The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

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

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

LETTERS to tea Addrestodt “WENDY/* Cars Taranaki tally Km, Box 111 NEW FLYMOUTH.

June Laurent, Waitara. —Welome to the Wendy folks’ Hut, June, and We shall look forwardto letter from you just aS soon as you c?n write it.

Gordon Freeman, Hawera. —I ini so glad you liked the prize; I think it was Billikins’ choice. He loves tales of adventure, and 1 am sure he. wishes he lived in the days of the Spanish Armada or could have helped Wellington win the battle of Waterloo! And what exciting lives the Red Indians have; we sometimes have some very ferociouslooking ones in the Hut garden!

' “Grandad,” Waitoitoi—Yes; it does seem ages since we heard from you. and no doubt you would notice a change ill Billikins and Baby Margaret. They have both grown lots. The season for sea-bathers and sun-worshippers, is nearly over, and how sorry We shall all be. To-day is so lovely and sunny, but so windy that we are nearly all blown away, up where Margaret's bonnet has gone. It will make quite a good bird’s nest!

May, Elsie and Lex McCaul, Brixton. —What a pity you did not see your letter last week, for it was quite a nice fat letter. I am afraid that sometimes I do forget come of my Tinks’ surnames arjd so often, too, Billikinp enjoys a little joke. It will be great fun having a little garden of your own to plant with your favourite, flower seeds and then to watch them grow into lovcIv flowers.

Xgaere Campbell, Pungareliu.—Yes; you have written to us every week this yegr and we look forward to your letters very much. Isn’t it splendid that you are doing so well at your music! Tinkerbell is the member of the Hut family who loves , the piano best, and even now she is practising hard. She would play nearly all day, but Billikins dnd the twins like her to play games with them and to make lollipops for them.

Elizabeth Connor, Opunake.—We shall always be glad to hear from- you ju?t whenever you can find time to write to us, so please do not “pull out; ’ we should be so disappointed.' Thank you for the poem. Do you ever make, a Guy Fawkes on. November 5? Billikins does, but he does not know whether he will continue if it makes a guy feel as sad as your poem pays it does. •

Renee Petch, Toko.—l am so glad, you liked your prize; we thought it might fee used for wet days when you ,did not know what to do. You will probably see that Baby Margaret and Tinkerbell had a game with the balls before they sent them to you.. You must be like Billikins if you like jam; he climbs up to the pantry shelves and gets down a fresh pot of jam for every meal; when he has finished he looks like a janvman. •

“Nurse's Favourite,” Hawera. —I think you have not missed writing more than 'once; we cannot remember that you have. How excited Baby Margaret would be to see the wee piglets and the little calves. I expect you have pup-; pice, too, sometimes, don’t you? How glad you will be when vou can go for long tramps without getting tired. ' It won’t be long now, will it?

Trevor Nicholson, Hawera.—-Welcome to the Wendy Hut. What- a perfectly glorious picnic you had in the bush, and we could imagine, how your happy voices rang around those old trees. You said you were unlucky because' yon djd not win a race, but do not you think you were lucky to get a prize? Billikins thinks so.

“Moonshine Fairy,” Midhirst.—Well; it was lucky that we should have chosen just the right book, for your prize! And we are glad that Mummy can enjoy your prizes, too, because it is probably some time since she had any prizes of her own. What is the name of youi favourite book and have you read any of the Christopher Robin books written by his father? We hope Gladys’ cold, is quite better.

“Vivandiere,” Eltham—Yours ie the only pen-name that begins with the letter V. What a busy, happy, time you have had; 1 can quite understand why we have not seen your writing for some time. When your brother*is ready to join tell llim to fill ill the little form at the bottom of the Wendy letters and'send it along. Billikins becomes overjoyed at the prospect of a new member. "■ "■■■.

Joyce Cropton, Hawera—lt is delightful to see one’s book-shelves filling up, isn’t it? The different coloured bindings look just like a garden. It is such, a lovely day and little tufts of thistledown are sailing through the air, sometimes lowering themselves to look into the face of a flower or sailing up into the clouds to perch on the back of a skylark.

Maisie McNeil, Opunake.—Most of the Tiijks seem to have, had such jolly holidays and now are writing to tell the Hut folk all about them. And how the Hut folk enjoy reading the letters! They want to know, if you took “Sunny Jim’’ with you when you went away. Our cat, “Snuff,” follows US just everywhere and if we went up in an aeroplane I think he would come too.

Betty ..Hood, Tarurutangi.—Thank vou for the poetry and the Bourneville Cocoa coupon, Betty. We shall hope for a letter next time.

“Kaiserblume,” Tariki—Yours was a very interesting letter this week, Stella, and the description of the tangi. quite vivid, I am glad you like the Indians because I do,, too. Their womenfolk are usually very beautiful and wear little jewels in their noses to show their rank. Their sapis, as. they call their robes, are most. miigiiihcent when worn for festive functions, ..and all embroidered heavily.

