The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 21 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

LETTERS to 6« Addressed: "WENDY? / Cart Taranaki Dally Box 111. new Plymouth.

“Golden Bell,” Manaia. —Welcome, little friend, to the Hut, Snd next time we shall look forward to a really long letter from you, telling us all about your garden, your pets and all the*, things you like doing. £

Renee Patch, Toko.—The . birthday cake was most delicious; we’ve all had a bit and Baby Margaret ate. most of the raising hi it. I’m so glad you did so well in the competition; didn’t you get a surprise? Billikins sends you three cheers for being so clever. Did you get all brown like a berry these holidays? ....

“Nurse,” Hawera. —The Hut folk are all sitting in the garden to-day and Billikins hat brought the bag of Wendy mail out, too. We’re sitting in a plantation of wattle-trees and theif long straight thunks look like the legs of a marching army. A little fantail is sitting up in the branches, opening and closing his lovely tail and chirruping so happily to us all. Betty Hoqd, Tarurutangi.—Another new ,1 ink 1 Welcome and many cheers'. We’re sorry to hear the news about Mavis, but doctors and nurses are. sUeh wonderful people that they will soon be able to fix the shoulder again. All the Hut folk send their love to her and to you, too.

“Little Miss Mullet,” Mangawhero.— What a really lovMy “travel-round” you had during your holidays! It will give you lots to think about until next time, won’t it? Baby Margaret has made her dolly a bathing-suit because she says it is so hot for dresses! 1 really think it is because Baby Margaret went in bathing herself yesterday and was so thrilled with it that she thinks Dolly would like it, too.

Georgie Newport, Pungarehu.—The jungle names have kept Billikins busy for such a long time and he hasn’t puzzled them all out yet. I can’t get any, except one that looks like golliwog, but then a golly isn’t a jungle fellow, is he? A tiny little spider has just swung on to me from one of the trees above where I am sitting and 1 can see his little silken, owing-thread shining in the sunlight.

Totty Bell, Inglewood—l am really not sure if Billikins himself knows What standard lie is in, but he says he is very glad to know you are in standard four. Why, you won’t have many more standards to do. will you? Tinkerbell is reading Baby Margaret some Christopher Robin stories and Baby Margaret wants to know what this ineaps; “If you teazle and neezle or wheezle, a measle may easily grow.” Can you explain it? I wonder!

“Water-Fairy,” Tuna.—Billikins says it is a jolly shame you were too late for the competition because he .liked your Georgie Giraffe very much. We shall look forward to your effort next time and hope that you will have it. in before it is too late. Very many congratulations from the Hut folk for gaining your proficiency so cleverly. Where are you going to school now? .“Clematis,’’ Midhirst.—Thank you so much for the lovely spikes of lavender, Clematis. You sent Wendy’s almost favourite flower, did you know? But I don’t think 1 know my really favourite flower becapsp every season as it-comeS brings different flowers, all : of which I love. What a pity your “Long limbed friend” was. too late for the competition. I envy you your large' library; please tell us some of your favourite books in it when you write again.

‘‘Brown Acorn,” Midhirst.—Squirrels storp acorns away for the whiter and we thought this one had been stored for the summer, tod, until we. heard him this week; then we guessed that he had been swimming instead. .1 am glad you liked the birthday card, and if you have any crayons or paints you will have fun colouring it in. Then it will be quite a pretty picture for your bedroom wall. “Fairy. Queen,’ 1 Manaia. —You will be a more busy little bee than ever now that school has begun, 'but we are always glad to hear from you. We are out in the garden' under the trees and the sun is getting low; I am chasing it from tree to tree, as it goes lower, trying to get the very last bit of warmth. The little 'brown bees are buzzing around still, their little fat legs thick with yellow' pollen. ■ •

June, Fouhy, Eltham.—All the Hut folk welcome you with lots of cheers Can’t you hear Bouncer, our dog, yelping with excitement. Please, write us a nice long letter and tell us about yourself, just as so,on as you can.

Rex Woodlev, Mangamingi —Can you hoar Billikins laughing? He just cant stop because he says your piece oi poetry was so funny. Wendy’s pen sometimes gets lost too, but it is never on her ear! Billikins often hides it sc that he will have a game' of hide-seek before we open the Wendy letters. We will think of you the day you are having your picnic and wonder what games you’re playing.

