The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

.LETTER! tO Addressed: WENDY/* Cara Taranaki Bally Box H!?, NEW.

“Prairie Flower,” Inglewood.— I hope your mother is bettei now, and thank you for sending all that poetry. It will be ir next week. I wonder if Simph Simon is still fishing in the pail He looks so patient in. your pic ture.

Flossie Dew, Riverlea.—Good morning, stranger, where have you been that we have not heard from you for so long? I am sure those names will set the Tinks thinking. Wo had to puzzle for a long time over some of them. I am afraid some of them will be a little too difficult. However, they can but try.

Ronnie Winstanlcy, Awakipo.—What hard luck that the rockets decided to be land rockets instead of sky-rockets. Perhaps they were damp. We had three, and two went away up as high as high, and then when the sparks camo Pam thought that tjicy had knocked some of the stars down. lam sure your old Guy bjazcd well if he had straw stuffing. \ • • Wally Winstanley, Awakiuo.—You should fiee the new Austin, Wally; I am sure you would like it. Billikins says it has a sunshine roof and really looks like what a Rolls-Royce woilkj look like if you looked through the wrono- end of a pair of field-glasses. Iti seems perfect in every detail. It was fortunate for you that the crtuiker did not hurt your eye more. ’’

Aura Mehrtens, Eltham. —Baby Mar-. garet t is very well thank you, dear, and she is growing quickly. v Tinkerbell has made her a new.frock with smocking on it and she has another pink rosebud frock for summer—if 'it ever comes. This time last year we were swimming nearly every day. »

Rehda Mehrtens, Eltham.—Cookie gave the children'a cup of soup to-day at play time because it was so cold. Peter could feel the warmth of it as it travelled down, and he rubbed himself and eaid, “Go, this does tickle my. palate!” What a pity to lose seven chicks!

“Red Indian,” Inglewood.—l hope you will pass too. Just fancy, not even one more month of school-before tjie holidays come! Billikins is ticking the days' off the calendar now. He says lie cannot get over the shock of hear-, ing about that small boy who packed his bag and went off to school on a Saturday. , ' . ■''

“Star Rose,” Huinga.—Yes, I am very fond of music, Ngaire, and try ,to en< courage it all I. can in the children. They all have a very good ear and can sing in tuna except Peter. What trials all gardeners have. Our worst enemies at present are those slaters, or woodlioe. They eat everything and make the Hut Gardener so angry. He says that he feels quite affectionate towards slugs and snails compared with them. Thank you for the poetry. • . ... Rena Knox, Huinga—Are you not sorry to leave school-'so soon,-Rena? I suppose your mother will be grateful to have a daughter at home to help. her. ■You’ would' soon get tired of counting all those sheep going over a style. We have never even seen as many as 5000 all together. Have you cows too? It is just as well all animals do not have, to be shorn. We enjoyed your poetry about queer things.

Michael Condon, Te Roti. —-No, I did not go to the wrestling, Michael. No, thank you.’ I might just as well ask you if you went to a mannequin parade. You would enjoy that about as much as I would . th© fight, but Billikins would have gone like a shot if he had been allowed. Peter came in with his nose bleeding from a “sparring pratice” with Billikins’this afternoon. Can you box?

Valerie Voitpekovsky, Jnglewood—You. must. try to write a little more tidily, dear,' because I am sure you could if you tried. I wonder what happened to the dqckling. It would feel very unhappy when it found itself all alone in the. great big world. Doodle lays ail cgg/almost every day, but unfortunately 5 always in a different place, so we always-have to hunt for it. Do your ducks eat grass? Doodle eats such a lot and it looks so fiinny. Hilda Ruskin, Manaia. —We knew the letter. was from you even though it did not come, in a pink envelope as usual. The children?’ Very well! The weather? Ghastly! Summer? No answer! Are you going away for the holidays? Billikins is making a list of all the things he wants to do during the holidays. I suppose he will do only about half of them. Thank you for the poetry.'

Rich and Alton Kemp, Kiore.-M think just one banty'-hen to keep Baby Margaret’s company ■ would be splendid thank you, boys. She is so excited about it and has told her banty all about it. Peter hopes that they will not fight; do you think that they will? How is your wrist now, Dickie? I hope it does not hurt. Now that there is so much green fruit in the orchard I will have to watch those boys and Pam. Last year I had to say, “Now remember if you eat those you will be ill and there will be no Christmas pud-, ding! “That made them much more careful. The thought of Christinas without pudding was to much for them.

