The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 9 (Supplement)

The WENDY HUT LETTERBOX

LETTER! to ba Addressed: “WENDY/* Care Taranaki Dally Box lIS. NEW PLYMOUTH.

Polly, Richard, Ted and Gwen sat on the bank of the stream. They had been throwing stones into the water, but had grown very tired of it. “That’s the end of them,” said Richard, referring to the stones. “Once you’ve thrown them in, they’ve gone for ever.” “Yes!”-said Gwen. “I wish you could throw something that would,come back. It would.be fun.”

“Do you know,” said Richard, “what you said about throwing something that will come back has given ine an idea.” “Really!” Gwen exclaimed. . • u “Yes!”, said Richard. “The natives of Australia have a weapon which they throw and'it .always comes back.” ' „ * “You doii’t expect me to believe that, do you? asked Gwen. . “I do,” replied Richard, “and what is more, I’ll prove it. It s called a boomerang.” . “I should like.to gee one,”,said Gwen. ■ ■.

As Richard did not possess a boomerang, he had to make one. First he made a sketch on a large sheet of paper, which Gwen had to hold up for him to copy. He fouhd : it rather a job to cut the curly hit, and Gwen, of course, complained all the-time of‘her arms, aching. . do wish'you’d hurry up,” she grumbled. I expect its all for nothing, too, because i don’t believe anything will come hack.” <‘You wait and see,” said Richard. 1

At last Richard succeeded in making something that did at least look like a b °“WeilP’ g he said. “This is it. It is the funny curly bit that makes it come back.’’ ; . / “How does it make it come back?” asked Gwen. ~ . ■ “That I can!t tell you,” answered Richard. “All I know is that it does come l?a>ck-»” < • 1 ■' ■"' ■ *' “Well!’’ said Gwen, “it.will surprise me if it does." “Let’s zo and try it,” suggested Polly. “Then we shall know.

Polly’s suggestion to go and try the boomerang was certainly the best. They decided to go to the top of the hill. . . - - “Because then,? as Richard said, “there will be nothing m the way to stop it coming back.” - .. , - ...■ “I don’t believe it will come back, said Gwen,-determined to disagree with Richard. • “Well, watch it,” cried Richard as the boomerang sailed through the air.

This picture will show you that the boomerang did come back. And poor Gwen knew it, because, as you see, it hit her on the nose. Perhaps if she had not been so sure that it would not come back she might. havt .been prepared for it and dodged it. Of course she was annoyed, but the others laughed so much that she soon recovered her.good temper, especially as Richard said she might throw the boomerang herself as often as she liked.

"I see you are wearing the Old Etonian colours, sir.” , "Oh, is that what they are? I don’t know what your experience is, but I don t think they’re much good, I 'aven’t ‘clicked the whole afternoon.

“Cinderella,” Mahoenui.— The Hut gardener milks our cow and so we have fresh butter and cream every day. *Billikins has cream and porridge for his breakfast and I tell him he will grow too fat to play football unless he eats porridge arid cream. It really is difficult not to talk when

something rushes to your mind and you simply say it without thinking before you forget it. What work do you do in your handwork classes ? Beth Cook, Huinga.—Baby Margaret is so excited because she has found a black swan swimming at the bottom of the garden; it came all by itself and swims about in the little stream and even feeds out of Baby Margaret s hand. WJiat a lovely time she would have with your twenty piglets!

Irene Wilson, New Plymouth. —It is far more important to practice your music than to write letters, so we shall understand -when we do not hear from you. We are so glad you won the certificate; it has travelled a long way to you, hasn’t it? Do you ever wish to go to the place where it came from?

“Shamrock,’’ Stratford. —I think it is from the “'William” books Billikins gets lots of his pranks. He finds William an amusing person, as you do. Tinkefbell does not iike having birthdays because she wants to be like Peter Pan and never grow up. Would you like to be young all your life, too? Adrian Cook, Pihama. —“Welcome,” cry all the Hut folk; we are so pleased to have you. Yes, Billikins can find all the mud ■ and so calf the twins; even now I see them making mud-pies and Baby Margaret is helping them, too. What a lot 'of hot water and soap we shall use at the Hut soon!

Patricia Cook, Huinga.—Thank you for telling us the story of Curly Locks; does Barbara like having her curls ’brushed and combed? Baby Margaret has bathed Teddy to-day and there is no sun to dry the poor old fellow; how cold he must be! You will look like a little green grasshopper in your new cardigan.* '.

Phyllis Harding, Kaponga.—Welcome into the Hut family circle, Phyllis; it is fun to have new members'. You should see Billikins! He is high up a pine-tree knocking down cones for our fire to-night and he looks so funny with his head poking out from the branches. You will see the answers to the “Cheery Children’s Corner” every Saturday.

