THE BELLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 122, 13 August 1927, Page 27

THE BELLS

Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tang, tang, tang! Tinkle, tinkle, tang!” sang the school bell as it swung to and fro. Oh, it was in such a hurry to let all the children hear it. “Hurry—hurry—.hurry—hurry!” it tinkled* “don t-be-late, don’t-be-late; tinkle, tang, tang. It was quite a small bell, but small things often make the most noise. ‘Tang, tang, ting!”—then it stopped, for it was time for school to begin. Suddenly, “clang—clang!” went the bell of the tram-car. “Clang, clang!” It was a beautiful brass bell, and was kept very busy ringing all day long and never had any time to rest. ‘Clang, clang! Get-out-of-my-way! Hallo-there, hallo, hallo, hallo, clang, clang, clang!” it cried as the tram-car came “whizz” down the long street. “Tong, tong!” said the bell for dinner, “don’t be long; listen, listen to my song! Potatoes and pudding, pudding, potatoes, potatoes, potatoes!” and it got quite as hot as the dinner with ringing so loudly. “Boom!” cried the bell in the great tower of the Town Hall. “Boom, boom! Ha, ha, ha! Boom, boom! What a fine bell I am! Boom, bim, bim, boom! ... I ring ... on the birthday ... of the King and Queen . . . and the Prince of Wales . . . God bless them! . . . Boom! Boom! Boom! Oh, it was a fine bell, and no mistake! It had a great tongue as long as your arm and longer. You could scarcely hear yburself speak when it rang. It was always so good tempered and merry that it made you feel quite glad to hear it. “Tink, tink, tink!” What a tiny bell! It hung over the door of the shop where you bought brandy balls, toffee, caramels —very nice and sticky—peppermint, ah! and chocolate in sticks or drops; both are very good—but the creamy kin*l is the very best of all. “Tink, tink, tink! Four a penny, four a penny, tink, tink, tink! Come and buy, come and buy, tink, tink . . . tink!” It was very busy on Saturdays, was that little bell, and often had* very little to do on other days—except on birthdays, bank holidays, and at Christmas. Some children like the “tink, tink, tink” of this little bell best of all. . IN BRITTANY The ships that sail from England. Are brown (and golden too) But far away in Brittany I saw some sails of blue. Blue as shining sapphires, Blue as distant hills: And little rusty red sails. And sails like daffodils. There down the streets in Brittany In sabots to and fro; In quiet black, with snowy caps. The women come and go. When evening comes to Brittany And gold has touched the sky, Their banners curving to the breeze, The strong-sailed boats go by. Blue-sailed like shining sapphires. And blue as distant hills; With little rusty red sails And sails like daffodils. FLOWER MEANINGS Convolvuli: These roll up or close at sunset, therefore their name, which means to “roll up.” H arebells: Found in Ayr, and first called Ayr bells. Mignonette: French for “little darling.” Nasturtium: Means, “twisted nose.” Examine one and see why. Foxglove: People used to think that the fairies, or little folk, wore it as a glove—hence the “folks-glove.” TIC-TAC-TOC A MORAL STORY Years ago there lived an old witch who walked with a limp and she leant upon a stick with a crooked handle. Some witches, you know, ride upon broomsticks, but this old witch, so the story goes, used to ride upon the back of her black cat. This cat was, of course, a magic cat, and could grow larger or smaller just as the witch pleased. Now when the witch went for a walk she started off with her long foot — vritches always do this —tic! Then came her short foot, tac! Then, toe! that was the sound the stick made when it struck the ground. Tic-tac-toc! Just like an old clock which ticks away slowly in the corner of the room without ever stopping, day or night, for a rest. Now this old witch may have died long ago. This is probable. But then again, possibly, she may not. In this case there is the likelihood that she may still be in the world. Tic-tac-toc! And if she is alive to-day and you should chance to meet her, what are you going to do? Now remember this! If you are really good—not half-and-half, nice one day and naughty the next—she will not even look at you, but if you are always cross and sulky, and stamping your foot and saying, “I won’t” or “I will —so there,” she is sure to notice you. And then, of course, anything might happen. . . .Tic-tac-toc! THE TADPOLE I have a little tadpole, I love him very dearly, I dropped him down a drain-pipe, And lost him —very nearly. I put him in his jar again, It was a dreadful warning; And now I go and feed him, And watch him every morning. THE DADIE The Dadie is a little bird Who’s ever on the go. Wherefore he goes, nobody knows. And no one cares to know. And that’s what bothers Dadie Bird; He thinks we ought to care Exactly when and how he goes. And also, why and where.