Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 21

Kiwi Opens the Mail

Dear Scribes, —You will notice at the foot of these columns •everal blanks in the "letters received” paragraphs. These people forgot to sign their names, which was very disappointing, as their letters were interesting. Be very sure to eend your name and address if you would like me to answer your letters. —Kiwi. LETTERS FROM LEAGUE MEMBERS

"To-day is a real spring day. The happy little starlings are chanting their welcome songs,” writes “Rata." "The daffodils are donning their golden gowns, the crocuses are peeping through the ground, and the japonica trees are masses of red, salmon, pink and white blossoms. The new grasses are coming up in the lawns and fields, and the wild violets are peeping in the bush. The cherry, peach and plum trees are bursting into blossom, and will soon be a glorious sight The dogs are now changing their coats, for they always, shed their coats in the springtime.** ■ [Your letter seemed to bring a breath of country spring right into my city office, “Rata.” How beautiful the japonica trees must be. What- a large family forty lambs must make. I’d love one, but I’d have only one place to keep It and that’d be on the bookcase, so I’m afraid I can’t]

Fairy bell’s” mother has about thirty pet birds, which she feeds every day at about two o’clock. “Falrybell” writes: “If Mother forgets, the birds fly round and round the door. I have a pet fantail, which will almost sit on my hand. I do not keep It in a cage, but it will fly inside. We have such a lovely pussy, Kiwi. He is called ‘Mick’ and has lovely soft, long fur. When we walk outside he will come up' with his, tail in the air and fall at our feet. Our two dogs, Joe and Bounce, are a fearful plague to Mick, for they like chasing cats and will not leave poor puss alone. Some nights Joe and Bounce do not agree on soine ‘catty.’ subject, and, oh. Kiwi, you -should hear the noise, It, sounds like thunder and the roaring of lions Combined.” ; [So many of our league members had examination successes to tell me about. It’s good news, isn’t it? So yon have been sowing seeds. ■ I do hope every one comes up and makes the garden a mass of colour when summer comes. I should love to see you and ’‘Heatherbell.”Write and let* me know when you are coming, won’t you?]

Gordon Ridder writes: “We went to Palmerston, last Saturday, and going through the Manawatu Gorge we saw a huge slip which the men were digging away from the road. The Manawatu River was so rough, and thick with mud. The only people who seem to like this weather * are the ducks. When I let them out in the morning their first thought Is to make for the water —and there is plenty of it about. It is wonderfully interesting to watch them swim add dive. I wish I could do It as well as they do. Dad says they are most useful things on the farm, because they eat slugs, and slugs are dreadful things.” . [Your letter was very neatly written, Gordon. I was Surprised to hear that you hadn’t received your badge. ..Did you send, an enrolment form? I ■hall have to see about it. Isn’t it splendid to have finished with examinations for a time? Yes, I’m sure you have passed.]

“Laughing Water” writes: “Hilary ■nd I went for a long walk yesterday. We climbed up the gully in front of our place and pushed our way through the broom and gorse, to the brow of the hill. We got a wonderful view of the town, low lying before us, of the harbour, grey as a pigeon’s wing, and the hills, deep blue, .except the Tararuas, which were white robed. Isn’t Wellington the loveliest of places? There wasn’t a movement in the har-

hour. It was deserted, but for the darkling coal hulks lying at anchor, and in the boat, harbour the launches lying like little white' birds. We Struck off to the wireless tower, and walked and walked across grassy hills. We thought we would never get there,

