BIG BROTHER BILL AND THE BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 16

BIG BROTHER BILL AND THE BAIRNS

A WEEKLY TALK Hello, everybody,— Christmas ia coming, The goose is getting fat, Please put a penny in the old man’s hat; If you haven’t got a penny, A ha’penny will do/ If you haven’t got a ha’penny the Lord bless you. When you read this, week’s columu everybody will bo getting quite excited about Monday night; excepting the poor geese and turkeys and chucks and lambs, who usually have nothing to get excited about at all. It seems to be their business to make other people Feel happy and contented ami satisfled, which, if they didn’t .have to die to do so, isn’t a bad business, at all. But the bairns of the family will have all written their letters to Santa Claus, and be busy choosing the biggest, fattest, longest stocking they can find to hold the answer. The leg of dad’s pyjama pants isn’t bad, especially if he is a comfortable size. Brother Bill hopes the stocking, whatever it may be, *is stuffed as full as a Christmas goose. The 5s Christmas box prize is awarded to Hazel Hannan, 40 York place. Just exactly what Hazel would do with five shillings is rather good, From the point of view of the largest happiness for the greatest number. And an excellent thing about her scheme is the trouble she is prepared to go to that somebody else may bo happy. Read it for yourself and you will understand:— If. 1 had five shillings to spend at Christmas I would get a tree suitable for a Christmas tree. I would buy a shilling’s . worth of marbles, and make some little cloth bags, and put a few in each. I would get some cardboard and make some little baskets, cover, them with silver paper, buy a shilling’s worth of boiled lollies, and fill each little basket. I would buy six penny bags of coloured beads, and thread as many strings as I could, and got six penny lucky packets.. These could all be used for decoration of the tree. Sixpence woi'th of small coloured candles and stars and moons made out of silver paper would add to the effect, I would still have one and sixpence left. With this I would buy six threepenny toys to complete the decoration of the tree, which could be sent to an orphanage, where I think it would give much pleasure to the children.

So many riddles have been sent in that it is very difficult to adjudicate. David Weir, 98 Playfair street, Caversham, sent the Aldine Riddle Book, with more than a thousand riddles in it, and suggested that Brother Bill should pick out the best twenty. Thank you, David, but the prize is awarded for your judgment about riddles, as well as for the twenty sent in. But Brother Bill is grateful to you for the present of the book. The prize goes to Joyce Collier, 10 Peel street, Moruington, who sent twenty riddles, of which nineteen were quite now to Brother Bill; and they wore all excellent The competitors who sent in tho others will have the fun of knowing they will bo all used to entertain tho radio section of the family. Will prize winners please call at the ‘Star’ Office on Monday? They will receive their prizes at the counter. There are now between three and four thousand in onr family, boys and girls, and to all these Brother Bill sends his love and good wishes this CJiristmastide. May you all have tho happiest Christmas, and the brightestand cheeriest new year. : Your always affectionate, BIG BROTHER BILL. THE COMPETITIONS Here are some competitions and puzzles for you. Some of these have been contributed by members of the family. Ruby Powell, York place, gives the first two. A DIAMOND PUZZLE. A consonant. A small rug. A character from Shakespeare. More than doubled. An eastern county of England. Natives of an Eastern race. ' A reptile. A period of time. A vowel. When these have been correctly discovered, and the -words written under each other, they will form a letter diamond. The middle word of the scries will represent an eastern county of England, and will read the same down the diamond as it does across. ENGLISH TOWNS. WxsTxY. LkxxSxxxT. GxlxxxY. BxxxxNxxxM. NxßxxxH. YxxxOxxH. R-xExxxG. WsxxxExxxTl. This puzzle baa been sent in by Eileen Metcalf, Green Island. Look. Look. U. Look. And 0 that OVxx or xxTJ. This last one is from a friend who wishes to be anonymous. What is my head cut o2? The sounding sea. . What is my tail cut off? A flowing river. ' T And in their mingling depths I wander free, , , Parent of sweetest sounds though mute for ever. The neatest written correct answer to these four puzzles will receive a prize of 2s fid. MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE RAY Jackie Welsh, 53 Norman street, Anderson’s Bay, was five years old on December 16. The radio postie called with a parcel and left it on the dining room table. Jackie found it there before he wont to bed. Thea Lindsay, 47 High street, Musselburgh, had a birthday the other day. Billie Lindsay, her brother, was there, and Ngaire Steel; Lindsay Breeze was at the party, too. Thea found a parcel in the wardrobe in her own bedr°Piiil Sidler was four years old the other day. Muriel Sutherland was at Phil’s party. The radio postie left a parcel for both children. They were under tho table m tho ha!!.. May Wright, 23 Warden street, Opoho, was ten years old on December 34. Trixie HacKisach, Coda Gunn and wee Jackio Manson, were all at. May’s party. Her brother Jim waa away in Invercargill. He went to ploy cricket with the junior team of tho Otago representatives. And 1 forgot'to say that Milly Robson was there, too. -The radio postie left a parcel in the gramophone cabinet. Alan Johnson, 83 Bay View road, St. Kilda, wrote a letter about his brother Raymond’s birthday. Ray was six years old on December C. The radio 'postie left both boys a parcel under their pillows when they -went to bed.' Annie Schofield, 17' Rose street, Kaikorai Valley, was thirteen years old on December 16. She found a parcel in fyxgbi/sfk' fi£ *he spare bedroom..

