WENDY HUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

WENDY HUT

Dear Wendy,—Thanks very much for th e birthday greetings. Last Saturday week I went to the Makirikiri sports and dad won the sheep guessing competition, being only Ijlbs over the right weight. The most interesting item at the sports was the ice cream stall, which was well patronised, because the day was very hot. I am going to the Westmere sports next SaturIday, and I hear they are going to be I very good, and are having the Queen Alexandra Band to play the music. i With love. —From “LITTLE JOHN,” Brunswick-

Your father made a good guess, didn’t he? I hope you have a good time at the sports. You will tell me about it. won’t you?—Wendy.

Dear Wendy, —Thank you very much for the pen-name. 1 think it is very nice. Betty has a nigger money box at home. You have to put a penny on his hand and press a thing on his back and he will swallow the penny. I have a book and Olga two pairs of socks, blue and pink- Lcve. —From “MAYTHORN,’ ’ Rangiwahia. Glad you liked the pen-name. What a curious money-box.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy,—l am sorry that I have not written before. I went to the sports on Saturday. My little brother won three and six pence. He came first in one race and second in a tricycle race. With love to you and all the AVendyites. From “LORNA DOONE,” Sanson.

Pleased to hear from you again, my dear. How proud you must be of your little brother.—AV end v.

Dear Wendy,—Hasn’t it been hot these days? My best mate at school is “Dancing Sunbeam.’’ Next Sunday we hope to go up to my grandmother’s place which is at Orangimca. That is twenty miles up the Waitotara River. Have you been up there, Wendy? I will tell you all about it next time I write. I must close as there is not much news.—From your Wendyite, “SCOTCH HEATHER,” Rapanui-

It has been very hot, my dear. Yes, do tell me about your visit. No, I have not been to Orangimca.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy, —Will you please excuse me for not writing. We went ’<» the baths on March 10. We had a lovely day. We left AVangaehu at 9-25 a.m., and got off at the St. John’s station. Mr Aitken took us to the Avenue School baths where we all got ready and went in our turns for our swim. The beginners swam 13 yards and the others swam 50 yards- One of the beginners swam 50 yards and her name is “Golden Sunbeam.” When we had our bathe we dressed, then went and bought our lunch and ate it under the trees. When it was a quarter to two we went ■ to Virginia Lake and had a lovely time •to catch the train for home. We were Iso sorry our beautiful day was ended. We had our school picnic on last Friday, the 16th, at Aramoho Park. We went by train and tram. First of all we went on swings, then the chute, the merry-go-round and the rack-a-bye. Later on we had lunch, then races; after which we had some swings. When our long day was ended, we went home. 1 am sending you a photo of my sister, “True Lover” and myself. Well, \\ endy, 1 will tell you some more news next time. With lots of love.—From ‘ ‘ CHARLESTON CH UCKLES,’ ’ AVan•gaehu. I lam proud to hear of “Golden Sun- ! beam’s” success. Don’t you think Vir- ! ginia Lake very beautiful? Pleased ! that you had such a lovely time at Ara- ; moho Park. I was surprised to receive the little snaps of your sister and yourC'elf- 1 like it very much. —Wendy.

Dear AV endy.—l must first sincerely thank you for your kindness in sending me the cards and must not forget thank “Bunty,” “Verbena,” Shimniering Cascade,” “Poppy” n .nd “Queen Mab” for them, too. I hope uu received the ones I sent you. On the 17th I went to St. Patrick’s sports and brought home 5/6. I came third in j the 100 yards race for girls, and our teams were successful in the relay races. We were first in the mixed relay iace, and first in the girls’ relay, too. Monday is the finish of it all. I am sending you a piece of poetry which is original and I have called it “To the Stars.” Well, Wendy, lam in a hurry so 1 must leave off, with love.—From “LAUGHING LILAC.” Taihape. Many thanks for the cards. I will try and get the ones you require. So pleased you won a prize. Thanks for the poetry.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy,—Thank you very much for the pretty Christmas card* It was very hot up here a few weeks ago. A while ago we were ofit of water, an ! we carted it from the creek. After the holidays I did not like going back to i school. At Christinas time I got an ■nr-gun. A boy and I shot 40 birds with it. The scarlet fever is in this district, and there, have been four cases ot it so far. At school we gargle every dinner time, with Condy’s crystals. On Saturday the Wavcrley show was on and they had a steer riding competition. A couple of ehaps came some croppers. One rider brought the heifer ne was riding to the ground. Some cattle tried to jump a gate, and some men pushed them back. We are going to have a new post office. The carpent'Ts have built a big shed behind it that will be our post office until .he new office has been built. Last month a bus used to come to the school, gather the school children and take them down to the baths where we had great fun. Last Saturday week I went down to the Waitotara sports and it was a very nice day. They had a mile cycling race. The horse jumping was good- Well, now, AVendy, I must close. from “BUCK JONES,” Moumahaki.

