The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1928, Page 18

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

LETTERS to be Addressed: “WENDY," Car* Taranaki Daily News, Box 111, NEW PLYMOUTH.

Rita Duggan, Normau-by.— \ Yes my family is very enormously large now, but they all tell me that they are very enormously good and clever, so that. makes up for the size, doesn’t it? What a tragedy it was when the blackberry jelly boiled S--; over. I .hope your bad cold is better now.

Ethelda Jackson, Kaimata. —-Yon are now a member of. the large family of Tinks. The postman will fetch you a pretty card for you to paint as soon as he has finished having his Easter holidays. I have put your name in the birthday book for October 25, and you are just six like some of the other members, aren’t you? My dog Pat was scratching at the door just now, and when I went out there was a huge big rat on the mat, and Pat's tail was wagging tremendously. Rosie Newland, Stratford.—Yes! You found the nurse’s head in the puzzle picture. The hut carpenter has made us a wonderful new clothes line. It is like a huge wheel, which revolves on a centre post. Peter and Pam have pegged some clothes on the wire and the wheel is whirling round at a great old pace. The garments are all flying out in the breeze. The onlookers are shouting with delight and making so much noise that the neighbours will soon be thinking that we are entertaining a baby lion. Thelma Jackson,' Kaimata. —Your baby sister Peggy must be a treasure. You and Ethelda are about the same age, aren’t you? Are you ever taken for twins? Can you say -this little rhyme: “If 1 were you, and you were me, and each one was the other, would each be sure that he was he, atid not his own twin brother”? I think your writing is very good for seven years old. Just peep on the honours board. Dorothy Bilski, Inglewood.—Thank you for two letters and two pieces of poetry last week. I think your original lines 'about the Wondy baby are very good. You must have remembered what Leslie was like when a baby. I hope all tile sick people in your district have recovered now. The twins will love being in the country for Easter, won’t they ? I hope they' have good sunny days.

Elva Jenkins, Okato.—l am glad to bear that you are still at school as you are only thirteen. Will you be able to go to Scotlands next year if you pass? The nurse in the puzzle picture was very hard to find, don’t you think? The new 100 feet swimming baths in the domain will be a great acquisition to Okato. I wonder why they are to be only 6 feet deep in the deepest part. Mavis Adams, Manutahi. —Is your swing still swinging on the rafter in the old ‘shed? Or has the swinger swung too high and bumped her head! No! there aren’t any mushrooms round about the hut. Billikins says he will ask the gardener if he forgot to plant any this year. I wonder what Joe will say to that. We call the gardener “Joe” because it rhymes with hoe, and is also short for jolly, which he Is always. Yes! there is a scooter at the hut and it whizzes round the paths at 100 miles an hour.

Linda Marr, Kohuiatahi. —We were all ever so pleased to hear .from you again. Have you left school, or did you go for the holiday to Kapuni before school started? I wonder if you went to Stratford on Saturday last or if the roads were still slippery after the rain. Travelling on your roads in the winter tiiue must be as exciting as skating and ski-ing on old Egmont. Our John went up to the top yesterday and said it was great fun playing on the glaciers. He was very hungry when lie came home.

Mavis Roebuck, Warea I think the blue paper is a very pretty shade, and when I see a pink envelope soon I will know who the letter is from. Unless of course the Tinks play tricks on me and nearly all send pink envelopes. Oh, well! April Fool’s Day is over. So it won’t matter very much, will it? No! there is no age limit for members so that you can belong as long as you live. How old are you now?

Nola Mace, Oakura.—We are sorry to hear that the eight ducklings died. Do you know any of the names on the honours board this morning? Does your Persian kitten make friends with strangers who come to the house ? Sprained ankles take quite a time to become normal, don’t they? You were unlucky. If we turn our ankles over when out tramping, Billikins says we are not good horses, because we are weak in the hocks. Your blue butterfly dress must have been very pretty.

Ivy Morgan, Eltham. —Are the four sore fingers any better yet, Ivy Pauline? You ask me which of your names 1 like the better. Well, 1 have always loved the vine of cool green clustering leaves, and when I was at school we all used to present each other with ivy leaves to pin on our frocks during examinations, to 'bring us luck. Pauline is very dignified and is equivalent to the male name Paul, which anyone would be proud to bear because of St. Paul, the learned and inspired Apostle. So you see 1 like them both. Phyllis Moore, Rukengahu—How thankful you all must have been for your rain.' Will you attend High School when you have passed the sixth standard this year? There is very little snow on the old blue mountain at present, but 1 am expecting to wake up any morning now to see her a blaze pt thick white snow.

