A PIECE TO ALL ITES OF LETTERLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

A PIECE TO ALL ITES OF LETTERLAND

OH, LOOK! HERE IS OUR "PIXIE" Dear Wendy, —Here is another Ite of the: Old Brigade, but this is an exceedingly old one. I suppose you had forgotten there was ever an He by the name of “Pixie” existing? Yes, she is still alive and reading the Hut's pages as regular as ever. But who can “Mickey the Mouse” be? He or she is a real mystery to me; never mind I suppose I shall • find out some day. Wendy, we have started f basketball here now. and it is such fun, quite a number of Wendyites play. 1 went up to the Taihape Bible Class Rally on June 3. . and also “Queen of Hearts.” We both saw | » the jolly Ite, “Occident.” I must conclude 3 now with love and best of wishes to all the ( Wendyites and yourself.—From “PIXIE,” I Ohingaiti. Gracious, but this is a surprise, dear. Our I “Pixie” has at last returned! I am pleased I to have your letter. “Mickey the Mouse” I seems to be a mystery to nearly all our Wendytown Ites. Basketball ia a great game. Oh, so you saw “Occident” at the rally. I was wondering how many lies met our jolly , I He.—Wendy. ' "JOLLY HAPPY JACK" FALLS INTO TRAP ' Dear Wendy,—Like “Just a Boy,” I'm 1 another to walk into the trap set by “Flor--1 ette” to make all the lies join in the reunion ' she can. I only wish she had succeeded in persuading “A Weary Wanderer” to write 1 you. Ry the by, Wendy, please enrol “Just 2 a Boy.” “A Weary Wanderer,” “Yooloo” and “Jolly Happy Jack" on the picnic list, ’ as we four hoys thought we would like to ' attend it. Wendy, 1 think some of the Ites ' have already told you that we are only i - dropping a note, so cheerio. Cheerily.— . 1 “JOLLY HAPPY JACK." Aramoho. j Gracious but yet another has fallen into our energetic Ite's trap. How hard they have worked to make as many as they could attend our reunion. 1 will place the names , you havo given me upon the picnic list.— I Wendy. ! ‘'BROWN WALLFLOWER,” C.W.K.. Taihape.— I am glad, dear, that you spent such a happy time on your birthday, and had sol ■ nice a cake. Mother was kind to you. Give our love to “Herod." The Chums have won- ; [ derful adventures, don’t they? T will pul>- : lish the rest of your letter next issue.— i Wendy. "MADCAP” ADMINISTERS “TALKING-TO" Dear Wendy,— 1 whole-heartedly approve of ! you.- dc-ci.-iu’i to extend our reunion until today. J am looKinp forward to our issue with 1 more than mv usual amount of pleasurable expectation, so I do hope our veteran Ites don’t prove disappointing. I love to see letters from members of the “Old Brigade” adorning our pages from time to time. It shows that they still retain their interest in our children’s paper, does it not? and makes Letterland all that it is meant to be, for we of the Wendy Hut. That “Hut’s Lookout Man!” what has become of him? He talked about playing the game. Does he think hiding away like he is and leaving the Hut and its belongings to carry on by themselves is . playing the game? Because if he does I do not. Goodness, anything might happen us when there is not one to “watch out” and I make us mind our steps. What with “Hut’s ■ Padre’s” irregular visits and "Hut’s Lookout ! Man ’ clean off the map, it is a wonder we [ have behaved as well as we have. As it is nur “Old Gran” has suffered grievous injury. Huts Bachelor” and "Hut's Uncle” were caught doing things they should not and “Speeding Reggie” ha« been guilty of more things that “speeding,” “Kai-u-Kite Pai” laws, but she broke herself, which was worse, ami not content with that : he went ami caught someone's i*<aslcs. Dear, oh dear! And that is not nearly all. Ive gone and hookeil a “Taniwha” (am doubtful about the spelling) and I know I’ll ■ never be able to land it. even if the hook | stays put. and _ the lino doesn’t snap, and surely these things all show we cannot be trusted to look after ourselves and yet that Is what our betters evidently except us to do. Of course, while “Old Gran” was round about we could not get very far off the straight and narrow