WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

WENDY HUT LETTERBOX.

LETTERS ot be Addressed: “WENDY,” Care Taranaki Daily News Box 119, NEW PLYMOUTH.

Joan and Lilian Bennett, Dudley Road: No wonder you have not much spare time left ■when you have so many calves to feed; we should just like a peep at you going about with the buckets, smacking their little heads when they have fc. had enough and at the same time trying to rescue your dresses from being chewed.

Vera Jackson, Rowan: Just when we thought that no more new Tinks were coming to the Hut this week we opened your letter. It is so nice to have you and especially such a good writer, too. No; you do not send in the answers to the crossword or the “Cheery Children’s Comer,” as they are published each week/

Joyce Copeman, Mount Messenger: Baby Margaret was as much delighted with your letter as with the pictures for her scrap-book, Joyce. She does not write letters, you know, and so she ask me to thank you very much. Why 1 your garden must look like a basket ofjewels for there does not seem to be a flower or a colour that does not grow there.

“Lilac,” Mount Messenger: Baby Margaret sometimes makes daisy-chains for the fairies to wear. She hangs them around her neck and says that she is Fairy Queen and ■ then, when daylight goes, she hangs them on branches for the fairies to get on their way to a ball. Jimmy is a little mischief and I hope he does not bum your letters to us very often, Kathleen. Florence Parker, Hawera: I think your poem will find great favour among the Tinks for they all like to be young rascals sometimes. So you are another Tink upon whom Mr. ’Flu has called! Snap your fingers at him and run out into the sun. ■

Robert Shearer, Okaiawa: Is it because you are a Scotchman that your blood tingles at the sound of bag-pipes ? I think they sound splendid when they are played at a distance and they echo across the fields and valleys. I wonder if you could bowl Billikins out at the great game of cricket, Robert?

Monica Shearer, Okaiawa: It seems quite impossible to guess the time in the evenings since day-light saving .has begun and we now have plenty of time to play games in the garden after tea. Baby Margaret hides in the same place all the time and so, of course, we have to pretent that we cannot find her.

Clara Jenkin, Mahoe: Have you ever tried to pat yourself on the back ? That is what Billikins is doing to himself now because you like the name he gave your lamb! Yes; we love flowers and birds and pets; the Hut is full of all of them.

Edna Baker, Rahotu: Have you seen any dragon-flies this spring? One has just flown by, a king, among dragonflies, I am sure, for every bit of him glistened; his wings looked as if they had been made from soap-bubbles and I looked to see if a fairy rode upon his back. , , .

“Hollyhock,” Mahoe: What a very little letter! We are anxious to hear what you have been doing and we feel sure that, with a pen-name such as yours, you must grow, “silver bells and cockle-shells and pretty maids all in a row.”' Mavis Cox, Te Kiri: Hut gardener is gazing disgustedly at the stocks; the seed-label promised that they would be double but the naughty little things just could not be bothered. Now, almost all of them are single and although they do not look so pretty I tell him their scent is just as lovely. Lily Walsh, Opunake: Next year perhaps you and Philip will not be quite so bewildered when you see so many people and will gain even a higher place in the competitions. “Bouncer,” I see, has been trying to catch hedge-hogs for his face is all swollen where they have pricked him. Look at the Honours Board,” Lily.

“Silver Wings,” Inaha: I have sent away to England for you, Hazel, and you may have to wait until Christmas before there is any further news. It was a nice little story you sent about the sparrows; we notice that they are always ready and waiting for the crumbs when we shake the breakfast cloth. “Sam Weller,” Piakau: When we wrote to Marjorie we did not realise that we were to have a letter from you also for we wanted to tell you how very pleased we are that you entered for the competition and Billikins is especially pleased because you gained a prize. Did you cut your finger when you were cutting kipdling-wood? Mona Corkill, Tututawa: There is a lovely white rhododendron tinged with pink, growing in the garden; it has such a lovely scent that it is issima” and every flower is hung with bees. Even the bumble-bees are busy there, their fat downy bodies brushed with pollen and'dheir bags bulging .with gold.

“Dairy Lass,” Te Kiri: Why your lemon-tree has a lump at the base of it is because that is where it has been grafted—or budded—and it will take several years to heal. When lemon-trees are moved their leaves often turn yellow and fall off but you will find that later on it will flourish. One needs patience with lemon-trees for they take some time to bear; so do not worry. I am sure that very soon your tree will look as healthy as possible.

Frances Ogier, Midhirst: I think you must have been having q sleep, Tink, when the “Owl” poem appeared or perhaps it was published after you wrote. We could hardly believe our eyes this morning when we saw three fat strawberries, all turning red and almost ready to be picked. I wonder how many little birds hop along hopefully every day to see if there is a hole in the wire-frame. “Sunrise,” Pungarehu: Baby Margaret has just discovered a baby-hedgehog, rolled up in a ball, fast asleep beneath a hedge. She touched it very carefully so that she would not get pricked so imagine her surprise when she found that its little quills were as soft as silk . Hut gardener is very proud to hear that you have been studying his “gardening notes” carefully.

