THE SMILE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 20 December 1930, Page 17

THE SMILE CASTLE MAIL-BAG.

Dear I Smile Queen, —-’How elated wo feel. whe,n we rise in' the morning' and look oust of the window and sec all 'the "pretty flowers in the (garden. On the 21st we break u.p Sunday 'School and on the I’9tb tve are going to Hive our Sunday School tea and’ we will get our prizes given out. I have been every Sunday so far without a miss and Itherei are several others! as well as myself, so- we will got two prizes. Did you like Sunday School when you was a little girl, 'Smile Queen? Well Smile Queen I must close with love to you and alb your Smiilesi, Edna 'Whiting. (I am glad to find you are such a regular attendant at Sunday Schood Edna. Yours S.Q.) Bowa n. Dear Smile Queen, —Just a few lines for this week’s letter. To-morrow night, our school is having a fancy dress ball and I *a-nr going dressed up. To-night lam going along to' it ho post office to post it'he things for the competition and also your letter. Yesterday Muni'event to Stratford and bought our Christmas presents’. (Nexit Wednesday night the little children will be hanging up their stockings for iSantia Claus, I will close now. I remain your loving Smilei, Vera Jackson. (Many thanks for the splendid parcel sent by you and your sisters, Vera. I ami sure your gifts will be greatly (appreciated 'by those who receive them. Yours S.Q.) Meromere. Dear Smile Queen, —'Seeing that it is the last letter I will try to write a big one. 'We went to the coireerl on Fridny night and I ’it fivns a great success. I was in five item's; in 'three songs, a folk dance-and, a play. in the play 1 was an aunt. One of my brothers was a dentist. We are going to the picnic on Friday. T think we are going to the Xmas Tree on> Tuesday night, also . Mum is making some gooseberry jami to-day. She got them from a neighbour. Yes Chrbltmas is near and wc are glad. It doesn’t seem very long ago since'llast Christmas, does it Smile Queen?! Xt is a lovely sunny afternoon here Have you had much wet weather there? 'We hau a shower this morning. Dad' will be putting Ilia bay in .sometime this week I suppose. Well X will close now wishing you a. Merry Chrisltmas and a. Xlruppy New Year, L remain your loving Smile. Dora Colt art.

(You certainly played a big part in the concert Dora. X hoard that- it was very successful. Yours S.Q.)

Mamaia. Dear Smile Queen, —I must now write , you a 'few lines; as I have. time. I am sending- you a parcel for the 'Gift ’Cupboard and I am sorry I did: not send it before but- I hope it will ’be in time. We have not finished our exam yet. If I pas-s I will be in Standard 2. Xext Wednesday night is our lodge Xmas Tree at St. Mary’s Hall, IHawera, and we hope to be going. We have been having nice weather but just now it has started Ito rain. Brother is only four and he can count up to .five, and can draw things with chalk on a blackboard we have. Sometimes he feeds the fowls and chicks land gives them clean water. To-night he did the new potatoes for 'tea. I must close now so I wish you a Merry 'Christmas and a Happy ’New Year. Love front Edna Wallace. (I hope you tall bad a very merry time at the Xmas Tree party Edna. Best wishes for your success at the examination. 'Thanks very much for the parcel. Yours S.Q.)

Mn n a i a. Dear Smile Queen, —'As I .have not written for cr few week's I thought I had'better write for the last week. On the third of -this month we had our proficiency but I did not have to sit for it as I was one- that was exempted. In Hawera to-night there is our lodge Christmas, Tree to which we all hope to go. Brother cmd sister are both having a sleep so they won’t gelt tired. Next year X shall be able to write more often l as 'this is my last year at school. This last week at school we have 'been making Christmas Cards, calendars and string boxes in' our spare time. T have not quite finished (the article I am making but shall send lit in on Friday. As this is all the news I .shall close finishing you and all the 'Smiles a Merry Christinas and a Happy Now Year. Front Gladys Wallace. (1 shall 'be on the win tell 'for your entry for the competition Gladys. X hope you will' n'ot forget to write next year Yours .S.Q.)

Tanga raknit. Dear 'Smile Queen, —It. is time ito write to you again. Doesn’t the time fly quickly '.Smile Queen? It is nearly Christinas mow. I had a sore knee but it is better now. Xam going to the 'Chri.-ltmas Tree on 'Friday night. Jt is fine here to-day. We are not going out Tor ’Chi'istinns, As that is all the news I wit close. Good-bye. From your loving Smile. 'Eileen Bryant. (J hope von have a very happy time at the 'Christ.rqas 'Tree party Eileen. Yours 'S.Q.)

