WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 20 (Supplement)

WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

■ \ LETTERS io be Addressed; “WENDY,” Care Taranaki Daily News. Box 119, NEW PLYMOUTH.

John Gibson, Eltham: Going io the mountain is great fun, especially if you can touch the snow. I looked at it one sunny day from the garden and only one little cloud had dared to go close enough to cast its shadow on it. It was such a funny little cloud, too—like a tiny woolly zeppelin floating overhead.

“Keep Smiling, Eltham: Yes, we should like a photo of you and Lois very much. Please write your names, on the back so we will know who you’ are. The Hut folk are very happy, especially “Bouncer,” who has a football to chase all day now instead of only a part of the day as before, when holidays had not begun. “White Butterfly,” Lowgarth: What a pretty name you have chosen for your calf and one we never would have thought of. Their 'eyes are so soft and velvety and one would never believe what mischief lurks within them. Our borders are gay with nemesias, those sun-worshipping flowers of the African veldt, and every morning we find the cdlour deepening as more and more reds and oranges and pinks come into blossom. Charlie John, —: Billikins thinks that porridge is the finest thing that has' ever been discovered, and when it goes “skinny,”, as the porridge of your poem, he' just makes it an excuse for heaping on more sugar. But that is because he is not Scotch; a real Scotchman does not even pour milk over it, but has it in a bowl near-by and “submerges” his spoonful of porridge in that every time. “Mother Goose,” Manaia: Sometimes Tinks forget to send in their birthdays and so, when they come along, we do not know; it is just as well to make sure it is on the birthday list beforehand. How interesting, about the paper!, Only a certain amount appears in ours and the remainder keeps the Hut family very busy, as you can imagine, and Baby Margaret sends her love to the new baby; she would love to see his dimples. Celine Cowell, Eltham: Yes, little girls, like you and Baby Margaret, often do get in people’s way when they are spring cleaning but (I am whispering this), I really do not think grown-ups mind very much at all. Tinker Bell and Cookie are spring-cleaning the house and I am hoping that they will not want to do. my “Wendy room” this year; it really looks quite tidy and if they re-tidy it I am sure some birthdays will get lost..

. Theresa Cowell, Eltham; Hut gardener is pleased that you have such a wellstocked vegetable. garden; he has just been pruning the gooseberry bushes and he says to tell you to do the same, although you must do it quickly or the buds will be forming. Billikins evidently, thinks that summer, is already. here for I can see a long line of white canvas shoes drying in the sun; it is hjs job to have our shoes immaculate to greet the smnmer and he has begun very early this time. Jpan Wolstenholme, Wares: Now that holiday-time is here the Hut is showered with letters and “postie” is popping jn with a laden bag quite often. It is quite hot to-day and I can hear the “summery” sound of pine-cones cracking in the sun. Those are just the cones that have escaped our winter fires because they are on the topmost branches beyond our reach. “Peacock,” Matau: Greetings from the Wendy Hut appear only on ypur special page, Winnie; the Radio Fairies are quite a separate family. It is great ffin rolling those rubber tyres down the hill, I am’sure, but it is a little less exciting running after them and carrying them to the top again, isn’t it? Baby Margaret’s, address is "c/o bf Wendy,” and she would love to have a letter from you although she is too little 1 to answer it

Megan McKay, Motunui: You will feel a new person after you have been in hospital, lassie, and it will not be for very long. We all send much love to you and wishes for a very happy holiday afterwards. Our crocuses are quite over; only little withered brown petals 1 indicate that there have been any at all. But above them the maple tree is bursting into tiny little pink and green leafbuds, like softest satin. “Peanut,” Mokau River; Tell Eric to write to us, giving his birthday and age, and we shall be very glad to enroll him as one of our Tinks. We have a rosemary bush in flower, faint smoke-blue blossoms, that are much sought after by the bees; there was scarcely room between them for me to find a place to pick a spray of the lovely scented thing.

