Matilda 1933 vol 10 no 06 dec 1st by Girl Guides Victoria

Vol. 10, No.6.

DECEMBER 1, 1933.

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December, 19;)3.

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December, 1933.

AlA TILDA

Xmas, 1933. "The old man with the scythe closed the gate of November and passed down the paths of December. Lovely, lovely-purple lavender clumps, tall lilies-greeting. The 25th of December, day of joy, dedicated to arouse in man feelings of goodwill to men. The eyes of the old man were alight with the further promise of inner content. The 1st of January, symbol of a new era in life. The assembling of strengthened ideals to meet new adventures. The adventu!'es which lie strewn on the footpath of life. A wish of Xmas happiness to Guiders and :.t new year full of the realising of great expectations." -THE EDITOR JlJNIOR RED CROSS SOCIETY. The Guides have again been asked by the Junior Red Cross Society to assist with thc Annual Christmas Toy Distribution to the sick children of unemployed returned soldiers. For the last three or four years gifts of toys, etc., have been made by many Companies and have always been most acceptable, the Society'" list of children is a long one, so would any Companies wishing to help send their gifts to Miss Joyce Leslie, Secretary Junior Red Cross, 4~ Latrobe Street, Melbourne, C.l.

Good Camping! Deal' Guiders, Ve.ry soon so many of you will be camping, and this is to wish you all Good Camping. Good Camping means happy camping, which I hope so much that you will all have. It is well for all of us to remember that the sole responsibility of making a Camp a happy one, does not rest only Âˇwith the Guider holding the Camper's Licence, but very largely with every Guider present, and with the Guides too-though rather differently. Our main objective in holding Camps is to give the Guides a holiday which is full of happiness for them all, and from which they will return strengthened in every way, and eager to venture along many new paths which have opened to them during a week out of doors. The Camp can mean so much to a Guide, and isn't it worth while to help her to develop as much as possible during that time, even if that is only attained by our willingness to effact! ourselves as much as possible. Best wishes to you all. EDITH H. PURNELL.

SUN-DIAL IN

CAMP.

"Nae man can tether Time or Tide"-Burns. The requisites are few-a pole, many stones and many enthusiastic Guides to help collect them, a watch which keeps good time, and a few cloudless days. Any stones will do, but white ones are most effective. The reward for the collectors is, of course, the responsibility of putting one of the hour-lines. Choose a small, level piece of ground away from the paths about the camp, as it is disheartening for the enthusiastic sim-dialler to find that the cherished 7 o'clock line of the evening before has been kicked over during the darkness. Do not choose a spot so far away that those who wish to read the time have far to go. Trees in the directions of sunrise and sunset should be avoided, as the shadows at those times are very long. Any pole about seven feet long will do, so choose the best you can get. The Guider will admire your handiwork when finished. Hammer the pole in as vertical as possible. You can get an absolutely vertical line by putting in a slanting pole and hanging a weight from its end; I have not found this necessary. Tie a four or five-foot string loosely around the pole, and tie at the other end a twig with which to draw your circle. Collect a few stones, and so complete your preparations. To make the first hour-line, at the hour by your watch stretch the string in the centre of the shadow, and make a line of stones under the string. In the interval before the next hour you will probahly have time to collect some more stones. In addition to the hourlines, draw a circle around the pole at the length of the string. The hour-lines for the long shadows (early morning and late afternoon) need not be continued beyond the ci'rclp hut the short mid-day lines will be best if they reach from the pole to the circle.

Using this circle it is possible to determine with a certain amount of accuracy the points of the compass. At true noon the shadow of the pole will be shortest, and will point due south. It is difficult to observe when the shadow is actually shortest, but the point can be found in this way. At equal times before and after the true noon, the shadows are of equal length. Watch for the times when the top of the shadow touches the circle, "and mark these points, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Halfway between these points put a row of stones from the pole, and this will point due South; continued on the other side of the pole it will point due North. Owing to the fact that Victoria has taken Sydney's time, South will fall at about 12.20 p.m., instead of Noon. Fo:that reason I have spoken above of the true nooni, to distiniguish it from noon by our clocks. In the same way East and West do not fall at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but at about 20 minutes past the hour. There is a drawing of a sun-dial in the Girl Guide diary which I do not like very much, as it has pegs, not lines, to mark the hours, and the marks for East and West are not correct for the times. October 28th is 't he date of the page on which to look it up. WheJ'l; you have managed to mark all the hours, you can make your sundial more beautiful still with half-hour lines-shorter to distinguish them-piles of pebbles to name the hours, and a motto. Do start making your sun-dial as soon as you can, so that you may have a day or two in which to enjoy thp finished article before the last day of camp brings you the sad duty of dismantling it, lest your handiwork fall into alien and unappreciative hands. ~D.H.I.

