WENDY HUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

WENDY HUT

Dear Wendy.- 1 have not much news to tell you this week su 1 am Soina to tell you u storv. The name of it "What Would Mother Say?” "So you have come al last, bark eves, filled with anger, flashed into surprised blue ones. and. a> the girl spoke, her face Rushed with temper. She wa.s d;-rk. and slightly taller than the tai i-headed gm who had just approached, and now stood i icing her beneath the street lamp, dismay and amazement on her rather sensitive face, Uuwas the first time that Mavis Lake had wilnessed such a side to Agatha Helson s n; ‘" ture, and it rather amazed her. Bui, Agatha.” she breathed, laying her hand on the other girl’s arm, "I really shouldn t have met you at all. It’s the night I go to granny’s, and 1 know that granny wondered whv 1 only remained with her for a few’ minutes!" She broke off. watching Agatha Melson’s face as she did so. "And you v*» kept me ‘.vaiting for nearly ten minutes I Hashed back Agatha. "I shouldn’t be surprised if the big piece at the Palazzo Cinema ' has commenced." "1 am very sorry.” muy ■ mured Mavis, a rather strained expression i» I those deep blue eyes of hers. "But 1 really j did hurry, and you know Agatha 1 told you II really ought, not to come. It mother knew i I had not remained with granny she would Ibe very cross with me." Agatha laughed I harshly. "Weil she won’t know, will she’/ 1 ’ I she said coldly. "You need not tell her I Anyway, that’s not my business. You ve I kept me waiting and l‘m annoyed about it ! Mavis slipped her arm through Agatha’s. ”• I told you that 1 might be a little late. she ! whispered, “but you were so pressing. Agatha. 1 knew you didn’t want to go to the pictures alone.” I will continue my story next week, Wendy. I hope you and all your Wendvites are *n the best of health, tiom -RED ISLAND ROCK,” Patea. Thanks so much for your story. We shaß all be on pins and needles, awaiting the next instalment of your delightful little storv 1 wonder how it will end? I wonder will Mavis deceive her mother? —Wendy.* Dear Wendy.—First of all I must thank vou for putting my name on the Honours Board. I am a bit late in writing my letter this week, but I hope it will not be late. This week I am going to finish my story I started to write. "Wish-s-sh!’’ cried the wind when he heard that, and blew in a whole heap of dry leaves from just outside, where thev’d been lying safe and warm under the shelter of a big branch. ‘‘Wish-s-sh Fairy Blue, here’s a carpet for you!” “Thank you. Wind, and Squirrel.” said the Fairy, and she stepped in. "Just for a little while only, though. Squirrel dear,” she said, “till I'm warm and dry, for I expect that with the snow on the‘ground you and Mrs Squirrel will have a hard time, too.” “Not we." said the Squirrel, "not at all. Look here. ’ and he lead the way to the very farthest, darkest, safest, dryest, wannest corner of his hollow-tree house. “Look here.” and he pointed. “We’ve got--a —store! he whispered ; “a secret store! Beech nuts and acorns, hazel nuts and filberts! We collected them all the summer, and we’ve plenty for all of us, and you as well! Now will you stay till spring time?” “Well.” said the Fairy, “well, you do surprise me. Well. I really think I will!” I must close now. With lots and lots of love to you and your merry band of readers. —From "BLOSSOM, Patea. Thanks so much for your letter this week, mv dear, containing the end of the story you began to tell us. I am sure all the Wendyites have been eagerly awaiting it. Wendv. Dear Wendv.- You will be thinking that 1 have forgotten all about you, but I haven t. Before I go much further I must thank you for the Christmas card and birthday greetings. I started to walk out to Kakaramea to the sports at 3 o’clock and I did not know what time 1 was going to get there. We are having our last week of our fortnight's holidays now. Dear Wendy, I saw in last week’s paper a problem given by a Wendyite and I thought I would try tosolve it and here it is. Sum of money. £luo ; cash price per cow £5, 14 --£7O; cash price per sheep £l, 22—£22 ; cash price duck 2/6, 6-1— £8; total 100- £lOO. With heaps of love to all the Wendyites and yourself.—From "DUKE OF YORK,” Patea. Pleased to hear from you my dear. I am glad you liked the card. I am pleased you found the solution to the problem. Thanks for the cards.