The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

.LETTERS to bo Addressed: M “WENDY/* / Car® Taranaki Dally Box lift. NEW PLYMOUTH.

Wyn Frid, Hunt, Awakino.— am glad you are going to kee writing now and again, Wy: Frid. Sometimes you put capital "I” in your name an< other times you do not. Whic: should it be? Do not write t “Sirs,”. but just to me “Wendy.”

Barbara Thompson, Eltham.—l am glad you wrote to us even though it was just a note, Barbara, because nothing hurts us more than to be forgotten by any of our little friends. Have you room at the. bank for a garden? We had one Tink who lived at a bank and she did miss green lawns and gardens. Audrey Kaye, Inglewood.—Two big pages crammed full of news was a pleasant surprise, dear. You have been hiving a happy time. I hope it continues for you. We all have oiir little grumbles and not one of us really realises how lucky we are. The Tinks’ letters are like rays of sunshine come to cheer us up on this miserable day. Lucienne Mehrtens, Eltham.—l suppose you wish that your birthday would come every month now. Then you would not enjoy it nearly so much and it would not be such a thrill, for you. I guess Daddy Christmas is packing his bags getting ready for December by now. He will be growing ae excited as the children, don’t you think? Rauda Mehrtens, , Eltliam.—Two letters arrived from you; at least, one was not signed, but it looked like a rough copy of yours. You must have got a surprise when the firemen dashed along to your place, I suppose they got as big a surprise as you to find your father burning rubbish. The'blind boys gave a concert.here, but the theatre was so packed that we could not get in. We saw them in the street and it was so sad that it made us all the more grateful that we had our sight. “Sun Shower,” Kaupokonui.—What a pity the watch stopped. I hope it will .not be like the grand-father’s clock, which . “stopped, short I Never to go again, when the old man died.” Our grandmothers used to sing old song. Billikins hopes that your sweet baskets were not the kind that tip up when you hold them by the handle. He never trusts them now since it happened to him at a bazaar. Full of coconut ice too, it was.

Beth —, Huinga.—We., have a membership card, Beth. .Didn’t Tinkers bpll send you one? I-wonder if you will bo given a prize for’ Sunday school. Have you learnt your texts, well ? Billikins. can say the 2?rd Psalm now without a mistake and is now trying the Beatitudes. They all like Sunday school, and Peter and Pani both have big cards in their bed-rooms for good attendance. Tell me your surname and I will ask for a pen-friend. “Robin Hood, Mahoenui.—l felt very flattered at your calling your puss after me, William. Grand-parents .may be depended on to know what their grandchildren like for presents. You made our mouths water. What a sad accident to happen to the calf. You will have to catch that eel and have your .revenge. Is Doreen, Williams, of Eltham, any relation to you, because your writing and hers are very much alike?

“Mountain Maid,”. Kaimiro.—l should like to have seen you in your fancy dress, dear. How did you' represent “A. Gay Tirfte?” Were ther-p two boys dressed, as “Aviation,” or ;i just your brother? If you see Jack Taylor, Ray Mundt, and the others, please • thank them for their letters, but tell them we want sincere Tinks. Which coloured primrose do you like best? I like the common yellow ones. " “Skylark,” Qmoana. —We often hear you singing, Albert. We have to coyer up our seeds carefully in the garden because there are so many birds about here. Tinkerbell has a large family that comes regularly for crumbs, and a number of them will hop up and eat out of her hand. Bouncer has a new trick. Billikins makes him beg, balances a piece of cake on his nose, waits for a while, says, “Paid for!” And Bouncer tosses it off, catching it again in fiis mouth.

Bell Lepper, Tuna.—l hope you arc putting the contents of the needle case to good use. Pain has a new green frock with fawn spots on it, but it seems that she will have to wait (some tjme before the summer days come. Peter has. a new cream fuji shirt, so they both long for a hot day. They all had red lips to-night, because they had a pineapple for tea and all ate right up to. the skin, “Bunny Boy,” Patea—How unfortunate to get nine roosters out of nine chickens. Perhaps the next fourteen wi’ all be heps. You deserve it, anyway, don’t you ? As soon as Billikins’ chicks grow a little older we ehall tether the mother on the lawn and let the chicks run wild, only we will have to train Bouncer and Snuff not to harm them.

“Poppy Queen,” Patea.—Call the grey kitten “Tibbothy,” and I think there is only one name for ginger cats, and that is “Ginger,” don’t you? If they wander too far away put butter on their paws; that is supposed to keep them at home. When we first got Snuff Peter did that, but then he brought him inside and sat him on one of my best cushions.

