FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 104, 31 October 1918, Page 4

FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

HE KNEW THEIR NAMES. They were discussing the North American Indian in a rural school, when the teacher asked if anyone could tell what the leaders were called. “Chiefs,” announced a bright little girl at the head of the class. “Correct,” answered the teacher, “and now can any of you tell me what the women were called?” There was a moment of silence, then a small boy’s hand wan seen waving aloft, eager to reply. “Well, Johnny?” asked the teacher. “Mischiefs,” he proudly announced. ROBIN AND lIIS BOW Once upon a time the King of England went to visit the town of Nottingham, and in his honour there was held a great tournament at wilieh a,U the Knights in their armour fought against each other until one was proclaimed the victor. After this there was a contest for the countrymen to see which could shoot furthest with the bow and arrow. The King offered a golden arrow and a purse of money for the prize, and many stout men tried their skill before him. When the contest was nearly over, a stranger suddenly appeared, and said that he could shoot further than any of them. The people jeered at him at first, for the winner had shot a great distance, but he quietly took his bow and drew it to his ear and shot his arrow so fur that no one could follow its flight or even discover where it had fallen. Then all cried out that he must bo the bold robber Robin Hood, for no one else was so skilful with the bow, and the Sheriffs of the town wanted to seize him and put him in prison. But the King laughed and forbade them, saying- that Robin was a brave man and should go free. So he took the purse and the golden arrow and marched out with his head in the air, and all the people cheered him. THE LITTLE NORWEGIANS. The children’s games in Norway ere very interesting. Many of the games take the form of ‘Ring Dances,” and it is amusing to notice what funny names the childfen give to our own favourites. “Hop-scotch,” for instance, is with them “Hop in Paradise,’ and when they sing of “The House that Jack built,” they call him “Jacob.’ When they blow at a puff-ball they cry “Fly away, Peter; fiy away, Paul!” instead of calling upon “Jack and Jill,” and “the Mulberry bush” is “the Juniper bush" with them. The great delight of Norwegian girls is to play with their dolls, and they are the kindest of little mothers. On grand occasions, such as a birthday party, their dolls are “married,” and all the cpiaint ceremonies attenda upon old-fashioned Norwegian weddings are faithfully carried out, just as they are on real occasions in some of the more remote towns and villages. There is a “Master of the Ceremonies” to lead the bride’s pony, and the guests arc in full Norwegian costume. The crown of the dollbride is made of tinsel, instead of gold (though in spite of this she is quite magnificent) and when not in use reposes in a cupboard, wrapped in tissue paper. GAMES FOR LITTLE FOLK The Lawyer. The players stand in two rows, facing each other, room being left for the Lawyer to walk between them. The Lawyer asks a question or addresses a remark to one of the players, either .standing in front of him or calling the name. The one spoken to should not answer, but the player sitting directly opposite must immediately reply to the question or remark. The object of the Lawyer is either to make the one who should speak to him fail to do so, or to make the one to whom he speaks reply. When he has succeeded in either of these the two persons caught, must exchange places, the first one caught becoming Lawyer. The MailEach player except one receives the name of a large city, and the one remaining is Postmaster. The cities form a wide circle, in the middle of which stands the Postmaster. The latter tries to obtain a place in the circle, by calling out the names of two different towns as a signal for the player so named to change places. During the exchange if the Postmaster can slip into a seat he retaines it. The exchange is always announced in postal form—“ The mails will now pass from London to Peking.” Every little while the Postmaster shouts—- “ General delivery!” upon which all cities changes places. The One-Word Story. The one-word story can be the funniest indoor game imaginable if the players have plenty of imagination and wit. They sit in a circle, and one begins a story by saying just one word. His neighbor gives the second word and this continues round and round the circle. A player who cannot supply a word, or who used a word that docs not make sense must leave the circle. The keenest part of the game comes when only two or three are left. The one who survives, after all the others have failed wins.