LETTER TOY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 26 (Supplement)

LETTER TOY

Merit Cards for Well Written Letters Awarded to:

Dorothy Hibbs, Pleasant Valley Agnes Thomson, Timaru, Ivy Dick, Cave, Bob Green, Tycho, < lan Mattingley, Timaru.

Highly Commended: Olive Hopkinson, Temuka, Joan Gardner, Waihaorunga Daphne Hopkinson, Temuka. Olive Pye, Lyalldale.

Commended: Kathleen Cahalan, Morven, Joan Wilson, Sutherlands, Graham Walton, Waikakahi Jeanette Huleh, Suva, Fiji, Shona Allan, Peel Forest, Susan Ellis, Suva, Fiji, Denis Leary, Orari, Keitha Waring, Suva, Fiji, Dorothy Braddick, Fairlie, Diana Phelps, Suva, Fiji, Hazel Bailey, Rosewill.

Dear Peter Pan, Thank you very much for the merit cards, which I received about a week ago. I have been very busy gardening in the week-end, because during the week I don’t get much time for that sort of thing. There is always plenty of work in the garden, especially now the lawns need mowing. This afternoon we have been planting out little seedlings of antirrhinum and sweetwilliam. They look so pretty when they are out, don’t they? On a hill near the house there is planted in daffodils, the name of our place, “Woodside,” but they don't seem to flower very well. They would look very pretty if they flowered, but I think it must be too wet, and as well the cattle and sheep eat them off before they have time to flower. Have you ever heard of the daffodils at Lawrence in Otago? We lived down that way when I was a small child, about three years old, but I don’t remember anything about them. The hillsides were covered with these daffodils, all choice varieties, and when they were at their best, an excursion train ran from Dunedin, taking crowds of people to see the beautiful sight. Now a bus does this work. When we lived at Mt. Stuart we went to Lawrence to see the daffodils and had a picnic. We also had our photos taken among the flowers. Messrs Simpson and Hart, who lived there earlier, were responsible for having them planted. We have quite a number of wattles round about in the district, which are all out in flower now, making a pretty show. Unfortunately we haven't any of these trees on our place, al-

though we have lots of other varieties. We have one or two kowhai trees, which are now in bloom. In the last holidays I got together all the old books and magazines and cut out suitable things in order to make a scrap-book. I have started making it and hope to finish it in time for the Christmas Ship, but I don’t get much spare time on school days. I will have to stop now as word limit is up, go good-bye until next time. Dorothy Hibbs, Pleasant Valley. Dear Peter Pan,

Aren’t the days lovely and sunny and the fields so fresh and green, just now? The trees and hedges are all putting on a beautiful coat of green and the flowers are donning their prettiest dresses. We have a dear wee grey kitten which was born on Labour Day. I am going to have it as my pet, but I don’t know what I will call it. The mother has it in a box and she looks after it very well. I will be glad when it gets old enough to play with me. I scarcely ever see our lambs jumping and frolicking now for they are getting quite big. Next to our Aunty’s house there is a paddock in which are sheep and lambs, and sometimes they get through into the orchard. One day I saw one of the lambs under an apple tree up on his hind legs, like a dog, begging and eating off the

lower leaves. He did look funny. Did you go to the Show, Peter Pan? I did and thought it was very interesting. I liked seeing all the animals and also the cookery and handwork. The parade, the dog trials and the musical chairs were interesting, too. I saw the glass blowers at work making uretty novelties which were so fine and beautiful. There was a coloured dress there which had been made from spun glass. I was quite sorry when we left the Show, but glad to get home again. Just now I am reading “Lorna Doone” and “Tales from Shakespeare.” I think “Lorna Doone” is a lovely book. “Tales from Shakespeare” is very interesting, but in most of the stories you know that the hero or heroine will live happily ever after, and the wicked people will be punished. I enjoyed reading the Animal Page, which I thought very interesting. I am looking forward to the Adventure Number, which I am quite sure is going to be as good—perhaps better. Best wishes and much love from Agnes Thomson, Timaru. Dear Peter Pan, We have a horse that grooms himself. He always appears sleek and shiny but he hasn’t been groomed by hand. There grows a pine tree at a fence where this horse lives, and we often see him stretching up his head to get the branch on the tree, with which he grooms his back and legs all over and stays there for hours sometimes. This branch is all worn and smooth with a tuft of pine needles at one end. He goes for a gallop and then he comes back to his favourite place again to groom himself. Lately he has persuaded a red long-horned bullock who lives over the fence to lick him

