OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PUZZLES.

[Officers and Members are referred to a Special Notice on page 55.]

Music - The Happy Little River by Charles Bassett

Words from"Little Folks."

Music byCharles Bassett.

(For one or two Voices.)With simplicity.

1. A* tiny river ripples onward, Babbles over moss and

stone, Flowing, flowing, ever flowing, Singing in a joyous tone.

2. Gladly smile the little daisies, Which that river grow beside;

Gladly sing the happy song-birds, While 'mid sedgy haunts they hide

3. Gladly nod the dewy grassesOn its bonny banks and green;Gladly grow the river mosses,Peeping little stones between.

4. Gladly stoop the pensive willowsThose bright river-ripples o'er,Thanking for its cooling water,Telling how they thirst no more.

5. Gladly talk the little children,As they look upon the stream;Gladly smiles the dancing sunlight,While the brook reflects its gleam.

6. Flow, thou happy little river,Bear thy message night and day,Telling how the sunny-heartedCarry sunshine on their way.

* This note required for first verse only.

POETICAL ACROSTIC.

Myfirst is a French poet.2. My second is a celebrated Italian tragic poet.3. My third is a blind English poet.4. My fourth is an Italian poet born at Arezzo.5. My fifth is an English poet who died in Greece.6. My sixth is a Spanish poet.7. My seventh is another Italian poet.8. My eighth is another French poet.9. My whole is a celebrated British poet.

Teresina Vittadini.(Aged 14.)

Collegio Dame Inglesi,Lodi, Italy.

MENTAL HISTORICAL SCENE.

Outsidethe walls of an ancient town a furious battle is being fought between two great states. Early in the day one of the generals, a brave and just man, is pierced in the breast with a javelin. He is carried to a little hill, where his first question is whether his shield is safe; and when he sees it he allows his wound to be examined. The weapon remains in the wound, and the weeping attendants fear to draw it out; but he, only waiting to hear that the victory is won, with a steady hand draws out the javelin, and expires in a minute.

Algernon S. Bean.(Aged 12.)

The Firs,West Mersea.

Illustration: FOUR PICTORIAL PROVERBSfour pictorial proverbs.What are they?

MISSING VOWEL PUZZLE.

Fromthe following all the vowels have been omitted, and the remaining consonants joined together. When put in their proper places they will form a verse by Tennyson.

B r k b r k b r kn t h y c l d g r y s t n s s,n d w l d t h t m y t n g c l d t t rT h t h g h t s t h t r s n m.

S. R. Spoor.(Aged 11)

Heatherview, Aldershot.

DOUBLE GEOGRAPHICAL ACROSTIC.

Myinitials form a country in Europe, and my finals one of its lakes.

1. A river in Russia. 2. A town in Spain. 3. A gulf of Asia. 4. A town in England. 5. A town in Australia.

Florence E. Atkinson.(Aged 14.)

153, Carlton Road, Kilburn, N.W.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

Mywhole consists of fifty-one letters, and is a very well-known quotation from "Marmion."

1. My 11, 34, 4, 30 = character of Shakespeare.2. My 5, 36, 6, 29, 27 = means of conveyance.3. My 45, 36, 6, 29, 9 = draw off water.4. My 14, 26, 34, 35 = to cry.5. My 38, 25, 8, 36, 37, 47, 32, 12, 36 = reputation.6. My 16, 30, 15, 33 = to make beer.7. My 10, 1, 21, 13 = to incite.8. My 17, 3, 21, 7 = an interrogative pronoun.9. My 19, 49, 28, 48 = a married woman.10. My 45, 30, 44, 22, 18 = a herd of cattle.11. My 2, 21, 27, 45, 20, 36 = to rove.12. My 41, 21, 50, 46 = to rescue.13. My 31, 39, 42, 24 = to seethe in water.14. My 41, 11, 42, 31, 35 = to repose.15. My 40, 43 = a pronoun.

Alice C. Wilson.(Aged 14¾)

Heatherbank, Weybridge,

WINTER COMPETITION.

ThePuzzles given in the present and the December numbers ofLittle Folkswill, as announced,formtheWinter Competition.

In theWinter Competitionthere will be a First Prize of a Guinea Volume; a Second Prize of a Half-Guinea Volume; a Third Prize of a Five-Shilling Volume, awarded in Each Division, viz., theSenior Divisionfor girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 (inclusive), and theJunior Divisionfor thoseunder14 years of age. There will also be awards of Bronze Medals of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour to the three next highest of the Competitors following the Prize-winners ineachDivision.

Regulations.

Solutions of the Puzzles published in this number must reach the Editor not later than November 8th (November 12th for Competitors residing abroad), addressed as under:—

The Editor of "Little Folks,"La Belle Sauvage Yard,Ludgate Hill,London, E.C.Answers to PuzzlesJunior[orSenior]Division.

