A Visit To The National Museum.

 Until last year when I visited the museum for the first time, I did not know what a museum contained. In all the civilised countries of the world there are museums. In London alone there are more than thirty-two museum. Of these, the most famous one is the British museum.

 Our National Museum is near Stamford Road, beside the National Library. It is housed in a spacious building. Formerly the museum was known as Raffles Museum called after the founder of Singapore.

 Being my first visit to this historical building, it was indeed a thrill to me. When I was there my mind wandered back to the past centuries.

 In the museum I found rare coins, and copper and brass-wares of the fourteenth and fifteenth century Malaya. In one section I found the ornaments and clothings of the tribes living during those days. Different types of weapons and bows and arrows used by the tribes were also displayed in the museum. It was really amusing to watch the stuffed animals and birds. I was also much attracted by exhibits from the various parts of the world. Indeed, as a Singaporean I fell proud of our museum.

 A Walk Along The Changi Beach.

 To walk along a beach in the late evening quite interesting. Sometime ago, I visited the Changi beach in the late hours of evening on a Sunday with friend Ah Heng. Since it was about seven o'clock, the sun was about to set in the horizon and the distant sea seemed to be calm.

 It is a good practice to visit sea-side for a stroll often for reasons of health. The salubrious sea breeze, which blows over us is indeed smoothing and refreshing.

 Since it was late in the evening the beach was almost deserted. There were a few boats far off in the sea. Some voracious sea-gulls were flying low in search of prey. In the distance birds were seen returning to the nearest island after their day's outing. On the whole the environment presented a charming scenery.

 The Kind Of Books We Should Read.

 We should be careful in selecting our reading materials. It is a blessing if we have a reading habit because the advantages are many. If we choose the book correctly reading give us a great pleasure.

 Some books are meant for light reading while others are for serious reading. However reading any books simply gives the reader pleasure and amusement. If we are tired or weary of our school work it is healthy to read a story book to relax our mind.

 There are good books written by famous authors. There are many such books available in our libraries. The stories of well-known authors teach us morals, which we need to learn to become good citizens. It does not matter what subject we choose; be it a novel or a biography. Reading good books makes us realize the virtues of mankind.

 There are many good books on literature, history, travel, science and religion. Choose the best book which you think is valuable to you. In Singapore children can borrow any books they like from the national Library and enjoy the pleasure of reading.

 Patriotism.

 Patriotism is the intense love for one's own country. Not all the people in a country can be patriotic. There are spurious patriots in the midst of the freedom-lovers in a country. These are wolves in sheep's skin lurking among the lambs waiting for a chance to destroy the country.

 Many countries in Asia have produced great patriots. Mahatma Gandhi, Kamal Pasha, Sun-yat-Sen and hundreds of others had toiled for the good of their peoples and countries.

 Only a hypocritical patriot would trumpet before the world that he is the saviors of his country. A true patriot is usually a silent worker, working for the welfare of his country. Only in times of war we shall be able to find out who are really the patriots of country. Those who fail to come forward to offer their services in times of need are traitors.

 My Country Malaysia.

 I am prod of being a Malaysian as my country is one of the richest in Asia and a peace-loving nation. Only thirty years ago Malaysia had gained her independence from the British. After a few years when Malaysia was formed, Sabah and Sarawak, the two Borneo states also joined us to become a bigger nation. Today Malaysia has 13 states in all and each state has its own ruler, a Sultan or a governor as head.

 The supreme ruler of Malaysia is the Yang di Pertuan Agong or the King. He lives in his palace in Kuala Lumpur, which is the capital of Malaysia.

 Malaysia is a prosperous country because it has rich natural resources. Good climate and soil for rubber and oil palm cultivation, tin mines and luxuriant forest have made my country rich. Malaysia earns a lot of money by exporting rubber, palm oil, tin and timber. Recently Malaysia started exporting petroleum as well.

 Malaysia has beautiful hills, rivers and beaches. Many tourists therefore visit my country to enjoy the lovely scenery. They love Malaysia because of her friendly people, sandy beaches and other beautiful scenes. Although many races of people live in my country they are friendly and peaceful in their daily life.

 A Birthday Party.

 Sometime ago, a rich friend of mine, and a former classmate invited me to attend his twelfth birthday party. With a small gift for him, I went to his house.

 My friend was waiting for me and as soon as he saw me, he embraced me. I shook hand him with wishing him a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day. Then he introduced me to his parents and friends.

 The function started with the blowing off of the candles and cutting the birthday cake. This was followed by a lunch. After the lunch there were many items of entertainment such as games and dances.

 All these while, I was sitting at a corner as an interested spectator and enjoyed the fun. This was because by nature I am a shy type and do not like to move closely with strangers.

 The party was over after tea. Tea was served at 4 p.m and I took the opportunity to say good-bye to my friend.