path, and now, well, even with “Old Ben” trying to teach us to play “cricket,” and dear old "Grandaddy” helping, we seem to stray or slip H |] the I siirne. Really. I think if "Hut’s Padre” and 1 Hut s Lookout Man” don’t come to light soon they will both be due for a first-class shake-up” from the lot of us. We’ll let them off with a caution this time, but I won’t promise they will always get off as lightly. Jlls t Daddy” deserves to be decorated. He is a "Daddy” to he proud of, and sets “Big Pi'fdliei-" an d Brother’s Pal” and Medium Brother" an example it might l>e good for them to follow. Cannot someone or other tack a few letters to his name that will show our appreciation of him? But goodness, gracious, I had better stop round- ‘ mg people up, or I’ll be getting into serious trouble. Still someone has to talk to them for the good of their souls, and it might just as well be me as anyone else; perhaps more so, because no one takes any notice of a Madcap." So “Thistledown” thinks she is '•‘’nnected to “Madcap.” She is miataken. < Madcap has no relations or connections. 1 She is just “Madcap.” Nothing more, if t something less. "Madcap” doesn't believe in i relations. They are too much of a nuisance 1 and want Joo inuch looking after. One 1 Madcap ’ is quite enough for any ordinary 1 human to manage, at least, I find it so, and \ that is ihe reason I will not let her have I ■my relations. She likes friends, though, i Quite recently she dug up a “pal” for her- I (She would much rather dig them up s than hook them, because you can chop them t 'o pieces with a spade if they show signs of p wanting to get away, but if a hook breaks 8 they are gone) hut she has room for lots v more pals yet. So what about it, “Thistle- c down ? Be "Madcap’s" friend instead of X ‘■‘>ni>ecti<vi will you? Friends as I mean it, r stick and play the game.” So when I say ‘ f ?' n .. “. Ma(,t ’nD” will you “catch on” i and stick it? If you will pal, then I’ll X be with you all the way. When I say "play <i he game I mean think straight. speak 1 th? Htra, « hl - 1 stand by my ’ nals, though 111 probably haul them over fl • m ir P 'T, tty Often "" the aame - "Song n ’■My Heart’ or was it "Desert Song” who il wished to have me for a pen-friend? Well, o •tear "Song,” which ever one It is, you may s have your wish, if you do not expect too c nuch of me. I have a fair number of cor- T respondents, and not much spare tim,», but t d you are willing to write I will try and P answer as often as I eaai. Now. this scrib- t' >le of m,„e Ke tti n(r ahead by leaps and « bounds, and I don t want it to get beyond 1 '•'HiiKls. so I’ll try and make it come to an b k,* fast ,” s 1 t hone "Kai-u- \ ,l " I lncni ‘’ ’- s ’be huge success it n nn» s he ’ an ‘ 1 h " pe the Weather Clerk E manages to wrest a glorious sunshiny dav for -uch a special occasion. A query? ’]f ] o will'in m ?’ SC f i ah,C ' O o atl, ‘ n ' l wo "' ( l «ny He be g ■ ? '■ 'P N °"' "oln K to o Mluttgle down and drift into dreamland just c Ll'l",','oi' " S i' C "'E “” d ' <Jo not think 1 11 -» I need tmml, roektnu. But I do hope my f, • "t. 1 '! 0,110 that 1 tako ‘o bed most e where !" as a <oot-warnier. stays n r o , " c otho ' 't fell out * bed and I was afraid it. was myself from 'he awful noise it made, but when 1 poked •>ut my head to see, I was greatly relieved to find I was Still in bed, and not on the floor, ;> I had feared. XVell. seeing it preferred 'be floor to bed and me. I | e f t i t there, although had 1 thought it. was still warm 1 flare say 1 would have dragged it bark for suite. But perhaps it was not altogether its Li'ilL I may have kicked it. not intending to, of course, but even so it could have found some other place to go, other than on the floor. Cheerio everybody.- “MADCAP” Wailotara. Well, dear, you see we have quite a very '■•II muster <,f OUI - •■Ohl Brigade" again today. Splendid, isn’t it? Gracious. but what a talkmg-to you have given some of mir absent Ites. Poor old hot water hottie. I'm it really deserve to be left ou: in the cold all night ?—Wendy.