--Wendy. * * Dear Wendy,—Hasn’t it been lovely these last few days? This week I am going to tell you about the silk worm. r lhe silk worm or moth is a useful insect which is easily obtained and watched. Its wings are one and a half inches across. The body of the insect is thick and heavy, divided like other insects: it has three pairs of legs, two pairs of wings and a proboscis in front with two feelers. The female moth is larger than the male. She lays from two to four hundred eggs, usually on the mulberry tree. Very shortly from the egg comes the caterpillar or larvae which is voracious and feeds on the mulberry leaves. The larvae grows very quickly, it keeps casting and renewing its skin tfotir new ones grown, four' old ones cast). The full-grown larvae ejects from the mouth a fine yellow sticky substance. This hardens into a silky thread or fibre; the larvae wraps itself in this, preparing to change into pupa or chrysalis. The mass of silk fibre with chrysalis is called cacoon and remains as pupa for ten or fifteen days, changing into a moth all the time. lhe bilk worm cuts its way through the cacoon. It lives to lay eggs to produce other caterpillars, then it dies. From the cacoon silk of commercial value is obtained; fine, soft, pliable, lustrous, very strong. It is woven into silk thread and fabric. Each cacoon produces from three hundred to five hundred vards of silk thread. I will close now. With best love to you and all the Wendyites.— From "VIOLET BLOOM,” Marton Junction. The weather has been particularly nice in some pans of the district. Silk worms are indeed wonderful. 1 used to keep them and save the silk, which 1 unwound from the cacoons. Thanks for the cards.—Wendy. Dear Wendv,—l hope you will forgive me for not writing the last two weeks. I am going to write about the skylark this week, Wendy. No sound is better known in the country than the song of the skylark. Few birds have been such favourites with the poets. The skylark is a ground loving bird, living and nesting on the ground. Its nest l is a hollow, made by the hoof of an animal, and is lined with grass. The nest is hard to find and sometimes when it is found and left for awhile it ia hard to find again. The i skylark lays four or five eggs, which are almost the same colour as the ground, spotted with dark brown. Its fbod consists most--Ilv of insects As there is no more news this week 1 will close. With love.—from “DEWDROP,” Marton. I 1 think the skylark a beautiful songster. I 'have often hunted for their nests and rarely have I found them. I believe that they alight some distance from their nest and I then run along the ground out of sight among the grass.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l hope you will excuse me (or not writing last week as I left it too late. I started to write last Tuesday night but I just remembered that the mail would not get to you by Wednesday. We only have another week’s holiday before we will have to go back to school again. It has been very wet and windy to-day. We are having pictures here every Friday night now. We have not had them here before. I am going to get some mushroom* to-morrow from our paddock as there are a fair amount of them there. We have an old pig up here which we have a lot of bother to keep In as she will jump any fence she can. Well, Wendy, I have ijo more to say so I must close. With lots of love.—From “PUSSY WILLOW,” Utiku. , The weather in some parts seems to nave been very wet and cold. You will be very ■ pleased that you are to have pictures in Utiku now.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l hope you are quite well “Just Jenny” is stopping with “Star of the Desert,” and stayed with me last night. She is coming to play with me to-morrow afternoon. Please will you excuse me writing in lead pencil? "We are having a fortnight’s holiday from school and I am enjoying myself helping mother with the work. I cannot think of any more news this time. Perhaps there will be more next time. With love and kisses. —From “CYCLAMEN,” Hunterville. How nice to have “Just Jenny” staying with you. I am glad you are enjoyin* your holidays.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—Thank you ever so much for putting my name on the Honours Board. f can tell you it came as a big surprise to me. How your family does grow. What a task you must have every week reading and sorting the letters and selecting those for going the Honours Board. We had a Guide birt.L day party on May 4. There are twelve Guidw ta th* Rata Patrol. Wc belong to th* Hunterville Company, and once a month we have a meeting there. Two of our Patrol gave an exhibition of the poi poi at the party, and judging by the applause this item was much appreciated. My sister, brother and I went gathering ferns this afternoon, which mother b vary fond of. Ace you Wendy? We also got Mine clay which uses to clay our dining-room fireplace. Well, Wendy as I have told you all the news I can think of, I must clow. Love. —From “FALLING STAR* Rata. Yes, my dear, my family is growing very swiftly You must look forward to your pMirnl meeting each month. Mother would ry glad of tha «lay<—Wendy.