lIATILDA

Guiding' Games for Camps. lWBBERS AND TREASURE. Each patrol has a "sack of treasure" and is given ten minutes in which to hide it. The patrols return; one from each patrol turns "traitor," and the "traitors" have three minutes in which to explain to another patrol where the treasure lies. The patrols set out to find the treasure, "traitors" remaining behind. Points are given to the first patrol to return, and also to the patrol of the "traitor" who has successfully betrayed her patrol. N.B.-If "traitors" are not appointed until after the treasure is hidden, it will ensure everyone taking careful note of their surroundings, and not just the "traitor." THE ENGLISH SETTLERS. This game is to be played in the dark, preferably out of doors. Four English settlers, with torches, are surrounded by Indians, who are trying to prevent food reaching them. The patrols are encamped some distance away. Each camp has a list of supplies and the leader arranges who shall carry the different items. The beseiged whites signal to their own camp what they need. The messenger must stalk past the Indians, who say "Dead" if they hear, and the player is out. Points are given for each article of food delivered, and extra ones for the first messenger to get through. PORTS AND PIRATES. With about twenty players have three ports, seven pirates and ten cargo boats. The ports and pirates have notebooks. The ports are stationary, and the pirates move about, hiding near the ports, but not too close. The boats want to reach the ports untouched, and if they do so they sign the port book and go out again. They must not return to that port until they have been to one of the others. If a pirate catches the boat, then the pirate's book must be signed. After a certain time the signatures of ports and pirates are counted up, and the teams change over. A NATURE GAME-CLUES. Hide clues, written on paper or cardboard, about a given area. When a Guide finds a clue, she then finds the thing referred to, and, if possible, brings a specimen 'to her Patrol Leader, who makes a museum. If she cannot bring a specimen, she may bring a description and where found. The patrol with the greatest number of identifications wins. Example of clues :-"The tree which once hid a King of England"-the oak; "Oval and brown, and the moth saws his way out"-Emperor gum-moth's cocoon. ANOTHER NATURE GAME-CURIOS. How often do we know the curious and beautiful things that are about our camp site? Let the Guides scatter and collect strange or interesting things. These are brought in, and each set of "curios" is handed to the next patrol. who must name them correctly. A vote may be taken on the most interesting specimen. This' g.<!.me should involve, o~' lead on to. a splendiu Nature pow-wow. -M.H.

December, 1933.

Extracts from the Diary of a Guider. Monday, 6th November.-An invitation to another 10th Birthday party! Guiding in Victoria is fast approaching adolescence-will this period of our existence bring pain or peace, stagnation or progress? 'thinking of Birthdays, I heard one Guidel' say that these perpetual Birthday parties were a veritable menace to the progress of the Companies invited to attend!!! Invariably it is the P.L.'s, and sometimes Seconds, who are iuvited -and that means either a Company meeting missed, or another night ou~ for Uuiding . ... . and you know what the Mothers say . . . . . And if the "celebration" turns out to be nothing but a few lively games and a HUGE supper, punctuated !}y the presentation of service stars, is it worth while having a Birthday at all? Isn't there something else we could do to express our gratitude for the past years of opportunity, and faith and courage for the future? Tuesday, 7th November.-"But you KNOW I can NEVER go out on a Wednesday nightit's my Guide night!" This from a Guider to her parent desirous of a companion to help her enjoy the "flicks." Yes, it's hard on the parent, and the Guider may be accused of selfishness; but isn't it rather a fine thing that, even going by last year's statistics, over a thousand women in Victoria are voluntarily "engaged" irrevocably on one night a week for, say, 44 weeks each year, because they have undertaken to do their best to help other people's children? Wednesday, 8th November.-The last issue of THE GUIDER has an interesting article by the Chief Guide, on the ever-green argument of uniform. I was glad to read this sentence, which puts the matter in a nutshell, I think:"Whereas fashions come and go in the daily wear there is no need for alteration in a uniform when once a standard of suitability has been found." I remember seeing a heading in the daily press a day or two ago about the "Wearing of Kilts," and I have just thought of busbys, and the plumes of the Guards, and the Sea Rangers' black ties (still mourning for Nelson!) . . . . . why pick on the Guides only, if one must criticise uniforms? Thursday, 9th November.-I thought to-day of the whirl we shall be in (and have been in!) this time next year! And then it seemed as if a whirl would be unworthy of Guides, even if we ARE having a Handcraft Exhibition and a Centenary and a Royal Visitor and the Chiefs themselves. "Lord, temper with tranqility Our manifold activity, That we may do our work for Thee With very great simplicity." Friday, 10th Novemoor. In an unexpected place-a book on Etiquette!-I have just found this old story, which will, I think, bear still another repetition, as a corollary to the thougoht of yesterday's entry:"Southey. the poet, .... was relating with pride how he filled in every moment of the day. He told how he studied Portuguese :while he shaved, translated Spanish an hour before breakfast, read all morning, and

December, 1933.

MAtitbA

wrote) all afternoon- made us.e of 'everw minute. An old Quaker lady who had been listening to him said; "Friend, when does thee do thy thinking?" Saturday, 11th November. Another written Tenderfoot Test-alas! Oh, for the day when all testing will be done orally! Of course, some Guiders tell you t hat they believe in written answers-and so do I, when they show up the gaps in the Recruit's training, as in the following actual answers;"A short blast of the wisle means high attention." "A Guide is pure in thought and indeed." And while I'm on howlers, may I quote one found some time ago by a fellow-Guider? "The Diocletian did not know that St. George was a Christian because he behaved so nobly." (Thank goodness we don't have to WRITE the Legends now!) "JICK"

