Girl Guides and Brownies

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5284, 21 December 1946, Page 7

Girl Guides and Brownies

KUAKA.

CAMPER.

ADYENTURES OF MANU. ' After. a little, the butterfly rose from among the eornflowers and* Manu •followed her as she flew round the garden. "Hello, Brightwing," sang a. little green grass'hopper. "I see our plan worked." "Yes," replied the dainty creature. "This is Maniu. Manu, this is our friend Greeno." "Pleased to meet you," murmured Manu, and t'hey flew on slowly, while Greeno followed with big hops. . "This is Webby, the spider," Brightwing introduced the next helper, and so it went on as they toured the grounds of the farni. . As nearly all the creatures followed along, there was quite a trail by the time the last introduction was completed and all were gathered in a little grotto made by tall grasses in- the orchard. Manu was pushed to the fore and Brightwing nudged 'him to say some- ' thing. "Thank you all ever so .much, kind friends, for plafming to set me free," he said rather shyly; "and thank you, especially, Brightwing." The tiny insects all joyously clapped the brave butterfly. 'Tell us how you got in the cage," eame Greeno 's creaky voice. Manu complied and finished by telling them all how sorry he was. "And will you all still be my friends?" he asked eagerly. "Of co'Urse wa will," they ajl chirped, squeaked and sang. "Can you show me how to get blue again, so I can ma'ke friends with my .father and -mother, and brothers and sisters, again?" "Why you are turning bl-ue again already," said Brightwing, "but we will all help yoh." Manu looked down. Yes, sure enough, his breast was beginning to grow quite blue once more. "Oh, I am so bappy," he said. "What shall I do to regain my proper colour ? " "Instead of envying people who are better off than you are, you must learn to be sorry for those who are worse off, and to try to help them so that they can be 'happier," advised Brightwing. ^ "Well," suggested Wfebby, "just near my hiding hole there is a baby tit that has fallen out of its nest. The poor mother has been trying to get it back to safety, but she is too tiny. I am sure you eould carry him on your strong back." The reseue squad found the place quite quickly, under Webby's dixection. All the creatures got the baby on to Manu's feathery back and t'hen Webby the Spider began to spin his strongest thread. Up and down; over and round he went; right and left and back and f-orth. At last Webby gave the word. "Safe now!" Manu raised himself, stretched himself, and tried a short flight. Yes, the baby was securely^' on his back, but the weight was a handicap. However could he fly up to the 'height of the nest? "1 have seen those human creatures go round and round to climb a hill," said Greeno. "Couldn't you fly like that ? " "A good idea!" commended Brightwing, who had been watching all the preparations, and so Manu began his upward journey. He swerved round and round the tree, mounting just a little at each circle, while the anxioius parerits hovered near. At last he reac'hed the lov/est branch and had to pause for a rest, but he soon resumed his flight and continued until he perched close beside the youngster's cosy nest-home. Then, while Manu clung to the branch, the mother and father tits pecked away at the strands of spider silk Which kept their baby safe. At last the tiny creature was pushed into its mossy bed. It would take a Whole hook and more to tell of all the kind and exciting things Manu did, but the other day Brightwing whispered to me that all the creatures of the garden have made him a Christmas present to give him when he comes back from visiting his family. It is a tiny green medal to remind him — just in case! So, if some day you should see the happiest and bluest of bluebirds, wearing a tiny green medal, you will know it is Manu and if you. ask him to help you with a kindly deed, I am

sure he- will say, "Yes."

Answers to Quiz No. 18. 1. The Guide sign is the Guide salute, made only at s'houlder height. We use it when out of mniform, without a hat, or when taking or renewing our Guide Promise. 2. Our Guide badges are the sign of our Guide lives, so we keep them shining back and front to show that our lives are pure within and without. 3. A Patrol Secoiid wears one white stripe, -a Patrol Leader two. And now as this is the last letter for a time, Kuaka and I join in wishing you all a very 'happy Ghristmas and Nev/ Year, and Good Camping!