THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY Aboad for the Goodwill Cruise

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 61, 5 June 1942, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY Aboad for the Goodwill Cruise

pt—PETER THE WHALER WHALE ISLAND

What ho, what ho, ma. hearties. Here I sit nice and cosy by myi warm /ire, while the rain just pours jlown outside. Poof, who cares what

the weather's like when they can sit by a fire and write. Yes, I liavc just been through my mail. Its a pretty big one too! I expect I'll have, an awful job judging all the entries as from Avhat I see now the whole lot look pretty right. Well it can't he helped. I'll first have to give special marks for neatness, and award the picture tickets to the ones who' take most care. Must get on with the good work now —so cheerio till next week. P.T.W.

ONE RAINY AFTERNOON

(By Ann Littlcjohn)

Rainy days are always dreary, thought Joyce, especially when you arc by yourself. She was sitting on the window seat with Darkey, the cat on her lap, gazing out into the dull, drab Avorld about her. The monotonous beat of the rain, and the drowsy heat of the room together tended to make her sleepy, so, deciding it was useless to resist that delicious feeling, she fell asleep. Suddenly, as she slept, there came a sharp knock on the door. Joyce made no sign of having heard. It came again. This time with a deep sigh, Jo.yee lifted her head, and, realising from where the noise came, ran to answer the summons. As she opened the door, she gave a little cry of surprise, fcr, standing on the step Avas the funniest old lady JoA r ce had ever seen. Taking her hand, this quaint person said: "Come, dear, I saw you were alone this afternoon, so I am taking you to Nursery Rhyme Land, where you will meet all the jolly folk avlio 1 ive in your story books. The next moment Joyce found herself standing before a huge gate, on either side of AA'bich stood a large tin soldier, one of Avhom challenged the old lady in a grand A T oice, say-i ing, "Who goes there?" The old lady must have replied suitablj r for the gates sloAvly swung inwards, bringing into view a broad yelloAV road, Avhich stretched aAvay in the distance AA'ith g'l'een rolling meadows as a delightful background. On either side large beds.' of liantly coloured flowers; nodded and tossed in the slight breeze. Holding the old lady's hand tightly, Joyce stepped inside, and gazed in Avonder at the end el' the road, for a cloud of dust had appeared Avhich rapidly grew larger, until, out of the haze burst a huge crimson coach, drawn by beautiful snowwliite horses. With a blast of brazen trumpets, the coach stopped beside Joyce and her companion, and, for the first time Joyce noticed a small man standing on the foot-board. As the coach came to a standstill, this little fellow hopped down, and sweeping off his feathered cap, cried in a loud A'oiee, "Welcome to Nursery Rhyme Land." "Thank you," .said the old lady, dropping a •curtsey. "I trust their Majesties King Bumpo< and Queen Rumpina are keeping well?" "Very Avell, thank you," replied the littie man, and then, bowing, said, "Their Majesties, await your pleasure." At that, the old lady helped Joyce into the coach, climbed in herself, and v.'Hh another blare of trumpets, rattled awav down the road.

They had not been mo\'ing very long before a loud voice called out. "Halt!" Looking out of the coach window, Joyce saw a large tin soldier standing outside a gate in a vast yeilow Avail.

Quickly the old lady climbed out, and explaining their errand, soon found themselves in the huge courtyard of tlic palace. A man dressed m the King's livery came hurrying fonvard to meet them, and explained apologetically that as Ivi/g Bumpo Avas haAing a little trouble Avitb his finance, Avoidd they be so good as to meet him in the counting house.

Full of wonder, Joyce followed

her companion through a maze of passages, until at last the old lady guided Joyce into a long, low room, half of Avhich Avas piled Avith sacks of money. Stacks of money lay on the King's desk, the; King's> crown

lay on the lloor, where two little mice were busy building a home in it, and huge block of ice was tied on King Biunpo's head.

The poor king was in a dreadful muddle, for lie hiul never learnt his tables at school, and now could not remember how many pence them were in a pound. The table was covered with scraps oi' paper on which, the King had worked sums. Sums! There were short sums: and long sums, hard ones and easy ones, and even some of the round kind, with the figures like asi in the facc of o clock. Joyce, who knew her tables well, was able to help him, and the last glimpse she caught of the King was a picture of him working feverishly, with a happy smile on his round, pink face. The Queen, who was: fat and ■stumpy, (and very sensitive about it, I can tell you!) Avas sitting in the parlour with a huge plate of bread and honey before her. As the Queen could not converse very freely with them, her mouth being full most of the time, Jolcc and the old lady bid her a polite goodday. As thej 7 were passing by the royal kitchen, a great tumult arose, and, keeping in, Joyce saw a fat cook, and two kitchen maids carryn ing a huge round pic, out of which issued loud caws and cheetings, towards the oven. The old lady smiled "They're always trying to got the pie into the oven," she said, "but they always manage to drop it. and then of course, the blackbirds escape!" Jo3*ce laughed. The next moment there came a great shout, and then a whirring of wings. The old lady glanced behind anxiously, and then called out to Joyce, "Run! They have dropped the pie, and now all the birds will chase every human they see!" Even as she 1 spoke, the air was thick Avith birds. Joyce caught one glimpse of her troubled anxious face and then she; was beating away the birds that flapped around her. Joyce caclled loudly for help, and faintly heard the old lady's; voice saying, "Oh dear, oh dear, this should never have happened!" Then darkness . . . Joyce awoke with a start. She was sitting on the window scat as before, but her dress was rumpled and Darkey was sitting 011 the floor with a startled: expression on his face.

The rain liacl ceased, the sun was shining, and the only traces of rain were the puddles and the trees with their branches laden with dew. Joycc ran outside with a cry of rapture.

The world was happy again and peace reigned in the garden.

MY MAIL BOX

Welcome to Janet Berg of White Pine Bush. Glad to have 3011 aboard less. Your certificate leaves to-day. ALL the best. P.T.W.

Now one of the neatest answers last week was sent in by a young member who. signed herself Stewardess, Peter the Whaler. She also says she was one of the ones who mistook my friendly challenge once before, but I cannot find out who she is. Be careful to sign your names when you write in. P.T.W.

LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION

JU3.II3LKD FLOWERS

Oil, what a headache I have tryfug to puzzle out the winners of the last week's competition when they were all right is worse than going in a monkey's den cr smoking strong cigars. Well, I would like to give you all free picture tickets but you know I cannot do that. I will give five awards to the very very neatest and here they are—

Mac Brown Ann Goodwin Don McKenzie Beverley McDonald Rangi Bidd'le Congrats, j r our tickets await you at the. Beacon.