THE HOLLOW TREE.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 27

THE HOLLOW TREE.

I MESSAGES FOR SUNBEAMS.

Letters from Sunbeams are answered u follow:

Gwen Mitchell, Drury: Gwen is now a Sunbeam of Happy Town, and we are all delighted to greet this little lady. Thank you for your entry for the puzzle competition.

Marjorie Rose. Onehunga: You certainly had an interesting holiday, Marjorie, and I am sure you enjoyed watch'n? the Maoris. The strawberries were a peasant surprise at the end of your journey. Jean Korn, Mount Eden: Jean has ar:|,ed safely in Happy Town. A warm welcome to our new Sunbeam. You found *ll the fish in the puzzle. Do you like painting con petitions, too, Jean? Olwan Molesworth. Ngaruawahia: Tour wtry is correct, Olwan. We Were glad to near again from this faithful little Sunbeam.

Eva Butte rworth, Gisborne: £va has come to Happy Town across a rainbow' bridge. Distance makes no difference, does it? The Woodpecker is glad to see vour name for the first time in the Hollow Tree.

Mercia Grace, Te Awamutu: Your puzzle is correct, Mercia, and we are all Had to welcome this good scribe at the fate* of Happy Town. Much love from your new-found friends. Jean Mclndoe, Hamilton: Audrey is a clever little girl. Jean, and I am sure you will treasure her drawing. It was a great Wty ‘hat Margaret was not able to visit *®U» ~ut perhaps it will not be long before .ou meat her Little Dulcie Craig was when she received your letter. Jr.,? ,' ,as gone to Wellington for a year, out is not likely to forget Happy Town. rvTL® a ri ddla for you. Jean. Did the Lady or the Doorkeeper write this “tSS* I *? 7 Much love, little faithful one. omnie McGowan. Mount Albert: What race you and Lorna have for Town page. It will be even JivZWbhng now that you are both SunYou will find plenty of painting !adv P * ititlons to kee P you occupied, little fowling. Ngatea: Now, T wonder n ..__, a lobster managed to pop into your Puzzle, Betty. Three of your answers little 6 g\rl Some lia PP y Town love for tilr/ 11 An flua, Huntly: Welcome, Jean. D#nkL you J u ' e in our little world for little luoifv * Woodpecker sends you 20 an< i hopes there w’ill be many «ssagea for you in the -Hollow Tree. von°: n V J McC °wan, Mount Albert: And »i*t.J» ou, SL? lk * lo be Sunbeam like your you I EL. W « were all delighted to sec down Tiptoe Street. You are . be on « of the good scribes. Lorna. you to write so neatly? ftndml* , R '3 c, « n . Otahuhu: You w'ill be PrtwPk p , lent .v to read iri that splendid *rir» book * Dulcie, and we hope you will Town niore stories for Happy N'ou* Thank you for the message from I tom . sum »uer Time, M.D., smiled when r.. h,m about the plums. ♦hi- W* .Mihiflan. Otahuhu: Welcome to the tSHrl® , w bo has come safely across toterffSS 10 . of Happy Town. Are you ( n competitions. Russell? PttzziiTi'* Watts. Devonport: Yes, your ,w as . Quite correct. Patricia. Many, in*, y if? ank * for those New Year greeting Tbe Little Thought sends you his •Jars?,. Rose, Onehunga: Thank you * l«tSi% irilinK * I hope to have WhS*?"? li,Ls utl * e *irl Quite soon. r om* B, ! rcd Litvina Perry, Milford: elother «? Happy Town. Winifred. The found ,“ nbea ‘i> s are glad that you have Th« n? ( OUr v-av down Tip Toe Street. siMv reached the Hollow Tree Doroth ° y°h go bathing at Milford. Gosset, Parnell: The Doorke^pi n _your painting safely in his fzrrn £ H<vw ' splendid to be going to a Dj*. , r . a holiday. You must tell the *ad vt,T a< *- v a »l your adventures. What a Dai*?!?' abou t the kittens. , ;5 y ,? lcc * Onehunga: A warm we - PjUnthi? Happy Town. Dorothy Tour Pixi« j s * neat piece of work. The ®*tmen are waiting to deliver your fi? Ure Hollow Tree. "® «£5* ret Burto, b Grafton Road: lam Tip bave found your way down Street, Margaret. The Little

Thought sends you his love. Thank you for your competition painting. Enid Myra Burton, Grafton Road: A special welcome to Happy Town, Enid. Love to this tiny new Sunbeam. Nola Edith Burton, Grafton Road: Ana a special welcome to you, Nola. The Little Thought made a special trip back from the Enchanted Isle to send you a "'jokn McLaren. Marlborough Street: Welcome to Happy Town, Joan. The Dawn Lady thought your painting a thing.