Ranger Guiders' Training Day. A Ranger Guiders' Training Day was held through ' the courtesy of Miss S. Cameron at her home, 65 Pakington Street, Kew, on Saturday, 21st October. The preparation had been organised by a committee of Ranger Guiders with Miss Anderson as Convener. The day proved successful, and was enjoyed by all present. The weather was beautiful, and most of the training was performed out of doors. 25 Guiders attended one or more sessions. In the morning Rangers were tested in Signalling for the second class test by Miss F. V. Barfus. The first period in the afternoon session was devoted to Signalling by Miss Barfus and the study of Trees by Mrs. Stokes. Miss R. Taylor gave a very interesting talk on Health Rules on the aspect of deportment. Mrs. T. M. Cherry gave a most jnstructive talk on the Psychology of the Adolescent. During the next period Miss A. McDermid gave a demonstration on Bedmaking with a patient in it, and Miss C. Denney displayed different styles of hemming, patching and darning suitable for the ranger second class test. The evening session was opened by Miss D. Irving on the subject of Burns, Scalds, Fainting and Pressure Points. She emphasised the fact that this subject should be dealt with by qualified persons. Miss G. Swinburne spoke on the running of Team Games and stressed the team spirit which should permeate the games, and this was demonstrated shortly afterwards when the Guiders took part in several games. The next period was divided into two groups(1 )-Miss S. H. Irving gave a very interesting talk on "Places of Interest" and methods of getting Rang-ers interested in this Section of the second class test. (2) Miss D. McKinnon !!'ave a very clear demonstration on the subject of Stars with models which enabled the Guiders to study the Constellations in the house. As the weather was oropitious, this period was finishpd by studying the constellations themselves. -J.E.A.

Answers to Nature Questions. m.

I.-When Captain Cook landed in Australia, after one of his expeditions, his men were ill with scurvy. So he gathered a quantity ~f coastal tea-tree (Leptospermum scopal'lum) and from it made a tea infusion as a remedy, since when t he various shrubs and trees' of this family have borne the popular title of tea-tree. 2.-0ne egg is laid by the hen lyrebird each season. 3.-The blackbird. The male is jet black in color, with an orange bill, the female nigger-brown, and the young are mottled like thrushes. 4.-The yam. It is a tall, solitary flower, yellow in color, and similar to a dandelion except that the stalk is long and slender. It is the root that is edible. 5.-The liver fluke. The magpie-lark devours fresh water snails, which are the host of one stage of the liver fluke. A ~ter leaving the snail, the liver fluke, which is then like a minute tadpole, swims about in the water until it settles on a piece of grass. The!'6' it stays until eaten by a sheep, afterwards causing "liver rot." Magpie-larks, therefore. do a very valuable work in the keeping down of this disease. 6.-The wombat only comes out at night to feed. During the day he sleeps in a burrow. 7.-The fur of the female koala is worn thin in the mating season by the young ones clinging to her back. S.-Yes. A very thin shell is imbedded in the slug's back. 9.-The swift. 10.-The plane tree. 11.-Stinging hairs on the nettle are really flasks of formic acid. The slightest touch breaks the sharp brittle point from the hair. A firm grasp, however, bends the hairs down, and they do not enter the flesh . 12.-The sundew or drosera. It catches flies and small insects with its hair-covered leaves. In England there are several plants and trees firmly associated with Christmas-time. Here in Australia, where December falls in the summer, there is little local tradition, as yet, connected with our native plants. One of the chief features of an English Christmas is the' holly and mistletoe. Our cultivated hollies bear their crops of red berries in the autumn and winter months. They flower in October, and so in December the fruits are still green, and we cannot use them for decorative . ourposes. In the Dandenong ranges the red berries seem to be remaining on the trees much longer than usual this year. As a rule the birds, especially blackbirds, devour all the ber-

MATILDA

ries by the end of September. It was strange to see ripe berries and flowers on the trees at the same time, as I saw them just recently. Perhaps we shall have a supply of scarJetberried holly for Christmas, this summer, as the fruits are still quite thick on the trees. Our mistletoe, which, as everyone knows, is a semi-parasite, is usually seen growing in clumps from the end of a gum bough. Some forms, however, attack fruit and deciduous trees. Mistletoe is quite easy to detect from a distance, as the foliage is of a lighter and more yellowish tinge than that of the eucalypt, its host. The leaves resemble gum leaves, only they are more leathery in texture, and the red hanging flowers are quite pretty. T"hese are followed by small reddish fruits with tough skins, ~nside which are very sticky seeds. The mistletoe robs the trees of water and rootfood, but because of its green leaves it can produce its own leaf-food. The English mistletoe has white berries, and its leaves grow in a horizontal position; while the variety we see on the gum tree copies its host by hanging its leaves in a vertical position. The bird which is held responsible for the spreading of our mistletoe is the mistletoe bird, once called the flower-peckel'. He is a small shining blue-black bird with a scarlet breast and abdomen, but is rarely seen, owing to his habit of keeping to the tops of the tall gums. The seed of the mistletoe sticks to the bill, and so the bird wipes it off' on a branch, thus spreading the parasite. It is interesting to note that mistletoe does not grow in Tasmania, nor is the mistletoebird found there. This illustrates one of the partnerships which are so often found in Nature. The nest of the mistletoe bird is a felted , domed structure, usually hung in a clump of mistletoe.

A fine native shrub which flowers profusely in December and January is the Christmasbush. It is one of our loveliest wildflowers, and grows in the form of a slender shrub about the banks of creeks in the hill gullies. Its other name of "mint-bush" was given on account of the mint-like scent of the leaves. The lipped dowers are white and are mottled inside with purple and gold. They have a delicate perfume which attracts insects and moths in numbers. When in full blossom the Christmae bush appears to be covered with snow, and is a very beautiful sight. New South Wales also has a Christmasbush, but it is different to ours, and its flowers are red, while the Christmas-bells of Sydney are scarJet and are marked with orange bands. Nearly every morning lately I have been awakened by a male blue wren which is nesting in the garden. He comes at dawn, and waltzing up and down a vertical blind cord outside the window, taps loudly on the glasspane with his beak. Whether he sees his re : flection in the glass and wants to fight it, or whether he is merely vain, it is difficult to say. In any case, he is most amusing. Strangely enough, there comes from a cor-

December, 1933.

