THE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 May 1927, Page 18

THE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Auroa Rd., Auroa

Dear Smile Queen, —I have not forgotten von, but you must think I have. We are having a fancy dress ball down here on Friday next and there will bo some fuii that night. We only milk the coavs once a day iioav, the days seem long Avhen there is no milking at night. We had a term examination at, school before we broke up and I came first in our class. Well as I have no more ucavs I Avill close now Avith IoA-e to you and all your Smiles. I remain your loving Smile, Alice Deegan. [Congratulations Alice. You did well to come first in your class. 1 hope you enjoy the ball. Are you wearing a fancy costume?—S.Q.] Mokoia. Dear Smile Queen, —You must think me awful not Avriting to thank you for the lovely book. I got a big surprise Avhen the parcel arrived, avc all Avondered avlio it was from. Nature could not have made anything ‘nicer than flowers. At this time of the year the gardens are all looking dull. The winter show will be here next month, i; seems to me that it is only a month ago since it was here. I am waiting for the next competition. We haA’e a lot of Smiles in our circle iioav Smile Queen. I see in the paper that we have a few Smiles from England. The schools will start on the 23rd of this month. The fields that Avere nice and green in the spring time arc all brown. As this is all I can say l avi 11 close, Smile Quebn. Love from your Smile. Jean Main.

| I agree' with von Jean. The gardens are very dull just now, but spring will soon be here with the lovely bulbs and violets. Don’t you love the liyderangea bushes just now? 1 am glad you liked the book. —S.Q. ]

Chislehurst, Eltliam

Dear Smile Queen, —May I become a member of vour happy Smiles? Tam nine years old and in ‘Standard three. Mv birthday is on July 5. • I haA’e been to the dentist these holidays. I have a doll and pram which Father Christmas gaA’e me three years ago. With love to you and your Smiles, Flora Coplestone. | I am glad you have joined our Smile Castle Flora. Will you please write out the Smile Pledge next time. Did the dentist hurt? I’m sure you would be ever so braA'e. Write soon please.—S.Q.]

South Rd., Unworn

Dear Smile Queen, —Thank you very much for the lovely card you sent me for my birthday. I got a nice lot of presents. 1 have my cousin, Joan Wei ham, staying with me for her holidays and we are having good fun. T was out staying with her for a feAV days last Aveck. My sister came home for Easter and brought her little baby. She is a lovely little darling. I Avouid like to go over to Napier Avith Myrtle and play Avith baby. I have two little kittens and they arc very playful. I have two big sisters, but no brothers, f must close now with love to you anil all the Smiles. From Mollie Wells. [f am sure you and Joan Avill In* having a lovely time. Jlow you must have enjoyed your wee niece! Tt will be awfully jolly if you ever do go to Napier to play with her. What do you call your kitten? —S.Q.J

Kakaramen

Dear Smile Queen, —My big sister is going to Foxton for two weeks on Monday. We go baek to school again on Monday. 1 did not go away for these holidays, but I went to ITawcra for the Christmas holidays. We had three ducks, but we cannot find two of_ them now. Love from Joyce Burrell. [I hope you have found the other two ducks,' Joyce. Your sister is fortunate. I hope she has a jolly holi day in Foxton. —S.Q.j Hawera. Dear Smile Queen, —T must thank you for that pretty card you sent me for iny birthday. I went to Xormanby for mv holidays and I had a lovely time. Our fowls are not laying now. We are milking only three cows at night. I think 1 have no more to say now, so T will close with lots of love to you and the Smiles. X X X X T am, your loving Smile, Edna Pepperell. [I think all the fowls must have gone on strike, but I think it won't be long before we all start getting eggs again. I am glad you enjoyed your holi d ays.—S. Q. ] Ka.upokonui. Dear Smile Queen, —I received the lovely birthday card you sent me yesterday. I thank you very much. 1 am. sure you could not guess what I got for my birthday. I got the card you sent me, a birthday book, a pair of fancy garters from Mum, a comb from Lottie and a tape-measure representing a golf ball from my playmate. Eva. The tape measure is not really to use to measure anything, but to use as an ornament. Don ’t you think 1 was lucky to get such a lot of things? I do. 1 will be glad when the holidays are over and we are back at school again. llow many Smiles have you .now, Smile Queen? I am glad to see we have some English Smiles now. I wonder how they got to know about our page? I think as this is all the news I will close now. I remain, your sincere Smile, Alice .M. Bennett.