I Dear Wendy,—Thank you very much for . putting my name on the Honours Board. 1 I did not expect any marks at all for my first , letter. I must tell you about the result of j duck shooting. A friend from Marton came up the night before and brought his two I sporting dogs. It was a fine day after all I and our men got out before daylight, arriv- | ing home about four o’clock in the afternoon with forty-two ducks swinging over their [ shoulders, and looking very pleased with , themselves. After giving as many as we I could away. we lived on ducks for the rest of I the week, they wore very nice with plenty of ' rich slutting and bread ■auce. Have you ever tasted them. Wendy? 1 had not till 1 came lup here and I think they are delicious. I , see "Gipsy Lass” has been staying in Motueka. j I wonder what part of the village she stayed in, as I used to live there a few years ago. I wonder if she went over by car or by the little boat? It is a beautiful trip overland as most of the hills are laid out in apple orchards, but lately they have been digging up a lot of the apple trees and ure putting in tobacco plants. Have you ever been over there, Wendy? It is a very pretty district altogether, with all the hop gardens, raspberry gardens and fruit orchards. We used to have great fun piaying in the hop gardens when we were tiny. Wendy, could you, or any of your large family of Wendyites, give me a good recipe for ‘hokey poke.* ?’ I don’t know if that is how it is spelt but you will know what I mean. I love making sweets and my particular recipe does not seem to be correct or perhaps it is the way I make it. I have a very nice recipe for “marsh mallows” if any of you would like it. Now I must close. With love to you and yohr family of Wendyites.—From "LINARIA," Hunterville. Yes. I have often eaten wild duck. Perhaps “Gipsy Lass” will tell us in her letter. When I made the trip across the bay I went in the Kci.i. Do you remember that steamer? Yes, I saw the apple orchards being planted some few years ago now.— W endy. Dear Wendy,—l am sending some cards for "Spirit of Love,” “Twit Willow,” “Bush Queen” and “Dolly Varden.” I am staying up at Hunterville just at present at my brother’s. It is a lovely day to-day and the »un is shining beautifully. There are such a lot of new members joining the Wendy Hut every week, aren’t there ? There aren’t many flowers around now. My word the cigarette card exchange is growing quickly. It takes nearly a whole column now. 1 have just been playing with “Cyclamen” and her little sister. Well, Wendy, I have no more news so I will close now. With love. —From “JUST JENNY,” Feilding. Yes, my dear, the Wendy Hut is growing very rapidly. Thanks so much for the cards. —Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l am sorry I did not write to you. I suppose you think I have forgotten you. The summer is gone and winter is not far away now. Arn’t there a lot of readers wanting cards? I am very sorry I have no spare ones. The swimming season is now over, because it is too cold. I must close. With love to you and your Wendyites.—From “CHRYSANTHEMUM,” Utiku. Pleased to hear from you again. The Wendy Hut is growing each week. Yes, it is far too cold for swimming now.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l am sorry I did not write last week, as it was too late, but I hope I will not be too late this week. Wendy, before I go any further. I wish to thank you for putting my name on the Honours Board, and also for the birthday .greetings. My sister. “Red Island Rock,” made me a birthday cake and at night when I went to bed she was going to ice it, but it broke. Now. Wendy, I shall tell you the presents I received, and who gave them to me. “Mum” grave me a cu> ana saucer, “Blossom” gave me a book, “Red Island Rock” gave me a basket, and Betty gave me a string of pearl beads. Betty is my little sister. Wendy, we are really having winter now. With tons of love to all.—From “PINK WINGS,” Patea. Oh, what a shame the cake did not turn out as expected. How lucky to receive sueh a lot of presents.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—As I am going out for the day to-morrow, I am writing to you to-night. Next Tuesday is the Girl Guides’ second birthday, and we are having a play and social evening. I am in the play and saying a piece of poetry. Afterwards we are having supper, games and dancing. Such a lot of people are invited, and I think it will be very successful. Last Guide birthday we only had a 'party with games, supper and dancing and no play. We are having our fortnight's holiday now, Wendy, and we go back on Mav 21. Yes, I ride my bicycle every day, Wendy, and often go to the town on it for my mother. Next week I will tell you about the concert. With love to you and all in the Hut.