THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 November 1925, Page 20

THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Princes St., Hawcra, Oct. 24.

Dear Smile Queen,— Thank you very much for the lovely postcard you sent me for my birthday. Monday is Labour Day ,and if it is fine we are going for a picnic to the beach. I thought the “Bed-time” poems were very nice, and [ always look forward to Saturday’s paper to read the SmiFc Castle corner. At present we are working hard for the exams at the end of the year, and I hope to gain my proficiency. I am, your loving Smile, Joan Harley. [We are very pleased to hear from you again Joan. —S.Q.]

Rowan Rd., Rowan, Oct. 24. Dear Smile Queen, —I did not write to you last week. lam writing this week. We have four little kittens. Will you please give me a name for one? We have had a few fine days and it has made the grass in the paddocks grow. One paddock in the front of the house is just white with daisies. I think this is all I can say now. With a lot of kisses and loves to all —your giant and fairies and yourself, from your loving Smile, Ruby Jackson. [Would you like Tinker for one of them? —S.Q.] Rowan. Dear Smile Queen, —I suppose you think I am very selfish for not writing to you before, but I really have not had time. I think the weather is horrible, don’t you Smile Queen? I thought I had better write to you to-night be cause I might not be able to w T rite again for a while. On Thursday morning I shall have to go down to the doctor and have some varicose veins taken out of my right hand. That is why I cannot write well now. I have gathered 41 birds’ eggs this year so far. 1 think I must close as I must have my piano practice. So good-bye, with love and kisses, from Lulu Jackson. p.S.—I was very pleased with the results of the competition, and think the other poems are very pretty. [I hope vour operation is a success. — S.Q.]

Rowan Rd., Rowan, Oct. 18

Dear Smile Queen,— I am writing a little letter to tell vou how I am. We have four little kittens. Will you please give me a name for one? lam going to learn the piano. I think this is all I can say now. With love from your loving Smile, Norah Ethel Jackson. [Call one of them “Romp.”—S.Q.]

Duthie Rd., Matapu, Oct. 27

Dear Smile Queen, —I have just been reading your page, and I thought I would like to write you a letter too. I will be ten years old on December IC. I go to Matapu School. It is four miles from our place, but we go in a ’bus. It is our car, and my brother, who is sixteen years old, drives us. He takes fourteen passengers. I know a lot oi children who write to you. Lulu Jackson is my cousin. I will close now, with a big smile from Ronald Jackson. [I am very pleased to have you too Ronald. —S.Q.]

Whakamara, Rural Delivery. My Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines to tell you that I am sending you in some more poetry and riddles. Our bush' looks very pretty with bunches of rangiora and clematis flowers hanging from the trees. The other night when I was coming home from school I saw a big weasel chasing a young thrush through the paddock. We have three little lambs. It is good fun watching the little lambs playing by their mothers’ sides. Well, dear Smile Queen, I must close now with heaps of love. From Rita Hamilton. [I like “Half Asleep”; but I think Rosemary could sec Fairies. —S.Q.]

Omuturangi Rd., Oeo, Oct. 24

Dear Smile Queen, —I have two dear little lambs. I have called them Kittie and Mollie. Don’t you think they are nice names for lambs? We have some little chickens coming out. Now, I will close with lots' of love to the other Smiles and yourself. I am, your Smile, Dona Stone. * [I like your lambs’ names. —S.Q.] Taikatu Rd., Auroa, Oct. 24. Dear Smile Queen, —I received my parcel with my present, and I am very pleased with it. We have twelve little chickens and they are very pretty little things. We have a duelc sitting too, and I hope she hatches them all. Wo had a gala day on Thursday at school to raise money for a bazaar. We raised £3 2s Bd. In my vegetable garden I have peas, lettuce,, onions, shallots and radishes. My flower garden has in it: Pinks, sea pinks, granny-bonnets, bulbs and dasiqs. I am, your sincere Smile, Myrtle Symes. [One side of the paper only, please Myrtle, or the printer will be saying something to us. —S.Q.] Manaia. Dear Smilfe Queen,—l have not been writing to you for a long time. lam having a good time at school, but I am glad when Saturday comes. I was pleased to see I got 14 marks for my verses. Some of those were lovely. I am sure mine looked awful beside them. I hope your fairies are not kept very busy with letters. Your loving Smile, Doris Dakers. [We don’t mind being kept busy with letters. Wo like them.—S.Q.] Hunter Rd., Oct. 2G. Dear Smile Queen, —How are you get ting on? I have not forgotten you. I have not written to you for a long time. I have been in bed sick. lam going to send some poetry and riddles to the Smile children. We have been having rough weather. Well, I can think of nothing more at present. I remain, your loving Smile, Nettie Rowlands. * [Use ink or a black pencil next time. -S.Q.]

Skeet Rd., Kapuni, Oct. 16. Dear Smile Queen,— Just a few lines to thank you for the pretty card you sent me for my birthday. TVc were going to have a basket-ball match tomorrow, but I don’t think we will now because it is raining. e have 44 cows in now. As news is scarce, 1 will close with a big smile for the other Smiles, not forgetting yourself. From Phyllis Eva. Auroa, Oct. 2S. Dear Smile Queen,— I have not written to you for a long time. Y es, Hunter is a nice name for the kitten. We arc having fine weather now. it is an right for gardening. Mother has a lot of vegetable seeds in and they are all up There are also some flower seeds up. I hope they will hurry and grow. lam very fond of flowers. We have a duck sitting on a dozen eggs. 1 “°P® she will bring them all out. * wll sending in some things for the Gift Cupboard. I must close now, with a big smile to all the Smiles. I remain, your loving Smile, Marjorie Tremam.

Manaia Rd., Manaia, Oct. 28. Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines to let you know I sent a parcel for you yesterday by the coach. The weather is not so bad now. I have crocheted a paper hat for a girl at school and now I am making one for myself. I n. also been crocheting round some handkerchiefs for a bran-tub that is to be at the bazaar, which is on November - • Most of the school children went to the Town Hall yesterday to see the 1 nine Minister. We have started our exam. I think I must close now. I remain, your loving Smile, Minnie Symes. TYcs I’ve received your parcel. What a fine sackful it was, too. Did you get the wee parcel from me if S.Q.] -