THE HOLLOW TREE. MESSAGES FOR SUNBEAMS.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 29

THE HOLLOW TREE. MESSAGES FOR SUNBEAMS.

Letters to the Dawn Lady are answered as follow:

Jean Vercoe, Waitoa: Welcome to this new Waitoa Sunbeam who has come safely through the shining gates. I hope you will write plenty of letters to the Dawn Lady. Colin Mackie, Devonport: Your letter just missed the last Hollow Tree, Colin, but the Little Thought is all ready and waiting for your message with his yellow and green wheelbarrow. Which do you like better—examinations or parties? I think I can answer that question for you. It is splendid that Rive is recovering and I hope he will soor. be out of hospital. Bertha Blaikie, Auckland: The Little Thought was delighted to meet you too, Bertha, and hopes he will often discover you in Tiptoe Street. Your painting is very dainty and l hope to see much more of your work. My best love to this Sunbeam.

Kathleen Ricketts, Edendale: I was glad to hear again from my Drummer Girl and to find that she is feeling better. The Dawn Lady loves to see the dew on the flowers too, Kathleen. It is just as if the fairies have left their jewels there. "You found the hidden people in the picture and I enjoyed that joke. The Little Thought sends some very special love to our Drummer Girl.

Joan Cuming, Waiuku: Many thanks for your entry for the missing line competition. Joan. Your writing is very Peat this time. Do you know Joan Forbes, who lives in Waiukvi? The Little Thought has tucked those kisses snugly away in his pocket. Rive Mackie. Devonport: A Pixie Postman has just delivered your message with a happy smile. Rive. He says he is sure you will soon be strong enough to go home. The Woodpecker sends his special greetings this week and the Little Thought two heaped handfuls of love. Chrissie Davey, Auckland: Your little black Pomeranium must, be an interesting Pet, Chrissie, but, if he tears your stockings, you will have plenty of darning to do. I hope I shall soon have another letter from this faithful Sunbeam. Joan Brookfield, St. Helier’s Bay: Your last letter was just too late for the Little Thought's wheelbarrow, Joan, so it could not be answered until th is week. I hope, when you grow up, you. too, will be able to edit a page, for children, and you will find a good friend in the Dawn Lady. I consider your work full of promise, Joan, ancl 1 have several of your letters tucked away in my treasure box. Please give Baby my special love. I hope you will decide on that fine, manly name for him. Dorothy Urwin, Takapuna: There is no mistake about your name this time, is there Dorothy? You found Robin Goodfellow and the fairies. I hope I shall soon hear again from this Sunbeam. Edwyna Stone, Onehunga: I am glad you like Ihe arrangement of the Happy Town page, Edwyna. When I told the Woodpecker he preened himself with **itisfaction. Your solution of the word square is correct.

Jean Buckley, Mt. Roskill: Your neat letter and the interesting enclosure have reached me safely, Jean. Thank you. also for sending your friend’s address. Jean Molndoe, Nancy anti Nonna Waller, Patricia Sheridan, and Norma Hughes will find your love messages. All the Happy Town people send greetings to this Sunbeam. Stella Harris, Otahuhu: It is a pity your story was too late for the competition. Stella, but I hope you will enter next time. Many thanks for letting me know' your address. Has your card reached you? The Woodpecker sends his best love and is glad you like his picture. Rita Appleton, Claudelands: This little Kiri has written me a beautifully neat letter. Thank you very much. You are lucky having so many flowers still out in your garden. Perhaps you would like to press one for the Dawn Lady? I shall watch the mails for it. Patricia Margaret Wareing, Palmerston North: Welcome to our happy family. By which of those pretty names shall I call you? I am glad to find that you have heard the music of the Competition Bell. Thank you very much for your entry. Christina Shaw, Papakura: Another