June Wylie, Tapanui, was three years old oh December 16. The radio postie went all the way to Tapanui and left a parcel on the sideboard. June found it there on Sunday morning., David Laing, Halfway Bush, was five years old on December -21. The radio postie left a parcel under the couch in the sitting room. Noel Lomas, 48 Gladstone road, North-east Valley, will be seven years old to-morrow, December 23. The radio postie will call on Noel, although it happens to be Sunday. WILL NOEL JPEEASB LOOK AMONG THE MUSIC IN THE PIANO STOOL. Don’t forget, Noel. ... Eileen Hero, 42 Brighton street, Kaikorai, had a birthday on December 18. Eileen’s daddie hasn’t got a wireless, but the radio postie will cell on Eileen for all that iuay be true. WILL EILEEN PLEASE LOOK UNDER THE PILLOW OF HER BED. She will find the radio postio has left exactly the tiling.she wanted very much indeed. Kathleen Kelsey, 19 Crosby street, Mornington, has a birthday on Sunday, December 23. She is having her party to-day. Thel radio postio will call and leave some parcels at Kathleen’s home. WILL KATHLEEN PLEASE LOOK ON THE WINDOW SEAT IN T|lE DINING ROOM. Brother Bill has heard that Kathleen wonders whether lie would like , a piece of her birthday cake; since it is bound to be a scrumptious cake there is nothing would please him better. What about it, Kathleen? To other lucky birthday people not mentioned in this list Brother Bill sends his dearest love and the best wishes for a jolly birthday. THE HONOURS SQUARE

THE POSTIE’S BAG 22 Peter street, Cavorsham, 10/12/28. Dear Brother Bill,—Wo road your letters in the newspaper, so wo thought we would like to write to’you, too. We also listen to your stories over the wireless and we enjoy them very much. We are eight years old and are twins. We go to Caversbam School and are in Standard 1. Isn’t it stunner the holidays will soon bo here? Wo had a lovely little Persian kitten called Fluffy. About two weeks ago it died, and dad buried it under the lilac tree, and we felt very sad. Hoping,you will include ns in your happy family, and wo will probably be iii your riddle competition. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.—We are, yours lovingly, Doris and Norman Homer. [Many thanks for your nice little letter, Doris and Norman Homer. Personally, I think twins are very nioo, indeed; also, they add two to the family, whereas under -- ordinary circumstances, only one is added. Which means, of course, that dad and mother are richer by one bairn they didn’t expect, but are certainly very glad to have. It means that for Brother Bill, too. That was a sad business about Fluffy, but you don’t say what happened, except that the kitten died. Wo have a little Thomas kitten at our house, and the young scamp wont for a walk the other lino morning. Wo were quite sure that he’d got lost, he was away so long. And there was alittle girl with a very sad heart, because he did not come back home. But about four hours afterwards, wo discovered him, stretched out comfortably on a thick branch of a big pine tree; Goodness me, there was some rejoicing, I can tell you; we felt like killing a fatted mouse because the prodigal had come homo again. 1. hope that you .both get another kitten very soon.]