 A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed.

 The proverb means that we shall know who our real friends are when we are in need. Those who desert us when we are in difficulty are just unfaithful friends.

 A true friend would remain with us whether we are rich or poor. Some people befriend the rich, simply for the sake of getting benefits from them.

 It is useless to have insincere friends because these friends remain with us as long as we are rich or powerful. It is better to have one or two good friends rather than having hundreds of insincere ones.

 A true friend will stand by us in our trials and tribulations. He will be a great source of consolation and comfort in our troubles. So we must be careful in choosing our friends. It is difficult to choose a sincere friend overnight; it takes years for us to find a sincere friend.

 The Good And The Bad Habits.

 A great man has once called man as bundle of habits. Habits of a man are responsible for his rise and fall. We should not become slaves to our desires.

 Habits of man may be good or bad. Habits are formed early in life: "Bend the twig, bend the tree". If a bad habit is formed early in life; it may be difficult later in life to get rid of it. Some of the good habits which children must form are cleanliness, obedience and honesty.

 It is important to discard bad habits, such as lying, smoking and stealing. These habits are often formed as a result of the association with bad persons.

 Our habits regarding food and dress are matters of convenience. If we do not get our food in time we should not make a fuss over it. In the matter of food and clothing we must have some control over the need.

 A Visit To A Television Studio.

 An excursion to a television studio shows us just how one of the television programmes is produced. There are three stages for a programme to pass through, before we can see it on the screen of our television set. They are the "taking" or filming, the transmission and the reception.

 The "taking" is done in a very large air-conditioned and sound proof room. In this room are a mass of wires, lights, settings etc. It is like any film studio, except that the cameras used are of a different type.

 The camera men in the room take pictures of those appearing on the sets in front of them. They change them, together with the sound into electronic waves and transmit them out of the studio through a tower.

 One can sit back in comfort and watch on the television screen the incidents of the outside world without leaving one's home.

 "Television" said its inventor, "is to educate, inform and entertain people in their own homes".

 My Country - Singapore.

 My country is an island republic and lies to the south of Peninsular Malaysia. Singapore became an independent country in 1965. Ever since independence Singapore has a steady and prosperous growth.

 Singapore is a multi-racial country like Malaysia. There are Chinese, Malays and Indians livings in peace and harmony. They respect each other's culture and traditions and promote the unity of the races. In spite of the racial differences they all consider themselves as Singaporeans.

 Singapore has one of the finest natural harbours in the world and it has made our country a great commercial centre of Asia. There are many modern industries as well in the republic. Our city is clean and beautiful and it is therefore called a "garden city". We have good roads and beautiful parks all over the city. Many tourists who visit Singapore often praise the green and clean environment in our country.

 Recently a number of multi-storey buildings were constructed and today we have a city of sky-scrapers. Large numbers of tourists from Europe and North America visit Singapore for shopping and sight-seeing. This is an important means of revenue for our country.

 I am therefore proud of being a Singaporean.

 Pets.

 Pets are kept by many people for pleasure or for pastime. They keep and nurse them at home as hobby. Some people have special breeds of dogs or rabbits as pets whiles others rear birds in cages.

 In keeping pets we need to take special care. We have to feed them with the right food at proper times. Any failure on our part could endanger their life. We have to protect them from their enemies. Furthermore the pets and their cages have to be kept clean. This is to prevent the attack of any diseases from unhygienic surroundings.

 If we understand their habits it is easy for us to handle them. Keeping pets gives us a opportunity to be kind to these creatures. We might learn more about the life and needs of pets. Those who keep birds like parrots are likely to read books about rearing them. Such people do not hesitate to spend money, time and energy for the well-being of their pets.

 I have a pets at home; it is a mynah. I got it from a friend and I take care while I am at home. I taught it a few words which it always repeats. I feed the bird every morning and evening and cleanse the cage once a week. During week-ends I spend more time to attend to its needs.

 A Visit To A Church.

 Last August, I visited Bukit Mertajam with my grandmother who was very anxious to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine. The place is not far from the town, Bukit Mertajam and it took half an hour to reach the shrine. We journeyed to the place by bus.

 On arriving there, we saw thousands of other pilgrims like us. We went into the church where the atmosphere was calm and quiet. We knelt before the altar and presented our petitions and prayers to the Mother of our Lady, St.Anne.

 We were told that it was a miraculous shrine and innumerable miracles had taken place. One notable miracle happened recently. A boy who was bitten by a poisonous snake and was about to die, was carried there by his poor parents and the cure was instant. Thousands of other incredible miracles were said to have taken place there.

 The church itself is not a big one, but the importance attached to the shrine is great. It is good to visit such holy places for the betterment of our spiritual life.

 A Procession.

