Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 28

Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dear Scribes, —A large number of new boy and girl members have sent enrolment forms this week, so let us all join in giving them a very hearty welcome to the League. We 11 all look forward to reading their letters. I wonder if there will be any next week. —KIWI.

LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

Nine-year-old “Tiger Tim” sends a beautiful little word-picture of nightfall. He writes: ‘‘.Against the skyline I saw gum trees moving in the breeze. The cabbage trees were bowing to the sun as it sank in the west. The pine trees swayed. The sun looked red with anger. Slowly-, slowly, the darkness came, and daylight passed away to another land. The city lights glowed. Soon twilight had gone and the city was bright with lights.”’ [I was glad to hear from “Tiger Tim” again. Do you see the night lights from your hill?]

“I am going to tell you about a chicken I had,” writes “Blue Gem.” "She was a very small and pretty little Silver Wyndotte and did not grow to be much larger than a bantam, so I called her Tiny. After the chicks had been fed Tiny would follow me in and peck at me till I gave her more. When it was time for them to go to bed Tiny, instead of going with the others, would come in and sit on the rug in front of the Are till I would take her to the perch. She loved to ride on my shoulder and would jump up at any time, and also go to sleep in my arms. Always on wet days she would come pecking at the’door, and when we let her in she would sit by the fire with the cats.. She grew to be a great pet, and an excellent layer of small brown eggs.” ‘‘Chickens yellow, chickens small. Like a wee soft, fluffy ball. Chickens black and chickens brown. Near their mother' nestle down.” [Thank you for all the riddles and puzzles you sent, “Blue Gem.” What a large number of pets you bare.]

Lavender” has paid a visit to a farm. She says: ‘I was very interested in the cows being, milked, and the baby calves having a frisk in their paddocks, also the baby pigs were so funny, squawking and squealing for their food while they splashed about iu the mud. We had strawberries and cream to-day, the first of the season, out of our garden, and hope to have some more soon. The flower gardens look so very pretty with sweet peas and roses that I often wish I was a beautiful rose or some sweet-smelling flower. We have the most beautiful trees of scarlet and crimson boronia that everyone envies us. .Most of our shrubs are blooming now, so it makes quite a pretty picture. Also we have a giant clematis, like huge white stars, growing up a punga hedge.” [Another “first grade.” as "Dimsie.” would snj’t Have you been for a swim yet? Those sunny days were just the time for a first dip.]

Another owner of a gay garden is ‘‘Madame Pompadour.” “Carnations are blooming now,” she writes, “such gorgeous colours, blood red. mauve, pink, yellow and cream. Along the borders shy pansies and violas peep. Stocks also could not resist the warmth of the sunshine and have opened their buds. They are a perfect,rainbow of colour, and their fragrance is glorious. Nemesias bloom In their corner of the garden, red. orange, pink and many other shades. They are such lovely Howers and among ray favourites. Orange marigolds, too, are out; they make a very pretty show all together. Rhododendrons are one mass of blazing colour. Our sweet friend the lily has arrived back as pure and fresh as ever. The buds of the poppies have opened at last. They are all bowing and smiling, and very sweet they look in their frilly frocks. Some red. pink, salmon and cream. Others are differently coloured. A cream edged with palest pink or perhaps one of numerous pinks. The verbenas are looking very pretty at present: such delightful shades of pink and red. In the corner of our lawn the snowball tree is covered with fluffy white balls. Nearby an appleblossom tree is preparing to open her pink buds. The trellis work is covered with the mauve wisteria flowers —it is a beautiful sight. The lilac, too, is nearly out. Many more flowers are opening their buds; how .lovely they will be. A rainbow of

. flowers. It is lovely to have a garden I think, but in crowded cities people do not always have room for flowers. How sad it must be for them.” [lt is sad. The only flowers there are bloom in the large baskets of flowersellers, packed with dust, or wired and tied behind the glass of florists’ shops.] “Highwayman” writes: “To-day I was mustering some sheep to put into another paddock. I had an old dog called ‘Mack.’ After he has been working for a while he gets tired and does not bark or go faster than a Chinaman's trot. He surprised me to-day, because he worked hard all the time. I was going down a gully when ■‘Lassie’, put her foot in a hole of an underground water course, and before I knew where I was I found myself going over her head and the saddle coming with me. I found that the girth straps were broken, so I took the stirrup leathers off and made a surcingle out of them. Although I rolled down the hill for quite a while I was not hurt, and laughed about it afterwards. I went to the Palmerston North show on Wednesday. I was very disappointed because there were very few sheep and not many cattle. There were only two kinds of horses there. Of course more were coming all the time. I watched the steer-riding until it was over—it was very exciting, and I with three mates were just near the yards.” , . [lt was a lucky escape! What brave hearts the men must have to ride steers. You would find them more wilful steeds than “Lassie.”] BRIEF REPLIES Frank Ammundsen.—The pen-names you asked for were already taken. What a splendid collection of fireworks you had. I like Mount Vesuvius best. “Columbine.” —The hailstones must must have been tremendous to do such damage. I hope the mischievous boy who spoilt the chaffinch’s nest is sorry now. I wonder how he would like a giant to come and break down his own home and frighten his parents. Gwen Esau.—“ Dawn” is somebody rise's name. I hope the inspector was fight. It will be great fun choosing your desk for next year. The bantam chicks will be quaint little things. Was the shop-day successful? r “Mountain Maid.”—You will make a splendid Indian maiden. There are not many small actresses with long hair now. Will you wear it in two long braids plaited with colours? Thank you for the two sketches. “Lackaday.”—Can you say that tongue-twister yourself? I have tried and tied myself in such a tangle. The ducks could not have approved of “moving house.” “Hermione.”—Yes, you may. Was the river water cool and fresh when you went for your bathe? I have never heard of another pony called Christmas. Was she left in your stocking? Alice Shanks.—How would you like “Petal” for a pen-name? Those farmers must be very busy shearing. Do you ever go and watch? What thin little creatures the lambs are after they have been shorn. Let’s hope the weather is warm for them. “Fairy Nightlight.”—lt was a very large letter this week. Have you been reading about deer? You will see it in print next week perhaps. Thank you for the short story. “Johnny Tuck.”—Yes, I saw the aeroplanes, green, gold and red, like beautiful dragon flies. There was one that was silver like a flying fish. Perhaps when you are a pilot you will take me for a ride in the blue. Letters and puzzles were also received from Faith Harrington, “Blue Gem,” Ada Lawrence, "Peacock, “Sweet Lavender,” “Nut Mayde,” Ella Robson, Elaine Wareham, Jill Hayman, “Billie,” Mavis Meads, “Tinkerbcll.’