15 Arawa _ street, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin.

Dear Big Brother Bill,—l wish very much to join your happy family. 1 wrote to you about.three months ago, but I have not yet had a reply. Now that Christmas is drawing near mum is very busy baking Christmas cakes to take away with us for our holidays. This year we are going to Warrington, and may have a picnic at Karitane, where a Christmas carnival is going to lie hold. Warrington is a splendid holiday place, and 1 hope wc enjoy our holidays. I am' nine years of age, and I-am in Standard H. Our break-up is on the 20th of this month, and the holidays last six weeks and a day. Our examinations are now over, and you cannot imagine tho fun wo are having. Wo read nearly all school time, and tho rest of the time we have reading and spelling. Last night 1 went to the Now Empire, and I enjoyed myself very much. I always look forward to Saturday night, because when I get the ‘Star’ i can read your bed-time tales. Our wireless is broken now, but J. wish it was going, for then I could, hear your Saturday night talk. I wish you a merry Christmas and a glad New Year. I must now close, as it is bedtime.— 1 am, yours lovingly, Colin Vernon Wheeler. P.S. —I am wondering wiry you wanted to know how we would spend 5s on Xmas presents for others. Have you 6s to spend in this way? [Well, Colin Vernon Wheeler, that is a dandy little letter, and most carefully written. You have been awarded five marks for neatness in writing, and you thoroughly deserve them. What a stunning perfume there must bo_ in your house if mother is baking Christmas cakes? Does she make mince pies, too? Next to a nice rich Christmas cake, a mince pie is the nicest thing in' the world. Especially with white castor sugar scattered all over the rich, brown crust. But ,1 d better say no more about it, because it makes mo feel quite hungry—and a ; little homesick. When Brother Bill was a boy like Colin Wheeler Christmas was very exciting, mostly because of the dishes of fat, brown mince pies that used to find their way into his mother’s pantry, and in this case mother was a good sport—she never counted the pies. You ought to have a perfectly scrumptious holiday at -Warrington, and 1 hope you come back browned like a scone, and with a whole host of exciting adventures to tell me about.]

Queen street, Green Island, December 12

Dear Big Brother Bill—May I join your happy band? I am four years old, and my sister is guiding my hand. I went to school for a week, but the teacher said I was too small, and 1 stay at home with my mother and wee brother. He is seven months old, and his name is Raymond. I. am going to the school break-up with my sisters to hoar them singing. I have a grey cat which I would like you to name, please. 1 How is Mrs King getting on? My sister told me about her, and asked me how I would like a rabbit. I will be five years old on April 7, and then I will be able to start school. My sister went in for an examination at Sunday school, and she passed. Well, Brother Bill. I must come to a close, as I am getting tired,—l remain, - Lois S. Phillips.

[Wo are glad to have you in the family, Lois Phillips. Four years old is a little early to goto school, and there is plenty of time later for lessons. But it is very nice of_ sister to guide your hand while you write a letter to Brother pill: [ should call' that grey cat “ Dandy.” if he has molc-grcy fur and fk . nice tjteek coa-4 h© jvill bo. ft sure

enough dandy cat to look at. Mrs Bang is very well, thank you. I think that I know-how you knew about her; your sister was one of the party at my house a while ago! We are expecting Mrs King to have Some baby rabbits .any day now, and they are the loveliest things to look at. They are tiny enough to sit in a teacup, and have beautiful brown eyes. Their fur is grey like your cat’s, with silver-tipped black hairs , mixed among it. I think you ought to have a rabbit as a pet, but they cost a lot of money. Thank you for your letter. You must write again soon.]

