Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. július-december (24. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)
1941-11-27 / 48. szám
November 27, 1941 Verhovayak Lapja Page 7 Children’s Page Conducted by AMELIA NYERS Thanksgiving It was an exciting October day in the Barbour home. The Western Union boy had just delivered a telegram from Uncle Ned in China. “What does it say, Mother?” Elsa cried, eagerly. "Please read it to us,” Jed said, rising to his tiptoes and trying to read the telegram in his mother’s hand. “ ’Will be home Thanksgiving. Stop. Love. Üncle Ned’,” Mrs. Barbour read the message to the impatient children. “Uncle Ned’s coming home!” the children cried, clapping their hands in glee. “What is all the excitement about?” Mr. Barbour asked, entering the room. “Uncle Ned is coming home from China! ” Elsa and Jed exclaimed together. Mrs. Barbour handed the telegram to her husband. “Good old Ned!” Father exclaimed. “Haven’t seen him for years. Wonder how he has been getting along in China?” “It will be good to see Ned again,” said Mother. Ned was her brother and they had been separated for five years. The day passed slowly for the Barbours. But they did not have much time to waste for the crpps had to be gathered in and stored for the long cold months. Winter was always long and very cold in Blue Point, for the village was situated in the north. Lake Blue Point was close to the Canadian border and was often frozen during the winter. In bad weather the trappers were unable to send their furs across the lake to the buyers. One day in November another telegram arrived from Uncle Ned. “Isn’t he coming after all?” Elsa asked before her Mother had time to read the message. “But—he must come!” Jed’s voice was full of disappointment. “Children, please!” Motheir said. Then she read the telegram aloud. “ ‘Have a surprise for the children. Stop. Love. Uncle Ned’.” “A surprise!” Jed cried. He did hand springs around the dinig room table. “Mother, what do you think the surprise is?” Elsa asked. “I'm sorry, children, but I don’t know. I’m sure this will be a pleasant surprise. We will have to be patient and wait until he arrives.” “Oh, but it’s such a long wait until Thanksgiving Day!” Elsa sighed. That morning the children walked to the village school in a state of excitement. All their friends were excited and curious as to the surprise their Uncle Ned was bringing home. “My Uncle Ned is coming home from China!” Elsa said excitedly to Miss Mason, their teacher. “And he’s got a surprise for us!’ Jed added. “That’s - wonderful!” Miss Mason answered. “Where is China?” asked Joe, the youngest pupil in the clas“China is very far away,” Miss Mason said. She pointed to the map on the wall. “It is thousands of miles away. It is a very large country. In ancient days it was noted for its high degree of culture. Today, antiques discovered there are highly prized and placed in museums.” “Maybe, Uncle Ned is bringing us an antique vase or book!” Jed exclaimed. “Perhaps,” smiled Miss Mason. “But we must get on with our lessons now.” Soon it was time to leave the schoolroom. The children walked home slowly in the crisp November air. The wind whistled through the pines, but they did not notice it. Their thoughts were far away, with Uncle Ned in China. The evening chores were soon done. Elsa and Jed liked to help Mother with her work. It did not seem like work, for every day there was something new to learn. On Saturdays Father would take them to Lake Blue Point, where his vessel was moored. Father’s boat brought the furs across the large lake to the warehouse where they were stored until buyers purchased them. Now it was the day before Thanksgiving. Mother was busy making pumpkin pie and plum pudding. Miss Mason dismissed school early that day. The children were too wrapt up in their dreams of the morrow; lessons were sadly neglected. “Have a lovely Thanksgiving, children!” the teacher called from the doorway of the school building. “Thank you!” Elsa and Jed called over their shoulders. “Good-by!” And they ran down the road. That night their dreams were filled with many gifts from ancient China. Early next morning they were awakened by a loud "Hello! Anyone here interested in a couple of strangers from China?” “Uncle Ned!” The children scrambled out of bed and into their clothes. They dashed downstairs. In a moment they reached the dining room and stood still, silent and shy in the presence of their uncle. A boy shyly hid behind him. “Can this be Jed?” he asked, shaking hands with the boy. “And—Elsa?” he turned to the girl. “Hello, Uncle Ned,” Elsa answered politely. “It’s been all of five years since you’ve seen the children,” Mother said. “Children have a habit of growing,” Father told him. “What is the surprise, Uncle Ned?” asked Jed. “The surprise?” he answered with a twinkle in his eyes. “This is my surprise.” He pulled someone from behind him. It was the little Chinese boy who seemed about Jed’s size and age. “Oh!” cried Elsa. “Ned!” Mother exclaimed. “Where did you get him?” “He’s a little boy I found in one of the villages in China. The place had been bombed. His home was completely demolished. His parents were killed. No one wanted him so I adopted him. He’s been with me six months and I’ve been teaching him English. Say ‘Hello’ to Jed and Elsa.” “Hello,” the Chinese boy said in a '■'all voice. “My name Kiao.” “He is a likeable little fell Father said. “But what are you going to do with him?” “I—I don’t know,” Uncle Ned said. “I’ve got to get to China as soon as possible. Put I es-”- take him with me. Now I’ve been wondering—” he broke off, uncertainly. “You’ve been wondering if we would look after him for you?” Mother finished for him. “Why, of course, we will!” “The boy looks intelligent,” Father said. “He will be a good companion for Elsa and Jed.” “Goody! Goody!” Elsa and Jed joined hands and danced with glee. “We have so much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day,” Mother spoke, humbly. “We have our loved ones with us anf we have a comfortable home. Our country is safe. This little boy has no one in the world who wants him. Let’s us want him and help him adapt himself to his new home and country.” It did not take long for Jed and Elsa to get acquainted with their new friend. The day ended too soon for the children. Monday morning the children proudly took Kiao to school. “Did you like the surprise your Uncle Ned brought home from China?” Miss Mason asked the Barbour children. “We love our surprise. His name is Kiao and he is going to stay with us,” Jed answered. “We had the nicest Thanksgiving in the whole world!” Elsa exclaimed. “Me have nice Thanksgiving, too,” Kiao spoke AUTUMN Roads are dusty, Oaks are rusty, And the chestnut burrs Are bursty. Dusty Roads, And rusty oaks I’d rather be Than musty folks. From: Jasmine Petals A Book of Verse By Hasmick Vartabedian Slowly, uncertainly. “I had a nice Thanksgiving, too,” Miss Mason corrected Kiao’s English. “Thank you,” the boy grinned. “Me have nice Thanksgiving, too.” Miss Mason smiled. She showed him to his seat. He liked her and learned his lesson well that day. Perhaps, sometime, we will hear more of Kiao’s adventures in America, the country that has a Thanksgiving Day.--------:o:--------SALT WATER BOY Pi-yuck of- the West Coast By Melicent Humason Lee Caxton Printers. Ltd. Caldwell,' Idaho 144 pages — 8 vo Illustrated Price $2.00 SALT WATER BOY is a book that tells the story of Pi-yuck, an Indian lad who lived long ago on the California coast. Like all boys of his age, Pi-yuck was eager for adventure. His everyday life filled with interesting incidents from the moment he opened his drowsy eyes at dawn until they closed in sleep at night. Pi-yuck lived with his gandfather O-o in the little village, Mut Lah-hoy-yah Lah-hoy-yah, close to ’ the ocean. Often the natives had feasts upon the beach, for they loved to hear the music of the surf breaking upon the shore. O-o taught Pi-yuck how to make a boat. He taught the boy many things. The life of the Indian
