DURING WORLD WAR 2 CHILDREN SAT IN FRONT OF THE WIRELESS LISTENING TO STORIES OF ADVENTURE AND FANTASY, TAKING THEM AWAY FROM THE EVERYDAY HORRORS AND VIOLENCE THAT WAS AROUND THEM.

COMIC BOOKS (WHEN AVAILABLE) DID THE SAME THING.

A SHORT PERIOD OF RESPITE FOR THE EVACUEE FAR AWAY FROM HOME.

THIS WEB SITE CONTAINS A SELECTION OF THESE STORIES.

AND FOR THE YOUNGER READER HERE IS A 1930S POEM:-

THE GOOD SQUIRRELS

          Furry and Nibble and Bushy tail good,

          All of them lived in a tree in the wood

          Next door lived Screwy, as bad as could be

          Screwy was horrid as horrid could be

          But the three others were Squirrels, I told

          Each with a heart of purest of gold

          Tidy and careful and neat as three pins

          Were they all, dears when this story begins?

          Nib swept the floor with his tail every day

          Bushy (though smaller) was learning the way

          Furry was cook, and her acorn bread sweet

          Also her nut pies were really a treat

          Yes, they were splendid, but oh dear bad Screw

          Was very lazy, the things HE would do

          Were quite too dreadful, he’d thieve and he’d thieve

          Yes he do things that you never believe.

          Ah you could hardly believe, I am sure

          Such different neighbours could live just next door

          Come said good Nibble on fine afternoon

          Autumn is changing to Winter quite soon

          We’ll all collect nuts for the cold days, said he

          And soon we’ll have stores if we work busily

          Screwy was listening and Bed Screwy heard

          I’ll have a store too, he whispered

          “MY WORD!”

          See the rest starting how high they can climb

          Nibble can reach the best nuts every time

          Bushy tail picks too and throws them to Fur

          Who’s brought a neat little basket with her?

          And how they laugh as they hurry home

          We needn’t worry when Winter has come

          So says good Nibble, we’ve got stores all right

          Ah whispers Screw, let them wait till to night!

          And while the good squirrels slept till next day

          Thief Screwy crept along through the back way

          Stole every nut while the rest dreamed in bed

          Who’s got a store of nuts now? Screwy said

          Bushy tail woke first and crept to their shelf

          Stood still and stared and then pinched at himself

          But it was true, Wake called he in dismay

          Someone has stolen our nuts all away

          Yes they were gone. Not a nut could be found

          But there were nut shells all cracked on the ground

          Trails, too of nut shells to bad Screwy’s door

          All they could hear when they tapped was a Snore

          Oh, sobbed small Bushy tail, what can we do

          Both of the others looked miserable too

          But they were really quite splendidly wee chaps

          So they went home, and put on their caps

          And with brave smiles they went nutting again

          Found just enough, too with hard work and then

          Wonder how Screwy feels? Bushy tail said

          As the good squirrels all hopped into bed

          Oh dear, what cries woke them all in the night

          Screwy arrived in a terrible plight

          Pains from his tummy to toes, oh dear dear

          Help me I’m dying, I’m dying I fear

          Why did I take all your best beech nuts away?

          Why did I eat them all up yesterday?

          Why was I such a bad greedy old Screw?

          Help me and I will be good just like you

          Oh yes they helped him with water and pills

          Soon greedy Screw was quite cured of his ills

          And he was cured too, of bad thieving ways

          And remained a Good Squirrel the rest of his days.