48 Gladstone road, North-east Valley

Dear Brother Bill,—! am six years old.. I am going in Standard 1. after Christmas, and I would like to join your happy band. I have five brothers. Dad made us a swing, seesaw, sliding board, trapeze, and bar, so wo all stay in the yard and play together.—With love from Noel Lomas. .. [A short letter, but a very nice one indeed, Noel. Your dad is the right sort of dad to have a son. Ho seems to take an interest in the things boys like. Do you know, Noel, Brother Bill thinks there ought to be a place where parents apply ter children, and where they would have to answer certain questions before the good angel that looks •after bairns would trust one to them. One of 'the questions would be most certainly: "Will you see that this boyhas nice things to play with, and play with him frequently yourself?” And if the father said: “Of course. I’m a very busy man, but I’ll tell bis mother what you say.” Then the angel would slam the window down, and the father would have to go away without a son. It looks as though your father, Noel, would be able to have as many sons as be oared to ask for. Write another letter soon.]

Green Island

Dear. Brother Bill, —I am sending in some riddles, and hope they suit. 1 couldn’t get your last riddle out, only the first part of it, but I will keep on trying. We have had our exams, at school now, and are practising for our concerts. •We got our Sunday school prizes yesterday—some lovely hooks. Have you ever been to Port Molyneux, Brother Bill? lam going there for my holidays. It is a lovely place—a lovely beach, and dozens of cribs. They are holding a big carnival there this year to help to pay off the hall. They have sports there every New Year’s Day, racing and dancing, and such a lot of things. It is a lovely walk to the lighthouse, around the cliffs by a narrow track, and through lovely bush. The lighthouse is very nice; the steps go round and round till you get to the top, whore the lighthouse keeper showed ns how the lights worked. It is very wonderful,, and one could put in a lot of time having a good look round. There is also the fishing camp about halfway, and it is great to see the fishermen preparing the fish to put in the casks ready for the market. About every couple of miles or so there are camping places where one can boil the billy and have some refreshments before going on the journey again. The road leads on to the beach in a great many places, as there are no proper formed roads, and what there are are very rough. There is also tho blow-hole, which attracts many tho holidays. ’ . Wo are looking forward to the radio picnic in February, and hope it is a groat success. 1 will have to stop now.

Wishing yourself, Aunt Sheila, and all tho radio family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,—Eileen Metcalf, Green Island, [Thank you for your delightfully interesting letter, Eileen. You have been awarded five marks .for ifc in this week’s honour square. I haven’t been to Port Molyneux, but should like to go. It sounds quite fascinating from yqnr description. The old lighthouse with circular steps, tho blow-hole, tho fishing camp, and tho cribs seem just the right surroundings for a lovely, interesting holiday. I hope you have tho best weather and a most enjoyable time. Wc certainly expect to have a gorgeous time at the radio picnic in February. It is to be at Wakari, on the farm of Mr and Mrs Stenhouse. Arrangements will begin in tho New Year, and announcements will bo made about the end of the school holidays. Write and, tell me how you enjoy your holidays. I shall he most interested to hear.]

