Merry “Madcap’s” Congratulations

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

Merry “Madcap’s” Congratulations

Dear Wendy,—First I must ask you to convey to Sir Ernest Endeavour my sincerest thanks for awarding me first prize in our “Hut’s Padre’s” recent competition. Whether or not it is merited I cannot say, but I x cannot help feeling gratified, because I had not hoped to win. The one thing that detracts from what would otherwise be a perfect pleasure is that we could not all be winners. I am sure the efforts of the other ’ites who entered for the competition were equally deserving, only their luck was out, and mine in. Next time it will be some other ’ite’s turn, and I think I should be more pleased to have some one else win than to win myself. My hearty congratulations to "Pertinette,” “Lady Lavender,” and “Wood Violet” for so ably seconding my effort, and also to all those who tried. There is just as much merit in trying as there is in winning. In both cases, one does one’s best. My thanks also to “Hut’s Padre’s” for the competition—and for donating prizes for same, and perhaps more so for his Easter letter- and verses he sent in. I enjoyed both and sadly mutilated the Wendy pages to secure them for my Wendy scrapbook. “Blue Danube’s” “Wendy’s Return” is delightful, and puts into words what we all thought but had not the gift to express. Truly there is no prettier way to express thoughts than by “saying them with flowers,” and “Blue Danube” made quite a success of it. Our thanks are yours, “Blue Danube,” for saying for us what we couldn’t say for ourselves. Quite correct. “Aunty,” I did say I would help you look after “Hut’s Uncle,” but on thinking it over I wondered if I should not have told “Hut’s Uncle” I would help him look after you. However, you seem to be such a dear I’m sure you can’t want much looking after, unless it is to prevent you “praising indiscriminately.” Shallow waters sparkle and foam, but have no depth. Pretty to look at and all that, but it is in the still, deep pools, that many of the “things worth while” are found. If you read the letters of "Hut’s Padre,” “Old Gran,” and “Hut's Look-out Man,” you will understand my meaning which otherwise might seem rather obscure. All the same, "Aunty,” thank you very much. Goodness, Wendy, what queer sights some of our Hut’s members have been seeing. An "Imp of Mischief” garbed in “Scotia’s” national dress (or was it the robe of an Indian warrior) executing a “fling” along Waitotara’s Highway, and a “Madcap,” gaily clad in “flaming scarlet kilt” perched on a dear old “Hasbeen,” playing •'pipes,” must have been an awesome sight (not to mention sound). One wonders what those members had been eating, or was the visions due to “drinking ?” Evidently they had used the same “glasses.” to cause them to have visions so much alike. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind borrowing those “glasses.” for I own to an overwhelming curiosity of wishing to see myself as others see me. I must sure have been “some sketch.” which I no doubt am. but why the “kilt?” Now. I think I know just what happened. “Hut’s Look-out Man” had been “feasting” his eyes on the beautiful autumn leaves, and trying to watch “Madcap” at the same time, with the result that he got them all mixed up, which is not to bo wondered at, for I must often be up a tree, judging from the letters of some of the ’ites, and what "Lookout Man” mistakes for kilts must be just the many-tinted autumn leaves. However, although I’ve climbed a tree often, it is the first time I have been caught wearing leaves, and autumn leaves at that- Still. I'm sure they were a big improvement on the old-fashioned fig leaves and a whole lot more becoming. Fig leaves may be alright to clothe plain Eves, but when it comes to clothing other things such as “beautiful thoughts” and “imps,” well, they would be dreadful misfits, wouldn’t

