The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

“Red Shadow,” Tarurutangi.— Yes, Margaret hung, up her stocking, and she says .that she is sure she heard Daddy Christmas come - J bec;juge~Bouncer was barking, but I Ihjnk Daddy Christmas would have given him - bone to keep him quiet, don’t you? What presents did you get?

Reggie Riley, Pihama.—Your two letters arrived the same week, Reggie, so that is what happened. What fun you must have had at the. ..White Cliffs. On very fine and clear days we can flee: right along the coast to them. Thank you very much for the pretty little card. • I wonder how far you can throw<that new cricket ball. Ellen Jane, Waverley.—Baby Margaret thought that she was helping to-day

When she . picked the green peas^—fat pods, ..pods, baby pods and most of tW plants too. Last week she pulled up young turnips, so now she has been ... forbidden to pick anything in the garden except what ! is in her own patch. Have you any little sisters? , s ' ' ... . Noeline Kahui, Kahotu.—-I hope you will have better luck with your penfriend this week, Noeline. I suppose the Tinks. are all too busy enjoying the holidays. Aren’t ydu . afraid that the crayfish will nip your toes when you are in swimming? Pam squealed yesterday when a crab, naturally objected to being trodden on. -- A ■ Reni© Fetch, Toko.—So we were both wrong! I always -am wrong with my guesting and never get.near the number of peas in a bottle or the length of a piece of string. If ever we go through Toko we will look out for the name on the gate and will know where you live then. Yes, Billikins passed into standard five. I thought that Joan was you because she was so like Ken. Joyce Kelly, Awakino.—’Did you come to New Plymouth with your mother? Billikins is 11 years old now, Joyce, and such a boy. He cut Peter’s hair yesterday and I never saw such a spectacle. .Peter almost wept and had to it cut ever, so. short so thgt now he looks like a little convict. Did Trixie buck you off?r, ' “Brown Eyes,” Egm on t Village.—You poor old thing being in hospital fob so long. How did you break your leg? A father of two of our Tinks in Egmont Village did that; tooL wonder how he is now'; db you knotv? The children have stilts apd I am terrified in case they fall off and break something because it looks sb precarious. Joan Casey, Inglewood.—-Hullo stranger! You have had a long-holiday from writjhg. . .-Yes, .. pant’s name is really Pajpeig, "but she isii never called that. Margaret is Very Well and to-day the Hut Carpenter was'just finishing off a new kennel for Bouncer when she said, ‘’Where are you going to put de chimney?” Darcy Nicholson, Hawera.—A big welcome to you, Mr. Darcy, and thank you tor all the poetry, riddles and jokes. No, we do not close the children’s page f or,the..holidays -at -all -because we - love hearing from all the Tinks, and besides we do not need a holiday. You will have" to grow big -and strong now to catch up to I am sure he cannot beat you in spelling and writing anyway. You may write in pencil becsu£e you are not'Careless'. “A Sparkling Dew-Dpop,” Huiroa.— Pam has teen tumbling about the lawn playing “leap-frog” with the -boys and • ehe* cams in just how to say, “Wendy, '• I think I’ve strained a ‘tendency’ in my foot!” She is so fgnny with the big words .she uses. How would you like to have been in that aeroplane when it swooped down over your heads?-. . Mjbhael London, Te Roti.—l am-sorry your birthday card did not arrive, - be-cause-I am sure Tinkerbell sent it. Are you going to see-the boxing? Billikins is getting more defit with hie gloves now and -practices every morning at the punch-bill. I hope you will have a . good time at Opunake. Hilda Ruskin, Manaia.—Your friend

• must need waging up, 1 think, because she has not written for such a long / (time. L can. see the children having a fight with the that has just been mdwn and. left in a heap by tire Hut Gardener. He will be I am afraid,- if they dm not rake it all up again. - ’

