The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

“What are we going to do to-day?” asked Ted one fine morning. Since the failure of his, gliding machine, Richard had not been inclineo, to think of new ideas. . \ ~, , ~ “Think of something for yourselves,” he told Gwen and Polly. Then Gwen chimed in. “The other day,”- she said, “I saw a man jumping ever sb'high, with the assistance of a pole.” . “Came and show us how he did it,” Polly suggested.

It took Gwen some time to fix the line over which the jump had to be taken. Polly ,whs.doubtful when she saw the height of, it. “You’ll'never jump that,” she declared. “It’s done with the help of this pole,” said. Gwen. “It looked easy enough when I saw the man doing it.” ( •4) > “Well go on,” Richard grunted. “Show us how he did it. ' “I’ll try,” said Gwen, obligingly. , '

r The lngh jump -with th'e assistance of a--pole' needs a lot of understanding. • It. must he admitted that Gwen did her jWi but she had not the slightest idea > ; : how ta use the pole. With a great effort she managed to .catch her feet in the •line, and, of course, back she feU with a terrible bang. This naturally amused Richard; who found it a fine excuse to make funny remarks. /■" . -■■■■ ■ ' ' —Y J

t Poor Gwen sat on the ground feeling very She hatedjioing; any- )*• thinv that would give Richard a chance to score off her, and she was iunous > S she sawKhing.. And, of course, Richard laughed all the more when j he S «y O u°maTwV shouted Gwen. “But can you do it? You'haven’t even f thecouragetotry.”.. / ~■ ■ ■ ■:■■■■■ •/ ■■-

Mow, if there is one thing Richard objects to more than any other, it is to ■ <kavehitscourage challenged. When Gwen’ said he hadn’t the courage to try, he ! immediately decided to “show her.” What is more, he made up his mind that he would jump the string, and when Richard makes up his mind he at least has i v«y good try- He tried hari this titoe ’ ssith Gwen anxioUBl y , ®' atchin £ 80 that she should not miss the fall. ' — / .

Poor Gwen! lam afraid it was not a good day for her She never dreamed that RichMd would jump across the string, and so did not trouble to get right out of the way. Consequently/when Richard came flying as it happened’—she was just in the right place to stop his faU. If the hang had not knocked all the breath from her, I am afraid there would have been a quarrel. It finished the game for that day, anyway.

ONLY LIKELY. Benson is one of those unfortunate individuals who is tied to a nagging wife. Being a temperate man, he did not fly to the pub in order to be away from home, but joined the ambulance brigade. Strangely enough, at hie first examination, the doctor put this question to him: "Now, Benson, you are a married man. Supposing you found your wife hanging, what would you do ?” “I’d do all I could to help her, sir,” was Benson's prompt, but somewhat ambiguous reply. ♦ # * * FRUITFUL TOPIC. "All the trouble in the Carden of Eden was caused by an apple.’’ “No, it was caused by a green pair!” * * # * WORTH SOME SACRIFICE. Restaurant Proprietor: “Our violinist here was offered a thousand dollars for that instrument last week.” Guest: “I can’t go that high, but I’ll give him twenty dollars if he’ll quit right now.”

, Reggie —, Pihama.—How funny you all must look teaching your calves, to come to school. Just like Mary and her lamb. When are they to be judged ? I hope the Tinks’« calves win the competition. Let g me know how youss get. on. Joan Shepard, Eltham.—>No, we have not a gramophone because I want to encourage the Children as much as possible to learn music and. exercise their own talents. Thank you for the jokes, dear, and I hope you .will not be so long in writing to us again. .Jack . Curran, Pungarehu.—! am, so glad you have joined, too, Jack. When Billikins saw you in the photo Marion sent'us he said, “I wonder, why Jack doesn't write to US- too!” He is not as old as you; he is'just 11. What kind of 'bicycle is yours? His is a BjS.A. and has an electric battery for the light, of which he is very proud, > He skidded on a corner yesterday and scratched some of the paint, not to mention his knee. Joan Kirk, is 11 years old. No, Pam could not ride a wild buffalo because—-well, in the first place she could not. catch one to try. 'She has been .learning how to jump and can take Buster over the hurdles now. They are adjustable ones so that they can be made quite low for her. We like your poetry. .3 ;