new Sunbeam. Greetings and welcome, Christina. I am glad that Blanche is your friend and that you intend entering for the competitions. It must be exciting having a birthday when Christmas is in the air. Lois Ronson, Te Papapa: Many happy returns, Lois. I hope you had a jolly time on your birthday. You found the fairies and Master Goodfellow. Don't you feel sad when you see those trees being cut down? Noel Ireland, Onehunga: Noel is one of our Happy Town artists. Many thanks for those paintings. They are very well done. My best love to this laddie. Mary McGregor, Auckland: That is an entirely new version of the old nursery rhyme, Mary, and I had a good laugh over it. Much love from all the Happy Town people. Kathleen Neely, Grey Lynn: I am delighted that you like your prize book and hope you will often peep over the fence in Happy Town. The Dawn Lady will always be glad to have your letters. Jack Lydster. Takapuna: I am very sorry to hear that our faithful Sunbeam is so sick and we all hope he will soon be better. The Little Thought, the Doorkeeper, and all your Happy Town friends send their best love. Julia Chubb, Otahuhu: You have not been having a very fortunate time just lately, Julia, but I hope you have now recovered. The word square is correct, and many thanks for making a new one. Best wishes to the Sunbeams in your house. Becky Pelham, Royal Oak: How kind of little Bill Pratt to send you those lovely scarlet beads, Becky. I am sure you must treasure them. Your competition entry has reached me safely. Gay du Faur, Jean Mclndoe and Fitzie Morris will find your special greetings and love. Norman Lydster, Takapuna: Thank you for the wee poem, Norman. The Dawn Lady loves rabbits and squirrels. The Little Thought sends his love to this small Sunbeam.

Betty C. t Manukau Road: Thank you very much for your letter. You seem to know Happy Town as well as any of my Sunbeams and it is a pleasure to know that you always read the “square story.” The Little Thought, the Doorkeeper, the Joyshop man. the Woodpecker and the Dawn Lady all send their best wishes.

Jean Danes, Whangarei: Rae will make a dainty little train bearer at the wedding, Jean. Many thanks for the story. Beth will find your love message if she is peeping into the Hollow Tree. Ellen McAulay. Auckland: Mrs. Tippitoes was pleased to find that you had completed the poem about her. Many thanks for your entry, Ellen. Desmond Uffindell, New Lynn: Many happy returns. Desmond. I hope you enjoyed your birthday. I liked that poem. What good ducks yours must be to lay so well. Doris Lydster. Takapuna: The Little Thought has not forgotten this Sunbeam who has so many friends among the fairies. Thank you for the little poem. Marjorie Alderton, Cambridge: Bed is no place for my Sunbeams, Marjorie, and I hope you will soon be better. Your cousins are very faithful members of the Dawn Lady’s large family. The Little Thought is going to make a sunshade out of the lace you sent him and wants your opinion on a thistledown lining. Pearl Knepp. Curwensville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.: We are delighted that this Sunbeam has found her way through the shining gates into Happy Town, and the Pixie Postmen will always watch for your letters in the mail. When next you write I hope you will tell me all about yourself and your far-away part of the world. Best love from your new found friends in Happy Town. Mary Uffindell. New Lynn: So you have been having a birthday too, Mary? Many happy returns. Thank you very much for the poem about the wind. I enjoyed reading it. Zilla Molesworth, Ngaruawahia: Christopher Robin will always be a favourite with children, Zilla. Many thanks for sending that poem. I like your painting. too. A warm welcome to the Dawn Lady's happy family. Billy Bullough. Huntly: Your paijiting is very good, Billy. Thank you also for

your drawings. I hope you. are quite strong now. The Little Thought sends his special love to Billy Bullough, this week.

Jean Eyre, Herne Bay: Being a Brownie must be very exciting, Jean, and I am sure you are looking forward to the time when you can be enrolled as a Guide. Your letter is very neat this time. My best love to this little lady.

Isa Douglas, Huntly: I am delighted to hear that Ruth won the sewing prize for her apron. No, I did not go to the Waikato Winter Show. Many thanks for your competition entry and much love, Isa.

