The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

to H “WE NOY.” Care Taranaki Itauly News, Box lift. HEW PLYMOUTH.

.loan Pennington, Mangamingi We saw in the paper that youi grandmother had died, and were very sorry. How wonderful for her to die in her sleep; I think that is the beet way to die, don’t you? I am glad you like the stories; we thought you t all would.

Sybil Bennett, Inglewood.—Did you see your name on the Honours Board last week, Sybil? Of course Peggy may join, and I will answer the letters your mother writes for her.

Susie Raven, Puniho. -Welcome, Susie! You will in future be called “Snowflake.” We have now a snow drop, queen, fairy, and. flake. Thank you for the jdke, but we could not fathom the letter enclosed. I think it must have strayed into the wrong envelope because wc have no free coupons for Cud-, dy Dolls. However,.!, expect yon will explain next letter. Rex Harrop, Pihama. —We have Sunday -School here too, and tickets as well. Baby Margaret can sing the first verse and chorus of “Jesus loves me” all by herself. Thank you for the poetry.’ What are you going to the fancy dress ball as? And holidays after that? What a good, time you will have! Billikins is longing for the holidays to come because he says he has a list a mile long of things he wants io do. The time, will soon pass. Helen Dunean, New Plymouth. —1 am afraid we have a ’’Dafl'odil,” Helen, co think of another name. I do hope you will pass your Intermediate examination, but what horrible suspense having to wait until November for the result. Which fourth form are yon in? Next year yon will have to work harder than ever for matriculation. What a wonderful 'pile of presents you seem to have. I see you have moved from Fitz-, roy. Do you like the new house better than the other?

“Flossy,” Stratford. —A dear little letter on dear little notepaper. What did Muffy think of Baby Margaret? Is she bigger than Baby? We liked your poetry very much. Do you like trees? We have sonic huge “grandfathers” here—such wonderful old trees. The children* love climbing them, and Billikins has made a little landing place up in one and in the summer he takes apples and books up there. Tinkerhell has her special tree too -the one she sits in when she is making up poetry or songs.

•lean Watkim-. I‘iiijii!:'. What hard luck you arc having, but it must change soon. Nearly all of us have an unlucky day, month, or even a year. .Billikins had an unlucky day yeo-rrday. He slipped in the bathroom, bumped bis head on the school cupboard, punctured his football and lost his pocket knife. He was sure that someone or something unseen had deliberately caused all the trouble, because he could not blame us. Thank you for the beautiful poetry, Jean.

Phyllis Rear, Stratford. —How well you typewrite, Phyllis. I like the Tinks to think out their own pen-names. What has been the matter with you? Baby Margaret is so pleased when I read out of such, a lot- of the letters that the Tinks have cut out her photograph. She gives that very same smile that she has in it. Your chilblains must be frightfully painful. Billikins got used to having a cold shower every morning and never feels cold because he does exercise afterwards.

“Pin-cushion,'’ Strathmore. — How funny that you should think Baby Margaret's photo is as good as Princess Elizabeth because . (sh! We think so too). No, your printing is not good; it reminds me of mine. Tinkcrbell prints beautifully so I leave it all to her. Did your hands ache after playing in the snow? Billikin* made a ball of hail and covered it with earth so that it looked like a cricket ball. Then he bowled it at Peter, and of course when Peter hit it he looked so

“Camclia,” Koru.- Goodness, me! So you did not go to bed until 10 o’clock. Billikins has to go to bed at 8 o'clock, and he does not like it. You must not miss Sunday School too often. Even Billikins likes Sunday Scnool. It ie great to have a big fire and a cosy chair on these frosty nights. Tinkerbell says she feels selfish, sometimes when she thinks of some poor little children who cannot have fires.

Pat Pepperell, F.lt ham.—How cosy that bed jacket will keep you, but we think, that you must be colour blind because you said the white paper yon were writing on was yellow. You must have been out in ths sun before yon began to write. I hope your little sister is better. It does not seem fair that little babies should have sickness, does it? The Punch you got must be funny. Billikins had one when he was - young, but Bouncer played with it one day and reduced it to rags “Honey Bee,”. Warea.—The card arrived safely, thank you Winnie. Tinkerbell is going to try your idea about the old gramophone records. It sounds ingenious to me. May we tell it to the other Tinks too? I do a little raffia work, and find it very fascinating, but Tinkerbell does a lot of it. I was so pleased to find two new members from your school this week. Baby Margaret had to put on her raincoat, hat, and gum boots to go outside this morning when it was wet, and there she is out in the sunshine now st ill with them on. She looks like a little blue-bell in them.

“Snookiims,” SI rat fora.—You were lucky to have such a lot of snow. I think we deserved far more than we got because of the cold we endured. Yes, it is just as well we do not always have it because rife would not be worth living when Billikins was around. He and the Hut Gardener are very busy, this month, planting seeds for the summer flowers and vegetables. Our garden ia looking much brighter now. Snuff could not understand the snow. She shook her paws and put her nose in the air and looked frightfully bewildered.

