The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 21

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

LETTERS to bs Addressed: “WENDY,” Care Taranaki Daily New?, Box 119. NEW PLYMOUTH.

Mavis Harrison, Lepperton.—l think you will have to start a private hospital *of your own with so many invalids about. The tiny calves won’t like the mud, will they? Baby Margaret has been making mud pies; I can see her little dirty hands and feet as I look out the window.

Barbara Leonard, Stratford.—We thought you were going to tell us all the presents you received for your birthday but wo were disappointed. So do tell us next time as Tinker Bell is dying to know. At present she is trying to coax a little snow-drop out into the world. Owen Sole, Mahoenui.—Well, little stranger, its ages since we’ve heard from you. We thought you were like a little squirrel and had gone to sleep for the winter, Does the car go well now that it has had an operation on its tyre? “Mushroom,” Mahoenui. —Are you one of “that little children of the night” as sometimes mushrooms are called? And isn’t it cold for mushrooms this time of the year? What a chase you had for “Star” but it really must have been fun. Bimbo is far more staid and proper but I wish he weren’t.

Eileen Granville, Awatuna. —Have you made your little garden yet and edged it all with shells? Or will it have an edging of smooth green grass? You won’t have to let “Tiny” get into it and dig it all up. Bouncer is very full of “beans” this morning and is rushing around barking at every bee. Kathleen Wadsworth, Upper Mangorei. —Yes; it must be “shivery” in cowsheds these cold mornings and 1 do often think of my little Tinks who are up and getting New Zealand some milk and butter, indeed, England, too. So you're doing your bit for the Empire. Do you play euchre, too? “Elower of the Forest,” Mokau River. —No aeroplanes and no colds at the Hut but I really think Billikins wouldn’t mind having one if he thought he could gets lots of hot lemon drinks and sugar. Baby Margaret says such quaint little words now and can say “please” and “thank you” as w’ell as anyone. Helen Cartwright, Mokau River. —Is the kitten a little, pickle as I think that that might be quite a good name for him? Do the “stars” and the “kiwis” have a trophy to play for in their hoc■key matches? We sometimes play rounders at the Hut to get warm, but Billikins can always run twice as fast as any of us . Y

Sylvia Knofilock, Inglewood.—How do you play your game of “Plum Pudding,” Sylvia, as it sounds most interesting? So does the trip to Auckland. I suppose you saw everything there was to see and would be able to write a book about it. Do you know that ho one in the Hut has been so far away? Inez Gopperth, Manaia.—Yes; isn’t it thrilling to see an aeroplane and go right up to it and touch it, and it doesn’t fly away in fright "as most birds do. Billikins doesn’t mind earthquakes a bit and he says he enjoys them. But he enjoy- anything, especially cakes with icing on.

Silvia Gopperth, Manaia.—l can’t- find Billikins just at present to tell me the answer to that puzzle so I’m afraid you will have to wait and see it in the paper. I think he has gone down to help the postman with the mail as he loves to be important. Tinker Bell sends her love for the drawings you and Inez sent. Gwen Joll, New Plymouth Public Hospital. —Baby Margaret sends a kiss to the little girl who has to stay in bed. We were so glad to hear from you. Is the patient progressing, for we - should so like to know’? The twins are having some great fun with Bimbo and they are trying to make him jump some funny little hurdles they have made. Elsie Proud, Hillsborough.—l think “Dick” will be whistling well to-day as it is so lovely and fine. Perhaps “Smut” will stay home when he realises what a lucky cat he is. I’m sure we all get more done now that the aeroplane has gone because sometimes I’d rush out in the middle of the -washing-up to watch it and forget there were dishes to do. Renda and Peggy Melirtens, Eltham.— We were so glad to hear from our little Tinks down there, and what piles of love you sent for us all. It was you both and we all send some back. Baby is getting quite old now that he is one year old. I must weigh Baby Margaret one day and see how heavy she is, but I’m sure she’ll make the scales “juggle” for she can’t keep still a minute. Good waiting from you both. Kaira Bishop, Rahotu. —IVelcome to our Hut, Kaira. Wc were so interested to hear about your fancy dress. What an original one, and we would love to know what it is made of. Next time you write you will be able to tell us how you enjoyed the ball and all about the fancy dresses. Ethel Carroll, New Plymouth. —What a good name for a eat. Is that the one that was so sick ? I hope he is better now. Baby Margaret is just a few weeks over two years old and is such a Tink. She loves the gardener to give her rides in the wheelbarrow and she clambers in sometimes, all on to his most precious plants. Joan Pennington, Mangorei. —Another little Tink from Eltham way. Welcome to our Hut, and we hope you’ll like being a Tink. Billikins loves the riddles and Baby Margaret, who isn’t old enough to understand riddles, loves the little crosses you sent. Did Mummy buy anything very interesting in town after all?

Grace Jury, Tikorangi. —A very good letter this time, Grace, and Billikins sympathised with you about the saucepans as he always does the same after dinner at the Hut. Our daphne bush is laden and the gardener has given it seine extra little legs to hold it up! “Little Miss Nobody,” Egmont Village. —I was so interested to hear why there are no Maoris in the Stratford district; I didn’t know before. I hope your little pen-friend writes; perhaps she is just thinking about it. How would you like to be living in the sea this weather?