Rita Reed, Te Popo.—You and Mirren may put your letters in the same envelope if you. like. I am sorry we have an “Apple Blossom,” but liqw would you like to be “Peach Blossom?” They are just as pretty. You will have heard the Maoris sing by now. They have most beautiful voices. Tinkerbell is practising a song to sing over the wireless next Saturday. She has such a pretty voice.

“Silver Fern,” Te Popo.—What a funny hen yours must be. You must have some jolly games in all that bush at school. Peter has niade some daggers, swordti and knives out of t]ie ends of the flax leaves, and as eoon as the ground is dry enough there is to be a tribal war. Last time there was a war someone ran over the asparagus bed and there was trouble.

“Moonshine Fairy,” Midhirst. —No, we do not get the “New Idea.” Baby Margaret thanks you for all the kieses and sends a big hug to you. I am not sure whether she will be too shy to speak into the microphone or not next Saturday. Perhaps she will just say “How do you do” to you call. • The children are getting so excited about it. I think it must be bilious weather because Cookie also was in bed two days last week.

Annie Honeyfield, New Plymouth. — Snuff and Bouncer fought that day because Bouncer was catching hold ot Ducky Doodles’, tail just in fun, but Snuff though he was hurting her friend the duck. Snuff ran up the cabbage tree so that Bouncer could not reach him. Spaniards talk very differently from you, and if you heard them, you would not understand one word of it.

Ellen Lepper, Tuna.—Thauk you for the jumbled flowers and the poetry. I had to change it a little because I am really not old yet, and the third line did not rhyme, Yes,. Billikins likes school quite well. when it is too wet foi cricket, Indians, or pirates. Our bulbs are all over now. They just stayed out on the river bank long enough to see tlie willows in their new spring quits and make a beautiful reflection on the river. • ,

Renee Retch, Toko.—Certainly Kenneth may join. Tinkerbell will send him an enrolment card. Are you entering for our new painting competition? It could be made to look a very pretty picture if done carefully/ It is so cold to-day. that we have a fire lit. How' sweet your tiny brother must have looked as a chef, but I suppose he got very sleepy. ( “Evening Breeze,” Piingarehji-—Have you ever seen very pale pink clematis? We have some out now and Tinkerbell says that it used to be the same as the white, but one family grew very, very shy and blushed whenever anybody looked at them, so gradually "they formed a new plant of their own and are called the pink clematis. Thank you for the rhyme, but I am not sure whether the newspaper man can publish the drawings or not, because special blocks have to be made for drawings. “Frecan Gorin,” Pungarchu.—Swimming will soon begin now. Ducky Doodle and Snuff are outside in the rain now, Pam thinks Snuff must be turning into a duck because he never used to like the rain at all. We shall expect to see, him swimming in the river qext. What were the colours of your pierette costume? The Hut Carpenter is colour blind and tickles the children immensely. with his answers to their coloui’ tests. Thank you for the riddles.

Winnie Fischer, Pihama. —Your jokes and riddles were good, Winnie. What hard luck that you should catch chicken-pox the day of the holidays. Will you be able to go away for the next holidays instead ? They will soon be here. Billikins wishes he could race Time and reach the holidays before he does. Then he says he would give Time a few weeks start at the other end of •th© holidays and catch him up easily,

“Sweet Carnatjon,” Eltham- —Your verse' was very good, Mavis, Yes, the storms are cruel to the flowers. Our tulip bed is in bloom now and full of the most gorgeous colours. They look as if they are made but of wax, especially early in when there is not a breath of wind to disturb them.

Betty Jacobsen, Midhirst.—What an* old puss Willie is getting. Snuff is four years old- and as ■ playful as a kitten still. He hides in doorways in the passage, jumps out as anyone passes, and then tears off into another room. That is a favourite game for a wet day. Write again soon, Betty. Joyce Kelly, Awakino. —What a number of pets you have, Joyce! Nearly as many as we have. Pain is very well, thank you, although a few days ago she had a temperature and a day in bed. Peter was very concerned about it and felt he might have a temperature too, to keep his twin company. There must have been several Tinks at Mary’s party, and you all seemed to enjoy yourselves.

Berys Burrell, Helensville. —:I wonder if you will be able to hear us next Saturday right up at your place, You are lucky having hot springs to swim in. Billikins wishes that we had some here so that he could be' allowed to swim all through the winter too, We have not begun tennis yet, but we hope to do so in about a fortnight. Tinkerbell and I have been trying to mend several, holes in the net. Thank you for the poetry and riddles. / “Robin,” Inglewood. —I suppose when you are in your new frock that grannie gave you they call you “Little Robin Red Buttons.” You were a lucky girl to be given so many presents. I hope Dorothy found her letter all right last week. It must have been too- late for the week before. It is much easier to do sums with pretty blocks, isn’t it? Peter and Pam have some too, only some of the pictures have come off them.