Doris Muchamore, Devonport: Many thanks for your letter, Doris. I hope Ruby’s arm will soon be better and that your thumb has recovered from its acei-

dent. The Doorkeeper was pleased to receive your message and he sends his best love. The Dawn Lady spoke over the wireless soon after the formation of Happy Town. Much love to my faithful Doris. Earl Smith, Devonport: Your love message has reached me, Earl, and the Doorkeeper is glad that you have remembered him. A package of happy thoughts for this wee man. Betty McComb, Onetangi: Here is Betty in Happy Town with a balloon picture for the Dawn Lady. Many thanks, little lady. I hope I shall often hear from you. Erica Aston, Auckland: The sick Sunbeams have a very warm corner in the Dawn Lady’s heart and we are all hoping for good news of Erica. I hope your operation will make you perfectly well and that you will not have to stay too long in hospital. The Little Thought, the Doorkeeper, the Joyshop man, the Woodpecker and the Dawn Lady send their very best wishes and fondest love. Jean Johnson, Epsom: Welcome to Happy Town, little Miss Jean, and many thanks for your painting. I shall always be glad when the Pixie Postmen

bring me letters from my new Sunbeam. Beth McAulay, Auckland: It must be interesting having a girl in Canada to correspond with, Beth. I am glad, too, that you are receiving letters from Jean Danes. Your pets will soon be grown up. I hope the goat will always remember its manners. Joan Boardman, Auckland: I was glad to hear again from Joan, and to find that she has not forgotten happy Town. Thank you also for your painting. You had a happy holiday at Cambridge, Joan. So far, I have not visited that interesting town. Viola Garrett, Waitoa: Your competition entry has come safely to hand, Viola. Many thanks for it. I have numbers of Sunbeams In Waitoa now, and I am wondering if you are all friends. Jean Farquhar, Auckland: Yes, Jean Mclndoe and Margaret Anderson' are much stronger lately. Jean spends each fine day on the verandah, and Margaret is learning to walk without her crutches. Many thanks for your competition entry, Jean. It is very clever. The orchids are still wonderfully fresh and do not look as if they mean to fade even now. The Woodpecker says to tell you that he is taking your advice. Much love to this keen little Sunbeam.

Gladys McAulay, Auckland: Thank you for your fine little letter, Gladys. I was most interested to hear of your little friend. When the Dawn Lady was four she went to school one afternoon, too. It was the sewing lesson, so she sat between two big girls in the back row and played at soldiers with a box of- thimbles. Joyce Howard, Waitoa: I am glad to find that Joyce has heard the Competition Bell. Many thanks for your entry and best love to this Sunbeam. Duicie Menzies, Birkenhead: Dulcie is now a Happy Town Sunbeam and we are all glad to welcome this little girl. Many thanks for your painting. I like it very much. Joan Wilkins, Remuera: I was glad to hear again from my very good scribe and to find that she has met Mrs. Tippitoes. Many thanks for your entry, Joan. B. Horan, Avondale: Welcome to this new Sunbeam and many thanks for your painting. Would you please let me know your Christian name and your age when next you write. Marjorie Hetherington, Mt. Eden: Many thanks for the snapshots of Arapuni, Marjorie. They are most interesting. Yes, I saw the “Student Prince,” and enjoyed it very much. The eclipse of the moon was a fine sight and