‘SILVER SPOON," Mangaonoho. - Now, that is really splendid, dear. What beau 11fu * writing. You are going to be a good scholar. 1 can tell that from your handwriting. What a jolly time you had when you went to Palmerston with mother. Organ music such as one hears in a large church is lovely indeed. I will forward the letter to “Madame X.”—Wendy, “SEA SHELL," Mangaonoho. The shortest dav will soon be with us now. In fart it is to-morrow, isn’t it? The Chums do have some fun, don’t they? It is Gwen who has received the surprise this week. I wonder what will happen next Saturday ? You must have a piece of our reunion cake, dear Sir Richard will carve it after I have made the first cut. I am pleaded “Our Little Half Back is such an excellent ping-pong player, that’s fine.—Wendy. • * • • • ROBIN HOOD.” Mangaweka.—So pleased you have attended our reunion thia week, 1 ha ! l thou « ht y° u had forgotten us. Kite-flying is much in evidence here, too, borne attain quite respectable altitudes’ How well your chum’s kite flies. Good luck to your team. I do hope you win. Let me know, won’t you? I shall be pleased to have the stamps.—Wendy. CLEMATIS,” Taihape.—Goodness me, but you are indeed an ancient member of our band. I may tell you, dear, that your I letter ha« made me very happy, because I thought you had forgotten all about us. Yes, lots of our Old Brigade have returned, haven't they? Oh, dear, so you sat just four feet away from “Occident” at the rally tea. I wonder does he know you now ? The weather is very changeable here, too.— Wendy. “PIPPA’S" NEWS Dear Wendy,—Whatever will you think of me for being absent from your band so long 1 “Florrette” has made all the Wanganui Ites that she's encountered promise to write to the reunion, and I’m one of those Ites. I see where “Maunga Ohutu” has at last given me some answer to my letter, but, Wendy dear, will you a*k her not to write as I am not writing to my penfriends at present. Another thing I've noticed is how “Mick,” Z.S.W.M., has everybody puzzling over her identity, and it's such fun listening to them trying to guess her initials. Poor “Speeding Reggie” work ed ever so hard for three weeks, but his searches proved fruitless, and one night when he least exuected to make anv covery he found out our “Mick’e” identity. Wendy. I see where the Wanganui Ites have! not told you of the misfortune that befell “XVhite Forget-me-not’s Pal” and her peo-' pie, and of the awful discovery “A Weary Wanderer” made. One night about a month ago “A Weary Wanderer” rushed in the back door of his residence, yelling to “XVhite Forget-me-not” that he could see flames in front of the house, and on running outside your two Ites discovered that it was “White Forget-me-not's Pal’s” house I on fire. Seeing neither her or her smaller ' sister about “White ForgeUme-not” became alarmed and so with “Big Brother’s Pal” and “XVhite Forget-me-not’s Darling” they ran over to “White Forget-me-not’s Pal’s” brother’s place. You can just imagine their relief when they found their friend safe, but I feel ever so sorry for the family. They lost everything as the house was badly burned before the alarm was given. Wendy. I'm afraid 1 must end this short note as it's ever so late. Lots of love - Ever Your Ite, “PIPPA." Wanganui. So jolly of you to be with us this week of our reunion, dear. I thought you had forgotten r us. How puzzleil “Mick” has made °? r . Wanganui Ites. Poor “Speeding Reggie!” Dear me, but how sorry I am tn hear of “White Forget-me-not’s Pal's” misfortune. Fire is dreadful, isn't it, when our enemy? Will you give our Ite my love when next you see her, please? -Wendy.

Bear Wendyites,— Unaccustomed I am to public speaking—for 1 am a very sliy and nervous little man—still, when Wendy wishes it, I must say my “piece,” at this splendid reunion of ours in Letterland. We are all uplifted by our Padre’s blessing, by Wendy's glowing happiness, and by the kindly meetings and joyous laughter of old friends —or the forwarded remembrances of absent ones. Nor must xvo forget the “huila baloo” and our “dumb” itus of the Animal Kingdom that greeted the recital of Mademoiselle “Mar-rcc,” the Milkmaid, likewise the “cock-sure” manner of Herod and Rufus, as they bid all true and knightly gentlemen, “look to their spurs.” (Hear, hear.) Before you, you see a cake —made by our lady friends, the fairies —with the message of “Good Luck” to one and all in the future, from our friends the Elves, of Elfin Bay. The cake is good, 1 assure you, for our “>Six Ducks” don’t even trust Elves and they watched to see that only duck eggs xvere used in the mixture, and that it was made to their recipe. It has its four candles—ono for each Letterland anniversary—and the device in sugar on the top is one of leaves. We light the candles and come away “Miss Now Zealand,” now then, “Daddy’s Loud Speaker;” you also, please, Miss “Brown Wallflower,” and for the fourth ono would young “Orient” (and with him xvo associate our “Occident”) in far away China, kindly oblige? (Great applause.) Now, we must have someone to open the decorating paper before we can cut the cake, but who shall it be? S-s-s-h! Listen! The Fairies are chanting a little melody and from that we shall decide. S-s-shl “Wo aro tho cooks and the housemaids trim, and the ladies who come to call. (The rest is lost in a deafening shout of “The Mother Who Smacks Them All,” as ono by one, the pins como out.) This is getting exciting, for tho Hut Mother has found a message inside the —the—the —(“bandage,” kindly suggests someone, and that xvill do nicely, thanks.—Laughter). Listen, everyone! “We know a place where lhe sun is like gold, Where the cherry blooms drop like snow, And right underneath is a lovely nook Where four-leaf clovers grow.”—(Signed, Elves.) Splutter! Splutter! With a crack! Out goes “Miss N.Z.’s” candle and rex cals a tiny slip with a greeting. “Ono leaf is for Faith and one is for Hope, and one is for Love you know.” Bang! Number two sends out a scrap of paper from the pink candle “Daddy’s Loudspeaker” lit: — ''‘But God put a fourth leaf in for Luck. (If you seek, you xvill find where they grow.) ’ ’ Out goes the blue cauule and says, so “Brown Wallflower” tell us—- “ But you must havo Faith, and you must have Love. You must Hope, and be True, and so— If you work, if you wait, wo shall shoxv you the place, Where four-leaf clox’ers grow.“—(Signed, Elves). Concludes “Orient,” as his red taper expires. Why this sugary pattern of leaves is ono of Four leaf Clovers, for “Good luck” of course. What a fine idea! But will these messages and greetings ever cease, lor, as Wendy withdraws tho cake knife, there is a pellet upon its point. Unfolded, it informs us that—“ This is a fairy cake, one crumb vf xvhich will bo sufficient to bring ‘Good Luck’ to all who faithfully earrv out the instruction already given.” • , Wendyites, as 1 explained, 1 am a shy little man. (“You are doing fine, says a voice.) But—but—whenever you find a Four-leaf Clover send a wish for luck to Wendy and each other of this big Hut family, and in your own “Lucky Finding” may there como to you pleasant memories of his so happy reunion of Wendyites in Lotterland in tho month of June, lJul. (1 roionged and tremendous cheering.) RICHARD C. DE L., Knight Commander, Elf Land.

