THE WIGWAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 6

THE WIGWAM

-* f If ere we gather, here we meet in poto-icoi» friendly and discreet, To talk of earth, and sea, and sky, and tcatch the world of men go by. < ■ ■

THE OLD AND THE NEW THE Old Year is nearing the crossroads, where one fingerpost reads: “To the Forest of Lived Dreams. Sleep well, brother.” He is grey and bent and his eyes are filled with memories; he leans heavily on his staff and his feet are weary, but sleep is sweet that falls with the twilight in the Forest of Lived Dreams. Down another road comes another traveller, whose winged feet spurn the earth. Ilis eyes are bright with the zest of adventure and h song is on his youthful, untried lips. He carries aloft a little lantern, for the way is as' yet unfamiliar. Soon he. too. will reach the crossroads and scan the sign that reads: “To the world of joy and sorrowing. Give and give again.” For one brief moment these' two will glimpse each other, the elder to sigh for the world tie is leaving, the younger to ponder again the inscription on the finger-post. Then they will go their separate ways.

Into the midnight world the little New Year will step to share his days with every race of humanity. His little lantern is but a glimmer ou the walls of time, but the song on his untried lips has a happy theme. In his secret heart he knows that one day he, too, must cross the threshold of the Forest of Lived Dreams, hut not before he has brought his seasons of flower and fruit to the waiting world. To one the message, “Sleep well, brother.” To the other the injunction, “Give and give again.” —REDFEATHER.

GIRL GUIDES’ CORNER The Girl Guide headquarters closed for the holidays on December 20. and will not reopen until February 11. Most of the companies are holding camps, the Gladstone, St. John’s, North Shore, and New Lynn Companies . going to Clevedon; St. Mary’s and St. Mark’s com Dining under canvas at Waimauku. The Kakamai Company will probably hold several week-end hikes. • * * ‘‘Dancing Star” forwards the Takapuna Company report for December: “Our first meeting of the month was held on December 7. The cup was won again by the Forget-Me-Not Patrol last month. ’ On December 14, Valerie Thorny# on, of the Forget-Me-Nots, was enrolled. We sang camp songs later in the evening, and Captain showed us the beautiful ribbon which is to be awarded next year to the leading patrol in first aid work. On Saturday, December 15, our field day was held at Northcote. and was very much enjoyed. “Wo received an unpleasant surprise this month, when our commissioner, Mrs. Percival, told us that Mrs. Johnson would be unable to be owr captain next year. She has been a splendid captain, and we are very sorry to lose her.” • • * Silver Leaf, of the First Grey Lynn Company, writes: “On the second Wednesday of this month Captain decided that we should have no distribution of badges that night, but that we should wait until our breaking-up meeting, which would take the form of a pound night. “There was a very good attendance at our last church parade on Sunday, December 16. “Last week we held the pound night when there was an enrolment and the presentation of many badges. Games were played and items given by the Guides.” • * * The Brown Owl of the First Devonport Brownie Pack, who is Little Circling Owl of the Wigwam, organised a coin collection among her little charges and, as a result, the Fresh Air Fund has benefited considerably. The Brownies also collected a quantity of silver paper. Their subscription will be acknowledged on Saturday in the Happy Town page. WILD SONG AVhen I am dead ... all that I ask is this. That I may lie untended, in a vale Where only the winds go by, Singing their wild song to the wild sky. 1 shall not mind the darkness, lying there. Nor shall I fear the shadows; if I may But feel the sunlight warm upon my head. I do not wish to see when I am dead. No man-made music there, no other sounds But great trees whispering, and leaves astir. Cries of the wild free birds, the quivering grass, The furtive rustle of the Things that pass. hen I am dead ... I shall not ask for sight, Or I would long to live; let me but lie Where the great winds go by, Singing their wild song to the wild sky. —Harvest Moon (Alma Chamberlain) FOR WISE HEADS Word Square: 1. A product of the fields. 2. To lie over again. 3. A pipe. 4. Part of a plant. • • * Answers to concealed birds (December 12): Robin, owl, wren, eagle.