respondent the following note about a similar incident. "While resting, one afternoon, with the blind down, I suddenly heard 'tap, tap, tap' on the window-pane. It was an upstairs window, and so I knew the noise was not of human agency. Peeping through the blind, what should I see but a sparrow, pecking vigorously at the glass, in an effort to catch a fat blow-fly within. After several attempts he flew awaya disappointed and amazed young sparrow." A Bendigo reader sends the following information in response to a request in the pl'evious issue of "Matilda" for the whereabouts of the rainbow-bird and red-capped robin, further south than Albury. "The rainbow bird," she writes, "I have seen in three different places a few miles from Bendigo, and also at Ravenswood, about fifteen miles south of Bendigo, where it was tunnelling into the creek bank. The red-capped robin I have seen on several occasions in the bush quite near the city. A few months ago I was surprised and delighted to see one of these robins in the grounds about my home, which is in the centre of Bendigo. I had never seen one so close to humanity before." . "Can you identify this moth for me?" a country Guider wants to know. "I found it, very still, on a young gum tree, amongst the leaves, one afternoon recently. Possibly it may have just emerged from its case, but its wings were fully expanded. It was 4~ inches across, grey, with an eye in each part of its wings. It had across its head and fore-wings the strong sort of membrane that an Emperor gum-moth has. The head seemed to be withdrawn under the membrane. It seemed a type of gum-moth, but was distinctly grey, instead of red-brown. Leach mentions a Collis gummoth. I would be grateful for information about it." From Mr. CharJes Barrett is the following information. The insect described by your correspondent I think must be a pale-colored specimen of the Emperor gum-moth, which is variable in color. I have seen fawn-grey specimens, with hardly a tinge of red-brown. Last month the constellation of Orion the Hunter was described, and Taurus, the Bull was just mentioned briefly. Though the Buli commences to be visible again in November, it is best seen from December to March. A downward line through Orion's belt in a westerly direction leads to the red Aldebaran, the "eye" of the Bull. It is situated in what aplJears to be a V-shaped group of stars called the Hyades, lying uoside down and inclined slightly to the left. Beyond to the right and almost like a continuation of the figure V are two bright stars which are "the "horns" of the Bull. Below Aldebaran, to the left or to the west, is the well-known s;roup of the Pleiades also belonging to the Bull. As is generally known, there are six stars visible to the naked eve in the Pleiades, otherwise called the Seven Sisters, and a seventh can be seen by some lJeople with good sight. With a telescope many hundreds of stars al'e visible in the Pleiades . -J.H.

MATILDA

December, 1933.

"Happiness is a habit.

Story Competition. After due consideration, the, Judges have decided that the following story, written by Miss Bullen, 1st Footscray Pack, was the best story submitted for the competition. So, Miss Bullen, "Take your way up to H,Q., There a parcel waits for you. Underneath a Toadstool small, You will find it when you call." Miss Fairlie Davis is recommended for the nice ideas expressed in her story, which will be printed in a later issue.

THE OLD POUND NOTE. Early one lovely sunny morning Willy Wind pranced along in happy mood. Round the corner of little Red Cottage he hurried and peeped in at the tiny open window where Jolly Girl lay asleep. â&#x20AC;˘ "Come! my pretty one," he whispered. "Come and romp with me this glad bright day," as he softly tossed Jolly Girl's curls and kissed her eyes until she stirred from sleep. Opening wide her deep blue eyes Jolly Girl saw a world of green and gold outside her window. It was a lovely sight. Up she sprang and quickly dressed while Willy Wind outside kept urging her"Be quick, be quick! The day is at its best," Then out through the window climbed Jolly Girl, obeying the whispers of Willy Wind. V ery soon they were out upon the golden road that twisted past the little Red Cottag'il snuggled in a hollow bv the side of the way. On the road they paused for a moment. Then with a great, glad leap, with switch and swirl, Willy Wind swept through the wayside trees, swaying their branches thither and thither. He sang and laughed with glee to see the loose leaves go fluttering down. As he gave an extra big puff away they raced with rustling sound right to the feet of Jolly Girl, who danced and clapped with joy at Willy Wind's gay prank. As Jolly Girl grew quieter Willy Wind be came calm too, for a little while, and Jolly Girl heard a little quivering sigh which seemed to come out of the ground itself. Glancing down at the mound of leaves at her feet shc saw in thejr midst one quite unlike the rest, Stooping nearer she discovered it was no leaf but a crumpled piece of dark green paper on which were pictures and strange marks. Looking steadily at it, to her surprise she saw

Cultivate it."

this twisted bit of green screw itself up into many wrinkles as if in pain. "Why, you poor dirty little thing!" exclaimed Jolly Girl. "What can be wrong with you? What are you 1" . Jolly Girl heard a little tired voice murmuring, "I am only an old pound note. Oh dear! My life is very sad now," and the Crinkley One shuddered. "Sad! I thought everyone was glad this lovely day. What makes you sad 1" asked Jolly Girl. "I was not always sad," replied the Crinkley One. "As you see me now I am a dirty, crumÂˇ pled, old-fashioned pound note." " But you are still a good one, aren't you?" enquired Jolly Girl. "Quite true, my little friend. I am still the same value as when first I came out of the Bank, all smart and crisp in my new green dress." "But still you haven't told me why you are sad," cried Jolly Girl. "Have patience, child, and I shall tell my story if you would care to hear." "I would, indeed," said Jolly Girl kindly. The Crinkley One took a deep breath and shook herself. "Well, as I said, when first I ca:l1e out of the Bank I was very smart and my first owner flipped me airily, pleaseI' at my crackling sound. I was then foJ,~ed very neatly and placed safely inside a leather pouch, then tucked away in a pocket securely. I had not been there very long when I felt a steady thump, thump, quite close to me. "I listened and listened. Soon I learnt it was my owner's heart, speaking to me, This is what it said:"'You will be here a long, long time in the pocket of this man, for he loves to save pound notes. He seldom lets them go. I am parched and starved because he is so mean, I can only thrive upon kind and generous deeds, but he never performs them.' "I was getting frightened," continued the Crinkley One. "For I loved to see the sunshine and hoped to pass through many hands, bringing pleasure everywhere." "I would not like to be shut away from the daylight," said Jolly Girl. "No, it is not good for anyone," replied thil Crinkley One. "Do go on with your story, Crinkley One," pleaded Jolly Girl. "After a very short time I felt my owner

