THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 September 1925, Page 20

THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Princes St., Ilawera, Aug. 30. Dpar Smile Queen, —It is a long time ago since I last wrote to you, but I have not forgotten you. We have had two weeks and one day for our holidays, and we shall go back on Tuesday, September 1. Thank you for the pretty postcard you sent in remembering me on my birthday. Spring is here and all the trees are in blossom, and the flowers have sprung up out of the ground after a long sleep. I will now close, from your Smile friend, Lester Foy. Manaia, Sept. 3. Dear Smile Queen, —I have not written for a long time, so I will now. The school children have just come back to school again from a very nice holiday. I have got a doll dressed for the Gift Cupboard. My writing is not neat, is it? Because I don’t call •it neat. I must close now for it is time to go to bed. With a big smile' to all. I remain, your loving Smile Ronm Ransom. [No, your writing is not neat Roma; but Smiles should try to be neat. Please try in your next letter.—S.Q.] . Taikatu Rd., Auroa, Aug. 30. Dear Smile Queen, —I suppose you thinkil have forgotten you, but I have not. I went up to my auntie’s place at Oaonui for a week and I had a very nice holiday. We have three little .children, stopping a‘t our place. Their mother is in the hospital, but she is better now, and I expect they will soon bo going home. On August 28 we went to a fancy dress ball at Otakeho. I went as a. tennis girl and three 1 of my ■brothers also went in fancy dress. We are milking thirty-two cows by machines, and we have, nine calves. I am sending in a parcel for the Gift Clipboard and hope you get it safely. So good-bye to you and your Smiles, Myrtle Svilies. Ararata. Dear Smile Queen. —T was at my grandmother’s house last week, but I came home on the 2Sth of this month to start school on the Ist of next month. My sister Beryl is coming home on the oth of next month. I have a big sleeping doll. Could you give me a name for it? Love from Audrey Marsh. ri think Daphne is a pretty name. — S.Q.] Manaia. Dear Smile Queen, —I am writing to you by myself. I like reading your letters in the paper. We have, a fifteen miles’ ride every day to and from school. Billy has a little calf which he feeds every day. I like school and will be in standard one next year. T hope I am smiling as much as T ean; I cry sometimes, though. Good-bye. From Jean Dakers.

Whakamara, Sept. 4. Dear Smilo Qqeen,—l did nob go away for my holidays, but I had a good time at home. I hope you liked my poetry. We went to town one Thursday and saw the picture of the “Ten Commandments.” Did you see it, Smile Queen? I thought! it was lovely. Everywhere is nice and green now. There are a. few flowers coining- out iu the garden, now. The euchre parties have stopped now, because there are too many cows to milk. I have no more news just now, so I must say good-night and go to bed. I remain, your loving Smile, Jean Davies. [I did not see that picture. We seldom go, as we prefer to frolic at the Castle if wo have nnv spare time. — S.Q.] Omuturangi Ed., Oeo, Sept. 1. • Dear Smile Queen, —I have not been able to write to you for such a long time now. I. must tell you all about it. T. have been ill again. lam in primer three at school. My cat has a bad paw. This is the second time he has had a bad paw. The spring flowers are coming out very quickly. I have twelve dolls. On© of them is seven years old. We have two calves. Now it will be bed-time soon. The violets smell so lovely. Now, I think I had better close, with lots and lots of love anil kisses, from Delia Stone, [Quite an, interesting letter. —S.Q.] Tokaora, Aug. 2G. . Dear Smile Queen, —May I join your Smile Castle? I- am nine years old and in standard three. My sister joined your Castle a long time ago. During the holidays: two of our schoolmates died, a bov and a girl.. We are going to have a fancy-dress dance for the school children, only when our schoolmates died we postponed it. Did you go to the Competitions, Smile Queen? [ was in one of the choruses and I recited. T must close now. With kind regards. From a new Smile, Vernon Laurent. [As so many fairies' wanted to go to the competitions I had to stay at home, so I did not see you there, I hope to go next time. —S.Q.] Inaha, Aug. 30. Dear Smile Queen, —Don’t think I have forgotten you. We have, two Shetland ponies. Will you please give me a name for one. The other one’s name is Kitty. We have, a new baby sister seven weeks old and her name is Joyce Kathlene. We are having our holidays now. My brother and I fell off our pony. I remain, your loving Smile, Alice Espiner. [Would “Trixie” suit you?—S.Q.]

Tawhiti Rd.. Ilawera, Aug.l 31. Dear Smile Queen, —Isn’t it lovely to sit on the green grass and. watch the tin}' white lambs dance round about the paddocks? Oh! how tender their feet look, but how fast they can iun. To see their little tails popping about when they run is to me a source of joy. I have a little, lamb and it is 'such a dear little one. When I give it. a drink he wags his tail to and fro as if using it as a fan. I went, foi a ride out: in. the. uusli the other day, and I stopped to look at a little river, and this is how I described it: “How lovely 'the little river is, with its dark changing wavelets! It seems to me like a living companion, while I wander along the bank and listen to its low, placid voice as to the voice of one who is deaf and loving.’’ Well, 1 must end now, with heaps of love to you and the Smile, fairies. I remain, vour fairy, Marion Goodger. I So here’s a girl who uses her eves, and then: thinks. Lots of people see very little even with good eyes. S.Q.J Rowan Rd., Rowan. Dear Smile Queen, —I have, to keep house at home now because mother went away last Sunday. I have just finished making jam tarts. I wondei how many will get eaten for dinner? Shall I save one for you? Thank you very much for the pretty card you sent me. Yesterday one of my girl friends came along and she went for the mail with me. On our way home, we saw a man, and he asked us if we would like a fish. So we said “Yes.’’ When lie had gone for liis afternoon tea we went into the .paddock and' I got the eel out and speared it with a fork which was lying there. This did not kill it, so my friend hit it on the head with, a piece- of wood, but we could, not kill it. So we carried it. liomei alive. We kept dropping it on the road because it kept stiffening itself and frightening us. Every time one. would drop it the other would pick i.t up and run with.it so as to get it home quickly. Dad would not cook it because he sn.id it. would taste nuuldv as it was caught in. a swamp. Ido not think T would have eatc.ii any if it had. been cooked because T helped to kill it. I will try and write some poetry out when I get, some. T will give you a riddle. With XXXX from Lulu Jacksou. [Your eel would d,ie when the sun went down. What fun you had with it. Yes, please, save me one. of your jam tarts next time.—S.Q.]