THE HOLLOW TREE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 29

THE HOLLOW TREE

Letters to the Dawn JLady are answered as follow:—

Dulcie Rigden, Avondale: “The Suit of Yellow" is - a charming little tale, Dulcie. The Little Thought would like one of exactly the same pattern.

Patricia Betty Carlaw, Remuera: Patricia Betty has crossed the Happy Town threshold. lam glad the little girl with the pom-pom Inspired you to answer the Competition Bell. Dick Schofield, Ponsonby: I love that little tale about the gold at the end of the rainbow, Dick. You and Fred were lucky having that holiday at the beach. Ia Nanette still drawing caterpillars? Merle Boles, Taumarunui: This little girl has reached Happy Town quite safely. a warm welcome to Merle. Roy Twidle, Papatoetoe: Another laddie to solve the mysteries of Tiptoe Street. I shall look forward to hearing all about Master Roy. Joan Macduff, Ngatea: Those dainty pictures and your painting have reached me safely, Joan. You are a most artistic little Sunbeam. Cissy W lliamsor*, Mount Eden: That ■was a happy time you had at Easter, Cissy, and 1 enjoyed reading all about it. I wonder v what the birds thought of that house in the tree? Rosa Doreen Twidle, Papatoetoe: This little lady is now sitting with the Dawn Lady under the Happiness Tree. If you look up you will find that a new Love Flower has come out for you, Rosa. Jean R. Anderson, Raetihi: Yes, your name has crossed the Tasman, Jean. It will be splendid if Molly comes down Tiptoe Street, too. The Woodpecker says he will watch for her name in the Hollow Tree. My best love to Jean R. Fred Cammick, Ponsonby: The little lady with the pom-pom had very deep thoughts, hadn’t she, Fred? I am glad you had that little holiday at the beach. Did you catch any fish? Lorna Finlayson. Remuera: “A little girl called Elizabeth Brown, in an envelope came to Happy Town.” A Pixie Postman is busy composing a song about her, Lorna. Gibson Rae, Avondale: The Woodpecker says that your last letter was answered in the Hollow' Tree on March 23, Gibson. Did you rrlss your message? I acknowledged your painting on that date. Yes, your name has crossed the Tasman. My love to this laddie. Irene Better, Mount Roskill: “Under the eaves of the middle-sized Pixie Posttnan’s house a sparrow has built her nest.” Has she. Irene? I think she will bf Quite safe there during the w'inter. That was a pretty Easter egg. Did you the chicken? Marjorie Baird. Papakura: Thank you. Mistress Marjorie. lam glad you were able to answer the Competition Bell. Mary Rawlinson, Hamilton: I am glad you have heard from Jean Gillanders and *Jso that Pat and Nancy are your friends, ''’hat a pity you did not let me see those oarnatfons Are there any colours in tnat paint box suitable for fairies' wings? My best love. Marv. Taylor, Mount Eden: The Little Thought pounced on two of those kisses from Baby, and the Woodpecker flew off with the third. I do hope Baby will s«md me some more. That wee envelope its important contents, reached me Quite safel v. Gloria Rawlinson, Auckland: What an Important Sunbeam you must he feeling this week, Gloria. The Doorkeeper says to tell you that Trader Horn did not come tapping at the door of the Place-c'-You-Xever-Can-Tell. Those fairies lock very dainty against that soft blue background. Have you finished that last Poem? T should like to see it. Eileen »ends some special thoughts for } , u aT, <l Tango this week. h ,« ard Lodge, Takapuna: Your fairies T av ® Sown in at the gates of Happy A °i^ n ” Len. My love and thanks. c«l? yce Blakeley, Auckland: Your two competitions came safely to hand fn the tlappy Town mail. Joyce. Thank you n ’ uch - 1 wonder if you know any «»h^foj Sunl>eams a * Grammar School? I not be surprised if some of them L S your form. •of/.? ,y c, ark. Waihi: There is a fine mo nt in that little verse you sent bte, Molly. You have managed to build * rainbow bridge over those hills and between Happv Town and ‘Waihi. Ar ® y?u stronger now? VVii|, am walker. Avondale: Welcome. »‘Uie! lam glad you have decided to become a Sunbeam. Your painting has been entered in the competition. «na Norell, Auckland: Yes. thank you. a happy time at Easter. £nat a wonderful holiday vou bad. *-*>orkeeper is asking himself those riddles, the Joyshop man is telling oodthat joke.

