For Young Folks.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 717, 31 October 1914, Page 6

For Young Folks.

^ — i WEIRD WISDOM. j There was a funny teacher man, As wise U3 he could bo; His name was Solon Solomon Methuselah McGee. . . I Ho had a class of animals, \ Ho stood them in a row, And to each ono ho daily taught Just what he ought to know. He taught the cheetah not to cheat, The lion not to lie; The gadfly not to gad so much, Tho spider not to spy. He taught tho jellyfish to jell, The adders to add right, Taught centipedes to earn a cent. And sunlish to shino bright. All! yes, he was a worthy man, j The animals avow ', That had it not been for his school They'd all be dunces now I A NEW GAME. Tho "Hoop to Hoop" is an original new game which will delight the majority of littlo folk. Four children tnko part. Four wooden toy hoops, the largest size obtainable, nro used. Each one of these- is fastened 1o the ground with two wire arches similar to croquet hoops. The arches are driven in deep to keep tho hoops firm and steady. Set tho hoops two yards apart, forming a sort of open tunnel. A rodpainted stake is driven into tho ground at each end, at a distance of two yards from tho hoop. Those are the starting points at either end. A "starter" and "helper" stands at each stake. A redpaiutc■! 'viop, two sir.es smaller than those u;,cd for tho tunnel, is used for rolling, with or without n stick. The starter scuds tho hoop oft rolling through the tunnel, where it is caught and rolled back by tho starter at tho other cud. This goes on until some one cannot do it. Tho hoop is then caught and claimed by tho helper on tho losing side, who rolls it back to the other helper partner. THE FINISHING TOUCH. It was not a very pleasant face that Walter brought when lie came to father for tho finishing touches to hia dress. "There, everything is on now I" shouted Walter. "Why, no, son!" said father, soberly; ".vou haven't put everything on yet." Walter carefully inspected hia clothes, from tho tips of his small toes to tho broad collar about his neck. He could find nothing wanting. "You haven't put your smile on yet," said father, with the tiny wrinkles beginning to creep about his own eyes. "Put it on, Walter, and I'll button it up for you." And Walter began then and there* to put it on. And now ho never really calls himself dressed for the day until ho has put on a sunny face. Have any of your smiles beon forgotten in the morning "getting voady"? If so, no amount of fresh collars and new neckties and gay hair ribbons can ever take their place. Tho only really safe way is to put the smilo on the very first thing. Besides, the do.

THE RAT WITH THE BELL: X FABLE. A fine old mansion in tlio country was infested with rats, the folks who lived in it did not know bow to get. rid of them, until a sharp littlo lad hit upon this plan: Ho caught a rat, and then fastened a collar with a small bell round its neck. Tho rat, when sot froo, ran into tho nearest hole and went in search of its companions. They heard at a distnnco tho hell tinkle, tinldo through tho dark passages, and, suspecting some enemy had got among them, away thoy scoured, somo one way and somo another. The bell bearer paused, and, guessing tho cause of their flight, ha was greatly amused at it. Wherever ho went all was hurry-scurry, and not a tail of one of them was to bo seen. Ho chased his old friends from hall to hall and room to room, laughing all tho while at their fears, and increasing them by all tho means in his power. Presently ho had the whole house to himself.'"That is right," said he; "tho fewer tho better cheer." So ho rioted alone among tho good things, and stuffed until he could hardly walk. For two or three days this course of life went on very pleasantly; but then he grew tired of this lonely life, and longed to mix with his companions again upon the former footing; Trnfc tho difficulty was how to get rid of the bell. He pulled and tugged with hi» forefeet, and almost wore tho skin off his neck in the attempt, but all in vain. The bell was now his plague and torment. He wandered from room to room, earnestly desiring to make himself known to one of his companions; but they all kept out of his roach. At last ho was moping sadly about, ho fell in pussy's way, and was killed and oaten very quickly. Ho who is raised so much above his fellow-creatures as to bo the object of thoir terror must suffer for it in losing all tho comforts of society. Ho is a solitary being in tlio midst of crowds. Ho keeps them at a distance, and they equally shun him. Fear and affection cannot livo together.—D.E., iu tho "Children's Friend."