WITH THE BOY SCOUTS The District Secretary, Mr. J. J. Mead, advises that the Scout Office will be closed until Tuesday, January 8. District Cubmaster N. M. Matheson forwards the following Proficiency Badge results: Missioner Badge: R. Whitten and L. Hogan (Herne Bay), K. Wylie (Kitchener), B. Carlsen (Gordon), Roper, Creamer, Skipper (Ellerslie), G. Bridgens (St. James), Hardman, K. Bell and B. Bell (St. Barnabas), L. Able (Edendale), I. Thompson (Punua). Healthyman Badge: V. S. Jenks, P. Waker, K. Wylie, J. Curtis, N. Burton, R. Hicks, J. Ellery, I. Thompson, PI. Bradley, T. Wyatt, J. Gunn, L. Prinns, V. Field, K. Wakefield, A. Moray, R. Judson, J. Neary, D. Menzies. Public Healthman Badge: A. Wilderspin, R. Dunn, J. H. Cavitt, J. Curtis. Ambulance Badge: Weston, Green, Gaelic, Skipper, Burton, Gunn, Jacobs, J. Bennett, Cowperthwaite, E. Mack. Owing to pressure of work and camping preparations, the secretary to the Examination Board regrets that he cannot return badge forms until the New Year, the same applying to the result cards for first class tests, held on December 1. The following Scout camps are being held by the various troops during the holidays: Papakura, Ellerslie and St. James, Kitchener, Henderson Valley; Grey Lynn, Gordon, Panmure and Otahuhu, Clevedon; St. George’s, Waiheke; Glen Eden, Beachlands; Mt. Albert, Helensville; St. Francis, Henderson; St. Aidan’s, Mellon’s Bay; Edendale, Onetaunga; West Street Church of Christ, Swanson; Onehunga Town, Cornwallis; St. Barnabas, Lower Matakana; Tahutamai, Waikowhai. • * * Scoutmaster J. J. Cormiek reports that the Tahutimai Troop broke up on December 20 with a special display by the patrol leaders and the presentation of the Burleigh Cup and Cub badges, the Cubs combining with the Scouts for the evening. Recently a successful bottle drive in aid of camp funds was held, over 70 dozen bottles being collected. This troop will be under canvas at Waikowhai for the ten days following Boxing Day, and the Cubs will then go into camp for a further four days. The Scoutmaster desires to make known the splendid progress and Scouting spirit of the boys. Scout lan Lister has set an example worthy of •he highest praise. Learning that several Scouts could not afford to go to ciimp, he spent a week in mowing lawns and cutting hedges, starting at 6 a.m. and working after school, eventually handing the proceeds of his labour to the Scoutmaster in order that his brother Scouts might not suffer disappointment. Good camping to this unselfish lad. A new troop, to be called the North Memorial Baptist Troop, is now in the process of formation. The meetings will be held in the Baptist Hall, Remuera. A STRANGE BIRD The Monal, a member of the pheasant 1S ° ne ot tlle mos t brilliant of “ . . bl Ujs. , The crested head of the male Himalayan monal is green, shot with purple and blue, and the neck is purple, coppery, and green. The mantle is golden green, the lower part of the back ie white, the wings are bluishgreen, and the tail is a beautiful pale chestnut. These colours have a metallic sheen that makes the bird glitter in the sunlight like a jewel. The monal is found in the forests high up in the Himalayas. It Is a fast runner, and it can fly strongly. It uses its beak to dig up roots, but it also eats fruit, grain and insect larvae. Its cry is a loud whistle. The eggs are laid in a depression scratched in the ground.

FRESH AIR FUND The subscription list running in the Wigwam Page to assist the funds for Sister Pat*:. Sunshine Camp for poor children at Oneroa, closed on Monday, December 24, and Redfeather wishes to thank the Chiefs and Braves and others who have so generously lent their aid. With the addition of the Happy Town fund, we will be responsible for sending about 30 children to

THE PIPER Long ago, a disaster came upon Hamlin Town. A piper piped all the children through the streets, and they were lost forever. Over hill and dale they went, laughing and dancing, until they reached a Hidden City in the hills. “Here,” said the piper, “is your home. Rest and forget.” So the children rested, and forgot their homes, forgot that they had been happy in the outside world. There were new toys to play with, efuaint houses to live in, and new flowers to wonder at. But Weirdre had not forgotten. He remembered that his mother’s eyes were blue, and that she had cried when he went away. He remembered that she had kissed him when he went to bed. Now there was nobody to kiss him. At last ho went to the piper. “Master,” he said, “I want to find my mother.” “Oh,” laughed the piper. “Try lad, but, if you do not find her, return.” That night, WeircLre climbed over the golden walls and slipped away into the darkness. Down, down he plunged into the depths of the valley. Then came the dawn, and the world spread out before him.