 Last year in August, when Singapore celebrated its National Day, I was lucky enough to be in the grand stand to watch the climax of the celebrations, the grand procession in front of the city hall.

 The procession started from different points of the city and passed along the road in front of the city hall. Not only the contingents from the three services and the police force but also from school, associations and other cultural groups had participated in it.

 The soldiers of the army were marching upright and at rhythm. It was an impressive show by our soldiers. The colourful flags and buntings carried by various other groups captivated all the spectators. The march past of various groups was accompanied by band. The marching of boys and girls from different schools was especially interesting to me.

 Our President and the Prime Minister took salute from the soldiers marching in front of the city hall. The procession lasted for an hour and I felt thrilled throughout the time watching the show. There was a big crowd of spectators on the day to watch the procession.

 I was proud with all that I had seen on the day and it was indeed the time well spent.

 If I Have One Hundred Dollars.

 If I have one hundred dollars, I will not spend it thoughtlessly. I shall try to invest it in some small business. Shall I start a small business? No, no, I have so much to buy for myself. My parents are not rich, so they are unable to but all the necessary things I need.

 I will buy a good wrist-watch because next year I will be in a secondary school. I need a wrist-watch badly. Then I will buy a good children's camera to keep me occupied in my free-hours. For the remainder of the money, I have an idea. I shall buy a good dictionary. By then, I may have about twenty dollars left. With this money I shall open a Savings Bank account in a post office.

 This is my plan of spending wisely the one hundred dollars.

 Good Companions.

 Man is described as a social animal. He cannot live by himself alone. A lonely man is either a saint or a thief. One feels the necessity of companions constantly at all stages in one's life. There is a famous saying about companionship "Sorrow shared is sorrow halved and joy shared is joy doubled". One's pleasures will lose half their charm when there are no friends to share them.

 The common saying is: 'Birds of a feather flock together'. So a man can easily be judged by the company he keeps. If he is often seen in the company of idle men, he also naturally be looked down upon as an idler.

 A real companion, however, is difficult to find. Such a companion is one to whom one can turn for advice, comport, encouragement and help. He may not necessarily be learned or wise, but he will understand his friend perfectly well. He will not fail to impart to him courage and strength. A good friend is the balm of our life.

 Rivers And Their Uses.

 There are rivers in every country but not all of them are of the same size. There are big and small rivers. This depends partly on the size of the country. A country like Singapore has small rivers because here there is no mountain nor a vast land area.

 The most important use of a river perhaps is that it supplies fresh water for drinking and other needs of human life. Of course it is also very important in that it carries away or drains the surplus rain water off the land to the sea. In dry countries rivers are the source of irrigation water. Water is taken from the river and supplied to the farms growing crops. This supply of river water is called irrigation.

 Rivers too are important as waterways. In older days people used to travel from one place to the other by boats along rivers. At the time as there was no road or railway for long distance travel, people depended on rivers for travel. This is called river navigation. Where the rivers are large and deep enough even ships can sail through. The Amazon river in South America is one such river.

 Rivers can also make a country beautiful. It is beautiful to see mountain streams flowing down the valleys and plains.

 My First Day At School.

 My first day at school is a day I will never forget. I went to school for the first time, when I was only seven years old, but I can recollect all the happenings on that day. The day before my school opened, my father me to keep my books ready.

 The next morning I woke up very early. Then I bathed and dressed myself neatly. Then my father took me to school. In the school I saw a number of new boys and girls waiting in the corridor. They were all like me in the school for the first time. I was then taken to a classroom.

 For sometime, I found myself helpless, but it did not take much time for me to be friendly with other students. After two periods, they began to tease me. I was much annoyed. During the recess time all my classmates gathered around me. One pulled my shirt while another pulled my ear. A third boy challenged me for a fight. I was frightened and began to cry. My teacher seeing me crying came to me and asked me why I was crying. When I told him my "story", the teacher punished the boys and from that time onwards they stopped bullying me. We had no lessons on the first day. But lessons started from the second day. I was really happy to be in school on the first day. It was indeed a memorable day.

 Our Sweet Home.

 My home is the sweetest, loveliest and the best place for me in the world. It is indeed a paradise on earth.

 The child rushes home from the school, the market place or the playground. He is tied to his home with bonds of affection and love of the family. He has his mother, always ready to fulfil his wishes. There is the father, ever prepared to sacrifice anything to make him happy and comfortable. He has brothers and sisters to play with. They love one another much. The child is brought up in a happy and healthy atmosphere of his sweet home. That is reason why he loves his home so much.

 Home is indeed the sweetest place. The embraces of affectionate mother and the care of loving father always loom large in our memory. The joyous days of childhood spent at our homes in company with the members of our family and friends can hardly be forgotten.

 The Use And Abuse Of Money.

 In this modern would money is considered the most important thing in one's life. If you have plenty of money you can have all the good things in life.

