THE HOLLOW TREE.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 364, 26 May 1928, Page 29

THE HOLLOW TREE.

MeSSAGES FOR SUNBEAMS.

letters to the Dawn Lady are answered as under:— Gay du Faur, Howick: I am sorry you mistied an answer in the last Hollow Tree, Gay, but the Little Thought had just sped away with the messages when your letter came. Many thanks for your painting. I was most interested in your friend, Robin, and hope he will soon return to New Zealand. Are you still keeping that cocoon, Gay? Please thank your rabbits for their kind wishes. Shall we make a fairy hutch for them in Happy Town? No Name, Auckland: Someone has sent me a competition painting without a name. It arrived in a blue, linen-faced, oblong envelope and was posted in Auckland on May 23. Have you found this, nameless one. Olive Wilson, Edendale: Olive has come safely down Tiptoe Street. A warm welcome to our happy family. I hope I shall hear from you soon. A an and Reena Nuttall, Edendale: Many thanks, little people. Your ages sire now safely tucked away in the big Sunbeam Book. Marjorie Hetherington, Mount Eden: I was delighted to hear again from Marjorie. who was one of the first to come to Happy Town. Many thanks for the puzzlers and jokes. Yes, if you wish you may join the Wigwam. I shall be most interested in the photographs you are going to send me. Noel Stuart, Cambridge: So you were bom on Christmas morning? How wonderful, Noel. I hope your thumb has quite recovered. Mothers are the very best ones in the world to make hurt places better. My best love to this little lad. Doris Muchamore, Devonport: Your painting has reached me safely, Doris. Many thanks and much love. Betty Ncholls, Kohimarama: Open your eyes, little five-year-old. Now. where are you? Did you see any Pixie Postmen in Tiptoe Street? AUsa Stuart, Cambridge: Many thanks for your big budget, Ailsa. The Little Thought is going to make a handkerchief •achet out of the lace and ribbons. The violets brought a whiff of perfume from Jour Cambridge garden. The Dawn Lady has very little time for fancy work, though she has tried her hand at it. Margaret McLoughlin, Otahuhu: Welcome, Margaret, and many thanks for your painting. Please will you pop your kge into your next letter. , Mary Kerr, Pukemiro: Two letters from my very good scribe, a competition Painting and* some tongue twisters. No, 1 did not see the film of Pukemiro. It have been interesting. Keith Massey, Devonport: Your competition entry has reached me safely, h-eith. I am delighted that you have joined our happv family of Sunbeams. Lorna Mackenzie, Timaru: For a while I thought this little girl had forgotten ?)** so you can imagine how happy I was when her letter came. The concert huist have been a very successful one, Lorna, and I should have loved to have seen you in “To a Miniature.” My beat love to Lorna and Alan. Lola Nicholls. Kohimarama: Greetings J® this little lady who has come down tiptoe Street with a pretty painting and some riddles. 1 hope you will often w nt e lo me> Lo la> Jean Eyre, Herne Bay: I am sorry to nn ® that my faithful little Jean has been Bick. a message came from Doctor spring Sunshine a few days ago to say that it will not be long before he is back again in Happy Town. Yes, everybn« liked the cake, Jean. You are a clever little* cook. Arthur Wetherill, Ponsonby: Welcome jo Happy Town, Arthur, and many thanks your painting. I hope I shall be fJ? ,e to place mai.y messages for you in tbo Hollow Tree. Bemice Ludlow Ponsonby: Your postcaid, painting anti the poem came safely to Happy Town. Bernice. Thank you *e>T much. Pleat.© give Hazel Patty and *obby my love Ronnie Clark, Onehunga: Little sick ooys always find a warm corner in the Lady's heart, Ronnie. I do hope >ou wifi soon j. e well. "Welcome to 2£5. y Towa and many thanks for your Painting. 0 , ~A flnea Missen, Devonport: That is a w finH°. Us Poem, Agnes. Where did you I it? i must send the Little Thought

