A Proud "Hut's Lookout Man"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

A Proud "Hut's Lookout Man"

The Look-out. Dear Wendy.—What a wonderful sight was revealed to me to-day through my trusty binoculars. I was sweeping the country for miles around with my glasses when my attention was arrested by a scene of great activity in the immediate vicinity of the Hut. Of course. Wendy, anything of unusual note in the precincts of our beloved Hut immediately attracts my attention and so the binoculars were quickly adjusted that I might obtain a better view of what was taking place. What a sight met my gaze—a sight that was. indeed. pleasing and gratifying the Hut's Carpenter was busily engaged building an addition to our Hut. Hurrying down from my look-out tower I hastened over to the Hut to view the additions at close quarters. Our good friend the carpenter was making an excellent job of his task and at the time of my arrival at the scene he was just putting the finishing touches to his work. The Hut was just double its former «ize, the carpenter having made the addition a facsimile of the original Hut. I think. Wendy, that the building of the additions to the Hut marks an epoch in the history of the Wendy Hut. What a smile of satisfaction and gratification must come over your features, Wendy, as you gaze upon the enlarged Hut. What thoughts of the past and the future must run through your mind. I expect that to you it is the realisation of many dreams—dreams that you hoped, yet hardly dared to except, would come true. How long is the enlarged Hut likely to continue to be big enough to hold the ever-increasing band of Wendyites? If the present rate of increasing membership continues, Wendy, it will not be very long before you are discussing plans with the Hut's Carpenter for the addition of another storey to the Hut. What a real thing the Hut has become to all Wendyites: what joyous hours are spent in corresponding with Wendy, the beloved leader of our Hut. What a great thing in life is being missed by

MRS H. —Many thanks for the lovely parcel of stamps you left for me at our office. I thank you ever so much for your help. Every little helps to make our mountain of stamps grow. Kindest regards.—Wendy. “BABE.” Tokomaru West.—l hope you are enjoying your holidays, dear. Our Weather Clerk is a lovely old chap for sending us such sunny days, isn't he? You are lucky to have plenty of ammunition for your rifle. You will always ba careful with it. won't you? You were lucky, too, to receive such a nice j>®ncil from Auckland.—Wendy. “PRINCESS TULIP.” Kaitoke Our Weather Cierk has been wonderfully kind to us of late, hasn’t he? I hope you are enjoying your holidays. How excited you must have been to see your sister had come to pay you a vsit. One is compensated for the long winter evenings if one has some good books. I love reading by a cheery fire, don’t you? How well your little cousin Gladys is getting on. She will soon be quite a big girl.—Wendy.

NOTICE BOARD

•“Moon Man” would like a pen-friend of about 12 years of age, and who will please write first. “Queen o' Silver” would like a girl penfriend of about 12 years of age, and who will please write first. “Goldin Princess” wonders if any of our members after having read their Wendy pages would send them to her as she is unable to get them, having gone to live in another part of New Zealand. ••Rakautaoa.”—"Taukatau” wonders if you will be her pen-friend, and will you please write first. •‘Gold Wings” would like a boy pen-friend about 15 or 16 years old, and who will please write first. Can anyone supply our “Dolly Varden” with the poem entitled “Vespers”? She would be mort thankful for it. “A Weary Wanderer" —‘Our Happy Jack” will write to you if you will write first. W’ill you? “Taffy."—Will you please read “The Humorist’s Pal’s" letter in this issue? ••Dolly Varden.”—“Sabs” wonders if you will correspond with her and would you please write first? “Orange Blossom Lady” would like a penfriend about 12 years of age and who will please write first.

all who do not belong to our happy band and who, perhaps, do not know of the happiness to be found within the portals of the Hut thinking that it is only for children and that being grown up they are excluded from membership. If these unfortunate persons will only read the pages of the Hut they will find that age is no bar to membership and that, even though they may have passed their three score years and ten, our beloved Wendy is ever ready, with open arms, to welcome them into our dwelling place in the land of "Let’s Pretend.” How many of us wish, after we have reached mature years, that we might have the days of our youth back We know that we can never put back the hands of time and that we cannot hope to ever regain our lost youth, but we that have had the good fortune to enter the Hut know that for a few hours each week we can put age from us and become young again in Letterland. Many are the opportunities of doing good that we have missed in our youth and many are the little kindnesses that we might have done and yet let the chance slip by. Now comes the opportunity of the “grown-ups” to atone for the sins of omission? The Wendy H’st gives us a chance to make amends. In Letterland we can advise and help the younger ones and also with words of encouragement and love help the older ones through life. We can tell of instances in our lives—ins «es where we helped or missed doing ». /-that will be a guide to happiness to our young members. Truly. Wendy, the Hut is like an elixir of life—it never allows us to grow old and it will never die. To a’J who seek youth, or comfort in old age I would say “Enter the Wendy Hut” and roam in the land of “Lei’s Pretend”; for in Letterland you will find real happiness.” The Hut will never be too small to hold all who seek admission, for as our band increases, so will Wendy have the Hut’s Carpenter build further additions. From the “HUT’S LOOK-OUT MAN.” Wanganui.