. New Carlton Gore Road: come, girlie, to Riming I’.e HoUow Tree The Little Thought sends you a loving message ' v ”»\CS e^ l "- , '- v tt : bStw k the Yawn Lady y se s nds th^t OU pu *z| I c was but%ry that other word again. Remuera: Welcome to Rose oairy, The Woodpecker is Happy To^”; ir s minting in the Hollow guarding . ‘ pixie Postmen hope to blow U* r - snver h “whs‘t?er when a letter arW,y: Kittw jo°u u e% c b. r^r ca n^ n -;; o °; FO Jonn l oX .Hamer Wh.rehme # : W.Icome to Happy Tow , r our name {fecause e the S ink had spread over the paper.

Susie White: What a happy Christmas you had Susie, and what lovely presents. A big, big wish from the Little Thought.

Leslie Pearce, Kingsland Avenue: Now that you have found your way down Tip Toe Street, I hope you will tell me all about yourself, Leslie. Many thanks for your painting.

Joy Hill: What a wonderful holiday you are having, Joy, and how lovely to be at the seaside these hot days. Even the Happiness Tree sighed when I read your letter. Tour love messages have been

placed in the Hollow Tree. Lots and lots of love from Happy Town. Willie Brown, Newton: "Welcome to Happy Town. Master Willie. The Doorkeeper is pleased with your painting and hopes you will try lots more competitions. Jean Marbeck: What a pretty notepaper, Jean. I think Howick is a beautiful place for a holiday. The Little Thought, the Doorkeeper and the Joyshop man all send their love to this Sunbeam. Alfred and Violet, Grey Lynn: What lucky sunbeams you were at Christmas time, and such a lovely lot of presents. How tired you must have been at the end of the day. The Dawn Lady has dropped six white pebbles down the Wishing Well—three for Alfred and three,, for Violet. Freda Miller, Otahuhu: Thank ye*u, Freda, for vour painting. The Little Thought sends you his love. Audrey Pike, Birkenhead: You will find a warm welcome waiting for you in Happy

THE SILVER LEMONS

One© there was a poor woman who had one little boy called Dick. She lived on the edge of a wood and was very poor, indeed. As long as Dick and she could manage to get enough food to eat and. were able to pay the rent, they did not grumble. They were as happy as could be. But one day, the poor woman,, fell ill, and could not go to work, and Dick was miserable. They had just a tiny bit of money saved and that soon went. So when his mother was sleeping. Dick sat down outside the cottage and cried, and cried.

And suddenly he heard a voice saying to him: “Silver lemons, silver lemons! Make some silver pennies out of silver lemons!”

It was. the Fairy Help-a-Bit; sh© is always so sorry for people in trouble, but she is only allowed to help them to help themselves. Dick had heard this, and he began to think hard. tie had just a smiling left; if ho bought some lemons with it, what use would that be! You can only make lemonade —well, now. there it was! It was very hot weather; lots of people would be coming to the woods; not on his side, but the side near the town. Could he make some lemonade and sell it? Why not? lie tiptoed up to Mummy; she was awake and better, so Dick told lier, and she said it was a good plan; it was funny they had not thought of it before. She told him how to make the lemonade and told him to go to the cellar and he would find a big bottle or two. And she was sure the postmaster would lend his donkey-cart to take in the lemonade to the woods, if he knew he would be paid a bit. And h© would sell Dick the sugar, and trust him until h© had some some lemonade.

She was right; the postmaster was so pleased with tfce plain that he gave Dick the donkey-cart for nothing for the first day, and a pound of sugar, too. Now, if it would only be fine! Well, it was fine. Dick had a splendid day; he came back with several shillings, so that he could get lots more lemons and sugar. And the day after that, his Mummy got up and was nearly well. So she made the lemonade and Dick could start earlier.

At the end of the summer, they had enough money to buy a donkey-cart of their own.

And when Dick and his Mummy had a dear little shop of their own, they called it “The Silver Lemons.”

MUSICAL CUSHIONS

Mother or some grown-up friend must play lively music for this game when you suggest it at the party. The players sit in a circle, one holding a cushion on her lap. When the music begins the cushion must be passed quickly from lap to lap round the circle. When the music stops the one with the cushion is “out” and must turn and sit with his or her back to the circle. So the game is to keep the cushion moving round quickly and not hold it. The last one in the circle is, of course, the winner.

Town, Audrey. The Woodpecker has your painting in liis keeping. Arthur Woodrofe, Te Aroha: Welcome to this new Sunbeam who has found his way down Tip Toe Street. I hope to hear from you soon, ArthurGordon Woodroofe, Te Aroha: A big welcome to you, Master Gordon. Do you ever bathe in the warm pools? Ngaronga Tangaroa, Morrinsville: A warm welcome awaits you in Happy Town, Ngaronga. The Pixie Postmen delivered your letter safely.