Marjorie Sampson, Mokau.—Your letters are always very interesting, and realistic. I can easily imagine all the fun you have on the log in the swimming pool, and can picture the inmates of the house of Sampson as they dance to “Since Tommy Atkins Taught the Chinese how to Charleston.” Yes! Bimbo is our fat old pony, and Tinker Bell sings and playa beautifully and we play just 'aboht every game there is at the hut from fishing for the underground goblins with a long piece of grass, to standing on one leg and picking up a book off the floor with our teeth. Have J siuwhwl all your Questions now J

Ray O’Sullivan, Tc Tawa.—Well Mr. or Miss seven-years-old, and new member, your name is on the board this morning for a good letter. Do tell me in your next letter whether you are a girl or a .boy, I think Shirley and Betty are very pretty names for your' sisters. Are you going to keep tht three kittens all at your place? Doris Mumby, Eltham. —Your riddles are very good, Doris. No one at the hut could guess the answers, and I had to read them all out. I would like to see some of the letters four-years-old Beulah writes to me, even if they are mostly drawing and scratches. Thank you for the kisScs, I certainly need comforting this week as X have 'broken two big blue breakfast cups. Hurray! Tinker Bill has called us all to dinner and I know there are kumeras!

Kathleen Looney, Kora.—Your letter was beautifully neat again thia week. You all had anxious times over the fires didn't you. Your father must have been very sleepy after his three nig.lt-.; of watching for outbreaks. Have you started basket ball at school yet, or has it been too hot. I noticed the riukekura Park groundsman was putting u.i the goal posts to-day ready for this season’s football. Violet Hoskin, Bell Block.--I.'hank you for all the riddles and catches. It was very kind of you to offer a prize i'dr a competition. We will be publishing a. competition soon and then that would mean two at the same time. Yes I do know your way of making a picture, by rubbing a pencil over a raised pattern. Billikins says his drawings always come out best when done that way. He is sitting at my tabla now learning to make circles with a compass. Do you ever try designs?. Rose Piper, Ngaere.—Congratulations for winning the 50 yards race at the school show. Is the asparagus fern looking very beautiful at present? Thank you for the 160 kisses. You must have been good for about half an hour when you were making them. John gave me a great fright just now, because he let a cracker off underneath my chair. He was away for Guy Fawkes day so has decided to celebrate to-day being so near April Fool’s day.

Avril -——, Punlho.—Von poor old Tink. You must have been feeling ever so sad the last few .weeks. We all send our love and hope you will soon be fit and strong again. I expect you enjoyed having your cousin from Wellington to stay with you. The clumps of pampas grass all about New Plymouth are looking beautifully feathery and fresh at present. Have you any at home? When they are old and nearly dead our boys use them for darts and spears.

Dorothy Jackson, Kaimata.—l think your mother is very kind to have your membership card framed for you. Do you know how to do passepartout work? that is home made framing. Tinker Bell does it very well and has framed all the snaps of Tinks which I sometimes receive. How proud you must be to wheel your baby sister Peggy in the new pram. Would you like to call the pet white roosters, James and John, or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Richard Kemp, Tuna.—Thank you ever so much for the long and interesting letter. You seem to be having a great holiday at your grandma’s place. Are you older than any of your small aunties? The Wendy baby is not as old as- your baby, for she is only eight months old, and cannot say any real words yet. I hope you like living on the new farm at Tuna.

Beulah George, Tarata—Twenty people to Sunday dinner! What a large party! Is “Odd at the picnic” a humorous story? No! 1 am not going for a holiday at Easter but we play tennis in our garden and go for lovely tramps in the country and it is as good as any holiday.' What sewing did you do for the prize? No! I did not fool anybody but I am not as quick as the children here. They were having jokes all the morning till 12 o’clock.

Elza George, Tarata—The school picnic was good fun wasn’t it? especially at the end when the live pig was let out of the sack for the children to catch. He must have smiled in his cheeks when no one could catch him, and he just scuttled away to his own little sty. “More about Picnic” is very interesting isn't it? So you received a sewing prize too. You and Beulah aught to set up ns “George and George, dressmakers and costumiers”—“only” 15 guineas for making a frock and 20 guineas for costumes or’coat frocks—best cut guaranteed.

Alice Robertson, Opunake—l haven’t ever dropped Wendy’s pep, and I hope I never will, because it is a beauty and if 1 did the nib would be spoilt, wouldn’t it? I put your envelope in the new waste paper basket which I made last week for Wendy’s writing room. It is covered with an orange and brownstriped cretonne, with clusters of bright blue and gold roses. lam sure Billikins would have laughed at Maisie’s swollen eye, but he would also have cheered her up tremendously.—From ’tinker Bell.

Maisie Robertson, Opunake.—l think it good of you to write a special letter to me. What sort of cage have you got for the little pet bird, which yon found on the road? The three decker pencil case must be simply lovely. I have lost the top sliding lid of mine and if I tip it up the things all tumble out. How is the bee-sting now? I expect you will always ba very careful in future when you are out walking.—From l Tinker Bell.