Howard Fry, Ohakune Junction: Your letter is full of interest, Howard, and I was glad to see those photogi'aphs, too. Not many boys of your age Have been to the summit of Ruapehu. It was a wonderful adventure, that you are not likely to forget. My best love to this very good scribe. May Cox, Auckland: “Someone came knocking.” The Little Thought hurried over to the Happy Town gates, and there stood May! A warm welcome to this little girl* Phyllis Naylor, Havelock: Your competition entry reached me just too late. Phyllis. I am so sorry. What a wonderful seascape you see from your home. Ho you go sailing, too? The Little Thought sends a golden wish across Cook Strait, and some Happy Town love to you and Nancy. June Cantwell, Takapuna: All the Nursery Rhyme people came to Happy Town with those riddles, June, and they called on the Doorkeeper at. the Place-of-Yon-Never-Can-Tell. And you are The mother of your house at present? That is a big responsibility for an eight-year-old. I do hope your mummv will soon be well. The Little Thought sends a smile to your wee sister, and the Hawn Lady her thanks for your painting. Elizabeth Christine. Auckland: Your gifts from the lap of autumn brought me great happiness, Elizabeth, and those golden blooms are as fresh as when you picked them. Many happy returns of your birthday. Wednesday is always a lucky day. The smallest Fixie Postman was stancmg at his front door

when last you came down Tiptoe Street. He savs that he called out Betty, Letty, I live’here,” but that you did not hear him. He would have loved you to have peeped in on his tidy little house . A "•olden wish and some Happy Town sunshine for Elizabeth. Dawn Pickard. Waiuku: Your story is very good. Dawn- You ave **alL name. Perhaps some day you, too, will be a Dawn Lady. Willie Brown. Newton: There was no surname or address in your letter, \V dlie, so I looked at the postmark and put on mv thinking cap. Now I have discovered vour name and address to put oil yoin bainting. Wasn’t that clever of me/ P Jean Danes. Whangarei: Arithmetic Tean 0 No, 1 never did like it. Yes. I know “The Slaves Dream.” You were lucky having those pretty Easter eggs lean Mclndoe and Jean Buckley will find your love with our faithful old WoodDorothy Brighton. Onehunga: “Miss Dorothy Brighton—the Dawn Lady. Now Je are formally Introduced. You man-

MESSAGES FOR S’JMBEAfAS.

aged your painting very well, little one. Jean Buckley, Mount Roskill: Your painting ha» come to hand, Jean, and also your neat letter. What a rush you had catching the last Happy Town mail! Gay du Faur, Nancy Waller, Val Matthews, Joyce Kerr, and Margaret Norley will find your love in the Hollow Tree. Jim Goodwill, Westmere: I found your poem very interesting, Jim, and I hope you will let me see many more. Your fairies, too, have found their way to Happy Town. Jack Pickard, Waiuku: A warm welcome into our happy family, Jack, and many thanks for your story. I hope you will often find your name in * the Hollow Tree. Are you going to play football this season? Alma Humphreys, Whangarei: Welcome, Alma. • You are now one of my Sunbeams, and I was glad to see your painting. What a number of little Happy Town people there are in Whangarei! Nancy Mclntyre, Grey Lynn: The good scribes are the writers of the neatest and most interesting letters, Nancy. It is a great honour to find your name among them. Yes, I am surely lucky to have so many letters, and I just love opening the Happy Town mail. Dorothea Blackmore, Waiuku: That was a fine holiday you had in Auckland, Dorothea. When you were riding on those scooters and bicycles you were only a stone's throw from Happy Town. The Little Thought sends a smile to that chubby baby.

Audrey Morrison, Whangarei: When your letter came, Audrey, I sent the Little Thought off on a flying visit to the enchanted island. He declares that the pineneedle house is still there and that Grandfather Rabbit makes a splendid caretaker. Y'ou will be able to come down Tiptoe Street until you turn 16, Audrey, but, let me tell you a secret: Children who have once sat with the Dawn Lady under the Happiness Tree belong to her always. What an unfortunate fire . that was in Whangarei. James Blackmore, Waiuku: No, I have not yen been up in an airplane, James. You must have enjoyed watching those two machines at Waiuku. How is that crushed finger? I hope it will soon be well. Laurel Johnston, Point Chevalier: I like your story and painting very much, Laurel. Your heroine is a very wise one. Cathleen Fletcher, Glen Eden: Your painting is a fine piece of work, Cathleen, and it makes a striking picture. The Lady Autumn has surely been busy in your garden. She works with rare coi-