Manaia. Dear Smile Queen, —As this is the last week for us to write to you for a good while I must write now that I. have time. 1 iiope you get a lot of letters as there has been very lew in our page lately. 1 would have written more often but I haven’t had the time since we have more cows and 1 used tot have such, a lot of home-work to do at night 1 do not think i have passed my exam, but another year in standard live would be better as l was only put up on trial last time. A lady I know has such a lot of gooseberries so 1 have been canvassing lather and I have sold over 10s worth and she gave me t?s 3d for what 1 had sold. They are cheap, because site sells them for 3d per lt>. 1 ani sending a small parcel for the Girt Cupboard this week. Our headmaster is lea ving our school this year and I we are having one from Waverley. Edna and I are sending a little parcel to-day for the Gift Cupboard. 1 haven't quite finished my article lor the competition yet-, but. will be sending it- on 1' riday with Glady s entr>. Little brother and Edna are having a sleep so they can go to the Christmas tree in Hawera to-night. Alum is just- making Gladys a new dress and she made brother a new pair of pants this morning. We have been making Christmas greeting cards at school lately. Our teacher has some good ideas how to do them, so I am sending you one. This is all, now as I have a few little jobs to do, so I must wish veil a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love from your Smile, Phvilis "Wallace. (That is* indeed a good newsy letter, Phyllis, for the finish of the year. Your parcel was safely received, for which I send my best thanks to you and your sisters. That was good business to earn a little money for yourself bv selling gooseberries. Yfours S.Q.) Aleremere. Dear Smile Queen,—l saw in the supplement last week that you, wanted all of the' Smiles to write, .so I thought I had better Will this he all the letters for this .year Smile Queen? I think this year went like fire don’t you? It lias been so wind} lately that it nearly blows one away. We will be breaking up for our liolidays to-day and *th.© next day v ill be our school picnic On Tuesday night we had a Christmas Tree and I enjoyed myself very much. The garden is looking nice now, and 1 think the bad wind is coming again, to batter about some of the pretty flowers which are out at present. M ell, Smile Queen, I think I have told you. enough for this week., I must close, wishing you a"merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I remain your loving Smile Ruby Townsend. (Yes, this is the last of the Castle page for 1930, Ruby. I am glad you managed to write, for I look upon you as one of my old correspondents now. I hope you enjoy the holidays and have fine weather Yours S.Q.)

Manaia. Dear Smile Queen,—Just a few lines to tell you I am sending the gift, tor the Gift Cupboard. I think you will 'like it. My word, hasn’t this year o-one quieklv, it doesn’t seeni long since fast Christmas, and here it is again, [t is so nice receiving presents 1 rotn nH • We have got two presents already. Vi e ; arcs having our house papered, and it will be nice and clean for Chri-stmas. Isn’t the weather nice now? We vo mid a few swims in the river, and it’s I cully (rood, I can swim much hotter tn.is year. Do you like swimming, Smile Queen? Well, you. must excuse a "tong letter this time, because I have, not time to write a long one. Reggie is competing for the Dixon Banner this year. He 'has never been in it before, and "be is getting quite excited! uncut it. We are having a holiday to-morrow cn account of the Hunnor' ’ competition. I am not going in, bat sun staving to help mother instead. I like cooking which is now being taught in the school. The other night when 1 c-aine home from school, 1 made some sausage rolls, and they were nice. I wish "-on and your Smiles a merry Christinas and a happy New Year, front your loving Smile. Margaret Silby. (Thanks for your good wishes Mar-o-aret and for the gift, which I ‘iked verv much indeed. I didn’t get so many letters from yon this year as I did last, but I hope you’ll be one of the “regu'ians” in the New Year. Yours, S.Q.)

Ararat a. Dear Smile Queen, —As the Smile Queen page will soon.be closing down, I thought I had better write. Beryl got second for her calf in the calf-rearing at Ararata, so she had to take her to Hawera. At Hawera she tied for fifth place. I am looking forward to our school concert, which is to lie hold on Wednesday. We are making programmes at school for it. I passed in the examination, so next year I will be in Standard (i. At school avc have tennis tournaments now. I am going to send something for the sewing competition. Wo are having our Sunday School prize-giving to-morrow afternoon. We are going to New I’lymouth for the Christmas holidays. Well, I will close, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. —I am, your sincere Smile, Audrey Marsh. (I am glad you remembered the Castle before Christmas came, Audrey. Congratulations on your success in the examination. Your sister did well with her calf. —Smile Queen.)