Richard and Alton Kemp, Kiore.— Yours was such an interesting letter that we don’t know where to begin. How' Billikins envied you when you wrote about eeling, though I know he was very glad he was not the one to fall in and join the eels! But what did you do with the great quantity that you caught? Baby Margaret wandered away again and is quite happy poking her little frit’ fingers in the earth, helping the Hut Gardener to plant out Ins seeds. We have such W of gay zinnias out in flower now; they’re big daisy-like flowers that grow up stiff and straight with their faces to the sun.

Joyce ■—■ —, Pohokura. It is such a long time since you wrote that 1 simply cannot remember the other bit Of vour name! Tinkerbell was very pleased to get your recipe and declares she is living us orange cake for tea. Then well be able to tell you if we like it. Does your pet lamb, Billy, rub his little cold nose on your hand when you go to see him', or is he cheeky and buflts yoii instead?

Sally Henderson, Tuna.—Someone else has chosen the pen-name you liked, but “Mysterious” would be. just as pretty; what do you think about it? I have corrected the birthday, datp; 1 thipk it was another of Billikins’ tricks, though he plays so many tliat he cannot always remember which he did and which lie didn’t. He is very glad to think you are able to solve his crosswords. _ .

“Cinderella,’’ Mahoenui. —So you went to sleep ip the grass like Alice in Wonderland! When’ you felt the tap on your leg, did you think it was the Queen of Hearts or the White Rabbit; 1 wonder! We’re very glad to hear you are a monitor because it really is quite an imoprtant job, isn’t it? Tinkerbell is so anxious to know what flowers grow in your garden at school?

“Linaria,” Inglewood. —You see we think your name so pretty, that we ye agreed to call you that. Billikins asks if “Tinks” will do for the name of the ginger pup. There are lots of zinnias, bachelors’ buttons and late roses out in flower, and. soon . we shall have long ribbon borders ..of asters. With your mew camera I am hoping you will send us a photo of yourself and your pets.

May, Elsie and Lex McCaul, Brixton. It is such a glorious day and the locusts are making such a noise; it sounds as if they might wear their wings out it they go bn much longer. All the Hu folk are asleep in the long grass; even Billikins, who was, only a few moments a<ro teasing Tinkerbell with a piece oi grass and tickling her peek. Do you cat the apples you pick, or docs Mummy make them into jelly?

Malcolm Brown, Westown.— Just as I opened your letter a green ladybird perched ‘itself on the first page looked up at me as much as to gay, “I know this little new Tink of yours, and then away it flew. I wonder if it flew to you with a message ot welcome .from us all? We are all lying, in the long grass this sunny day and even Bimbo, the horse, and Bouncer, our old doggie, are fast asleep. Please write to us again.

Ngaere Campbell, Pungarehu.—What a lovely drive. you had around the mountain and did you notice,, as you travelled round, h ow the shape altered? Sometimes it looks bumpy and sometimes it looks quite smooth. The bump ia supposed to be the lump that arose when Rangi kicked it away from the other mountains, Ruapehu and Ngaiuhoe. Did you give pcdnuts to the monkeys at the gardens? Hilda Rujskin, Manaia.—What excitement going to a new school! By now vou will have become quite used to it and will have a number of new friends there. No; I am not the same Wendy as the other you mentioned, though Billikins, of course, says • there’s only one Wendy. The real Wendy is on the Peter Pan atatud in Kensington Gardens, London, and thousands of children go there to see them.

Marion Curran, Pungarehu.—We were olad to hear how this little house-w-ite Ts getting on and we all admire the way in which she has taken Mothers place. 1 should so . like to re»d your story, Marion, and if it is suitable for the ' Wendy page we shall publish it; it may even be a good story; 'but not quite suitable to publish. Anyway, we shall see, and I think it’s wonderful that you should find time to wrltcwhen you’re so bfisy.

Joan Hurley, Opaku. —d have just put in the notice about your Bell Tea coupons and I hope you will get some. Yes; swimming does make one fee! fresh, especially when the wind blows as it has this.week! The twins thought it would be great fun flying kites in it but .they blew a Way to another .and, I aim sure!

