Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 257, 26 July 1930, Page 28

Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dear Scribes, —Still more new members! It is splendid to see the enrolment forms coming in steadily each week. The certificates and badges will be sent out just as quickly assi can send them. Don foi get about the show letters, will you?—KIWI.

LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

“Jocelyn” is another who liked the ebeerful candle-light and cold snow pictures of our Winter Page. She writes:—“What is your room like Kiwi? I’ve been trying to imagine it, and now I’ve painted a picture of it In my mind. Will it be anything like sours, I wonder. First, it must be liigh up and bright and sunshiny—it must be all these, to let you write such beautiful sunshiny letters to us each week. Then the walls be will be gay with pictures—pictures painted by League members, and perhaps a few snaps of happy ‘Junior Dominioners. The curtains will be green, pale green, and your desk— why that will be a wonderful place where you sit and read and write and have everything just everywhere. And the book-ease will be idled with books—poetry books, story books and—if you’re the least bit studious—with history and geography books. What a happy room yours must be. I would love to see it some day, just to compare the real with the iraagary.” Baby sister grows more and more interesting day by day. She can almost stand bv herself now, but she is .just the littlest bit timid of standing alone. But I love the way she calls "pussies when she lies in bed, and the little • lilt that happens in her voice when she calls: “O-ooh, teddy!” Such a darling she is, and so proud of the gold bangle which just fits over her chubby wrist now, and of the pretty woolly dress she wears! Our bunny rabbit, an Angora, is growing so beautiful now. His fur is soft, soft white, and it’s such a beautiful feeling to run your hand it He’s quite tame now and will eat out of your hand while you comb his downy bunny wool. And the «““ ie .?’ three of them, are quite at home in their new aviary, a big airy one, with branches and swings in it. They chi - rup and whistle the whole day through. Soon the mother will be nesting again, and we’ll hear the tiny squeaka of the new-born chicks, and see their big wide eyes peeping from the nest.” [Every little piece of your long letter was interesting, Jocelyn. I think a wizard must have whispered to you about my room. It is so nearly right. You will not be over the age limit till you have turned seventeen, so we shall iook forward to many more letters.] “Snowball.” writes:—“l suppose by this time you have quite forgotten that there ever was a Junior Dominion League member with the pen-name of ‘Snowball.’ Although we are having very wintry weather, spring has begun to send her tokens abroad. The wattle has grown very yellow, although it has not burst into blossom. r hrough the dark wet earth the green bulbs have long ago pushed their way to await the spring sunshine, and the pussy willow Ims sent her balls of .fluff into the air, s 6 that she will be able to welcome spring with bright blossoms.” [No. I never forget a League member “Snowball,” and I was very glad to see your large, clear writing. I can see that it will not be very long before our spring page appears.]

“Pansy” tells us about her garden. She writes“ There are red and white roses, bulbs, sweetpeas, forgetmenots, carnations, pansies, chrysanthemums, Christmas lilies, and wallflowers. Not very long ago, our milkman asked mother, If she would let his cow come into our grounds. We had too much grass, so mother said ‘yes.’ The next day when the cow came, the milkman tied a long rope around its neck. Then it walked over to my garden, and ate the tops of the wallflowers. We did not discover that it was done until the next day. The wallflowers were just going to open.” . [Cows have queer tastes, in breakfast dishes, haven’t they? lam so sorry that you won’t have any velvety brown wallflowers after all, but I’m glad she didn’t fancy the sweet peas, and Christmas lilies too, aren’t you?] “Aren’t the sparrows cheeky little things?” writes “Mountain Maid.” They come right up close to us when

we are having drill at school, and they are always fighting over bits of bread. The birds that live around our house are becoming very tame to me. Sometimes wbeu I am throwing crusts out they come up close to me. They also come right up under the kitchen window and peck crumbs off the dead chrysanthemums. The mountains are covered with snow, making a pretty picture against the grey skies. We have been having n lot of frosts lately, and ice has been plentiful. This morning I found some ice an inch thick, and it took me quite a long time to get it out of the bucket. I have been thinking that when painting and story-mak-ing competitions come along it would be better to have senior and Junior sections, for I am sure there are a lot of little children who would like to go in for the competitions, but do not like to try against the older ones.” [Thank you for your nice long letter and your suggestion, “Mountain Maid.” It would be ever so much better if we could have senior and junior sections, although, at present, the ages of competitors are always taken into consideration. I’ll see what can be done.] BRIEF REPLIES Joyee Norwood.—l have enrolled you already, Joyce, and your badge will arrive very soon. Yes, you may be called “Queen May” if you would -not like “May Quebn” better. Doesn’t it remind you of hedges covered in white blossom, folk dancing on the village green, and latticed maypole ribbons. You are getting on very well at school, Joyce. “Fairy Love."—Sour pen-friend asked me to give you her address. It is Winnie Thornton, 148 Colombo Iload, Masterton. “Pandora.”—lt is too bad that both your letters went astray. This one, at any rate, is safe and sound on my desk. So you think the weather is like i| spoilt child! It is a very angry child to-day, then. I like the happy, sunny moods best, don’t you? Frances Tindall.—Of course you may join us, Frances. Would you like to be called “Marjorie- Daw.” I am very pleased to hear that you look forward to our -stories and drawings on Saturdays. I hope you will see some of your own among them before very long. “Peterkln.”—Thank you for your bright, little verse.- I am,keeping it for an August page. “Princess Lilybet.”—lt shall be our secret. What a pity your book review wouldn’t squeeze itself into less words. Pens have a habit of running away with us, don’t they? I hope you will write again quite soon. Leslie C. —It was splendid to hear from you again, Leslie. You have been wandering about the world since last you wrote. I have often wanted to visit Levin. It looks very clean and pretty from the train. Some day I shall. Do you ever visit thft gorge now?

Joan Burton—l am keeping your interesting letter for a little later, Joan. Thank you for sending those riddles.

“Titania.”—lt was lovely to read all about Peter Pratt. I think he deserved' to be turned into a sugar stick, don’t you? Your printing is improving verymuch, Edith. Have you been practising hard ? Ross Court.—Treasure hunts are great fun. Were you lucky enough to find a packet of sweeties? It must have been a lovely birthday. I hope father is well and home again with you next time you write. Phyllis Bennett.—l was so glad to receive all those neatly-written riddles, Phyllis, and to see your drawings. I thing “Willie Winkie” would be a good pen-name for you. Your badge will arrive any day now. Letters, riddles and sketches were also received from Douglas Hale. Ina Hutchins, “Binkie." Roy Hathaway.