' Noeline Tilly, Elthain. Here’s another new member and Billikins is running about looking for enrolment cards and birthday rolls. We are very glad to have you, Noelirie, and will you please, sign both names when you write? Betty is younger than Baby Margaret and we are so glad that she is considered like her. . - '

, Rex, Harrop, Pihama—The “Cheery Children’s Corner” is a bright epot to work at these wet days, and you- will see the answers in every Saturday. You had a number right this week, didn’t you? The piece of poetry about apple dumplings made the Hut folks’ mouths water. They feel like “Mary Jane in “When We Were Very Young”; it goes like this;

“What is the matter with Mary JaneShe's perfectly well , and she hasn t a pain; And it’s lovely rice pudding for dinner again !’*

“Rufty Tufty,” Waipuku.—Yes, our bulbs are coming out splendidly now; the few days’ sunshine has made the world a warmer place for them topome into. I have a bowl of scented plum blossom on my table, and its delicate pink spires are so beautiful and fairylike. How helpful you must be to Mummy, especially if your little brainbox never forgets anything!

Ruby Allen, Waitoitoi.—Three cheers for our new member! Do you walk all that way to school or does “Neddy” usually take you? Baby Margaret is down feeding' the swan this morning; he looks so .stately gliding about among the water-lily leaves with his black feathers and red beak. I expect he ie giving the eels a bad time, don t you l Kathleen Travers, Tahora.—Yes, Peter and Pam play marbles, and so docs Baby Margaret, Sometimes the pretty marbles run and lose themselves under the hedges or behind plants, • and -no matter how hard we look we can’t find them. That makes everyone very sad. Now that the sun has,struggled through the clouds I expect Micky is outside playing once morel I thought that we weren’t ever going to see the sun again, Anthie Perry, Whangamomona.rWhat a long time it is since we heard from you! We are so glad to learn that you are well. Billikins wants to know when your birthday is and ho.w old you are, and he promises that if you tell him he will not lone it again. ■ Jsnt he a mischief? I expect that lie,left it too near the window and the wind whisked it away whon .no oiie was looking. Do you burn wood or coal? Mary Young, Stratford. —Baby Margaret and Tinkerbell are standing on the fence looking at some little lambs in the next paddock and they are so excited. Have you seen any yet? They look so white and funny, trying to wobble about after their mothers. How very nice for your dollies to be taken to school! Do you take them in turds; and will Baby Teddy Bear go without Mother and Father Bear ? “Eabs,” Puniho.—Welcome to tile Wendy Hiit, and we hope you will soon be' able to Write to us yourself. What a lovely family of pets you have.; I think “Curly” must bo a dear little fellow. Your little bantam must be very warm this cold weather with feathers right down to its toes. Baby Margaret has a little bantam, too, a dear little brown one", and it lays' her an egg for' her tea every day. “Constantinople,” Mahoenui.—What ■i?ill you do when you have 60 pet-lambs to look after? You will have quite a job looking for them in that hilly country of yours, and it is a good thing that you don’t have to feed them from a bottle twice a day, isn’t it?- Billikins has a new bugle. He is blowing, “Come to the Cook-House door,” and that means, dinner-time is here. “Daffodil,” Eltham.—No; not many of your little name-sakes have yet appeared in the Hut garden, but there are one or two, nodding at the sun this morning. If you looked at Wednesday’s paper you will have seen the little notice you sent, and I hope it is correct. Did you have enough snow to make a snow-man? That is Baby Margaret who asks the question. Lily Baker, Waitoitoi.—We hope you will still write to us, even when you change your address. I can hear a ship’s siren blowing; the ship in probably going to sail away to the other side of the world with its cargo of butter and cheese, some of which may have come from your very own farm. Your school gets lots of sunshine, doesn’t it? Mildred Winter, Inglewood. —What lots of interesting little things you arc making for Christmas! Have you ever made coat-hanger bags for soiled linen? Just a square of material gathered on to a coat-hanger and cut half-way down to make the opening. And hearth brushes of Manilla rope are easy to make. Cut a length of rope, double it in half and bind it in the middle -with twine, leaving a loop 8 for a handle, fray the ends and wash them (to take the curl out) and then bind over the twine with

“Golden Stars,” Auroa.—Baby Margaret asks me to thank you for the piece of poetry you sent her. Birthday parties are a treat even when you are more than four years old. She loves a see-saw, too, but the Hut folk are so much heavier than she is that she is sent right up to the sky, in spite of Teddy to help keep her down near the grass.

Clement Relf, Mahoe. —Thank you very much for the poetry. It is quite exciting to think that this is your first letter to us, isn’t it? Have you ever tried to make Mount Egmont out of plasticene? It . really is quite easy, but it would be rather difficult to make little men skating on the ice. Have you ever seep the pretty little mosses, that grow on the ■ mountain ? ■ “Minehaha,” Mahoe, —Sometimes a thistledown docs lure you on, and then it soars up to the sky beyond your reach. Have you ever looked for the pot of gold at the rainbow’s end? 1 have, but in vain; I think it is well guarded by the fairyland folk. Billikins has his kite out this morning and he and the wind are having quite a struggle. Npla Lawrence, Uruti.—Does the sandman come to your little .’bed at S o’clock and gently, very gently, sprinkle fairy-dust'over you, and send yoq to dreamland ? He comes to see Baby Margaret at 7 o’clock, so he would have time to get to'you. Little bantam is calling to Baby Margaret that she has just laid an egg in her little nest under the hedge.' “Waratah,” Tirinioana. —We hope this sunshine lias cheered you up and made you well again. A sky-lark is soaring up in the blue, so high that I cannot see it, but its exquisite song floats down. Jt slugs as if it cannot sing enough of the joy of being alive. I can hear the blackbirds and thrushes, too, and alas! the little rain-bird, too. “Daddy-Long-Legs,” Oeo.—Would “Dilly” and “Dally” be suitable names for your two calves? Are they Jerseys or those pretty spotty ones? I can. see a fat spider in the corner of my window with a fly caught in his web, and he is trying hard to give him a sting so that he will stop kicking and he can have him for his tea.

