MONTY MOTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 29

MONTY MOTH

“ilummie! Murnmie!" shouted little Monty Moth. “Just come and see what I’ve found! Hundreds of big white balls!” Mrs. Moth followed her little son to tho corner of the wardrobe, to see what he was so excited about, and there she found quite a quantity of big white balls. “Are they sugar, Mummie?” asked Monty, his little eyes shining with excitement. Mrs. Moth shook her head. “No, my dear; they are not sugar and they are not good to eat. I wish they were, because they would make such a nice change from coats and trousers. The humans have put them there thinking to annoy us, but I rqther like the smell myself.” Just then Daddio Moth flew out of a dress coat, wiping his mouth. “That was tough—horribly tough!” he remarked. “But what have we here?” . ' “Such a lot of balls, Daddie,” said Monty. “I was hoping they were good to eat!” Mr. Moth laughed. “Ho —I know the things,’ he said. “You can’t eat them, but you can play with them. Sonny, you and your friends can have some' line fun, rolling them about, and, well —wait and see! Perhaps you’ll get a surprise! ” And Monty did! In a very little while the balls began to get smaller. At first it took two or three moth-boys to roll one ball; but soon they .were quite a nice size for football. Then, by the time the football season was over, tho balls were just the right size for cricket, and they enjoyed many a game. But the balls kept on shrinking till they were only big enough for marbles: then they faded away altogether, and the moth children were very sorry. But one glad day another supply of balls appeared in the wardrobe, and the fun began all over again! Now, if you have any young moths in your cupboard, don’t forget to give the poor things some toys! SPINNING THE PLATE All the players sit round on chairs, and they are each given the name of a flower. The names should be given out loudly, so that all the players hear them. Then one of the players spins a plate in the centre of the room, and calls out the name of a flower. The player who is named by that flower must get up from his or her seat and catch the plate before it stops spinning. If he catches it, he takes the part of spinner, spins the plate, and calls out the name of a flower. If he doesn’t catch it, he falls out of the game. If the spinner happens to call out the name of a flower that has not been given to a player he also must fall out of the game. And you just play on and on until there are only two players left, spinner and player, and these two play on until they get one another out. FROM A LETTER I never seem to inquire about your health. You seem to be one of those beautiful things that never feel pain, but, of course, you must, and I think it is mean of me not to inquire about you. —Joyce Woodcock (aged 13).