FOR YOUNG FOLKS

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 625, 19 April 1921, Page 6

FOR YOUNG FOLKS

THEY UNDERSTOOD THE LESSON A well-known schoolmaster once wrote his initials, “A. S.” on the title page of one of his books. A saucy hoy in his form, who got hold of the hook, added a second S; but the master discovered the addition and, knowing who had made it, simply handed the book back to the boy with the words, “1 wish you would not write your nfme in my book.” The lesson of so delicate a retort was not lost upon the offender or upon his companions. WOLVES IN ENGLAND. It is now a very long time since wolves ran wild over the Bi-itish Islands, but judging from remains of their bones which are now and again found they must have been-well distributed over the country. It was about the time of Henry VII., or just before the year 1500, they' appear to have become extinct in England, when all mention of them in parish records ends. Their last retreat was supposed to be on the then desolate Wolds of Yorkshire. In Scotland, however, they held on among the wild mountains down to the year 1743 at least, and in Ireland as late as 1766. AN INGENIOUS MOUSE. A field mouse which had fallen into a hole dug to receive a telegraph pole displayed great ingenuity and perseverance in effecting its escape. The first hour or so he ran round the bottom of the hole trying to find solne means of escape, but could not climb out. Then he settled down to business. He began steadily and systematically to dig a spiral groove, round and round the inner surface of the hole, with a uniformly ascending grade. He worked night and day, and as he got further from the bottom he dug little pockets where he could either lie or sit and rest. The telegraph workers who had noticed his plight, and were, curious to know how he would escape,j supplied the little engineer with food.!

At the end of two weeks the mouse struck a rock. This puzzled him. For nearly a day he tried to get under,| around, or over the obstruction, but' without success. With unflinchingpatience he reversed the spiral, and went on tunnelling his way in the opposite direction. At the end of four weeks he reached the top, and sped away to enjoy his well-earned free-' dom.