THE SMILE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 September 1928, Page 18

THE SMILE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Manaia Rd.", Alanaia

Dear Smile Queen, —As it is a Jong time since 1 wrote to you 1 thought l would write to you as 1 h.ul u spare half-hour. We are nearly finished our holidays now, and I am very glad, as 1 like school very much. Before the holidays we finished our exam, but we c.icl not hear where we came. Florence Silby and l are going in for our .scholarship at the end of the year. There are only five children who won tiicir scholarship before at our school, and Florence and I would like to be sixth and seventh. Yesterday 1 did some gardening, and the day before mother did some. in my garden .1 have some violets and some bulbs in tower. M/ favourite i lowers are roses, violets, free/.ias, and hyacinths. What are yours .'Anile Queen? Mother has some bulbs, violets, camelias and primloses out in tile fiower garden. in mother’s vegetable garden she has cabbages, lettuces, cauliflowers, potatoes, onions and peas and beans. Mum auu 1 are going to sow some pumpkin, leek and .spinach seeds. 1 forgot to mention that mum has also some sage, horse-radish, (which is very hot) and parsley. If they all come on, we will have' quit:* a nice vegetable garden, i think. Our fruit trees are all m laid, and some of our plum tree, are ia r.lossom. We ha»e a mansh-mallow plant growing in our garden, it is sel.-sown. and I was wondering if these plants are of any use. Do ,vou know if they are, Smile Queen. The leaves are green with yellow stripes on them. If one touched* the leaves with their eyes shut, one would think that the leaves were pieces of velvet, they are so soft. The birds have started laying now, as the boys have some thrush and blackbird eggs. Have you watchjed the birds flying to their homes Smile Queen? 1 often have and at nighl great flocks of birds pass over our cowshed as we are milking. .Nearly ail our cows are in now .Smile Queen, there are only five more to calve. Did you get the one shilling and sixpence which we left at the Star Oflicc, .bmile Queen!-' It was sixpence each from Billy, Jim, and I towards the Radio Fund. That money came out of the jesuits the boys got for selling bottles, (lur fowls are laying well now. and we get nine eggs a day. Due of our fowls went t lucky, so mum set her on ten eggs to se how she got on. The chickens, ,ure due out on Monday. I must close |now ;us mother Wants me to unpick 'some sewing for her. With love to you and all your fairies. 1 remain, your affectionate Smile, Betty Lnursen. (What a splendid long letter Hetty, and such an interesting one. 1 do hope you will get a scholarship. I think my favourite flowers are violets; we have lots of them at present, hut T am loud of all ilowers. When 1 was very young, f had a donkey for a pet for quite a long time, and he loved marsh-mallows. 1 used ti give him some for a treat occasionally. The leave's, when boiled, may he used for ooultiees and bathing >-woljr?n I mbs. Yes, I have watched the birds flying home at sunset, and it is a great sight sometimes. How splendid of Jim and I .ill v to sell bottles for the Radio Fund 1 lia e s‘Hi the money to Mr. Salmon, and I thank von for it. hove from i.Q >

Knraka St., Manain

Dear Smile Queen, —I was pleased to see jo >- letter in the paper on Saturday night, so I am writing .attain now. You were asking if my bantam laid many eggs. Well, ishe, lays six or eight anil then starts to <luck, but I do not sit her always. I have a pet eat and her name is Tu Tu. Her colour is grey and I have been told that grey cats are not good hunters, but that <an not be true because mine is. AYe have two dear little pups, black and white. Please would you give me a name for them lam sending you a parcel for the Gi : 't Cupboard. T must close now. Lo.e from. Gladys Wallace.

(I was pleased to get a parcel from you so soon after you had joined us, Gladys. What an excellent fowl your bantam must he. Would Puff and Pal suite the dogs? Write again soon. Love from *S.Q.)

Rural Delivery, Ararata. Dear Smile. Queen,—Now I have the pleasure, of writing a you a few 'Lines'. To-day 1 went and had a look at the now loom oil our school and it is lovely. The carpenters built ns a new shelter shed as well. Wo go hack to ..school; on Tuesday and I am glad. 1 ■ gave those white-eyes some crumbs and then let them fly away. We caught, another one yesterday afternoon. The last few days’ have been cold and it ha.si been raining. T will clowe now, as news is scarce. With heaps of love to you and your Smiles, I am, your loving Smite, Emily Ward. (Are you going to he in the new room? 1 suppose it has lots of windows. The white-eyes must- he very tame. Did' you have a good holiday? Luo from S.Q.)

InaliU'. Dear Smile Queen, —I think I ought to write more often, don’t you think? 1 know the two girls who joined the Castle last week, because They go to the sanii?. school. T.hora Barlow is my cousin and Gladys Wallace is mein end. To-day we went back .to school after an enjoyable fortnight’s holiday. I did not go away for my holidays, did you. Smile Queen. I am sending you some poetry called the “A Sad Story” r.tul I hope you will like it. It has nine verses and I like them. too. I see that some of the Smiles are not writing very much now. I have’lit much news this time, so I will close with love to all, from Daisy Front. •

(Thank you for your letter, Daisy, f p.m glad to hear that you had a pleasant holiday. I like the- poetry “A Sad Story.” too. How do you like being hac-k* at school ? Love from S.Q.)

