M.M.S. Magazine - December 1956


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MMS Magazine 1956
MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
January is a month so cold
Coming from its winter fold.
February comes and freezes the snow,
And icicles hang from windows below.

In March the nights are very cold,
And children creep into the blankets fold;
April comes and brings showery rain
Pattering on the window pane.

In May all animals wake up from their sleep,
And all the lambs frisk and jump and leap.
June comes and brings the flowers,
It's the end of Spring-time Showers.

July comes and brings the sun,
The holiday season has now begun;
In August the holiday season's still here,
But the end is drawing near.

September brings the Autumn's call,
When all the leaves begin to fall,
In October the clock goes back,
Now at night it's very dark.

The next month which comes in is November,
When Guy Fawkes we do remember,
In December comes the snow once more,
And Santa comes and knocks on the door.
BY MARIE WEBSTER.

 

WINTER.
'Tis winter.
Winter comes, winter's here,
Snowflakes from the sky appear,
Children playing in the snow,
Little hands and faces glow.

The red-breasts in the trees all sing,
The church bells in the distance ring,
The ground is thick and hard with snow,
The icy rivers cease to flow.

The children whizzing down the hill,
Everything else is perfectly still,
The snowdrops in the snow appear,
A sign that spring will soon be here.

Upon the hills the snow lies deep,
Little squirrels are fast asleep,
The hedgehog curls in a ball so tight,
To keep him warm on a cold winter's night.

The sparrow sits in the tree so bare,
He knows that winter's in the air,
Soon the snow will disappear,
The darkened sky will soon be clear.

And now, 'tis Spring.
LILIAN SAVAGE, 4S.

 

THE COLOURED MAPS.
The Map of Australia
Has the colour of a dahlia,
And the map of Ireland
Has the colour of the Grassland;
Now the map of Spain
Is the colour of a plain.
But the map of Merry England
Is like an English rose-land.
TERENCE JOHNSON, 3B.

 

ARCHERY.
My hobby is archery. I find that the more you get to know about archery, the more you can find it very interesting. But first of all you need quite a lot of things for this sport. Here is a list.
Arm Guard: To protect your arm from being hit by the bow string.
Finger tab: To protect your fingers from blistering. These fit on the first three fingers from your thumb.
Quiver: For holding arrows.
Beeswax: For preventing the bow string from fraying.
First of all if you can't afford a target you can either make one out of a clothes basket with a sack of straw nailed on top, or make one out of a cardboard box with the target printed on it.
Correct length for bows and arrows: Bow length 5ft., arrow length 25in.; bow length 5ft. 4in., arrow length 26in.; bow length 5ft. 7in., arrow length 27in.; bow length 5ft. 9in., arrow length 28in.
Some people would rather use steel bows, or fibre glass bows, but most archers use wooden ones made out of orange or lemon wood. When I practice at home I stand about 29-30 paces away from the target. I have a 4ft. bow and 20in. arrows.
Mistakes you have not to make: 1—Don't overbow yourself; 2—Get or make the best arrows you possibly can; 3—Be sure the arrows are at the correct length; 4—Be sure the arrows you use are right for your bow.
The proper length of an arrow for target archery is measured with the butt end against your neck and the arrow tip reaching your finger ends.
There are different kinds of quivers, e.g., belt, pocket, shoulder (for hunting or field), target, and finally ground quiver.
Meanings of archery terms: Butt—end of the arrow, overbow —don't get a bow with a pull too big for you.
JUDITH WANLESS, 4S.

 

KIT-SUNILL CHRONICLES.

And now it did come to pass that the great festival of Soo-mer Oli-day entered the last days. And the tribe that dwelt in the temple of Kit-sunill returned to the land of their fathers from the far-off places to where they had made joyous pilgrimage—yea, even from Blak-poole and Whit-bee did they come. And lo, a great weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth could be heard issuing forth from the tents where dwelt the Se-kund, Therde and Forth-yers, for they wished not to return to the temple where dwelt the Great Chief and his lesser chiefs, the wielders of Chork.

But there was fear in the hearts of the Fust-yer for it had been made known unto them by their elders that the laws of the temple were strange and numerous and that great was the wrath of the Great One when his tribe forsook his commandments.

