“It’s so cold! I’ll hide in this shop doorway.” The old man’s torn raincoat slapped back and fore in the cruel wind. He pulled his scarf over his battered hat, and tied it under his chin.
“Ah, that’s better. But what’ll I eat tonight?” He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out all the money he had. “Just a few coins. Oh No! Just a few coins. All I can buy is some chips – and not many at that.”
After he’d huddled in the doorway for a bit, he felt a little warmer. “OK. Now it’s for the Fish and Chip Shop.” He limped out of the doorway, Along Wellfield Rd to the Fish and Chip Shop.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Just about that time, Mam and Dad and I had gone into the same Fish and Chip shop for a special treat for me. I watched the man behind the counter dip fish into the thick batter, then into the bubbling pan for cooking. Chips: rich, brown, tasty. Sprinkled with vinegar and salt.
Oh, how my mouth watered with the thought of it. “Dad, when I grow up I want to work in a Fish and Chip shop and eat and eat all day!” Mam and Dad smiled at each other and at me.
“You’ll never starve, Neil!” Dad said.
Finally, the next fish and chips were ready and the queue of hungry boys and girls and their parents, cheered!!
I heard the bell ring as the Fish and Chip shop door opened. An old ragged man stumbled in. His scarf pulled his battered hat down onto his ears. He was so ragged, old, and unhappy - I felt sorry for him.
Dad paid for our fish and chips and the man behind the counter wrapped them up in yesterday’s newspaper. Then Dad looked at Mam and she nodded. They didn’t always need to speak; often a glance was enough for them to know what to do.
Very quietly, Dad spoke to the man behind the counter, “A good feast of fish and chips, please, for him. But don’t say who paid for it. I was hungry in the war and someone fed me his last piece of bread,” Dad said.
The man behind the counter said, “Good on you, Sir, good on you.”
Mam, Dad and I walked out of the shop. Outside, I looked through the window.
…………………………………………………………………………………
The ragged old man said, “ A few chips, please, all I’ve got are these pennies, so I don’t mind some of your burnt ones, you know the ones you throw away.”
“Very good Sir.”
The man behind the counter got out a huge piece of fish, all covered with lovely brown crispy batter. He ladled chips upon chips into a bag.
“But I can’t pay for all that,” said the old ragged man.
“It’s paid for, Sir.
“Who paid for it?”
“A friend who’s also been hungry.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s gone.”
“Please tell him, thank you. And tell him I’m sharing it with some of my buddies.”
The old ragged man felt like a new man. Someone cared for him!
………………………………………………………………………………………………
I walked home with Mam and Dad. We warmed up the fish and chips again in the stove; poured them onto our plates and poured on HP sauce. What a feast!
Far off, three ragged friends also feasted, huddled in a shop doorway.
Now, many, many years later I remember Wellfield Rd; Cardiff; my kind parents; and the old ragged man.
_________________________________________________________________________
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Old Lamplighter
“It’s so dark, I’m afraid,” said little Joannie.
“Don’t be so scared,” Billy laughed. The other children kept quiet, but they also didn’t like the cold dark streets when the golden rays of the sun had disappeared.
In those far off days in my home town of Cardiff, for years and years, there were no lamp posts to ease the way for boys and girls who played out in the dark as long as they could. But then came ….gas lighting. Lamp posts would be lit every night and glow out their warmth and friendship, chasing away the cold shadows.
“Here comes the lamp lighter,” yelled Tom. “Look there’s his lantern swinging in the dark.”
“I want to carry it for him,” smiled little Joannie.
“No, I’ll carry it,” said Tom.
“No you won’t,” said Will, giving Tom a push.
Billy yelled, “I’m the biggest. I’m the leader. I’m the boss. I’ll carry his lamp.” The rest of the children kept very quiet. They were a bit scared of Billy. He was taller and he was their leader.
The Old Lamp Lighter came up to the children who were gathered by the dark and lifeless lamppost.
“Hello children. How nice to see you. I need someone to hold my lantern safely while I light the lamp.”
“I’ll hold it,” demanded Billy.