’<Phy<l-Wyn,” Stratford—l do like to see the wings on the Guide uniforms. Yes, there are numbers of Brownies here and they all seem to have a very happy time. The tub and the French doll are very well done in your painting, blit the grass is a little too yellow and the other doll’s petticoat is too much 1 like her complexion. However, the painting looks effective. Sylvia Price, Oakura. —You are having a change of. teachers. I hope you will not wear them all out in a fortnight. Noreen must be a dear little girl, Margaret plays the piano too and sings away cheerfully for about a quarter of an hour sometimes. Sue did have ah-unhappy, visit to London. Snuff caught a rat in the barn to-day and brought it right inside to show me, and I don’t like rats, do you? Melva Reynolds, Oaohui.—4 just wonder what 'Father Christmas will ‘bring down the chimney for this little' girl. I expect it all depends how good she is. Peter and Pam have been extra good this week and I wondered why until I heard them discussing their behaviour and wondering if they had been good' enough to get a motor boat and a golliwog. -• ■' .’ ■ ' ’ ' i

“Farmer Boy,” Inglewood.—l .wish we ( could give prizes for those who get on the Honours Board, but' I am afraid that would keep us too busy. If you had a bicycle you would have, to have a fire engine siren because .some people do not even get out. of the way for a motor horn.- YeS, Baby Margaret makes •mud pies too and says that Teddy eats them.- There you are opposite again.

“Gold-Lily,” Inglewood;—Call’ the white kitten “Minty,” and the grey one “Misty.” Yes, we have had new potatoes too, out of Billikins’ garden, and the green peas are very nearly ready. I am looking forward to receiving your photo, and we guess that you have brown hair and hazel eyes'. Anywhere near!?'. , .' ,

Bonnie Winstanley, Awakino.—Thank Owen for his drawing; I like the mascot on the front. Your tests will be over now and how,, pleased you. will be. The Hut. Carpenter is making a . bridge over a narrow part of., our river and Baby Margaret was watching him when suddenly Teddy fell in. There was such excitement, arid a very wet Teddy was rescued and returned to a very tearful owner. <

t®ush Ranger” and “Skylark,” Omoana.—Thank you both for all the poetry and stories. Yes, , Billikins can ride quite well now and says that he can go 30 miles an hour, but I don’t think he (could, do you? No, we have not caught any eels. I think they have all left our river.

“Sun Flower,” Kaupokonui.—No, our dahlias are not out yet, although the buds are growing fatter. You are lucky to bb getting a new wireless. I suppose you will be able to hear Japan and China now. It is too wonderful to think of sound travelling so far, across the lands, oceans and mountains, never resting. I would like to travel with it, wouldn’t you ? Thank you for the riddles, Mary. Erlin Pennington, Mangamingi—Welcome, Erlin! I think you are ; a very clever little boy to print your letter so well. Peter has just got out of the habit of turning his slate inside down to make a “W.” He used to have, to trim it sideways to make his “3’s” stand up straight, too., • .

LETTERS tO Addressed: “WENDY/* . -a Car® Taranaki Daliy Mwsa, Box 1I&. NEW. PLYMOUTH

“Fairy- Queen,” Auroa. —How short, Noreen, but I hope you will keep to your resolution. Billikins brought home pocketsful of sand from the beach today and besides making his pockets sag he has spilt it all over the bedroom floor. Joan Pennington, Mnngamingi.—lt was wet in New Plymouth, Joan, but' it is not wet now. We have had some glorious sunshine and Billikins and Peter have sunburn marks- from sunbathing. They will soon be as brown as berries again. Do you like playing cricket? They play it at the girls’ school here, I believe, and are quite good d-t it.