Ethel Birch, Rotorua: Thank you for the painting, Ethel. The Little Thought would like to go swimming with you on these hot days. Olwan Molesworth, Ngaruawahia: Did you have much difficulty with the puzzle, Olwan? It was quite correct. Love from Happy Town.

Jack Crippen, Remuera: How beautifully you have arranged the painting, Jack. Happy Town offers you a big welcome. Let me hear from you quite often.

Emily Hooper, Mt. Eden: What a delightful time you must have spent picking strawberries, Emily. I believe the Little Thought was hiding under a leaf. Thank you for the painting and the riddles.

John Walter Ehlers, Mt. Eden: I am glad you have found your way down Tip Toe Street, John. Yes, I have seen the Baby Hippo, too. Isn’t lie a funny wee fellow?

Frances Halford, Waimiha: Welcome to Happy Town, Frances. You will find lots of friends among the Sunbeams. Yes, the puzzle was correct.

Joyce Woolly, Ellerslie: A warm welcome to Happy Town, little seven-year-old. Thank you for the painting. Don't forget to fill in an enrolment form.

Myrtle Grant, Mt. Eden: Do you like your new home, Myrtle? You must have had a busy time moving, dear. McLeod, Belmont: Thank you for the painting, Mary. The Little Thought sends his love.

Sylvia Scales, Takapuna: What pretty notepaper, Sylvia. Yes, I have seen the Pirate Ship, and it reminded me of buccaneers. What lovely presents Fairy Fortune gave you at Christmastide.

Beryl Grant, Mt. Eden: Your love thoughts have been sent on by the Little Thought, Beryl. You must have been very happy at Buckland's Beach. Audrey Morrison, Whangarei: We are glad to welcome this new ’Beam to Happy Town. Write soon, Audrey. Joan Pollock. Whangarei: Welcome to Happy Town, Joan. The Little Thought sends his love. Thank you for the painting and the puzzle.

ACROSS THE HEDGE

There is a little boy next door; I see him every day Across the hedge, but he and I Have not a word to say. I sometimes think I’ll call to him (If I could only speak), And ask him if he'll come and play A game of Hide-and-Seek. But I’m too shy to talk at all. And he is just the same; Bo I play horses by myself. And he some other game. But, do you know, just now I feel As pleased as pleased can be Because across the hedge to-day He made a face at me!

LITTLE GRACE LESSING

There’s a moral ip this Little tale of Grace Lessing: Sho was really quite tiny And that was a blessing; Though her mother entreated And cried and implored Grace Lessing was sulky And constantly bored.

When out at a party, Of all virtues shorn, Sh© would «It by herself And would openly yawn, And each good little child With a horrified face Would wriggle and twist And look sideways at Grace. So, just courting disaster, Our heroine went, Her foolish mind seething With vain discontent, To the end of her tether And paused on the brink Of a family quarrel, Which caused her to think. She awoke the next morning At quarter to two, And a good impulse told her Just what she must do, Then she lay on her pillow And once again slept Til] the clock chimed out seven, Then downstairs she crept . . . At nine (it was Sunday) The family arose And found little Grace With a smut on her nose, But the sweeping and mopping And dusting were done, And the breakfast was set (It had really been fun). “Yon dear!” cried her mother And father in glee. “You pet!” said her sister, And laughed helplessly. "You love!” said her aunties. “You angel!” said Ted, Her favourite brother, And patted her head.

And ever since then She has been just the same, With grace in her bearing And Grace for a name.

THE SMALLEST ELF

The tiniest of all the elves once wrote a book of verses and sent it to the Queen of the Fairies, but his writing was so small that she couldn’t make the poems out. However, she pretended that she had read every word. “I liked the first one, offering the book to me,” she said; for she felt sure that the first poem in the book must have been addressed to her. The little elf felt worried, because that particular song had been written to Miss Moth, a friend of his. Suppose the Queen should really manage to read it! On Miss Moth’s advice, he wrote another one, hastily, especially for the Queen, and his friend flew into the palace with it that night and fixed it Into the front of the book.

“It’s a good thing I congratulated him,” said the Queen next day, reading it with the help of a fairy microscope. “It’s not bad and it must have taken him days to compose.”

