A Page for Little People

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 5, 4 February 1925, Page 37

A Page for Little People

Conduced by vjuuuuuuu ijy ANNE

My dear Little People,— Are you all wearing your hats when you -<~‘are out in the sun? I forgot to remind you last week, and hope pou are remembering for yourselves, so that yon will not scorch up and wither away like the grass does in the summer months. What beautiful weather we are having, are you enjoying it and doing all sorts of pleasant things during the holidays? Have the Grown-ups . told you anything about the children in some parts of New Zealandmostly in the North Island who are not allowed to go to the Pictures, or to picnics or to sea-beaches, because there is so much sickness to be kept away from? You know, of course, at least the older ones know, that if people are sick or have sickness in the house, they should not go among other people for fear of giving it to them also. And because there are always some people who forget this, it is wise to keep out of crowds when there is sickness about. Now then, all my Little People, in both Islands and Stewart Island, too, make up your minds to stay at home in your own gardens, and if necessary, invent new games to play by yourselves. Do you know that when “Anne” was a. Little Person, everybody’s children played in their own gardens, back-yards, on the verandahs, or even inside if there was nowhere else. There were no pictures to go to, our mothers were too busy to be always packing picnic hampers For the beach, and we were seldom allowed to wander round in bunches as the Little People do to-day. Mind r you, we were just about the same as you Little People are, and there weren’t wolves or wild men waiting to eat us at the street corners, any more than there are to-day. But, somehow, our mothers used to like to have us handy so that they knew exactly what was going on most of the time. They used to play with us, even if they were ever so busy, they found time to do that occasionally. And there was another thing we had to do quite often, a thing Little People seldom do nowadayswe had to sit still, sometimes. To help us do this, mothers and other Grown-ups told us stories, and let us talk to them about the things we saw and heard. We were taught that to enjoy anything thoroughly, we must put our whole mind and heart into it, and not be bothering about the next thing, because if we did, we would be sure to miss at least half the good of the first thing. Well, now what do you think? At the pictures the other day, I saw ever so many children prepared to enjoy at least three pleasures in one short hour. They came to see the pictures, but they brought boohs to read during the few minutes waiting, and sweets to eat at the same time. Now, don’t you think that was a lot to squeeze into that short time ? And I’m very much afraid that, judging by the rate at which they were gobbling' down the sweets, there was a fourth joy waiting—a visit to the dentist. Well, dear Little People, to come back to where we began, don’t be fretful and naughty if you can’t do all the things you. had plan-

ned for the holidays. Put on your Considering Caps and plan something else, something that can be don© at home, and ask your mothers and all the other Grown-ups who have lived a long time — join in the fun. Why, there must be millions of things that no one has tried yet, let “Anne’s” Little People, be the ones to discover these happy things. THE CIRCUS. I suppose you’re all interested in our Circus, but I was very disappointed that so few came to it. Fancy, only eight Little People turned up, out of all my great big family. Really, I felt as miserable as only a forgotten “Anne” can feel, and thought all my family had gone dead in the night. Great was my joy to see even eight Little People trying their wits, and gathering the eight together, we stepped it out briskly to THE CIRCUS. This is hat we saw, and you’ll find all the answers printed in CAPITAL LETTERS: “The ELEPHANT dragged the CAGES through the town and the Little People followed them right into the big square at the end of the rainbow. Of course Anne was there too and the MONKEY danced with glee which made the LION roar with laughter. The Little People helped the ACROBAT to feed the TIGER, the PLATYPUS, the WOMBAT, the LEOPARD, the WALLABY, the KANGAROO, and the ZEBRA, which had such a pretty striped coat, quite the latest fashion. Someone brought a lettuce leaf for- the SNALL and the FROG croaked. The SNAKE was curled up asleep and the POSSUM was whispering secrets to the RABBIT about the HARE. The CLOWN, back to front on the HORSE and cracking his WHIP sent the DONKEY through the HOOPS. And the FAIRY with her magic WAND in her hand stepped lightly on to the CAMEL as he knelt down in the SAWDUST and gazed into the eyes of the beautiful green LIZARD.” Following are the lists that were sent in. I’m sorry there were two misprints— in the Tablet but in,the first arrangement of the puzzlenumbers 8 and 23 had each a wrong letter in them. Lists. —Sent in by Mahala McEntee: Clown, horse, camel, zebra, leopard, monkey, frog, elephant, rabbit, hare, lion, wallaby, tiger, donkey,' wombat, fairy, acrobat, hoops, wand, whip. Numbers 7,8, 10, 11, 19, 21, 24, and 25 are missing. But you did very •well all the same Mahala. Sent in by Kathleen McDonnell: Clown, horse, camel, zebra, leopard, monkey, possum, frog, kangaroo, elephant, rabbit hare, lion, wallaby, tiger, donkey, wombat, lizard, fairy, acrobat, cages, hoops, wand, and whip. Good girl Kathleen, never mind if you found that numbers 8, 10, 19, and 24 were too broken up to mend. Sent in by Ellen Thornton: Clown, horse, camel, zebra, leopard, monkey, possum,