“Glen,” Rahotu.—Welcome, Rex! You are lucky to be able to go to school in a motor-car. Billikins says that he is saving up for a car and when he gets one he is going to. take it’ over to England and enter for the races. You will have to watch that Nigger does not frighten the canaries.

“Pal o’ Mine,” Tuna.—-How disappointed everyone must have been at it being so wet for the show. The river is still freezing and the first plunge took my breath away completely. It is a funny feeling, isn’t: it? Billikins says that it feels, as if the water nymphs resent our swimming in the pool, and sand-bagged us on the chest. ' Maisie McLeod, Opunake.—Did you leave the teeth at the dentist’s or bring them home and put 'them Under the mat ? Peter and Pam had' their breakfast in bed' this.morning, too, as a special treat, but not''again for a' long time. They spilt their milk and smeared marmalade on the sheet. However, they said that they would put the tops to the bottom when they made their beds, and then they thought it would not matter. Mary Algie, Stratford.—-You may have “Blushing Rose” for your pen-name and I will ask for a pqh-friend. Another Tink passed proficiency! How relieved you will feel now that it is over. Are you going to High School? You will have new subjects to choose yoUr favourites from then. New books, new teachers and schoolmates. What fun you will have. - Nancy Slater,- Eltham.—Thank you for the poetry.' Did you go on one of the horses that go up and down ,on the merry-go-round? Baby Margaret can ride on them all by herself; , “Hyacinth,” Inglewood.:—l am sorry we put up your age. Tinker Bell will correct it. The Dressmaker is afraid she has not a pattern of a Chinese dress, but if she can find qhe she will put it in for you. Billikins was in a concert once as a Chinaman and he sang that song, “Chin,, Chin, ■ Chinaman; muehee, muchee sad,” and did it quite -well, only .his pigtail fell off during the encore. Edna Reynolds, Oaonui.—Our chickens are growing up so quickly. If they see a bird who has found a worm for breakfast and thinks he. will enjoy it on the lawn,-they all tear over to it and chirp for some,- too, but they do not often get any. Our roses are coming, out beautifully, too, and in the evening scent the garden like fairyland.

Jack Barrett, Opuuake.—What fun you will have with, the boxing gloves. The Hut Carpenter made a, punch ball stand for Billikins and 7 he does his daily dozen there every morning. If he is not careful the ball catches him on the nose-dn the rebound. I think you will be sorry when the time comes for you to leave school. Thank you. for the “Rain in Spring”! ■it is \not the first we have had. ' ’ ; '

Eila Harrison, Normanby.—A very well-written letter, Eila. Yes, every year seems to be busier than the last. Do you make New Year resolutions?, Billikins makes a list, but one by one they seem to be broken - or forgotten. Some of them are so funny, such as one to fold his pyjamas every morning or not to ask Cookie for cake more than three times'in one day. What are you going to buy with that shilling? Perhaps you resist spending it at the show. !

Leslie Pauling, Patea.—l am so-glad you. enjoyed the book. Billikins chose it, and said he thought it would-make your hair, stand on end with excitement. He is ;in standard 4, but has passed with honours into standard 5 this year. What did you recite at the bazaar ?

. Olga Aagaard, Stratford.—Thank you so much, dear, for the wee calendar. It is exactly what I need because I have a shocking memory, and now I will jot thjngs down on the days they have to be'done. We are so glad that you have passed your proficiency. Great work! Yes, please, Tinker Bell says she would like one, too. The picture arrived safely. I think you should have tried to paint it this time.

Billy and Joan Davy, Auroa.—Pam and Ba,py Margaret do not see Father Christmas because he comes to the Hut when they are fast asleep and dreaming about what he will give them. I wonder if he whispers in their ears just what he has left for them. What do you and Billy want? We arq so glad that you have joined, too, Billy, and I know you will be able to write your very own letters soon.