“Thank you Billy, but I want Joannie to hold it. But I’ve a very special job for you, Billy,” said the old lamplighter.” Billy looked very happy indeed to get a special job to do. Joannie was so happy, too.
The Old Lamplighter gave the glowing lantern to Joannie and said, “Billy, I want you to stand by Joannie and look after her. In fact, because you’re the biggest and the leader, I want you to always help the other children and encourage them every day. It’s an important job. Do you think you can do that? I believe you can.”
“Yes Sir!” said Billy proudly.
Then the Old Lamplighter lit the lamp and the lamppost glowed out warmth and friendship.
As he walked away, the children heard him say, “The first shall be last, yes, the first shall be last…Feed my sheep, care for my lambs,” and they guessed what he meant.
_________________________________________________
“Don’t be so scared,” Billy laughed. The other children kept quiet, but they also didn’t like the cold dark streets when the golden rays of the sun had disappeared.
In those far off days in my home town of Cardiff, for years and years, there were no lamp posts to ease the way for boys and girls who played out in the dark as long as they could. But then came ….gas lighting. Lamp posts would be lit every night and glow out their warmth and friendship, chasing away the cold shadows.
“Here comes the lamp lighter,” yelled Tom. “Look there’s his lantern swinging in the dark.”
“I want to carry it for him,” smiled little Joannie.
“No, I’ll carry it,” said Tom.
“No you won’t,” said Will, giving Tom a push.
Billy yelled, “I’m the biggest. I’m the leader. I’m the boss. I’ll carry his lamp.” The rest of the children kept very quiet. They were a bit scared of Billy. He was taller and he was their leader.
The Old Lamp Lighter came up to the children who were gathered by the dark and lifeless lamppost.
“Hello children. How nice to see you. I need someone to hold my lantern safely while I light the lamp.”
“I’ll hold it,” demanded Billy.
“Thank you Billy, but I want Joannie to hold it. But I’ve a very special job for you, Billy,” said the old lamplighter.” Billy looked very happy indeed to get a special job to do. Joannie was so happy, too.
The Old Lamplighter gave the glowing lantern to Joannie and said, “Billy, I want you to stand by Joannie and look after her. In fact, because you’re the biggest and the leader, I want you to always help the other children and encourage them every day. It’s an important job. Do you think you can do that? I believe you can.”
“Yes Sir!” said Billy proudly.
Then the Old Lamplighter lit the lamp and the lamppost glowed out warmth and friendship.
As he walked away, the children heard him say, “The first shall be last, yes, the first shall be last…Feed my sheep, care for my lambs,” and they guessed what he meant.
_________________________________________________
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Climbing out.
The little cat walked along the narrow path throught the forest. Then she saw a long wide hole in her way. She crept slowly to the edge of the hole and looked in. It was so deep and dangerous!
The little cat said, “It’s such a deep hole, but there’s no way round it!” So she stepped carefully onto a long pole that stretched from her side of the deep hole, to the other side.
Very slowly and carefully, the little cat crept along the pole.
Suddenly, the pole twisted and she clung on to it with her front paws, with her legs dangling there in space!
“Oh no! Oh no! I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall,” she cried. Then her front paws slipped on the wet pole and she tumbled into the deep hole, sliding down it's muddy side.
Dazed and bruised, she stood up and tried to jump out of the hole. The top of the hole was too high; the sides of the hole were too slippery; and she finally lay panting, tired out at the bottom of the hole.
A little while later, another little cat walked along the same path up to the same deep hole. She also tried to walk across on the slippery pole. She also fell in!
“Are you OK?” asked the first cat.
“I think so,” said the second cat. “I’ll walk around a bit and see how I feel.”
She walked around in the mud of the deep hole and said, “I’m a bit bruised, but I’m OK, thanks.”
“I’ve tried and tried to jump out. I’ve tried and tried to climb up the sides; but I just can’t do it!” said the first little cat.
They both lay there in the cold mud and felt so very sorry for themselves.
The first cat had a great idea! “If I jump up to that root that’s growing out of the side…and you jump onto my back…then you can jump out of the hole!”
“That’s a great idea,” said the second cat.
They tried it out and it worked! The second cat jumped out of the hole then lay down and reached her paw down. The first cat jumped up, grabbed hold of the paw and pulled herself out of the deep dark hole.
