CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 13

CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT

THE "NEW ZEALAND TIMES 1 BLUE-BXKD CLUB.

My dear Blue-Birds, —

Is it not nice to see the sun again after so much rain and wind? We really do need the winter to make us long for spring and welcome her. I think one never°wonders that in old times so many of the world’s peoples worshipped the sun. The Aztecs, that wonderful people who lived in South America, and the ruins of whose great temples with their stones of sacrifice are so wonderful and so interesting, were sun worshippers. And, as you know, there are still eun worshippers in the world. Iho Onas, a tribe of Indians living in Patagonia, do homage to the sun. Every day that he shows his glorious face in that wild and cheerless land the men seize their great bows and eond an arrow winging its swift flight towards the sun. But I must not write any more to-day, or there will not be room for the Blue-Bird letters; some of them are from new members of our great flock of seekers after happiness. "Marion" says: The weather was very wet, and I started reading your letter ;to the Blue-Birds, and I felt I would ‘like to join your club (if you will let me), So I will have to thank the rain for something after all. We are living at Day’s Bay. Wo went back to Wellington last week because it was so wet, and we came hack here this week, I suppose because it was welter still. Wo walk round to Kona Bay in the rain, and a lot of gardens there are right under water. We saw jonquils and snowflakes peeping out of the water in one garden. I suppose the poor things will be quit© drowned. We have not got any horses or sheep or other animals here, not even a baby, but there are some monkeys. One of the monkeys made faces at mo because I did not give him a biscuit he expected, but gave it to a little one behind him.

Yes, Marion, I am glad you want to be a Blue-Bird. It must be rather nice or the birds would not come flying from Auckland and Invercargill, and Westport, would they? The poor flowers have had a wretched time, and the little planted on Arbor Day must-have thought they were going out to seal Joe’s letter says: I am writing to let Vou know that I have received my prize, named "Treasure Island” and Kidnapped,” which I like very much. 1 have read "Treasure Island” and a part W “Kidnapped.” The commercial work 1 am going to take is shorthand and typing My two young sisters have been ill Jn°bed, and my grandmother is not very well lately. I went to ."Ben Ear” last night, especially the chariot race, the raft scone and tho galley scene where Ben Hur is left unfettered when the galleys go into action. I thought you'd like your book, Joe. I am so sorry your sisters have been ill, *nd does your grandmother live with you? Tell Dorothy I wish she would write to me. Glad you liked "Ben Hur ; It was grand. I hope your grandmother is better.

Eileen writes: I hope you have not forgotten mo. We have not had the "Times lately, so I have not been able to write; will I have to send my name in again? The answers to Saturday’s puzzle, I think I have solved, except the diamond puzzle. I do not know how to do that. Aren’t we having terrible weather? It has been so bad that I have not been able to go to school for a week. I must say good-bye now, hoping you will enter my name in the Blue-Bird book. Well, dear, I am afraid I had forgotten you for the moment, though, of course, as soon as I hear from yon again I remember you; and your name is there in the Blue-Bird book, so you will not need to send it in again. X am glad you aro taking the "Times" again. No other daily paper has a column for children, and even the "weeklies" don t have competitions and prizes like my "Blue-Birds" do. The diamond puzzles are interesting. You will see by the answer how to do them. Write often, dear.

. Kathleen writes: Dear Zealandia.—l must congratulate Eileen on winning tba prize for the essay on the season X like best. I think all the; girls like spring best, but most of tho boys like winter, because they play football. I like Joes on. the season ho liked best. How disappointed Bubba-Ann must have been jto know that she could win the prize if she did not write on both sides of the .paper. Just at present we are having dreadful weather in tho country. We have missed five or six days’ schooling owing to the wet weather and slips on 'the road. : I hope, dear Kathleen, the sun is (shining brightly with, you now, as it is (with us. Ruth says: As the Technical School has just lately been opened we only take cooking. We have had three lessons. j'At the second we made a sago pudding land a onp of arrowroot. At the fourth lesson we are going to roast a leg of mutton and make a semalena pudding. We also learn agriculture. At the last lesson we learned how to prune fruit tree®. We have a new horse, a young colt, three years old, and have not yet .decided a name for it. I am sending you a puzzle. I must stop now, sending all the other Blue-Birds my love, and you too, from Ruth. lam always glad to hear of girls learning to cook, Euth, it is such a useful accomplishment. I used to have a grey horse called “Selim," then a chest* |nut one called "Tommy.”

Cora writes: I am glad to hear that you have so many Blue-Birds around Greytown. I know most of them. One of them goes to the same school _as I do. They are going to build a new high school here, but they have not decided where to build it yet. We are having dreadful weather here now, and' most of the [houses iu the southern end of the town are flooded. What a big whale that one must have been that was washed up by the sea. I would have liked to have seen it, but there was no chance for me to go down. The essay that Eileen wrote was a lovely one. I think she deservea the prize. I will close with a riddle'"How many sticks go to the building of a crow’s nest?” I wonder who will answer your riddle, Cora? No, you did not send the coupon. dear. "Patricia” says: "I am sorry I could not go in, for the pincushion competition, but I was weak in sums and had’ to work at them in the evenings. 1 am better now, and hope to take part in your next competition. Wo have been having dreadful weather for about three weeks up here. We all bought five packets of seeds each. Wo will be glad when the fine weather comes so we can plant our seeds. I have Sweet William, Venus’s looking-glass, violet, prince’s feather, and forget-me-not. With love to you and all the other Blue-Birds." That’s right, Patricia; work first, meaning sums; play afterwards! "Elfie” writes: "X hope you are keeping well through, this cold weather. I

do not like this wet, miserable weather, as 1 cannot get out to attend to m.v little garden. Do you like jonquils and daffodils? I have a few growing in my garden, which I hope will soon be in flower. I had a few violets out, but as it is terribly windy out they got very much blown about.” I wonder, Elfio, if it was in your garden I saw all the jonquils and daffodils blooming eo gaily the other day' Yes, dear, I love all flowers very much. "Jo” says: “I like reading Phillis's and Eileen's letters. I would have liked to be Eileen to have seen the whale. Wo have no fruit garden, but a nice vegetable garden. Wo have not much of a flower garden; just a few bulbs and other plants. Is the answer to Iho riddle-me-ree geranium ? And is the answer to tho picture puzzle Lenore? 1 don't understand the I will close now with love from Jo. * "Geranium” is right, dear. I lik© vegetable gardens very much, Jo; indeed, gardens of all kinds, and here in town I often long for the nice country-grown vegetables. , , Now, good-bye dear Blue-Birds, from ZEALANDIA. ■ ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES. Picture puzzle: "What girl's name?” Answer: Eleanor. Word puzzle: Answer, Wordsworth, 1. Wine. 2. Orange. 3. Rico. 4. Dove. 5. Snake. 6. Wallace. 7. Olive. 8. Rose. 9-’ Table. 10. Hare. , Diamond puzzle: O ASS HOTEL OSTRICH STING ICE