Rex Woodley, Mangamingi.—We have a new little Tink from your way whose name you will see in the paper this week. I’m glad the kittens have decided to keep their names. Do you save your pennies in a tin, so that you can “jingle” them, and make them sound a lot? Wish I could see your new things; you must feel pleased.

Gladys Piper, Ngaere.—You must miss Baby Malcolm now that he is gone to Palmerston. Baby Margaret would love him, I know; she’s teasing “Bouncer” terribly and is pulling his whiskers, but he’s very good and wouldn’t think of hurting her. Thank you for the poetry; it was a long piece to say at a concert, wasn’t it ?

“Forest Fairy,” Opunake.—A splendid letter and you certainly did make up for poor old Maisie with her hurt finger. Please give her all our love. I was so interested to hear the news about the kidnapped Maori and I mustn’t forget to tell Billikins as he would be so interested —am glad you will try the competition. Winnie Weaver, Rahotu.—All the little housewives of New Zealand should like cooking, though I must confess love riding in ears, too. Billikins has made one from some old boxes and has two of Baby Margaret’s pram wheels and two from an old tri cycle on it. We do have fun.

“Pansy,” Egmont Village.—l asked for a little pen-friend for you, “Pansy,” so perhaps one will soon write. Fancy making a mountain with hail-stones! Wasn’t it°cold? Some got.inside the cars and the cars wouldn’t start unless they were pushed, and 1 saw one poor little boy fall flat on his chin in the mud. He did look funny.

Aileen Cooper, Lowgarth.—l really don’t know how far Billikins has reached with his French, but I do hear him saying some funny things in French. But I don’t think the Frenchmen would understand him. Have you argued out what the calf is to be called? Baby Margaret was two years old this month and Pam and Peter are the twins names.

Lottie Hamilton, Whakamara— I’m so pleased you have your pen-friend and Helen will oe able to tell you all the news of the Mokau River. It sounds cold this weather, doesn’t it? Such crowds of poor little Tinks have had the ’flu, but I think they’re getting better. What are you working now, little busy-body?

Kathleen Bishop, Rahotu. —Didn’t you know that “Wendy” is a lady, Kathleen? It’s terrible when people will have such queer names that you don’t know whether to say “sir” or “miss,” isn’t it? Have you ever read that book, “Peter Pan and Wendy,” as I’m sure you’d love it? Tinker Bell loves the poetry and hopes you won your basketball match.

Thora Carroll, New Plymouth.—Yes; Baby Margaret just does love having a bath and she baths anyone or anything that is near her and even eats the soap. The twins, Pam and Peter, are full of fun and love games and climbing trees. They gathered quite a lot of cones from the pines this morning for our fire tonight.

Rose Piper, Ngaere.—Who won the “cold competition?” Everyone in New Plymouth is having a competition, too, but I don’t think we’ll have it for our Wendy Hut page, do you? It must have been exciting to play at the concert and very nice to be encored. Tinker Bell says your poetry is very true about the weather.

Elsie Robertson, Matapu.—How would “Luck” do for the cat? What a busy little writer you must be because writ 4 ing letters takes so long, doesn’t it? Billikins is peeping around the door to ask if have any more new Tinks and to see if I’m going to give him some dinner.

Freda McCabe, Okato. —Your ducks are well brought up to give you seven eggs, aren’t they? Our little brown hen hasn’t given us any for a long time so we can’t make many cakes with eggs. Billikins says he wishes it would snow so that he could skate, but I’m hoping it won’t.

Hose Onion, Eltham. —Billikins sometimes begins to count how many Tinks we have in the Hut, but he gets tired half-way through so it is never done. No; Baby Margaret hasn’t had Mr. ’Flu to see her yet; isn’t he a nasty old fellow? Tinkerbell is getting the tea tonight and I think I can smell scrambled eggsl Stella Steele, Uruti.—Yes; little sunshine, you certainly may change your pen-name. Did you think it would help chase this dreary old weather away? Isn’t “Buzzy” a trick! You really must try the other competition and just see how you get on. Billikins is reading all the stories through and is chuckling with satisfaction. William Jones. Mahoenui. —What a ripping pen-name, and it sounds as if you must be an admirer of King Arthur of olden times! The pen seems to have been trained to write very well and the alarm-clock will have to go through the same course to make it behave. Have “Flip” and “Billy” their eyes open yet? “Quail,” Inglewood. —The poem is very true and I know you’ll still go on with your little bit of “gladdening” work because you can’t help it. We all send love to you. poor old “wintry” family and hope you’ll soon be better. The only one here who has had ’flu is “Snuff,” and he’s exceedingly grumpy. I’m glad I’m not a mouse when “Snuff” has the ’flu.

LOVE AND A MIRACLE.

Here is a true story that is magnificent.