Kathleen Travers, Patea: Is your camellia' tree a pink one like ours, I wonder ? We have to guard the buds on our camellia because Billikins and the.twins find them very useful as ammunition when they are playing Red Indians, in spite of toe fact that Indians used only axes and spears. Do you like scrambledeggs for tea ? Now that our fowls are laying well we often have them. Jim Travers, Patea: We notice that your writing has improved very much, Jim, so Billikins says that your name is to go on the other page. The Hut gardener has been scratching up the earth in the borders and beds, to get rid of toe weeds, and toe birds are getting such easy meals, for there are so many worms wriggling on the surface. Owen Winstanley, Awakino: We really, thought this letter addressed in blue must be from our little artist friend and we were quite right. What splendid cars you draw and Billikins’ favourite was the racer with all the smo’ke coming out the back! We noticed that Ronnie had won a cup and. felt proud that he was one of our Tinks. What are you doing w’ith yourselves these holidays? Kathleen Milne, Toko: Your pen-name is already chosen, Kathleen, but as “Brownies” and “Gnomes” are related we think perhaps you would like to be a “Gnome” just as well. The skylarks have been very joyful to-day and at present I can hear three singing at once, just the same tune in different keys. Is “Alice” a little Jersey calf ? “The Three Kittens,” Brixton: Margrette, who sent the puddle-duck pattern, will be very pleased to know you found it so successful. Woollen toys are so “cuddly” for baby brothers and sisters to play with. I saw a handsome Red Admiral butterfly in the garden yesterday; he darted everywhere and finally settled on a wallflower, to its great surprise, I am sure.

Thelma Cox, Te Kiri: Hut dressmaker is making Baby Margaret a little blue spotted muslin dress for the summer; it has little frilly sleeves and little frills around the hem of the skirt. You are quite a “champion” knitter and we hope to find that you will send in an entry for the knitting competition which is to be held in a few weeks’ time.

Vivienne Fallows, .Kaponga: What a lovely party you had, Vivienne! What would we do without mummies, for they seem to think of everything to make us happy. Baby Margaret’s bantam chicks know when they are to be fed and they all fly to her when the gate opens and some even settle on her shoulders. “Rose Queen,” Awatuna: AU the Tinks are very much scattered just now and we are wondering if half of them will remember to look for their letters this week in the excitement of the holidays. Your realm- will soon be bursting upon you, for we notice every crimson spray of new leaves conceals also a tiny crimson rose-bud.

“Waratah,” Tirimoana: The wind'must have caught the bath-bun because it'did not arrive here even after your accurate throw. What a scramble there would have been had it arrived! The little heliotrope primrose was almost as fresh when we received it as when you sent it. What a twinkling' little yellow eye it has! Is your home called “ ’Possum Villa”?

Joyce Salisbury, Egmont Village: I was going to ask you if your play-house, was in a tree, like Peter Pan’s, but the twins tell, me that you could not have a stove up there! What joy you must have being able to cook just as much as you please in a place where burnt saucepans do not matter!

Reg and Colin Seamark, Waitotara: When we saw the heading of your letter we thought you two had once again changed your address, but we see that it is just your holiday address. Billikins thinks. you two “fellows” (that is what he calls you) must be having -. a jolly good time and he hopes you will not ride all the horses to a standstill. Let me whisper that that is what he would • probably do if ever he got the chance!

Minnie Kenyon, Riverlea: Do you feel a little bit different this morning from yesterday morning ? We all think you should because now you are a Tink, with your name most importantly inscribed bn the Roll and in the birthday book, too. Yes, the pen-name is yours and a very nice one it is, top. We enjoyed your “Summer” poem, - Minnie. Frank Vincent, Manaia: We welcome you to the Wendy Hut, Frank. We hope you will. like the card Billikins is just slipping into an envelope for you. Are you quite sure that “Dot” , is not a foal, instead of a calf ? Billikins thinks it must look very funny, racing at such a speed.