Verpon Mangino, Oa.kura.-~Did you hake a happy birthday, Vernon? Thapk you for the poetry.’ It is not often that we see horses shod nowadays, is it? ■ Butter. is rather ( . troublesome- .when he gods to the farrier and Billikins has to humour him with carrots and pieces of bread. The roar of the fire seems to frigifejr him. Practise hard with your swimming. z Gordon Miingino, Oakura.I—Thank 1 —Thank you fbr. the poetry, Gordon, and I wish, we could put the drawing in too. Bouncer gods in for ewims and Bjllikins has taught him to dive now, aiid he will < put his head under water in the shallow places to pick up pieces of stick. You can never be too careful with bulls, because they .are eo quick and bad tempered. < Errol Manginp, paikqr^.—Well done, little Errol. You may write in pencil if you 4hd-it too.hard in ink. How do you .like school? Peter ; and. Pam aye in ■ s .' too and they like it. They are longipg to get into standard 1 so that they can ..have a real arithmetic book like'Biilik'ins hap. . Hebe Thompson, Te Roti.—Welcome, Hebe, and thank you eo much for the snapshot- We were to see Doris too she has not wrjtten for such a long time. Petty is just a little younger tian'‘our Margaret, and they would be a bonny pair because M?rghret h|? very air curls'and big blue eyes. I hope you will write to us often. W-heii Peter, wae little he had a tricycle, aid he learnt to ride backwards before he could ride Omoana. —-We had that . storm, top,’ Albert.’ Wasn’t is fierce? I was telling 'one of the- Tinks that was the night Billikins slept in his taijt. It was just as well it did not cibnie earlier in the evening because Billikins had juet gone to -bed when the post broke and down came the tent oh top of him. He did look eo funhy struggling underneath. Rfek Woodley, Mangamingi.—l hope it has kept fine for your hay-making. Thank you for telling us about the eiiilage. We have one small paddock of hay, which the Hut Gardener and Billikins made into a little stack—so email that -a farmer such as you would probably laugh at 'it and aek for a magnifying glas**-

LETTERS to be Addressees i “WENDY,* Car* Taranaki Box I lE. NEW PLYMOUTH,

Dolly Judd, Makahu.—l hope your duck-lings will not be like the ten little nigger boys. There is a large willow tree in Christchurch by the river where a duck always jays her eggs, hatches the wee .ducklings, and the next day she is : seen swimming with them in the fiver. .What we want, to know is how she gets them from the hole, which is about four feet above the ground, into the water. Do you know? “Peach Blossom,” Te Popo.: —The glory of the summer garden is almost over now and so we are looking forward to the rich colouring of the autumn flowers. The Hut Gardener creeps out every night to catch the slugs and snails, which try to make a meal of his baby zinnias and asters. I hope your brother will soon be better. “Waratah,” Tirimoana-—AVhat beautiful paper, Merle! Pam has cut the pictures 'out for her scrapbook. Yes, ■J stayed up to see the New Year in and Billikins' was allowed to also. We went in to the post office and there was a terrific djn of horns blowing, trains, and 'whistles. I wish we could hold the years back a. bit. They fly past so quickly. I am sure you will enjoy your holiday. “Grandma,” Waitoitoi.—fiVe will have another painting competition soon for you to try your paints on, Faith. Baby Margaret found Billikins’ paints last week and after soaking them well with water she mixed all the colours together. It ruined his p.aipts, but Margaret did not see why she should not have a little fun too. “Dad’s Old Man,” Waitoitoi.—l can just imagine how you give everyone a headache blowing • that horn because Peter foqnd one off an old motor-cycle, and it makes a frightful rasping noise, which he thinks, is wonderful. He has it op his tricycle, and he has put notices round the garden, “Band bend,” and “Sound Horn,” and so on. Joan Allah,»Pihama.—We have a clay bank down the back of the garden and after all that. rain . if you plepse, wept slicing down it. He called it-his “speed-way,” and you can imagine how slippery it was, but oh! his clothes! They were simply caked all over with this wretched sticky clay. Alix Lepper, Midhirst.—Your drawing was very good, Alix. Peter wants to know why cats always have green eyes, and I don’t know, 4° you ? You sent the enrolment form again too, and there is reilly no need. That is just an introduction, and we knew yvm long ago. Is Dawn your sister? Ngaere Campbell, Pungarehu. —I hope you . will keep your good resolution, Ngaere, and we will keep account of it all Tight. If you put down a definite time' for writing and keep strictly to it you will find it much easier. .Margaret is three and she tries to count to ten when she is playing hide' gnd seek, apd is “it.” Dawn Lepper, Midhirft.—You need not send the enrplment’form every time you write, dear, because we have enrollr ed you. Have you ever hebpd of a cat ■eating lizards? Peter sajfi he saw Snuff eating one and then Snuff rushed inside, tore around the house and out again, so we think that it must have affected him a little. Alma Letts, Midhirst.—Did you row on the lake in the park? We go there sometimes and the children love to feed the ducks and watch the swans diving for feed. I wonder if you saw the wee ducklings, too, paddling along behind their mother, and seeming almost to smile with pride.Jim Travers, Tahora.—l wonder if Micky will be able to bioxy the one candle out on his, cake. ' Perhaps he draws his breath in. Margaret used to blow out when we hold her to ,smell a flower. Teddy bears are rio cuddleeome anfi she likes hers better than her doll too, I think. Teddy must be tucked into bed with her at night before she will close an eye.