—From “SUNBEAM,” Bulls. You must let me know all about the Guides’ birthday. I hope the play will be successful. Thanks for the cards.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l am enclosing some cards for "Taipo,” “Breath of Heaven,” “Prisoner’s Bride,” “Laughing Lilac,” “Trefoil,” "Zluebird,” “Love-in-a-Mist,” “Puss-in-Boots,” "Sunshine,” "Golden Rose,” “Miss Dicky Bird,” “Buster,” “Golden Tulip," “White Forget-me-not,” “Fido,” “Cherry Ripe,” “Sweet Pea,” “Mrs. Wishing-to-be,” "Tahuna,” “Star of the Desert,” “Peter Pan,” “Scarlet Manuka,” “Red Island Rock,” “Daisy Chain,” “Goldfinch,” “Bush Queen,” “Silver Dewdrop.” “Harold Lloyd,” “Honey Suckle,” and "The Shepherdess.” I also have some for "Shushugah” and "Spirit of Love” but I will deliver those myself. Thank you, Wendy, for the birthday greetings. 1 must also thank "Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Peter Pan” for sending me thos> cigarette cards. Now, I need six more only for the set of Film Stars. My word, Wendy, isn’t your family growing. Yes, I do have a busy time sorting out the few cigarette cards I send, so I do not envy you in your job of sorting out such numbers of cigarette cards that must pass through your hands. I have nothing definite to write about this week so 1 will just have to write about everything in general. I suppose when we go back to school tne winter games will be in lull swing and it will be good-bye to tennis and swimming for a few months. Haven’t the nights been cold lately? But the days at least have been quite warm. To-day the weather has been rather cold and rough, and now it looks as if a storm is brewing. 1 was just noticing how fast the little grey clouds were scudding across the sullen sky. L wouldn’t be a bit surprised if soon begins to rain and I suppose many others are of the same opinion. I think this boisterous wind means mischief, don’t you ? It may be that that is causing the clouds to flee, as it across the dull grey sky. Soon, I supple, we will be experiencing some of the rage of the elements and the anger of the Storm King. It seems as if th*, sky is being prepared as a path for that mighty monarch’s chariot of fire. I think you will be becoming tired of reading such unconnected passages, so I had better close. Love.—From “SHIMMERING CASCADE.” Marton. Thanks ao much for the cards, my dear. The Wendy Hut is assuming alarming proportions. The nights have indeed been chilly. The wind is usually in a mischievous frame of miad^oWendy. Dear Thia week I think I shall tell yov about a feature that is very useful to man and which everyone sees. It is the boa. The honey bee is domesticated for th* sake of th* honey it collects and the wax its secrets. A hive consists of the queen, th* workers and the drones. The queen leads the hive and lays the eggs. As the drones are lazy they are driven out of the hive or are stung when winter comes. The nest, which is made of wax. is called the comb, and consists of six-sided cells, arranged back to back. In some of these cells are placed, singly, the eggs laid by the queen bee, while others are used as storehouses to contain honey. This is collected from flowers by means of the proboscis, passed into the honey bag and then into the cells when the bees return to the hive. Pollen is also stored for food and is brought to tho hiva in the pollen baskets on the hind legs. A bee is divided into three parts. The name of each part being—the head, the thorax and the abdomen. Bees also have beebread in their hives. When the young bees set out to find a plaee to make a hive “swarming’’ is the name given to their flight. There are many kinds of bees. There are very few bees in a humble bee’s hive. A humble bee is much lar.oer than the common bee. One of the humble bees coats its nest with moss. The mason bee makes a nest of sand grains cemented together with a secretion from its mouth. The common bees make their hives in chimneys, cliffs, stumps and trees. Have you ever seen a person taking a hive of bees, Wendy? Now, I shall tell you about a hive I saw taken in a very large I tree. After cutting the tree down the pe>’I son who was taking it lit a fire and burned I some sulphur to stupify the bees. Then my I father started getting the honey out. but had to be very careful not to get stung. When bees are swarming people bang tins to I make them settle. Then they put them in a box to make honey. I shall never forget the time when my father, being absent, wo I got a swarm of bees to settle and put a sheet over them. Next morning, when we went to look at them we found they had taken flight. Well. Wendy, I shall close now. With love to all the Wendyites and yourself.—From “WOOD VIOLET,”’ Ngutuwera. i Bees are wonderful insects »nd it would I be well for us to imitate their example in I industry. I have often seen a swarm taken and I have always remained at a respectful distance. Thanks for the cards.—Wendv.