So pleased you liked the card. How lucky to have such a nice air-gun, out 1 do not quite like you shooting the little birds with it, my dear. Would it not be better to shoot at a target? 'I he steer-riding must have been very exciting.—AVendy. * * ♦ *

Dear AVendy, I am sending you two cigarette cards, one for “Silver Pine” ami the other for “Golden AVings.” My aunty is staying at our place just now. Wendy, have you ever read the book called, “The Thorny Path,” it is a lovely book. J got it for a Sunday School prize. We have a few mushrooms in our paddock, but not very many. Thank you very much for the name you gave me for the puppy. It will soon be our Easter holidays.‘peter and Pam were having some fun on the see-saw last week. 1 will have to close now, with love to you and all of your Wendyites.—From “SWEET CARNATION,’ ’ Marton.

1 hanks for the cards. No, my dear, 1 have never read the book you mention- Pleased you liked the name. Peter and Pam have some wonderful adventures, don’t they? 1 will try and get the cards you require.—AVendy.

Dear Wendy,—l have always taken an interest in your page on Saturday. So 1 am writing to you to sec if I can j«in your happy band. I spent part of my happy holidays in AVclington and learnt to swim. I am enclosing some cigarette cards, and I hope they will be useful. For my pen-name 1 would like “Cherry Ripe,” If nobody else has it. Lot of love to you and your happy band. From “CHERRY RIPE,” Marton. Welcome to the AVendy Hut, my dear “Cherry Ripe.” Pleased you learn to swim. I think everyone should be able to. Thanks for the cards. I will try and get. the ones you want. You many have the pen-name.—AVendy. * ❖ * *

Dear AVendy,—Thank you very much for the pretty Christmas card/ and 1 liked the poetry very much. 1 hoped you liked your holidays. 1 went down to the beach for my holiday and my little friend and I went fishing, but we never caught any fish. I did not like going back to school after the long holidays. After we went to school we went swimming, each bringing sixpence for the bus fare. AVhen 1 come home from school I make tents and have parties in them with my little sisters. AVell, I must stop now with much love to you. From “ROSAMOND POLLY.”

Glad you liked the card. I had a lovely holiday. AVhat bad luck you had. How you must enjoy your little parties—Wendy.

Dear AVendy,—Please excuse me for not writing to you. We went to Christchurch and Ashburton for our Christmas holidays, and enjoyed ourselves very much. Our baby, Beth, can say many words now, and she can walk anywhere. Beth can nearly turn on the tap. She got a doll from Father Xmas, and it goes to sleep. It has been quite hot lately, hasn’t it, AVenly? My brother is writing to you. He has been ill lately, but is better now. I will close, with love. —From “MISS OPHELIA,” Wanganui.

Pleased to hear from you, my dear. I am glad you had such an enjoyable holiday. Father Xmas was kind, wasn’t he? Yes, the weather has been very hot. I am pleased your brother is well again.—Wendy-

Dear AVendy,—Please excuse me for nut writing to you for a long time. We had our holidays in Christchurch and Ashburton. Every night in Ashburton, we went out to a beach and shot rabbits. One night we caught sixteen rabbits. One night I caught a baby bunny. Good-bye, it’s time for bed.— From “JOHN O’ DREAMS,” Wanganui.