MATILl>A stop all of a sudden and presently a strange voice spoke to him. "'Look here, Joe Cringe,' the stranger said, 'you owe me money, and I must have it now. so hand it over.' "1 felt my owner tremble but his fingers closed round the leathe.r pouch in which 1 lay, the flap was opened, and once more I saw the light. 1 was passed on to the stranger. Again I was flipped between finger and thumb then thrust down into a little fiat pocket. 'After ~hat 1 passed through many hands, bringing JOy to all. "Listen carefully, little friend, for now begins the sad part of my story. One day out from the Bank were sent lots of new pound notes .. Not only did they have the picture of our Kmg George, but a lovely big white spot added-a magic spot, mark you. For if you look into the magic white spot when held to the light you see the picture of our future King, the Prince of Wales, which is invisible when the note is lying flat." "Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Jolly Girl. "I would love to have one and look into the magic spot." "Yes," sighed the Crinkley One. "That's what everyone says." "Now you see why I am sad. 1 have no magic spot. I have the picture of only one royal person to show. Whenever they can, people change me for a new pound note so I pass on and on without doing any good. 'I am called dirty, crumpled and old-fashioned." "But," said Jolly Girl, "cannot you do the same as the new pound note?" "Why, of course! I can buy exactly the same number of things as the new pound note, in spite of its magic white spot. All the same, folks do prefer fresh new notes to those that are worn and soiled." "Don't worry, Crinkley One," said Jolly Girl kindly, "to those who really need your help you are as welcome as the newest note. Come, let me lift you from the hard ground . I shall hold you tenderly and never make more wrinkles on you." So Jolly Girl gently picked up the old pound note from the road, and held it softly in her hand. "Thank you, Jolly Girl, I have not been held so carefully for many a day," replied the Crinkley One. During this time Willie Wind had flown many miles, but all the growing things still felt his cool breath about them as they slowly swayed to and fro. As Jolly Girl looked about her, she spied an old man striding steadily along the road towards her. He was a stranger and as he drew near she saw his beautiful face shining like the morning. Immediately she trusted him. As he strode along he glanced here, there and everywhere. but never pausing. Soon he reached Jolly Girl, greeting her with a friendly smile. "Come! Walk with me a little while," he invited. Now Jolly Girl felt he was kind and j!:ood, so she stepped out with him along the road in the direction Willy Wind had taken some time be-

December, 1933.

fore. She still held the Crinkley One carefully in her little hand. As they walked at an even pace the old man pointed out many things which Jolly Girl had never noticed before, though she had walked there many times. Soon they passed the old Water Cr ess woman bending over the little stream which ran through her garden. She was gathering cress into bundles ready for market. The old man greeted her in the same friendly way he had Jolly Girl. When they had passed he said to Jolly Girl. "Many and many a time have I met that deal' old woman: She always has something to spare for someone in need, though her own purse is frequently empty. As he finished speaking Jolly Girl felt the Crinkley One wriggle as though to get away, but she grasped it more firmly. She could not hear the small voice of her little green friend asking to be let j!:0 to the Water Cress woman and so bring joy to her. Jolly Girl was thinkÂˇ ing very hard. She did not know the Water Cress woman was so kind. N or did she know she was so poor. She was also wondering who this strange old man could be. lt was as though he read her thoughts. Looking down at her he said: "People call me Hurrying Hour, though I never hurry nor yet lag. My tramp, tramp is ever the same." "What a funny name," thought Jolly Girl. "How far are you going, Hurrying Hour?" she asked, "To the next town?" "Yes, Jolly Girl, and much farther, for I never stop, day or night. But you must not come too far, only to a certain point, and then you must return home." "But vvhat point do you mean?" questioned Jolly Girl. "You will be there very soon now, little one," replied Hurrying Hour. Now Willy Wind had doubled back in his tracks and with a mighty puff he blew Jolly Girl ~s curls across her eyes so that she could not see. As she brushed them aside, her fingers loosened from round the Crinkley One. Willy Wind with another great puff blew her little green friend clean out of her hand. Down the road tossed and tumbled the old pound note, in through an open gate with Jolly Girl following at top speed. They both reached the door of a poor shabby little house together. Jolly Girl pounced on the Crinkley One. As she did so, she fell against the door which flew wide open. In a trice Willy Wind rushed through the opening, bearing the old pound note along till it struck the leg of a little low bed and there stopped. Willy Wind went flying out of the door again, off to seek fresh cracks and crannies through which to whistle. Jolly Girl saw a tired woman look up with sorrowful eyes as the door opened, and bending quickly forward she tucked a worn blanket snugly round a little figure whose face wa'5 so white and pinched. As she drew away from the bed her eyes rested on the Crinkley One lyinj!: on the floor. The sad expression vanished from her face, giving place to one of joy. She stooped and gathered the Crinkley One up quickly. As she rose Jolly Girl saw her eyes were full of tears-tears of joy, for with this

December, 1933.