Marjorie Borland, Inglewood.- —What a jolly fat envelope from you, dear. In future you may be “Guin Blossom.” I am keeping the poetry for the Christmas page. Snuff is the cat and Bouncer the dog. We call him Bouncer because he never keeps still unless he is asleep. I have never seen such energy, and even after he has followed Buster, the pony, for miles, he always comes home as fresh as possible ready for -a game or frolic.

Ellis Harrison, Waipapa.—Hullo, Ellis! I am answering your letter because you asked me the questions. ; I have strawberries, but they are not ripe, yet. I’ve eaten several pink ones, but they are not much good,-are they? I am not going away for the holidays because I’ve got such hundreds of things I want to do here. No, I have never cut my head open, but I have a big beauty on my leg at present. Cheerio. —Billikins. Jean Glengarry, Oeo. —I suppose the river is big enough for you to swim in. We have at last broken the ice by going for a swim on Saturday. Tinker Bell says that we can at least say that we swam in November, although it was by a very narrow margin. We have actually some, sunburn to show for it, too. \ “Constantinople,” Mahoenui. — Too many colds, Arnold. Peter found his first cricket or cicada yesterday, so that is a good sign. He has a great affection for all ci’eepy, crawly tilings and brought the cricket in to me very mysteriously in his little hand. Then he played with it very gently by pitting it on his cheek and feeling it tickle him as it crawled along.

Margaret Allan, Pihama.—No one has chosen that name so “Southern Cross” you may be, Margaret. When people are coming back to New Zealand from England, how they watch the heavens at night to see who will find the southern cross first. Then they really feel they are nearing home. I would miss it over in England, wouldn’t you? Even Peter and Pam know where it is and some of the other stars as well. Nancy must be an athletic goat to jump' the gate.

“Squirrel,” Mahoenui.—As soon as it is warm enough perhaps you will foe able to swim over to those gooseberries, only do not eat too many in case you cannot swim back again. You did well in the tests. Billikins had arithmetic to-day and was very excited because he got only one sum wrong, and he said he made that mistake when the aeroplane flew over and he thought of the time when he would be grown up .and be able to fly across when other boys were penned in doing testa.

Rowena Hamilton, Inglewood.—Thank you for the jokes., I am keeping two of them for our Christmas page. I have never heard of pigs doing that before. The young rascals! “Lavender Lady,” Uruti.—As I was walking around the garden last week, I noticed that the lavender border was showing great promise arid then wondered what had become of you. How do you like Uruti and your new school? We have several other Tinks there. Thank you for the jokes and poetry. ' Ivy Hollis, New Plymouth.—Yes, we did wonder what had become of you, Ivy. We have been down to the beach three times now, but the water is still fairly cold. However, the sand has been beautifully hot. Baby Margaret has not been in because I do not want to risk her getting another cold, but she has made castles with a new spade that Billikins made for her all by himself. “Fairy Brown-Eyes,” Egmont Village. —Did you have a happy birthday? We have finished Billikins birthday cake and Cookie said it was the best she had ever made. I hope that Peter and Pam will pass into standard 1 next year, too—not at the beginning, but later on.

Ivy Gyde, Egmont Village.—l am so glad you enjoyed our concert. Yes, we shall be giving another some time. I do hope you will not wait until your next birthday to write again. Tinker Bell says that she’will have to send you birthday cards every month to remind you,

“Rose,” Stratford —Perhaps your puss has learnt a lesson and will now settle down to a quiet, domestic life. Snuff wandered once and came home injured, so he has never wandered far again, of if he does he seems to dodge all quarrels. Have you found the other 30 nails? What happens if you find them.all?

Rosina Dennis, Stratford. —I tucked the children into bed half an hour ago and Pam has just called me to say-that she cannot go to sleep. I told her to count sheep going through a gate, so she said, “Yes, but what shall I do when they’ve all gone through?” How are your twins? We have not heard anything about tjjem for ages. ‘ '■!?. “Water-lily,” New Plymouth.—We have four water lilies but now, Joyce; but they are all yellow ones so far. What class will you be in next year? I suppose you and Thelma will soon be going to High School. Billikins thinks that he could go quite easily now that' he has his bicycle.