Bruised and sore, they walked together down the path.
“When we helped each other, we found a way out,” they said and felt much happier.
The little cat said, “It’s such a deep hole, but there’s no way round it!” So she stepped carefully onto a long pole that stretched from her side of the deep hole, to the other side.
Very slowly and carefully, the little cat crept along the pole.
Suddenly, the pole twisted and she clung on to it with her front paws, with her legs dangling there in space!
“Oh no! Oh no! I’m going to fall, I’m going to fall,” she cried. Then her front paws slipped on the wet pole and she tumbled into the deep hole, sliding down it's muddy side.
Dazed and bruised, she stood up and tried to jump out of the hole. The top of the hole was too high; the sides of the hole were too slippery; and she finally lay panting, tired out at the bottom of the hole.
A little while later, another little cat walked along the same path up to the same deep hole. She also tried to walk across on the slippery pole. She also fell in!
“Are you OK?” asked the first cat.
“I think so,” said the second cat. “I’ll walk around a bit and see how I feel.”
She walked around in the mud of the deep hole and said, “I’m a bit bruised, but I’m OK, thanks.”
“I’ve tried and tried to jump out. I’ve tried and tried to climb up the sides; but I just can’t do it!” said the first little cat.
They both lay there in the cold mud and felt so very sorry for themselves.
The first cat had a great idea! “If I jump up to that root that’s growing out of the side…and you jump onto my back…then you can jump out of the hole!”
“That’s a great idea,” said the second cat.
They tried it out and it worked! The second cat jumped out of the hole then lay down and reached her paw down. The first cat jumped up, grabbed hold of the paw and pulled herself out of the deep dark hole.
Bruised and sore, they walked together down the path.
“When we helped each other, we found a way out,” they said and felt much happier.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Making Diamonds
“Look at the diamonds, Grandma, Grandpa!” Mary pointed at the sky.
“Stars are so pretty, darling, twinkling so high up there. High up in the beautiful black sky,” Grandma smiled.
“They seem to say, ‘Look at the lovely black sky; so deep; so mysterious; so kind,” said Grandpa.
“Yes the black sky is beautiful, Grandpa.”
“Stars are real diamonds,” said Grandpa. “Do you know why?”
“No, Grandpa, why are they real diamonds ?”
“Because once you’ve seen them, you can always think of them, wherever you are. Like diamonds, they last forever,” Grandpa said.
Grandma said, “Grandpa and I have lots and lots of diamonds!”
“Really – where are they?” Mary asked.
Grandpa laughed, “One diamond is the first time I met the beautiful lady you call Grandma!”
Grandma smiled and said, “One diamond is when you were born, Mary, and we held you in our arms.”
“Another one is when you picked us some flowers. Even though they were weeds, we loved them so much,” smiled Grandpa.
“What diamonds do you have, Mary?” asked Grandpa.
Mary thought for a while, “Well, I fell over at school, last week and a girl I didn’t know came over and helped me up and dried my eyes. We’ve become good friends! That’s my diamond!”
“How can you make a diamond, Mary?” asked Grandma.
Mary thought for a while, “I can smile at someone and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’”
“That’s a lovely diamond, Mary. Well done!” said Grandpa.
“When we were very young, we used to say this rhyme,” said Grandma :
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
Grandma said: “ Mary, Grandpa and I have found that these these “helping” diamonds can never be lost; never be stolen; bring so much happiness; and we can think about them whenever we want. Memories are like diamonds, they last forever. We try to make diamonds every day for other people.”
___________________________________________________________________
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
______________________________________
“Stars are so pretty, darling, twinkling so high up there. High up in the beautiful black sky,” Grandma smiled.
“They seem to say, ‘Look at the lovely black sky; so deep; so mysterious; so kind,” said Grandpa.
“Yes the black sky is beautiful, Grandpa.”
“Stars are real diamonds,” said Grandpa. “Do you know why?”
“No, Grandpa, why are they real diamonds ?”
“Because once you’ve seen them, you can always think of them, wherever you are. Like diamonds, they last forever,” Grandpa said.