And it came to pass that it was the Fust-day-bak. And the heart of one Stowt—a merchant that dwelt twext the temple of Kit-sunill and the lesser temple of Nole—was warm within him. For the chil-drun of the tribe did partake greatly of his sweatmeats and he did gain many shekels on Skule-days. But lo, on this Fust-day-bak, there was great fear of late demer-its and the multitude did hasten towards the temple—the greater part on foot. But there were many that dwelt in far off parts, yea, even from Ee-tarn and Op-tun did they come; but the wise chiefs of the Know-tee that dwelt in the far off city of Wake-feelde had great pity for these chil-drun of the lesser tribes and lo, they came in wheeled chariots, painted in divers colours and bearing the legend " Spesh-ul."   But these same chiefs, in their wisdom, did harden their hearts to the pleas of they that dwelt nigh unto the temple and issued a cunning proclamation, " No dis-tans—no chariot."

Then having seen that one Vins came nigh unto the gates, the elder of the chiefs—one Dore-mande—the custodian of the bell, did press thrice upon the sacred button for the commencement of Lines. For is it not written that “many are early, but only Vins is late."

Then did all obey the mighty bell, for great was its power, and its thundrous peal did issue forth unto the farthermost parts of the temple, yea, even unto the Yard.

Then came they in, both Seen-yaz and Joon-yaz, and many of the lesser chiefs did mutter into their beards the heartfelt cry of all tee-chairs—"Let battle commence."

But the hearts of Stu-hart and Burlee, who dwelt in the cave beneath the Great Chief, were sad within them, for many hours had they spent in restoring the temple to its former glory by klee-ning, dus-ting and wa-shing, but certain of the tribe cared not for their labours, and was not the ritual of Kon-kers close at hand.

And so once more, the chambers and corridors of the temple did echp with the noise of the tribe and the teachings of the prophets, and great was the joy of all mu-thers.

Now it came to pass that the chief of Pe-ee, one happily named Sharppe, did wish to learn more of certain branch of learn¬ing, and did depart to a far-off place in Cent, there to learn the mysteries of the art of moov-rnente, that he might improve his teachings of the con-tor-shuns of the bod-ee. Great were the lamen-ta-shuns. But cert-un of the tribe, yea, the sci-vers, did rejoice at his going for did he not enforce the si-stem of doc-turs notes. But the Great Chief did bring down from a cert-un country in the north a sekund prophet of Pe-ee, one Kuk who did speak in a strange way. And they that had lamented were filled with joy for the divers spawts and pas-times were not to be denied them. But they that had rejoiced at the going of Sharppe did turn away and were much troubled in spirit for this new chief heeded not their piteous cries.

Now certain elders of the tribe, yclept pre-feks did meet and did seek per-mish-un to hold a So-shall in the Great Hall. And the Great Chief and the Seen-ya Prophetess of the Gurl-send did give it their blessing; and on the appointed night, a great multitude did crowd the temple. Many of the tribe appeared, be-decked in their finery, yea, even unto ni-lons and lips-tik, and cert-un of the Boiz had annointed their heads with oils of strange and wondrous per¬fumes. Many former tribesmen returned unto the land of their fathers, together with their loved ones. Beautiful were they to look upon, for great now was their knowledge of may-kup and joolry. The younger tribesmen did gaze with awe upon their elders and were filled with wonder at their learned talk of for-men, yewn-yons, and o-ver-time.   But cert-un of these elders did then proceed to instruct the child-run in the cunning secrets of the new learning—a certain strange movement bearing the name Wrok-en-wrole—and it happened that the Great Chief and the lesser chiefs, being wise prophets of great disnity, did cause them to cease, thus to prevent Ka-Os.

But now was come the hour of trial for the Forth-yers, even the great trial of Eggs-am-in-ashuns and great was the weeping and gnashing of teeth for many did bemoan the time spent in sci-ving and in the Flix. Then did the Boiz cut themselves off from their May-dens with much weeping. Great was the wrath of Ken-yun when he found his words reproduced with many shortcomings, for is it not written " many shall answer, but only they that swotted shall understand Loggs." And in the higher chamber, above that where dwelleth the Great Chief, the lesser chiefs did take up their bloo-pensils and did make many cunning marks, yea, even kross-es on the scrools of the Forth-yers and one, In-kims, did even maketh the air bloo when he found that the seeds of his great wisdom had fallen on stoney ground.   Oh beware, ye remaining Forth-yers.

Your scribe, SEE-DEE.

 

PIG-KEEPING.

If you have the space anyone who can keep rabbits can keep pigs, although really pigs are easier, and you have them from the cradle to the grave as you might say—or from the nest to the bacon factory.