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MATIL~D~A~

bit of wrinkled paper she could buy the things her little sick child needed. Jolly Girl kept very quiet by the door, and as the tired mother placed the old pound nota on the table, Jolly Girl almost cried out with surprise, for the Crinkley One seemed to be actually smiling and winking at her. She stretched out her hand as though to pick up the old pound note, but again she heard its small voice pleading "Let me stay here. I am vel~y welcome. I can bring much gladness to thIs home." . Then Jolly Girl remembered how the Crmkley One loved to give pleasure to all. So ~he smiled in return at the old pound note, wavmg her little hand in farewell. When she was on the road again not a glimpse could she get of Hurrying Hour, for he was now some distance on his way, well out of sight so Jolly Girl turned back towards little Red 'Cottage, and oh, how many things she had to tell Mummy at breakfast time.

Ceremonies. OPENING CEREMONY. Brown Owl and Tawny link hands to represent a hole in a fence. Brownie~ t1:lrn into rabbits and creep through hole, smgmg the following rhyme, to the tune of "The Polar Bear." They nibble the lettuces, e~c., in the garden until they come to the last Ime of the rhyme, when they im~edia~ely turn into Brownies and form a fall'y rmg around the totem. "There's a hole in my fence where the rabbits creep through, They come in the morning and sop up the dew, But when I loc~{ out when the sun has gone down, Not one single rabbit is there to be found."

CLOSING CEREMONY. Rabbits nibble lettuces around totem, singing rhyme until they come to the last line, when they lfop out through hole in fence and run off home. (These ceremonies were composed by some of the Brownie Guiders present at the last Annual Conference.) ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Brownie Library Committee is pleased to acknowledge 3 / 6 from South Eastern Di,:ision Training Night, and 6/ - from 3rd VlC . Brownie Training Course, H.Q . A. BURRELL (Treas.)

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EDITORS' NOTE! Owing' to t he usual Christmas and New Year holidays of our pub,Iisher, a}} c01?Y intended for t he January Issue of Matd' i da" must be in my hands NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 12th.-(Ed.)

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The Ranger Shop. The Ranger Shop has several objects behind it. The first, that the profits made from it will go towards a Ranger Den, secondly, this will encourage handcraft, and thirdly, as the Rangers will receive a proportion of the profit it will be well worth while when Xmas comes to find that the long waited-for camp fee has really been earned. A committee has been formed to help with the business details, and they have agreed to work on the following system. Every Ranger sending in articles for sale shall send in the goods with a list bearing her name and address, registered number and company. They would like everyone to use the same size delivery book, which is to be in duplicate; this has the advantage that the Ranger keeps a record of goods sent in. The committee, after checking and ticketing the articles, will paste the list into a book, thus saving the time it would take to make an entry. The books can be obtained at headquarters and cost 3d. each. There are 50 duplicates in each book, so perhaps several could share, provided the correct name and registered number were filled in. It will be easier to number each price ticke t rather than write the name, so each Ranger will receive a number when she delivers her first articles for sale, 3d. being the cost of rel!'istration passed by the committee. This will entitle the owner to send in as many articles for sale as she wishes. In order to help those who wish for further instructions, Miss Meek has offered the use of her studio at Burdekin Lodge, 199 Macquarie Street, where handcraft cla sses are being continued every Wednesday and Thursday until further notice. As the Ranger ideal is selfdependence, the committtee has decided that those accepting the privilege of coming early will contribute 2d. per head, hot water, milk, sugar and tea will be available, so please bring your own mugs. From those attending the classes the usual fee of 3d. each will be collected towards rent and lighting. Another point the committee would like you to think about-supposing on the last day some of the articles are left, would you prefer t o have the goods reduced and sold. or would you prefer to have them returned. It would be a big help if, when sending your articles, are· serve price could be placed on them so that the committee will know exactly what to do with them. If everyone tries to add her little bit I am sure this enterprise cannot help being- a suc· cess, but it is a big undertaking, and it will take everyon·e 's efforts, small or large, to complete t h e whole, so do send in your part towards it. MARGARET McCULLOCH, Handicraft Shop. (Reprint from "The Waratah," Nov., 1933.)

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The Legends of the Flag. (Continued from article in October and November issues).

SAINT PATRICK. When the Roman Emperor Constantine sent missionaries all over the empire one of the places they went to was Britain. There had been Christian people there before this, but now that Constantine wished everybody to be of the same faith as his friend St. George, there were many more. A hundred years after this the Romans could no longer afford to keep large armies in Britain' they had wars at home, and they withdre~ their governors and engineers, leaving behind men who ranked only as the mayors of towns. In a little town called Kilpatrick, in Scotland, there lived one of these mayors. He had a Roman name-Calpurnius. The mayor had to know all about the law, and when they were ill people sent for him as he knew about medicines and he was also the clergyman for the little' town so that he was a quite important man. Th~ father of Calpurnius had! been mayor before him, and t~ey h:,-d both married Scotch wives so that theIr chIldren were only half-Roman. ' We do not know how many children there were but we know that one of the boys was christened Succoth; it is a curious fact that although he was not the only son we do not know him by his Christian name, but only by his surname, which was Patricius, meaning one of noble birth. We have changed, and shortened this to Patrick, and this boy was to become St. Patrick, the last of the three saints of the flag. St Patrick's father and grandfather were both' Christian clergymen, and he received it;!tellectual training from an early age. He IS said to have read Latin well at the age of five and at that age it was decided that he sho~ld be trained for the priesthood. Kilpatrick was not a large town near the sea-coast, but one of the smaller seaside villages, and St. Patrick was happy there, though he had lessons at home, and did not go to school with the village boys. He learnt to ride and fish and sail a boat, and he had many friends, because all his life he made friends easily and kept them, too. Later on he would have to go to school in France, which was the nearest place that he could go to be trained for a priest, or perhaps he might go to Rome, but it was all very far off. Then one day when he was sixteen he heard that pirates were coming down the coast from the North . The pirates had been before to the towns near Kilpatrick, an dthe people were armed and kept watch for them, but this time they came' to St. Patrick's own town. Althou.gn he was only a boy he longed to fight and dl'lve them away, but although he did help, this time the pirates were too strong for the people, and they took all the cows and sheep and .money they could carry away in their boats. They