Grandma said, “Grandpa and I have lots and lots of diamonds!”
“Really – where are they?” Mary asked.
Grandpa laughed, “One diamond is the first time I met the beautiful lady you call Grandma!”
Grandma smiled and said, “One diamond is when you were born, Mary, and we held you in our arms.”
“Another one is when you picked us some flowers. Even though they were weeds, we loved them so much,” smiled Grandpa.
“What diamonds do you have, Mary?” asked Grandpa.
Mary thought for a while, “Well, I fell over at school, last week and a girl I didn’t know came over and helped me up and dried my eyes. We’ve become good friends! That’s my diamond!”
“How can you make a diamond, Mary?” asked Grandma.
Mary thought for a while, “I can smile at someone and say, ‘Hi, how are you?’”
“That’s a lovely diamond, Mary. Well done!” said Grandpa.
“When we were very young, we used to say this rhyme,” said Grandma :
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
Grandma said: “ Mary, Grandpa and I have found that these these “helping” diamonds can never be lost; never be stolen; bring so much happiness; and we can think about them whenever we want. Memories are like diamonds, they last forever. We try to make diamonds every day for other people.”
___________________________________________________________________
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
______________________________________
Irish Smiles
“I had a lovely time in Ireland. I grew to love it: the green fields; fishing boats; hundreds of lakes and lots of jokes,” said Jack.
Joan said, “I’m glad you had a good vacation. While you were away, I found these Irish sayings on the Internet.”
It’s the quiet pigs that eat the meal.
Little is best if well done.
A beetle recognizes another beetle
Beware of the anger of a patient man.
Many a time, a man's mouth broke his nose.
An empty sack won't stand.
An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse.
A windy day is no day for thatching.
Jack laughed, and said, “Let’s work out what they mean….for fun.”
“Yes, let’s,” said Joan.
“Oh, there’s one Irish verse I really like, Jack. Here it is….:”
“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
Jack said, “I think I heard that being sung in a concert I went to in Armagh, Ireland. It’s such a happy song – full of pictures.I felt so good when I heard it”
________________________________________
Joan said, “I’m glad you had a good vacation. While you were away, I found these Irish sayings on the Internet.”
It’s the quiet pigs that eat the meal.
Little is best if well done.
A beetle recognizes another beetle
Beware of the anger of a patient man.
Many a time, a man's mouth broke his nose.
An empty sack won't stand.
An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse.
A windy day is no day for thatching.
Jack laughed, and said, “Let’s work out what they mean….for fun.”
“Yes, let’s,” said Joan.
“Oh, there’s one Irish verse I really like, Jack. Here it is….:”
“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
Jack said, “I think I heard that being sung in a concert I went to in Armagh, Ireland. It’s such a happy song – full of pictures.I felt so good when I heard it”
________________________________________
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Gypsy Tea.
“Tell your fortune, lady?”
“No thanks, my dear. We don’t have much money to spare. But you look cold. Come in for a cup of tea and a rest.”
The young gypsy smiled, and said, “Oh thank you, thank you. Baby and I are so cold.”
I was very young at the time but I well remember the young gypsy with her long black hair, her golden ear rings, and her dark smiling face.
She followed my mother and me into our house. Mum said, “Sit here by the fire, and get warm.”
Mum looked at the little baby and said, “What a lovely baby!”
“Thank you. She’s my first, the first of many!”
They both laughed.
“Here’s your tea and take a slab of cake to fill you up,” Mum smiled.
Mum and the young Gypsy had several cups of tea and a friendly chat for half an hour or so.
Then the young Gypsy said:“You’re so kind. I must go now. But before I go, I want you to have these clothes pegs I carved. Think of me and my baby when you hang out your clothes to dry. I’ll never forget your kindness: the tea, slabs of cake and your warm fire.”
“Thank you so much, my dear,” said my mother. She gave the young gypsy a hug.
It doesn’t take much for people to be kind to each other, does it?
_____________________________________________
Even though I was very small at the time, I remember those far off days. The world was in crisis, like it is now. Jobs were scarce, money was scarce but kindness, as always, was so very valuable.
_____________________________________________
If I can help somebody
Who’s feeling low.
