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PRINCESSES OF THE PAST.
VICTORIA;
On the 24th of May, 1819, Alexan- drina Victoria was born at Kensing ton Palace. About eight months later the death of her father, the Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George the ård, left her mother, the Duchess of Kent, in difficult position. She was very poor, and King George the 4th, who was then on the throne, would not help her or the little princess.
Victoria was brought up without any Inxuries, and many years later, when she wrote her memories of childhood, she said that she was often naughty little girl, and always
2.
"Victoria the Good" as little girl.
screamed at the bishops who came to of see her because she was afraid their wigal She did not like her les- sons
either, because they and her life were so dull, and when she went to Ramsgate in the Summer she had to sit in her governess's bedroom work. Indeed, although she longed for a bedroom of her own, she never had one till she became queen
to
she
Victòria did not know that might become queen one day, because this possibility was kept from her. She was perhaps seven years old when she was invited to Windsor with her mother, and she was most excited at the thought of seeing the castle.
CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT, 1931.
The
WENDY HUT.
the poor litle princess had so many things to learn that sometimes she lost her temper and was rude to her governess or maid. Then she was punished till she begged their par dons humbly. At last she began to wonder why she had to learn so much, and why she had to be so very care ful about her behaviour. She thought a great deal and finally discovered. how near she was to the throne.
"I will be good," she murmured in amazement.
After the death of George the 4th, his brother William 4th became king, and the Princess Victoria was hardly ever allowed to go to court although she wished to be friends with him. Once she and her mother went to dinner with him, and in a speech he said he hoped the Duchess of Kent would never be regent, but that Vic- toria would rule by herself. There- upon the princess burst into tears and wept bitterly before the entire court.
"Give me your little paw," said the King when he saw her. And, to her great delight, he gave her a portrait of himself set in diamonds, which she wore pinned to her left shoulder. That was as great a day for Victoria as when her uncle, the Duke of York, gave her a donkey, and that other
he called wonderful day when Punch and Judy show into. the garden for her to see. She enjoyed these things tremendously, because she had so few presents and pleasures.
A
Victoria was eighteen when sudden. ly she was roused in the middle of the night, and told to put on a dress- ing gown and go down stairs. There. she saw the King's ministers, and one went on his knee before her.
When Victoria was eleven, a num- ber of bishops came to see if her edu- cation were progressing properly, and·
"The King is dead, long live the Queen" he said.
Then Victoria knew that, although her years of poverty and restriction were over, the years before her were to be far more difficult. But she was ready for them.
"I will be good," she whispered. And in history she is known as Vic- toria the Good.
A FUNNY GAME.
You will love this game. Two play- ers take part at a time, the others watch. They will find it amusing.
The two players are blindfolded and told to shake hands with each other in less than a minute. It is ever so funny to see them wandering around trying to find each other.
Another couple try later on, and the rair wins who manages it in the short- est time.
THE GOBLIN BAND
THE TELL TALE
Like a tiger drowsing Cunning Tabby lay
Was a thought of mousing In her bead that day?. ⠀⠀
Bead Eye said to Whisker, Peeping from their hole, "Brother, dare we risk a Dash for the flour bowl? "Cheese is in the larder, Candles on the shelf, Just asleep the warder, So I think myself."
"Puss is but dissembling, Wary Mouse replies,
"Her tail tip can't help trembling No matter how she tries!”
CAN YOU DO IT?
All you need to try this trick is a match stick. Now piace it on the edge of the table to that about one inch of the match stick is sticking out over the noor.
To perform the trick, you must close one eye and try to knock the stick off the table with a downward stroke of your forefinger. This sounds very easy, but you will find that very few people manage to do it without trying several times first.
NOTHING SMALL.
When you've to do with wrong and
right,
Then never think the question slight: For what is wrong you'll like to do If once you think it small; And if what's right seems small to you It won't be done at all.
From a Chinese maxim
This picture of the Goblin Band would look prettier in colour, so get your paints or crayons, children, and see how attractive you can make it.
THE HERMITS QUARREL
Once upon a time, there wer old hermits who lived together, from other people, for years and They had always been very each other. Then one day. it to one of the hermits that It interesting to have a quarrel. said to his brother hermit;
"We have lived together so long -in peace. Wouldn't it liven things
a bit if we had a fight once? :
"Well, probably it might,"
the other, “but how could we fight? I'm sure I haven't the least idea how we could even begin a quar rel
The other hermit thought hard
a while and then he had a, bright idea! "I'll lay my hat here on the table and say, 'Now I want you to know that that hat is mine.' Then you say, 'N it's not. That hat is mine. If both keep that up for awhile we may be able to get a quarrel started."
So the hermit with the bright idea laid his hat on the table,. and "That hat belongs to me."
“Oh, no,” said the other hermit "you are altogether wrong about that That hat belongs to me.”
Now, look here, that hat is ming Don't you think I have sense enou to know my own hat when I see it? came the rejoinder.
"Well, that's so. You certainly ough to know your own hat when you se it, so if you insist that the hat is youd naturally it must be yours,” replie the other hermit, with whom peac making had become second nature.
And so the quarrel which they ha intended to start came to an end be cause one of the hermits just couldaj os bring himself to keep it up.
While the quarrel which the hermit tried to start seems very foolish, need to remember that many petj quarrels are almost as silly as that Moreover, any such quarrel can h brought to a speedy end by acting the hermit who refused to keep going..
THE BIRD THAT WOULD BE KINI
In the days when the birds choosing a king there were many didates, and on none of them could hirds agree.
Some wanted the mos beautiful, some the largest. and otheri the swiftest to rule over them.
At last it was agreed that the bir that could fly highest should be mon arch of all the other birds, and a day was set apart for the test. Many birds tried to win the crown, and some went to a great height. But at last t came to the turn of the eagle, and thi bird flew higher than all. “Hurrah!" shouted chorus. birds!"
the birds "The eagle is the king
But when the eagle came down earth again, what was the astonish ment of all the other birds to see the little wren jump off its back and de clare that he was king, for had he no gone higher than even the eagle?
The birds were indignant. *Thi idea
of being ruled by a wretched little creature like a wren!" said they But there was no getting out of the fact that the wren had been eve higher than the eagle.
"Let us go to the wise owl," they said.
After listening to the story the onl was silent for a moment, and thei said:
"The eagle is king of all birds, for he flew highest!"
"What!" exclaimed the astonished wren. "But I went higher."
went
"Yes," said the owl, "you higher, it is true, but you did not fy You were carried on the eagle's back and the crown, according to the under standing, was to go to the bird which few highest."
The other birds laughed and cheer ed, and the poor wren was so ashamed that from that day to this he has al ways flown near the earth, dodging is and out among the bushes, and t ing to hide himself so that should see him.
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