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December, 1933.

also took some of the boys to sell as slaves. St. Patrick was a strong, clever boy, they seized the chance to steal him because hi.:; father was a member of the municipal council and a Roman. They hated all Romans, and felt they had taKen revenge. They took the boy to Mr. Sleamish, in Antrim, and there he was sold to a farmer who, on the whole, treated him well, and allowed him to visit the nearest Christian missionary, who helped him with his studies, and encouraged him in his wish to be a priest. St. Patrick had to care for the pigs on the farm; but he was not unhappy, because he learned to speak tbe language, and he learned all about the old customs and legends of the Irish people. Years afterwards people said that he could read the thoughts of the Irish, but thi s was not reaIl~Â so, it was the sympathetic understanding of the people of Ireland that gave him his wonderful insight into their character. When St. Patrick was 22 years old the missionary helped him to escape and to go back to his people at home. He stayed but a shorr time in Scotland, for he knew that he must go to France to learn to be a priest, for he knew now what his life work was to be-it was to help his adopted country in the way he had been sent to earth to do . St. Patrick went t o the great monastery at Auxerre, and it took many years for him to learn all he founn was necessary beause he had missed all those years in Ireland when the other students were at school. But St. Patrick knew very well that his destiny was to help the people of Ireland, and when he thought of them, uneducated, and believing all that their Druid priests told them, he knew that it did not matter how long it took him. Over in Ireland St. Patrick's friend the missionary, now the Bishop of Ireland. wrote to St. Patrick and told him that he could not live much longer; he told him of the people who would only listen to the Druid priests, who were cruel, and cared nothing for the people, and would not let them hear of Christ. St. Patrick longed to go, but he was told he must be very sure. At last, when he was 40 years 01 age, he went to see the Pope, who gave him permission to go to Ireland. St. Patrick landed in Ireland at Innis P atricÂĽ, and went back to the place where he had once looked after the pigs. There he converted the king to Christianity. In those days there was not one king of Ireland, but many, and these kings did not like each other, but fought when ever there was an opportunity. The king that St. Patrick converted was the strongest king in Ireland at that time. and he gave St. Patrick leave to go anywhere he liked. So that people should know that St. Patrick was under the king!s protection the king gave him his own banner, which was to be carried in front of him. This banner was a white flag with a red diagonal cross upon it. We see it every time we look at the Union Jack, where it is called St. Patrick's cross. St. Patrick's love for everybody, and under"tanding. helped him so much that presently h e left the friendly king, and went from place to place preaching and teaching, wherever he felt was the right place to go. When he found

MATILDA.

·December, 1933.

people who would listen St. Patrick stayed iI. that place, and founded schools and churches. He was not so alone as St. Andrew had been when he had first gone out from Palestine, for now St. Patrick could send to France for trained teachers to teach in the schools he organised everywhere. In this way the grownups as well as the children learned to read, .and they did not believe everything the Druids told them about the gods who lived in the trees .and mountains, but read about God and Jesus Christ, and the letters written by the Apostles in the Bible. They heard about St. Andrew, .and St. George, too, but they did not know, and St. Patrick did not know, that they had a real living saint in their midst who would one .day stand as the man who did more for Ireland than any other one man. Sometimes the people would not listen, and they shut St. Patrick in prison, threatening to kill him. St. Patrick knew that he ran a great risk. He might be killed, as St. Andrew and St. George, and countless other martyrs, were; but he knew that the work would still go on, and he still loved Ireland and the Irish, and feit that he could help them as no one else could . Before he died St. Patrick sawall over Ire"land churches and schools and monasteries for ·training priests, and people working and living in the way he had taught them. He himself trained and consecrated 350 bishops, and wrote "hundreds of helpful letters to friends that he 'could not visit. Although St. Patrick wrote us a short history of his life, he did not tell us the date he was born, so that we do not know 'how old he was. Parts of this history may still be read in the old Latin. and when he wrote it he said he was nearly 90 years old, and he felt that his message was so great that he knew ·there were some who had not heard it, and he prayed to live yet a little longer. We do not know if he did live much longer, but we do know that when he died his influence had been so great that Ireland was a changed country, and we cannot now imagine what it would have been like if he had not lived. A little-known, but very remarkable fact ..about St. Patrick is that we can trace his Walj·derings almost from the cradle to the grave by the places that are called after him. He was born in Kilpatrick (Church of St. Patrick), and there are five places in Scotlantl whlclJ he visited that are called after him, anrl one in England (Patterdale, or St. Patrick's Dale, in Westmoreland). He landed in Ireland for the second time at Innis Patrick (Island of St. Patrick), and from there went to a moun. tain in Mayo called Croagh Patrick. The towns in Ireland called St. Patrick, which mark his travels, and the St. Patrick's wells, are too numerous to count. He died at Downpatrick in 461 A.D. St. Patrick is the last of the Saints whose crosses form the British flag. He gave his life for his faith as truly as St. Andrew and St. George gave theirs, altrlOugh he was neither erucified or beheaded. He gave his life to Ireland. and the Irish people remember him on St. Patrick's Day, which we hold on March 17th,' each ye~r. · ~',