 The training one gets from younger days is how to spend money wisely. On olden days people had no money just as we have in the form of paper currency today. The system at that time was called barter. Then people used to exchange goods among themselves.

 The real value of money lies in its proper use. Many spend money excessively on smoking, drinking liquor and gambling. This is a real waste of their hard-earned money. Some others spend too much on luxury goods or house decorations. If we have excess money, it is a wise thing to donate part of our money to charity, to feed and cloth the poor and needy. Money, if not spent wisely, becomes an evil. Man is likely to become over proud in possessing large sums of money.

 Money is used to buy anything we want. It is also used to measure or estimate the value of anything; a book, a house or a diamond ring. If we are cautions and careful with money we will always be rewarded with a comfortable and peaceful life.

 The Duties Of A Citizen.

 A good citizen is one who is always loyal and faithful to his country. He is a true patriot prepared to sacrifice his life for the good of the nation. A good citizen is not always a mere law abiding person, but one who has the good of his country at heart.

 A good citizen lives in peace with his fellow citizen and respects the laws of his country. In return every individual citizen receives benefits from the government. He enjoys the rights and privileges of the state. A citizen is entitled to get housing, educational and hospital benefits. The government looks after the disabled or the sick and needy and help them to live as good citizen.

 In a family every member has to be loving and affectionate especially children to each other. This brings unity in the family. In the same way ever citizen has to be kind and sympathetic to his or her fellow citizens. If we cultivate the good manners and live a responsible life, our country will benefit in times of war. We, as citizen, must be ready to die for the defence of our nation.

 I am a citizen of Singapore and I am proud of being a loyal and responsible citizen.

 The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World.

 The proverb means that it is the mothers who are the makers of leaders, reformers, and the conquerors whose power or influence rules the world. The greatness they achieve in life is the result of the teaching and training received by them from their mothers in childhood.

 The child spends most of his time in the company of his mother and finds a teacher and guide in her.

 Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln's mother desired him when he was a mere child to be a great man and to acquire power and position in the world. She gave him right education, inspired him with ambitions in life and instructed him to follow high ideals and principles.

 Since mothers are makers of nations, it is of the least importance that they should be worthy of that position. Women should be virtuous. Without education, women cannot reach the position of being true mothers of the nations. That is why an eminent poet says that "God created mothers because he cannot be everywhere".

 Look Before You Leap.

 Most of us act on impulse and make a wreck of our lives. Some of us act in haste and repent later. Many of us would have been spared of many tears only if we had the wisdom to think carefully before taking action. Therefore, the proverb warns us to make use of our foresight and forethought before finally deciding to do a thing.

 Let us take the example of the very few who, by a stroke of luck may have earned wealth and fame. In fact, such a quick and successful achievement is very rare in this world. But chance is always uncertain and it is a folly to rely upon it. Having taken a course of action without thinking, we find at once too many difficulties impeding our progress. This becomes a worry: why need we be hasty? If only we avoid acting on impulse we can save ourselves from trouble. Experience has shown this to be completely true. As children we must cultivate that virtue of patience. Without patience we shall perish.

 Country Life.

 Some people love to live in a countryside while others prefer town life. The choice of each individual depends on many needs of human beings.

 In a countryside we can live in the midst of nature while in a town we are surrounded by building, factories and other man-made things. In a countryside houses are spread out and there is plenty of greenery. Sometimes green fields or orchards are found in the neighbourhood. The beautiful surroundings with trees and shrubs are pleasing to our eyes. Moreover the air is fresh and cool, which is good for a healthy living. A country life is full of charms. The rippling rivers, the grazing cows and the chirping birds give us great pleasures in life.

 Country life is cheaper the town life. The people who live in a country are a contented community because they have few desires. We should not forget that there are some disadvantages in living in a countryside. The country folks do not have schools nearby or hospitals for any emergency in life. Some countryside residents have to depend on rivers or wells for drinking water. However, in spite of these problems it is healthier and more peaceful to live in a countryside than in a town or city.

 A Stitch In Time Saves Nine.

 This is an old proverb. Though the saying is old, yet its wisdom always holds good. Everyone of us is familiar with other proverbs like, "Time and tide wait for no man". We must not postpone doing something for tomorrow which can possibly be done today. History has many examples of persons who, having once lost an opportunity, had to repent it throughout the rest of their lives. "Today is ours, tomorrow belongs to the enemy".

 In our own life whether private or public, we will realize sooner or later the truth of the proverb.

 Let us take some good examples. The people of France were in discontent for ages. Many poor people were starving while the rich were enjoying. The peasants were forced to pay high taxes. The outcome was the French Revolution. If only the French King could use foresight and do something to satisfy the people, the Revolution could have been avoided. There are many historical examples of such great national disasters because proper action was not taken to satisfy the people.

 My Idea Of A Happy Life.