Ilene Thompson, Te Kiri. —You did write us a lot, dear, and it made up for the long time since we have heard fropi you. Yes, I would like Beth, too, if she joined. I like all the Tinks and you ajl write such good letters. Yes, it is too cold for Baby Margaret to go to the beach yet, although she brought me a summer frock to put on yesterday. The Hut Dressmaker has to let them all down because she is growing such a big girl. Peggy Smith, Opunake. —Yes, we saw the flying boat. It seemed.to pass right over the Hut and the children all waved. Have you ever unravelled a golf ball? Peter has been unwinding the rubber for half an hour and is now very excited because he has found a little rubber- bag of pink paint, or something like it, in the centre. He has spilt it all over his trousers too. Mavis Hewson, Opunake.—What a sweet verse you sent us, Mavis. Billikins has his chickens and they are sweet little yellow balls of fluff. He goes out and counts them at least six times a day, f am sure, and Baby Margaret watches and talks to them for ages. When the sunbeams come they dart from underneath their mother and rush chirping into the sunshine. Doreen Williams, Eltham. —Well, how did the girls get on against the boys in the cricket match? You should have' made them bat with a broom-stick, and bowl left-handed. You ■ should see Peter trying to bowl. He gets very red in the face, runs as hard as he can, and hurls the ball in any direction but that in which the wickets arc. But u e is tiny yet.

Joyce Welby, Riverlea.—l think it, is quite time you joined our eliib, Joyce, and mother is quite right. I hope you w'ill write often and tell us all about yourself and what you do.

Joan Pennington, Maugamingi.-— Good luck to. you in proficiency. Is Lionel sitting for it, too? Work hard and I am sure you will pass easily. Then what fun you will have going to a High School! Where do you want to go? Billikins was kept in yesterday because he was caught drawing in arithmetic. He said he had an inspiration and when I asked to see it, he showed me a drawing of Peter reciting into the microphone and you could see -Tinks listening in, simply squirming, and putting their fingers to their ears. He is a tease, and Peter’s recitation will not be one bit like that.

Flora McCluggage, Pohokura. —Did I say that nobody had “Butterfly” as a pen-name or not? Because I am sorry to find that someone else has it, although for all we have heard she may have flown aw r ay to other lands. Thank you for the recipe. Cookie made some and there were none left the next day for the Hut Gardener’s and Carpenter’s morning tea. “Buttercup,” Te Kiri.—l am afraid we have not another paper with Baby Margaret’s photo in, but I will ask the newspaper man if lie has one. Yes, everyone thought she was just beautiful, which is exactly what she is. I think yon should pass, Grace, if the rest of your work is as good as your writing and spelling. Have you coloured your birthday card? Marion —, Stratford.—The High School here is having a big bazaar too and the funds are to go to the swimming liaths. They will be lucky to have them, won’t they? They have not a gymnasium like you have, however. We do not live in a street, dear. We live some distance out of New Plymouth i,u the country. Thank you for the riddles. Tinkerbell sends her love and wants to know how Phyllis is? Ruth Mathews, Stratford. —I am glad you liked the book, Ruth. Your prize was well Avon and you must be a very accomplished little person to be able to paint and write poetry so well. Have you really a little brother of four?

Joyce —, Pohokura.—l am ouch a dunce at remembering mimes, • Joyce, so you had better put your surname as well. What is your pet that you feed three times a day ? You must have good fun with all those brothers and sisters. We have had such a tragedy: 1 two baby goldfish have died. We found them floating on the top of the water and it looked' as if they had been bitten. I hope Adam and Eve are not turning into cannibals.

Frank Harper, Egmont Village.— Wbat a surprise your uncle must have, got when you played that trick on him. I have to be very wary when Billikins is about. I often forget to be careful, and then I may crack an empty shell of a boiled egg at breakfast. You boys are terrors. Good luck to Biddy in the competition. Have you started cricket yet?