Mavis Booker, Stratford. You arc lucky to have the wireless. .1 went outside the other morning and could not [lnd the clothes line. I suspected Billikins and sure enough he and Peter had “borrowed” the line for an aerial for their wireless' set—not a proper set, of course, but they broadcast their programme. .to me in the drawing room. They even had the torch to turn on or off to indicate to the performers when they could “talk, cough, or sneeze,” as Billikins said. Baby Margaret did not understand and always talked* when she should not. .

Vera Booker, Stratford.—Thank you for the poetry. What a terrible thing to have your car burnt. I hope you got insurance for it. We liked your poetry. It makes Holland sound exactly what it is— rio tidy and clean. I suppose you have seen the quaint little Dutch dresses. You will find your name on the opposite’page too this morning, Vera.

“Tomboy,” Waitoitoi.—We were so sorry to ‘ hear your sad news, dear. Thank you for the riddles and the idea for the competition, but I am afraid we could not trace whether the pencil had been lifted or not. It would be like those puzzles when yon have to go round and round and in and out until you reach “Home’ in the centre of the drawing.

Winnie. - King Hon, Rahul n. -Very good poetry, Winnie. What a good thing the bulls were quiet, because you can never trust them, not even the tamest. We had a young one that Billikins used to ride for fun and it was very friendly, but wo gave it away as soon as it grew up. Often lie. used to fall off it. I gave the cards to Baby Margaret.

Joy Peterson, Ney Plymouth. - Peter and Pam have learnt your little poem mid are very proud of themselves for knowing how many shilling’s in the pound now. It would take a big breath to blow out nine candles, and it will bo. harder and harder as you get older, won’t it? Peter and Pam should never find it very difficult because they both blow together. Have you painted your birthday card?

Jessie .Reid, New Plymouth.—Yes, Pearl has joined now, and her brother ton. What is puss thinking_of that lie does mot try co catch that rat.. We shall have to lend you Snuff; You will be pleased when the electric hght .is installed. At night we see the whole town lit up and the ships at the wharf gay with lights. When they go out into the ocean they look as if they arc manned with dozens of fairies with little lights twinkling at the end of each one’s wand.

“Rio Rita,” Te Kiri.--Yes, I think Baby Margaret must be among the nearest approaches to an angel on this earth. I think you had better call your cat “Mickle,” and the pony “Toby.” .Did yon have enough snow to build a snowman? I shall just whisper to you, Tinks, that one line day next week we are going up the mountain. I am not. felling the children that it will be so soon because I want to surprise them.

•Beth Cook, lluinga.—l caught Ihe children beautifully with that puzzle. They all began to count the “f's’ so carefully. You are lucky to have so many ponies. Buster and Bouncer have hay night and morning now and a big fat carrot to top off. What a. shame you lost so many lambs. I suppose it was too cold for them. Thirteen must have been an unlucky number for you. It was once for some chickens we had. They died off through sickness or some accident one 'by one, until we had only .two left. Are you superstitious? ‘‘Forest Fairy,” To Kiri. —We only saw some very tiny flakes of snow here, Alice. It would Ire splendid if your friend from England joined. The children were very thrilled at the idea of having a Tink away, away, where the King and Queen live and dear little Princess Elizabeth. They call Baby .Margaret Princess sometimes and when they, play at being the Royal Family she is always Elizabeth. Peter as the Prince of Wales always insists on shaking hands with the left hand. I think that he has an idea that the Prince always does it.

Maisie Robertson. Te Kiri.—-We are sorry you hurt your knee when the. calf tipped you and the milk over, but, dear me, you must have looked fnnuy! No, Pam" has not seen any angels really; .-he has just read about them. You must be a splendid little farmer now. Can your calves drink out of the bucket by themselves now? Billikins had one that we used to have to teach how to suck ami it always bit his fingers. One day he rushed in and said, “Wendy, Sooky has lost all hts top teeth!” You could' teach me a lot, couldn't you?

Flossie Voitrekovsky, Te Tawa. — What jolly poetry’ you sent, Flossie. I am so sorry I made a mistake in your name, but how very extraordinary that I should call you by your chum’s name, because I did not know. I. thought it was Jean’s writing, so you must write very much alike. However, I will not make any more mistakes. Would you like to call your bellowing calf “Trumpeter?” If you do not lik” it make it “Trumps,” because they, are always best and highest value.