A cry pleased to hear once more from you, my dear. I am glad you had such a lovely holiday. The baby bunny must have been frightened out of its life when you caught it.—AVendy.

Dear Wendy,—l am sorry I didn't write to you last week. AVe are having very nice weather at present. I hau a canary given me a while ago, and it is just beginning to whistle, be likes to go out in the sun, every morning. I am sending you some spare cards. AVell, Wendy, as this is all the news, I shall close with love to you and all the Wendyites—From “SWEET PEA,” Utiku. Glad to hear from you, my dear. How nice to have a canary, they sing beautifully, don’t they? Many thanks for the cards. I will try and get the ones you want.—AVendy.

Dear AVendy,—My mother has gone to New Plymouth and I am going to see my father. Love from “BEGONIA,” Marton.

I hope you will enjoy your trip. Thanks for the cards, 1 will try and get the ones you want.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy, —I suppose you think I have forgotten you, but I have not. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas holidays. I enjoyed mine very much. Thank you very much for the nice card you sent me, AVendy. I wont to Marton for my holiday and had a lovely time. 1 have been to the Taihape Sports today and it was very ii’ce. AVe have been very busy at school since the. holidays learning new work. AVe have a new teacher since the holidays and she is really lovely. I like her very miM’n. I wont to a circus a few weeks ago and saw many lovely animals. There were bears riding bicycles, and walking on stilts, and many other animals. I got a number of lovely presents for Christmas and the one T. liked the best was a walking and talking doll. As it is getting bed-time I must close with heaps of love to AVendy and all the AVendyites—from “TRIXIE,” Mataroa. Pleased you liked the card. Glad you had a good holiday. The, animals in the circus were very clever. What lovely presents you received.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy, —T am going to a party to-day. It is a birthday party. My brother is a big boy now. My little sister is going to school. I am getting three pennies to-day. I. must close, now with love.—From “HONEY BEE,” Gon vi lie.

I hope you have a good time at the party. How lucky you are, to have three pennies given to you.—AVendy.

My Dear Wendy,—Just a few lines to let you know I have not forgotten you. Please forgive me for not writing to you for the last two weeks; but to tell, you the. truth, I forgot all about it until it was too late to post it. I expect all the AVendyites are back at school now-, working hard at their lessons, trying to pass at the, end of the year. I am in the sixth standard at school and at the end of the year I hope to try for my proficiency. This week 1 am going to give you a short account of the Onepuhi sports which were held in January. I was staying at my aunty’s place in Pakihikura at the time of the sports. AVe set off from home rather early because we had a fairly long way to go. We reached there at about quarter to twelve and, as there were not many people there we had our choice of a number of shady spots in which we could have our lunch. The first thing we did was to unpack our things and then we went to have a look around the grounds. We then went over and had something to eat and drink. After a while when a few more people had arrived the horses began their jumping. There were about fifteen horses and among them was a nice chestnut one which was the best jumper. AVe stayed and watched the jumping for quite a long time and then we went to have an ice-cream. About half past four w r e went down to the river to have a swim. The water was lovely and warm, but when you were out of it you began to feel cold. AVhen we wont back again we found that most of the people had left for home so we packed up and started for home, too. AVe soon arrived home, thinking that the sports had been rather slow. AVell, AVendy, I have no special reason for changing my pen-name, but if you will let me change it 1 would like it to be “Astral the Star.” AVell, I will say good-bve now, with best love—from “DAFFODIL,” Marton.

I hope you will get your proficiency. I am sorry you did not enjoy the sports. I would like you to keep your pen-name, my dear “Daffodil,” as I have had to refuse a number of Wendyites already. To change one, I would then have to allow others to do so. It would mean a lot of work for me. l.know you will not mind.—AVendy.

