Galway Advertiser 1974/1974_07_25/GA_25071974_E1_002.pdf 

Extracted text

For Children not going to the Races

A Horse THE called Sultan MAGIC SWING
Julie's mummy was busy in the kitchen, making cakes for tea. " D o go in the garden and play Julie, mummy's busy" she said. So Julie went into the garden and sat on her swing. It was a bright red swing, red like a pillar box. Suddenly it started to swing higher and higher. Julie could see right over the garden fence, into the field behind the house. If I jumped, thought Julie, I the Princess into a large room, could land in that field. So she with a huge golden throne at one swung higher and higher, and all end. The Princess sat on the at once she found herself floating. throne, and Julie sat o n a white Right over the high wooden fence, fur rug at her feet. She told the and over the trees which were Princess about her Mummy and round the held, and over the pond Daddy, and her red swing. which was in the middle of the And the Princess told her about field. her Kingdom, and her own Mummy and Daddy, w h o were She saw a wood below her, and her feet just missed the top of course the King and Queen, w h o had gone to a far away land branches of the trees. And then she saw a castle on a for a holiday. " Y o u must stay with me for hillside, and she floated straight towards it, over the high wall, awhile," the Princess said to Julie and plonk. She landed in a court And now you must c o m e to m y yard. It was full of people all birthday party." A n d she led Julie to a large r o o m with a long laughing and singing and dancing. Julie looked round her but she table down the middle of it. All did not recognise any one at all. She the people came in from the started to cry. A little fat man courtyard and sat down at the wearing a funny yellow hat with table. Then they started to eat. a red pom-pom on top said to her. There was a band playing, and balloons flying about, and " Y o u must not cry little one, it is the Princess Tina's birthday." everybody was happy. There were and He took Julies' hand, and led her crackers and streamers, clowns leaping about making to a table which was full of good everyone laugh. things to eat. There were jellies, and tarts, and strawberries and Julie forgot all about her ice cream, and oh, lots and lots Mummy and Daddy, and her red of sweets and chocolates. Julie swing in her own garden. But had never seen so many good then she began to yawn, and to things all at once. wish she was at home again. The Princess saw how sleepy The little man turned a she was and said to her, "Come somersault, and bounced up and along Julie, 1 must see you down like a ball. Julie laughed, safely home." And she gave her he was SO funny. a bright yellow ribbon from her "That's better little one" he own hair, and told her to follow said. " N o w you must not cry any her into the garden. more. And you can eat as much as you like." Then he was gone. Julie walked along the grassy paths, and there were flowers Julie did not know what to eat everywhere, and butterflies, and first, so she tried some small cakes hundreds of birds singing. with pink icing on top. Then she had some strawberries and ice "This is the most beautiful cream. garden 1 have ever seen," Julie All at once everybody started to told the Princess. "I wish 1 could cheer, and Julie could see a lovely stay here for ever and ever." young lady riding along on a "You must come and visit me white horse. This must be again," the Princess told her, Princess Tina, thought Julie. " N o w let me show you MY What a beautiful lady, and what swing." It was a huge swing. It lovely golden hair she has. I'd seemed to disappear into the love to ride on a white horse like clouds. There were garlands of that. flowers to hold on to instead of ropes, and a seat made of shiny Julie waved to the Princess. The silk. Julie had never seen a Princess waved back, then she swing like it before. She wished came over to where Julie was her Mummy could see it. standing. "What is your n a m e ? " the "Jump on to the swing." the Princess asked her, "and where Princess said to her, and helped d o you live?" her on to the golden stool which So Julie told the Princess her stood below. Julie sat on the name, and pointed back over the silken seat, and she could smell fields and hills. the garlands of flowers " Y o u have come a long way," She waved to the Princess, and the Princess said " Y o u must c o m e the swing started to move, to the castle with me, and rest." backwards and forwards and She waved a hand and a footman higher and higher. And now came forward leading a silver Julie could see right over the coloured horse. H e helped Julie Castle wall, and over the hills and climb up on the saddle, and away trees, and all at once plonk. She they went towards the Castle gates was in her own garden again.and Jclie felt as though she was on her o w n swing. Her M u m m y sitting on a big soft cushion, the was calling to her. horse was s o light. "Julie, time for tea," But Julie She patted his head and wasn't very hungry, for of whispered in his ears, "I'm course she'd been to a birthday going to call you Silver Streak." party hadn't she ? H e must have understood what She was still holding the Julie had said, for he nodded his bright yellow ribbon. head up and down, and "I'm coming Mummy " she whinneyed. called. And she went indoors, to tell Presently they were in the her Mummy all about the Castle, and the footman helped Princess, and to show her the Julie off her horse. She followed bright yellow ribbon. CLUES ACROSS: 1 A farmer's bird. 2 A pet. 3 Your self. 4 It flies at night. 5 Fruit of the oak tree. 6 They grow o n fir trees.

