The Answer Bag;

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 18 (Supplement)

The Answer Bag;

“WEE JEAN FROM ABERDEEN,” Ohingaiti.—How pleased I am to hear from you this week, my dear. I wondered what could have happened to you of late. I will forward your letter to “Silver Pine.” I hope, dear, that you spent a happy time on your birthday and received many lovely presents. Never mind, our “Grandaddy” and “Just Daddy” are now safely back with us in our Hut. Now I wonder if it is as you say. Perhaps “Hut’s Bachelor” or “Hut’s Uncle” have run off with “Aunty” after all. Isn’t it lovely to have the summer months with us? I hope some of your entries secured prizes in the show, dear.— Wendy.

“ELLEN,” Wanganui.—How happy I am to have your welcome letter this week, my dear. I had quite given you up for lost. I am so pleased you have not forgotten me, but each week you read our pages and find in them so much to interest and amuse you. Goodness, but I think our “Mysterious Masquerader” must have been captured by some dreadful monster. I have not heard from her for months and months. I shall go to the show. I hope you enjoy your visit, also. Shows are jolly affairs, aren’t they? Next Letterland Day, dear, I will make an appeal for you re the coupons, etc., in my letter. I.hope to‘help you a good deal in this way. Many thanks for the coupons you have sent to me.—Wendy.

“HINEMOA,” Hunterville. How pleased I am to have your welcome letter, dear. All letters must reach me no later than 5 o’clock on Wednesday evening of each week. We have had a lot of windy days here also. I hope it will keep fine for the shearing operations. It is such a nuisance when it rains, isn’t it? Goodness, and so the cel got away after all. Better luck next time, dear. What a lot of Ites you know.—Wendy.

“LITTLE HONEYSUCKLE,” Ma-kirikiri.-—I am ever so happy, dear, you have written this week. 1 wondered whatever could have happened to you. I am keeping quite well, thank you. I hope are also. Oh, dear, but you are not. I see you have a cold. How wretched! Colds are dreadful things, aren’t they? Won’t it be lovely to go swimming. The time will soon be here now. It will be ever so lovely to have the fresh fruit again. The kowhai trees are gorgeous indeed. The tuis are so fond of the nectar they sip from the blossoms. How lucky you are to have a pct lamb. —Wendy.

“BROWN WALLFLOWER,” Taihape.—l will send you our “Queen Starlight’s” address, dear. Many thanks for envelope. Jt is thoughtful of you indeed. I hope you will like the story our “Just Daddy” has told you to-day. How lovely of mother to take you to the pictures. So you met some of our Ites, too. Perhaps they will soon both write. Micky the Mouse is a real funmaker, isn’t he? The poor chicks! The turkey chicks are dear wee things, aren’t they?—Wendy.

“HAPPY RAMONA/’ Bulls—lt, dear, your letters were not so neat and well written 1 can assure you you would not have them awarded you. Your penship is excellent, indeed. It would be lovely to always sit with our “Poppy,” wouldn’t it? Oh, what a lot of ites I must have in your school. I see “Poppy” aud “Dainty Miss” now sit together. I think that is lovely. It was a jolly surprise for you to receive “Sago Lily’s” letter. I will tell her you will write soon.— Weudy. DEAR OLD ’LET’S PRETEND' CALLS IN Dear Wendy,—ls it not about time I appeared again in our wonderful Land of Make-believe? I have been very neglectful, indeed, but not forgetful, Wendy, dear. I was always intending to write but the weeks would fly so quickly without my good intention being fulfilled. Besides neglecting you, Wendy, there is my dear pen-friend, “Valentine La Nina,’’ whom I have not written to for months. What does she think of me? Does our dear “Old Gran” also think me ungrateful, for she has favoured me with one of her kind letters which I have not as yet acknowledged. Thank you, dear “Old Gran,” it was appreciated and I have not forgotten. Owing to some clever detective work on the part of “Lady Lavender’’ we havg discovered the identity of “Taffy,” whom good fortune provided an opportunity for me to meet this morning. Many little changes have occurred in our Hut Page since I last wrote, but 1 see that the “Look-out Man” still keeps watch; that “Just Daddy’’ has been lost and found; our “Hut’s Padre” still guides us with his kindly word, our dear “Old Gran” with her same loving gems of letters. Our merry “Madcap” still writes her letters so full of life and fun. Every now and again each well remembered name pops up again and you, dear Wendy, are still our beloved leader.—l am your loving “LET’S PRETEND,” Patea.