“Heather Bell,” Inaha: Billikins got so hungry before dinner-time came along to-day that he devpured nearly all Cookie’s newly-made gingerbread. It had been left to cool but Bilkkms did not give it time even to do that. What would you do with a naughty boy like that! A little bird told me that your Jubilee was a great success.

Heather Ross, Opunake: As your pencil travelled from one number to another in the puzzle corner, wasn’t 'it surprising to see what you were gradually drawing ? I should not think that there were many cones left from the winter fires now, Heather, but a few, who have been hiding, may have fallen, thinking that danger was past for this winter.

“Noisy,” Hawera: Now, let us see about a name for your calf. I wonder how you would like naming as many pets as we do, Betty. Would you like to call it, “Tinker” ? please do send us another story quite soon, only writing on one side of the paper. Too bad that the fowls scratched up your garden; you will have to enclose it with wirenetting which your friends will have to jump when they come to see you !

“Waratah,” Tirimoana: “The cherry now, is blossoming . white along the bough.” I might almost have put, “blossoming pink” for ours are now mostly pink ones. Their fresh copper coloured leaves shine like the shields of gladiators and, as if to draw attention to all his beauty, a thrush stands amongst it and sings, “Come to see, come to see.” “The Thrush’s Song” is on the other page and you listen and see if that is what they sing in your garden. “Woody,” Mangamingi: Our tomato plants are, not nearly as high as yours, Rex. Our sweet-peas are well up, their pretty green leaves ascending, like pale green flames. One very sensible thing about ducks is that they lay their eggs where they can be seen and not hidden, as fowls almost always are. Zephne Lepper, Midhirst: Thank you very much for such a pretty poem, Zephne. I am sure Baby Margaret sees fairies and gnomes in the summer evenings for she often goes away by herself and has a talk to them. She chats with the moths and butterflies, too, I know, for they will stop and rest on her arm for a moment as they fly through the garden.

Erlin Pennington, Mangamingi: Bluebells are very much loved by all the Tinks, Erlin, so, of course, you will realise that it is already claimed as a pen-name. Would you like, “Nymph,” instead? Now, that you. have commenced once again to write to us we shall look for your letter in the mailbag quite often. Frankie Kovaleski, Tuna: I once saw a bright-eyes—or a white-eyes, as you call' it— nest and I shall never forget how very beautifully it was made; I daresay our old “Bimbo.” gave quite a number of the hairs from Iris mane and tail for the lining of that little nest. Yes; Billikins has seen geese and goslings, too, Frank.

Mervyn Rowe, Eltham:, Nine .candles, on your cake! You are growing up! I saw a picture of a very old man the other day who was cutting a birthdaycake with ninety-nine candles on . it! I do not think one match would light them all, do you ? Can you mend all your punctures, when you ride over tacks?. ' ■■ * ■' < /

Eileen Morgan, Rahotii: What funny little bears who lived in the wood ? The naughty mice ate all our pumpkin seed this year so you will have’pumpkins and we will have none unless Hut gardener can find some that the mice have missed. Do you ever make anything from.the “Knitting Comer”?

“Bonzo” and “Felix,” Okato: When you have learned all about those tadpoles which you caught, write and tell us about them so that we can tell the other Tinks. Okato fairies must be very strong to bring you such a heavy present; do they ever catch you any trout in the Stony River ? White-bait for tea ! That sounds delicious!

“Starling,” Otakehp:. We are glad to know your name, Douglas, and Billikins wants to know if you would like an enrolment card with you full name written on it. I do not suppose “Tip” is allowed’ in your little garden although he would very much like to go probably and so will those little ducks when they grow up! Gessie Smith, Pungarehu: You must have i closed down your envelope as the sun was setting for, within, we found a captured sun-ray lining your envelope ! We are delighted to welcome you, Gessie, but please send us your age quite soon so that we can complete the Roll. Yes; you may have “Sunshine” as a pen-name; it once belonged to a Tink who has decided to live in another part of the world. “The Three Kittens,” Brixton: .Your white butterfly must think he is in c l over _ no , I mean cabbage—with such a very kind mistress. Let us tell you that the naughty little fellow, if once he escaped, would probably gather all his friends and relations about him and strip your cabbage patch bare. He is a most ungrateful creature. We shall be very pleased to have this new member, whom you have proposed, so we shall watch the mail-bag every day with great intereat.

“Viola Lily,” Taurakawa: It is almost time, in fact, quite time, that your dahlias were in, little Tink. Ours are just going in this week; the ground is all dug and manured with leaf mould and compost in readiness for them. A very pretty dark red dahlia with purpletinted foliage, called “Lucifer,” is haying one long row in the border to itself, because, being a dwarf variety, it does not take up much room and will stand the wind. “Golden Bell,” Manaia: Of course, we have not forgotten yoq! What is Baby Margaret doing, you ask? She is busy trotting about the garden-paths, getting into mischief with Billikins, playing at cowboys with the Twins, or feeding her “Bantim” and her birds. As for Billikins,—he thinks and talks so much of cricket that we are rather afraid he might turn into a cricket bat one day. Would “Susan” and “Topsy” suit your calves ?