Amelia Radford, Hawera.—Thank you very much for the poetry and riddles, but. will you write us a letter very soon ?

Reggie Riley, Pihama.—lt was lovely to hpar from you again, Reggie, but we understand that you are hot able to write every time. It ie rather fun gettin" to know all the new children comin" 3 to school and finding out what new books you need, isn’t it? BiUikins has just brought a spider in to the Wendy Hut; he found it swinging from a gorse bush.

Rex Woodley, Mangamingi.-—lsn’t the smell of the new mown Jawn most refreshing! I like mowing lawns too if there are no dandelions- on them, because I hate cutting their smiling little golden heads.- Yes; we Hut folk like all good-tasting things like ice-creams. Did yoii have a wonderful time at the picnic? flere comes Billikins with a bag full of Wendy , letters.

“Tom-Tit,” Lowgarth.—Do your spiders build their houses, in gorse bushes? Our-s do, and sometimes away up in the corner of the ceilings, and Tinkerbell has quite f-.n in chasing them with a long broom. Baby Margaret and the twins have had a wonderful time ill the benzjne-box cart; it has tipped over with them all in, but no one was hut, only a little “freckled.”

‘'.Country Lad,’’ Wharehuia.—Yes; we have quite a family of pets', but not nearly as large a one as you have. We have also a flower garden and the Hut Gardener and Tinkerbell keep it bright and cheerful between them, sometimes assisted by Baby Margaret, who loves putting in seeds. She then watches for ages and ages for the first little sign of a plant. Do you do the gardening in your garden?

“Deset't Gold,” Rawhitiroa.. —Your letter was folded so -small that we could not find it for a long time. Then Billikins found it in the corner of the envelope. Peter and Pam have ferns in their cave in the garden, and they’re so pleased to know that you like ferns, too. Have you seen the little pinktipped fronds of' ferns that groyv on the banks or, rivers or on high banks?

June Laurent, Waitara. —Welcome to the Wendy folks’ Hut, June, and we shall look forward to a letter from you just as soon as you can write it.

Jean Jamieson, Normanby.—What a lovely surprise the snap was, Jean! We will put it in the snap album, .and on wet days the Hut folk sometimes get the album out and look at all their Tink Thank you so much for it.- We should love Aileeri to join the Hut, too, if she 5 is old enough to write to us. Yes; Billikins just does like caramels and 1 if. he’s very gooij, Cookie makes him some.

Renee Startup, Eltham. —We looked ■back on the old cobwebby part df the roll and there we found yoiir name, not crossed blit at all! It is very nice to hear from you again. If you do not like your old pen-name you cpii change it for another provided you tell us which one you would like. Yes, the Giraffe competition closed some weeks ago; it was a clever one, wasn’t it? Don’t miss the next one.

Mary Benny, Okato—We should love your little friend to join. We have lots of little 'links much younger than she is., and we do. not laugh at their Writing. Baby Margaret has the “sneezles and wheezlcs” to-day because she is sitting out in the sun making peanut. men. ,Have you ever tried to make them? They are such amusing little fellows to dangle fwm a string.

Gordon Mangino, Oakura. —We were awfully sorry that the branch of the pear tree broke. Did you taste some good peprs before it fell? We hope so. Poor little pussie; he probably felt sad and lonely when he was locked up and would so much rather climb the trees and eat their green leaves. Opossums are fond of pears and apples, just dike you and me. ’

Vernon Mangino, Oakura. —The mention of blackberries just made Billikins’ mouth water, so he says he’s going blackberrying to-morrow. I’m sure he will eat them all and we shall see a little purple-stained face when lie comes home. The wild west wind is po naughty and has taken Baby Margaret’s bonnet off and perched it on a poplar tree!

Richard and Alton Kemp, Kiore.— Are you Boy Scouts as well as links? We think you must be, for it was a very splendid thing for you to send us the donation to the Earthquake Fund instead of buying yourselves a meccano set. All the Hut family send cheers and lots of thanks.

IN LUCK’S WAY. Steve: “Smith has the fastest car in this district; he travels ninety miles an hour.” Henry: “Some car. What's he want such a speed demon for?” Steve: “He’s got to have it, as he's advertising his land as being five minutes from the station.” # ♦ # » BYSTANDER. Smith: What's the idea of having your new ear made like a canoe. Brown? Brown: So much safer for the wife to drive now, for we live near the river, old man.

THE HOUSE IN THE TREE. When father saw the tree house he Was not at all pleased, lie said it looked very untidy besides being dangerous, and that Masters, the gardener, must take it flow- at once—their lovely tree house which they had spent ad their time making when mother and father were abroad.

They had been sure that their parents would think it as wonderful as they did, but Mr, and Mrs. Burton saw oiuy a curious-looking erection like a large, untidy bird’s nest from which dang/ed pieces of string and old bits of lent cloth.