to watch that rush for the Happy Town page. It must be very exciting. Victor Taylor, Grey Lynn: Your painting is very good, victor. Thank you very much for it. My best love to this seven-year-old. Mabel Clark, Onehunga: There was great excitement in Tiptoe Street when we found that you had brought three new Sunbeams. Many thanks, Mabel. That was a happy day at Devonport and I am not surprised that you enjoyed it. Mabs Stock, Henderson: That was a lucky win you had when, you were a wee girl, Mabs, and I am sure you must still feel proud of it. Many thanks for your letter, painting, and the map, and much love from the Dawn Lady. Ross Clark, Onehunga: Welcome, Ross. The Doorkeeper sends a merry jingle of keys and the Joyshop man is keeping plenty of joys for you. Esme Peacocke, Epsom: Many thanks for the little tale about the dream visit to Fairyland. Some night, perhaps. Esme and the Dawn Lady will go there hand in hand. Veronica Missen, Devonport: W'hat a large family, Veronica, but I think it must be a very happy one. A wireless set is a splendid thing to have. Many thanks for your painting, longue twisters and riddles. Harry Clark, Onehunga: Here is Master Harry in our little world for little people. The journey was quite a simple one. wasn’t it? I hope you will write to me soon. , Kathleen Neely, Grey Lynn: Many happy returns, Kathleen. I am glad your story was published on your birthday. I have selected your prize and it will not be long in reaching you. Although you are now sixteen I hope you will still peep over the fence into the sunshiny spaces of Happy Town. My best love and best wishes to Kathleen. Jessie McAdams, Hihitahi: Welcome, Jessie, and many thanks for your Pain - ing. I shall be looking for a long letter from you soon. „ Mnrv McGregor, Auckland: MistiesS Mary is now a Sunbeam of Happy Town and I shall always be glad to find her letters in the mail. How old is this new ™R? wV Cuming, Waiuku: Your bantam, “Sunbeam,” should really be permitted to come down Tiptoe Street I hope he , is not jealous now that are a Su " f be ‘™!; too. You are groins to be one ot my ne E?sie r stock, Henderson: Many thanks for vour interesting letter and that map, Elsie. Did baby Harry go straight to S ‘V e r P ank P i< e , a efnnfi'n? has Are you playing footbal this season? Peggy Walker, Auckland: \\elconie, Persy Your painting is very attractive The Little Thought waves a greeting and Dawn Lady sends her love. Jean Farquhar, Auckland: Your letter and painting came safely to hand. Jean. U is splendid to think that you are so attached to Happy Town. The days null soon slip bv and the last day of the month will be here before you realise it. Hughe J s? a Huntly: Many thanks Sylvia. A Pixie Postman has just handed me B Y a s h t on,'' North cote: Welcome to the palmfoß is now entered in the competiti0 Esme Quick, Takapuna: Welcome to thiVnew Sunbeam. Your painting has reached me also. I hope I shall have manv letters from this little girl. Marion McNeil, Mount Eden: Marion’s name is now in the big Sunbeam Book and her card will reach her shortlj. Many thanks for answering the Competition Bell. . rpei- vm]n cr Ernest Chapman, Epsom. Iliis young artist is now a Sunbeam of Happy Town. How old are you ErnesL Jim Middleton. Buckland: I am delighted to hear that baby Allan has recovered. Please give him a kiss from the Hawn Lady. And please ■will > thank vour mother and Melville for their kind thoughts and give them my love In return. Before tong there will be a painting comnetition for the wee ones, .Tim. but any-way, you know, the Hawn Ladv judges everything according to age. Just think how high you and Melville came in the last competition. When you grow up yoi* will both be artiste. I think. . sj _ Robert White, Birkenhead: Welcome,

Robert, and many thanks for that interesting letter. Not very long ago we had a competition for “An animal that was never in the Ark.” John Jamison won it with a curious creature called the “Barkity-goat.” Did you see it? Noel Ireland, Onehunga: Another new Sunbeam with a happy name. Does your birthday fall in December, Noel? Thank you very much for your painting. Phyllis Astridge, Wellington: All the way from Wellington to Happy Town. A warm welcome to the Dawn Lady’s family, Phyllis, and many thanks for your painting. I hope I shall often hear from you.