? u . doesn’t she? My best love to our taithfiul Cathleen. Joyce Gilbert, Epsom: What a pity you forgot to post your letter last week ■j£ yc & „ The Woodpecker missed you from the Hollow Tree. You have been having an exciting time lately. Evelyn Blackmore, Waiuku: A military camp is full of thrills, Evelyn. You are lucky to be staying with Isobel. I wonder if one of those photographs will find its way to Happy Town. Kathleen Lord, Thames:. What is the matter with my little Sunbeam? I am sorry to find that you are in hospital. The .Little Thought sends you a big package of Happy Town sunshine, and we all hope you will soon be well. Brenda Chandler, Mount Wellington: The entry for the “Thought” competition was too late, Brenda, but your fairies have arrived in plenty of time. What a wonderful harvest of mushrooms. You must have been abroad early. Isobel Macdonald, Waiuku: The last week has been full of incident for you, Isobel. You had a happy time at that picnic. Would you like to look down on the world from the pilot’s seat in an airplane? Patty Brown, Devonport: “Another letter from Patty,” remarks the Little Thought. “And she has sent some jokes and riddles, too,” adds the' Doorkeeper. Beatrice Ross, Birkenhead: Your painting has arrived, Beatrice. My best love and thanks. Joan Andrews, Auckland: The Little Thought is the oracle that children consuit, Joan. He is very wise indeed. I hope you will let me see some of your essays. A warm welcome to this Aus-tralian-born member. Ruth Clark, Devonport: Thank you, Mistress Ruth. I have entered your story in the competition and given your love to the Little Thought and the Woodpecker. Ethel Bussey, Henderson: Ethel has crossed the threshold of Happy Town. I am glad you were able to enter for both compeitions. Florence White, Birkdale: A Pixie

Postman delivered your painting quite safely, Florence.

when you found that Easter egg in its j little grass nest. The fairies surely t ailed in the night. I like your painting,' Ethel. Not very long ago I had a ride on a merry-go-round, too. Were you on a horse or in a, chariot? Eileen Gracie, Glen Eden: Yes, I, too, love the 'Sombre pines, Eileen. I think they are my favourite trees. Yes, it is wonderful to think that Jean is now abroad in an autumn world. 1 have left your love for Gloria, Jean Mclndoe, Jean Cramp, Joy Hill, Nola Craig and Mary Potts with the Woodpecker. Kathleen Walsh, Ponsonby: That is a pretty little poem, Kathleen. If you look in the list of good scribes I .think you will find your name there. The Little Thought sends a smile to this six-year-old. Norma Waller, Penrose: That is a fine poem, Norma. No, I had not seen it before. Those essays on “The Haunted House” must have made interesting reading. Have you ever seen the Haunted House at Kawau Island? Ailsa Stuart, Morningside: Soon 'you will feel quite ap old resident of Auckland, Ailsa. I like your story, and am glad you are going to enter a painting. Poor Noel, that was a nasty accident. I hope his thumb will soon recover. Jean Mclndoe and Joy Hill will find your love thoughts with the Wood Decker. Leslie Waller, Penrose: You' are wise to put those water lilies on a high shelf, where Guy and Charlie cannot reach them. Why not paint the girl and the fairies, Leslie? All competitions are judged according to age, and the last painting prize was won by a Sunbeam of eight. My love to this little boy. Margaret Anderson, Mount Eden: What excitement, Margaret! I am glad that you now have a pen-friend in England. She will be able to tell you plenty about Father Thames. Are you going to introduce her to your dream house? Salome Jones, Morrinsville: You are a very kind Sunbeam to send me that big piece of your birthday cake. Thank you very much. It travelled quite safely. We had paper caps and bon-bons at my last birthday party, Salome. Aren’t those droll little mottos in the bon-bons? I was glad to see your competition entry. George Dormer, Mount Eden: I like my little people to write under their own names, so that they will have tlie credit for their work, George. Some pi them are quite well known already. The Wigwam membership age is 15, but Scouts of any age may join. Don’t be afraid of letting me see your work, for it will have a very careful reading, and will only be used if it is actually good. Yes, I should, like to see that book, George. Nancy Waller, Penrose: I hope you will soon be one of the world’s workers, Nancy. In the meantime, your mother will be glad of your help, I am sure. I have left your congratulations to the last prizewinners with the Woodpecker, and also your love for Jean Mclndoe, Eileen Gracie, Jean Farquhar, Cathleen Fletcher, adn Jean Buckley. Gay du Faur, Howick: What a wonderful birthday, Gay! You are a lucky little girl. The Woodpecker is very interested in that leather-covered diary, and he hopes you will make an entry in it every day. Winkie is surely a good mouser. Many happy returns from the Dawn Lady. Peter Monkfey, Turua: And couldu’t you eat the toffee after all, Peter? I am glad you are trying a painting. Auckland is a splendid place for a holiday, and I am sure you are looking forward to June. Please keep that frosty visitor in Turua. We will have to inn up the “No Admittance” sign if he comes down Tiptoe Street. Dorothy Ada Carter, New Lynn: Welcome. Dorothy! You have crossed the. shining threshold, and I hope I shall soon have a letter from my new Sunbeam. Eunice Everitt, Karangahake: Patricia Perkins arrived at Happy Town too late, Eunice, but I was glad to meet her, all the same. Many thanks also for letting me see that poem. Marjorie Ireland, Howick: The list of children desiring correspondents in Aus--1 tralia closed on March 30, Marjorie, aud it was posted to the Australian editor before your letter arrived. Perhaps, before long. 1 shall be compiling another list, and you could then send in your name again. Thank you for your paint-' ing. and those three jolly policemen. Edward Monkfey, Turua: I wondered what had become of your letters. Edward. Has your arm recovered? How excited you will be when those prize bantams arrive. Some Happy Town love to this laddie. Terangipaia Poata. Te Aroha: Y'our letter is most interesting. Terangipaia. The Dawn Lady loves the Maoris, for their hearts are simple and warm, and full of poetry. The race has produced some ' fine singers, too. lam glad that yeu