Kathleen Tq.llor4.-nit shall expect Jimmy to write a little note' by himpelf. this because’'prijn<sr'2 is ever so much better ’ than primer 1. Peter, tries to write, but will try to rub out w'ith his finger, it does look so terrible. Pam has to watch to see that he uses the rubber. I don’t know wha-t Peter would do without Pam to lodk after him.

Pat Pepperell, Eltham.—You cannot be sure about the auburn hair because when Margaret w ; as a bqby her hair was quite dark and now it is 4s fair aS fair. What, colour are the 'baby’s eyes? I love auburn hair and hgzel eyes, but the fair skin must be a. trial in summer when it gnd burns so easily., Have you been for any swinifc ? Muriel Clark, New Plymouth.—'Welcome Murielj but phage spell my name with an “e,” not “i.” Thank you so much for thq gngpshot. My word, Topgy looks k little migehjef. Does she go to school with you? Peter and Pam are longing to take'M4Tg4ret to school, but she is too young just yet. "A Mountain Fairy,” Lowgarth. —I hope you will be given strength to jielp you keep such 4 good New Yedr resolution, dear, because you may find it very difficult at times- What a wonderful holiday your cousins must be having. I have to play cricket too sometimes, and Billikins says that I am improving, in a very patronizing voice. Can you bowl over-arm? I try," but three out *of the six 4lways seem to go “wide.” No, we q-re'not going away for the holidays; we like home best too.. Terenpe Fol?y, Strgtford.wThank you for the riddles, Terence, 4nd ( wfi ar® very pleased that' you have become a Tiiik too. We rowed right up the river this morning gnd- my arms are sp- stiff. We had lunch on the and the children found a big willow branch. They held oh to it,' rgn, and swtipg thepaselves across the river, let go, gnd splashed in. It was great fun.

"Fairy Queen,” Auroa.—l am sorry you had to be bribed to write to your old .friends/ Alvin?. Still I know howhard it is to make Up ybur mind to do anything in holiday time. Th® children have to do their jobs thing apd tiien they are- free practically to do what they.like. They do have some fun, and at night time are ever so tired I and ready to pop into beds

