"RED BALL" AND HIS FEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 5 (Supplement)

"RED BALL" AND HIS FEARS

I Deal- Wendy, May I respectfully suggest j that you get word to “Madcap” advising her j to drop her line and run if she has a tanlwha ; on it, and as I fear that she is not one to 1 take advice, perhaps it would be as well to ! send “Sir Richard” and "Speeding Reggie” assistance. I suggest "Speeding , Reggie” because if rumour speaks truly he must be either the bravest or most foolhardy oi our band, and most suited for an adventure with a tanlwha. Frankly. 1 am doubtful about this taniwha business, and strongly suspect it is only the poor worm which she . dug up and cruelly impail«aJ on her hook, giv- • ing an extra turn which has misled her. 1 Even a worm will turn, I am told. Of course, it may be possible that our Ite was abroad 1 w-ii-n last the moon was near full, instead of 1 in be.l with her head under the blankets, and < that being so, she may really have hooked the > taniwha, as round about full moon is a very dangerous time, and if she is still in the vicinitv of that taniwha she will be minus this i' lull moon. While I cannot claim to have had any experience of taniwhas, I .have been t told that they arc especially active f oiif (•'ays I bcf'-i > and after full moon, and that it n a trick of theirs to pretend to be hooked while ‘ watching for a chance to either nill the!) I victim in or to spring out and make :i enpi tyre, in all cases carrying the terrified cap--1 live to their home beneath the water. Authoi--3 ities differ on what actually happens r there, some claiming that the captive • is fattened and eaten, while others «av ihut at times a taniwha may keep a captive as a t servant, or even as a pet, but whatever their fate I am sure it must be terrible* as everywhere I have heard that taniwhas are rough, i unlovely things, quite without manners or i sense of right and wrong. It has been sug--1 Rested that I might offer to join the rescue - party, and I would do so willingly, but I do like to play safe. “Dame Rumour” is a rather constant visitor at my “humpy,” and I did hear that “Hut's Look-out Man” fell from his tower some time ago while trying to ' keep his eye on “Madcap.” I hope this is in- ' correct, as I heard his sight had been despaired of, while 1 can quite easily imagine that “Hut’s Padre” has received quite a few shocks of late, and must be very busy prepar- ■ ing his artillery for an attack. As for “Big 1 Brother’s Pal” rumour has it that he is married, but that I fear is a barrack story, although he quite really deserves to be. and I hope “Madcap” will leave off tormenting that unhappy worm, and see if she can dig up the bride, as 1 have failed to do so far. Jf "Tc Mata” fails to get or see the Hut's Page she is wanting to have a copy, but she will have to call to see it, as it is bound between covers with over a year’s pages therein, and is rather heavy and cumbersome to move about. Wishing you and all the Ites , the best of luck. I am—"RED BALL," WanYcs. my dear “Red Ball,” I will send word to our “Madcap” at once. We cannot afford to lose such a gem as she. Oh, yes, taniwnas arc dreadful monsters, indeed, ana arc very very fierce. Thank’s "Red Ball.” I will tell “To Mata.”—Wendy. “CHEERY BLOSSOM SPRIG,” Fordell.— Many thanks, dear, for your kind enquiry. lam keeping quite well, and hope you are also. How funny “The Heir” must be when he plays with his toy. Dear little soul. Dear me. fancy your dolly playing up. 1 hope she has not been very naughty. It is a good job she has at last fallen off to sleep.— Wendy. ”RED ISI ,A.N 1) ROCK, ’ ’ Patea Well, well, so our dear old Ite is with us again. How jolly of y*ou to pay us a call, dear. I wondered how you fared of late. I hope you are keeping quite well. How lovely of “Betty Zane” to invite you to her home for the weekend. lam sure you will always remember your stay with our esteemed member. Dear, dear, poor mother, I do hope she is soon quite well. .It is wretched to be in hospital, is it not?—Wendy. DISPENSER OP CHEERINESS

My Esteemed Pardoner. -With joyful lieart I take up my pen to thank you a thousand times for your judgment upon me. Am 1 a rascal Wendy? Who knows? What does “C.W.K.” stand for, please? Are you able to tell me that? Thanks ever so much for answering my request about those magazines, I hope you understood me? You did! Good! By jove, the Wanganui Welcome Week is going to be ripping, isn’t it? J only wish I could get in for some of the celebrations, but sweet school calleth a straying pupil back from her wanderings. It would be ridiculous to coolly announce my staying away to enjoy myself at Wanganui. No. it would not be • ridiculous.” it would be terrible. Just imagine the look of blank dismay and astonishment betrayed on the sweet face of my lady teacher on hearing those words. But no! Wendy, you see, it couldn't be done, so thus sits poor me in a hard wooden desk biting my pen and dreaming and grumbling at the unfairness of fate, and then a stern voice breaks upon my reverie. “J I , kindly get on with your work, please.” Oh, dear, life’s pretty funny, isn’t it? Our Marton Scouts had a social the other evening, and we, as Guides, attended. It was a very nice evening, too, and the fun we had is quite worthy of mention. After games and items we commenced dancing, and ended up at about 11 or after. At hockey the other day we were gloriously “.slopped up” by the United. The score was: United 2, School nil. Terrible, wasn’t it? But. of course, being Marton, it had to rain, in fact it poured, so—er —we lost. You didn’t say whether *'S. Reggie’s” name was abused or not, but taking silence as consent, I apologise to “His Seediness” for taking his name in vain. You stated, Wendy, that my punishment (oh, terrible thought) was Io be in the form of my writing once a month. Let me off rather lightly, haven’t you? No! no! don’t misinterpret me, but any real judge would have said, “Away with her! Take her back! Throw her back midst her school-books. Huh I Fling her into the Slough of Despond.” Yes, truly, Wendy, it is well you are only “a pretence” (judge, J mean i dean. Well, my sister “A” is begging me to switch out the light, and who knows but you are, too? “Oh, away rascal!” How in keepnlg with me, eh? Truly, T am your wilful old Wendyite, "WILL-O’-THE-WISP.” Marlon. C.W.K. stands for Custodian of the Wendy Key, an Order of Merit bestowed upon members of our band by “Sir Ernest Endeavour.” \V< '•• •me Week has indeed proved a success, and has achieved its object in dispelling the cloud of gloom which seemed to weigh upon the people’s hearts. Wo must always look for the silver lining, mustn’t we? Perhaps Marton will organise just such another week. dear. What a lovely time you must have spent nt the social. Jolly affairs, aren’t they?—Wendy.