If I can help somebody
When everyone says, No.
If I can help somebody
And make their lives aglow.
Then my living
Will not be in vain
______________________________________
We wrote the words above based on an old song.
You may like to listen to the original words of the
song on You Tube.“If I can help somebody” by .
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945
Glenn Payne sings the original tune on You Tube.
_____________________________________
If I Can Help Somebody
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody who’s trav’ling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain;
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
_________________________________________
“No thanks, my dear. We don’t have much money to spare. But you look cold. Come in for a cup of tea and a rest.”
The young gypsy smiled, and said, “Oh thank you, thank you. Baby and I are so cold.”
I was very young at the time but I well remember the young gypsy with her long black hair, her golden ear rings, and her dark smiling face.
She followed my mother and me into our house. Mum said, “Sit here by the fire, and get warm.”
Mum looked at the little baby and said, “What a lovely baby!”
“Thank you. She’s my first, the first of many!”
They both laughed.
“Here’s your tea and take a slab of cake to fill you up,” Mum smiled.
Mum and the young Gypsy had several cups of tea and a friendly chat for half an hour or so.
Then the young Gypsy said:“You’re so kind. I must go now. But before I go, I want you to have these clothes pegs I carved. Think of me and my baby when you hang out your clothes to dry. I’ll never forget your kindness: the tea, slabs of cake and your warm fire.”
“Thank you so much, my dear,” said my mother. She gave the young gypsy a hug.
It doesn’t take much for people to be kind to each other, does it?
_____________________________________________
Even though I was very small at the time, I remember those far off days. The world was in crisis, like it is now. Jobs were scarce, money was scarce but kindness, as always, was so very valuable.
_____________________________________________
If I can help somebody
Who’s feeling low.
If I can help somebody
When everyone says, No.
If I can help somebody
And make their lives aglow.
Then my living
Will not be in vain
______________________________________
We wrote the words above based on an old song.
You may like to listen to the original words of the
song on You Tube.“If I can help somebody” by .
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945
Glenn Payne sings the original tune on You Tube.
_____________________________________
If I Can Help Somebody
A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody who’s trav’ling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain;
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
_________________________________________
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Little things mean a lot.
“I’m telling teacher,” Jack said to the new classmate, Terry.
“What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you telling teacher?”
“Because you’ve done something right!”
Jack explained to Terry, “In this school, we write reports on you when you do something kind to someone else.”
“Really,” said Terry, “that’s strange. I’ve never been in a school like this before. I like it.”
“So Terry,” said Jack, “ I saw you helping Andrew find the right page in the text book. That was a really kind of you! So I’m reporting you! Teacher will be so happy to read about what you did.”
Terry smiled. He knew he’d like this school a lot.
_______________________________________________
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
Please help me up when I slip and fall
Walk with me when I’m feeling sad
Your kindness makes me again be tall
Little things mean a lot.
Give me a hand when I've lost the way
Give me your shoulder to cry on
Whether the day is bright or gray
Give me your heart to rely on.
Send me the warmth of a secret smile
To show me you haven't forgot
For now and forever,
that's always and ever
Little things mean a lot.
____________________________________
Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz, published in 1953
We wrote Verse 1.
_________________________________
“What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you telling teacher?”
“Because you’ve done something right!”
Jack explained to Terry, “In this school, we write reports on you when you do something kind to someone else.”
“Really,” said Terry, “that’s strange. I’ve never been in a school like this before. I like it.”
“So Terry,” said Jack, “ I saw you helping Andrew find the right page in the text book. That was a really kind of you! So I’m reporting you! Teacher will be so happy to read about what you did.”
Terry smiled. He knew he’d like this school a lot.
_______________________________________________
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
Please help me up when I slip and fall
Walk with me when I’m feeling sad
Your kindness makes me again be tall
Little things mean a lot.
Give me a hand when I've lost the way
Give me your shoulder to cry on
Whether the day is bright or gray
Give me your heart to rely on.
Send me the warmth of a secret smile
To show me you haven't forgot
For now and forever,
that's always and ever
Little things mean a lot.
____________________________________
Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz, published in 1953
We wrote Verse 1.
_________________________________
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