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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

Dear Boys and Girls

♦♦♦ We cannot change yesterday—— # * t «♦♦ that is quite clear, ♦*♦ Or begin on to-morrow until it •*♦ is here; »*» ♦t» So all that remains, both for you »** *l* and for me, »J» *l* Is to make each to-day just as ♦*♦ ♦J* sweet as can be. *J» *J* —From Elma Lee, M.B.G. '♦*

T was sorry to have to tell you last week that our Letterbox would have to ho closed once moro, but there aro so many interesting letters and other items waiting to bo published that to accept any piore .would only mean further disappointment for the boys and girls who aro looking forward to seeing in print the work sent in already.

Two itcyns in Boys and Girls to-day should interest you all—tho Anzac Day contest and tho Cheerio Scrap-Book announcement. I am sure you will understand that tho Anzac Day entries must l>e a true account of tho way you actually spent your day—not the way you think I .would like you to spend it!

Sinco writing tho " Cheerio" announcement, I bavo received letters and messages from littlo patients at Princess Mary Hospital, saying how delighted the latter v were at tho prospect of receiving some of your beautiful scrap books. So do your best, boys and girls, and give these children somo of the pleasure you have given to those at King George V. Hospital! I have not bad time yet to go through the entries for tho Senior Circle Contests, but will announce the results as soon as possible. There are so many interesting letters waiting to be published that the Mail-Bag replies will have to be held ovei > until next week. Your friend, A DAY AT MURIWAI, Dear Miss Morton,—ln this letter I shall tell you about a picinc I went to at Miui' wai. The drive through tho bush was most enjoyable as the giant, native trees loomed lip on either side of the road. Now and josuin, 'through the gaps, we could see the blue ocean with the white breakers rushing onwara. My spirits rose and my heart gave a leap of joy at the sight of the ■ water. Some friends and I ran down to the water's edge and then to swim. Every body, round us wa3 happy and soon we were 6plashing each other and having a jolly old time. Too soon wo heard tho call to lunch, but the sea air gave us good appetites and we did lull justice to the good meal. When the lost crumb was cleared away everybody betook themselves to the beach'. Some went to the rocks to fish, others looked for crabs, mussels or tfihe:roas, some paddled or swam, while others sat on the rocks and talked. My friends and I went for a swim, and then wo looked for crabs in crevices on rocks or in pools. We then went into the cave, but there was not much to see there. By that time it was afternoon tea-time so we went and unpacked the baskets again. After repacking the baskets we had to put ourselves into the lorries. When we were going through the bush we were not too tired to notice the beautiful trees and ferns, but we nil wished that we could bo going toward the faint blue against the horizon instead of away from it. —With love and best wishes from your sincere Pen-friend. Joan llill, Huapai (age 12). DIGGING OUT BUNNY. One evening when grandmother was minding us we came across a. rabbit burrow in the orchard. I rail down to get (ho spade and in less than five minutes all three of us were busy working. Grandmother and I took it in turns digging, while my younger sister guided us as to which way the burrow ran. It was a very short one, and near kho surface of tho earth. None of the others would put their hands in to find which way the bend turned, so I decided to do ao. Very soon my hand clutched a small, warm, furry animal. I was slightly scared, in case it was a frightened mother, so took my hand out again. But, as I did-so, tho small, beautiful head of a baby rabbit peeped around tho edge of ils nest. All three of U3 were delighted with our find, and booh had the babies securely .j housed /in a burrow of straw, as we knew it, would be useless to leave them or they would have to be killed for getting in our Kartlen and eating plants. Two were given to a small boy, and we kept tho remaining three.'' Carelessly the box was placed on soft grouiid, and ali threo rabbits escaped. Two were found, and are now great favourites and pets. When the fowls are getting fed the two rabbits are seen standing in their pen, begging, as they know their tea is not far away. Well. Miss Morton, I will close now.—From your loving Pen-friend, Gwcn Kelly, Station lioad, Manurcwa Cage 11)..

NAUGHTY POLLY! My mother told mo about a very mischievous parrot which belonged to her nuntie. ■ If auntie had visitors, as soon as they got near, a voice would be heard saying, "Hullo! Hullo." On looking round one would seo -that the owner of tho voice was ;v parrot. " Joey," having been discovered, would fly up and kiss you, but one Lad to be wary or he would bite you instead. One day when mother went to see lier aunt they heard him saying to himself: " You, are a naughty, bad boy, Joey." He had pulled out tho pegs and let the washing down on the ground! He also used to pull up the spring onions. Whenever lie had done anything naughty ho would ti.y.

"Hullo, mother. Good old mother!" At last lie cot so mischievous ILut liis owner was obliged to send him away to her daughter in the country, where he would have more 6pane to fly around than in her town section. Six morit!i3 after auntie went io eeo her daughter. As soon as Joey saw her lie said. " llullo mother. Good old mother! " This shows what a wonderful memory the parrot had.—Your loving penfriend. Pearl Herbert. Bethlehem, Tauransy (ago :i3).