Wendy Leaves The Never-Never Land

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

Wendy Leaves The Never-Never Land

To-day we break one of the unwritten rules of journalism in announcing a change in the personality whom thousands of girls know and love as "Wendy." But justification for the break is given because of the deep affection which has been manifest to the Wendy Lady during the many years that she has written over that pen name. For seven years she has led the girls of our pages through as many cheer campaigns, which have brought untold joy and happiness into the lives of under privileged people. And now she has left the Never Never Land, and, except' occasionally "in the spring cleaning time," we shall not see her again. But Peter Pan must ever have a Wendy to mother his "Lost Boys, ' and so, when Sunbeams come skipping into Sunshine House with their parcels and their gifts and to chat about the doings of their clubs, they will find a welcome just as warm and a smile just as cheery as in the days of yore. Like her * predecessor, the new Wendy Lady grew up with the Budget, so already ahe is one of us. Now let's throw a big handful of acorns across the Tasman to the departing Wendy Lady, to wish her joy and happiness equal to that which she brought into the lives of others. Dear Sunbeams— I have finished my packing; suitcases are piled high in the hall; trunks and packing cases are stacked all in readiness to be taken to the ship, and quite suddenly my jolly, friendly little room has assumed a strange, forlorn appearance. The telephone has stopped its merry pealing and the quietness of late evening has stolen upon the house. With a heavy heart I have just thought: "I can't postpone it any longer now; to-morrow I sail, and my farewell letter remains unwritten." From day to day for the past fortnight I have put off writing this letter. For in it I must say good-bye* to all of you, and good-bye is such a final, sorrowful word. Perhaps some of you already know—perhaps you have heard just a "whisper"—that Wendy is to leave the Never Never Land, where she has been so very happy—leave Peter Pan and Tink. and all her jolly Sunbeams—and travel across the sea to make a new home in a new country. "Wendy," I can almost hear you gasp, "you're not!" But I am, Sunbeams—sad and incredible though it does seem. I really am going to leave you. Once during this week that is past I found myself thinking: "Now, during the next holiday campaign I must remember to . . And oh! the sudden and desolate feeling that swept over me when fast upon this thought came remembrance of the fact that I would not be here—that hundreds and hundreds of miles would separate me from Peter Pan and all his new little pals in the 1939 backblocks party. I will not be here this Christmas to go creeping softly into the girls* dormitory with cough mixture and a big spoon—to supervise the morning "dips"—(a damp job that!) and go the rounds at "lights out" to say good-night. For some little while now I have been sitting quietly here thinking over days that have gone in Budgetland. All sorts of, funny little half-forgotten memories have come stealing back to me, and I am smiling to myself as I wrije these lines. It has always been such great fum being at Sunshine House-—such fun knowing so many of you personally. It is hard to think lhat perhaps I shall not be seeing you again. Probably I will never know if my nice little Sunbeam Mary finds the "job" she is so busily seeking, for when she comes merrily in one morning to tell me all about it, I will not be there. And what will the Brownies do when they come trooping in, all wearing big broad Brownie smiles, and the coun try Sunbeams who never never forget to pop in and say Hello during the school holidays? And who will read Hazel's reports? Little fair-haired, motherless Hazel, who ventures, oh! so shyly, into Sunshine House at the end of each term to show me her report and tell me little bits of school news. But, of course. Hazel's reports will be read with interest every bit as great as mine, and the Brownies' next visit eagerly awaited, and country readers so warmly welcomed —for the new Wendy is simply longing to meet you all. She can hardly wait. So don't disappoint her, will you, but trot in to Sunshine House after school one afternoon, and when you see someone with curly, golden hair and such a jolly smile you will know you have found Wendy.

And now there is nothing left to say except good-bye. I shall thirik of you all J* 1 . m very often, and perhaps you may think of me sometimes, too, and all the happy adventures we have shared together, and send a friendly little thought across the Tasman to —