Solutions to Puzzles must be accompanied by certificates from a Parent, Teacher, or other responsible person, stating that they arethe sole and unaided workof the competitor. No assistance must be given by any other person.Competitors can be credited only under their own name.The decision of the Editor ofLittle Folkson all matters must be considered final.The names and addresses of Prize and Medal winners will be duly published inLittle Folks.

GAME PUZZLE FOR NOVEMBER.

rhyming couplets, working in first lines of nursery rhymes.

Fewchildren are aware, until they actually try it, how easy it is to make Rhyming Couplets; but now, any who may not have had exercise in this amusement will have an opportunity of making a very interesting game by carrying out the instructions given below.

First of all, Mamma or one of the elders will perhaps start the game thus: Send one (or two, if preferred) out of the room, and then give each player left in the room a word or words which they will have to work into their rhyme. We will suppose the lines selected are—

"Old Mother HubbardWent to the cupboard."

In arranging the game, the easy words, such asold,went,to, andthe, should be given to the little ones, the other words to the elders.

Now the Guesser (or Guessers) may return to the room and the game commences—

"The old and young together go,"

says player No. 1. Now No. 2 has to make a line rhyming with "go," and bringing in "mother."

"My mother thinks me very slow,"

would do. No. 3 can make a fresh rhyme, and has a knotty word to bring in, so will probably need a longer line.

"Messrs. Stebbings and Hubbard two stockbrokers were."

The fourth player has to compose a line, not necessarily containing the same number of syllables as No. 3, but it must rhyme.

"We went to the orchard and found a large pear."

We will now finish the rhyme as each player might perform his part.

"I came to the city on Wednesday night.""The dog was returned in a terrible plight.""In the store-room or cupboard you're sure to find mice."

The guesser would probably find out this at once by the introduction of the word "Hubbard," but you can, of course, select more difficult lines (viz., those which give less clue to the nursery rhyme) according to requirement.

Winter Puzzle, No. 1.

Inthese Puzzles the idea we have propounded will be found carried out with slight modification. In each four lines will be found hidden the first two lines of various Nursery Rhymes. Thus, supposing the lines already given were those we wished to conceal, the four-line verse might run thus—

Messrs. Hutton andHubbardoncewent toresideIn a house that wasold, onthehill;In each room was acupboard, a sight very rare,And mymotherwas constantly ill.

With this explanation our Competitors will, we think, have little difficulty in finding out the following Puzzles. In sending in Solutions it will only be necessary to write out the two first lines of the Nursery Rhymes hidden in each four lines given below.

Senior Division.

If you ever go to SpainIt will rain, and rain again;And you never will come back,If you're left upon the rack.

II.

I sat upon a hod,In my hand there was a clod,And I threw it at a crow—An old one I trow.

III.

I stand on the bridge, and the waters dance by,For my lady I look o'er the lee;I gaze down the stream, for by London at lengthIs the solitude broken for me.

IV.

There lived a fair young womanWhom an old man sought in vain,It was under rocks by vale and hillThat she wandered on amain.

How short the days areNow October is here!If you long for a song,I'll sing one to cheer.

Junior Division.

Jingle, jingle, Little JackHad a key put down his back;Single, single, I declare,He used to live for many a year.

II.

'Twas night, the moon shone bright,The rats came down in scores,Munching, squeaking, each man shrieking,Tumbling down indoors.

III.

We went out four and twenty strong,Sailors and tailors in a throng;We heard a tale, we saw a sail,And then returned to kill a snail.

IV.

Here Harry and Richard,Here Robin and John!If there were but two menYou would pretty soon come!

Five, four, three, two, one,Won't we have some fun,A cat has caught a hareAlive, I do declare.

Questions and Answers

[The Editor requests that all inquiries and replies intended for insertion inLittle Folksshould have the words "Questions and Answers" written on the left-hand top corners of the envelopes containing them. Only those which the Editor considers suitable and of general interest to his readers will be printed.]

Prize Competitions, &c.

H. Fortescue.—[Several important announcements as to new Competitions, &c., will be made in the January Number ofLittle Folks.—Ed.]

A Very Little Reader.—[I am glad to tell you that I have arranged to again give every month the "Pages for Very Little Folk," with large type and bold pictures, commencing with the January Number.—Ed.]

Literature.

Santa Clauswrites, in reply toLittle Bo-Peep'squestion, that the lines—

"There is a reaper, whose name is Death,And, with his sickle keen,He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,And the flowers that grow between"

are by Longfellow, and are to be found in a poem called "The Reaper and the Flowers." Answers also received from twenty-two other readers.

Celia Oakleywrites that the line—

"Music hath charms to sooth the savage breast"

is to be found in the tragedy ofThe Mourning Bride, by William Congreve (1670-1729). Thirty-six answers to the same effect also received.

T. C. would like to know if any one could tell her the author of the following verse, and where it is to be found—

"Rain, rain, for ever falling,Trembling, pouring slow or fast,Through the mist a voice is callingFrom the unforgotten past."

Work

Lilian Bowyerwrites, in answer toGeorgina Dexter'sinquiry how to make a pair of bedroom slippers, that one way is to crochet the tops with double Berlin wool and procure a pair of cork soles wool lined. Answers also received fromBumpkin,Toby, andA. J.

Minnie Walshamwrites, in answer toFlorence Waters'question, that to clean crewel-work it should be washed in soap-suds, then rinsed out in salt and water, and, after drying it quickly, it should be smoothed out on the wrong side of the work. Answers also received fromT. X. Z.,Mary Wiltshire, andA. J.

Cookery.

Mattywould like to know the way to make Madeira cake.

Lady of the Lakeasks how to make pine-apple cushions.

General.

ATabby Kittenwill be glad if any reader could tell her of a good, inexpensive varnish for a picture-screen, as the one she is now using colours the pictures, and makes the printing on the backs of thin ones shine through.

Ethelwants to know a new kind of dip, or bran-pie.

J. F. H. writes to informHerbert Masters, in reply to his inquiry, that a small carpenter's bench would cost about twenty shillings or a little more.

Another Young Mechanicwrites, in answer toAn Amateur Mechanic'squestion, that walnut, oak, and sandal are among the best woods for fretwork purposes. The fret-saws may be bought in packets at an ironmonger's. Answers also received fromJ. A. Wace,A Young Carpenter, and X. Y. Z.

Natural History

P. F wishes to know if anything can be done for her little kitten? In the last few weeks her head has become quite bare, and she has lost a lot of hair from her shoulders; she is very lively, but does not drink her milk properly?—[She is probably kept indoors too much. Put a little sulphur in her milk about twice a week, and rub the places with vaseline. Let her run out where she can bite grass or plants if she wants to, and give her a little meat.]

Helenwishes to know if she ought to give her canary a bath in winter, and if so ought it to be cold or warm.—[Offer the bath, and let it do as it likes. The water should be about 60°.]

Lady Carawill be very glad to know what can be given to her parrot when it pulls its feathers off. The bird in question is now quite bare, and has been so for some time past, although well in health.—[We fear you have been giving him meat, or too much ofrichnuts and biscuits. Parrots should have no meat, and plain food. Get him some scraped cuttle-fish bone, if he will eat it, and rub on a little vaseline, and on a bright day get him to bathe. Give him now and then a fig, and some ripe fruit, only begin very gradually.]

A New 'Little Folks' Painting Book Competition

PRELIMINARY NOTICE.

The Editor has much pleasure in informing his Readers that, in response to repeated requests, there is now in preparation a new "Little FolksPainting Book," and that he is arranging for a Special Competition in connection with it, open to Children of all Ages, in which a large number of Prizes in Money, Books, and Medals will be offered for the best Coloured copies of it. This book, which will be called "TheLittle FolksProverb Painting Book," and contain 96 pages of outline Illustrations and Verses, will be ready on the 25th of November; and the full Regulations of the Competition, with the list of the Prizes offered, will be printed in the January, 1885, Number ofLittle Folks.

A Guinea Book and an Officer's Medal of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour will be given for the best Poem having special reference to the Picture below. A smaller Book and an Officer's Medal will be given, in addition, for the best Poem (on the same subject)relatively to the age of the Competitor; so that no Competitor is too young to try for this second Prize. The Poems must not exceed 24 lines in length, and must be certified asstrictly originalby a Minister, Teacher, Parent, or some other responsible person. All the Competitors must be under the age of Sixteen years. The Poems must reach the Editor by the 10th of November (the 15th of November in the case of Competitors residing abroad). In addition to the Two Prizes and Officers' Medals, some of the most deserving Competitors will be included in a special List of Honour, and will be awarded Members' Medals of theLittle FolksLegion of Honour. The Editor requests that each envelope containing a Poem having reference to this Picture should have the words "Picture Wanting Words" on the left-hand top corner. (Competitors are referred to a notice respecting the Silver Medal on page 115 of the last Volume.)

GEOGRAPHICAL ACROSTIC.—Zealand.

1.Zurich. 2.Ebro. 3.Arno. 4.Lisbon. 5.Alps. 6.Nile. 7.Danube.

MISSING LETTER PUZZLE.

"'Twas in the prime of summer-time,An evening calm and cool,And four-and-twenty happy boysCame bounding out of school:There were some that ran and some that leapt,Like troutlets in a pool."

SQUARE WORDS.

1. SCAR. 2. CAKE. 3. AKIN. 4. RENT.

1. CART. 2. ALOE. 3. RODE. 4. TEES.

1. MATE. 2. ALUM. 3. TUNE. 4. EMEU.

BURIED NAMES OF RIVERS.

1. Iser. 2. Weser. 3. Indus. 4. Aar. 5. Amstel.

RIDDLE-ME-REE.

Tomato.

BURIED PROVERB.

"People who live in glass houses must not throw stones."

PICTORIAL NATURAL HISTORY PUZZLE.

Sacred Ibis of Egypt.

1. Acrid. 2. Sip. 3. Fogs. 4. Bey. 5. Diet.

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