A little copse of peach and cherry trees filled the sky with clouds of pink petals, that seemed to float in a mist of delicate colour through the vivid blue heavens, while beyond, the poplar trees shimmered as the wind stirred their silvery young leaves. On, on, he went, until he came to the town, . . . the street, . . . the house. . . . There sat his mother, with the same blue eyes and the same smile, but at her knee was another child. ‘Mother.™ he cried. you?” turned ' gowning. “Who are

X)o you not know me?” he faltered. I have never seen you,” she said, and turned to kiss the child at her knee.

Th ®. E ’ un set - Down in the valley the birds were singing joyously amid the trees, while a child lay verv verv still beneath them. ry> y

<<S i ie did not know me,” he whis“Jr- 1 - an a the birds seemed h ? m ' ■ alowl y he climbed 111 the whfi e PiPerS music suiains hl “ flnd W her?” Sald th ° Plper ' “ Did you quTeUy b °ye!’ Ur h S /“t head and said qmeuy, Yes, but she did not know “Ah! Stay here and be happy” said the piper. The boy turned slowly into the gates. Behind him lay the valley, cool and fragrant; above, the moon entangled in a belt of stars. “Oh, why did she forget?” cried Weirdre, leaning far out over the walls. And the wind caught the echo and shouted it to the wide sky. —Harvest Moon (Alma Chamberlain). CANOE CRUISING Once you have learned to paddle and manage your canoe with a fair degree of skill and safety, be sure to plan a canoe cruise. There’s a charm in paddling along some unexplored water, particularly if it be a stream small enough to enable you to study the life on shore. There’s a thrill in meeting and conquering the obstacles, as they arise, with your own ingenuity and common sense. First of all, be sure that your canoe is in good condition. When you get it out again for use, it is well to refinish it. Any canoe deteriorates rapidly if this is not done. And the painting or enamelling must b© done carefully. Rub the canoe down, inside and out, with fine steel wool. Rub inside until the surface is smooth and dull, outside until you can just see the texture of the canvas. Give the interior three very thin coats of best spar varnish, giving time enough between coats to let the varnish dry before applying another. Give the outside two very thin coats of flat Japan colour, follow by two thin coats of spar varnish. Wait at least 24 hours between coats. See that your paddles are in good condition also. The tips should be trimmed if they are ragged. If you have oiled paddles, the oil should be renewed fairly often, for the paddles absorb water and become heavier. If your paddles are varnished give them a fresh coat, following the same directions as for the canoe. It is well, for comfort’s sake, to scrape the varnish from the paddle at the points where the hands grasp it—the varnish makes blisters much more quickly. One way of making a shelter on the canoe cruise is to use the canoe itself as the “backbone.” Stake it up by running two poles five or six feet long through metal loops that have been fastened to the inner sides of the gunwales about a third of the distance from the end. Then make two sides of a waterproof material. The angle and height at which you stake up the canoe will determine the size and shape of these. You will have to shape and cut to fit. Fasten the sides, when made,to the insides of the gunwales with snaps or fasteners much the same way as side curtains are snapped on the automobile. You can, too, make a makeshift tent by using your canoe and two packcloths that have plenty of tapes on all sides. Tie them over the top of the canoe and stake down. Some cruisers even sleep under their canoes without any other protection, just turning the canoe sidewise and staking up one end slightly for head-room. It isn’t very secure protection in a storm, however, and not a very satisfactory way of making roughing it smooth. TRULY REMARKABLE

Opening his bedroom door the hotel guest was surprised to find one black shoe and one brown, so he rang the bell for the porter, an Irishman, and drew attention to the obvious mistake. SSure,” said Pat, ‘‘if that isn't the most remarkable thing. It's the second time that’s happened this mornins.”. -

camp. Previously acknowledged £3 7 7 Helping Right Hand .. 2 6 Blue Moon 3 6 Collection SUN Office. . £3 4 0 Total £6 17 7