THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 March 1926, Page 18

THE CASTLE MAIL BAG.

Matukuroa. Patea, March 22.

Dear Simile Queen, —l, have not written to vou for a long time and I am sorry. 1 was away in Wellington lor tin ee- weeks and there I had a good time. My cousin taught me how to swim, -which ait* times was a painful process, because I would often go under, and the water would go up mj nose iti my eyes and ears and also in -my mouth. But, after two or three days I could swim eight strokes, and by! the time .1 came home I could swim properly. While I was away I went tvthe Zoo. where I saw many animals and birds that I had not seen before. The peacock that was,there was showing everybody his fine feathers. He turned round and round, just like they do in the pictures, but this was. better than a picture. As ! have no more news J. must close. From your loving Smile, Ohrissie M. Miller.

Kaupokonui, March 21. Dear Smile Queen, —I hope you are all right. Lottie thanks you yery much for the pretty card you sent her. She had not got it when I last wrote and T have not had time to write since. I have been in bed lor a week and I anr glad, to get away from it. I. ami going To school to-morrow. I. have not time to write every week because .1 am so backward in. my school work. I have to do extra home work to keep up with the others. I see you are going to .have a Gift Cupboard this year. I will do .my best.to help fill it. 1 have not mudh news this time, so 1. will dose now hoping you and your fairies are well. J remain, your loving Smile, Alice Bennett. AVbakamara, March 19. ■ Dear Smile Queen, —Again. I take pleasure in writing you another letter. \\'e are having beautiful weather for this time of the year. .I.’trust you and the fairies are enjoying it the .same as I am. AVe are breaking-up next Friday for our Easter holidays, and that. clay, too, is nxy birthday. I shall be ten years old. I am in Standard three. Well, dear Smile Queen, I must close now with love and best wishes from Grace Gulliver. Omuturangi Road, Oeo. March 21. Dear Smile Queen,—How are you getting on ? Father Christmas brought me a nice dollies’ sewing machine. I will try to write more regularly. I have a flower garden and it has a good fewflowers in it. I will try to make something for the Gift Cupboard. Now I shall .close, with lots and lots of love. I am, your loving Smile, Dena Stone. f"What lovely note paper. Dena. — S.Q.]

Livingstone St.', Patea, March 14. Dear Smile Queen. —Just a few lines to you so you won’t think I have forgotten you, as it is a very long time since I wrote to you. I was in bed all last week with a cold on iny chest. I am fee-lino- much better now. We have eight dear little kittens, and we are going to drown some, I think. J did not go away for nxy holidays, but I have been to see a school . friend of mine—Alison Large—several times, and she is wel 1 . My sister Florrie went with me. 1 was collecting for our kewpie for the Methodist Sunday School, and Kakaramea. won. .Our bazaar was yery nice. 1 hope you and your fames are well. 1 do. not know much about pa riots, but will do my best. I wil’ close now with a big smile from your sincere Sixiile, Gwen Jury. P.S.—I have not made a badge yet.

Ararat a, March 16. Dear Smile Queen, : —It is a long time since I wrote to you last, so I thought I would write to-day. I had a long dream last night about my wee doll, so I think I null write it for my competition. We have a lot of work to do now, so I have not much, time to write to you. My Auntie has gone to the Dunedin Exhibition. Don’t yon wish you could go too. We killed our lamb yesterday, Smile Queen. I wonder what would have happened if you had had a battle the other day. Aren’t there a lot of Smile* children in your Castle now ? I .was going to send you a Christmas card jast year, hut* I did not go to town soon enough. Tf you don’t mind, please tell me when your birthday is. lam sending you in a tonguetwister, Smile Queen, and I hope you try to get some of your fairies to try and sav it quickly. Well, I must close, as it is tea time for me. With lots of love and XXX X. to you and your fairies. From Phi’lis Wood head.

Rowan, March 23. * Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines, as I have not written to you for such a long time. At our school picnic, which was held at Opunake beach, we had races, of which I won one and gol one shilling. We <nll went in for a bathe and had a most enjoyable time. My sister Mavis, who is. staying at Kni* paki, had a picnic in a. neighbour’s paddock, and they had races, too. She won the chamjnonship race, under 0 years, innd got five shillings, and in the class race got one of those little leather bags that go over your shoulder. They' also went for an excursion to the Auckland Zoo, where.she had a glorious day out. She is having a happy time up there. Don’t you think .so? We have a lot of flowers out now, especially sweet peas and jesters. I have a garden, too. We have a new teacher now, and we* have to work very hard, or she is going to put the lazy' ones dwon. T think this is all I can say now. Hoping you have a happy time.—l remain, your loving Smile, Marjorie Hardaker. Kaponga, March 24. Dear Smile Queen, —I have not written to you for such a long while that I expect you have nearly forgotten me Tt has been very wet here lately'. Last night the rain was awful. We left one of our bedroom windows open by mistake and one of the beds got all wet. Apologising for not writing more frequently, I am, your little Smile, Phyllis Harding. P.S.—We have a little white and grey kitten at home. Could you give me a name for it? —P.H. f [Shall we call your kitten Miclcie. because he has a mixture of colours.— S.Q.] Uiverloa, March 24. My Dear Smile Queen, —1 suppose you think I have forgotten you; blit 1 have had a lot of work to do, so I haven’t, had much time to spare. ,To-day it is very cold. On Saturday' night I saw in the paper that the Smiles were asked to write an essay on a dream. I have forgotten to tell you what a lovely holiday L spent at Now Plymouth. 1 was staying with one of my relatives living near the beach. 1 had a most enjoyable time at the beach anti visiting different parks. I will close now, with kind regards to you and your fairies. From your loving Smile, Thelma Gargan.