 Happiness is only a state of mind and it is often linked with wealth. It is a common belief that only rich people are happy because they have plenty of money and poor people are not. But it is not true because there are rich people who are not happy with life. They may not have peace of mind or they may not have good health to enjoy life.

 If a poor man becomes a little wealthy he craves for more. Man always has the desire to get more and more wealth; there is no limit to his desires. A millionaire does not consider his wealth to be sufficient.

 I think the idea of happy life is to live a contented life with the wealth and health one has. If we have a moderately good income either as an employee or as a businessman, we should be satisfied with it and lead a happy and peaceful life. On the other hand if we crave for more and more wealth we may end up with nothing. We may lose our job or business and suffer later.

 There are rich men who show a kind-heart to the poor. They help the poor and needy by giving away part of their wealth. Such people should be respected by the society for their benevolence.

 School Life.

 School life is the most interesting period in one's entire life. But the students generally hold quite a different view. They are tired of the cares and worries of their school work. They long to be grown up. They think that they have to follow some hard and fast rules in schools. At home they have to obey their parents. This, they greatly dislike. They have to work hard to pass examinations if not they get scolding.

 But I look at things from quite a different angle. I am a student and as such I have some duties and responsibilities. I have to do as my parents bid me to do. I have to learn my lessons; reading and writing a lot. I have to please my teachers by my study and good behaviour. I have to work hard. If I do my duty diligently I have nothing to be afraid of. I know that my parents at home and the teachers at school are all my well wishers.

 I feel very proud of myself when I see that my parents take care of me. The love of teachers is a race thing and I know that I have to live up to their expectations.

 A Lucky Dream.

 Once I dream to have secured the first prize in the lottery draw of one million dollars. All my friends and relations greeted me. I felt extremely happy. Everybody asked me what I would do with that large amount of money.

 My parents began pressing me for my marriage, but I did not favour early marriage. So I invested part of the money in business. Then I built a building with a garden around it. Then I purchased a big car. All my family members felt comfortable and lived and easy life. Every evening I used to drive my family in the car. Sometimes my friends accompanied me.

 I visited Japan, China, America, England and almost all the countries in the world. After this long journey my mind became fresh and I thought of returning home. One day I boarded an aeroplane. There was none in the plane, I was the only person there. I felt very sleepy and fell asleep. I felt a great shock and was awakened, but to my surprise I found myself in my bed.

 The Value Of Success.

 It is acknowledged by everyone that success is the reward of hard work. A lazy man seldom succeeds. This is a universal truth. Then there is another saying, "Fortune favours the brave". In this world of ours one cannot be successful, if one is not prepared to work hard. How true the proverb is concerning our success in the examination. A lazy boy who is not prepared to work hard, cannot be successful in his studies or examinations.

 It is also true of others in their lives. To be a successful businessman, one has to work hard, to be a successful doctor one has to read a lot, and to be a successful lawyer also one has to expand a lot of one's energy.

 Take the example of some of our young athletes and swimmers. They earn fame overnight. To achieve this they have to practise day and night for months sometimes forgetting their leisures and happiness. Therefore it is true that success follows hard work.

 My Experience On A Rainy Day.

 The 12th of September in 1968 was a very hot day. There was no wind to relieve us from the intensive heat. Every one in our area was cursing the weather. To the surprise of all of us clouds began to gather all of a sudden and the whole sky was overcast. It began to thunder and the flashes of lightning were visible across the sky. A powerful storm started blowing threateningly followed by a heavy downpour. It rained heavily for sometime and the passers-by ran to nearby houses for shelter. The heavy shower darkened the surroundings and we could hardly see anything beyond our house. The drains were full with rushing flood water and the low-lying lands gradually came under water and formed pools.

 After about three hours of non-stop rain it began to recede. The sky became partially clear and we had a big sigh of relief. Soon after the rain the children from my neighbourhood came out of their homes and started playing in the pools. They were playing and splashing water at each other. I got tempted and joined them for fun. When I realized that it was not a clean water I thought of going back home. However, I decided to go for a ride on my bike to have a look around the neighbourhood after the rain had stopped. The streets were deserted and the were no car passing because the roads were partially flooded.

 After an hour I returned home and thought to myself about the changes that the heavy rain had brought.

 A Visit To A Mine.

 During our last school holidays I visited my uncle who is an engineer in Batu Arang coal mines. When I expressed to him the wish that I wanted to have a look at the mines, he readily complied with my request. One day he took me to the mines.

 I was let down into the mine in a sort of big basket by means of a rope which was slung round a pulley. I was somewhat nervous and as I slowly descended, it became very dark and the air was full of coal dust. The descent was about seventy-five metres. As I went down in dark, I was surprised to find that the darkness was thinning and at last I had a glimpse of electric lights shining up from below. There was nothing but black coal all around me. But the walls had been cut into pillars. I saw caves going deep inside. The miners were busy at work. They were all wearing helmets to protect them from falling pieces of coal. On one side of me there seemed to be a mountain of coal.