“Waratah,” Tirimoana. —So that is you, . Icrle? What a pretty picture, and how well Brownie is behaving hinieelf. Thank you so much for the snapshot. Now we know what you look like too, we seem to know you better than ever. The Hut Gardener was amazed at the height of the sweet peas. They beat his easily. The wicked lambs —I hope they did not do much damage, but I know how destructive they can be in a very short time. J wonder if Santa Clause will bring what you want. You had better write him a note, I think. ' “Lollipops,” Rawhitiroa.—So you ran all the way to Kaimiro to hear' us, Laurie! I am glad you were not disappointed. Billikins did that with the reed and it blew round splendidly. . He wishes some of you “chaps” could c ome and play with him sometimes. He likes cricket ’too, and fortunately has broken only one window.so far this season, the young rascal. How do your people keep°you out of mischief?

Mollie Jones, Kaipikari. —Baby Margaret thanks you so much for the letter, dear, and sends a big kiss. Peter and Pam are working well and the Tutor says they have progressed splendidly for the year. Pam makes Peter keep his books tidy now and will not allow him to carry them in his belt like a cap, but puts them in her .case. He likes his wav better because Billikins does it that‘way. Thank you for the recipe and’ poetry.

“Huia,” Whareliuia. —Yes, Tinkerbell has a very pretty voice, but Baby Margaret did not sing; that was Pam who sang “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” We°have had terrible weather, Gwen—thunder, lightning, hail, rain and even earthquakes to show us just how really bad it could be. Tinkerbell says that nature must be frightfully angry about something, Peter said, “Well, I haven’t killed any spiders anyway.” Billikins said he would have to kill a crocodile to deserve all this.

Marjorie Borland, 'lnglewood. —I suppose you wished that Mt. Egmoijt was a little further away on some, of the cold nights, when you and Elaine and Kenneth had to leave the fire to pop into bed. Does the snow ever come down to you? Pam wonders if the possums ever come down as far as your place because she saw one when she went* up the mountain and she wanted us to catch it for her to keep.

Sylvia Manning, Tariki.—l am glad yog enjoyed our concert, Sylvia. You did address the envelope, well for the very first time, because, it .is much harder for little people to do than it looks, especially in .ink. peter has found a lark’s nest with three dear little brown speckled eggs in if- 5° peeps in to see every day if the babies are out. Are you watching any nests?

Mervyn Fabish, Kent Road.—Yes, we we went down to see H.M.S. Dunedin. Billikins would have gone down before breakfast if I had allowed him, but he had to wait patiently until after school. He wanted the sailors to show him how a cannon went off, so they said they would put him in and shoot him Rome if he liked. However, he thought Im would rather go on his new bicycle. Melvyn Fabish, Rahotu. —Thank you for the jokes, Melvyn, and the flowermeanings. Have you any pete? Billikins thinks too many of his chickens arß to bo roosters because they nearly all have such tufty tails. You should see them, run to him when he whistles them. He doesn’t call them. They flap their wings and almost fly along..

Gia Baird, New Plymouth.—Welcome, Ola, and I hope you will not.be like that lazy bones, Sexton. I hope Santa Claus can find a box of paints for you. lie will be ever - so busy packing up his presents now. Pam wonders if he will ever shave off that big white beard of his. I don’t think he will, do you? What kind deed are you going to do to-day?

“Kairserblume,” Tariki. —'Most certainly you may write on both sides, Stella. I like the Tinks to be economical. I want to put part of your letter in the , pa-pei’ for the Tinka to read because you have written, it so well and J know they will find it interesting. Yes, I have been, to Rotorua, but J was too young to remember much. Billikins went once and, he was most disgusted with the little Maori boys who said “Pcnny-haka” and all they did was to run, round in a circle’and poke their tongues out. He. said he could have done, a much better one for a penny and wanted to try his luck with the tourists. How he had to be watched! Peter and Pam could find only three, of the men in tjte puzzle, but the others found all five.