How jolly of you, dear, to write to us this week. I wondered whatever could have happened to you of late. I was about to ask Sir Richard to go in search of you. I am oxer so pleased you have met our “Taffy.” He is n jolly Ite, isn’t he? Oh, you, our “Look-out Man” is ever on watch. Isn’t that “Madcap” of ours a great teller of stories? First it is a “pig hunt” and now we are treated in her own inimitable style to a “duck hunt.” Write a«3un soon, won’t you, dearf—Wendy.

‘A MEDAL FOR WENDY!’ SHOUTS ’’BETTY ZANE”

Dear Wendy,—Once more I bob up again, like the bad penny, aren’t I? However, Wendy, dear, I hope you are quite well. Isn’t the weather shocking for this time of the year? Poor little Okoia is trying its hardest to stand firm against this wind. We had quite a hailstorm out here last night. My word, Wendy, so you braved the icyness of old King Sea, and went in for a dip. Now, I really think you deserve a medal. Whoopee! Fellow-ites! Hail! Come quickly and let us now assemble and bestow upon our beloved Wendy a medal suitably inscribed thus: “To Wendy, for a brave deed. Conqueror of His Majesty, King Sea.” Hut Ites. Old Gran, you may have the honour of pinning the medal above our much loved Wendy’s heart. Now. Ites, all together, three loud cheers. Hip. hip, hurrah! That’s for Wendy. Again, Ites, hip. hip, hurrah! that’s for you. Old Gran. My word what a din. “Hut’s Magician,” haste quickly and bring with you your magic pot of ointment, and smear a little of your wonderful balm on our poor Wendy’s sore back, and “Sir Richard Elf,” ring up King Sol and tell him if he ever bites our Wenry like that again, well, wc Ites will him into a thousand stars. W( 4<ly, dear. 1 have come back to earth, so will wander along with this letter for a little longer. I have had a letter from “Red Island Rock.” She writes such a nice letter, Wendy, and seems a very nice girl, so I am hoping that wc will meet, and become firm pals. I f»ec we have a “Fairy Godmother” now. My! but aren’t we lucky Ites. Well, Wendy. I mustn’t break the rules and write too long a letter, so will conclude with stocks of good wishes to all fellow Ites and I will whisper a little love to you, Wendy!—l am your affectionate Ite, “BETTY ZANE/’ Okoia.

I am keeping quite well, thank you, my dear. Oh, and so you think I deserve a medal. Well, well! I can assure you. dear, that had it not been for the fact that there were onlookers, I should have made all haste for the shelter of the breakwinds, after 1 had discovered just how cold that old sea really was. Goodness, dear, really you girls overwhelm me with all your enthusiasm, and I’m sure I do not deserve it, either. I am confident should you meet our “Red Island Rock” vou will immediately like her, and that you will become firm friends indeed. It is ever »o thoughtful of you, dear, to send me the envelope. Many thanks.— Wendy.

“BYRD THE EXPLORER,” Kai Many thanks, dear, I am keeping quite well. I hope you, too, are enjoying as good health as I. No, it will not now be long before Xmas is here. Won’t that be jolly? That’s capital, dear, work as hard as ever you can and pass. You will let me know, won’t you? Oh, so I sec you have taken up the delightful study of watching caterpillars turn into pupae and then butterflies. What a lot of Jambs you have to tend. They must take up a good deal of your time. What have you named the black one, dear? The poor uld Weather Clerk is always in trouble, isn’t he? However, 1 expect he will soon send us some lovely days, and all one after the other, too. What a help you must be to daddy. Fancy helping muster the sheep. 1 can just imagine how “Once” barks at them when they will not do as he says. The puppies are such mischievous little chappies, aren’t they? “Red Balt does write wonderful stories, indeed. The Chums do have some adventures, don’t they? Somehow or other Gwen and Richard almost always come io blows, don’t they?—Wendy. “GREEN BUTTERFLY,’’ Kai Iwi. —Many thanks, clear, I am keeping quite well and happy. 1 hope you arc well, also. Oh, dear, but what a lot of lambs you have to look after. They must, take up a good deal of your time. Have you names for them all? Goodness, hasn’t the time passed swiftly? Xmas will soon be with us and won’t it be jolly to have dear old Santa Claus coining to fiil all ou/ stockings up with good things? Is the caterpillar a silk worm? The Chums have great adventures, don’t they? I love to watch the wee puppies as they frolic about. And are they not mischievous, also? No, dear, 1 did not feel the ’quake. 1 think I must have been outside and therefore quite unconscious of its visit. The weather has not been as nice as it might have been, however. I am sure our Sir Weather Clerk will soon send us some lovely days, and all together, like we like them, too. “Byrd the Explorer” told me all about his black lamb.— Wendy.