Evelyn Hughes, Mt. Eden: Many thanks for your affectionate letter, Evelyn, and also for your dainty painting. Negro must be a jolly little fellow. I think you should tuck him into your pocket when next you come down Tiptoe Street. Nancy Longstaff, Ponsonby: “Another new Sunbeam,” murmurs the Little Thought. “And she has brought a painting with her,” answers a blue-eyed Pixie Postman. A warm welcome to little Miss Nancy. Hilda Allington, Hamilton: So you have been having a really truly holiday on a farm, Hilda? What a happy time it was. Many thanks for your neat and interesting letter I am delighted that you have decided to become a Sunbeam. Ronald Tornquist, Onehunga: The Little Thought is searching Tiptoe Street for your age, Ronald, but. so far, has not found it. Please would you let me know. Welcome to Happy Town and

many thanks for answering the Competition Bell. Sadie Bell, Epsom: Happy Town is the place for girls and boys, isn’t it, Sadie? I have always said so from the very day we found our little world for little people. Many thanks for your letter and painting. I hope you will soon write to me again. Irene Wilkins, Mt. Albert: Your letter and painting have both arrived, Irene. Thank you also for that joke. So Lucy and Fred Crooks are your cousins? They are very keen young members of Happy Town. Patty Neely, Auckland: Welcome, Patty, and many thanks for the pretty painting. The Little Thought sends a jewelled wish for you. He found it nestling in a dew-wet rose early this morning. Norma Pike, Gisborne: Norma has come tripping merely down Tiptoe Street with a painting for the Dawn Lady. Thank you very much, little lady. I hope I shall soon hear from you again. Jim Macpherson, Kaitaia: I think there must be a rainbow bridge stretching from Happy Town to the Winterless North, Jim, for I often have letters from

Kaitaia. Thank you for your painting. It is very good. Joseph Dobbyn. Grey Lynn: I was glad to hear again from this faithful Grey Lynn Sunbeam and to find that he has been listening for the Competition Bell. Please give Terence a kiss from me. How he must have grown. Jean Anderson, Mt. Eden: You have quite a menagerie, Jean, with the parrot, canary, dogs, cats, chickens and ducks. Do you help to feed them all? Stella Harris. Otahuhu: A Pixie Postman sped away with your membership card, Stella, but returned with the sad news that he could not find you. Please will you send me your full address. Ruby Haggie, Ngaruawahia: Quite a number of my Sunbeams live in your district, Ruby, and I am delighted that you have found your way to Happy Town, too. Thank you very much for your competition entry. You managed it very well.

