THE POSTIE'S BAG

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 5

THE POSTIE'S BAG

10 Fitzroy street, Caversham.’ Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am just writing a little letter to you to let you know now I am spending my life. I am entering for your competition this week, so I hope I am lucky enough to be the winner. I wish I had more time to spare in writing letters, but it cannot be done because I am going to try to gain my proficiency this year. How is the happy family spending its life? I listen in and hear the children’s session nearly every evening, and I enjoyed it very much. I think I had better close my letter now, but I will write soon.—With fondest love from Ngaira Keach.

[Many thanks for your letter, Ngaira Reach. Your name is in the honour square for neat writing. If you are spending your life in the neat and tidy fashion in which you write your letters, then there cannot be very many blemishes, and every friend will be pleased. There is more in this, too, than appears on the surface. There are people who think that we all show our characters in our handwriting, and, whilst Brother Bill would not care to say that all these people believe is the truth, there is some truth in what thev say. We cannot do the smallest thing, really, that doesn’t in some way indicate the sort of folks that we are. So Brother Bill guesses that Ngaira Reach is a neat person, very careful, about herself and the things that belong to her. Is this true? If Brother Bill was able to say exactly how all the members of the family spend their lives he would need more tfian a large newspaper in which to print it. All that ho can do is hope that every member is happy and useful. Write again soon.] 9 Haywood street, Mornington. Dear Big Brother Bill,—lt is some weeks since I wrote to you. 1 was pleased to see my name in the honour square. When I wrote my last letter to you I told you I was going to join St. Andrews’ Brownie Pack. I was enrolled last Tuesday night. A number of our Brownies left us to go into the Guides. I like going to Brownies. We have some very interesting things to do and to learn, as well as spare time for a game or two. Our Brown Owl is reading to us the story of ‘ Alice in Wonderland.’ 1 i>i inlr it is very interesting. We have a short piece read to us each week. We did not hear any more last week, as it was really a combined ceremony of Guides and Brownies. My brother went into camp with the Bible classes at North Taien during the Easter holidays. At first it was thought that the weather would be against them having an enjoyable time, but as you know the days were beautiful, and the boys and young men enjoyed every minute of the time. I did not go anywhere myself, but I enjoyed myself just the same. I would like to tell you that we have a fine time at our “ Busy Bee ” meetings on a Friday afternoon. We resumed last Friday for this year, and we hope to get some good wors done during the year to help our missionaries. We wind up the year with an exhibition of the work, which is for sale. My little sister has started to go to kindergarten at Mornington under Miss Wilkie. It is a very Tong way for her to walk, but Betty likes going, and will not stay away if she can help it. Well, Big Brother Bill, I hope you will not think my letter takes up too. much of your valuable space in the bairns’ columns. 1 will now close with love and kind regards to yourself and all the aunts and uncles. —From Joyce Donaldson.

[Most certainly Brother Bill does not think that your letter is too long, Joyce Donaldson. It told things in an interesting fashion, and that is <hat all good letters should do. Brownies are baby Guides, or, perhaps it would be more polite to call them Guides in the making. You seem to have a most interesting time at your meetings, Joyce. Brother Bill agrees with you that stories are always interesting, and a splendid story like 1 Alice in Wonderland ’ is always worth repeating. Did you know that it was written by a university professor to interest his small girl friends? It was told to these wee girls long before it was printed, and, because they felt anxious to have some printed specimens of the entrancing adventures of Alice, the book came into print for every small girl who cares to read it. A' good thing for everybody, wasn’t it? Brother Bill hopes that your Busy Bee class will have a very successful year. You must write again and tell the family of what you do there.] ,

2o Byron street, Mornington

Dear Big Brother Bill, —As it is quite a long time since 1 last wrote to you I thought i iron Id write this week and enter for the competition. 1 always listen to the children’s hour over the wireless, and enjoy it very much. You will be pleased to know that I am top girl of Standard HI. at Mornington School. We are very busy this week preparing for our term examinations, which commence next week. Sorry to say, our teacher is ill with scarlet fever, and we have a relieving teacher just how.—From your loving bairn, Ada Skinner.

[Many thanks for your letter, Ada Skinner. Brother Bill is delighted to know that you enjoy the children’s hour and that you read the columns. Preparing for examinations is very hard wprk, of course, but very necessary work, too. It will help you in many' ways, and it seems to have already developed the ability to reach the top. Congratulations on being top girl in the class. All school work is hard work, Ada, but it is a time when the bairns are getting the tools which they will be able to use profitably in later years. Beading is a splendid thing; writing is a very happy thing, because by means of it you can bring happiness to your friends; and arithmetic trains the mind to think clearly and understand easily; and these are the tools which school gives tor our use. So the

better we do our school work the more sensible folk we shall be later on. Brother Bill is sorry to hear about teacher, but if she reads your letter she will be glad to know that you think so kindly about her. Write again soon.] 47 Ann street, Roslyn. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am trying the competition this week, but I don’t know if it will be right. I am in Standard 11. at Kaikorai School this year, and we have a nice teacher. Wo have a new head master at school this year. I have been to Timaru for a holiday, and I just came home last Saturday. It was fun coming home in the train. I like trains, don’t you? We were away for weeks. Wo went two days before Easter. It was lovely, surprise from dad, and it was a lovely When we came home we got a big wireless. I , used to go to my aunty’s to listen to you, but now I won’t have to. I must close now, with love to you and the aunts and uncles.—Bobbie Paterson.:

[Many thanks for your nice long letter, Bobbie Paterson. You seem to have had a very nice holiday at Timaru. In sunny weather it would be hard not to have a very nice holiday in that lovely town. Brother Bill has been at Timaru in both sunshine and rain, and it was very nice at both times; But there is no place like Dunedin, Bobbie, nor any place quite as lovely. Just lately Brother Bill has had some friends visiting him who have travelled thousands of miles over all the world, and they are enthusiastic about Dunedin being the loveliest city they have ever seen. Green hills and lovely panoramic views seem to please them, as they please those of us who know them well. Brother Bill likes the train, of course. He always has liked travelling that way. He remembers very clearly that in his boyhood days, when the time came, round for the annual holiday to the sea, the greatest excitement was the prospect of the train journey. When the days passed swiftly—and they do pass swiftly on holiday—and the last day of all came round he used to hug the thought that there was still the long and exciting train journey home again. Nowadays he rides in a motor car, and, whilst it is more convenient, it has not all the glamour of those early days in the train. So, Bobbie, there are other folk who like train riding as well as yourself. Write again soon.]