May McCaul,. Brixton.—Billikins -slept ent in his' tent the other night and when he went to -bed the stars were twinkling so merrily, but- during the night it began to pour. There was a frightful storm, and Billikins did not have as restful a night as he had expected. He did hope he might sleep out in the -Open .one night,, but. that has cured him. “Poppy Queen,” Pa tea.—■ What was the matter with Edna? You must have all had a worrying time. The Hu-t Carpenter is colour-blind and he is so funny because when he picked some strawberries to-day half of them were -not nearly ripe. Peter has had the biggest strawberry from his plot ,so far. Billikins cannot wait long enough for-his to get properly ripe. Leslie Pauling, Patea.—Sunburnt? I should think we all were! Fortunately we do not peel, except Peter’s and Billikins’ hose, which is all right after the first lot has peeled. Pam has distinct marks on hex' shoulders where her bathing suit comes to, and she is very proud of them. I found a threepence in my pudding and a half-penny, which Billikins put in for a joke when I was not looking. Queenie Coombe, Oaonui.—Baby Margaret has not been very well to-day because I think she at© too many plums, and if they were as green as those I found under someone else’s pillow last night, Ido not wonder at it. We have had a westerly gale and it has blown off speh a number of nectarines and peaches. The boys play marbles with the green Margaret Allan, Pihama.—Are you going to High School this year, Margaret? Fancy your being able-to sleep during the day. I have difficulty sometimes 0 in making even Baby Margaret have her daily sleep. -She is so , wideeyed and wants to go on playing with the,others.' She' will feel lonely when school starts again. Ronald Bransgrove, New Plymouth. — Yes, Billikins has been'to ;the golf once, and he had such a lot.of luck... We did, laugh to see him put his hand into- the second hole; expecting to find his ball and out it popped from another place. Have you been for many swims? We went to the Fitzroy beach one day and had a great time,swimming arid_ having swings. Call your mice “MickiS’’ and “Dickie-” . , >- . - ■ Ruth Laird, Eltharq.—So '■ you were nine on Saturday, Ruth! Did you have a happy birthday?'We went for a picnic yesterday and took hard boiled eggs for lunch. Bijlikins passed theni-around and when Peter cracked his open it went just everywhere! It- was • rawlr.jyhat would you do with, a brother like that? Thora Metcalf, Inglewood.—You may be called “Linaria,’’’Thora, and a pretty name it is. Call your kitten “Dusky.” Yes, we are very fond of reading apd have a story every night before bedtime. We are reading “Black Beauty” now. Have you read it? Thank for ■the poetry. .Tinkerbell was -up in . her Thinking Tree this morning making up poetry, but she said that no inspirations would come. 4 “Moonshine Fairy,” Midhirst;—-(Baby Margaret has another bantam. now, which two kind little Tinks gave - her, and she' loves them. She insist on feeding them herself, wet or fine, and never 'forgets, which is rather remarkable for Such a little girl. If we let her she would ■ feed them at least six times a day, I am sure. The new one has not started to lay yet, -but the old 6ne is still faithful. : , . ‘‘Fairy Rose,” Midhirst.—Thank you for your good Rose. You would have seen a very excited and thrilled household at the Hp't on Christmas morning as the children all scampered around the house quite forgetting slippers, dressing gowns or anything else except their wonderful presents. I had to admire each present at least five tinris before they were satisfied. I hope Gladys feels fetter now. Marjorie Hartigan, Stratford.-r-Those riddles are very good, Marjorie. I hope you are quite better now. Being ill i? bad enough at any time, but- it is worse during the holidays. The children have sent a tennis ball up on the roof and I see that throe have .niade it an exbuse to climb up to get it. Pam should have been the boy and Peter thegirl because she is far more nimble; at climbing. “Aotearoa,” Cardiff.—No, none: of us is going away, Constance. Dd you ever put grass between your thumbs and blow on it? It maizes such a npis'e. Even Mgrgaret is trying to do ittoo. S'fie lines' to copy everything the others do, an 4 there is not much that she: will not try.. '-Som'etimbs they let her go first for “Followxthe-leadgr” and she does some funny things. . Betty Berryman, New Plymouth. —Did your prize arrive safely, Betty? Tinker.-, bell chose it anfi hopes you like it. Yqu .were lucky to have such a holiday/ Did Douglas go too ? What a pity Pelorus Jack is dead now. Have you hggrd about him ? He was the whgle who used always to follow the bogt across the strait from Picton gnd was one of the sights of N’ew England. Visitors often a'gk about him when ' they come from other countyifes.

Jpllie Ngahing, Otakeho.—Pam is very fqpd of animals, arid they all like her too.' If she pgts Snuff and Bouncer comes along she 'must pat them both to prevent jealousy, and she often has to remind Billikins to give the horses a drink- She loves riding, and Peter eaya phe will go bandy if she is not careful, and then he will be taller thap she is. They both edt their crusts well in case one should grow taller than the other. “Sun Shower,” Kaupokonui.—Can you swim'yet, Mary? We go in every morning before breakfast now, and it is wonderful. Some mornings it looks eo dark and 'mysterious in the river, but when the sun is shining and the birds singing the water becomes like crystal again and bubbles merrily on.' Is Jackie’s pigeon-quite tame? Billikins used to have" one, but it died of fretting once when he went away for the holiday*.

