Tárogató, 1947-1948 (10. évfolyam, 3-10. szám)
1947-09-01 / 3. szám
TÁROGATÓ 15 “The first of July, Dominion Day.” Johnny’s face was puzzled. He didn’t know what his grandfather meant by Dominion Day. “It’s Canada’s birthday, Little Beaver,” explained his grandfather, “and... ” But Johnny didn’t wait for him to finish. “Hurrah, hurrah!” he shouted happily. “If it’s a birthday, I can have my party after all.” “But whom are you going to ask?” replied his mother. Johnny laughed, “It’s Canada’s birthday ... I can’t ask my cousins now. I’ll have to ask Canada’s children.” His face fell. “I don’t know who they are,” he confessed sadly. “Well, we Indians lived in Canada first,” said his grandfather proudly, “and other people came afterwards, people from France and England and Ireland, and many, many other places.” Johnny thought quickly. “There’s Linchu,” he said, “he’s Chinese, and there’s Peter, he’s English, and__” “Paul is a French-Canadian,” his grandfather went on. “And they’re all my friends,” cried Peter. “Please, Mother, may I have a party for Canada’s birthday?” “A party with all the trimmings,” his mother promised. “And we’ll go fishing afterwards,” added his grandfather. So, on Dominion day, Johnny and his friends sat down to the little table his mother had set in the garden. Right in the centre of the table was a cake, covered with white icing. SHAMIM AND THE SPOTTED DEER Shamim and her brother Gulam had a spotted deer as a pet. It lived with them in their little village in India. Their father had brought it to them from a hunting trip. The deer became the children’s own. It followed them everywhere. They called it Rani, which heans “Queen.” Now Shamim and Gulam were good children most of the time. But every little while they would run away from home. They liked to go into the forest to pick flowers or to watch the monkeys swinging from tree to tree. When they came home their mother would scold them and say, “You naughty children! My heart was full of fear for you. Suppose a tiger got you. Then your father and I would have a home without children.” Shamim and Gulam would promise, “We won’t do it again, Mother.” But they always did. One day Rani could not be found. Shamin and Gulam looked for her everywhere. All day she was gone. “She has run away into the forest,” cried Shamim. “A tiger will get her,” wailed Gulam. The next morning Rani was home again. Beside her was a baby deer. Gulam took the baby in his arms. “Rani yu must never run away again,” said Shamim. “Our hearts were full of fear for you.” “As mine is when my children run away,” said Mother. “Oh, Mother, we did not know what it was like,” said Shamim. “Truly, truly, we will not run away again.” —From Children and Their Pets Around the World, by Nina Millen. The Friendship Press. “Story Hour.”* HOME AND OUTDOORS Suppose one day we took an axe and and cut the parlour wall, Then tore up Mother’s potted plants and wrecked the mroots and all; Then threw a lot of paper trash and food scraps on the floors — Why—we would simply treat our homes as some folks treat outdoors! Suppose we took a knife and carved initials on the chairs, Then broke a window-pane or two and said, “Nobody cares!” Or tossed around banana peels, tin cans and apple cores, Why—we would simply treat our homes as some folks treat outdoors! But outdoors is a lovely place, so pretty and so bright With grass and flowers and brooks and trees. Folks ought to treat them right. So when a call to camping trip or jolly picnic comes, Suppose we try to treat outdoors as wa would treat our homes! —St. Nicholas.