19 Victoria street

Musselburgh, Dunedin

Dear Big Brother Bill, —May I join your happy band? Wo hare not a wireless, but wo hope to get one. I am in Standard IVa., and I go to Musselburgh School. lam going to Company’s’Bay for Christinas holidays, mid I hope to have a good time. T like reading your columns in the ‘Star,’ wbicli I find very interesting. I have one sister, but no brothers. Our school is breaking up on December 20, and wo .are holding a picnic in Culling Park on December 19. My birthday is in August next; then T shall be twelve years old. I must closo now,—Yours truly, Bruce Tuck. [Quite a good little letter to begin, Bruce. Thank you for the kind things you say about tho bairns column; if you are happy about it, Brother Bill is happy also. You have a brother now, of course—a big brother, who will bo delighted to help -in any way possible. One of my brothers writes to gay he is glad to become_a member of the family. Ho has one big brother already, and he hopes that Big Brother Bill will not growl at him often, like the one ho has already. I don’t growl at anybody, Bruce, nor about anything. Of course, the big brothers of any family are expected to advise the younger ones, but I think they should do it in _the kindest fashion,, and without putting on side about it. Did you enjoy the picnic at Culling Park? Write me a letter about it. I hope you have a perfectly stunning time at Company’s Bay—a long holiday, with every day a 16ng day of perfect happiness.] SANTA GLAUS’S DRESS REHEARSAL A BED-TIME TALE “ One, two. One, two,” said Miss Blair. “Oh, dear, try again.” Peggy and Peter found it very hard to attend, for they were feeling so excited.' To-morrow was Christmas Day, with stockings and presents and Santa Claus; and to-morrow was a Christmas Play, too. “Well, well, there are always mistakes at dress, rehearsals. Hun home, children,” said Miss Blair at last. “I expect you will _do it quite right tomorrow. You will be able to dance as Fairies all the better after you bare been visited’ by Santa Claus.” So Peggy and Peter went home, hand in hand, scarcely speaking at all, for they were thinking all the way. “Peggy,’’ said Peter, “I’m so sleepy with practising all that dancing that I’m going straight to bod," and Santa Claus can come'as’quickly as he likes.” ■■ Peggy thought it was a good idea, and so :did> nurse; she tucked them both up, and lit the night light so that they could sec their stockings hanging by, the fireplace. “Go to sleep! ” x she said,, “before Father Christmas comes! ” / ■ *

Peter 'did as he was told at once, and Peggy tried to; but she couldn’t, because “ One, two. One, two! ” kept sounding in her ears. Once she thought she was dropping off, hut the “ One, two,” began again, and this time it went on and on. One, two,'three —all the' way Jo eleyon, and Peggy, found

that it wasn't Miss Blair’s voice she waa listening to at all, but the great big striking clock downstairs. ‘Eleven!” she -said, sitting up in bed. “ Why, it’s nearly time for Santa Claus to come! ”

And, then-just as she was thinking about it—she heard a scrambling in the chimney, and down through the grate and over the fender came Santa Claus with a pack on his back full of toys; but he didn’t look a bit cheery and jolly like the Santa Claus in pictures; he looked tired and worried, and cross! “ Dear me 1” he said, for Peggy could hear him. “ It’s very difficult. Shall I ever remember? One, two! One, two! Arc there two children in this family or only one? ” Peggy wanted to call out an. tell him there wero two, hut she didn’t; nurse had often said if Santa Claus ever guessed that a little child was awake he would he off at once, so she lay quite still and wondered, and wondered, what would happen next! And this is what happened next I “Let me see! ” said Santa Claus, and ho pulled a whole bundle of letters out of his pocket; one of them was the letter that Peter and Peggy had written—Peggy could tell it because ,of the smudge. But, somehow, Santa Claus didn’t: ho muddled it all up with another letter, and never saw it at all, and then he gave a sigh. “ Dear mol ” he said again, “ I was sure I was asked to leave something here. Was it a drum and a gramophone, or a toothbrush and a tin of toffee, or a gollowog and a concertina? ”

“It was a hying macliiue and a doll! ” Peggy almost called out, but not quite; because then Santa Claus would have gone away. She lay quite still and waited for him to remember, anti then— ” “Weill well J” ' said Santa Claus. “ I suppose there’s nothing wanted, but —I was almost sure ” He looked at his letters, and then shook his head and put them in his pocket. “One or two? ” ho said “ Which was it? Well, 1 did try to get it right. 1 ’ Then ho found he’d brought the wrong sack —it was lull of soot! You should have seen him 1 Up the chimney Santa Claus went again before Peggy could wink; the stockings were quite as empty as before he came; there was nothing in them, and—Santa Claus was gone! “Oh!” said Peggy with a scream, ami she sat up in bed. Peter sat up at once; he wanted to know what waa the matter, and, when he heard, ho' could hardly believe it; blit —it must ho true because Peggy had seen it!

