Winning Letters

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

Winning Letters

OFF TO ENGLAND Dear Miss Morton,—One bright morning as I was in bed reading I saw a ray of light and looking up I saw my good fairy coming down the first sunbeam. She told me to get dressed and when I had done so she said, " Now I am about to make you a present of this lovely day: what would you like to do?" "Go to England," I answered. I was blindfolded and when I opened my eyes-1 was standing on a small country station. Dotted about were pretty cottages with wonderful gardens. As we walked down the winding road I saw vinding, spreading moors and could smell the bracing air and the acene of the heather. To our left was a forest and upon entering I perceived some ponies which the fairy told me were Exmoor conies. Wo wandered on. Her® and thero primroses and violets grew in abundance and more than once I stopped to smell them and eniff the air. In the beautiful hanging tree« wonderful birds eang and locußts chirped, in fact, the whole bush seemed astir for many a rabbit stopped to stare at us and many a squirrel peered down j:rom the shelter of the trees. The most wonderful siight of all was when a baby fawn poked hia silky nose through the branches to gaze at us. We stood stock still. I longed for the spotted beauty to let us see him properly but throwing his head well back, with his antlers bobbing in the air, he ran off. We walked on and came to a amall cottage bordering the wood. It was a dear old house. The latticed windows were wide open and through the pretty curtains I could see a little girl asleep on a bed. Said the fairy, " Like you, I am a lover oI beauty! Goodbye." I was in my bed again and my lovely day was over.—-Elizabeth Close, 5J2 Claude Road, St. Heliers Bay (age 12). TO VENICE Dear Miss Morton,—Do you know where my fairy took me when she asked me my wish? To Venice. Suddenly I was standing beside an old canal, from whoso dark waters rose old buildings with overhanging marble balustrades. A black-prowed gondola stole out of one of the dark waterways adjoining the mair. canal, and halted at my feet. Down th' 3 old mossy steps I ran and, taking my seat in the cabin, I saw that we were off, gliding along winding wnter-roads and under many » dark bridge. Occasionally the gondolier would give a wild crjr to warn others of his approach. When tired of travelling by gondola, I got out and walked through narrow lanes to the Square of St. Mark's, where otand the four brass Horses of St. Mark's. I visited the Cathedral, with its wonderfully and richly decorated interior, and eaw the Bridge of Sighs, across which was led many an unhappy prisoner, to dark, horrid prisons, from which none ever escaped alive. Along the Grand Canal, the "main street" of this city of waterways, were hurrying many gondolas, some on pleasure bound, others loaded with wares. The gonuola, something like a Maori canoe in shape, is propelled by a long oar held by the gondolier who stands in. the stern. In the evening I went for a ride along the brightly-lit Grand Canal. From many gondolas hung Chinese lanterns which, swaying, were reflected in the darlK, Quivering waters. Along the banks gay throngs of people were sipping coffee in the cool night air. As my gondola, drifting idly, floated out on to the calm Adriatic, I looked back and saw the spires and towers of Venice silhouetted against the cold night sky, while over all the moon shone.—l remain, your loving pen-friend, Gwenda Millier. c.o. Miss Rhodes, Edmund Street St. Heliers Bay, E.l. (age 14). PICTURES WANTED Dear Miss Morton.—Will you please print in the Boys' and Girls' Page the following:—"Dear readers, as the pictures in the Bournville cocoa tins have been changed 1 ask if you will please _ send me any spare pictures you have and ill return I will send you foreign postage stamps. Please send addressed and stamped envelope to Peter Churchrr, Papamoa, Te Puke, Bay of Plenty."

"MY LOVELY DAY" CONTEST

V/HAT A DAY 1 Dtar Miss Morton,—This buautiful day ig all my own to do anything I like. Like tt, little girl in the old school book, I wi]] put on my beat dress Ihd cl:mb the tree and have a puriri berry fight with ijj brothers. I will then read a new book, occasionally admire the beauties of fly, morning. I will do all the things that 1 havo always wanted to do.

Ai'ter breakfast my brotheirs and I *j]j rise from the table without thinking whose turn it is to wipe and pack avay the dishis, and wc will spend a lovelj hour Sshing from' Manger© Bridge. Although I bate never seen the fighermen cutch any the.ro, we will catch quite s. number and give plenty away to our frictds. About 10 a.m. wo will join our friends, and toboggan down our hill for a while, and then so for a swim. In the afternoon my girl frrnd and I wfli take- the baby out in the pra:ji. We will by ourselvea so that nobody fill fight ovn whoae turn it is to wheel it. I wilL wheel it going out uaa my fritsij can have her turn coming home. The boyi could come with us. but the:? always wist a turn at wheeling, and as soon as they any other boys they know ihey promptly " don't belong." ? On the evening:—this lovely day is Friday, of course—my friend and I will go shoppie j and buy ourselves each a nev frock. Thw# frocks .will, of course, be wonderful, wo will not even dream of as'iing the priw, I think we will wear them home, and that will make a lovely finish of perfect day. —I remain, one of your Hiiealh Circle, Flora Soar, Seacliffs Road, Onehungj (age 14). Sli-VIERWINGS AMD I Dour Mis* Morton,—l awoke just as tha sun rose, and from the first sunbeam that entered my room ray favourite little fairy Silvcrwingu alighted on my 'window' sill. I immediately sat up and she told me flij4 as I had been good and kind for the part few weeks she was goinr to reward "me by giving me the beautiful day to do as I pleated. My mma at oncw ran to the thoughts of many things, but after consideration, I decided to spend it in the kindest way possible', Silverwings, with a wavu of her wan<£. turnud me into the height of herself. I explained my plan to her as we flew aloof and the first house we came to was where a poor woman lived with six children. We i>t once tidied the few rooms and laid the t*bi» for breakfast and make a cheery fire on the hearth and after a few minutes mors left the house much brighter. Ne:tt we came to a little tumbledown howl which needed repairing. We saw that thi» was attended to and people didn't know was the same house. Soon w« came to t poor little flower garden which was ovev grown with weedli. We at once pulled then out und gave the flowers water to drink. Time was getting on and I asked Silverwing si if I could give the food children pleasant dreamß. She readily consented altd so wts started our task. After six hours of willing .toil we flew in throng!:; the window to my room and I thanked Si jverwings fur the ■ioyous day and was soon ::ast asleep.— Well, Miss Morton, I must cloje now, from I/esley Young, lii.ngswood Road, Papatoetoe (age 10). THE CREAM PONY Dear Miss Morton,—l thought to myself. "If I could have one lovely day I would ride to the coaat on a little cream pony. I have not a pony, so would l;hink it wonderful to have one for a whole day. I would take some lunch with me, and sling it oytt niy ohoulder. I would then ■ cut som© grans and sling it over my other shoulder , for my pony. r Then one day my wish came true, i started at nine and galloped merrily along for a while and after a twiinty-mile rids reached the coast. I at once (cave my pony some grass and then gave it a drink m the creek. I mounted and went for a r\a» up the beach. When we got back I had » bathe and found some toheroafl, and 1 tn«n startad for home. '" ... I was held up when I got lo Dargavillo. for I found they were lifting up the brings for a. boat to pass under. After that my horse galloped merrily all the way boms. As I went to bed that night I naid how gooa that fairy has been. I wish she would come more often.—Your sincere pen-friend. Juditn Addiuell, Okahu. Mititai. Dargaville (age »(.