror? One speaks without reflecting; the other reflects without speaking. m m • • Why should tortoises be pitied? Because thcir's is a bard case. ■ a * » Why is a mouse like a liayrick? Because the eat'll (cattle) cat it. •*• • • What tree, beheaded, becomes an animal? B-ox. a * • • Why should you always stand when wearing a silk dress? Because silk is never satin. • « * * What weed is like a rent in a garment? A tare;