Beatrice Southce, Awntuna.—l expect your mother’s friends appreciate letters from her, written on your picturesque paper, and I suppose I will receive 36 letters from you on other

paper anyway. I don’t like putting cooking recipes in unless they are very good ones, and I don’t think many country .mothers have time to ' make

sweets. Melva Sampson, Mokau.—We are so excited to know that in the Auckland Weekly picture of “Five on a Horse.” that the one in front is you. Is the horse old Jack? Billikins’ play house is half way up an enormous wattle tree and you have to climb up on some very large nails and then the lower branches. We used a ladder to carry the timber for making the house in the first place. Bimbo is a Itay, with mane and tail to match.

Hazel , Raliotu.—What a wonderful birthday you had, with a big party to finish up with. Yes! Tinker Be.l sent the card. Billikins says “tell

naughty Miss Hazel, Pazel, Stlck-Stock-Stazel, I-bob, Jick-bob, Bob-tail Bazel, that she forgot to put her surname on her letter.” Isn’t he a quaint old boy? Your kitten must be a dear. Ellie Sayed, To Kiri.—l was ever so pleased to hear from you again Ellie. I hope you are in good training for the school races on April 18. Would you like to call your doll “Brenda?” Tinker Bell has made three pairs of Wyncietto pyjamas for some of her faimly. They are very cosy and all different shades. Are you fond of sewing? Pam is threading me a new string of scarlet beads to match a posie of flowers that I had given to mo yesterday. Clara Brown, Puniho.—Thank you for all the good riddles and catches. We laughed over the sailor one, Your small neice Irene must be a jolly playmate 1 expect sho often tumbles over when she is scampering about Good gracious Clara! Surely it isn’t nearly time for holidays again I had a great shock when I read about it in your letter Wo are all very fit at the hut and are looking forward to some long winter tranqis. Betty Barnes, Eltham. —You may certainly write to me from Wellington, Betty, if you are able to find time. You will soon make new friends at the new school. You will miss watching your four months old baby cousin grow up. Perhaps you will come up to Hawera sometimes and see Pam. Did you go

to Stratford for the Jubilee celebrations? 1 hope the box-thorn has come out of your finger. Kathleen Wadsworth, Upper Mangorei.—What a joke .it was for Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth to visit Mr. and Mrs. Jackson! 1 am glad you received the birthday card quite safely. As you say, thanks are better late than never every time. I have forgotten who y*our playmate, Joyce, is. Is she a girl, a doll or a pet? Would you like to name your kittens after the popular play •'Chu-Cliin-Chow ?” Have you seen the Honours Board to-day ? Ruth and Nelson Mail, Tariki.— What rafia work did you do last week? Are you still having heaps and heaps of mushrooms? Did you send me all the piece of poetry about Miss Bunting? because 1 don’t think it ended up very nicely, do you? I wonder if you would tell me some of the subjects you have for essays at school. Ruth Mail, Tariki. — Hilda seemed to enjoy her trip to the post office to receive her birthday card. Has she painted it yet? How many of you went to Stratford for the Jubilee. Do rite and tell me all .-bout it. Our fowls are all moulting at present and Billikins has collected a sackful of feathers. Ho says he will cut all the hard bits out and make himself a huge soft cushion to sit on by the fire on cold winter evenings.

Ethel Hinch, Hawera. —Were the luxurious bunches of richly coloured grapes and apples on your last letter made with transfers, or did you buy the writing paper with them ou? 1 think your riddles are very good. ■ You will find them on the page somewhere. Your name is also honoured this morning, so I think that Major aught to bo pleased with your week’s work, don’t you? So you are another mushroom finderlucky girl! Florence Jordon, Lower Mangorei.— I hope you enjoy your music. It will be lovelv when you can play good tunes for Grace, Donald and Frederick to dance to, and songs for your Mum and Dad to sing to. I have put Don’s name in the roll and the birthday book. He will soon receive his card. I hope you are all better now. You have had a bad spin with influenza and pleurisy, haven’t you? Pearl Bieaklev. Urenui—Thank you for all the riddles and jokes. We are all very pleased with the list of names, but alas sweet maid, you will have o think again, for mine is not in it. Send hundreds next time if only to please Billikins. He said “Ha! Ha! fancy anybody calling you anything else except Wendy,” and I replied Ho! Ho! fancy anybody calling Billikins to dinner and for him wit to come,” and then he stole my ink and hid it in the safe until I hold him he was a good little boy and not a bit of a greedy fellow. Jean Wood, Tikorangi.—Yes, we h ve the Herald and The Daily News thrown over our gate. Tinker Bell and Bill*kins think that your sketches of them Jumping on the hut roof and playing in the sea with a benzine tin are sun- ■ ply priceless. We are all hoping for more sketches next week. I haven t opened any April Fool letters yet, but I am expecting to find some soon. Did you hear of any good practical jokes. ■IIBIBIM