OUR SWEET-MAKING CORNER, (PLAIN COFFEE FUDGE. Put into a saucepan half a breakfastcupful of good strong coffee and a pound and a quarter of white granulated sugar, and stir slowly over gentle heat till the sugar has dissolved. Do riot allow the mixture to boil up rapidly till the sugar has completely dissolved. Now boil for five minutes. Remove the saucepan from the’ stove, and, with a wooden spoon, beat the fudge till it becomes a thick cream. This may seem hard work at first, but the success of th© sweet depends on your patience. The stiff mixture will soon become easier to beat. When smooth, turn it .out on to a slightly buttered dish, cut into squares, and leave to set. CAN YOU JUDGE DISTANCES? Havfi you ever tried to judge the distance between yourself and some person or thing you can see a way off? Of course some people have better eyes than others, but the following directions for judging distances can be taken as fairly accurate. If you can clearly make out a person’s eyes and mouth, that person is about 50 yards away from where you are standing. At a hundred yards distance, the eyes will appear as little dots, and the mouth indistinct. At ‘2OO yards you can see tjie figure and make out tie, buttons, cuffs and cap. At 300 yards .the face of the. person is very misty and it is almost impossible to discern various features, such as the nose, eyes and ears. At 400 yards you can make out the movement of a person’s feet. Beyond this distance, unless you have very sharp eyes, it is impossible to tell whether the figure is that of a man, woman or child; or even whether it is moving slowly or standing still. GIFTS FOR A KING. The cqmuiissioner came into his sister’s room one day. She was on a visit to him in his out-of-the-way station in West Africa,, and the two were nroino- to pay a State call. “Put on your.,best bib .and tucker, Lina,” said he. '“Ybu must make a good impression on the chief.” Mrs. Bruce put on her best raiment. And nobly she carried it, being six feet high, with the bearing of a soldier. “Just the style to impress the natives,” said her brother, as she marched majestically to the motor-car. . “But wait a little, it would be better if you took a small gift to King Tembi; nothing of too much value, something a little uncommon.” ■ Mrs. Bruce thought and thought, ana could not find anything for the blacK chieftain. It ended up in being one of her own parasols from f O6e L Coloured, frilly, with a parrots heaa handle. - In tli© domain of King lembi. they were received with much honour. The village, of mud-built, reed-thatched huts was - thronged with dusky people and native piccaninnies. Dances were performed, barbaric music pl a y e 4‘ ,4, pink parasol- was .offered and accepted. Tembi was so impressed with it ana the noble looking lady.who gave it that he had a present ready for her in return when the moment of departure came—two live sheep, which proved very unComfortable passengers m the car on the way back. Said the brother to rihe sister at dinner that evening: “That was a v ery successful gift you gave King Tembi. You always had the knack of choosjng presents. Can you suggest something else for the Government to give the old boy three months hence? ,He will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of his reign.” Mrs. Bruce thought a little.. “I c an tell what to give him,” she said. “All the other worthies -were sitting on orange-coloured humpties; he was on a hard stool, with three elephant tusks for legs, not at all suited to his size and weight.' Why not order, a ceremonial chair, to be made, garish, barbaric, all crimson brocade and gilding, somethiner to impress the savages? Th© chair of state was ordered,, and in due time presented. Tembi sat in it, filling it n6bly, full' of suppressed excitement. But great as was the gift of tp© British' Government, his simple people had thought of something more glorious still. It snorted into the compound pnd stood quivering, a Ford four-seater car. So whosoever goes to that pact West Africa now, for this is a true can see King Tembi chug-efiug-ging" along in his horseless chariot. Behind'him pants a train of sable subjects, ready as th© need may be, to crank jt up or to lift it out of difficulties.

FURNITURE MADE FROM COTTON.