Dear Wendy,—l was pleased to see my better in the paper. We had lovely weathef last week, but it is raining again now. I have three sisters and four brothers, so I have plenty to play with. Two of my sisters are engaged to be married. We dipped our sheep on Saturday, and our dog, too. I like “Aladdin” and also “Jacko’s” tricks. Dad has gone to the sale to-day. We tave all had colds but are getting better now. I am sending some spare cards I do not want, r will close now. With love to all the Wendyites and yourself.—From “FIDO,” Bulß. You must be very happy with all your brothers and sisters to play with. I am pleased you like "Aladdin” ana “Jacko.” Thanks for the cards.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—l went to Palmerston North the other day. 1 love travelling, don’t you? It is so interesting in a train to watch the scenes flying past. Trees, fences, house:? and paddocks hurrying as if frightened on either side of that ferocious, fire-breathing monster, the train! As we pass through a little hamlet, the small children sit on the fences and wave their hands, while the cattle raise their heads in mild inquiry. “What is this thing,” they seem to ask ; “this thing that makes such a noise?” and after its departure they give up the problem and chew their cud with satisfaction. How benign we feel as we gaze out of the window, for we are travelling! Travelling! Tho guard comes through and with an air of great satisfaction and importance we hand up oui ticket. Pheet ! The train gives a loud blast. We are near a station. Soon we come to e standstill at the platform. paper boys yell their monotonous cries up and down, and harassed parents try to place exasperating children in the train. How they do bustle! Out we go again and see new panorama*? fly past. Soon wc arrive at our destination. We hastily collect our luggage, and bundle out of the train, no longer calm and undisturbed but, like the crowd, bustling and flustered, passengers from th? iron road. Well. Wendy, I am using too much space sn I will close. Love- —From “AYACANOItA,” Marton Junction. Yes, I likq travelling, my deal* and I often go for a ride in the traip., It seems to allow one to relax. While gazing at the countryside as it glides past us, our minds are taken off our worries and cares. Everything is forgotten as the engine puffing steadily forward bring* new scenes before our vision.—Wendy. * • • • Dear Wendy,—l am sorry I have nos written for a long while. The weather has been cold and wet, hasn’t it? We all wo”t for a drive on Sunday afternoon to Turaki Valley to get some mushrooms. The road was up hill and down hill but if was a lovely ride. We got a basket full of mushrooms and as my sister and I were waiting we made a buttonhole of ferns and berries. It a lovely driv* and after tea we peeled tm? mushrooms. There was a plate full. I will close now. Love.—-From “SUNSHINE ELF.” Marton In some parts the weather has been very bad. How lovely to go for such a lovely ride. Mushrooms are nice, aren’t they ? Wendy.

RIDDLES

Why is an eel like a poet ?—Because he’s a Long-fellow. When does a chair dislike you?—"When it cannot bear you. Why is a camel a disagreeable animal ? Because it always has its back up. Whv is the letter "S” like dinner? —Because it comes before tea. What is the biggest room in the world?— Room for improvement. (Copied).—From “BUSH POPPY,” St. John’s Hill. Dad: Don’t old yer finger along yer fork like that. Bob, yer might bite it orf. Percy to father: Pa, what’s a parasite? Father: How long have you been to school? Percy: Four years, pa. Father: Then, my boy, you ought to knoV that a parasite is a person who lives in Paris. “Dear Mrs. Hawkins,” wrote Willie’s mother, “I do not mind your Tommy copying Willie’s sums at school, but I do object to him hitting Willie if they are not write.” (Copied)—From “SANTA CLAUS,” KaitokeTeacher: “The molten skies were blazing hot on that December day.” Then turning to the class, she asked: “Have you ever seen anything molten 7” Bill (promptly): “Yes. miss, our fowls.” (Copied)—from “PRINCESS TULIP.” Kai-