we were lucky in having such a clear night. Mary Warren, Morrinsvilk;: Welcome, Mistress Mary, and many thanks for your competition entry. And you trunk you could not write stories like the Sunbeams do? Well, supposing you try. Letters like yours, Mary, are a pleasure to read. Bob Gardiner, Cambridge: So you found your message, Bob? I am glad. You are lucky being able to visit the Winter Show. I think some of those riddles and jokes had already been used, but perhaps you can find some more good ones. Much love to this Cambridge Sunbeam. Lydia Dassler, Te Rauamoa: This Sunbeam has come safely down Tiptoe Street and through the magic gates. Many thanks for your Competition entry. I hope I shall often hear from you. George Salter, Te Awamutu: Welcome to Happy Town, Master George. You are going to be one of my very good scribes. Mrs. Tippitoes is delighted to find that you have not forgotten her. Birdie Hepburn, Bayswater: A Pixie Postman delivered your competition entry with a deep bow, Birdie. Many thanks and much love. Muriel Beuth, Grey Lynn: A joyous whisper came floating down Tiptoe Street to tell us of the coming of this new Sunbeam. Welcome to Happy Town, Miss Grey Lynn. Betty Gardiner, Cambridge: The Little Thought has just finished reading that story, Betty, and he is smiling happily to himself, so he must have enjoyed it. Many thanks, little lady. Mildred Hughes, Beach Haven: Greetings *>and welcome, Mildred. We are all delighted that you have come to Happy Town. I like your painting very much and hope to see more of your work. Beryl de Berry, Richmond: The Dawn Lady felt very happy when the letters came from her three little Richmond Sunbeams. How splendid that, you have never missed a day at school. That is record attendance, Beryl. Palmerston North is a very pretty place. The Dawn Lady was there not very long ago. My best love to Beryl. Marthe Nalder, Devonport: Your painting is very well done little lady. Thank you very much. The Little Thought sends a wave of his ha.nd to this happy seven-year-old. Nola Craig, Mt. Albert: Oh, yes, Nola, the Woodpecker has to peck very busily to keep the hollow in the Hollow Tree enlarged, but he is a very willing worker. He sends Bviz his best regards. Jean Mclndoe, Joyce Thomson, Norma and Nancy Waller, Moira Clouston, Doris Adolph, and Sylvia Hughes will find that you have been thinking of them. Best love to this loyal member. Frances Tohill, Grey Lynn: I am sorry to hear that your sister is so sick, Frances, and hope you will soon be able to send me better news of her. Thank you very much for your competition entry and for bringing Mary down Tiptoe Street. Margaret McLoughlin, Otahuhu: Your pretty painting has arrived, Margaret. Many thanks and much love to this busy Sunbeam. Ailsa Melville, Morningside: Thank you for the story of the careless carpenters, Ailsa. It has a very strong moral. You seem to me very young to be one of the world’s workers, but I hope you will find some interesting occupation soon. Mary Tohill, Grey Lynn: The Little Thought is holding Mary by the hand and now she has reached Happy Town. A warm welcome to this little girl. Molly Ludlow, Ponsortby: Many thanks Molly. Your version of Mrs. Tippitoes is now safely entered in the Competition. Bernice de Berry, Richmond: The Dawn Lady never tires of reading the Sunbeams’ letters, Bernice, for each little person is equally precious to her. I hope your holiday at Greymouth will be as pleasant as the last one. We shall be watching the mails for all your paintings. Zelma Wade, Morningside: A warm welcome to our happy family, Zelma, and many thanks for your competition entry. I hope I shall have many letters from you. Audrey de Berry, Richmond: The Little