Auroa. Dear Smile Queen, —This is the last day of our holidays, .so I thought 1 wo u I tit wr-ite a short note to accompany tli;? parcel. To-morrow morning most of the Smiles will he off to school. I am looking forward to meeting my mate again. As it is getting near the end of the year and a great number of us will be separated, and we won’t have the chance of meeting again so often. I am only going to write a short note this time, ats I want to go out and -do some work in the garden, so I will close now, hoping you -and vouir -fairies are all well. I remain your laving Smile Gladys Bigham. (Your .marcel has not arrived *o far Gladys, hut I suppose it will come- in due course. What arc you going to do when von leave school ? Are you leaving this year? Love from S.Q.)

Whakamara,

Dear- Smile Queen, —Once again .1 have the pleasure of writing to you. I tel you receive the gifts- I tent to you, Smile Queen? Tb-morrow we go back to school after two weeks’ holiday. During the evening mother has bean teaching me to play five hundred. Re- .(,;■? I could play this game we spent onr evenings playing coon-can, ,strippack and sometimes manners. On Friday night there is going to- lie a children’s fancy dress ball and also a >!:iv. I am a Brownie in the play and mv si’-ter i.s- a fairy. Her dress is pale mink in colour, made, of pa,]>er. Tlr? fields are beginning to freshen up now and look green. The .spring rains we are having now are doing the fields a treat deal of good. Dad is home now after being laid up for five weeks. I will now conclude with love from Peggy Barilla. < Po-”> v. your gifts are simply splendid. I think they are the most useful things we have, and the little girls who receive them will he delighted, I know. Five hundred is a good game, don’t vo" think? I hope you enjoyed the hall. 1 thought of you last night; Love from S.Q.)

Mamin. Lear Smile Queen, — T am sorry it is such a long time cince I wrote to you last. hat. 1 promise to do 1 tetter in future. Just now 1 am staying with my big sister in Mnnaia, and am having a good time. The farm she works on has an orchard and such a lot of spring flowers, which look just lovely nodding thuii- white and vellow heads in the •'nd, ft is onlv a small place and there are onlv 17 cows. Sometimes 1 ’•elrv to food the six calves, and there is a. dark red one which wouht make a ,I'i'v ni 'c pet. There is one of my wrbool friends also staying with her

or who lives about quarter of a mile awav so sometimes T go and play wh-’- her. Her name is Florrie Lilies. Well. Smile Queen, as it is nniy bedthn" I will close with love to yon and •>’ 'ini" fairies. Ever your Smile. ’-m'Jp Wilson.

(\ am -nlfw-ed to hear from you again '!il l". What a lovely time you miust V* bavin". Farms are very beautiful 'n tb- soring time, aren’t they? I p.’>wnys love to see the fruit trees in Voom and the bulbs coming out all are- the place. T hope- you will write again soon. Love from S.Q.)

Cheat Rd., Ngaere, Stratford. Dear Smile Queen, May 1 become a member of your Castle ? 1 am nine ye ansi and eleven months old, and in Standard 3. -My birthday Is on October 15. We begin school to-day, but I am not going bn account of being in bed. My brother and two sisters and I have two miles to walk ito-school. Do you give badges to the Smiles, or do you j.usib give membership cards? My brother has a young cat at home. Could yon give mo a name for it ? Most of our spring flowers are out and they are lovely. It is raining up here at present. I will write a few riddles below. As this is my first letter. I will close with love from Stella Stockman (Welcome to the Castle, Stella. i am soirrv to hear that you are ill, and hope you will soon b? better. How would Smoke suit the cat? Thank you for the riddles. I .will send you a, card on vour birthday. Love from S.Q.)

Aaron. Dear Smile Queen, —It is a. long time since l wrote to you, so I think von will have forgotten me. We have six dear little calves, and I help to feed them. I help to pet. the ducks in at night and shut them up; sometimes they don’t want to come home, as they would rather awim in the pools. Our geese are laying- now. I will send something for the gift cupboard. I have enjoyed the holidays, but they will soon be over. I will close now with love from Amy Bigliam. (No. -of course I have not forgotten vou, Amy. I wa.s very pleased to hear from you again. Your sister Gladys is o-ne of our best correspondents. What fun it must be looking after the ducks and. calves. I shall look forward to receiving something from you for the clipboard. Love from S.Q.)

Optra Rd., Opunake

Dear Smile Queen, —I am so isomy at not having written before, but I have no excuses, and all I have to say is I think that I am very lazy. Will you please cross my sister’s name off the list, because she is too old to write. I am twelve years old now, in Standard 51 and mv vaster has left school. I have a girl friend at school and she is a very nice girl. I went for a few day’s s-tnv at my auntie’s place last week, but I had to conre home again, worst luck. T will send some riddles. Front Alice Wills.