“DESERT SONG.” Makirikiri.—So jolly, dear, of you to write to me this week. I wondered how you fared of late. The puppies are such mischievous little fellows, aren’t they? They are so lovely to watch when they are at play. We Trave had some lovely days, and also some rather windy and wet. However, our Clerk will, I know, soon send us some excellent days for Christmas. It is fine to know that soon we shall all be able to go swimming. I haveJiad my first-of-the-season dip, but oh! at what a cost. The water almost froze me into a piece of ice. I am a lover of music also. I could, I think, sit for ever and listen to music. Perhaps our Australian Ite would correspond with you. Here is her address: Miss Jean Murphy, Gra 1 hamston, N.S.W., Australia. Just write first to her and tell her all about yourself. I’m sure she would then correspond with you.—Wendy.

“WEE GOLDILOCKS,” Waituna West.—So pleased to have your very welcome letter this week, dear. I am glad you attended church upon its Anniversary day. The ha]} will be much better now that it has been enlarged, won’t it? How proud you all will be of it. I will remind our “Dolly Varden.” Perhaps she is ever so busy with her studies, and intends to write a. little later. Why, yes, dear, tell us the story Mr Copeland has told you. We should all be so happy to hear it. Pen-names, once they are bestowed, dear, can never be changed. lam sorry, but it is the one, so far, unbroken rule of our Hut. I do hope you will not mind. —Wendy.

“GIRL £F THE WOODS,” Taihape. —So pleased to have your welcome letter this week, my dear. How good of you to bring another new ite to our ranks. I k nOw she will be ever so happy in our midst, too. “C.W.K.” means “Custodian of the Wendy Key,” an order of merit conferred upon ites for their industries. It takes 20 marks to earn this order. Oh, I do hope you will pass this term, too, dear. In fact I am quite sure you will. However, you will let me know, won’t you? I hope you will enjoy your holidays in New Plymouth. I have been there, too. Goodness, but you are lucky. The gardens are just simply beautiful, dear. How bright and gay they make our world appear, don’t they?—Wend*.

“BONZO,” Wavcrley.—How jolly of you to write this week, my dear. I had begun to think you had forgotten all about me of late. I hope you spent a happy time while on your visit here in the city last Wednesday, dear. The days are so long now, aren’t they? What jolly games can be played outside after tea is over. Cricket and tennis are great games. I used to play tennis a good deal once, but I am now just a little too old to indulge in this energetic pastime. It is, indeed, lovely to think that swimming time is almost here at last. The water is, however, still a wee bit too chilly. Our Weather Clerk has been more kindlier lately, and I hope he will soon send us a lot of lovely, sunny days all together. The lambs are dear wee things, aren’t they? What have you named them, dear? —Wendy. “LION HEART,” Kai Iwi—Oh, dear, but what a start you gave me, dear. Do you know but I had quite thought you had forgotten all about me of late. Now, just where have you been? How lovely to go to the concert. They arc jolly, aren’t they? How pretty the fairies dresses must have looked. Dear, oh dear, but I should just loved to have heard that band of the Kai Iwi School. lam sure our city bands will have need to look to their laurels, won’t they? Yes, I am glad Xmas will soon be here. One does have such a happy time then. I wonder what old Santa Claus will put in your stocking this Christmas. I hope it will be something nice.— Wendy.

“HUT’S SAILOR.” Feilding.—l am keeping quite well, thank you. dear. I hope you arc also. The weather has been rather windy here also. I hope the. potatoes come up all right, dear. They should now escape all frosts. Y’es, it is good to have a Fairy Godmother with us in our Hut. She is such a dear old lady, too. I expect our Weather Clerk will no doubt send us some fine weather for Christmas. How nice to have a new pair of shoes. Many thanks for forwarding me the date of your birth, dear.—Wendy.

“WAI-NUI-ARUA,” Wanganui River.—l am so pleased, dear, to have your welcome letter this week. I am keeping quite well, thank you. I hope you are also. Wc have much indeed to thank our Sir Richard Elf, haven’t wc? How wonderful all the school work must have looked when teacher laid it all out on the tables. I should liked to have seen it also. J should say the inspector would be pleased, too. I ®m pleased you received a reply from ‘ ‘ Hinengaro. ” —Wendy.

“GREY DOVE,” Mangaweka.—Well, well, but what a wonderful surprise you have given m this week. I thought you had forgotten all about mo altogether, dear. Our Hut is growing. I, too, wonder who will be our 3000th Ite. Oh, so you and “Vic’s” sister are chums. I expect you found your new teeth rather awkward to commence with, dear. Yes, Christmas will soon bo here indeed. How the time has flown. “Cows” is indeed a jolly Ite. Perhaps some day you will meet her, and your wish be fulfilled. I think the Guides a wonderful organisation, dear. I am so glad you are a member of a troop.—Wendy.