Renee Fetch, Toko.—Does your granny read? , If she does you could make her a ribbon book-mark a faiily wide piece' of corded ribbon hemmed at one end and frayed for about, an inch at the' other. Then cut a piece out at the top, square or round, and buttonhole around it. Then sew another piece of ribbon on the back after slipping iii• a snap of yourself, which will smile at granny every time she opens her book. ■ Kenneth Fetch, Toko.—We should like to see you dressed up as a golh‘wog. Are you wearing a sock over your face r oi‘ blackening it with burnt cork. Billikins says that it stings scrubbing the black off, and I say that it makes a terrible mess of the bathroom too. Never mind, you will enjoy yourself however you are, won’t you?Reggie Riley, Piiiama—No, Reggie, we have not been for a swim even yet. Billikins would have gone yesterday, but he had a cold and was not allowed to go. The river has not looked enticing yet. . It' is so pretty now with the dark cloak of the bush on one side and the light green suits of the willow leaves stretching almost across from the other side. Gan you swim and dive ?

Jean Hughson, Opunake.—l am glad you are doing well at tennis. I hope you serve over-arm, not under-arm. Baby Margaret has a tiny racquet and ball of her own. We throw the ball to her and nearly every time she missesit, almost swinging herself off her little feet. What do you call the new baby sister?

“Scarlet Pimpernel.” Wharehuia. — The Hut Dressmaker has been making new summer clothes for the children this week. It seems rather ridiculous, but she thinks summer may come with a rush once it starts. Pam has a little shantung frock with a coatee and it does suS her, only she will hftve to be careful because it will show every spot. No climbing trees, I told her, so she said that would be a pity because the only day she could wear it would bo Sunday. She is becoming such a tomboy. Thank you for the poetry.

‘'.Robin Hood,” Mahoenui. —I noticed the stamp, William. Jt is such a good idea, I think. There is a poplar tree outside the window and the leaves are rustling so that every now and then I look up expecting to see rain again. The spreading kind seem to chatter more than most leaves. How are you getting on in the examinations? I wish Billikins’ work was as tidy as your letters. He had to re-write two pages of history last night. Florence Roberts, Mahoenui. —Another neat writer has joined! You are very loyal to Mahoenui, and I do not wonder at it. I do not like to hear people always running down the place they live in. We do not live in the town, but a. little way out in the country, which we think is ideal. If ever you fly over in an aeroplane you may sec our Hut snuggling in amongst big trees and surrounded by a garden gay with flowers.

Joyce Kelly, Awakino.—Tabby-toes is a elever puss. Bimbo can shake hands now too. I wonder if Trixie is as fat as Buster. Billikins takes him for a long ride every day, but he still gets fat. Yesterday he rode down to the beach and tried to make Buster go into the water, but Buster snorted and backed and was'not at all happy about it. Do you ever take Trixie in?

Mavis Sheerin, Auroa.—Hide and seek is great fun. Baby Margaret plays it with Teddy when the children are in school. She hides Teddy and then runs away, counts ten and pretends to look for him. One day Bouncer thought sho could not find him and came running up to her with Teddy in his mouth.

Lena White, Opunake.—Tinkerbell is feeding her pet birds. She has such a number and they perch on her shoulder and her hand. Billikins says they will soon all be bringing their babies along too and wo shall not be able to see Tinkerbell for birds. They are in disfavour with the Hut Gardener because they stole some of his green’peas out of the ground.

Noeleen Cowell, Eltham. —Our garden is very pretty now and standing up bravely against all the wind and the rain, ‘The roses are beginning to come out over the pergola, They are Tinkerbell’s favourite flowers. What are yours? Our, freesias were finished long ago. Have you swimming baths at Eltham or a river to bathe in?

“Texas Jack,” Bell Block. —What have you been making at wood-work? Billikins is just finishing off a tooth-brush stand, and he has made it so well. He much prefers that to doing lessons, and I suppose you do- too. You were lucky not to break your ribs when you feel from the cart. How did you manage it?