 It was a novel experience to me which, though exciting, was not pleasant at all. I asked the officer there to take me outside and on a whistle from him the basket was deposited from above. I quickly got into it and was pulled up. I felt so relieved once above the surface.

 My Most Interesting Experience.

 I had a strange experience last evening while returning home from school. I was attracted by a big crowd and when I went near it, I found that there was a magician who was giving some performances.

 I watched his magic show for sometime. In one performance he took off his hat elegantly and showed the inside to the audience to prove that there was nothing inside. He then passed it on to the crowd for inspection. He took back the hat and put it again on his head.

 A minute later, he took it off and strange to say, a rabbit jumped out. The crowd cheered and put coins in the hat. He next took out of a bag three small rubber balls, threw them up in the air and caught them up in his hands. He showed his hands and the rubber balls to the crowd. But to our surprise, when he next threw the balls in the air, the three balls became five and the five came back to his hands. He began to play with these five balls and soon they turned to seven of them.

 It was just a marvellous experience I had.

 A Visit To A Hospital.

 One day last month I accompanied my father to the General Hospital to see a cousin who was seriously ill. We reached there around five o'clock in the evening. As it was the visiting hour there were many people in the wards to be near their dear and near once.

 The hospital is built on a spacious compound and there are many blocks of building for various cases of diseases. Most of the buildings are multi-storeyed. We passed through the out-patient ward where I saw many patients sitting on rows of chairs and waiting for their turn to see the doctor. We took a lift and reached the fourth floor where my relative was warded. We spent about half an hour with my cousin and left the ward.

 While returning my father took me to various wards such as casualty, surgical, dental and other medical units. I saw a stream of visitors moving to and from different wards. The nurses were busy with their work attending to patients in the wards. The strong smell of medicine and the detergents was all round the place.

 My father showed me the Medical College and the mortuary. I felt uneasy when I saw a few dead bodies being taken out from the mortuary. A visit to a hospital is not always pleasant. It tells us the pain and sufferings human beings.

 An Accident.

 Sometimes we are involved in accidents not only because we are careless but also because of the negligence of others. Last Sunday, I went to my friend's house on a bicycle. As I am not a good cyclist I seldom take short-cuts as it can be dangerous.

 I had hardly passed half-way through the street when I realized my rashness. The street was jammed with vehicles. There was a chaos. Suddenly my bike knocked down an old man along the roadside. He fell down and lay bleeding on the road. Everyone at the scene came up to help the old man. As he was badly injured, he was put in a car and was taken to the nearest hospital.

 Few minutes later, a traffic policeman arrived. He took down my name, address and identity card number and told me to accompany him to the nearest police station. There, I was questioned and was told that the old man had been bleeding on the head and his condition was quite critical. I was shocked and frightened. Later, my father arrived to bail me out.

 From that day onwards I was careful in riding a bicycle on the road.

 The Game Of Cards.

 A game of cards is a common pastime among the people in Singapore. The young and old, and man and woman play the card game for entertainment. It is played in all clubs or associations too by the members. Some people play with money as a reward for a win. But it is illegal to play cards using money.

 There are fifty two cards in four colours of diamond, heart, spade and club. Each colour has an Ace, a King, a Queen, a jack and nine other members from two to ten. The common games of cards are Bridge, Rummy, Sweep and Fluch. The game can be played at least with two players and may extend to even half a dozen members.

 I like this game because it is not a costly one. I play with my friends purely for the fun of it. Some people believe that card game is not meant for children for it can tempt the young to indulge in it often. They may eventually cultivate the habit of playing all the time and thus idle away the time. For the adults the game, some people say, make the players forget their cares and worries of life. It requires tact and presence of mind to play and win.

 If we play card game just for entertainment, it does not interrupt our studies or other responsibilities in life.

 A Week In Bed.

 One evening I went to see a football match between two club teams. When I reached the National Stadium the weather was very warm with a clear sky. As soon as the match ended it began to rain heavily. I was wet all over my body before I could rush to a nearby shelter. I waited for three hours but the rain did not stop. So I decided to walk home. I was drenched on reaching home and immediately changed into new clothes. I went to bed early that night since I felt feverish.

 Next day I could not get up from bed and I knew I had fever. My mother took my temperature and found it was high. My mother took me to a doctor. I was given an injection and medicine. I was to remain in bed for about a week. The doctor advised me to take complete rest. I took only milk and bread for the whole week. My schoolmates visited me during the week and wished me for early recovery. I spent my time reading books or magazines, sometimes listening to music. It was very boring to tie myself up in the bed.