Mcremorc. Dear Smile Queen, —Well, Smile Queen, I will try to write you a big letter this time as it is the last to write this year. Only a few more days before Christmas, and I am glad, too. Aren’t you, Smile Queen. The men out here will soon be very busy putting in the hay and lucerne for the cows. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas at the castle. It is a nice day here this afternoon, although it was raining a bit this morning. I wont to the Moremore School concert on Friday night, which was a great success. We are very likely going to a Christmas Tree in the ballon Tuesday night. The school picnic is also to be held on Friday. The other night our friend’s doy killed two of our chickens and hurt four, two of which died. Our vegetable garden is looking very nice now and we will soon have cabbages to cut. We have been eating lettuces long ago. .The school breaks up on the day of our picnic and the children go to the picnic from the school. My brother found a bird’s nest j to-day wit'll four eggs, and now they have about 7fi eggs I think. Well, Smile Queen, this will be all till next year. ''Wishing you and all the people at. the i castle a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Best wishes from Your loving Smile. Qneenie Ooltart.

(X am pleased to get such a long letiter from you to complete the year, i Qucenie. Yes, this is a very happy time ; of the year, with its concerts and pics’ pics. X hope you enjoy yourself at the l break-up. What a pity to lose those 'chickens like that.—Smile Queen.)

'Manaia. Dear Smile Queen, —I am so very sorry I have not written for such a long* time. The other week mother and I went, to Wellington, .just for a few days. On the 10th of December we had our . school concert. It was a big success. Thursday afternoon we are having our Sunday school party. Early in the year we wore all given three seed potatoes each to grow and we are to take our potatoes to sell them on Thursday. I hope my parcel reached you Safely, Smile Queen, we nave had some very nice weather lately. I hope the weather man will keep it up. Well, Smile Queen, as it is bed time I must close. With love to all the Smiles and yourself and also a Merry Christmas.— With love, from Nola Franklin. (Yes, we received your parcel safely, thank you, Nola. I hope the sale of potatoes proves a great success.—Smile Queen.) Turuturu Eoad, Hawera. Dear Smile Queen,- —I am sorry I did not, write before now. I think I am one of the Smiles that do not write very often. L think Victor Robinson is your best correspondent. I may be going to the baths if it is fine. Aly two brothers are competing in the Dixon Banner Sports. I hope it is a better day than it has been. It is getting close to Christmas now. Wo break up on Friday for our school holidays. If is prize-giving at Sunday school next. I think this is all now. With low to you and all the Smiles. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New A’car. I remain, your loving Smile, Irene Eden. (3 hope you will write us lots of letters next year, Irene. I hope your brothers did well at the sports. —Smile Queen.) An.roa. Dear Smile Queen,--I am very sony I nave no c written for a long time. It was beautiful weather, hut to-day it is

,'r,jy windy and stormy now. Would you like to have a present for your gift cupboard? Our Red Cross had a sort of bazaar last Wednesday and we made £3 12s' Ori altogether. We had a fishing pond for penny and threepenny tries. Then we ii-.c*. a cake and doll. Airs Evans, our head teacher, won the doll in a lictle cradle. The cradle was made by Mcrvyn Kilpatrick and the things Mrs Duff made. Our little baby can walk and knows the way out to the little, gate "leading on to the road. How are you getting on in Hawera? We arc getting on lovely here. I have no more news, so good-bye for now.—l remain, youv loving Smile, Esnie Sheerin.

(It is very nice indeed te hear from you again, Esme. Your bazaar was quite a success I heard. We are all well in Hawera, thank you. I am afraid it will be too late for any more gifts this year, but wo shall be glad to get something from you for the cupboard next year.—Smile Queen.)

. Ivopuaranga. Dear Smile Queen, —How are you getting on? Thank you very much for my birthday card. I will be in Std. 11. after Christmas. I went to Castlepoint on Sunday. There were fifteen of us. ft is 53 miles rrom acre. Wo went out by motor lorry and had a nice day out. On the way we passed through some pretty country. In one piece of bush there were quite a lot of black birch trees, and their leaves were like maidenhair fern. We got to Castlepoint. The billy was boiled, then wo had dinner. After dinner we went up to the lighthouse, and had a good "look around. We had a. nice play in the sand and had a paddle in the sea. We had a pleasant trip homo. When we got home we wont for the cows. We will soon be having Christmas holidays, so I wish you and all the Smiles a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope to write next year more often than I did this year. I will close now, with love from your loving Smile, Eileen Jnrrett.

(That was certaiflly a nice day’s outing you had, Eileen. Thanks for your good wishes. I hope to hear from you again next year.—Smile Queen.)