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Nominations for Guiders' Committee. Croydon. Mrs. Haddy, 21 Pridham St., S.l. 2nd-Miss J. Leslie, The Vicarage, VermoRt. Barwon. Miss R. Purnell, 10 Hermitage Rd., Geelong. 2nd- ........... . Hamilton. Miss M. Morris, Box 121, Hamilton. 2nd-Miss L. Westcott, Lynwood, Hamilton . Northern. Kyabram. Miss M. Bush, View St., Bendigo. 2nd-Miss Hoffmeyer, Barnard St., Bendigo. Central. Miss D. Body, Crail Brae, Seymour. 2nd-Miss D. Gillett, Glenaroua High Camp. Western. Miss F. Clarke, Box 6, Portland. 2nd- ........... . Lones. Miss J. Macneil, 55 Mont Albert Rd., E.7. 2nd-Miss D. Norton, 11 Kent Gr., Caulfield, S.E.7. Outer Eastern. Miss P. Salmon, 26 Prospect Hill Road, E.6. 2nd-Miss Gordon, 67 Auburn Rd., Auburn. Ballarat and Beaufort. Miss M. Jones. 2nd-Miss E. Morcom. Western. Miss M. Ainsworth, 137 Holmes Rd., Moonee Ponds. 2nd-Miss D. McKinnon, Eastern Hill Flats, Victoria Parade, N.6. Cheltenham and Mentone. Miss P. Oliver. Parkers Rd., S.ll. 2nd-Miss M. Downe, 61 Naples Rd., S.l1. South·Eastern . Miss G. MacKinnon, 96 Wattletree Rd, S:E.3. 2nd-Miss F. Piesse, 8 Murrumbeena Rd., Murrumbeena, S.E.9. North Western Suburbs. Heidelberg. Miss Il. Irving, 5 Sorrett Ave., S.E.4. 2nd- ........... . Dandenong and Mornington Peninsula. Miss Anderson, Cricklewood, Frankston. 2nd- . .... . .. .. . . South·Western. Mrs. Ashton, 31 Laura St., S.E.8. Below is a list of Divisions who have not sent in their nominations by Nov. 20th. The Committee would be glad to have their representatives as soon as possible. Metropolitan. Eastern, Southern. Country. Ararat. Berwick, Camperdown. Clunes, Gippsland, Mallee. Mortla,ke, North-Central, North-Eastern , Polwarth, Wimmera.

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Tra ining.

December, 1933 _

APPOINTMENTS.

Vacancies for Training Week. There are still a number of vacancies for the Training Week, and Guiders wishing to apply should do so immediately. The Training Week will be held for Guide'r s and prospective Guiders (over 18 years of age) at Morongo, Presbyterian Girls' College, Geelong, through the courtesy of the School Council, from Wednesday, 3r d, to Thursday, 11th January, 1934, inclusive. The Week will be for General Guide Training (there will be no special Brownie training). Fee 30 / -. The Guider in Charge will be Miss Marion Sinclair. Applications (envelope marked TRAINING WEEK) accompanied by a deposit of 5 / -, should be sent in writing to the Secretary, Training Department, at the Guide Office, at once. Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal of application is made a fortnight before the beginning of t he Week. When applying, will Guiders please state whether they have attended a Training Week previously. Commissioners. Mi ss Bush will be at the Guide Office on Thursday, 21st December, from 10.30 till 12.30. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.

REGISTRATIONS.

Pack- 1st Avoca. Local Association-Lalbert. Ccmpanies. 1st Baxter. 5th Brunswick P.G.F. RE-REGISTERED-S .R.S. "Lady Nelson." (formerly 2nd Hawthorn Rangers)

Di trict Commissioner. Rutherglen-Mrs. Tod Graham, Cannobie, Rutherglen.

WARRANTS.

Brown Owls. 1st Boolarra . . .. .. 3rd Hamilton .. . . .. 1st Hampton .. . . .. 1st Mor tlake . . .. .. 4th Williamstown St.

.. Miss 1. M. Morrow .. . . Miss R. A. Bell .. Miss 1. A. Harding .. Miss E . Rushworth Andrew's Miss M. Walker 1st Yallourn . . . . . . Miss D. F. Drummond Captains. 2nd Ballarat . . .. .. Mi ss A. P. Hamono 10th (Scots) Ballarat .. Miss J. D. Murdoch 1st Beaconsfield Upper .. Miss G. F. Albers 1st Belgr ave . . .. . . .. Mrs. Winton Smith 1st Creswick . . . . . . Miss E. P. Northcott 6th Hawthorn .. .. .. .. .. Miss G. Boyd 7th Hawthorn . . . . .. .. .. Mrs. SharmaIL 1st Tatura . . .. . . . . .. . . .. Mrs. Maskell Lieutenants. 1st Alton . . .. . . . . .. Miss D. E. Murphy 1st Arar at ... . .... .. . ... Miss N. Hunt 1st Bendigo (St. Paul's) .. Miss G. Taylor 1st Seaford (St. Barnabas ) Miss B. V. Moffitt Ranger Captains. 1st Ararat .. .. .. .. . . Miss 1. E. Banfield 1st Benalla . . .. . . . . Miss F. E. Chambers 3rd East Malvern . . .. . . Miss V. Harrison 1st Hampton .... .. Miss D. J. Hamilton 1st Murrumbeena .. . ... Miss F. A. PiessE" 2nd Victorian Lone Rangers-Miss 1. Pearson

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