"THANK YOU, PEN-FRIENDS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20438, 14 December 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

"THANK YOU, PEN-FRIENDS."

A SPLENDID RESPONSE. Nothing lias given nie greater pleasure for a long time than a letter I received on Wednesday from the mother of Alex. McCrae, the "sick boy to whom T asked pen-friends to write. Although Mrs. Mcßae wrote only three days after my appeal appeared, Alex, had already rei teived twenty-two letters and parcels, and a lovely album filled with cigarette cards. Most of t,hc letters were from pen-friends, says Mrs. Mcßae, but some were from girls outside our circles. One letter was from Jean, a sick girl in Hamilton, who has been an invalid with heart trouble for seven years. " She has bad only six months' schooling," writes Mrs. McCrae, " and is fifteen years old, but, she. writes a most charming letter. Several pen-friends asked Alex.'s age—he is eleven. Ife is quite delighted with aIL his letters arid cards, and sends bis love and thanks to you, and to all bis correspondents. He will have plenty to occupy him now, as he received so manycards, all clean and new. We hope ho will be able to do some more reading and writing later on, but he is not able to do much yet." I am sure this letter from a grateful mother will bring all our boys and girls just as much pleasure as it did to me. Keep up the good work, and don't stop at one letter! There will be long days ahead when many pen-friends will forget to write, or find themselves too busy—don't be one of them! And I wonder if Jean, too, would like some correspondents ? No doubt, she will read this notice, so if she would like some of our boys and girls to write, she need only send me a little note, with her address, and I will pass it on to readers. Here is Alex.'s address in case any new readers wish to write: Master Alex. McCrae, Post Office, Maraetai.