Dear AVendy, —l must thank those AVendyites who sent me cards- At last 1 have got the set of “Riders of the AVorld.” This week lam sending some cards for “Anzac,” “Gold Finch,” “Silver Pine,” “Revo d’ Amour,” “Golden AVings,” “Slow Coach,” “Red Feather,” “Chiquita,” “Princess Ju Ju,’ “Red Island Rock,” and “Blossom.” I did not bother to send the cards for “Chiquita” and “Revo d’Amour” to you, because 1 thought it would save you trouble if 1 gave them to them myself. There are a number of new names on the Honours Board now, are there not? This week 1 will tell you of an afternoon the Marton Guides spent at Turakina. After what seemed hours of suspense, but which were really minutes, the bus arrived. At once there was a scramble for seats, but we all managed to cram into the bus. AVe passed out of Marton and along the road that leads to Heaton Park. The landscape could not exactly be termed picturesque, for it was rather monotonous watching hills and meadows. But as we got nearer our destination we noticed patches of bush, creep, as it were, into view. Soon, after a somewhat bumpy ride we arrived to be met at the gate by a merry party of Turakina Guides. After brief salutations, as is the usual custom we trooped off to a spot, secluded and shady. Numerous novelty races as well as others were conducted with a good swing, and there was no accident to mar our pleasure. If only 1 could have snapped one of the entrants in the “book race,” I’m sure it would have been a comical picture, for the expressions on the faces of some of the competitors were enough to make any one laugh. I was fortunate in gaining three prizes. For a rest between cvems we went over to the trees and partook of refreshments so welcome after racing. A treasure hunt was the next item, and for the lucky ones (that is, the finders) were two presents- Owing to the river lacking enough water (where we were) the swimming sports were not held. However, some novelty events made up for that loss. For those who had not won a. prize there were consolation races. It was growing late so we had to leave and it was a tired, but merry party who, somewhat reluctant to leave, waved farewell to the Turakina Guides. Not long after w*e were en rout c for home we saw a most glorious sunset. The sun like a ball of fire was setting beyond; the deep blue sea. It made a pathway of gold over the waves and its beam’s tipped the clouds with a hue of pink and gold. However, that beautiful picture w'as described in “AVill o’ the AVisp’s” letter. Just as dusk was beginning to fall we arrived home after an afternoon we shall all remember. AVell, I will be taking up too much room, so I had better close, with heaps of love.—From “SHIMMERING CASCADE,” Marton.

/Very thoughtful of you, my dear, to give the cards to “Chiquita” and “Rose d’Amour.” Yes, the AVenly Hut is growing every week. Pleased to hear you were so successful in winning a number of races, and also that you had such an enjoyable outing. Thanks for the cards. I will try and got the ones you require.—AVendy-

Dear AVendy,—l was very pleased to receive my cigarette cards. I am enclosing some more cards. My brother got three begonia plants, pink, yellow, and white. The plant itself has double and single flowers on it, and it has a very delicate stalk with silky hairs. It has a heart shaped leaf which also has silky hairs on it. too. The above part of the leaf is much darker than the underneath. The underneath part of the begonia leaf has patches of brown on it. . The part of the stalk by the flower is green and as it goes down towards the root of the plant it is brown. The petals are a round shape and they feel like velvet. The centre of the flower is orange in colour. The petals have veins in them which come from the part where the petal joins the centre up to the top in a practically straight line. The flowers are divided up into two parts and have got a face on each side. If the plant was not tied up to a stick it would fall over. I had better close now with love to you and all the AVendyites—from “LILAC,” Marton. Thanks for the cards, I will try and get the ones you want. Begonias are very beautiful flowers, but I often think very frail looking.—AVendy.

Dear AVendy,—l am sorry I did not write before as my arm was still in the sling. I am going to school on Monday. Thank you very much for the nice Christmas card. I went to stay at my cousin’s place in Petone at Christmas time. AVendy, would you mind sending me some cigarette cards? I am sending you some cigarette cards. Some of my friends came over to play including “Poppy” and “Sweet Carnation.” My big sister and her daughter have gone to New Plymouth for a holiday. I went up to Rata on AVednesday by the nine o’clock train, and came back by the twelve train. This is all I can say this time, AVendy. AVith love to you and all the AVendyites—from “BLUE BIRD OF HAPPINESS,” Marton.