“Marigold,” Stratford.—No. one has your pen-name; isn’t that Man* o-plds .arc amongst Tinkerbell’s favourite flowers and: she always, grows lots every year in her own little garden patch. When you’re in bathing don t you just wish you were a fish.; they can swim 'all day in any part of the sea they like and they don’t get sun-burn-ed!

“Mother’s Fairy,” Uruti.—Baby Jftrgarct did love your poem about the clean faces of the flowers, and now she’s peeping into each flower to see if it has any grit in its eye! instead of grit, I think she’s finding lots of funny little green caterpillars and she s just a bit afraid of them because they wriggle whcii she' touches them!

“Waratah,” TirhnoanlL—lt was good of you to send Baby Margaret such a pretty poem, and she is so plea.se have it. Sometimes, I, too, can see fairies, especially in the garden when the sun is. shining on all the dowers. Thev sometimes ride on the back bumble bees.and then tumble off whep the bees are sipping them honey! Have you taught your magpie to talk jet-

Marie Rowe, Eltham — I am sorry that someone else has.chosen P name you wanted, but would J “Blue Mist” just as well? Isn-t Wninje the Pooh i delightful person, especially when Elyorc and ..Piglet are in the I do there’s always Pooh, There’s always Pooh and me, is what Christopher Robin sayS, Now he is Seven!

“Laughing Water,” Mahoeuui.—Poor Helen! It did seem a funny thing tb do in lift the lid'-eff a beehive, didn t it. 4 ,“rm of bees «'» ““I 18 !* deii tills morning and Billikins rushed away to get his 'butterfly net to catch a few, but when he returned they had <rone! They seem to fly so quickly, ana now he hopes they will settle on a tree and then we shall have wild honey .

“Singing Waterfall, Mahocnu What a family of cats you have, have only one; “Snuff” his name is and wb find him quite a responsibility sometimes. especially when he climb? to the top of an electric light pole amj eanno get down. A cat’s claws are made only for climbing up « smooth surface as they curve inward ijnd it wouldly slip if it tried to come down. Notice your kittens’ claws. Jack Curran, Pungarchu.—The Hut Gardener is so pleased to hear that Mother liked his flowers; they were nrettv ones and their cheerful little fdccs'seem to help one. to smile through nain. No; Billikins floesn t really grumble about anything and always annears to be happy, though he is sometimes very mmohievmm He -mnd «• black paint tp-dny «n<l ‘• U " o ’ d ., ,, '”i self like a Maori, and now he can t ge it off!

Jim Tro wan, Alton.—The Hut Carpenter asks me to tell you. that he is unable to send you the information about the hives this week, but will pe glad to send it next week. In the meantime I hope you will 'be able to tame the bees.

“Star Rose,’’ Huinga.—The Hut gardener, thinks that the rose slips should be taken about June or July; that is, if your roses don't bloom iff the winter, as they sometimes do. What an interesting experience you had Wlt ji We hawk and the hare, but we do think it sad that the little hare (baby hare-s are. called leverets) was killed. ißank you for the clever little pocin.

Jean Hendrick, Stratford.—We are very sorry we overlooked your name in the birthday roll last week, but is it too late to wish you many happy returns now? Yes, isn’t it wonderful to see clever aviators make their machines do all those tricks and yet have perfect control over their machines! Have you ever seen a big airship in the sky? It looks like a fat silver herring, and so monstrous!

“Kaiserblume,” Tariki. —All the Hut folk are busy trying to think out three puppies’ naines for you. The twins surest “Bonzo” for one; Billikins dsks whether “Tink” would do for, another, and Tinkerbell said she ( likes Jinko awfully much. Do you? The verbena sprig vou sent is so fragrant and makes me think of a lovely garden, all full of different flowers and perfumes, and even fairies.

“Fairy Brown Eyes,” Egmont Village. —What do you call your doll that cries when it bends ov?r? Baby Maigret has a teddy that squeaks when it is poked and she calls it, ‘‘Pooh. There are such lots of butterflies in the garden this morning; red ones, yellow ones and blue oties, all flitting about among the sunbeams. I’m sure that they are glad that they don’t have to go to school; don’t you think so?