 On the sixth day the temperature went down I felt much better. My mother would not allow me to walk and so I was forced to remain in bed for another day.

 It was indeed a bitter experience which I cannot easily forget.

 An Amok In A Food Centre.

 Tan Lim Seng was sitting alone at a table after he had ordered a plate of fried rice and some vegetables. After waiting for nearly half an hour he went to the hawker to ask for his food. The hawker told him that he had to wait a little longer for he was short of assistants. Lim seemed satisfied with the examination and returned to his table. About ten minutes later, however, he lost control of himself and started to run amok.

 He first overturned the table and then went to the hawker and shouted in an abusive language at him and attacked him. He threw the food that was being prepared and damaged several utensils. Two assistants suffered slight injuries when they tried to stop him.

 Lim Seng then picked up a meat chopper and challenged a crowd of onlookers. He shouted, cursed and spat at the crowd. Some were afraid so they ran away but a few brave men who came by overpowered him. In the meantime a man gave a call to the police. The crowd treated him sympathetically for he was obviously mentally ill.

 An ambulance and police soon arrived. They took him into custody and went off peacefully. After half an hour later the food centre was back to normal.

 Picnic At Sentosa.

 It was bright and windy day in December last year when my family decided to go for a picnic at Sentosa. My sister and I were so excited at the decision and prepared for the journey in the early morning itself. We packed our clothes and other necessary things, while my mother made sandwiches and drinks ready.

 We left by a ferry from the pier at the World Trade Centre at 9.00 a.m. As it was a public holiday there was a big crowd of picnickers in the ferry. In ten minutes' time we landed on Sentosa island. It is a lovely island of sandy beaches, parks and big shady trees. First we boarded the monorail to go for a sight seeing around the island. The view along the route was fantastic as the train passed through small hills and valleys, parks, waterfalls and woods.

 Returning to the train station we decided to visit Fort Siloso, a historical place, the wax museum and the coral museum. We spent some time in these places before visiting others. The most fascinating sight on the island was the musical fountain. Every one in the crowd enjoyed the beauty and marvel of the fountain.

 Around noon we had our lunch at a secluded spot under the shade of a tree. After a short rest we went down to the beach to have a swim in the blue clear water. Though it was crowded with swimmers, we had enjoyed the swim. We spent nearly an hour at the beach before we returned to the ferry for our trip back to Singapore. We were at the pier in the late afternoon.

 I really enjoyed the day at Sentosa having all the fun and pleasure I had.

 Our Duty To Parents.

 Children are cared and loved by their parents until they are able to live on their own. As our parents show their love and affection we are bound to return by our obedience, love and good behaviour towards them.

 If we fall sick it is the parents who take care of us and take us to a doctor to get us cured. They take all the precaution to bring up their children healthy and strong. Not only do our parents feed and clothe us but also educate us by sending to schools and colleges.

 The children on their part should listen to their advice. We should help them in the household work if they ask our helping hand. In school we should study hard and get good results in the examination. Parents always take pride in our good work in school. No parents like to see us picking up bad habits like stealing money, smoking or idling away bad friends. It is our duty to discard bad habits and respect our parents' wishes and hopes. An ideal child with all the virtues is a blessing to a parent.

 Trekking Up The Bukit Timah Hill.

 One day a friend of mine suggested a novel idea. This was to go for a trek up the Bukit Timah Hill. Two of my friends followed us for the trip. We four boys packed our clothes and refreshments and boarded a bus to Jurong Kechil.

 We reached the foot of the Bukit Timah Hill in an hour's time. We changed our clothes and started trekking up the hill. The track on the way up is well laid out. We found the track flanked by bushes and flowering plants. The fresh air and the lush green vegetation around were pleasing to our eyes. It was very quite all around expect for the chirp of the birds and insects in the wood. On our way we had to help each other to climb up the steep slopes. While resting on a boulder near the summit we heard a sound like hissing from a nearby bush. Suddenly a black snake appeared in front of us. We were dumbfounded for words and shivered. But, to our great relief, the snake slipped into the bush and disappeared. We quickly got up and fled in the direction of an open place near the top of the hill. We gathered courage and spent an hour viewing the scenery around.

 We had a wonderful view of Singapore from the summit. Tall buildings, hill and lakes could be seen in a beautiful setting of greenery. We admired the beauty for a while and the decided to return. After a quick lunch on sandwiches and soft drinks we climbed down the hill.

 Southern Islands Tour.

 One day last June my class teacher organized a tour around the Singapore Harbour. All of us in the class were enthusiastic about the tour and assembled in our school on the day early in the morning. We chartered a bus which took us to the World Trade Centre.

 At about 9.30 a.m our ferry left the pier for the round trip. Everyone of us was so excited during the journey and many of the older boys went up the deck to get a better view of the harbour. When our ferry passed by a few big ships berthed at the wharves, we realized how big those ships were really. There were a number of small ships, motor boats and sampans moving up and down the waters. Since the sea was choppy on the day, the ferry started oscillating for a while.

