For Young Folks.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1911, Page 4

For Young Folks.

SOME NEW • OLD GAMES

Hero are some very old games, but no doubt they will be brand' new to many of our young ireaders. The first is called " Catching the Snake's Tail," and comes to lis from Japan, Where it is a great favourite. The children form in line, each with hands resting iipon the shoulders of the player "in front. The one who is to act as "catcher" is left out. 'Phe first child in the line is calle'l the "bead" and the last one the "tail." When time to begin the "catcher" is placed about fifteen feet from the "head" ; at a signal he tries to eaten the "tail" or the (last child in the "snake" without touching anyone else. The others may defend' the "tail" by moving about, keeping the lino urobrokfii, for if the line "should be broken it 's equal to the "tail" being caught, and that unlucky person must become the "catcher," while the lastnamed goes to the head of the line. Now for the second game, called. "Feather Play." It is wry ami'Viug, although it sounds so sirnoV All the players are seated' on the floor, having first counted "out" to see wiho will be "it." A hollo-.v square is formed with a sheet held close up to the chins of the player--on the floor. A feather is prod iced, a little downy thing, and blown back and forth by the players. Ihe trick is for the child who it "it" to try to catch the feather on one of the children, or directly in front of a child, when that one becomes "it." The feather -must not \ > touched by the hands of the eV.I dren on the floor; their hands must be kept under the sheet, all manipulations of the feather being done by blowing. the'lo"st~letter. "Maurice, I wonder if T can trust you to post this letter! It is very important and has a postal order inside for your sister." "Of course you can trust me. Mother! I shall pass the end of the road where the pillar-box is on my way to the football field." '"Very well. But don't put it in your coat pocket. Keep it in your band, and then voit won't forget it." "All right, Mother." And Maurice went out carrying the letter very carefully. As he went along the country road he thought hof nice it would be when it his time for going to boarding-school and having postal orders sent to him for pocket-money. But that would not be for some time yet, because Mother said ten was young enough for one to go away from homo, and Maurice's ninth birthday was not yet quite readhed. In front of him he saw two ii:<i!re:< One was his little friend Freddy Grove, who, no doubt, was, like himself, going to see the village match. The other was a stranger—a slouching figure of a man, not too tidily dressed. But Maurice did not stop to think about the stranger. He shouted to Freddy to waitfor him, and quickly reached 1 his friend. "Are von going to the match? So am I," said Freddy. "If we're not • very quick indeed-we sha'n't be ahle to see anything! Come on!" he cried, excitedly. "Oh, I've got to go down Moss road-to. post'this letter. Will you come, too, or wait here for me?" "Post it coming back." said Freddy. "We are sure to be late if you don't!" Maurice stood undecided. They were now at the corner of Moss road, and the red pillar-box, nearly at the other end, seemed a long way off. At this moment the stranger came up. The man heard their remarks as he now passed. "I'm* going along Moss road, young mister. I'll post your letter for you." For an; instant Maurice -hesitatedMother had entrusted the letter to him to post. And it had money in it. But, then, this stranger dkl not know there was anything special about the. letter. Besides, Freddy was stamping with impatience to be off.

"Oh, thank you—thank you very much," said Maurice, as he gave the letter into the man's hand, and together the two boys bounded a'vay along the main road towards the village, green. Had they turned their heads two later, they would have seen the man crossing the main road and turning the corner of a narrow lane which ran up the slope of the rising lands and -between - two tow hedges. And had they 'been less intent out the match when standing at ">-o corner of Moss road, they night have seen a figure coming down tl at lane. As it was. they knew nHhiiiig about these interesting iiu idents. Maurice, however, was to hear a good deal about them later.

The 'Upshot of it all was mat Maurice learnt sadly the adv.nl:ige of being truthful and carefil. Bis mother-found him out '?i his deception, and he was chastised se ' sv'y