Mavis Shaw, Whareliuia.—l hope ypur little brother will not break your dolly in his train. Peter broke one of Pam’s once. He had made a tunnel and he pulled the train through expecting that there would bo room for Celia too, but she had a sad accident. The twins had a real funeral, and Peter gallantly offered to save up his'pennies and buy Pam a new dolly. Joan Kirk, Eltham. —Did you fall off when the pony bolted? Pam is our champion rider. Rhe Hut, Gardener says she could ride anything with four Jegs. Sometimes he says, “Has that pony still got a tail?” Pam does not quite understand what he means, but she always replies very seriously that be did have one -when she groomed him yesterday. Joan Allen, Pibama.—What does the name of your place mean ? I am afraid somebody has that pen-name, dear, so try another. Yes, we have our pets too; Bouncer, the dog;.'Snuff, the cat; Bimbo, a lazy dear old horse; Buster, a mischievous pony; Doodle, the duck that just strayed in and adopted us, and dozens of birds that live in our great big treep. Thank you for the jokes.

“Sparkling Streamlet,” Waipuku.— Kitty does not write very often, She is about as good as you are, I am afraid. I am not going to tell you what the next competition is to be yet because J like it always to be a surprise. Thank you for the danger sign. Billikins thought it was a good joke, but you should have written it in red ink. Thank you for the riddles. Reggie Rookes, Pungarehu.—We always thought that Elsie was your sister.- Have you any brothers • or sisters ? Here is the postman with more letters. His hat blew off and he had a race with the wind for it. There is no need for Billikins to worry him for a ride now that he has his very own bicycle. I have had to make him promise that he will not try riding without holding the handles.

Cardiff. —Thank you so much for th© snapshot, Vera. It seems a very good one of you. Billikins would be very pleased to eend you a few etamps, but he says that none of his are “frightfully aristocratic.” However, you may not have them. He will sort them out as soon as he has time. Yes, I have been on a ship, but not very far. Tinkerbell dances beautifully. Do not worry about those double joints because I am sure nobody will notice them but you, dear. I hope your nose is behaving itself now.

“Fairy Queen,” Auroa. —I hope your leg was not badly burnt, Noreen. Did the family have to. go porridgeless for breakfast. Billikins made the porridge for Cookie yesterday, but he forgot to put the calt in, so it was not much good. Joan Pennington, Mangamingi.—W« should like to go to the show, but it is too far away. What did the duckling die of? One of our chicks was bitten by a strange cat, so we brought it in, gave it half an aspirin dissolved in water, and really in a quarter of an hour it seemed better, and now it is quite better. We just tried aspirins as an experiment, and it was most successful.- I wish I could see you all in the grand march.

“Red Shadow,” Tarurutangi.—Yes, Billikins played and sang splendidly over the wireless. I tell him fie must practise the piano often now so that the Tinka will be able to hear how he has improved next time. Baby Margaret strummed the piano with sticky fingers yesterday and I wondered what was the matter when I >vent to play. It was terrible. Thank you for the poetry, “Bush Ranger, Omoqna.—Our potatoes are ready for digging now and they were not put in until nearly the end of August, so that is good, isn’t it? Billikins grew them, and this is the first time they have not been blighted. Don’t you eat those gooseberries yet or you will h av e a day in bed like Peter. Leslie Pauling, Patea. —Thank you for the jokes, Leslie, We do enjoy a laugh. I think life would be frantic if we could pot laugh, don’t you? Billikins left the tap running in the washhouse to-day for at least an hour, and really after the first horrified exclamation on its discovery, what could we do but laugh to see everything floating merrily in almost six inches of water! The cat certainly scored over the flounder.

Jean Cook, Kupe.—How jolly having all standard 111 Tinks-now! Yes, I have' read “Little Women,” but not the other, one. We are reading “Black Beauty” now and the- children are enjoying it.. Billikins tried to doublebank Peter on hi® bicycle and they both crashed and have bandaged knees. “Boys will be boys,” murmured Cookie, as she gave them a huge piece of cake each to comfort them. “Mountain Maid,” Kaimiro.-—I am so pleased that you liked the book we sent you. I think books are ■ good prizes because you can keep them and they will often remind you of us. Yes, we will give you another concert some time seeing you all enjoyed the last one. Baby Margaret has another rhyme ready for it: she enjoys it as much as anybody. Thank you for the poetry. “Mother’s Fairy,” Uruti.—l wonder what you mean by that name. The children Here play fairies sometimes and they do all sorts of little jobs when I am not looking. Sometimes I come down and find the dishes done so I say, “Goodness, the fairies have been here. How wonderful!” and then I hear a suppressed giggle from the “fairies,”' who arc hiding behind the door or in the cupboard. You should find some pretty pieces of poetry for your book on our page.