 Soon the ferry approached Kusu Island and all of us disembarked from the ferry. We spent and hour going round the island to have a good look everywhere. It is a lovely island with beautiful parks and shady trees. On our way to St John's Island we saw a few islets on either side. We later stopped at St John's Island where we had our lunch. After a few minutes' rest we had a short walk around the island. Some of my friends had a swim in the blue crystal waters. As it was already 4.00 p.m our teacher told us that it was time for us to return. We hurriedly got back into the ferry and returned to the World Trade Centre. We said good-bye to one another and came home in the evening.

 A Ride On The Cable Car.

 I was invited one day by two friends in my block of flats to join them for a cable-car ride. I readily accepted the other as I had not experienced a cable car ride before. We went to the Mt Faber terminal station and purchased our tickers for the ride. At the station every few minutes a cable car comes in, takes passengers and moves out. We got into one car with another three persons. The man in charge gave the signal and the car slowly moved out.

 Previous to this first ride, I often wondered how the youths like me would dare to ride at this height in a box-like car hanging on a thin steel rope. I really had my fright as the car was in the open sky with only a rope holding us from instant death. I gathered courage and looked out of the window. I saw people far down as tiny creatures and buses and cars like toys. I dared far down from very near the window lest the door would burst open any time and throw me out. All of a sudden it entered a tower station. The three passengers in our car got down but we continued our journey.

 As soon as the car came out of the station we had a fascinating glimpse of the harbour and ships far below us. I enjoyed the harbour scene from the cable car. While we were enthusiastically observing the scenery it became dark all round us and we found that our cable car had entered the terminal station at Sentosa.

 All of us alighted from the car and squeezed through a large crowd of waiting passengers.

 A Visit To The Changi Airport.

 My father asked me to follow him to the Changi Airport one day last week. On the day my uncle was leaving for Japan by aeroplane. So my father and I went to the airport to see him off. I had been longing to see the airport for some time and, when the chance came, I grabbed it.

 We drove to the airport in the late afternoon. As we approached the airport I could see from our car the tall control tower in front of the airport. We parked our car and went up by an escalator to the departure hall. The hall was crowded with passengers and visitors. We met my uncle who was waiting to check in.

 The departure hall is huge and very impressive. There is a tall fountain brightened up in colourful lights. There are many escalators to take people from one floor to another. I saw shops selling books, sweets and toys. Every now and then there were announcements about the arrival or departure of aeroplanes. We said good-bye to my uncle and went up to the waving gallery. I saw a few planes, big and small, landing on the runway. My father told me about the planes and where they came from. It is a delight to watch the planes landing and taking off. As is was already late in the night we decided to return home.

 My first visit to the Changi Airport was indeed an enjoyable one. I would like to visit it again if I get a chance.

 Jurong Bird Park.

 One day last month a few of my friends and I decided to pay a visit to the Jurong Bird Park. We went there by car in the morning. As it was Sunday there were many visitors to the bird park. We bought the tickets and went in.

 We decided to walk instead of going round by the tram car. It is a beautiful park, well laid out with flowering plants, creepers, shady trees and hedges. We walked round the cages of macaw, eagle and owl and watched the birds at a close range. Later down the path, we came across peacocks, the most captivating bird in the park. Two of the birds stretched out their feathers in full as if they wanted to show us their pride. Another interesting bird was pelican. Its pink feathers and the long beak delighted the visitors.

 In another side of the park we saw swans, both black and white, swimming in the cool waters of a pond. They seemed to be not bothered by the crowd watching them. Before leaving the park we came to see the penguins placed in a big glass cage. This is to keep the inside part cool for the birds. We watched the antics of the bird for a while and came out of the park.

 It was indeed a memorable experience for me.

 A Visit To The Botanic Garden.

 When our class teacher suggested an excursion during the last June holidays, we chose the Botanic Garden, the place we all wanted to visit. All the boys and girls of the class assembled in our school one day and started our bus journey at 9.00 a.m. As soon as we arrived at the garden our teacher took us to an open grass patch and told us about the programme for the day. The Botanic Garden has a variety of flowers and trees, each and every one is labeled. The air was so cool and clean inside the garden that every one of us felt very refreshed. It was so pleasing to see the well cut grass, hedges and flowering plants all around.

 After strolling about the garden for some time we relaxed near a pond. Then our teacher told us about the history of the Botanic Garden. We spent some time cracking jokes and telling stories. After that we had our lunch. Then some of us played games while others went out to collect seeds of flowers. While we were spending our time in the garden we saw a number of rare birds chirping on tree branches. Our teacher took a few photographs of us in the garden.

 At about 4.00 p.m we returned home.