A GAME TO PLAY

This is a really good game, but it will be better to play it in your own garden, because you have to collect the bottles together with which to play. Get a number of lemonade, ginger beer, or even sauce bottles that are empty. Mother will be able to give them to you, I am sure. Next you’ll want some pieces of plain white paper. Each of these must have a number written boldly on it, and then it must be stuck across the front of a bottle. For the game you just stand the bottles in two lines, the back line showing in between the bottles in the front line. Get a soft ball, and throw it at the bottles. If you can play with three balls so much the better, for every player has three throws at a time. He scores the numbers on the bottles that he knocks down, and if he doesen’t knock any down, then, of course, he doesn’t have a score at. all.

The player to first score a given number wins the game.

CAGED LIONS

Mother: “Children, children, what is all this noise about?”

Chorus of Voices: “It’s all right. Mother. We’ve had Grandpa and Daddy locked up in the cupboard (or over an hour and when they are at, little angrier, we ar© going to play ‘Daniel in the lions’ den:’ '*

A COFFEEPOT FACE

I saw my face in the coffeepot. Imagine, a coffeepot face! My cheeks were bjg and my nose was NOT, and my mouth was all over the place!

FOR THE GUEST

Tommy: “Mother, may I pretend that we’ve got another little boy visiting us?” Mother: “Yes. if you like.” Tommy: “Well, give me a piece of cake for him, please!” l,

IN THE WILD WOODLAND

A BEAR, A RABBIT AND A BUSY

BEE

The sun was warm, the day was fair, the leaves were falling here and there when who should come but Billy Bear waddling - without worry through the wild woodland. But although little Billy Bear waddled without worry through the wild woodland, anybody who knew him would have noticed that he looked more serious than usual, and had something to think about, and was not amusing himself.

And as Billy Bear waddled one way, who should come romping and rollicking along the other way but Robbie Rabbit. So, of course, Billy Bear and Robbie Rabbit greeted each in the bear and rabbit languages, which they both unerstood well enough for conversation, though Billy Bear knew the bear language better than Robbie Rabbit, and Robbie Rabbit knew the rabbit language better than Billy Bear. “How do you do, how do you do, Robbie Rabbit?” said Billy Bear.

“And the same to you, and the same to you, Billy Bear,” said Robbie Rabbit.

“Have you seen a hollow tree anywhere round here, Robbie Rabbit?” said Billy Bear. “I can’t think of one this minute, Billy Bear,” said Robbie Rabbit. “But why do you want a hollow tree?” “To sleep in,” said Billy Bear. “Winter’s coming,, so I'm looking round for a hollow tree.”

“Wish I could help you,” said Robbie Rabbit. “But I can’t think of a tree.”

“Thank you just the same, Robbie Rabbit,” said Billy Bear, “I’ll find one presently.” So he kept on waddling without worry through the wild woodland.

Now, about this time, Beatrice Bee was buzzing about busily, and her buzing about brought her where Billy Bear was waddling without worry. “Hello, Billy Bear’” buzzed Beatrice Bee.

“The same to you, Beatrice Bee,” said Billy Bear. “You don’t happen to know where there is a hollow tree, do you?”

“Lot’s of them,” said Beatrice Bee. “How big a hollow tree do you want?” “Big enough to sleep in,” said Billy Bear. “Winter is coming, and the*, you see, I go to sleep in a hollow tree.” “I’m a busy bee,” said Beatrice Bee, “but never a bit too busy a bee to be of help to a friend. You follow me, Billy Bear, and I’ll show you a hollow tree that is just your size.” So Beatrice Bee buzzed busily ahead, and Billy Bear waddled as fast as he could waddle to keep up. And they travelled about half a mile through the wild woodland, and then they came to a tree with a nice round hole half-way up the trunk.

“There's your hollow tree, Billy Bear,” said Beatrice Bee. “Now you just try it and see if it fits.” Little Billy Bear climbed up to the hole, wrigged through, and was out of sight, and then Beatrice Lee saw him coming out backward and sliding down the tree.

“How’s that for a hollow tree, Billy Bear?” said Beatrice Bee. “It couldn’t be better, Beatrice Bee,” said Billy Bear. “I thank you one hundred times. Now, when winter comes, you see, I’ll-know just where is my hollow tree.”

OTHERWISE

There must be magic. Otherwise. How could day turn to night? And how could sailboats, Otherwise, Go sailing out of sight? And how could peanuts. Otherwise, Be covered up so tight?

THE EGGSHELL RACE

For “The Eggshell Race,” you will need a number of eggshells, whole ones, except for the pin prick where the egg has been blown out. Each player takes possession of one and marks it with his initials. Then the shells are all placed at the same starting point on a polished floor, and each player proceeds to blow his shell towards the boundary line, which previously has been drawn at the opposite end of the floor. There is much confusion and a great deal of fun in this game. The winner is the one who first gets his shell over the boundary line. Prize? may be arranged, according to the order in which the shells arrive.