they? Only “Hut's Lookout Man” could make a success of a job like that. In the first instance he would use his understanding and a lovely letter embodying beautiful thoughts “clothed” in “autumn leaves” would adorn our Wendy pages, and in the latter instance there would be whole heaps of autumn leaves from out of which would peen an imp of mischief, who would never be noticed among the many-tinted beautiful leaves. “Hut's Lookout Man,” I am glad you penned that letter. Everyone must admire the lovely autumn leaves and when they are so engaged, they will have little time and less inclination to notice either an imp or a "Madcap,” so if I get up to such pranks as dressing up in some brawny Scotchman's kilts and performing such feats as dancing flings or skirling on tartan-decked “leggy”, bagpipes. 1 need not fear either being seen or heard. Then again’, even though I am a "Madcap,” every day will bring the time of autumn leaves a little nearer, and I mean to try and make my autumn leaves just as beautiful as those described by "Hut’s Lookout Man.” and lest I forget, I have again made war on our Hut’s pages and clipped therefrom our "Lookout Man’s” letter and added it to my collection of "worth while letters” in my Wendy scrapbook. How graphically ''Old Gran" told of the rescue of the herd. I do not wonder the poor old Witch got the worst of it, do you, Wendy? The wonder is that there was enough of her left to "toss” anywhere. To have a magpie attached to hetnose, was bad enough, but to have whirling "Madcap” screaming on a set of bagpipes was worse, to say nothing of a "togged-up” cow riding on an elephant, and a “Blue Danube” flowing along in a battered old “Lizzie.” Then to be expected to be in a “sweet giving mood” caps the lot. ’Tis no wonder she went "fighting mad,” and forgot all other worries likely to beset her, but, oh. dear! I do think someone has erred (not "Prince Edward” this time, either). Who said "Madcap” stole up behind the old Witch and put some kind of a mouse down her back? Not "behind her back,” I never went. I’m sure of that. Has not more than one person seen me wearing "kilts,” and doesn’t everybody know that any person guilty of wearing kilts would never go "behind” even old witches to attack them from the rear. So I’m sure it is a mistake about me going behind. I know quite well I am quite capable of putting mice down the necks of people given the chance and the provocation, but being one of those things that wear a kilt and "a’ that.” well, I just couldn’t go "behind.” I don’t think those mice could have been mine. Oh, my goodness. Now I come to think of it they must have been mine. Did not "Prince Edward” pick them up and restore them to their owner? Well, I’ll have Io claim those horrible mechanical toy mice, just to be able to boast hereafter of having had the "honour and glory” of speaking to a "Prince.” but I do wish those mice had been real ones. Is not it dreadful for the poor bad egg (of the good deed) to go and get broken. lam awfully sorry for him. even if his smell went from bad to worse. I don’t suppose he could help it, and anyway something good might yet be "hatched out.” if some one good enough or big enough, happens along to pick up the pieces. As for the “Old Witch,” I suppose she is sitting somewhere, busily watching and learning from some old spider, how to "try, try, try again:” Anyway, we have got a whole lot of new ’ites to help us, so Sir Richard may be again successful if it comes to another “tug o’ war” between he and the “Old Witch.” Naturally “Madcap” would speak for “Hut’s Look-out Man.” He has Just performed his “good deed.” and this is the way of it. Keeping In mind a suggestion of yours. Wendy. I had planned to make quite a number of “fools” on April

1. but all my plotting and planning came tO naught, as you will see. My teeth had been undergoing repairs and on March 31 I had an appointment with my dentist, which appointment I kept, not because I was anxious to see the dentist, but simply because being a good child I was doing as I was told. That was the beginning. My gums haying been made to bleed, whether they liked it or not, took it into their heads to keep it up and they made a proper job of it I must confess. The first day of April found me tucked up in a little bed just as hard as it was clean (which is saying something). After an early morning gallop in a fast-moving car, following an all night sitting somewhere in the back of beyond. Then came a miscel-

laneous collection consisting of nurses, bowls, cotton wool plugs, chemist-shop odours, interspersed wit a visits from a doctor, all taking part in the helping process, while the horrid blood would find its way down one’s throat in spite of a tongue curled over backwards, and out of one’s mouth, through tightly clenched teeth, do what one would to make nno's mouth’s hglding capacity answer to the demand. Thus the hoprs wore away until evening, and with evening came one’a dentist, decked in smiles, who got to wont and hurt horribly, but helped wonderfully. So much so that soon all the day-long horrors were past, and “Madcap” was once more Just a smiling “imp of mischief.” if a regretful one. All Fools Day had come and gone, and 1 had not a solitary “fool” to my credit, having had neither time or inclination to indulge in the fun of making fools. In fact, I had had to grip my courage with bntii hands to keep from making all kinds of a fool of myself. At the time I was thankful to be able to do even that much, •>ut when I read of all the merry jokes the 'ites had played on one another, I felt as if I had been rather badly treated. Then comes “Hut’s Lonk-out Man’s” letter in which he tells of how “Madcap” made an Apyll . Fool of him. Isn’t he a dear, and Isn't it good of him ? He had been using his wonderful binoculars, and with them he had seen what a sad, disappointed little heart “Madcap” had. so *et to work to cheer her. Now, she is ever so happy, and does not mind in ttte least not having made any fools or had any fun on April 1. but just thinks that everything that happened has been made worth while, by the good deed of “Hut's LooK-out Man” and I hope when April 1, 1931, comes along that he will be along to take his revenge. This letter is lengthening bv leaps and bounds, as it were, and I know, Wendy, it is long past the place where It should, have ended, but I warned you what you might expect, once you had settled down to work again. I have let two or three weeks go by without writing, just to let you have as much rest as possible, but I couldn’t keep my hand away from the pen any longer, although T have a big pity for you in my heart while I write this. Relore closing I would like to assure “Sudden Storm” and “Jackie Coogan” of my sincere sympathy in their recent sad loss. Having lost a dearly loved brother of my own, I can understand the greatness of their sorrow, but time soothes many aching hearts, and so I hope the sun will soon be shining for them again. I would like also to extend a hearty welcome to all the new *!tei» who have come among us and assure them that the old saying, “The more the merrier ” nolds good with us. We are glad to have them come among us. “Rig Brother.” ’-ou do seem to have had r lively time, but judging by your letter I should think you we-e "u 1 thp w °rse. What I should do with the kind of brother you describe, would be to pack him In a glass case, lock It securely and promptly lose the key. He would surely be too precious to leave at Tnrge. Lore to one and all and thinks everyhodv for al! the topping letters.—“MADCAP.” Waitotara.