[You were lucky Alice. We haA’e hundreds of Smiles now, including four English ones. I am glad you" liked the birthday card. —S.Q.J

Rural Mail, Kaikohe, Xorth Auckland

My Dear Smile Queen, —As it is such a long Avhile since I last AvrotO to you I decided to take up my pen and write you another letter. We haA’o four dear, fluffy, little black and Avhito puppies. They are just beginning to start being playful. Although <)ur big black kitten seems to be afraid of the pups he is a \-ery good rat-hunter. The first night avo shut him in the shed he caught tAvo rats; since tlren lie often goes hunting. We had.our proficiency examination -on April 7. It AA-as dark before avc had finished our Avork, and Faith and I Avere not home until eight o’clock. At about 9.30 p.m., hoAvcA-er, the teacher rang up to say that I had gained my proficiency. The other girl gained her’s Avith non ours. A feAV days ago it Avas raining and bloAving, but to day it Avas beautifully fine and bright. Have you been haA-ing nice sunny days lately? Wo haA’e quite a nice lot of roses in bloom noAA-. They are such pretty cream, pink tipped, scented ones. One day a lady gaA’e my sister a big bunch of chrysanthemums of ever so many colours. Some of the prettiest ones were white, gold, red and pinky cream. Saturday’s “Star has just come by the mail and I see that Evelyn Taylor, the little girl avlio lives in England, AYould like a pen-friend so I AA’ould like to Avrite to her if you think she Avould care to receive my uninteresting letters. In about a Avoek’s time one of my Aunts is coming to A’isit us; her home is aAvav (loavu in Wanganui. Last Friday we “broke up” school for a week’s holiday, but avc don’t mind liaA'ing only one week because we have another one Avhen the other schools do not have one. Mother and Faith are spending the holidays at my sister’s place so, of course, I have more Avork to do. But still 1 haA-e lots of time for reading. I haA-e read four of Jean Webster’s and 1 liked them very much; do you? I did not read them all these ‘holidays, though 1 have finished two books and am reading a third. Yesterday some friends came to sec us and they had their music lessons at the same time because theAhad missed them on Saturday. Several Aveeks ago I Avent to stay Avith my sister to keep the house and mind fne children because she had to help with the milking. Unfortunately the machines Avould not go so it Avas after nine before they were finished the first night and 8.30 other nights: also it was about 10.15 before they had cleared up in the morning. The baby, Stephen, can walk now and it is loA’ely to see him toddling over the grass, lie gets along so fast too., that it is y wonder he does not topple over tiro re often, .lust now when 1 looked out of the open window I . saAV a wonderful sight. It was the big moon rising over the tops of the toAvering trees, lighting up the sky about it an I so making it quite golden. Almost as brilliant as the sun often is, only il always lights up the whole sky nrore-or-less. It lias been so cold lately that we have been having open fires in the evenings. Our hens have just stopped laying, and avc miss the eggs very much. The pups love playing with the cat, but he is a bit rough sometimes. ‘However, when it comes to eating the pups master the situation altogether. \l think that in the autumn Nature Roes her most dainty Avork with the 'paint brush. It is really Avondorful to watch the sunsets Avhieh somehow seem more richly coloured in autumn than at. any other time as they change from one colour to another. Then there are the trees; how well they look intheir crimson red with a tinge of orange, russet, emerald, green, golden and even black. More beautiful still do they look when they are all mingled up in one leaf as they often are m black-berry, barbarv, or strawberry leaves. Then too, there are the chrysanthemums in all their glory brightening up the scene as if they Avcre trying to chase Aviator nAvay. I think the golden, scarlet, and russetbrdnze tinted cardinal coloured ones arc- prettiest. As it is bed time I must close now. Wishing you and all tin* Smiles the happiest times. I remain your affectionate Smile, Joyce Roekoll. [What a delightful long letter, Joyce! It is nice to know avc are not forgotten in Kaikohe. I was pleased to hear you passed your proficiency. Yes I’m sure Evelyn Taylor would love you to write to her. You haA’o the address from the “Star” I suppose. Did you enjoy “Daddy-long-legs?” 1 think that was my favourite of Jean Webster’s. The autumn tints certainly are most Avonderful. The Smiles often think of you and Faith so far north. Please don ’t be so long in sending another letter. —S.Q.]