snake, frog, snail, kangaroo, elephant, rabbit bare, lion, wallaby, tiger, donkey, lizard, fairy, cages, hoops, wand whip. You did well too Ellen, next time you won’t miss any, will you? Sent in by Annie Thornton: Clown, horse* camel, frog, snail, kangaroo* elephant, rabbit* hare, lion, wallaby, tiger, monkey, tabmow, lizard, fairy, cages, hoops, and, and whip. Pick out your mistakes and omissions Annie, we’ll have another go later, you were plucky to try. Dan McCormack (Maraekakaho) and Moira O’Brien (Ashburton), and another Little Person, sent the puzzle in, absolutely correct. And Madge Gallien had only one mistake, number 19. Underneath is the correct list, and these four Little People will each get a small picture in remembrance. Clown, horse, camel, zebra, leopard, monkey, possum, snake, frog, snail, kangaroo, elephant, rabbit, hare, lion, wallaby, tiger, donkey, platypus, wombat, lizard, fairy, acrobat, sawdust, cages, hoops, wand, and whip. Will the one Little Person whose name I have not put in please let me know who it is, as the list got separated from the letter and it has no name on it. LETTERS TO ANNE. Dear Anne, I wish to become a member of the Little People’s page. My cousin is a member and she is staying with me just now. I hope to see my letter in the Tablet soon, I have (been reading the Tablet for quite a long while. My father has been getting the Tablet for years. lam ten and in Standard four and I go to the Sacred Heart Girl' College. I have been having a lovely time during these holidays. My cousin’s name is Yvonne Londrigan. I have three sisters and four brothers. My youngest brother is four months’ old and he has eight teeth, his name is Brian. I would also like to join the Little People’s Letter Club; and could you give me the address of Alice Oassin... I must close now. With love from Rosaleen McKendry, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Christchurch. (Welcome Rosaleen to our L.P.L.O. we just want loads of -working members. You’re a lucky girl to have such a fine assortment of brothers and sisters, including a precious baby with brand new teeth. Will, try to get you the address you ask for. Love to Yvonne, —Anne.) Dear Anne, It is a long time since I wrote to you now. You have a lot of little friends from Hastings. Have I a birthday mate —2nd of May. I got my proficiency. Is the answer to the round the rocks riddle: No r’s in that. Can you give me names for four kittens. We had twin foals but one died. We called them Dick and Prince. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will close now. With love from your friend, Ellen Thornton, Waimatuku. (Glad to hear from you again Ellen, but very sorry I have no birthday mate for you

in my book. I’ll see if there’s one hiding somewhere. Your answer is right. Would you like “Buster,” “Bingo,” “Snooky,” and “Tip” for your four kittens’ names. You’ll ' see your circus with the others. —-Anne.) [ls there some little girl with a birthday on 2nd May to be a letter mate for Ellen. _ • —Anne.] Dear Anne, Just a few lines to let you know that I should like to join the L.P.L.O. I read the Tablet every week. I go to St. Joseph’s Convent, and I will be in Std. 3 this year. The Crib is open at present and it will be shut any day now. My little brother is two years old. We have two dogs at our place now. The weather has not been to nice for Christmas. Our holidays are nearly over and lam sorry about it. I must close now.—Yours sincerely, Jean Sou ter, St. Joseph’s Convent, Wanganui. 1 .S. May I put some riddles sometimes, please. (Welcome Jean, tell me when your birthday is and I may have a letter-mate for you. Yes, send along any good riddles you know. Anne.) Dear Anne, I send the answers to your puzzles. I see by the number of games the All Blacks have broken their predecessors record. I think it would be nice to have badges for the Letter Club. I was successful in the proficiency examination. I remain, yours sincerely, Dan McCormack, Makaekakaho. (Look out for your circus with the others Dan. I’m glad you like us to have badges, and I think, like you, that the All Blacks made a great record. Won’t they get a reception when they come out again. Anne.) Dear Anne, ° IV 7 Dear Anne, I am just writing you a few lines hoping you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Our break-up was on the 19th of December— enjoy it happily; we started at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and finished at 5 o’clock. We had races, singing, and other things. Good-bye, with all love from your little friend, Annie Thornton, Waimatuku School. (Thank you for good wishes Annie, look out for your circus. You did have a fine break-up at the year end, hope you’re enjoying the holidays.—Anne.) Good-night all, . ■_ Anne: