OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 12

OUR CHILDREN'S CORNER

TRUE BLUE IN ALL THINGS'-

Enter . . .

3695 “Wuzzle the Wizard’’ .. 5 years 3696 “Green Elf’’ 5 years 3697 “Lady Margot” ...... 9 years 3698 “George Walker II” .. 14 years 3699 “Molly” 15 years 3700 — “Canny” 16 years Dear Wendy,— Will you please enrol me as a member of your band? Could I have “Lady Margaret” ror my penname? We live up the Wanganui River about 14 miles from town, and we have been up here for about eight months. Well, Wendy, I will have to close now. With love. —From “LADY MARGOT,’’ Wanganui River. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. I am ever so pleased to have your welcome letter seeking admittance to our happy clan. 1 have grven you “Lady Margot” for your pen-name as the other has already been given, so I hope you will not. mind. Write again -ooh. won’t you, dear. —Wendy. Dear Wendy,—As I have been very interested in your page lately I have decided 1 would like to join. Could I have “George Walker” ror my penname, if it is not already taken? 1 have been busy helping my father lately. L have only one cow to milk now\ There is going to be a fancy dress dance for the school on June .‘-’9. but 1 don’t know whether r am going yet. Where have all the Tutaenui Ites disappeared to, Wendy? Well, 1 had better close for’ this limo, hoping this finds you and all the Ites well. Good-bye and best wishes. From •‘GEORGE WALKER II.,” Tutaenui. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. I am ever so pleased to have you in cur merry midst. I Tiave given you “George Walker IT.” for your pen-name. I. hope you are able to attend the ball, and if you Jo you must tell me all about it, won’t you? Write again soon, won’t you?—Wendy. Dear Wendy.—May I become a member of your happy clan? My birthday is on February 27 and I am five years of ago. 1 do not go to school yet. As I am too small to write the letter myself, my sister is doing it for me. We are having some very co?<: weather here; what is it like m Wanganui.' Jack Frost has paid us some unwelcome visits, too, and it is very cold getting up in the mornings. Afay I have “Green Elf” for my nom de plume? Hoping you will let me join. —I remain, ycur loving Ite, “GREEN ELF,” Ohutii. Welcome to the Wendy Hui, my dear. I am ever so pleased to have you in our merry midst. How lovely of sister to write for you. The weather has been cold here, but now that the shortest day is passed the warm, sunny days will soon return, won’t they? Yes, you may have the pen-name you have asked for. —'Wendy. * $ * * Dear Wendy,—Well, we’re here be cause we’re here and because we wish to become Ites. We are just two more who read your pages and find it a great lark. May we have “Melly” and “Clanny” for our pen-names. Now. that will start some Raetihi and Ohakuue Ites guessing, won’t it, Wendy? This will have to be short and sweet as we’re in a great hurry. Longer letter next time. Love.—From “MELLY” and “CLANNY,” Ohakune Junction. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dears. I am ever so pleased to have you in our clan. Yes, you may have the pen-names you have asked for. I expect your entry into the ranks will revive much interest among our ’Kune and Raetihi Ites. Do write again soon, won’t you?—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—May I join your band of happy Ites? ’May I have “Wuzzle the Wizard” for my penname? My sister, “Wai, Wai, Kaku,” is writing for me as I am only five years old. She has had six teeth out. Kindest regards.—From ‘ ‘ WUZZLE THE AV IZARD,” Pipiriki. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. lam ever so pleased to have you in our ranks of jolly boys and girls. You may have the pen-name you have asked for. How lovely of your sister to write for you. Give her my regards and love, won’t you,—Wendy.

My Dear CMldren, I feel almost tempted to sing “Happy Days Are JTere Again’’ were it not for the presence of that rascal of rascals, Jack Frost! Isn’t it just sifendid to be able to look at the calender and say to oneself, ! ‘ Well, the shortest day is passed at last! ’’ We can now let our thoughts dwell upon the pleasant days in store, for very soon the days will begin to lengthen and the sun, which has hung go low in the north, will begin to creep higher and higher until the sunny summer days’are here again. Who is there in our midst whose face does not become wreathed in smiles at the anticipatory hours spent beneath King Sol’s kindly rays? Why, there is not a glum look anywhere! Let me see now, we have come to the last upon the list of story-tellers ami our worthy “Cows’’ springs a very welcome surprise upon us this Letterland. Day. Remembering, as you do, the very fine letters “Cows" has contributed to our pages during the past years, I know you will all be anxious to hear her stories (yes, she has written two) to-day, so I'll ask"“Cows” to commence. Hello, Ites and everyone! I expect you will be very surprised to have me pay you a call after such a long absence. I fully intended to come along and see you before this, but first, one thing prevented me and then it would be something However, here I am at last and I have decided to tell von two stories instead of a long one. For my first I will take Tom and Xed: Tom and Ned were quarrelling, as, it is said, most small boys usually do and their faces were very red, and both were talking very loud indeed. And what, was it all about? Two days before, Mother had" been into town and bought each of them a nice hall. Both were the same in colour and

size and were splendid bouncers. The two boys had been having a fine "anie with them in the field, but after a while both balls had disappeared, and could not be found. Tom and Ned searched in the grass for lonj. time, and at length one ball was found, and each boy declared it was his. “It must be mine,” said Ned, “because I threw it over this side and this is just where it would fall.” “I don’t cafe what, you say,” replied Tom rudely, “it’s my ball. I’m sure it is- I know quite well it is.” “Oh. indeed!” shouted Ned. “We shall see,” and he made a grab at the ball, which Tom held in his hand. Tom turned and ran out of the field, and down the lane on the other side of the hedge. On he flew, and Ned after him, till, bump! He came to a full stop against some one, and looking up he saw his father standing before him. “Well, boys, what does all this mean?” lie asked, glancing from one red and angry face to the other. Both boys .started to explain. “We lost our balls in the field, Father,” said Ned." “And mine was found, and Tom won't ’’ “It’s my ball, Father, I know it is,” shouted Tom hotly. “Oh. I ” began Ned, but their father held up his hand and looked down at them both. “Give me the ball,” he said quietly, "and come with me; 1 think wc shall be able to settle this matter.” Toni handed over the ball and both boys followed their father into the house. “Now,” placing the ball on the table, “you are both sure this ball is yours. I wonder how you know?” asked their father. “What about these?” he continued, taking two balls, almost new and exactly alike, from his pocket and putting them beside the other ball. “What about these?” “Oh, Father!” cried both boys at once, “our balls! Where did you get them ? ’ ’ “Whar! Your balls?” said Father, “but how can that be? These two were found by me in the lane just now. I thought you were both quit® sure this ball was yours,” and he pointed Io the one the boys had found, and which they now saw could not be theirs, as it was not a new ball at adHow ashamed they felt as their father looked silently down on them. They knew they had both been in the wrong and had been rude to each other, and far too hasty. “Well, boys,” said their father at last, for he aw they had had a lesson, and were really sorry for acting so selfishly to each other, and speaking so rudely, “take your balls and be off, but next time one of these is lost, remember it: IT IS BETTER TO LOSE YOUR BALL THAN TO LOSE YOUR TEMPER.” Well, Co-Ites, how do you like that story? 1 hope you enjoyed it and that the lesson it teaches us will not. go unheeded should anything like that happen to any of you. For my next story, I will tell one that L have especially dedicated to our “young men” and I have called it The Bumptious Beetle. It also has a lesson to teach. Once upon a time there was a beetle who was very fond of hearing his own voice. He was a very big beetle and he always talked very loudly. But he really knew very little for all that. One day this beetle said to himself. “There is nobody like me for education and knowledge. That is quite plain, because when I talk everyone else is silent.” So he said to five small beetles: “Come and be taught. 1 know everything.” And because he was big and strong the five little beetles said, “All right,” and stood very quietly to listen. First the big beetle told them that turnips were very good to eat, and the little beetles said nothing. Then he told them that they must never come out of their houses when birds are about, and still the little beetles said -nothing. So the big beetle was very proud of himself, and he told them a lot of other things, and even then the littl-e betties said nothing. Then at last the big beetle said, “You may run away now and play. Good morning, and remember all I’ve told you. I know a great deal. Perhaps I shall tell you some more another time.” And he went, away to talk to other beetles and tell them what to do and how to do it. When he had gone, the little beetles were silent for several minutes, and then the first little beetle said to the others, “I knew' about turnips already. So what he tokT us about them was nothing wonderful.” And the second little beetle said, “I knew about birds long ago.” And the other little beetles said, “He didn’t tell us anything new. He only talked very loudly.” So they all agreed that the big beetle wasn’t wise or clever at all. but only conceited and noisy, “For,” said they, “wise beetles who know more than the rest of us have no time to waste in talking about things that, every beetle in the world knows quite well already.” I hope you have enjoyed that story, too. fellow Ites o’ mine, and now that I have fulfilled the request Wendy made of me I will dash off again until some other Letterland Day, when I will come and see you again. Oh, before I forget. I wonder who will be our 4,000 th. Ite? You know I have seen our 1000th, 2000th. and 3000th Ires enrolled, so am verv curious gs to who will gain the honour of 4000th. I was excited to see “Blanco-cito” in our midst once more. Bravo, bravo! Isn’t she a gem, dears? Just the same old cheery Ite she always was and I do thank her for those two lovely stories. Now that the first list of story-tellers has been expended, I am wondering upon whom I can call for more, for more are required. I have excused both “Pattie Corelli” and “Roughing Lilac” and a story is needed for next Makebelieve Day. Who will telT it? I think it would be a good plan to call for volunteers now as I do not. want to impose a hardship upon anyone whom I night name. I wonder who will be the first to answer the call? Well, dears, time is passing away as if it were borne upon wings, but then it. always does that, doesn’t, it? So until next Make-believe Day dawns again I send you my love and kisses. From your ever affectionate