every day. When the bullock gets tired of him he starts horning him. Have your ever seen a horse grooming himself, Peter Pan? I have made a cover to keep my Peter Pap Papers in. I have two lots of chickens. The first lost have tails and wings now, and the last lot have little wings, too. Aunty's cat “KittyCome” has four dear wee kittens—two yellow, one black and white and a brown one. They are such dear wee things. We also have a wee foal. I was so pleased to see my story about “Cliff.” Wishing our little Paper every success, love and best wishes from Ivy Dick, Cave. Dear Peter Pan, The other day I went over the “Port Jackson,” a fine motor vessel which sailed on its maiden voyage in 1937. Did you go over her, Peter Pan? She has passenger quarters, too. I think that "Ivanhoe” is very good. I have never read the story, although I have the book. I have not had the measles yet. I have made some kites. The “Cloud Buster” got entangled in the wires and one of the sticks broke. “Cloud Buster the Second” is still going strong and flies very well. To-day she flew almost overhead and flew much higher than usual. I am making a scrap-book and have procured some scraps from the Office. I have also cut up old comics and things, to while away some sick-a-bed’s idle moments. The moonlight nights have been very clear and bright, but to-night it is rather dull and dreary. Lady Moon is having a rest behind a cloud, but her children still shine on. We are having great fun preparing for the High School sports. The drill is good fun if you have white shoes, if not it is an agony, wondering whether you will be placed in the “roller squad” or not. Luckily 1 haven’t been in it yet. We at school had out photos taken the other day. I was in two photos but came out very dark in both of them. Spring is really here at last. The flowers are out in bloom and nature smiles on everyone. The young lambs frisk about with legs stiff in the air, and seem to spring up again like India-rubber balls. Mother Sheep bleats a warning and stamps her foot whenever a dog is near. She thinks, perhaps, that she is to be robbed of her pretty babes. We had six heifer calves this year and only one bull calf. Sad to say the eldest of the heifers died when about two months old, but the other five are all very frisky and bellow for their milk, which they fight over. Sometimes they knock the bucket over and waste their tea. Your loving Circlian, Bob Green, Tycho. Dear Peter Pan, I must thank you very much for sending me those two cards. I treasure them very much. I was very pleased to see my letter in print. Do you remember that snap

you put of me in the Paper? Well, I had a larger one taken off and have it framed and hanging by my bed. I have had several more trips to the river since I last wrote to you, and enjoyed them very much. One time I got seven baby rabbits. I gave my two little friends five and then tried to rear the other two. They were such darlings and had their eyes closed, but after a day or two they were peeping about everywhere. I christened them Jack and Jill. I gave them milk in a tiny spoon, and they opened their wee mouths for it; then I let them have a run round the lawn, and they did enjoy it. Sad to say, poor Jill died, and a few days later Jack passed away too. My sister, whom you will remember as “Foxglove,” gave me a lovely big goldfish, and I have him in a large bath, with some stones and grass. He shines like gold, and has a wonderful time swimming round his home. I have some wire-netting over the top, as some day my pussy may be tempted to put his little paw over the side of the bath and catch wee goldie; but now he sits on the netting and just has a friendly chat. My daddy caught some nice trout the other day. and I had a lovely one for tea. We also caught an eel and cooked it for Smut, so do you wonder why he is so fat? .1 love reading all your Circlians’ letters on Letter Day. Wishing you and the Paper the best of luck, lan Mattingley, ■ Timaru. Dear Peter Pan, Thank you very much for my last merit card and for printing my poem. I enjoyed reading the “Animal Paper” very much indeed and I think the drawings were of a very high standard. I often wish that I were an artist. Is your garden