“Oh! Oh!” sobbed Peggy. “Oh, dear! Oh, dear! ” And then Pettor suddenly had an idea. “It was eleven that you heard strike, Peggy,” he said, “wasn’t it? And—Santa Claus doesn’t come til! twelve! Nurse said so. Perhaps—perhaps he was just having a dress rehearsal!”

“What?” said Peggy, but she stopped crying to listen. “ Well, Miss Blair said that there were always mistakes at dross rehearsals,” said Peter. “ She said so today, and she said that we’d dance it all right to-morrow. So, perhaps ” “ Do you really mean that if we go to sleep he’ll come back at twelve and do it properly? ” asked Peggy. “Let’s try, anyway,” said Peter sleepily. So they did; they were asleep in a wink; and what d’you think they found when,they woke? Why—it was Christmas morning, and the doll was in Peggy’s stocking and the airship was in Peter’s. Santa Claus had found his letter after all! . Peggy told Miss Blair all about it that evening after the play, for the dancing had gone so beautifully that the mistakes at the dress rehearsal hadn’t mattered a hit. And what do you think Miss Blausaid when she’d heard about it all? ’Well—” Weren’t you dreaming, dear?” she said! THE com Of SANTA CLAUS When holly' berries deck the walls And Christmas Day is nigh. The merry sledge of Santa Clans Comes slanting down the sky. It’s loaded up with toys and toys, And toys and toys and' toys! ( A sack of them for gentle girls, A sack for noisy jboys. Old Santa knows that stockings hang In cottage and in hall; But ho is well prepared for that— He has enough for all. But if you at the window wait To see him come, I’m told, The chances are that with your toy He’ll hand you out—a COLD. TIE WISHING WELL It was Christmas Eve, and the ice upon the Wishing Well was half an inch thick. It was very cold, so cold that tho little girl kneeling upon the snow could hardly speak, her teeth wore chattering so. She broke the ice and scooped a little water into her hand. u I wish. I wero a princess, she said, and drank the water. Now Gladys was quite an ordinary little girl, and everybody knows that an ordinary little girl can ndver become a princess. But Gladys had been naughty. She was angry with Nurse and wanted to annoy her, and she thought the best way to do that was by becoming a princess. When she looked up she was a little frightened, lor there on the snow beside her sat the biggest hedgehog she had ever seen. It was sitting up and staring at her with angry little black eyes, “Who are you?” asked Gladys, trying not to show she was afraid. ‘‘ I am the king of. all the hedgehogs,” said the creature snappily, and Gladys saw that it had a little golden crown perched upon its bristles. “My son, the crown prince, is about to marry, and I am looking for a suitable wife. I heard you say you wished to become a princess?” “Yes,” faltered Gladys. “Can you sew?” asked the Hedgehog King sharply. . “ No-not very well,” said Gladys, “ And make beetle pie?” asked the Ki ng, looking rather annoyed. “N-no,” sobbed Gladys, bursting into tears. !

“Well, well; don’t cry,” said the Hedgehog King more knidly. “Wo will soon remedy all that. Como along. Everything is ready, and you can be married at once.” He scuttled over to a hole in the bank, and Gladys, peeping in, saw a long black tunnel that ran down into the earth. “ Come along,” said the Hedgehog again, trying to take Gladys’s hand. With a scream of terror Gladys snatched her hand away and rani She did not stop running till 'she reached her own nursery door, and saw Nurse on her knaps before the fire toasting muffins for tea. , “Oh, Nursic, dear, I’ll never, never ask to be a princess again,” cried Gladys, throwing her arms round Nurse’s neck. “I should think not indeed,”' said Nurse. , And Gladys never did. TBE LOUIE RECIPE Here is a recipe to mah 9 strawberry candy by using fresh strawberries. Take two pups of icing sugar and a half cup of water; boil rapidly- until a soft ball is formed when dropped in cold water. Now add a cup of hulled strawberries, whip until creamy, and turn into a square greased pan. When cold, cut into cubes, and press half a walnut into each cube. Tin's makes a delicious lollie. Cheerio Everybody. JBIG BBOTHEBr #£t&r .. . \ ': . ■