In keeping pigs you should remember that they are very dirty and like to run about in a pen. You should clean out the pens about every day in the week, and when you are cleaning them out the pigs will come for your legs.

When they do come for your legs hit them with what you are using and show them you are the boss.

We thought we could easily support six pigs on our waste products (plus an odd ton or so of " chat " potatoes, which are the smallest ones, at £3 a ton, and Tottenham puddings at 7s. 6d. a cwt„ which is very good value).

So we bought five little pigs at £4 each and six months later we sold four to the bacon factory for £85 15s. 6d.
We had one killed for our joint use in the form of roasts, or pork, hams and bacon.

There are hundreds of kinds of pigs. For instance, Large White, Large Black, Tamworth and Essex. The pigs range to about 40 to 50 stone of fat and pork. And eight-week-old pig weighs about 40 to 50 lbs. of fat and bacon.

BY ROY MOUNTAIN, FORM 41,

 

A GRAVEYARD EXPERIENCE.

One afternoon my mother said to me “Will you go over to the graveyard and put some flowers on your great aunt's grave?”set out with a bunch of flowers in my hand and walked to my destination.

I took a footpath over the extensive common. I walked along whistling and kicking the odd dandelions into the air. I walked for at least an hour and by this time it was dusk. The birds had stopped singing, and my whistling echoed over the common. Slowly the shape of a tower loomed in front of me. Surely it could only be the church steeple. I walked up the slope toward the church feeling rather tired and fed up. I walked rather timidly into the dark gloomy world of stillness and quietness which was the graveyard. I looked round about me rather nervously and jumped or shuddered at every little sound. Then suddenly walking round the grave in front of me, I saw a white shape like a man or person with a deformed body, a scarred face and no legs. It just floated round the grave and stopped. Meanwhile I was standing there petrified and scared stiff at this hideous sight. I could do no other thing but watch, I seemed to be rooted to the spot. The next move the THING made was to lower itself to the ground balancing on some stubs of legs. The dreadful creature then looked at the epitaph on the gravestone and then began to dig with its scaly hands in the coloured stones which surfaced the earth of the grave. The hand then began to tap on a board which was in the grave. It gave three sharp taps and then a heavier knock. To my astonishment and terror the ground, or what I thought was the ground, began to rise. The earth rose slowly until it was at right angles with the rest of the grave. Then it stopped.

These happenings all amazed me and I still stood petrified and rooted to the ground. There was stillness for a moment, then a tiny glimmer of light appeared, then a head, then an arm holding a lantern appeared, then the rest of the ghostly figure appeared after the other parts. This companion figure looked more like a man. He later joined hands with his companion and the ghostly pair floated round each gravestone. They walked too close to me for my liking and I didn't even breathe when they passed me by. They reached the church door and put a key in the lock and turned it. There was a horrible grating sound and the door opened and closed behind them. I stood there still trying to recover my wits, and when at the side of me there was a crash and the trapdoor closed never giving me chance to look inside. (Even if I had dared!)

I ran home across the common after laying the flowers on the grave, and relief and thankfulness came to me as I arrived home. Ridiculous story you might say. Perhaps it is—but it happened.

BY LAWRENCE WHITELEY, FORM 2A.

 

MY FRIEND, THE ROBIN.
The ground is as white as white can be,
A robin in the garden is singing to me,
The song he sings is sweet and light,
The frost, the frost is coming tonight.

I draw my seat up to the fire,
And watch the blazes growing higher,
The snow so deep is thawing now
But the robin is sill on the highest bough.
BY CAROLE OLDFIELD, 1C.

 

WINTER.
The leaves are falling 'neath our feet,
The night grows dark so soon,
The shivering sheep in the fields all bleat,
While a bird on high sings his merry tune.

The wind grows colder day by day,
The garden's bleak and bare,
The snowflakes hasten on their way,
The trees sedately stand and stare.

Now the trees are all so white,
Snow has come to stay,
On a branch of glistening light,
Three cock robins sit and sway.
JACQUELINE HOLROYD, 4S.

 

WINTER.
Snow is falling on the ground,
Twirling, swirling all around.
Children play and have such fun,
With cold hands and fingers numb.

Some of them slide, some of them sledge
Down the lane, and past the hedge,
Round the corner and then they stop,
Get off their sledge and walk to the top.

Down the hedgeside prowls a fox,
Furtively looking for innocent cocks,
Cock robin sings a cheerful song
To pass the Wintertime along.
BY BRENDA HINE. 4S,