“INNOCENT.” Wanganui.—So jolly of you. my dear to write this week. I wondered what had become of you. What a shame you were not able to attend the El rick. I went and I saw such a goodly number of ’ites, who all wore the Hut’s badges. They all enjoyed themselves, too. Yes. "Stranger” is a member. I am so pleased you have written to her. She is bo lonely. I will forward your letter.—Wendy. “KARENZA,” Wanganui.—l wonder if our “Hut’s Uncle” does really know who you are? He may even yet receive a great surprise, might he not? I wonder dues he remember meeting you on the Taylorville bank ? So you have met “Hut’s Bachelor” and “Big Brother.” too. Goodness, and “Taffy,” also. Why. you know a great number of our members. I expect you will soon have your identity revealed. I will send you a badge.—Wendy.

“INDIAN RUNNER,” Raketapuama Bur eau. —Well, well, and so here you arc again, my dear. I have often wondered what could have happened to you of late. I thought perhaps you had become ill or something equally dreadful. I am so pleased you are still going to be one of my many followers. That’s real fine indeed. I am glad to hear you have persuaded another to join our merry throng. I am so sorry to hear about yuur old school pal passing over the Great Divide. How the poor boy must have suffered. I am pleased you like your new teacher. What a wonderful crop of potatoes your daddy dug from so small a plot. Many thanks for the motto.—Wendy.

“BROWN WALLFLOWER.” Taihape.— How busy you have been of late. dear. To go among the sheep is lovely, isn’t it? They are such quiet animals. I am sure your puppy will one day be a fine sheep dog. Let me see, he is already a holder. Is that what you call a doggie that holds a mob of sheep together? Dogs are such intelligent animals, aren’t they ? Isn’t our “Old Gran” a dear. Our Hut is growing ever so rapidly. You will see our Carpenter has had to make us an addition to it. I am proud of you, dear. You have worked hard to pass, indeed.—Wendy.

“PRINCESS OLA,” Kaitoke.—l hope, dear, you are enjoying your holidays. Our Weather Clerk is a grand old fellow to send us such wonderful sunn’ days., isn’t he? How excited you must have been to see your big sister again. The h’ 1 are lovely flowers, aren’t they ?—Wen^„.

“DOLLY VARDEN.” Mataroa.—How lucky you are to have holidays, my dear. I hope you enjoy them. You did very well at the examination. I am pleased with you. indeed. I will see if any of our members can supply you with the poem you have asked for. —Wendy. “EVENING BELLS.” Marton.—Dear me, yes, I have been wondering what could have happened to you of late, my dear. Goodness. but what a huge sum of money the concert brought in. That was a fine effort indeed. What a fine little joke. The pupil said “O” right enough, didn’t he? Wendy. “SEA SPRITE,” Christchurch.- 1 am so pleased to have your welcome letter tIA week, my dear. 1 wondered what had become of you this long while. I did spend a happy time, indeed, whilst on my holiday. What a lovely time you must have spent during the Easter holidays. Cappying carnivals are such jolly affairs, aren’t they? I can skate. I learned many years ago when roller skating was a popular winter entertainment. That is well, dear, always avoid quarrels. Life is far too jolly and br’ght ever to quarrel, isn’t it ? 1 think that a suitable arrangement and one which will prove satisfactory to all. You must let me know something about the basket- . ball tea. Pleased you have heard from our "Taukatau.”—Wendy.

