A BIG SURPRISE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

A BIG SURPRISE

3rd. One Christmas a little girl named Molly received word that her daddy had been losz with his ship at sea and this made her mother very sad and also very poor, and she could not work hard enough to earn sufficient money upon which to live. Molly could not have presents like other children. One day Molly asked why she could not have fine dresses and presents too, so her mother told her they were too poor. Thib made Molly quite sad, and she ran into her bedroom and sobbed aloud. Again and again she burst into a fresh flood of tears which ran all over her snow-white bed. Her mother was getting very anxious fnr it was growing dark, and her little girl had not yet had her dinner. Soon she was clasped in her mother’i arms, and taken downstairs to the kitchen where she was dressed ready for town. It was the day before Christ-nac, 1925, when Molly and her mother were in town looking in a shop window at the presents they could not buy, when a big car stopped outside, and the gentleman • alighted and entered. After picking and choosing he came out with two big hampers full of toys and packed them in the car and drove away. When Molly reached home she was very tired, and went to bed. She slept very soundly and dreamed she could hear Santa Clam coming down the chimney wi-h his load of toys. Early in the morning she r.woke and looked by her bed and there was a hamper full of toys. She was right. Santa Claus had come. ‘Out of bed she clambered; flung back the lid of the box and there were all these things: A Christmas pudding with holly, a cake, jellies, trifles, lollies, then a big doll, a bat and hall, two books, and a teddy bear, with a red ribbon around his neck. Oh. how glad Molly was with all the lovely toys. After the work was done Molly and her mother went for a walk in the wood. It was a bitterly cold daQ and the snow lay thick upon the ground. After a long walk they started for home, where a big surprise awaited them. As soon as they opened the door, who was sitting in the chair by the fire, but Molly’s father. How delighted she was. She ran to him and kissed him on his dear cheeks. He had many parcels for her and so Molly had a merry Christmas after all. (original).—From “RAINDROP,” (9 years), Utiku.

Dear Wendy,—Once again I pick up my pen to write to you. Wendy, my address is not 49 Campbell Street, but 49 Wilson Street. Most of our letters are addressed to "Cargreen Villa,” Wilson Street, but if "Petit Marie” addresses her letter to Campbell Street it will be all right, because the P.O. officials know our address Reading “Petit Marie’s” letter it appears that she has written two weeks ago, but I have not got a letter. I am glad that the petticoat is now being worn by a little baby, and I am ©ending in a baby’s jacket that T worked myself. I hope that it, too. will bring some mother a happy thought. For my birthday I received a real silver watch, a pair of silk stockings, and a coloured handkerchief. Could you tell me when your birthday is? At Sunday school I got two prizes, one called “The Adventures of Jasmin” and the other “Marie Macleod, Schoolgirl.” I am lucky, aren’t I? I am just longing to *ee next Saturday’s paper to see who won the prizes in the competition. Well, as this is all the news I must close with love. —From "HULA ROSEE,” Wanganui.

I am so pleased to receive your letter, my dear. I will amend your address on the roll. It used to be Campbell Street, didn’t it? I have had no letter sent from “Petit Marie” to forward to you, so if she has written then it could only have been to your own address. However, by now you should have received word from her for I published your address on the Notice Board last week. I received the parcel you sent me. and oh, how I thank you for your help.—Wendy.

Dear Wendy,—Although I did not see my last letter in print I am now writing to you again. “Sea Sprite” usually sends me up the Wendy Hut page, but she hasn’t done so lately, and therefore I didn’t see my letter. I saw last Saturday’s Wendy page in the public library, and I noticed that “Phantasy” and “Pertinet.te” wish to write to me. Would you ask them to write to me first please, Wendy? And please print my address for them on the Notice Board. We have had ■>ome lovely weather here lately. For the last eight days we have had sunshine, but to-day the record was broken, because it raised quite a lot this morning. We are getting a few ripe strawberries off our bushes at present, and there are lots nearly ripe. I had a nice letter from "H.M.S. Hood” this morning. I do hope some Wendyites will write to me soon. I haven’t had any letters from them so far. Well, dear Wendy, there doesn’t irem any more news for you this time except that last Friday week (November Ifi) we broke un from Tech, for our Christmas holidays anil don’t go back till about the middle of February.—From your loving Wendyite, “STAR OF THE EAST.” Palmerston North. I am sorry that you have not regularly seen our pages. “Sea Sprite” has been very busy lately, and her explanation of why she has not i>ecn able to attend to her correspondents appeared in last week’s Hut pages. I will publish your address <o that the readers you mention can write to you. I will give the address of the oversea’s correspondent io “Pertinette.” The weather has been a little better here lately also. J had begun to think we were never going tn get any summer weather. I expect you will soon receive letters from some of the Wendyites. What a nice long holiday you have. The stamps are very welcome, my dear, and I thank you so much for them.—Wendy.

DADDY’S BOY,’ ’Ohingaiti.—How pleased T am to receive your letter this week, my dear, and to hear that the little kittens are doing so nicely. I wonder why one of them keeps one of its eyes closed. Father Christmas will not forget to fill your stocking right up. He will especially remember you for the kindly deed you performed in sending to me for him those lovely clothes and the money for the poor children, whom T told you about last week. Goodness me! Fancy him knocking a brick off your chimney the last time he called. How lucky you were to sec him at a picnic. I hope I hear from “Ladybird” soon. —Wendy.

Dear Wendy.—Please excuse me for not writing as T have been very busy lately. I have quite, a lot of stamps saved up for you. My Wood, doesn’t this year seem to have flown. Only three weeks to Christmas and all the little Wendyites are looking forward to Santa Claus’ visit. Are you going away for your Christmas holidays. Wendy? T do not think I am. I went for a picnic the other Sunday with some friends. We went as as far as Maxwelltown. I will clo-ie now, with love.—From “ROSE OF THE DESERT.” Wanganui.

I am so glad to hear from you again, jny dear. Christmas time is always a busy time for everyone. There is such a lot to be done in preparation for the festive season. The time has passed very quickly indeed. To me it seems but yesterday since I ?at down to commence my task of answering my big mail each week. I shall not. so far as I am yet aware, be going away for any holidays this Xmas. How nice to go for the picnic. You had a long drive. —Wendy.