“Clovelly,” 'Pungarehu: What a for-

tunate thing that your brother did not throw the stone when it was found to be sqch a valuable one. It is wonderful to think that those stone implements were smoothed by patient rubbing and that it took to get the polish , and smoothness that we see on lovely greenstone battle-axes. What a strange family of pets—a kitten, a magpie, and a parrot!

Len Cameron, Kapuni: “Oh, yes, John; yes, John; ye?, John; yes !” chorus the Hut family as a song of welcome to ypu. They think you . must know the song since “John” is your pen-name. Hut gardener is having an anxious time guarding his precious plants from excited children playing chasing and hideandrseek these lovely sunshiny holidays.

“Woody,” Mangamingi: Did your fancy dress win a prize this time, “Woody” ? In the south wind which has been blowing this week yours and John’s, golf balls would soar very high* and I should not be surprised to find some of them on the beach when we go bathing in the summer.

Margrette and Betty Bridger, ■ Egmont Village: You will find that lycopodium is very pretty, and grows easily, for your fernery. There is also the larger variety, which is much stiffer and very, effective for decorations.'. Our primroses are coming out into flower just now but we have not as many shades as you have. We are especially fond of polyanthus, too, our favourite being a handsome fellow called “Copper King.” “Yellowhammer,” Oaonui: There is a surprise for you on the, other page—a big one. We thought perhaps Cliff would not like us to tell about the-vegetables, so we left that piece out. The story of the starling? was so interesting, and you must have quick eyes to have noticed tfieir quarrel. The drawings are splendid, especially the Jack of Hearts taking the tarts when, the Queen is looking the other way!

Ngaere Campbell, Pungarehu: . Your letter came only just in time, Ngaere; Billikins was; just closing the door on toe last entry when yours came scampering along and squeezed in the chink that had not. quite shut. Your, music will keep you busy for the next few weeks and I suppose every spare moment finds you trying to memorise some pieces.

Gwitha and Joe Thomas, Mahoe: Nobody has ever thought of that penname, Joe, so since you were clever enough to think of it yourself you may have it. Gwitha, someone stepped in before you for your choice, but Billikins suggests the abbreviation of it, “Golly”; how do you like that ? In spite of a most fearsome-looking scarecrow in the garden, the blackbirds and sparrows are eating all the shoots of the second crop of peas; I am sure they laugh at his helplessness.

“Sweet William,” Mahoe: We are very proud of our little poet and we do so hope printer-man is proud of it, too, and can find a place for it on the other page. You will notice that we have added a word here and taken another from there to make the “rhythm” of the poem correct; “rhythm,” or -“swing of the lines,” is most important in poetry. We hope it will not be long before you attempt another.

“Nikau,” Kiore: Tell Alton we think his was a very clever fancy dress and Baby Margaret asks what he used to make his rabbit fur. Billikins is wanting to know if Dick and Jim turned somersaults because he thinks that all clowns should give at least one display in an evening. Were you the fairy of toe nikau fem?

Noeline Burton, Midhirst: What a very

nice surprise you are—popping along to see us so unexpectedly! Would not ; your sister like to join, too Did you know that we have some twins in the Hut family ? One is a boy, whom we call “Peter,” and the other a girl called “Pam”; if you say the names quickly ( it sounds like one person and that person 4is “Peter Pan.”

“Weeping Willow,” Kiore: We have a feelipg that, you have parsed your examination, Ngaire, and we are sure that feeling is right. We know those little folk whom .you mentioned in your, letter, as they are all Tinks. What a pretty dress you chose! Was it made from crinkly paper and was your face the little “pansy face”? “Twinkle-toes,” Opupalm: Unfortunately, your- ofle to a mouse has appeared before, but we enjoyed reading it again, all the same. What a chain of birthdays! Why, one person’s birthday is ’hardly over before another’s begins and you must be “wishing happy birthdays” for ever so long! Have you met two other little Tinks of ours who live in your town and, I. think, in your very street—we know them as “Blackbird” and “Brownie.”