Nancy Evans, Milford: The Little Thought was delighted to receive those cut-out pictures, Nancy, and just at present, is dressing the little figure as a Red Indian. It was very kind of you. Thank you also for your painting, the poem, and riddle-me-ree. Bill Pratt, Takapuna: So you had your eleventh birthday in bed, Bill? I am glad you had so many wonderful presents and that your Fairy Godmother did not forget you. We all wish you many happy returns and the Woodpecker sends his best love. I. Cross, Manurewa: Welcome to Happy Town, Miss Manurewa, and many thanks for your painting. Would you please let me know your Christian name next time you write. Dulcie Craig, Epsom: All the puzzles are correct, Dulcie. I am glad you had that happy day at Avondale. I should have liked to have helped you explore that wonderful orchard. Ada Wilkins, Mount Albert: Your painting is very good, Ada, and the word square is correct. No, I have not yet been to Pihi. Kathleen Grieve, Arapohue: Your painting has reached me safely, Kathleen. Many thanks for it. You are having a happy time at Arapohue, and I hope you like your new school. Mary Anderson, Mt. Eden: What a busy shopping day, Mary, and what wonderful things you bought. What can you dance in those new ballet shoes? Seesaws are great fun. I think we shall have to ®y e ct one in Happy Town. Joy Hill, Mt. Albert: Your favourite pastimes are mine, too, Joyce. Now that is curious, isn’t it? I should like to see some of your poems. Many thanks for the word square and the tongue twisters Lorna Fin Jayson, Remuera: Manv thanks, little lady. It has reached me beam ‘ My warmest love to this sunTrelawney Richards, Papatoetoe: I sorry to hear of your accident, Trelawney. How did it happen? I hope you will soon be well and able to run about again. Many thanks for your very neat letter. I had not forgotten Sunbeam Trelawney. Beulah Knowls, Edendale: The Little Thought likes your painting very much Beulah, and so do I. Many thanks for Norma Waller, Manurewa: Your sick a-bed letter has reached me safely, Norma. I do hope you are better. What a wonderful Happy Town scrap-book you have. Doctor Spring Sunshine is an associate of Happy Town. He is unable to stay with us all the year round as he is needed in other countries, but it will not be long before he visits us again. Yes I know that poem by Browning very well! Thank you for your painting, Norma. Ivy Eades, Edendale: Greetings and welcome. Ivy, and many thanks for vour painting. I hope you will often write to ™ e \ .All the Happy Town people send their love. Joyce Gilbert, Epsom: The Dawn Lady eannot publish all the stories and poems the Sunbeams send her, Joyce, but she loves to receive them all the same. “The - Where did Jean Mclndoe. Hamilton: The Little Thought says that you are going to be very happy in your new home, Jean, and that before long you will be able to explore everything. Did the Samoan trav travel safely? Autumn has painted a beautiful picture outside your window Eileen Gracie. Norma and Leslie W T aller will find j T our greetings, and all vour Happy Town friends send their lover Basil Heath, Waihi: I, too, hope you will have a successful term at school, Basil, and be sure the Dawn Lady will be watching your work with interest. You are one of my very good scribes. Did you know that? Winifred Stone, Herne Bay: Your painting is very well done, Winifred. Many thanks for-it. It is splendid that you are a Guide. Do you read the column devoted to Guiding in the Wigwam page? I hope you enjoy the fancy dress ball in June. j Leslie Waller, Manurewa: A new brown hat for the little shorn head? How kind of Nancy to knit it for you. Your pretty J curl is still on the wall, Leslie, and a. ray