Very glad to hear that your arm better, my dear. Glad you liked the card. I will send the cards you want if 1 get them. Thanks so much for the ones you sent. —AVendy. • • '• •

Dear Wendy,—Thank you very much for the cigarette cards you sent me. We have a little grey kitten at home and it crawls up on our paper when we are reading, and when we put our hands up to it, it tries to scratch them, but we are not allowed to keep it. My little sister is going to church every Sunday now, and she always wants to go. I am sending you some cigarette cards. I will close now with love to you and all the Wendy-itcs—from ‘ ‘ HONEY-SUCKLE, ’ ’ Kaitoke. Pleased to hear you received the cards. Your kitten is very playful. Thanks for the cards, I will try and send you the ones you ask for.—AVendy.

Dear Wendy,—l hope you are quite well. I am going to tell you about our cows this time. AVe have eight cows. Their names arc Tiny, Ruby, Dolly, Cherry, Lily, Darkey, Roanie. Tiny is a brindlc colour, and cats apples from your hand. Ruby is a yellow Jersey colour and she is a timid cow and runs away from strangers. Dolly is a red and white spotted cow and Polly is a black one. Cherry is yellow anil Lily is black and white. Darkey and Roanie as you will guess by their names arc dark and roan. They are nice quiet cows, and every night I fetch them into the yard for father. I think I have told you all about the cows. AVe have three calves. Their names are Billy, Nancy and Molly. I will close now with love to all the Wendy-itcs and yourself—from “foLOAV COACH,” Ohau.

AVhat a nice lot of names your cows have. Do they know their names? Calves are such dear things, aren’t they? Do you ever feed the calves?— AVendy.

Dear AVendy,—l though! ‘‘Ayacanora” wrote a fine description of her trip to Onepuhi, didn’t you? I know nearly all the Marton AVendyites, as a number of us were at High School last year. I used to sit with “Revo d’Amour,” and knowing her as 1 do, 1 should not be at all surprised if she were a keen contestant for the highest number of marks this year. “Shimmering Cascade” and “Ayacanora” both used to write very good essays at school last year. We have had a delightful wind to-day. Poplars have been tossing and swaying with a roaring swish; dead leaves have been whirling round in the air, unable to settle again into their early beds, and all things have, responded to the call of the masterful wind. On such a day as this, it is gloriously invigorating to take the wind as a play-fellow and to enjoy the feeling of elation and exhilaration which comes when the wind blows freely on to one’s face, ruffling one’s hair and making one glow with health anti happiness. The wind always gives me a sense of freedom; I live to stand bare-headed, drinking in deep breaths of the fragrant air, and feeling joyously carefree and young. The wind is such a hearty companion, consulting no one, but pursuing his own rather thrwartwisc course, which, somehow, 1 always feel constrained to follow. ►Sometimes, however, I enjoy perfect calm and stillness; I am not always in such a boisterous mood. I would like to visit, a great forest so that I could feel the solemn stillness that prevails in the interior. I have read about it so many times, and some day I shall go travelling, and will be able to sec many wonders, and that’s one of them. Much love—from “CHIQUITA,” Marton. “Ayacanora’s” letter was most interesting. I hope that someday your wish will materialise. Your description of the wind calls to my mind a poem I used to recite at school. Perhaps you have heard it:

“The wind one morning sprang up from sleep, Saying now for a frolic! now for ’ a leap! Now for a madcap galloping chase!

I’ll make a commotion in every place! ’’ Thanks for the poem, I will try and get the cards you require.—AVendy. * ’* T ♦

Dear AVendy,—Thank you so much for the cigarette cards. My cousin and I went to the AVanganui East School swimming sports; the boys did some different sorts of dives; standing swallow dives, swallow dives, running swallow dives, walking swallow dives, falling dives and ordinary dives. After the diving of some of the Tech. School boys were swimming on their backs. Good-bye, with love tn you and all the AVendy-ites—from ‘ ‘ROYAL ROSE, ’ ’ AVestmere.