Not since Daniel spent the night in the den of lions has a braver boy stood in a lion’s den than a small London lad named Alfred Garcia. The miracle of love and courage was told to Prince Henry when he was visiting the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. In 1917 a cripple baby girl was born. She was called Esta, and her brother, ‘who was six, loved her and hoped she would soon play with him. But gradually he learned that poor little Esta would never be able to romp or even walk.

The boy’s pity increased as he grew crippled sister, but he refused to take the cripple’s life happy. Then there came what seemed to him a chance to get her cured. When he was twelve years old and earning his living as a London messenger boy Alfred heard of a lion tamer who wagered fifty pounds that no one would enter his lions’ cage.The circus at which the man appeared was in Sheffield. Alfred journeyed to that city, bravely went- into the den of lions, .and was not attacked by the sullen animals. Then he received a cheque for fifty pounds, and went straight off with it to Harley Street, the famous street of doctors in London.

A great specialist listened to Alfred’s story, and promised to try to cure the crippled sister, but he refused to take the fifty pounds in payment. Great doctors are often like that; it is a way of their religion. After treating the child privately for a while the doctor arranged that she should be admitted into the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, where the most amazing cures have been made. And Alfred insisted on handing over the fifty pounds to the hospital. That was four , years ago, and Esta has been there ever since. Sometimes Alfred must have been tempted to think that the risk he took in the lions’ den was all in vain, but at last science has triumphed over disease, and when Prince Henry visited her ward Esta walked across the ward to meet him!

WELL CAUGHT. Now for a splendid catch for those boys who are always smart and able to do things. On the table place a tumbler upside down, and near it two pennies and a halfpenny. Ask your friend if he, thinks he can lift the halfpenny by means of two pennies on the top of the tumbler. Of course he will look upon this as a very simple task, and with care will doubtless lift up the smaller coin between the edges of the larger. With glee he will declare the feat achieved. But then will come the opportunity to poke some fun at him—for actually he has placed the halfpenny on the bottom of the tumbler,, and, of course, the task was to put it on the top.

OUR SWEET-MAKING CORNER. EASY-TO-MAKE NOUGAT. Put two spoonsful of water into .a saucepan; when this is very hot, sift, in two tablespoonsful of well-rolled icing sugar, and stir till the sugar has melted. . ~ , Have ready the stiffly-beaten white. of one egg, stir this quickly into the mixture, and remove the saucepan from the fire. Add a heaped tablespoonful of peeied almonds, stir them well in, and pour the whole on to a buttefSd tin to cool. , , If you have a few glace cherries you may add these also, but do not use too many, as they may make the nougat sticky,

Having finished their adventure with the elf, Richard and Gwendoline detided to return home to Polly as quickly as they could. They were delighted at having taught the elf a lesson, and they strolled through the woods, laughing and chatting happily, and promising themselves plenty of fun when they told Polly all about it. Suddenly Richard stopped. “Wc don’t seem to be going light,” he said. “Oh dear!” cried Gwen, “I’believe we are lost in the forest.” “It looks very much like it,” said Richard. t " '

When Richard and Gwen found they were lost in the forest, they immediately set about trying to find their way out. Over tree roots and through dense bushes and brambles they wandered, first going one way anu then another, but all to nc purpose In the end, they found themselves more lost than before. “Well! here’s a pretty go,” said Richard, seating himself on a tree root. “What are we going to do now?” “There is no help for it,” cried Gwen. “We must 'have another wish. We must wish to be aexactly where Polly is.”

Having had so much trouble with their wishes, they were terribly nervous of trying again. But there seemed no help for it, so Richard wished. “Mind,” said Gwen, “we want to be just where Polly is!. There must be no mistake.” Now it happened that Polly was asleep on the arm of a chair in the garden, and to be “just where she was” meant on that very same spot! Immediately Richard wished, therefore, they both landed on poor Polly, who thought she had a nightmare.

It took quite a long time before Richard and Gwen could make Polly understand what had happened. Then she was very much annoyed, and refused to believe their story. “You were hiding behind the tree, and jumped on me for a joke, I know,” slic cried. But at last they persuaded her to listen, and Gwen seated herself comfortably in the chair, while Richard told the story. “Really,” exclaimed Polly. “You don’t expect me to believe that?” “Well! here’s the magic ring,” cried Richard.” '

At ths sight of the magic ring, Polly was a little more inclined to believe the story. “That’s all very well,” she said, “but how do I know it will do all you say? something.” “I wouldn’t dare,” said Richard, “It would only cause trouble.” “Nonsense,” cried Polly, “wish for something that cannot hurt... A bag of diamonds, or something.” . As they Polly would not believe without some proof, Richard agreed to wish for a bag of diamdons. “I don’ t like the idea of it, though,” he said. “Go on!” ordered Polly, “wish!”

Richard wished! And no sooner had be wished than a bag appeared on the ground in front of them. “My word,” cried Polly, with wide open eyes. Richard and Gwen felt themselves to see if anything had happened to them, and, finding themselves quite in order, were equally delighted. “We can buy all sorts of things now,” laughed Gwen. “Yes!” chuckled Richard, “bu 7 we’ll first bury the ring where we can find it, «o that it is out of’harm’s way. and then we’ll enjoy ourselves with the diamonds.” Will thev? I wonder?