“They would choose the front garden where everyone can see it,” grumbled father.

“We must make it where people can see it,” Terence had said,. “The Johnsons and the Flemings will be simply green with envy.” (The Johnsons and the Flemings both had strict governesses, while the Burtons had no governess at all, but went to school.) Pauline had thought that it would have been more romantic if they had built it in the little wood at tile back of the house, but she had not dared to say so. The day after their parents came back was the day of the village flower show, in which everyone peenied to take a great interest except Terence and Tom and Pauline.

Father’s hobby was growing cucumbers and mother went in for sweet peas, while Masters went in for* auytuing from a radish to a nectarine. The only one of the three who attempted to grow anything was Pauline, who grew cress. It was eatable cress, but not quite up to exhibition standard. The servants loved the flower show because there were cake-guessing competitions and dancing—all except the cook, Mrs. Mullin, who had flat feet and did not hold with so much standing, so s)ie was left in charge; but after dinner she went off to sleep. Terence and Tom and Pauline were very wide awake. "Look here,” said Terence, "father told Masters to take down the _ tree house to-morrow, but perhaps if we could make it tjdier they would let us keep it. If we got some of those boughs that Masters cut for pea-sticks and round it wouldn’t show gt all.”

They all thought this a good idea, and worked hard all the afternoon till they were terrifically hot and quite black from the beech bark.

Suddenly Pauline clutched Tom’s arm. “Look! There is a funny-looking nian walking round the house, peeping in at the windows!”

They all peered out excitedly. They couldn’t see him very well, but he looked strange and wild-looking, with a coloured handkerchief tied rouud his neck; and hp wore a wide-brimmed hat.

"He is a burglar! He has got wind of it that everyone is out and has come to steal the Romney,” whispered Toni, who -was always reading detective stories. “But how could be possibly carry it away by himself?” asked Pauline, who had cold shivers running down her spine. "Don’t be idiotic! He’ll cut it out of the frame, of course,” said Tom scornfully. “Look! He is trying to get info the house through the library window.”

They all watched breathlessly, but the window was fastened and he could 'not undo it. He turned and began strolling over the grass in the direction of their' tree. He seemed a very casual burglar. “1 say,” whispered Terence joyfully, “if he comes under us we’ll lasso him.” (His favourite stories were Wild West ones.) . He made a slip knot in a piece of rope with lingers that trembled with eagerness. The burglar came up, and. when he was just underneath tiieni he actually stopped and lit a cigarette, Tom threw the lasso deftly and caught him tail - and square round the neck. It was thrilling to see the great jump lie gave; it was as good, as a cinema show. bauline almost stopped breathing with excitement. "Don't pull too hard, or you may strangle hili'},” she gasped. The' burglar spluttered arid gurgled. His hat was knocked over his eyes and ho equid see nothing. “Now someone will have to go down and tie him up,” said Terepce. But no one seemed eager to go. "All right, ill go,” said Tom, feeling a terrific hero.

“i’ll come, too, then,” said Terence, not wanting .to be outdone, “Pauline, keep tight hold of the rope and do what I tell you,” he commanded. They slithered down the tree like monkeys and approached the burglar rather cautiously. "If it isn’t Terence and Tom!” he exclaimed to their amazement. "Last time I saw you you were nice little children in tne nursery, but now you seem to have turned into savages, \vell, this is a nice way to treat an uncle who has given you Cnristuias presents ever since you were born.” Tom was horrified. “Leave go of the rope, Pauline!” he sliouted, as the truth dawned on him. "It’s Uncle Jim!” But Terence was more cautious. “Wait, Pauline! He may be only bluffing,” he called out. "You little wretches,” groaned their prisoner. “Let me go at oiice!” . Then the - car arrived back, Masters proudly carrying ah enormous marrow which had won first prize. They were astonished at the sight. Terence and Tom and Pauline all began to explain at once. "W'e honestly thought he was a burglar,” said Terence. "He looks so like one.” . , “Not the worst kind,” Pauline put in anxiously, thinking of the Christmas presents. v ~ “My dear Jim, I hope they haven t Jiurt you,” said their mother. “Well, they are pretty good at lassoing. I think I shall have to take them all back to my ranch in Idowa, where there are still a few stray cowboys left.”

They couldn’t believe their ears. “They are extremely naughty, lassoing people like this. But Mbs tel s is taking down their tree house to-mor-row,” said their father. "Oh, no!” said Uncle Jim. “They are excellent people. They were splendid the way they guarded your property. Your servants must be 9.H dead, I should think. 1 rang till 1 was tired, and nobody came, and if it hadn't been for them I could have easily stolen all. the silver candle-sticks in the house—or even the grand piano. I was just off to fetch a jemmy when they caught me. Of course they must have their reward, and to-moprow we will build a super tree house in the, largest and highest tree in the garden.”