Swimming is not only a wonderful exercise, but something which every boy and girl should learn. Glad you received the cards.—AVendy. *•» ‘ •

Dear AVendy.—Before going any further I must thank you ror giving me a place, on the Honours Board. I have been trying to get there for the last seven months, but, until last week, my efforts had proved futile. AVell, that’s that, and now I ’ll start on something else; the school children of Jamaica. There arc a great many schools in Jamaica and they are all under the care of the churches. The teachers are usually black or brown and the tiny boys and girls are under the supervision of mistresses. Some of the. children have a long way to go to school and must, therefore, start very early, but all of them have work to do in the morning before they leave. There is water to fetch from the. river, wood to gather for the fire, and the house and yard to sweep, besides numerous other things. Before they start they have their first meal, which they call tea or chocolata. This generally consists of raw sugar and water, together with some warmed up vegetable stew. (They can seldom afford bread). Then, when they are all ready, they set out for school, looking very clean and neat. Lessons go on from nine o’clock until twelve, and then comes what we call our lunch time. The children who do not live far away run home for their mid-day meal, which they call breakfast. This is more often than not, more vegetable stew with fat pork, or cooked yams, and salt fish, with sweet potatoes and “barmies”—small flat cakes made of cassava flour. The boys and girls, however, who cannot go home for their breakfast, carry rt to school with them in little tin cans called packies. School re-opens at. one o’clock and all are busy with lessons until four. AVhen school is over for the day, the children rush out shouting with glee and set off for home, for there is more work to be done before sunset. More water has to be fetched, more wood gathered, the beasi® have to be attended to, and then there are the lessons to prepare for tomorrow’s school. At dusk the mother puts on the pot for dinner. AVhen the meal is ready they all sit down with their plates ami packies on their knees and cat their fill. After tea they wash their feet, a negroe’s nightly duty, slip off their little garments and wriggle down on the mats on the floor. Just one question before I close, AVendy. May I change my pen-name? AVith stacks of love to vourself and all the members—from “THE MYSTERIOUS MASQUERADER,” AVanganui. Thank you for your interesting letter, wouldn’t it be fine if one could go and see these children of which you write, actually in school. No, my dear. I would rather you keep your pen-name. —AVendy. • # • ♦

Dear AVendy,—This week I am going to tell you all about frogs. AVhen wo see them jumping and splashing about in the water we little realise what funny creatures they are ami what interesting lives they lead. The mother frog sleeps through the winter but when spring rolls round again she is very busy. She goes to the bottom of a stagnant pool or pond where she lays hundreds of tiny eggs. These then rise to the surface of the water where they arc hatched by the sun. They arc coated with a kind of slippery jelly called spawn so that the ducks will not eat them. AVhen they are hatched, tiny creatures called tadpoles appear. These have rather big heads for their bodies and a long tail. They seem in fact, to be all head and tail. Then after a while tiny gills appear and they take the form of a litle fish. Neither the tadpole or the fish can live on land. Presently two hind and two front legs appear and then two big eyes while their gills disappear and they get lungs. They arc now tiny full grown frogs. The frog has an insect catching tongue which is fastened to the bottom of its mouth in front and whose tip goes down the throat. It is covered with a sticky fluid and so they catch many insects that way. By means of their long hind legs they can leap long distances when in danger. They can take the colour of their surroundings, being green on grass and Drown when on soil. They have a peculiar croaking call and sound very funny when there

are a lot croaking together. Is it still necessary to get someone to sign our letters original, AVendy? I am glad we are having another painting competition soon. AVell, I will close now or X shall be taking up too much room. AVith love to you nnd the other AVendvitos—from “SENORITA ALMERIA,’” AVanganui.

Y’our letter is most interesting. Frogs are wonderful creatures. I have heard them making such a noise that it was almost impossible to remain near them. I will try and got the cards you require. Thanks for the ones you sent. Yes, it is necessary for your letter to be marked “original.”—AVendy. • » •

Dear AVendy,—l am so sorry that 1 forgot io thank you so much for the lovely little Christmas card you sent me. I am sending you just a few more cigarette cards. Thank you so much for the cigarette cards you sent me After Easter I hope to have some mon to send you. Love to AVendy and he large family.—From ‘‘BUNNY’,” Maf ton-

Pleased you liked the card. Thankfl for the cards, I will try and get the ones you require.—AVendy.