of sunshine is playing hide and seek with it. The Woodpecker sends his best love. Mariam Evans, Otahuhu: Welcome to this new Sunbeam. Your painting has reached me safely and I like it very much. I hope I shall be able to place many messages for you in the Hollow Tree. Rive Mackie, Devonport: The Little Thought brought me a wee parcel, tied up with rainbow coloured ribbon this morning, and, when I opened it, out popped another smile from Rive. It was a Happy Town smile that said, “Goodmorning, Hawn Lady. I am getting better and will soon be able to come down Tiptoe Street again.” We all send our very best love to this little boy and the Pixie Postmen ask to be remembered to Colin. Allan Martin, Kingsland: The Dawn Lady has not forgotten this Sunbeam. Bubbles has learned plenty of tricks since your last letter. Can he jump through a hoop, Allan? Peggy Blyth, Pukemiro: Your happy letter .has reached me safely, Peggy, and I hope you will enter for many of the competitions. The Sunbeams certainly write charming stories and there were some fine little tales among the last ones. My best love to Peggy. Isa Douglas, Huntly: So Ruth Powell and Sylvia Hughes are your friends? I am glad to hear that. A warm welcome to our happy family, Isa. I hope you will often write to me. H. E. Williams, Oratia: What is your full name Master H. E. ? Your painting has reached me safely and I am delighted that you have become a Sunbeam. Joan Brookfield, St. Helier’s Bay: The Little Thought is leaning against his wheelbarrow thinking hard, Joan, and he considers that Maurice, Rex, Max, Bruce, Bernard, and Gerald are all fine names for a boy. He likes David, too, because it means “beloved,” and his favourite pet name for a boy is “Sonny.” ,f s ’ 1 know the “Child’s Garden of Verses and have tasted the fairy bread. Norma Waller. Jean Mclndoe, and Gay. du Faur will find your greetings and we all send our love to Joan and her wee brother. Marjory Patten, Waitara: This new Sunbeam has reached Happy Town safely. Don’t our numbers grow Marjory? I was glad to receive your painting and neat letter and hope you will soon write to me again. Edna Bowman, Grey Lynn: “Montague Mouse” is skipping about in the Place-of-Y’ou-Xever-Can-Tell, Edna, and the Doorkeeper is chasing him with his feather duster. Many thanks for the poem and your painting. George Hamilton, Avondale: There is no charge for the membership cards, George. Everything in Happy Town is free and yours will reach you soon. Many thanks for your painting. I can see that you are fond of the palette and brush. Blanche Brown, Papakura: This is j-our first message in the Hollow Tree, Blanche, but the Woodpecker considers that there will be many more for you. Is he right, I wonder? Kathleen Ricketts, Edendale: A com- i petition painting from my “Drummer Girl.” Thank you very much. What a j faithful little lady you are. It was a “jewel day” in Happy Town this morning, Kathleen, and all the flowers were twinkling with dew. L'p in the Happiness Tree a thrush was singing. Have Iyou heard any this season? Gladys Mole. Frankton: Your painting has arrived, Mistress Frankton. Thank you very much. Chrissie Davey, Auckland: A canary makes a delightful pet, Chrissie. You will have a busy time now among the thistles and groundsel. I am glad you had that holiday at Avondale. All the Hapoy Town people send their love. “ Elsie Eldershaw, Milford: Welcome to lathis new member whose *painting has

reached me safely. I hope I shall soon hear from you again. Avis Firth, Royal Oak: Many thanks and much love, Avis. I like your entry very much. lan Doull, Grey Lynn: How old are you, lan? Your painting has reached me safely and I am delighted to greet you at the gates of Happy Town. Margaret Anderson, Mount Eden: Lying in the sun is much more pleasant than going to school, Margaret, but there are always the week-ends to look forward to. And every week-end little girls may come to Happy Town. My best love to Margaret. Are you stronger now? Lloyd Scott, Thames: Your painting is entered in the competition, Lloyd. How is Master Charles these days? Norman Lydster, Takapuna: I am sorry that this little man is sick in bed. The Little Thought thinks you will soon be well. Many thanks for the poem about the lost dog. We must send a Pixie Postman to speak to him about it. May Hiscocks, Ponsonby: Thank you very much for your painting, May. You have been moving, I see. The Hollow Tree has grown so that there would be little space for a serial, I am afraid. Much love to this Sunbeam. Susie White, Edendale: So Kathleen his brought you down Tiptoe Street again? Many thanks for your painting and much love, Susie. Doris Lydster, Takapuna: Your painting and picture of a pot plant have reached me safely, Doris. Many thanks. Are you helping to nurse Norman while he is ill? Dermott Skilton, Mount Eden: Welcome, Dermott, and many thanks for your competition entry. I shall always be glad to find letters from you in the mail. Edwyna Stone, Onehunga: Many thanks for your letter, little lady of the puzzlers. You are a busy young housekeeper too, I see. Nancy Waller, Manurewa: I am glad that you intend jcining the Wigwam, too, Nancy, and I hope Redfeather will find a pretty pen-name for you. Yes, I like figs. Jean Mclndoe will find j r our special package of love. Thank you for letting me see that catch. It is a very good Esma, Wilfred and Serie Coughey, Onehunga: The Little Thought’s yellow land green wheelbarrow is piled high with messages, and it is time for them to go across to the Hollow Tree, so I must thank these three Sunbeams for their letters all at once. Much love, little people. Perhaps you could write a little earlier next week.