May Nielsen, Rahotu.—l can imagine what your mending looked like. I found Billikins’ shirt with a huge tear in it, and he had evidently tried to mend it. It was cobbled together with coarse cotton and then finished off by being clasped together with a large safety-pin. Thank you for the jclkes. Barbara Thompson, Eltl^am.—You must be coining on at tennis. Billikins is learning to play at the not, and finding it .rather difficult to face the balls bravely. Sometimes he dodges and does not try to hit them when' I hit them towards him. I liope you do not do that. He can' score .property' t now and consequently feels a much better 1 player.

“Mushroom,” Mahoenui. —Your mother must be proud of you all for doing SO well in the examinations. Wo varnished the hall last week and no one was to set a foot on it until the morning, so ,we all jumped the border and went to bed. In the morning there wer§ trails of footmarks all over the stain. What do you thing it was. Mr. and Mrs. Rat and family had been carrying tiny potatoes that we had cooked for the fowls from the kitchen to their hole. There was not one' potato left. “Waratah;” Tirlmoana.—l hope the sun shone for you to go to the show. Yes, I have read that book to the children, and they loved it. Have you a school library? What fairy-tale books have you of your own? Yes,,wa have made the Christmas cakes, but they are not iced yet. Cookie was mixing one and . was beating the butter and sugar when she was called away. I called Peter, who seemed to come very reluctantly and had a mouthful of something, “What have you been eating, Peter.,?” buffin’ much!” And I saw his hand! He had just put it in and. taken a handful of Cookie's mixture. Oh! Such a mess! ’ ,

“Star Rose,” Huinga.—Perhaps Jim has a swollen gland because I remember once Billikins had a lump on . the back of his neck and we thought he was getting mumps, but it was only a gland. Baby Margaret’s dolly is about 16,inches high. I did not tell her about the frock so°that it will be a surprise for her. We had a visitor with a real baby the other day and Margaret loved it. She stroked its head, brought her dolly in, too, and did exactly the same to it‘"as the mother did to her baby.

“Kaiserblume;” Tariki.—l was at Te Aroha when the mountain caught fire. The bush had been burnt before and the bracken and fem which had grown up in its place caught fife. The wind was blowing away from the town fortunately and swept the flames up the mountain for a thousand feet. If it had been blowing the other way, the whole town would have gone. 'Just imagine that mountain you saw a blaze of flames! How ,did you like the taste of the mineral waters ? WHAT WE LEARN FROM A DOG. Faithfulness. . A dog . will remain faithful to .his master to the end of his life. Trde companionship. A/dog is willing to keep his master company without receiving any attention himself. Heroism. A dog will face danger without the slightest hesitation when someone he loves is in peril. Caution. Every „dog is cautious. Watch how he turns round several times before settling down to sleep, and notice how easily he is aroused at the least suspicious sound. Alertness. Look at a terrier on the alert before a rat hole, or as he sleeps—with one eye open—on guard outside his master’s door. Gentleness Most dogs are amazingly gentle when playing with children. . Obedience. A well-trained dog would not dream of disobeying his master. Not from fear, but because obedience to him is something fine. Love. The love of a dog surpasses all human understanding. . Forgiveness. , Very few doge bear malice. They quickly recognise an attempt to make up for past harsh treatment. Patience. A dog will bear pain with the greatest fortitude, and will wait in silent patience for relief. When waiting for his master, too, a dog will not take his eyes from the place where he last saw the beloved figure. Persistence. Robert Bruce’s spider was nothing tb a dog. From climbing a high wall to finding hie way home, a dog will stick-to the task until he succeeds or drops with exhaustion. * TELLING HIM NICELY. . I Burly Ruffian (to timid pedestrian): “Got a penny, please, stranger! Me an’ (Bill wants ter toss it an’ see which of us takes yer watch an’ which yer pocket book!” ‘ ’