Thought agrees with me that you write very well, Audrey, and the Doorkeeper says he could not write half so neatly when he was in your class at school. My best love to this little girl. Jean Mclndoe, Hamilton: All the Happy Town people send their love to your father, Jean, and hope he will soon be perfectly well. Please give him a special package of good wishes from the Dawn Lady. It is beautiful to think that people can take the blue sky, the sunshine and the song of the birds into their thoughts and have them with them always. I loved your letter this time, Jean. Did you ever read Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road?” Leslie Waller, Manurewa: Many thanks for your painting, Leslie. You have managed it very well. What fine birthday presents. You are a lucky little boy. Jean Mclndoe will find your love message and the Woodpecker is glad you have remembered him. Myrtle Irwin, Auckland: Your competition entry has reached Happy Town safely, Myrtle. Thank you very much. Best love to this “loyal Sunbeam. Lorna Mackenzie: Timaru: The Pixie Postmen were very excited when your letter arrived, Lorna, and they lost no time in bringing it across to the Dawn Lady. Basketball is fine fun and I am glad that you are able to play. Much love to you and Alan. Norma Waller, Manurewa: Yes, I saw the eclipse, Norma, and enjoyed watching it. Hopscotch is a fine game for winter morning* and it used to wear out my shoes, too. Thank you for your competition entry. I hope Fluff and Grey Boy will soon settle their differences and become firm friends. Jessie Milne, Birkenhead: One of these days I am sure you will realise your ambition to become an author, Jessie, for you write remarkably well and you are full of industry. Many thanks for your competition entry. I am glad you like your prize, for I know you have wanted that book for a long while. Irene Retter, Mount Roskill: The butterfly is now poised bn a beautiful orchid in a posy from Jean Farquhar, and it looks very natural there. Many thanks Irene. Yes, I have read ’'Water Babies.” Lily Latimer’s address is Pukemiro, via Huntiy. I like your missing line entry very much. Jean Mclndoe, Nancy Waller and Peggy Blyth wdll find your love messages. A package of happy thoughts for this Sunbeam. Margaret Anderson, Mount Eden: Another letter from my faithful Margaret. Thank you very much. Your doll will be very cosy this winter in her pretty knitted frock. The Woodpecker is delighted to find that you admire his picture. Nancy Waller, Manurewa: My favourite birds I think are thrushes, fantails, pigeons and iittle sea martins. I saw a sea martin the other day with only one leg and I wanted to take him home with me, but he was too shy. Thank you for your interesting enclosures, Nancy. Margaret Anderson, Jean Mclndoe, Joyce Thomson, Jean Buckley, Irene Retter, Nola Craig and Sylvia Hughes will find your greetings. Jean Anderson, Mount Eden: Your painting has reached me safely, Jean. Many thanks for it. I am always glad when the Pixie Postmen bring me letters from, this little girl. Daisy Smith, Morrinsville: The apron must look very pretty with its design of pink and blue, Daisy, and I am sure you must be feeling very proud of it. I

hope you will have a happy week-end at Paeroa. Lily Latimer, Pukemiro: Many thanks for your neat letter, Lily, and also for the jokes and riddles. You are one of my faithful Sunbeams. Yes, I consider blue and white very attractive colours for your basketball team. Olwyn Williams, Woodville: The top girl has reached Happy Town safely. A warm welcome. Olwyn. lam delighted to hear of your success at school. Many thanks for your competition entry, and much love to my very good scribe. Pearl Morman, Birkenhead: Pearl is a true outdoor girl and I am glad to find that she is so devoted to sport. Thank you for finishing the verse about old Mrs. Tippitoes. Norma Johnston, Grey Lynn: That was a very wise decision, Norma, and I am delighted that you and your brother have come down Tiptoe Street. I enjoyed your letter very much, and I hope you will often write to me. Maudie McClean, Ngatea: Maudie’s first letter is a very neat one, and I like her painting, too. A warm welcome to my new sunbeam. Billy Kerr, Pukemiro: Welcome, Billy, and many thanks for your painting. I shall always be glad to find letters from you in the mail. Winifred Stone, Herne Bay: It is the loyal ones who keep the Happiness Tree evergreen Winifred, and I shall always look on you as a faithful Sunbeam. Many thanks for your competition entry. Mary Kerr, Pukemiro: Mrs. Tippitoes likes your poem about her, Mary. Thank you very much. My best love to this very neat writer. Eileen Neben, Birkenhead: There is quite a colony of Sunbeams at Birkenhead, Eileen, and I am glad ycu know so many. Yes, Jean Mclndoe and Nola Craig are very good scribes. Do the Pixie Postmen ever go on strike? Never!

Donald Johnston, Grey Lynn: The Little Thought is tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “Time’s up. Dawn Lady,” but I can’t possibly let him fly off with the last messages before I have thanked Donald for his balloon picture and welcomed him to our Happy Town family. I hope you will write me plenty of letters, Master Don.