Martin Langdon, Tuinahu.—Thank you for the poetry, Martin. The other Tinks will like that too. Call your lambs “Trixie” and “Nancibel.” The lambs around here are growing so big and eat grass, in a very grown-up way. Billikins wants to know if lambs chew their cud like cows, because they look a§ if they do. Can you tell him? What a good idea to keep the pig warm with a heated brick. Thai reminds me that Pam put a tooth under a brick in the oven, to-day and was rewarded with a penny. Joan Kirk, Rawhitiroa. —I suppose Primrose can race you round the paddock. What colour is Trilby? I suppose all. the ponies are moulting now just like Buster.'"'I’The'children 1 ’The' children conic in covered with his hair, and after Pam rode Bimbo bare-back yesterday she looked like a little monkey. Bimbo has bad rheumatism lately, but we hope he will soon get better now that winter is practically over. “Aotearoa,” Cardiff. —I am sorry you have been in bed, Connie. It is hard haviiio- to miss school because it is always so difficult to catch up in the

work. Billikins got a star -for spell- ■ ihg last week and was greatly encouraged. He wasted ten ! minutes of arithmetic sticking it on to his card straight. Good girl to sell the most tickets. Did you see the two Samoan boys who were travelling around not long ago? “Scotty,” Egniont Village. —Hoots mon,! It’s a weelcome I’ll gie to ye. None of the children is allowed to go bird’s nesting here, because we have hundreds bf birds and we make it a sanctuary* for them. . I saw such a pretty baby quail this morning, trotting, along so confident that no danger would come to harm him. Did you remember to put your clock on? Billikins remembered ours, but in the excitement he forgot to wind it, so we were very much at sea in the morning. “Fairy Brown Eyes,” Egmont Village. —What a large family of chicks ypu have. I suppose they came out of an incubator. The mother of Billikins’ chicks is h dear old thing. She clucks at them and is ever so proud of them. Then when we gave them some rolled oats she would pick up the flakes, and break them up for her babies. Are you going to keep all of yours? “Waratah,” Tirimoana. —I am glad that the lack of an envelope djd not stop you from writing, dear, because we should have been disappointed not to have heard from you this week. Snuff has come in from the rain and js wiping his wet body against my legs. Peter calls him “Old Mr. Love-a-duck” now because of his affection for Ducky Doodle. Snuff only blinks and purrs at Peter in return. '

Sylvia Price Oakura.—l hope you had a happy birthday in spite of its falling on a Monday, washing l day, and school day. Never mind, it will not come again on Monday for a long time. What have you worked on the apron? Tinkerbell worked one for me with a house and garden on it. Don’t forget to look for the big surprise opposite! Jimmy Travers, Tahora. —Billikins is very well thank you. He is ten and in standard 4. Billikins has often looked for eels in oui 1 river, but. never found any. Do you lose many arrows? Billikins always seem to lose them, especially as he hunts in our bush, where it is so easy to lose sight of them. I am always afraid he may hit .Peter or Pam.

Kathleen Travers, Tahora.- —We have not had hail lately,, but more -rain. It is coming from the north to-night, which means that Billikins and Peter must bring their beds off the porch or they will get wet and I shall have to get up and help- them in during the night. They do not like coming inside and are arguing against it, but it must be done. Yes, we have lots of flowers put. The bluebell dell, as' we call it, is a maes of blue and looks so sweet under the trees. Then, of course, we have the happy and bright tulips in the beds on 'the front lawn, and stocks at the'side.

Margaret Parker, Riverlea.—l do hope the wee bantams will come out all right. What a disappointment it would be for the mother too. What do you feed your bunny on? Peter used to give his thistles and lettuce. He wants another one so we will have to see what Father Christmas has to say about it. It will l>e no lime now before he is visiting you all again.

Richard and Alton Kemp, Kiore.— “Hip hurrah! Here they are at last,” cried Billikins as I opened -your letter. He was proud of the poetry too. He had a big beam on his face all evening’ so we could see how pleased he was. Answer all questions first., Baby Margaret said, “Ooo! Yes! p’ease,” and opened her eyes wide when, we asked her if she would, like another banty. Pam said it would keep Margaret’s one “comfy,” meaning = “company.” I should not like to panic all those pets, thank you. No, we have not had any for a long time, although Mr. Wind has been terribly cold. Billikins has green peas, turnips, lettuce, and potatoes up in .his.garden now.. . Yes, we all hang our stockings up. It wouldn’t be Christmas without that. How wonderful of your mother to give us another goose. We should simply love one, thank you."-

Irene Humphries, Opunake. —What hard luck you did not miss arithmetic after all. How do you like home nursing? I hope you know better than to say that antiphlogistine is put on cold, as I did when I was a small child. I lost ten marks for that, so remember not to put it. Bandaging was great fun so long as the bandage did not slip and lose its firmness before inspection. The chickens and pigs do not play together, do they? ■ . “Cinderella,” Mahoenui. —I hope the trouble has all blown over now, Kathleen. The girl cannot be much of a sport. I can just imagine how the wind niust howl through the big pines you said were round ypur place, Even ail our trees do not shut out the terrible wind. Pansies for thoughts! Out they popped when I opened your letter. Pam’s are still yellow .and bright. She said she wished she had grown butter-, cups to go with them, and Billikins said, “I’ll wet you some dandelion too,’ if you like.”