in order again? It must have taken some time to repair the damage done by Mr Nor’wester. I went for a hike with the Girl Guides on the 21st, and enjoyed myself immensely. We had sausages, sandwiches and soft drink for tea, which we ate round the camp fire. When tea was over we sat on the river bank and sang songs, after which we had our folk dancing. We started off for home about 8 p.m., after a very enjoyable time. The measles are still prevalent in Temuka. So far I have been lucky enough to escape. I am reading a very exciting book just now, titled “Rachael Out West,” by Bessie Marchant. Have you read any of her books, Peter Pan? Doesn’t time fly? It seems hard to realise that we will be into summer on Tuesday. It seems no time since we were nearly flooded. How is Michael? Was he pleased with the “Animal Page?” I went to the band contest last Saturday and enjoyed it very much. I was not there to see the procession, but I believe it was wonderful. The harmonica bands were splendid. Love from Olive Hopkinson, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, Once again I take up my pen to write to you. Since I last wrote my father gave me two little lambs which I call Wendy and Jill. They are both white. I feed them four times a day out of a bottle. They have a little pen but I put them in the coal-house at night in a box. How is your garden looking now, Peter Pan? Ours is lovely. We have hundreds of daffodils out and we also have hyacinths, violets, pansies, primroses and snowdrops. Our wallflowers are nearly out, too. Now I will tell you about a visit we had from “Wanderlust,” a man who travels round schools showing dif-

ferent things of Australia. The first things he showed us were different skins of Australian animals. The skins were of a platypas, kangaroo, koala bear and another one which I cannot remember. Other things he showed us were emu eggs, which are green, aboriginal . tools and boomerangs, coral which was red and white, a snake in a bottle and a stuffed koala bear. The grasshopper he showed us was much bigger than the New Zealand grasshopper. He also showed us a great many photos. One was of the tropic of Capricorn, the imaginary line that runs through Australia. I must close now or I will be exceeding the word limit. Love from Joan Gardner, Waihaorunga. Dear Peter Pan, I hope you and all the Circlians are well. My leg is quite healed again and I am able to go to school, after being away for some weeks. Aren’t you proud that children over the sea are so interested in our paper that they have become members? I think it' is lovely, and their letters should be very interesting. What a lovely parcel of toys June sent, didn’t she? She must have been busy. We have had a good rain and everything is looking so fresh and nice. My little bantam is sitting on five eggs. When the chicks are about a month old (they will be leghorn chicks), they will be nearly as big as the mother. I am looking forward to when they will be hatched. Mummie has a Sussex hen sitting on thirteen eggs. Last Saturday evening mother, Olive and I went to the Park to hear the bands. The music was lovely and we specially enjoyed the harmonica band that won first place. I have never beard one before, except over the air. Time goes by so quickly that Christmas will be here before

we realise it. .We are trying to get the scrap-book done in time, but we are finding it so difficult to gee the right kind of pictures. One day last week while out for a walk with mummie I saw a black lamb—the first I have ever seen. It looked so funny among the white ones. Best love from Daphne Hopkinson, Temuka. Dear Peter Pan, It is a long time since I last wrote to you so I thought I would write to-night. We have four pet lambs. One is mine and the other three are Jean’s. I call mine Joy. They look so nice dancing and skipping around when we let them out to play. I also have a cat and her name is Biddy. Jean has 22 little chickens and a hen sitting on some eggs. We have a lot of pretty flowers in our garden at present, such as primroses, bluebells, pansies, a Banksia Rose, and many others. The Banksia Rose, which is covered in cream flowers, makes a pretty picture climbing over our arch. We are getting a new school in St. Andrews and the builders are already putting on the floor. I play tennis, which I like very much. It was a very wet day here yesterday and I hope it will not be wet for the Timaru Show. I got my Folder some time ago and think it is very attractive. My little niece Lorna will be two years old on November 6 and we are going down to spend the day with her. As it is time to go to bed I will close, Love to you and all your Circlians, from— Olive Pye, Lyalldale. Dear Peter Pan, I have not been able to write to you for a long time as I have had the measles. I think the Animal Paper was very good. Thank you