CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7865, 29 July 1911, Page 13

CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

Take *he Sunday with you through the week. And sweeten with it all the other days. —lionsfeliow.

Dear Blue-Birds, — There are so many letters waiting to bo answered to-day that we will begin by listening to all the songs of the BlueBirds first. “Willie” writes hoping that "Ncesie’s" doll will win a prize, glad that the club is growing so fast and says: "What a lot of work yon must have reading all onr letters.” And answering them Willie! Yes, it gives me a great deal more work to do (and it was nice of you to think of that), but I do not mind if I can feel sure that all. my Blue-Birds will give me reason to feci proud of them, always, in storm as well as sunshine. One , of your puzzle answers is right; also the proverb. Try the. cutting out competition, Willie. # "Dorothy" tells me of a pleasant tram ride which she went with her mother who is quite bettor now. "Wo caught a cur to Wadestown, and had a lovely view all over the harbour; at Oriental Bay the sun was shining so cheerfully on the houses. I want to congratulate 'Muriel’ on guessing so many of your puzzles, and to wish happiness to all my fellow Blue-Birds.” That was a very nice afternoon’s excursion Dorothy. I have not been on the Wadestown tram yet, but hear it is a very pretty lino. nS "Isabel” says: "I have got my doll, and am doing my best to dress it (I am so glad, Isabel). The other morning I saw a little Cape pigeon on the grass, but when I went to look; it flew away and X saw it had a stone tied to its leg which kept it from flying properly. I felt so sorry for the poor little thing and wished I could have taken the stone off, but it was too frightened." Poor little bird, no wonder a Blue-Bird felt sorry for it, dear Isabel! • * « * - “Orella”,: You will be glad to know

that we have thirty-eight Blue-Birdf now Orella, and you are one of the earliest, for you were the third to join. You don’t tell mo how the competition doll is getting on, dear, and what are you going to call her? ife Sf ife “Jason": Yonr answers to the puzzles are quite right Jason. Do you know you are the first person called Jason I have even known. Do you know the story about him, and how ho led the Argonauts to fetch the Golden Fleece? # in* “Cuthhert”: I am glad you wish to be a Blue-Bird Cuthbert, I suppose poor pussy got such a fright when the bank was burnt that she was afraid to .live with you in another house, lest that should bo burnt too. Of course she will become a very good mouser and ratter when she first keeps house with other cats. Yes, tell ■me about tho dog; I love dogs. uS “Lawrence”: I must-have known that you were longing for more competitions, Lawrence, for I gave you a very pretty one last week. Those dear little chickens if you cut them out neatly and mount them nicely on white or coloured paper, will make quite a pretty picture. Perhaps tho man kept your paper back a day so he could read the puzzles on Sunday, himself! iXi . -)e -*> "Smiler” is rather a nice pen-name, I think, and I am glad to have a smiling Blue-Bird. Persian cats are_ very,: handsome, hut X am like you Smih r. I like dogs best. What sort of dog would yoxx like to have? aXt “Madeline - ’ went to tho Hawcra show, and took first prize for tho best spongo roll in the children’s class. (M ell done! Madeline). She tells me quite a lot about the show* "The cheese was .very '

well decorated and tho butter looked so nice also, the machinery was most interesting, specially suitable for farmers and dairymen: Dogs, oats and poultry ’were in a tent off the main building. The most interesting cat was from Stratford; A beautiful Persian about 11 inches high with lovely 'long fur. My mother's cat got prizes.’’ That is quite an interesting account dear, and so neatly written. But never write, on both sides of the paper when you write to a newspaper office. Puzzle, wrong; hidden proverb, ’ right. “Eileen" answers all three puzzles correctly. Also she-tells me “I catch big eels when I, am fishing. I went into the exhibition and spent half ad hour watching tho cooking, then wont to look at the other things. Was much interested in the models of big boats in glass cases, they eyo so beautifully made.” They are indeed, Eileen, and worth a great deal of money. One.is valued at six hundred pounds! Jfjt “Mary” asks “Don’t you think, dear Zealandia, that .we could wear some badge to show that we belonged to the Blue-Bird Club? Say, some colour. It would, I am sure, encourage more children to join, if you chose a colour wo could easily get a bit of ribbon." I certainly think dear it would bo a good idea presently, when we are a little more established. Of course it would mean some responsibility as well as well as pleasure, dear Mary, for my Blue-Birds would bo more tbau ever careful to act up to tbe very best of loyalty, kindness, and straightforwardness. So that 8.8. on a boy's coat or a girl’s blouse means trustworthiness ns well as happiness. Certainly our badge must be blue, and I will promise yon to think it out. Yes, “Poodle” is tho right answer. ■ “Muriel. Two out of the three answers quite right, Muriel; I. must compliment you on your .success. I forget if you said you were going to dress a doll? I hope you are, I want such a' lot of dolls for those children in homes and hospitals,! and such a lot of kind Blue-

Birds happy in giving happiness ’ to others. Goqd-byo, children dear, for to-day.— Your friend —ZEALANDIA.