Eileen Newmann, Opunake.—Thank you for the jokes and riddles, Eileen. Our weather has improved greatly, thank you, but it is euro to change now because I have boasted. Call your kitten “Judy.” Snuff has been sitting by the lily pond all morning watching Adam and Eve. I guess his mouth is watering, but I do not think he will yield to temptation. ■

Peggy Allardice, Pitniho. —Welcome, Peggy! Thank you very much, but we are going to get “Youth” every month now, because one of the Tinks sent us a copy and Tinker Bell and Billikins enjoyed reading it very much. This morning wc woke up-to find a very grey world, but the sun has won the day. It shone very tearfully, but bravely, for several hours and has now rebased away all -the grey clouds and- given ns a happy blue sky. Call your puppy “Punch.” Kathleen ' Travers, Tuhora.—-Baby Margaret has a big doll, a teddy bear, and a kewpie, that is- in hospital with a broken arm and numerous dents on its body. Sad to relate,.! am afraid there is little chance of a complete recovery. That just shows how sweet Baby Is. Most children would throw away a. battered kewpic, put. not Margaret! Kewpie has been tucked comfortably in a little bed, and she always brings him to the dolls’ party, so that he. does not feel neglected. Give our love to little Mickey.

“.Silver Shoes,” Ngaere.—l hope your mother is quite better now. How do you enjoy being housekeeper? Yes, Amy Johnson is very lucky, but I think she deserves all she gets. It would be freezing up in an aeroplane these mornings. No, wc did not find a white ground. Our enow melted almost as soon as it touched the ground. Pam found a little bird’s nest the other day, lined most beautifully with sheep’s wool. 1 think it was a. lark’s nest. Anyway iiic babies in it would be very cosy.

“Goldiuicii,” New Plymouth.-—I am glad you enjoyed the book. I meant io tell you all if you had them to send them back and I would change them. 1 am sorry we called you “Ida”, instead of “Betty.” A man from the Daily News office came out and told ns someone had rung up. I suppose wc made the mistake because it was signed by Betty. Yes, Baby Margaret :s still up io her funny little tricks.

Sylvia Price, Oakura..---Do you mean there are eleven children in your family? What a, jolly household. Billikins says, why, you could play Red Indians and all sorts of games. Yes, some weeks go more quickly than others, especially birthday ones. ■’ I hope you will not get tired of milking because it will be much, harder to do it if you do. How many calves have you now? I have seen quite a number of wee . lambs i» I lie paddocks have you?

Lillian Smith, treenui. —Thank you for the poetry, Lillian? Billikins always lingers in the kitchen when Cookie is making pies or cooking cakes and always likes to scrape what is left out of the dish. You should see the mud pies Baby Margaret makes! “Moonshine Fairy,” Midhirst.- I. wonder if we could work out' that competition. It would be rather fun, but Tinkerbell would have to draw them. What has happened to Gladys and Rose? Peter has at last caught up to Pam in his reading book and is very thrilled. He is determined not to get behind again. Baby Margaret was very excited when 1 told her about the dolls’ clothes you are sending., She ran off and [old her dolly at once.

Rog Seamark, Bell Block.—Yes, wc saw the snow flakes, and we were sorry (hero were so few, especially Billikins. He rushed outside at once only to find chat it melted straight away. Don't you think it Ipoks pretty when it falls? Baby Margaret thought it was tiny pieces of cotton wool until she caught some. Peter and Pam wanted to run up a big hill nearby to see who was throwing it down from the air. Colin Seamark, Bell Block. — Wc saw an aeroplane over your way last week, Colin, and got such a fright because we thought it bad crashed. It went up very high and then came down wobbling terribly, but the baker told us it was just someone learning to do the “falling leaf.” I should hot like to try, would vou?

“Santa Clans,” VVaitolioi.-- So you have eight little heifer calves and want a name for one of them ? Billikins says what a blessing you did not ask for eight names because I told him he must name all the calves now. He could not think of anything to say sb naturally fell back on the weather. He says if it was born on a frosty day call it “Frosty,” if on a overcast day “Cloudy” and if on a sunny day “Sunshine.” .So take your choice, Jack. Valeria Whittle-don, Stratford.- I was pleased you liked the prize, and also to hear that you have joined the “bl’ownies.” When 1 was a little girl I belonged to the “brownies” and I had such fun. How many are in your pack? You must write and’tell me of all the badges you will bo winning. Mary Benny, Warea. —Do yon like your new homo as well as the old one? it is so many years since we moved into the Wendy Hut and we are so happy that wo shall never want to leave it. Baby Margaret is very good and does not eat between meals but one afternoon we were having afternoon tea and Cookie had made some beautiful cakes. Baby looked at them and ran away two or three times until someone remarked quietly, “The dear, how good she is. She does not touch the cakes.” About ten seconds later she came back, and before we could stop her she had a huge slice of cake well in her mouth. What do you think of that ?

Dale of birthday Fill this in and send to “WENDY, ’ Taranaki Daily New.?, .’Box; .119; New Plymouth. <; N- 'rV