STARLETS HAVE LISTENED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 26 (Supplement)

STARLETS HAVE LISTENED.

First and Farthest Coo-ees.

1 he small prize for the first coo-ee goes to Max Cooper, 30, Wellington Street, Linwood. The prize for the furthest replies were won by Peggy Taylor, 35, Bridge Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington, Marie Ebblewhite, Stockton, W est Coast. COO EE CALLS. Starland’s full of coo-ce calls. Jolly as can be— W e have made some splendid hauls By our long coo-ee! I From Westport and from Wellington, And right from Timaru. And all the way across the Alps, The West has heard it too. From Richmond and St Martins, Opawa and North Beach, It really is surprising The distance coo-ee’s reach ! In almost every letter Starlets write and say, “ We’re going to work much better. We’re going to start—and stay”! So Starland’s full of coo-ees Sent in from far and near. We’ll march along and sing our song. And work throughout the year! Aunt Hilda thanks all her loving and interested Starlets for their cheering and inspiring letters. They are full of promise for a wonderful year of work and pleasure ahead. Dear Aunt Hilda, —I heard your cooee in my mind. I wonder who will be the farthest away to hear it. Holidays are nearly over. It is very hot here. I have spent most of the morning in swimming. Coo-ee. Love to you all. Peggy Taylor (Kilbirnie. Wellington). WELCOME! A loud “Coo-ee!” and call, And Aunt Hilda welcomes us all To her happy Starland home Where Starlets love to roam. Hip-hip-hurrah! From all near and far! Kathleen Turner (Merivalc). Dear Aunt Hilda, —I’m sure I could hear your coo-ee in my mind ca'ling along the road in Mockett’s bus coming from Christchurch before the bus man threw off our “ Star.” There were some birds calling Coo-ee in our backyard. They sound to me like vour gentle voice in Starland. I’m coming back for one. Here I am. Allan Elliott (Hurunui). With your coo-ee in my mind. Sure I mustn’t lag behind, And a letter I will write, Some poetry and painting near To Aunt Hilda, Starlets’ friend. For my marks I’ll have to fight. Certificates are just all right; So now, and in the future too, Laurie Johns will aye prove true, Laurie Johns (Timaru). Dear Aunt Hilda,—“ I heard your coo-ee in mv mind.” The coo-ee I heard seemed to call me and tell me to write and join your Circle. As soon as read vour page it seemed to echo in my mind, so now I am writing to ask if I may join. lam sure many other girls and boys besides the “ Starlets ” have heard your call, and **re writing to join. Iva Franklin (Spreydon). Starlets! rally round the Circle, Hear Aunt Hilda’s far-flung call; Each must try and win the Laurels. Be a worker, one and all. In the New Year, just commencing, Let us more determined be That success shall crown our efforts, Bringing joy to you and me. (Original.) Daphne Dickie (Rotherham). Hark! There is a call. Yes! It is Aunt Hilda calling me to go home, back to Starland. There it is again! “ Coo-ee, Coo-ee, Coo-ee.” I heard the birds calling. They, too, brought ihe telegram from Aunt Hilda. “ Coo-ee,” and the little stars at night sparkled and dazzled in the deep blue sky. They told us that Aunt Hilda is blowing her horn, calling “ Coo-ee,’’ and it reached over the great Southern Alps. Yes, I am coming back to Starland now, “ Coo-ee, Coo-ee.” Idris Hardy (Jackson’s), Saturday eve at twilight. When the moon rose clear and still, An echo arose from the valley. An echo from over the hill. “ Coo-ee, Coo-ee,” rang the echo. As it hung on the evening air, And I turned my back to the window And ran down the old steep stair. For the paper boy’s cheery whistle Drowned the echo at the gate And I hastened to catch the paper For fear I would be late. I eagerly sought our page, The dearest of all to me, My eyes glancing over the paper Were arrested by our “ Coo-ee.” Now was that the echo at twilight. When the moon rose clear and still? Did “ Coo-ee ” arise from Starland And float to me over the hill? (Original.) Nola Tonks (15yrs) (St Albans). ® ® ® HI S 3 S 3 @ © ® ®IS® HI ®® HE ® ffl EE 2

