News From Members

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

News From Members

0N Lake Victoria (Central Africa) clouds of flies swarm across the water. When a ship runs into one of these clouds it is like a fog. When the flies reach the shore the natives scoop them them up and make them, with flour, into cakes. —Jasmine (13). Johnsonville. A New Year Welcome. My two cousins and I were determined to bid farewell to the old year, so at ten o'clock we crept to bed in our clothes, and, with reading and talking, managed to keep awake that way. We got up again at five to twelve and roused a cousin who had long since gone to the land of nod. It was a difficult thing to do, too, as he was determined to sleep! With protests that he was too sleepy, he raved at us indignantly for some time.

However, we were very persistent, and, by throwing back the blankets, at last awakened him. Like mice (or so we thought), we crept up the passage Into the sitting-room to the radio. When the chimes came to ring the old year out and welcome our New Year in. we

you send the photo, tell me till about your South Island schoolllays.

Peter, North Makaretu: Your letter of-explauations was a merry greeting when I arrived back from my holiday. Now I know all the pros and cons! It would be interesting (and I suspect, amusing) to hear the tale of how each story for the page is written. Your last took lots of energy!

Kathleen Wilson, ilalcombe: Another nine-year-old now member! Welcome. Afraid the pen-name is taken, but I am sure you will soon think of another.

Smiler, Carterton: I loved your “card"—it is an excellent weather prophet. Betty told me she saw your retreating back and we were both so sorry we missed you.

Violet, Greytown: A "Jappy” verse or two from you. Write again soon.

Zinnia, Wellington: Have you written before, Margaret? 1 liked the mousey tale, but try to make up some of your own.

Quack, Wellington: Welcome to you —or should I just say “Quack, quack"? Write me a letter and send along some contributions for the page. PinklepuiT, Mastertoil: The lake must be a pretty place—exactly where is it. Helen? Tell me more about your holiday fun.

Mrs. Cluck, Hastings: Poor William ■Weatherman was quite puzzled when I tried your riddles on him! Glad to hear from you again.

Penny, Greytown: A member who sends contributions each week, mid original ones, 100, needs a pm mi the back! Good for you. Penny.

Miss Blue Gloves, Wellington: The true story of Ihe prisoner is mi example of the lorliire pracliseil in olden limes. The oilier paragraph was not suitable for the page—il read like mi extract, without beginning or cud. Could you try a story?

Did You Send Any?

opened the front door to let the evil spirits depart. This ceremony concluded, we returned to the radio. A little service and a prayer from one of the stations was, to my mind, the most fitting ceremony to pass the first five minutes of the New Year. —Peter (16), Takapau. Let’s Pretend? I resolve to myself that if ever I own a house and have plenty of money, I shall buy good reproductions of my favourite books and have them always with me—of course, 1 am not likely to have big houses and fortunes to spend, but the joy is in planning, beginning with “if.” For very much younger days it was “let's pretend.” Did you ever play “cowboys and Indians”? I did. just as often as I played “Mothers and Fathers” —to tell you the truth. I got more thrills from the former. But now. of course.

everyone is quite grown-up. and don’t remember the Indians they fought or the buffaloes and wild horses lassooed, and the villains shot —but they do not enjoy themselves half as much.- —Lilac Lady (17), Wellington. Break-Up Week. “Breaking-up" week at school is jolly. We bad a fancy-dress dance last week. I was a Highlander, mid enjoyed if. A concert at school, mid making cards and handwork presents, is such fun. 1 have a kettle-holder, kettle stand, coal glove and oven cloth, all ready for mother's stocking I know she likes those better than bought things.—Smiler (9). Carterton. Shakespeare Thriller. A cousin at high school liked reading. but preferably “light’’ books, chiefly those about that amazing man. Sherlock Holmes, not forgetting, of course, “my dear Watson" (which is. after all, elementary!) His teacher advised him to start reading some of the classics to improve his English. Jack struggled manfully through some of lhe heaviest, mid then came Io "Romeo and Juliet." 1 was curious Io know his opinion of it when he had read if. so asked him if lie liked it. “Oh. it’s not so hud." lie replied, "heaps of murders and things, mid it you stretch your imagination a bit you 1-011111 think il was an Edgar Wallaee thriller and quite enjoy it!” Poor Shakespeare!—Peter (.16), North Makaretu.