A London man has invented a form of synthetic wood containing &0 per cent, cotton, which he claims is good fop making furniture. It can be. made in any shape or thickness, can be sawn or planed like wood, and nails and screws can be driven into it. It is lighter, stronger and cheaper than wood- can 'be painted, varnished of stained, so as to look like oak, mahogany or walnut, or it can be polished as smooth as glass. If this invention proves to be an industrial success it will certainly receive the blessing of the cotton trade, suffering at the moment from so tremendous a depression. ANSWERS. The house that Jack built, The old woman who lived in a shoe. Will you walk into my parlour? •Polly put the kettle on. Queen of Heart*. Jack and Jill. ( Littje Jack Horner. Tommy Tucker. Mary had a little limb. Jack Sprat and his wife. A froggy would a-wooing g' Old King Cole. Humpty Dumpty. Little Miss Muffet.. Georgia Porgie. Three Blind (Mice. Simple Simon. Tom thp piper’s son. Little 80-Peep. Hi diddle diddle, the cat played the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. (•Sent by Irene . Saywell.) When is a 'boy like a vegetable?-— When he’s a little “runner.” What is even nicer than a slice of Christmas pudding?—Two slices. (Sent by Alice Croall.) How do engines hear?—Through their engineers, Why ip a' member of Parliament like a (shrimp ?—Because he hap M.P. at the end of .name. What would you do if you split your aides with laughter ’—Run uhtil I got a stitch in them.

JUMBLED GIRLS’ NAMES.

(Sent by Elsie Rookes-J

■Serb, yma, llmoy, lareic, ennaa, irta, ennOci, hyeb, ecojy, onaj.

* # * * Dad: Just run and look and see if the .-’■andfather clock’s going, Eddy. Addy; No, dad, it’s standing still.

STAMP STORIES. Eighty years ago a teacher in Franc© told the pupils how much more interesting they would find their essons if they pasted stamps of foreign nations in their atlases and geography books. That was the idea which started stamp collecting. There are said to be now four million people in the world who are stamp collectors, but this number would ihardlyl include all the boys and girls who collect stamps at some time in their lives. In many qlder issues of the large countries the shortage of these stamps makes them valuable. If every specimen of a hundred thousand stamp edition© was bought by collectors, and none used through the post, only one in every 400 collectors would have this stamp. But this alone would not make the issue vajua'ble, for the stamp may be from a country in which collectors generally ar© not interested Errors in making stamps, such as wrong colours or flaws in the engraving, have caused some to be of great value. The few errors that are not recovered then become very valuable. There are many tales of unexpected finds in stamp collecting history. A few years ago a boy. in London, in trying to stick, some 4d stamps on parcels, discovered that the gum was on the same tide as the printed design. These freaks were sojd for as much as £4 each, the King buying a block’ of four for his collection.

A story from Sweden ©hows that it sometimes pays to save love letters. In 1018 tli© Swedish postal authorities printed upside down low-er values on some of their, higher-valued stamps. A sheet of these errors was bought by a young forester, who had , promised to write every day to the girl he left behind him. A collector of stamps offered £lO for each of these stamps. As the girl had saved - both the letters and envelopes she was able to collect £3OO for the stamps, which, of course, went towards a wedding and furnishing a home. You have very likely heard of the costly rare “Post Office” Mauritius. Mr. J. Barnard, an engraver, ..nd the wife of the Governor of Mauritius share the honour of creating this historic stamp. The Governor’s wife wished to post invitations for a ball to her friends, so the engraver was asked to prepare printing plates for one and two cent stamps. The engraver forgot the exact wording he had been told to use. When he called at the post office to find out, th© postmaster had gone. “It must be Post Office” thought the engraver. The words “Post Paid” should have been printed, but the Governor’s wife used the stamps all the same. Thirty of these stamps have been traced. An American collector has refused £6-000 for one.

Readers will be interested in the following list of very rare world stamps and valuable Australian "tamps: — British Guiana, 18-56, black on magenta, 1 cent- (rarest stamp), £6500. , Mauritius, 1847, “Post Office,” Id, orange red” and 2d, blue, £4OOO. • Hawaiian Islands, 185'1, 2 cent, blue, £2500. Hawaiian Island, 1-852, 13 cent, blue, £l2OO. West Australia, 4d, ’’blue, .• inverted swan, £BOO. ■ ,