; MUCH-PUZZLED I Dear Wendy,—Here's another of your Ites that "Florrette” has rounded up for the reunion. 1 see where another Ite, namely “Mick,” shares with me the title of I Z.S.W.M. Congratulations “Mick,” and I I believe you are well-known midst our circle of Wanganui Ites, too. XVell, may I congratulate you on keeping your identity secret and "Bi Nai.” too. We’ve puzzlel oxer both your identities, but cannot find the tiniest clue. Well. Wendy, as "Florrette" has reminded me that this must only be a note 1 must close. Kindest regards. "HAPPY,” Z.S.W.M., Wanganui. So pleased to have your welcome letter, dear. Our reunion would not have been complete without you. I wonder just how long it will take you to discover your coItes’ identity?—Wendy. “MERRY AROHA,” Waverley.—How pleased I am to have your welcome letter this week, my dear. I wondered what had become of you. How sad you must have felt to find y°ur pony had died during your absence on holiday. I hoj>e you will »oon be the prouc owner of another as dear to you as “Mac' waa.—Wendy. “MYEEERAH,” Bulls.—Oh, but I am so pleased to nave your -welcome letter, dear. 1 wondered how you fared of late. Holidays j always come to an end before they should, don't, they? "Old Gran” is progressing slowly. "Old Hen” writes lovely letters, doesn t he? The weather is very changeable. I see our dumb friends, the animals, find a friend in you. That’s lovely. 1 cannot ju«t from memory give you the date. Will look it up later. —Wendy. “BIG BROTHER’S PAL'S" STORY Dear Wendy,—"White Forget-me-not” has been on my track again, and as I have no news that may be termed interesting or at least nothing that 1 can make of interest. I shall endeavour to pass on one of "Red Ball s * stories. The crew of a certain wellknown New Zealand coastal vessel used to spend their spare time whilst in the different ports by collecting every cat thev could find and taking it. abroad. "Red Ball” has no love for cats at any time. so you may imagine how he felt with the vessel swarming with cats. Cats here, cats there and cats everywhere. Big cats, .small cats, black cats, white cats, tabby cats and all varieties between. At one port the crew found two kittens of well-mixed ancestry which they kept in tho forecastle. When they arrived back at Onehunga the shipping manager went aboard with a letter from the owner of the kittens claiming that they had stolen two valuable kittens and demanding ten pounds each for them. When the next trip was made they were returned. The owner being informed that twenty pounds a pair was a bit too high when they could pick up all they wanted for nothing. He (the owner, was very sorry to see them a K he had Wen nopjng for the monev, so he told the men that as they had been so honest thev could have them for nothing. The crew thought him most kind, and to show their appreciation they made the rounds and collected about fifty cats, and on the night before ? h L'u T Je i own . e r of the kittens was in the habit of keeping three fox terriers In to , kee ” i°"n the rats and guard against burglars. Poor cats! Toor dogs! I guess that I had better leave the re«t to your imagination and close. Wishing vou and all the Ites all the best - From “BIG BROTHER’S PAL." -Wansanuf of our M Ball, ,tory. W nal nn lnter . number of epi-odes he has. How funny I. h ’ vo »hen the poor owner ot enol hl, shop m tho morninc What » scene would his .tartled e yes bol, o | d write rfFTd7o n ’-S t n y ?r.- ‘"Il «•'• o°' reFaiU to Red Ball" and "St M,ba Wendy. • -'oua-