Ohingaiti.—l am pleased to have your welcome letter, dear. Oh, and so you have found out who our “Aunty” is. Goodness, but you are a great detective, indeed. What happy circumstances brought you all together. I suppose you received a huge surprise? FootbaJi is a jolly game, and is always conducive of much merriment afterwards. There is always so much barracking and joking, isn’t there? I am so pleased to hear “Our Happy Jack’s” team won. Perhaps “Our Happy/Jack” will soon find out who you are now. I will ask “Dolly Varden.”—Wendy. “FALLING STAR.” Rata.—Goodness, dear, but I am ever so happy to receive your welcome letter this week. I have often wondered what could have become of you of late. Oh, so I see why I have not heard from you regularly. You go to the N.P.G.H. School. It is good of mother to post you our pages. What a fine time you must have there. I see you are in the sweetpea dorm. You would, of course, find it rather strange for a time. One soon makes friends, don’t they? Give my love to “Rata Blossom.” please.—Wendy. “CORNFLOWERS,” Hunterville. The weather is just beautiful, dear. Our Clerk has been ever so kind to us, hasn’t he? I hope the good weather will keep up during the holidays, too. It is lovely to be out in the sun. isn’t it? How nice your school must look now that it has been freshly painted. Jack Frost is a scamp, isn’t he? How he does make our toes and fingers tingle.—Wendy.

“ALT BABA,” Wanganui.—l hope, dear, you spent a lovely time on your holiday, and received many wonderful gifts. Oh, and so you did, too. Well now, that was just fine, wasn’t it? What a beautiful place you have chosen in which to write your letter. How beautiful nature is, isn’t it? The trees are always a picture whether they be clothed in their summer or winter garb. Bare branches, even, have a beauty of their own if one takes the care to look, haven’t they ?—Wendy.

‘PADDY THE IRISHMAN,” Greatford.— How pleased I am to ha v e your welcome - I -'[• this week, my dear. I have been puzs.ed to know what could have happened to you of late. Won't it be lovely to have “Brown Wallflower" to stay with you? You will have great fun together, won’t you? Oh, yes, I like mushrooms very mxich. They are so scarce here, though. I expect it is because of the rhortage of rain. You were lucky to gather such nice lots.- Wendy. “DON JIM." Greatford. —How jolly of you to write to me this week, my dear. I was wondering what could have happened to you of late. How lovely to have a. visit from your aunt and uncle. I can imagine how well you must, have enjoyed yourself when you went out to tea. The days are getting short now, why. we will have the shortest day here, too, soon. Wendy. “WATERLILY," Rapanui Rural. -Yes, dear, that is what I was just thinking. I was wondering what had happened to you of late. lam ever so pleased to hear from you. lam pleased you received the silver paper safely. How good of you to assist the Young Helpers’ League. Theirs is a kindly work. Perhaps some day I will have my photo published. I hope that when you know just what. I am like you will all love me just the same. Oh. and so you used to sit with “Silver Pine” at school. Dear me. you all seem to have brought trouble upon yourselves. I will forward your letter. —Wendy. “SCARLET BEGONIA," Hunterville. —Fire is man s greatest friend, but also his greatest enemy. What wonderful purposes fire can be put to, and what awful devastation it can cause, too. The scrub makes a fierce fire, doesn’t it? The huge flames as they leap and dance are a magnificent sight. What happy little evening you spent with “Otira Maiden" and her sisters. Goodness, yes. we are lucky, indeed, to have such wonderful weather for the holidays. Our Clerk has been wonderfully kind, hasn’t he? Our family is growing rapidly. What a lot of grown-ups we have with us. You are lucky to have some nice mushrooms. They are ever so scarce here. —Wendy. “JUST WILLIAM," Bulls.—Oh. and so here you are at last, my dear. I had almost given you up for lost. T am ever so happy to have your welcome letter to-day. What a gorgeous birthday party you had and what a beautiful cake, too. So you blew seven of your eight candles out at once. Well, that was clever, indeed. Fancy the fairies hiding those presents for you like they did. What wonderful little people they are to be sure. I know just how you must have thanked them for their kindness, too. Goodness, but what a mistake “Big Brother Jack" made. How you must have laughed . Yes. dear, your writing has improved, and I think your teacher lovely for telling you so.—Wendy. “PRIMROSE LASS," Marton.—Many thanks for your welcome letter, my dear. I am quite well, and I enjoyed my holidays immensely. too. It is far too cold now for swimming, isn’t it? Your house did well durin.g the tennis tournament, didjj’t it? How lucky your principal is to go on a voyage to England. What a happy time you have had this term. I think you did very well, dear. I am sure I shall hear great things of you next term. You were lucky to gather some nice mushrooms. They are I - ” r - ly.