Dear Aunt Hilda.—“ T heard your coo-ee in my mind.” and I have made up my mind to be more loyal to the page this year. Ursula Fentiman (Brunnerton). The peaceful stillness of a New Zealand afternoon brooded over mountains and bush at sunny Jacksons. A hush of moving sunlight and lengthening shadows lay upon the mossy ground, and a promise of refreshing coolness made the shade of a great silver birch tree a place to be desired. Beyond- the wide park, clumps of olrl trees, haunted by shv deer, and, through the trees, fitful gleams of the river, a narrow silver winding ribbon, winding gracefully in and out between long grass, buttercups and daisies The birds were having their hour of silence. Not a trill sounded from among the softly moving leaves, not a chirp, not a twitter. The silence seemed almost oppressive. Then came a fresh breeae, from the snow-capped lofty mountains, and far. far away in the lonely distance came a faint cry, then curious metallic notes of bell-birds were ringing out their soft, tinkling notes into the summer air. The glaring sun shone down on the eastern mountains, burned white down over the still, solemn valley, and sank like a huge ball of fire into the distant hazy sea; the clouds of creamy mist rose and broke and rolled away, then the balmy air rang with the melodies of birds; flocks of them passed overhead, screeching discordant clamour. In the far distance the birds grew silent, and a puff of wind blew. All soldiers, and Robin Hood and his merry men blew their bugles and hark! their men pay attention. Aunt Hilda blows her bugle over the lofty snow-capped mountains. “ Coo-ee. coo-ee, coo-ee, coo ee." Bell-birds, too, listen! Hark 1 “ Coo-ee, coo-ee.” Even the bell-birds send out message from “ Starland.” There it is again! liark! “ Coo—ee, coo-ee. Starland is our home, our Aunt, and she is calling her Starlets to come home. Far and wide she calls them. Yes! Far and wide her ringing voice echoes from Starland and over the Southern Alps. Hark! ‘Coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee, coo-ee.’ ” Lilian Hardy. (Jackaons). Dear Aunt Hilda,—As I was sitting on a chair I suddenly thought I heard someone call out, “ Coo-ee.” As I read your letter I suddenly thought I would write you a letter. From Susan and Winnie Briggs (Hector). Dear Aunt Hilda, —This is the first time I have w’ritten to you for a long time, but this year I shall try for a certificate. I think it is a jolly good idea to have certificates for different numbers of marks, because many Starlets get nearly 100 marks but not ! enough to win a prize, and are disap i pointed. Your letter was lovely. I liked “To the cast we send a long, light ‘ coo-ee * down to where the waves lick the sand ” and “ Over the tops of mountains, down to the depths of the valleys and glens of the west,” “ and over the shining silver strait.” Coo-ee is a jolly word, isn’t it? It seems to express one’s feelings. Eileen Smith. (Opawa). Dear Aunt Hilda,—“l heard your coo-ee in my mind.” I now take the pleasure of writing you, dear Aunt Hilda, to say that 1 am very pleased to let you know that I have heard your great coo-ee, along with the rest of the Starlets, although I am so far away. It is a pleasure for me indeed as I am sure it must be for the rest of your readers to be able to answer the call “coo-ee.” As I hope in the future to be able to take part in all that concerns the Starlet readers, as it is always something to look forward to, when one is away in the country, we are always anxiously watching for the Star Circle page.—l remain, your loving niece, Mary Murphy (Granity). Dear Aunt Hilda, —I have heard your coo-ee away up on the hills. It was borne to me by a terrific gale which has been raging all day. Marie Ebblewhite (Stockton). These Starlets have answered the “ coo-ee ” already by special “ coo-ee ” back. Max Cooper (Linwood) 1, Holly Olemence (Richmond) 2, Patsy Phillips (Sydenham) 3, Elsie Close (St Mart la*) 4, Betty Albon (Linwood) £», Eileen Smith (Opawa) $. Sidney Knight (North Beach) 7, Dorothy Stanton (Addington* 8, GWynne Jones (Sydenham) 9, Heather and Terry Ix>uisson (Greymouth) 10, Kathleen Turner (Meriyale) 11, Peter Chapman (Sydeiiham) 12, Donnie Pearson (Greymouth) 13. Ora Parker (Linwood) 14, Ngaire Guy (Spreydon) 15, Joan Alexander (Redcliffs) 16, Pat Alexander (Red cliffs) 17. Lydia Laraman (Rakala) 18, Laurie John* (Timaru) 19, Cora Lund (Linwood) 20, Lesley Ellis (Spreydon) 21, Iva and Betty Franklin (Spreydon) 22, Ursula Fentiman (Brunnerton) 23, Mavis Hopman (Richmond) 24, Lilian and Idris Hardy (Jackson**) 25, Peggy Taylor (Kilbirnie, Wellltig- ' ton) 26. Myrtle Glenn (Westport* 27, Nola Tonks (St Albans) 2s. Allan Elliott (Hurumel) 29. Leslie Frazer (Linwood) 30, Noellne Lewis (Aranui) 31, Betty Blakewav (St Alban*) 32. Marie Kbblewhite (Stockton) 33. Mary Murphy (Granity) 34. lola Tuck (Nelson Creek) 35, Susan and Winnie Briggs (Hector) 36.