Zita Lowe, ■ Tahora: Our twips send their love to your twins, Zita, The Hut garden is full of freesia plants and there are hundreds. of little buds all; ready to burst into flower; I really do not know where .they will all stand .when they are out, and I think there will be much squeezing and pushing in the flower-world ’ within the next. twq or three days.

“Silver Wings,” Inaha: Yes, Tink, your entry wps quite punctual. No, this Wendy stays, at home most of the time, because she gets so meny letters to answer and enjoys them, too. Billikins cannot help making mistakes because he is just an ordinary little boy and not a bit clever; I.would not be surprised, though, if he did like using a rubber and so made a few more errors than he could help.

“Eastern - Star,” Ohura: Yes, always your own name with. you pen-name, please, Josephine; it sadfes such.a lot of rustling and turning over of dozens ot pages if you remember to help us with that little bit. Your holiday will.come, and I really think you have “the best of* the bargain,” for you will be able to spend it bathing and picnicing. No; the Hut folk liave not gone away. They play about the. garden, which is so.large that there is room for all of them. “Gum Blossom,” Durham Road: Hut gardener has planted out Ijttle circles of sweet pea plants. Later, he is going to put some netting and bambo around for. them to climb over, so that we shall have little tepees of flowers. Do you not think they will look pretty? At present the circles look like fairy-rings, and, as it is moonlight, I would not be surprised to see the fairies dancing there to-night. “White Pine,” New Plymouth: Do you know how the name of “Wendy” began i J. M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, knew a little girl and she always called him “friendly,” but her pronunciation of it was “fwendy.” So when he wrote a book about Peter Pan he thought of “Wendy” as a name for the little girl in toe story. And now “Peter Pmi or “Wendy” is known to almost every child in the world.

“The Copemap’s.” Mount Messenger: Since three of you signed your letter we thought we would address the reply to it as we have. Fancy, a picnic so early in the year! Let us hope it was a nice, fine day in your part of the world so that you could celebrate it properly. Unless the “letter puzzle” is in words, Tinks, do not send it, .as toe “Printer-man” does not like pictures. He says they are too much work at his ago.

Elsie Kemp, .Wl-iarehuia: We hope your little announcement for a pen-friend will find you one. Will you please tell us how old you will be next birthday ? We are npt quite sure if you are ten tips year or next. The Hut folk are very happy, and I can hear them laughing as they'chase each other across toe lawn, the path on each side being a “den., Mary Thmopson, Motorua: Well, pigs do some very funny .things, bpt we did not know before that they . could tie their tails in knots. I have just about finished answering all my letters and I pan see the sun sinking over toe trees. The little : lambs are frisking about in the hills and hollows, and anxious sheep are wondering where their children have flisappeared. : . ■ ’ ’

“I/ittle Mother,”. Koru: Soon , you will be saying good-bye..to fires and no more fireside stories for another year. We are listening for the first cricket to tell us that summer has come, so if you hear it first, I hope you will tell us about it. Did someone sprinkle tacks on toe road for uncle to run over ? ’ “Felice-ica,” Koru: Baby- Margaret thinks it would be great fup. to name your new calves, and she js- .willing to help you with some suggestions, if you would like them. But you must not forget them again,. it would be a very good idea to write them down. You are tike the Hut folk, for they love playing in the mud.

Ngaio Willison, Waitoitoi: I have , just sept some letters down to toe- “printer man” so that he could get an early start. Winnie’s was among them, go I was not able'to give her your message. Perhaps she is excited about the holidays and has forgotten you. I would wait, I think, until they are over before writing again. You are very clever to be able to manage circular needles,. Ngaio.

Napia and Clifton Willison, Waitoitoi: We have had our very first whitebait, but we did not catch them ourselves. We have often heard that in toe season your river is full of them, and Billikins thinks you are very fortunate indeed to have them so. near - by. Town people think it is such fun to feed-out to toe cows when they go to. stay on farms.