Nigel watched, fascinated, from behind the shelter of a rock, as the camera crew prepared for the big scene. The boy star, Gavin Hughes, who was playing the part of the young King Richard, sat upright in his saddle, clothed in a tunic of fine silvery mesh, and wearing a balaclava type helmet which almost hid his face. H e was seated upon a magnificent black stallion, over whose back was thrown a cloth of gold. " G o s h , I'd sure like to ride that horss," Nigel said, t o the black and white terrier dog by his side. "He's a real beauty." T h e director gave a signal to the camera men w h o were mounted o n a sort of platform o n wheels; another man stepped forward and banged two clappers, and the horse charged forward . The strong sunlight caught the blue black flanks of the horse, the cloth of gold flew back with the force of the wind, and Nigel thought he had never seen such a beautiful sight. True, he could ride himself, but his riding had been done mostly o n farm horses; he'd never even had a pony he could call his o w n . H e was staying at his Uncle's farm o n the Yorkshire moors, and had made friends with the daughter of a neighbouring farmer. This new friend, Tracy H o w a r d , had a lovely chestnut mare called Susie. Susie's foal D a n n y , with long black legs, pure white nose, and flying h o o v e s was ready to be taken away from it's mother. A n d sold. Forty pounds, Mr. Howard wanted for him. Nigel hadn't forty pence he could call his o w n right n o w , never mind forty pounds, s o his hopes of buying the horse were pretty dim. T h e black stallion was n o w n o w galloping below the rocks where Nigel was hidden. Suddenly a rabbit ran out, straight across the horses path and the dog flew after it, barking excitedly. " C o m e back Tina," called Nigel, but it was t o o late. The horse had bolted, and the boy star, Gavin Hughes, was thrown to the ground. Nigel reached him at the same time as the camera crew. "Get that blasted dog out of here," roared one of the men. "I'm sorry," Nigel said. "Tina's usually such a good dog. It was the rabbit excited her." The men were attending to the boy rider, w h o was lying very still. The director ran up, still puffing at a huge cigar in his mouth. " L o o k s like he's out cold. Better get a doctor straight away." H e paused, ran a huge hairy hand over his almost bald head, and looked as if he was going to have a fit. " D o you k n o w we haven't got a stand in ?" he roared. "This could cost us thousands of pounds. This spell of fine weather might not last. H o l y Moses - what a mess." Meanwhile ,the ambulance had departed t o the hospital, the doctor had left, the camera crew were moving disconsolately towards their unit, and the director was still rubbing his head. Suddenly he stopped, and turned. "The stallion. Where's lie got t o ? " The camera crew turned, as one man. They gaped. The black stallion was prancing towards them, neck arched; mainv flying, and Nigel was sitting astride his back like a true horse man. " Y e G o d s . L o o k . " yelled the director. " D i d y o u ever see anyone ride a horse like that ?" " A couple of real thorough breds, if y o u ask m e , " said o n e of the men. "There's your stand-in for G a v i n , " said another. "By heck you're right," b o o m e d the director. " C o m e here boy. What's your n a m e ? D o you live here. Where'd y o u learn to ride like that ?" Nigel slid off the stallion. "I'm Nigel Bates, sir. I'm staying at my Uncle's farm for the holidays. I ride his farm horses sometimes." "Farm horses?" b o o m e d the director ."How'dya like to ride Sultan here, for a few weeks?" Indicating the black stallion, w h o was giving Nigel friendly nudges with his nose. " D o y o u really mean that, sir?" Nigel w a s incredulous. "Take the part of the young King Richard? O h yes sir. I must ask Uncle though." ' Nigel rode Sultan like the wind, over the rough ground. Sultan responded to every pressure of the knees, every pull o n the reins. The boy was exhilarated, triumphant. Nigel loved every minute of it. T h e excitement, the adventure, and the laughing companionship of the camera crew, the make-up girl and the extras. Then, on the third week, Gavin Hughes came back, his leg still in plaster, but fit enough to take over the speaking parts. "We've a lot to thank you for Nigel," the director said. The film unit had organised an outdoor farewell party for Nigel for they were moving on to a castle several miles away, for the next scenes. "Well done, you've saved the film." "1 wish I could ride like that. Magnificent." "We shall miss' you Nigel." A n d each member of the unit shook hands with him in turn as they said g o o d b y e " A n d n o w for your wages," chuckled the director, and he handed the speechless Nigel a check for One Hundred Pounds. "All this?" gasped Nigel. "For m e ? Just for riding Sultan?" And he let out a yell. "Yip-e-e." Then h ; was walking back to the farm with Tracy, and talking exitedly about his adventures, and what a thrill it had been to ride Sultan. *T wish I'd got a horse like that, Tracy. Well, I'd be satisfied with - just a horse. S o long as it was my o w n . " Then he let out a yell "Tracy, I can buy Susie's foal now. I can buy D a n n y . I've got a hundred pounds." A n d the pair of them raced all the way back to Tracy's D a d ' s farm. . Danny ran along the fence to greet them; the whites of his eyes flashing, black silk mane flying, all legs, all horse. "Mine you beauty," shouted Nigel. " S o o n you'll be all mine." A n d together he and Tracy ran in search of her Uncle.

CLUES D O W N : 1 Colour of the poppy. 2 Opposite of 'yes'.

PUZZLE CORNER

CLUES ACROSS: 1 The fruit picked by Eve in the Garden of Eden. 4 Girl's name. 7 Nothing in. 9 She rides o n a broomstick 11 -- and behold. 13 In the middle of 4 down 14 Cry. 15 Y o u d o this with needles and wool. 17 Short for Father. 18 A town in France and a sugary biscuit. 21 Please answer, in French initially. 23 Behead D a n . 24 Writer, rite, ... 25 Lost dog. 27 Portable light. 29 Boy's name. 30 Opposite of dark.

CLUES D O W N : - 1 Remove from tea table 2 Colour. 3 It's not difficult. 4 Build men from this in winter. 5 A town in Surrey. 6 H e built an ark. 8 Opposite of bottom. 10 Fluid for writing. 12 Santa's surname,, 14 T o c o m e first. 16 Kind of dancing. 19 A vegetable. 20 Girl's name. 21 ... de Janiero. 22 U s e this to tie up parcels. 25 A card game. 26 365 days. 27 High. 28 Injured.