Jean Cramp, Royal Oak: Jean is a happy little girl this week now that she has said “Goodbye” to that horrid toothache. Didn’t you feel as if you were flying when you went on those swings? My best love to this little girl. Maraea Edwards, Portland: “Dawn Lady, Auckland.” Supposing that important letter had gone astray, Maraea’ Y'ou will find the full address at the foot of the page. I was glad to see your entry for the painting competition. Spencer Macdonald, Birkenhead: Spencer is now a Sunbeam of Happy Town, and the Woodpecker sends some lucky taps. Welcome to this sever,-year-old. Esme Peacocke, Epsom: Happy Town is full of fairies this week, Esme. Many thanks for your pretty painting. Linda Dawson, Portland: I hope you have had that tooth out, little lady, and that all your troubles are over. No, I do not know those poems. I have some violets in my vases, too. Ethel Birch, Rotorua: How exciting

know .Sylvia Tapp. Your name has been sent to Australia, Terangipaia. Jean Mclndoe, Hamilton: No, I have never been up in an airplane, Jean. 1 believe when one is traveling at 80 miles an hour it seems a snail's pace. What dear little children those are staying next door! X can imagine their first shyattempts to make triends. Duleie Craig still sees the Happy Town page eacn week, so she is sure to find your love message with the Woodpecker. A Happy Town wish for Sunbeam Jean. Stanley Crosby, Papakura: This laddie has arrived safely in Happy Town. Isn’t it fun looking for your first message in the Hollow Tree? I hope I shall have a letter from you soon. Margaret Jones, Raetihi: No, I was not tricked on April 1, Margaret, but I was suspicious of everyone until twelve o’clock. I am glad you are bringing another little friend down Tiptoe Street, and also that you have heard from Sylvia. And you were away from school half of last year? I think you managed your work very well indeed, everything considered. I am sure Sylvia will be pleased to hear from vou again. Grace Matheson, Remuera: “Run, Little Thought—here comes a four-year-old down Tiptoe Street." I hope this wee girl will often sit with the Dawn Lady under the Happiness Tree. Doris Lydster, Takapuna: 1 quite agree that “Once \jpon a time’’ is always the most exciting time of all, Doris. My love to this happy Sunbeam. Fred Thompson, Arch Hill: You have a well known namesake, Fred. Have you ever seen him at the pictures? A warm welcome to this little man. Gloria Tucker, Takapuna: A pet wallaby cajled Peter? What an interesting playfellow! I shall be glad to see your story, Gloria. Norman Lydster. Takapuna: That is a quaint poem, Norman. It certainly seems most unfair to whip the poor cream. ..Florence Griffin, Auckland: 'Welcome to this new Sunbeam. The wings of your fairies look very pretty outlined in gold The Woodpecker sends his best greetings. Annie Mercer, Penrose: Here is an excited Sunbeam. I hope you will come down Tiptoe Street every week, Annie. I shall look forward to hearing all about your holidays. Lilian Gibb, Arch Hill: I have written something in your autograph book, and I hope it will make the return journey quite safely. Thank you for all those riddles and tongue-twisters, and also for bringing two new Sunbeams down Tiptoe Street. I am glad you will be sending me a painting. George Thompson, Arch Hill: Welcome. George. I hope you will write to me soon. All your new friends send their j warmest greetings. Joyce Woodcock, Edendale: “Time!” calls the Woodpecker. “Wait, wait!” cries the Dawn Lady. “Here is a letter from Joyce, who is often called Jill; a smiling photograph; and a beautiful swallow, bringing a message of love. She has sent her love to Jean Farquhar and Molly Clark, and her congratulations to Molly Langdon. No, that was not ray voice you heard over the wireless, Joyce, alias Jill.