Mary Rose Hardwlekc-Smith, Mangamingi.—We are ' glad you are better again and hope that you will hold on tight to the pony next time and not fall off. What pretty little dresses <ou had for the concert,'and you would look ..like a little fairy in them. Tinkerbell makes little dresses from flower-petals and little shoes from seed-pods. Betty Berryman, Mill Road. —I am sure you would not still have your balloon if Billikins were anywhere near; he just can’t resist puncturing them. I hope you will like the book we sent; we have rcad.it and liked it, and Billikins said it was a very nice way to learn history. Have you ever read “My Magazine,” as Arthur Mee was the editor of that, too? Raymond Cook, Pihama.- —W’at fun you will have colouring in your card, and I am sure you will think it is even nicer when you have done it. Billikins has just tumbled into the creek; he was looking at the swan and not at the ground, and in. he went, so now he is having to dry his clothes before the fire. Isn't he a real tink? “Heather Bells,” Kupc.—l think I have seen the note-paper you sent us before, haven’t I? Barbara must be a little mischief, and your poor dollies must shake with fright when they see her coming! And as for the pups, they must be naughty indeed! Your Indian costume must be very good'. I wonder if a poplar stick would be better- for the bow. Janet and Peter Wright, Okoke. —We all send a very joyous welcome to Peter and hope he will soon write us a letter all by himself. Thank you for all the poetry, Janet; some o p it has 'been printed before, so that is why you do not see it to-day. Do you feel all happy from top to toe when the sun is shining and you see little lambs in the paddocks and flowers nodding in your garden ? Joyce Cropton, Hawera. —Have you ever wondered why spring flowers have such, a lovely scent? I wonder if it is because there are no flowers in the winter months and the air is so free from scents that when spring comes, with all her flowers, their perfume is more noticeable? I am glad the pen does such good work and we are glad to see an example of it. Marion Bilkcy, Flint Road.—Tell Genevieve how glad we are to put her name down on the Hut Roll, too. There is great excitement to-day getting all the names down in the roll, and Billikins is as busy as a bee. He has quite recovered from his fall in the creek and his clo-thes are steaming dry before the fire. How lovely it will be when you can paint in oils. Ivy Charlton, Tangarakau. —You have almost a hockey team in your own family, haven’t you? We are sorry you have been sick and hope that the spring will bring some sunshine to make you better again. Have you a garden of your own? Baby Margaret has her little plot, and one cheerful little pansy plant lias been blooming all the winter.

Rex Woodley, Mangamingi. —What a lovely fat letter from you this week, Rex! We were so interested to hear what you have, been doing. You did have an exciting time pushing the ear out of the mud, and your nicely cleaned boots would be a sorry sight. You will have to be careful not to have roaring fires after your experience, won't you? “Cabbage,” Stratford. —Yes, it would be fun to be a dormouse and go to sleep all the winter, 'but then, of course, we shouldn’t know the comfort of a blazing fire and the fun of roasting chestnuts in it. Tinkerbell is glad you like “Alice in Wonderland.” Did you i.now she was a real person and really ’’d dream that story? Joyce Oopeman, Uruti.—What a dear little violet you sent! Was it out of your own little garden? Your schoolgarden will be like ‘'Mary, Mary, quite Contrary’s” with its little border of stones, only she used eockle-shclls, didn’t she? We have a lovely pink pas-sion-flower climbing over our summerhouse and it has been in flower for such a long time. Have you seen one? Joan Oliver, Whareroa.—When I opened your letter such a lovely scent! It was the little 'bit of daphne you put in with it. We all like reading at the Hut and when we are cosily seated around the fire at night we all take it in turns to read. What books do you like bast? I think there has been too much rain for Jack Frost these mornings. • -

Lalla Radcliffe, Uruti.—l can. hear the Hut gardener’s clippers snipping as he cuts the rose-trees back. Baiby Margaret has put her dollies and Teddy in a row on the garden path, while she weeds her garden. There are lots of wriggling worms about to-day and she is playing with them more than she is weeding.

Norma Harper, Pukengahu.—l think “80-Peep” would be a good name for your' pet-l'amb, don’t you? What excitement when you get your new pony! I wonder what you will call it? Your old horse has been very faithful. Could you count the number of times it has taken you to school? Ruth Laird, Mata, —The little poem you sent is very pretty and Baby Margaret can say one verse all by herself. Tinkerbell is sitting in the sun, watching cloud boats sail by and listening to the birds singing. There is a sparrow hopping about near her waiting for some crumbs, which he knows he will get if he waits long enough.