“Skylark,” Omoana.—You should paint the picture puzzle. We liked the picture of you and Rennel fishing for eels; at least, that is what Peter said it was. We felt the earthquake. Billikins said that if it had lasted a- second longer he would have jumped outside over the verandah. He sleeps on .the porch, so he has not far. to go. t ; “Powder Puff,” Opunake.—Please do not stop writing just because of a sixteenth birthday, dear.. Baby Margaret is three years old and thanks you very much for the big kiss you sent to her. Tinkerbell will send, you another card, and please do not neglect ris so long next time.

Jean Dodd, Tariki. —Your kitten must have been pretty quick to catch a baby hare. What did you do with it? Pam would love a bunny and often begs the Hut Gardener to find her bne, so one day he brought her a hedgehog instead, but she did not like it and' let it go. Thank you for the riddles. “Bush Nympth,” Omata.—Certainly you may write until the baby is. old enough. Jim will soon grow a big boy. They all grow up far too quickly. Baby Margaret is becoming such a grownup little miss in some. of. her ways. I should like to keep her just as' she is for years yet, but, after all, that would hardly be fair to her, would it? A big hug for Baby Jim.

“Nurse,” Hawera. —Yes, some children are lucky not having to leave their warm beds as early as you do to milk, but, dear, they misp a lot of the joys of living on a farm, and besides it will all help 5 to mouldgyour character and make you grow up unselfish. Yes, we saw H.M.S. Dunedin. She looked so pretty at night with all tlje lights through the portholes reflecting on the sea.

“Little Red Riding Hood,” Koru.— Where have you beep hiding? In the woods with granny? Yes, the rain is very refreshing, but we. have had so much of it that it is becoming depression- instead. The garden is very pretty °and the fruit trees. seem to be laden with tiny fruit. Thank you for the poetry, . “Camelm,” Koru.—What were you given for your birthday? I am sorry we made it a dhy too soon. It is a pity when they come too near to Christmas isn’t it, because sometimes presents have to count for both. Did you feel the earthquake? Billikins said that he knew something was going to happen because Bouncer growled and barked before it came. Animals have wonderful instinct.

Elsie Proud, Hillsborough.—l am glad you knew some of the songs we sang because you would enjoy it more. I prefer the summer, too, with all tne sport, swimming and picnics. Baby Margaret lit a cracker, Tinkorbell held her hand, and then Margaret held her breath until it popped off. Did you have ariy sky rockets? Thank you for the poetry.

Irene Humphries, Opunake.—l suppose your chicks know when lunch time is too. Billikins’ often run to meet him when ho comes out of the classroom. Then when fie has the food they clamber, on to his hands or knees and will stand still while he picks them up, they are so tame. You may have “Carnation” for a pen-name.

Sybil Bennett, Inglewood.—l am 5° triad you could hear us all, because we five a’ long way away from you all ana if we tried to speak or shout to you without the wireless until ■we were hoarse you would never hear us. What a fair little girl you are, and we did like the photograph so, much. You looked like a sweet white smiling, daisy yourself, just like those in the background. \ Peggy Bennett, Inglewood.—Thank you very much for the snap. So you are.little Miss Peggy Bennett standing by the pram! Sybil will have to-.hurry up or you will be catching up to her. I do believe you have brown hair and brown eyee just like Billikins.. I ani sure-you have tp watch Lily; she does ■ look mischievous, * and Baby Margaret wants to know what she calls her Teddy because she has one too.

Irene Say well, Uruti.—What are you going to do with that shiny halfera wri, I wonder? Spend it straight away or save it up? I heard a crash and a splash in the bathroom last night, so I called out to know the cause. “Oh,” said Billikins, “I was just demonstrating to Peter the first plunge of the elephant at the Wellington zoo into his new bath!” ' Tariki.—-Yes, . I ' have read “Just William,” only no more of that series. It put too many ideas in the head of opr Billikins, and he was quite mischievous enough before. Call your lamb “Frisky.” Ths eheep along the road have been shorn and they do not look at all happy about it. We are still wearjno - our winter clothes and it does not seem fair that they should have to lose theirs.