THE GOOD ENDEAVOUR LEAGUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 21, 6 September 1946, Page 6

THE GOOD ENDEAVOUR LEAGUE

What ho, what ho, ma hearties. How’s the crew this week? All shipshape and Bristol fashion I trust. We had quite a spot of rain this week didn’t we. I thought Whale Island was going to get washed right out to sea altogether, but it held firm against the storm. Unfortunately, all my young cabbage plants were drowned by the flood of water which came pouring down off the top of the hill,-but I don’t suppose it has made much difference. My cabbage plants never grow anyway. For ten years now I have regularly put in cabbage plants in my garden, and not one of ’em has grown to full size. By Neptune’s eyebrows, I’ve almost forgotten what a cabbage tastes like. But there is one thing the storm has done for me; it has given me a pond at the bottom of my garden, and moreover, it seems to be a permanent one, as the water isn’t draining away. Peterkin has been having a wonderful time splashing round in the water, and he wants me to stock it plentifully with fish so that he can spend his spare time catching them. It would doubtless be very hard work to keep up with Peterkin _as he has an enormous appetite as far as fish are concerned. I think that I will plant water lillies in it instead. Well, I must get on with the rest of the column. Cheerio for this week. P.T.W.

LAST WEEK’S COMPETITION

SEA SHANTIES Yo-ho, there was only one entry to last week’s competition, and that was sent in by Margaret Mahy, who found over forty shanties. Well done Margaret. You may collect your free picture ticket from the Beacon Office. The other two tickets I shall keep myself, and go to the pictures twice this Saturday. P.T.W.

NEXT WEEK’S COMPETITION

AN ALPHABETICAL PUZZLE Now here’s a competition that’s definitely out<of the ordinary; it was sent in by Judith Radcliffe, who gains three points by it. Below are printed a number of clues, and the answer to each is a letter of the alphabet. The answer to the first for instance ‘A Bird,’ is ‘J’ (jay). See? Simply really isn’t it. Go ahead and see what you can do sailors, and the three neatest correct will receive free picture tickets with my best compliments. P.T.W. Clues 1. A bird; 2. A measure; 3. A question; 4. A river in Scotland; 5. A garden not far from London; 6. Part of body; 7. A vegetable; 8. An insect; 9. A hot drink; 10. An exclamation; 11. A girl’s name; 12. Yourself; 13. A lot of water; 14. An unknown quantity.

MY MAIL BOX

Robin Kingsley-Smith

Clive Kingsley-S-mith Whew! What a tough time I’ve had with your two letters sailors (yes, you are both now official members of the crew and your certificates have been posted). Never be-

fore in all my long career have I experienced so many sleepless nights. The day your letters arrived, I opened them, and placed them on the mantlepiece so I could keep them in mind. But Butch thought he would play a practical joke, and when I wasn’t looking, he picked them up and taking them outside, hid them behind the rain barrel. Butinsky coming along a short time later spotted them, and promptly ate them for morning tea. It was only last night that I managed to get Butch to tell me all about it, and by Neptune’s tonsils, he was very lucky not to have his tail spanked. Luckily I was able to remember your addresses. Well sailors, as I said, your certificates have gone out, and I hope you will find the competitions and other articles in the page interesting. Yo ho for a long and happy voyage. P.T.W.

DONNIE’S RACE It was only a sports day at an infants’ school, a very unimportant event to an adult mind; but to a little boy of six it was the greatest event of his life thus far.

Donnie was proud that he had been chosen to take part in one of the races, and he trained for it as ardently as any athlete. Mother had only to mention that spinach was excellent for muscular development, and that cake and sweets made one short-winded, and Donnie fell into line at once. For a whole week it was easy to get Donnie to bed early and up on time, because “all athletes need plenty of sleep,” and a trial run around the garden before breakfast became the order of the day. At last the grand day arrived. Donnie didn’t sleep well the night before, he tossed and turned in his little bed, muttering about “running” and “hope I win,” and every few hours he would awaken to ask his mother if it was time to get up yet. All the orders that were issued: “You’ll have to get my breakfast ready quickly, mummy; I have to be at school early.” “Don’t you forget to be at the sports ground at half past ten to watch me run; put Diane’s best dress on to bring her to the sports . . .” It sounded just as if Donnie was ruling the household, but mother understood, and she did her best to meet the excited little boy’s demands. True to her promise to be there on time, mother was at the sports ground at ten-thirty, with baby sister sitting in her stroller looking like a dainty rosebud. There were ten little boys in the race, and to the anxious mother’s eyes they all seemed bigger and longer-legged than Donnie. The teacher dropped the handkerchief and a little cloud of dust marked the place where 10 little boys had been. In a few seconds it was all over, the tape was broken; and a dusty little boy, his face wreathed in smiles of joy, came rushing over boisterously exclaiming, “I won, mother, I won.” Diane crowed with delight, mother was as thrilled as Donnie. Teacher gave Donnie threepence, mother and dad bought him a new cardigan, and aunty gave him a cake of chocolate for coming first in the race; Donnie’s cup of happiness was brimming over, and his pride and joy knew no bounds.