(It certainly is a long time since I hoard from you, Alice. Yes. I will cm s your sister’s name out in my register. Wlmt a pity you had to leave your auntie ,<*> soon. Ix»vc from S.Q.) '

Makaka, Awatui.a

Dear Smile Queen, —As 1 ha.e nothing to do, 1 tnought 1 would unite urn ihowe few lines. 1 am .gathering together some articles to &i. v nd in i«>» t.io <ji.it cupboard which I Lope wi.l l.c acceptable." One morning as 1 was going out of the backdoor, i saw a Kingfisher right bv the doorstep, so i picked it up’ arid examined it. Isn't their paunnige 10-vely, Smile Queen i For a writing .prize I received two books, called "Mol lie HazeidineV Schooldays” and ‘‘Janet: Her "Winter in Quebec.” Onir violets are blooming now* and they look pretty with thiflr tiny blue and white faces peeping out. 1 think they are dear little fioweis. There has- IxVe n a. great change in tlu wtethcif the last week or two. lit ha» been, very cold, .has it not, Smile Queen? Well 1 think this is all for t.rtw tin’.'? so I will close. From your loving Simile, Martha Duckett. d am glad you are sending some thill gs for the gift cupboard, Martha. Yes, kingfishers certainly do have lovely plumage. I told you something about these birds several weeks ago in niy letter to all of you. The weather, seanns to he quite cold 'again in patches. Did you get those prizes last year ? Have you read them? T -suppose'so Love from Smile Queen.)

Hastings Rd.. Mangatoki*. Dear Smile Queen, —A-s I have nothing to- do I thought- I would write to you. I am going in for the calf-rear-ing competitions at Mangatoki this year, and I have got such a, dear little calf. When my brother came home Ire put up t.he wireless for us, and it is good. Every night we- listen in, and these are some of ' the stations: IYA Auckland 2YA Wellington, 3 YA ChriMohujoli and 4YA Dunedin, but we mostly get 2YA "Wellington. I wi.l close now. as -news is scarce. \\ it-ii love to von and your Smiles, I am vour loving Smile, Molly Nicholas. (I hope vou will win a prize in the calf-tearing competition*?. Molly. "What fun it must be having a wireless. I love listening-in, don’t you? Love from S.Q.)

South Rd., Hawera. Dear Smile Queen,—l am sending a doll for the gilt cupboard, and 1 hope volt will like it. I was reciting in the competitions. I am not going to school this week because 1 have a very sore foot. We have bail bad weather the iast day or two, haven’t we? I will close now. Love from Jessie Beamish. (Your doll is wonderful, Jessie. Did you dress it yourself? I hope your foot is getting better. I heard .vou reciting at the competitions, and you did \try well. Love from S.Q.)

Post Office, EUthaoji-. My Dear Smile Queen, —I am very sorry 1 did! not write before this, but I shall tell you about my holidays. 1 went to Waitara- and Iliad a lovely t.nie. Oiie night we went to the picture', The name of the picture was “Mother Alaehree,” and it was well worth seeing. Our bulbs are out in flower now and they make a pretty show when there is nothing else about, We have got 40 cowls and have kept 8 calves. We have got 12 chickens, out of 14 eggs and have two more lien.-, (sitting on 14 and 15 eggs, so I hop? we will have luck with them too. The weather is very mild to-day after all the rain and' wind we have had. -Our vegetables have been coming on well just lately. Well, Smile Queen, I. shall close now with love to von and vour Smites. .From your loving Smile Olive Simpson. xxxxxxxxxx (I hope all the chickens will come out. You will have lots to look after then, won’t you? What a. husinesw if is feeding them. Do you help fo weed the vegetable garden ? Love from S.Q.)

Mnngatoki. .Dear Smile Queen, —Just a. line to say how pleased T was to see imy -let tea in print. We are having our school holiday's now, but it is opening agate, on Tuesday. I am pleased too, as T like school very modi. T will be oo’ii" to a. new school when T start again. We were living at Matapu before. Hasn't the weather been wet. Smile Queen? T am going to try and send you -something for the gift eupbon-rd ns soon as I can. I will now close with love, hoping you and all vour Smiln- 1 am well. I remain, your loving Smile, Edith Harris. n u --. o nlea.sed to bear from von again, Edith. I home you will continue to lie a good correspondent. School is interesting after a holiday, dont you + -’’"uk a rocinllv a new school ? I hope you will be able to'send me something for the cupboard. Love from S.Q.)

Iva-karaimoa

Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines to let you know that t am quite well. I have got my hair cut now. I had itcut semi-'hingie. We are milking about 70 rows now, and we -have got 16 calves. We will be going back to school on Tuesday, after a fortnight’s . . liduy. "Wo have been having nice weather lately. Have you many flowers .ci.it in your garden, Smile Qu-een ? I have. We did not have many frost-s this winter. As news is ©care. I will close now. f remain, your loving B'mile, Jovoe M. Burrell. xxxxxx (How do you like having short hair, Joyce? It «aves a lot of trouble, don't you think? Have you had a nic? holiday? I ho-r-c so. but I suppose von are pie-wed to be hack at school. Yes, iny garden is'beginning tp look quite blight again. Eo-ve from S.Q.)