Ararata. Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines to let you know I have not forgotten you. How are you keeping, Smile Queen? We are all well and baby is splendid. Her name is Joan and she creeps now. She still lias her bright smile and I am sure she is going to be cue of your Smiles some day. I know •one of your new Smiles, Nellie Cocker. Sometimes she comes out home. Have we not been having wet weather just lately? We have 22 fowls and only two are laying. We have no ducks. Have you ever been down Ngawliine Gorge. I think it is just lovely in spring when all the wild flowers are out. The gorge is only one mile long, but there are plenty of ’trees down in the creeks and on the banks. Well I must close now. ■ From your loving Smile, Phyllis Woodhead. [lt is good to hear from you once more Phyllis. Joan must be a- wee darling. I shall look forward to welcoming her as a Smile. The years will soon pass. Yes, I know the Ngawliine Gorge well and like you I just love it in spring time. Write again soon and tell me'more news of Joan. —S.Q.] Alton. Dear Smile Queen, —May 1 become a member of the Smile Castle. I promise to smile everytime I can and 'to chase all the frowns into the dark cave where the Smile Giant will kill them with his Magic Sword Happiness. I am very pleased to see that two of my school mates write to you too. Well, Smile Queen, as this is my first letter I will close with smiles to everybody. . From your new Smile. Molly Richards. P.S. Please would you send me your right address. [We welcome you to our Castle Molly. Will you please send your , age and the date of your birthday. Mv correct address is “Smile Queen,’' C/O Star Office.—S.Q.] Riverlea. Dear Smile Queen, —I have never told you about our dance yet but l guess someone has written to you to tell you. ■ Well I nearly forget school sometimes. At the dance I wore a dress called a<“Spanish Troubadour.’’ I am going to have my plibto taken soon in my fancy dress costume. If 'I go to town to-morrow I’ll buy some ’present for the cupboard. Well T can’t think of much news and I want to go to bed, so good-bye. I remain your loving Smile, Thelma Gargan. [1 am sure your Spanish costume would be much admired. It is very good of you to think of the Gift Cupboard. Could you not get some material and make something? We love the Smiles’ own handwork.—S.Q.] Mangawhero Ed.

Dear Smile Queen, —I am sorry T did not write to you for such a long time. I am sending this doll’s dress for your Gift Cupboard, and T Avill send something later on, I am very pleased to see in the paper that the children from England are Avriting to you and your fairies. The days are getting very rough now lip this wav. Is it in HaAA’era? I must close iioav for it is bed time. Loa’o to you .and your fairies from Alice Frcakley.

[I am glad you have not forgotten us altogether Alice. The weather here is not as rough as avc sometimes haA-e it iii May. The doll’s dress Avas beautifulh’ made. Thank you so much. —S.Q.J

South Rd., Otakelio.

Dear Smile Queen, — 1 have no home work so, 1 thought T would Avrite you a little letter so you Avill knoA\* I have r.ot forgotten the Smile Castle. I have a pet coav, and a pet dog, and tAvo soavs and I am going to get a pet canary. Our school holidays are OA’er noAA* and 1 had a good time. Winter is here now’ and the nights are getting longer, and the days are getting shorter, and at night Ave haA’e a fire in our sitting room. The Maoris are building a boa; along the beach. I Avent to the Oeo sports and I had a lovely time. I aauis watching the races and the football. The goal posts are still up and tinschool boys are playing football in tin' same place. We ha\’e forty coavs and t av’o cattle dogs and 'one pup. And we have a little kitten; please could you giA’e me a name for it, Smile Queen? L .must close now. Loa’c from vouiloA’ing Smile, Ralph Meek. [You are a fortunate boy Ralph to have so many ppts. Would Bobs do as a name for the kitten. —S.Q.]