» but after crossing jwo batbed wire r fences and squeezing through a grove > of young pines we did. There was a i cool, fresh wind blowing straight from r the white Tararuas. The view from i there was lovelier still. We could see c grey seas beyond the heads, and a s stretch of rocky coast. The reservoir ; lay among dark trees, a hill tarn; i and here and there were parks, i stretches of green satin. We went I home through the plantation, down a i zig-zag path, past groves of pines. 1 They were rather wild and lonely, no ■ undergrowth or other greenery, just straight, black trunks, with short, dull i green cloaks, standing on a carpet of ’ needles; bare and brown and withered, i But the native bush farther on was i green and lovely. Some trees were showing their green buds, others had i already their dancing leaves, while • others still’slept Here and there were flowering currants, shining with fragrant pink blossom, and pale fluted leaves. Oh; such loveliness, with still a few raindrops to sparkle in the sunset gold, that now spread across the 1 sky/ And so we came home, through the sunset.” [I am glad you liked the sketch, "Laughing Water,” and I’m very sorry that'your seventeenth birthday is so near. Very best wishes for a happy day, and I’m sure it will not be goodbye altogether. We shall miss your descriptive letters and verses so much.] "While I was standing by one of the goal posts on the hockey field, ’’ writes “Marama,” “four baby calves came up to me. They were not very sure of me at first, so I stood still and held out my hand, calling, softly: ‘sook, boo’:, sookey.’ . They came closer and closer till one venturesome baby put out a long pink tongue and licked 'my hand. A stray paper bag found its ■ way close to these babies, and one cheeky calf approached the bag with cautious steps,- sniffed at it, then all of a sudden Mr. Wind chanced to pass by, and picking up the bag, lifted it up into the air—calfle was very scared and scampered off with his tail held high. They were very amusing to watch, and while we were playing they frisked about as if they knew some great secret that the sun had told them. Mr. Sun may have whispered to them that spring was in the meadows, in the rushes by the pond,-or In’ the sparkling river that winds its way through the fields.” [What, a thrilling holiday you have planned, Mavis. Tell me all about it, won’t you? “Princess Beautiful” will be glad to know that you admire her drawings. I wonder if any other I League members have started a Gem ■ Book? You earned splendid marks | for your examination papers. I have printed your request'/ for Pahiatua’ pen-friends.] BRIEF REPLIES ■*• ■ • Doris Court—“ Winter. Sunshine” and the other pieces arrived just in time for the Winter: Page, Doris. How excited you must be to. have a new I little nephew. Will the next letter be a long one? • , Phyllis Marshall.—Pippity is such a quaint gnome-name that it is not surprising that somebody else discovered it earlier. Still, as you thought of it, too, 1 Pippity is none the less yours for all that. I’m sure the other Pippity can’t be as charming as ours. Your second letter . was very interesting, Phyllis. I'm sure I shall like the Norwegian story. ■■ , “Bambolina.”—Yes, I’d love you to come and see me one morning “Bambolina.” Let me know which day it’s to be, or you might find me out, which would be tragic, wouldn’t it, after coming all the_way from Fellding? Joan Chatfield.—You must have had a jolly time when you and Roland rode Maori horses' to the picnic and roasted potatoes. They are delicious when they have been buried in hot embers, aren’t they? Have you ever tried toasting marsh mallows by holding, them on the end of a stick? They _.puff out and taste warm and syrupy. You try. .> , “Dimple.”—Your letter arrived just too late to catch the mail columns, “Dimple.” The verse of greetings is beautifully, written, isn’t it? . I suppose you are looking forward to some long journeys on horseback during the holidays. “Tairoa." —So you came several places higher on the list than you did last term. ’ I’m so glad, “Tairoa,” because it’s a sign of great Improvement, isn’t it? Masterton must be very t beautiful in jthese first days of spring. lan Stewart.—Exploring is great ■ fun. lan, especially in the bush. One doesn’t seem to mind how many scratches and thorns one carries home. Do you hope to build real bridges when you grow up? We already have a “Vagabond King,” lan. Nancy Ridder.—lt was nice of you to think of naming one of your calves after me, Nancy. I. hope he is a credit to you. It’s a good idea to keep a record of your letters by pasting them in an exerise book. z “Sunny Jim.”—The fireside is the comfiest place-on a rainy night, isn’t It, Jimmy, especially if there is a big log fire? I’m so glad to know that ; Skip, is better. Barbara Morgan.—A hearty welcome to our League, Barbara. I was very pleased when I received your letter and the Foxglove poem. I agree that, it is better to use one’s own name than to have a nom-de-plume. Wasn’t it fortunate that you were able to cure that small bird? I hope-you will write again soon. The certificate and badge for Pat Martin, Wltinui, have been returned ; to me, marked, “Not to be found.” I . should be glad to receive the correct ; address. Letters, puzzles and riddles were also received from “Billy Boy.” Joyce Smith, Eileen Duffy, Noel Dickinson, 1 Charlie Cooksley, “Ginger Mick,” 1 (Coromandel Street, Newtown), Winnie Lennox, Marjorie Kerr, 1 (Brooklands), (Eketahuna) Ruth Andersen, “Everlasting Daisy.” '