Faith and Daryl Sulzberger, Waitoitoi: We know someone who has a birthday next week! No, Billikins has not been in swimming yet; his eyes are always seawards but “Cookie” says she thinks he is sure to get a cold if he goes in yet and that will mean mustard plasters, which she really has not time to make in the springtime, she says, with so much house-cleaning and tidying up to do! Nevertheless, I shall know where to look for him if he goes missing one day! Joan Lewis, Ahititi: I have been looking for Hut gardener to ask him what you are to do with your peas to make them grow. I found him asleep under an apple-tree with his hat tipped over his nose and drifts of white blossom descending upon him. He says that if you are using superphosphate be sure to mix it well with the soil, otherwise it will rot the seed. It may even be the birds or perhaps slugs who nip them as they appear; in the latter case use lime and in the former, wire-netting.

“Mother’s Fairy,” Uruti: In spite of a cut finger you are a very excellent little needle woman for “Jacko” is so beautifully made that we gave him a prize. We “puffed” his hair from the back and from the front so that he looks the most handsome monkey you ever saw! We hope all the cracked jaws that occurred when your family laughed at him, have all healed again I “Star Fairy,” Taurakawa: “Mary” is a very hungry little calf, it seems, and a very knowing one, too. The wistiria is hanging in long lavender caskets over one of the sheds and the buzzing of the bees as they scramble from one blossom into another, makes a droning sound that makes one feel very sleepy if one listens very long. “Easter-daisy,” Taurakawa: Since your birthday was so long ago—as long ago as February—are you sure you did not receive a greeting card ? Now these long evenings have come the birds seem to sing more beautifully than ever; last night I listened to two thrushes. They both sang riotously, as if darkness would fall, long before their song was finished.

Winnie McCoard, Matau: It certainly sounds as if your little calf would like to be in a circus; we have heard of performing seals and dogs but performing calves, never 1 It must seem rather trying to the animals in the Zoo to be watched as they eat their meals, as your lion of the poem says. Billikins is glad no one stands outside the window and watched him for he always has two plates of porridge. Joan and Margaret Hurley, Opaku: Your two Airedales have been very much admired; we were not at all sure that they were not alive when we opened the parcel. We thought you had perhaps just picked them up somewhere and parceled them off to tire Hut! Thank you very much for them and we hope you will not forget to look on the other page!

Napier and Clifton Willison, Waitoitoi: Who would think that such a clumsy thing as a goose could. fly with such ease and, at the same time, look quite graceful? There are tall bushes of a heliotrope flowers growing about the garden and adding to its colour; it is called “honesty” and when its silvered flat seed appears its name changes to money tree” because the seeds look very like sixpences.

Ngaio Willison, Waitoitoi: Do you know a little miro miro when you see one ? It is often called a “bright-eye and seems to fly about in small flocks. Some have just visited our maple tree, each one standing on a separate branch and constantly twittering as he hops about from one position to another, like a jack-in-the-box.

“Chrysanthemum,” Tirimoana: Your cotton-reel doll is just like one of those “tinker-toys” whose legs and arms will stretch into any position; we are very proud of her and wonder whose very clever thought it was. So old man ’flu walked right inside your house, without an invitation! Hurry up and get out into the sunlight for he hates brightness; it shrivels him up. “Gum Blossom,” Piakau: Who does not love a black golliwog doll? I remember hugging .one myself, although his eyes and hair disappeared and his neck drooped disconsolately through constant and fervent affections. How cleverly Sambo’s curjy hair is made and what a variety of colour and design adorns dark Topsy ! Tell Ken that Billikins is very proud to see that he gained a prize.

Alma Letts, Tariki: A pufl. of wind came along and scattered the pink petals of the rhododendron on the lawn, frightening some little sparrows who were idly searching for insects. “His Majesty the Baby” can be applied to almost every baby in the world and I am sure every time he ever squeaks Aunty Alma runs to him! “Brownie of the Glen,” Tatu: Thank you very much-for the scrap-books you sent for the “Sunshine Cupboard”; from what magazine did you get all those lovely prints ? Many of them are quite worth framing. Have you ever framed pictures in passepartout ? It is quite simple and Tinkerbell will tell you how to do it if you would like to know.

Dennis Wright, Inglewood: Have you ever noticed how the buds of anemones come up? They “crook” through the ground, just like bracken-fem, and gradually the sun lifts the buds towards him until the stems are quite stiff and straight and collared with a little ruffle. All our fruit trees are in blossom, too, and we hope that no fierce South Wind will come and blow them off before they are “set.”

Heather and Mavis Harrison, Lepperton: You did not tell us what colour your calf is but we are hoping it is a red one as Billikins wants you to call it “Bonfire.” I did not know that there was a season for eeling; tell David that Billikins thinks he is very smart to have beaten the Maoris for the 22 pounder.