THE WENDY HUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 10 August 1935, Page 12

THE WENDY HUT

OUR CHILDREN’S CORNER

My dear Children, — I 'believe I can really detect a sign of spring in the air and all about. I notice the wattle and many other early flowering trees and shrubs are in blossom, which is really wonderful, for after the dreary winter it is good to see these harbingers of spring. Now I think I will hand you over to our Sir Richard Elf for your nature lesson, for it is much too wet underfoot to play out of doors. “I wondered if I would have to entertain you to-day. I am going to touch upon marine creatures. This is a study I know every one will like, for who can resist the mysteries of the great ocean deep? Let’s talk about eoral. Coral is found mostly in the warmer waters of the globe, and at most all eoral animals are of the kind known as radiates, and have their organs radiating like the parts of a flower. The living animal of eoral is the polyp. Coral polpys are. of various forms and dimensions, some very minute, some a foot or more in diameter. A very common form has outwardly the semblance of a little flower, the. body of the polyp being the stem, and the tentacles, with, which it gathers its food, the petals. Such a polyp might be half an inch or an inch in height. Suppose such a polyp to have attached to a rock or to a shell. When it has attained a growth of perhaps three-eighths of an inch, it begins to secrete the carbonate of lime to build its own skeleton. It deposits this secretion in radiating lines, corresponding to its own structure, in little ridges which are called septa. As the animal, which later perhaps attains to an inch in height, continues to deposit its secretions of carbonate of lime, which it takes in some way from the food which it consumes and from the the waters of the ocean, it builds up and up, the structure at the top being always the same, the septa, with, the little depressions between, spaces into which the polyp sinks when it contracts. Continuing its secretions, the polyp is all the time rising on its own skeleton, only the upper end of which it uses or inhabits as such, all the rest below being now practically only so much, carbonate of lime. As the polyp continues upward it will doubtless be surrounded by others, making a great mass of coral, yet it is possible for this particular polyp, an inch in height, to have under it a skeleton 10 feet in height, though inhabited only at the top, and then this wonderful polyp may get to the top of the water and out of it and die for want of sustenance. The polyps of the Atlantic seaboard coral are, when, distended, from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in height. In colour they arc milky white and semitransparent. The coral on the face of the stone has a beautiful pink tinge. The polyps vary greatly in their display, sometimes being distended at full height, but oftener not. The eupliko depression seen, at the top of the skeleton or structure, secreted by the ordinary polyp, is called a caliele. Tho calicles seen on a mass of coral mark each the home of a polyp. The polyp gathers its food with its tentacles, taking aniinalculae and very minute Crustacea into its mouth in the centre of the upper disk. Tho small, more nearly solid looking part seen in the centre of the cylinder of the enlarged polyp near its top, and having something of the appearance of the neck of a bottle, is the polyp's stomach, which is joined to the body by the fleshy septa radiating from the outer side of the stomach to the inner side of the cylinder. And so it can be seen how it is that the little polyps build islands in the course of time. For instance, almost every island of the South Seas has a coral origin. It may have taken aeons of time for the polyp to build, but there is the evidence of the coral formation, and again, the reef, that is always coral, that protects every lagoon of the islands. And just before you run off to the Land of Reality, I want you to read this letter which I have been asked to publish, and it is a wonderful because it reveals what a goldenhearted Ite we have in our “White Forget-me-not.” Dear Wendy,—Though I am not a member of your band may I crave a small space of it. For the past eighteen months my four small children and I have been more than grateful to a young lady for food and clothes left for my kiddies. She always managed to leave the parcel unseen by me and mine, or give it to my eldest boy (4 years old). To-day, while out walking, my boy waved to a lady in a car and he informed me she was the lady that “gives him the parcels.’’ My companion told me her idendity and not being aware of her address, and in order to be able to thank her personally, I am asking for a wee corner of your page, to send my most grateful thanks to one of your clan, and please “White Forget-me-not,’’ will you knock at my door, so that I may tell you personally how grateful I am to you.—Thanking you, Wendy, I am, yours sincerely, Mrs. M. M. All my love and kisses, cherubs, from your ever affectionate, —

•‘TBUE BUTE Hi ALL THINGS'’

Enter

“Hut’s Major,” ? years. 3822 Dear Wendy,—l would like to join your Hut and if no one has the penname “Princess Poehantas,” I would like it please.—l remain, yours truly, “PBINCESS POCHANTAS,” Taihape. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, iny Hear. You may have the pen-name you have asked for. Write again, soon, won’t you?.—Wendy. “I AM NEARLY FROZEN STIFF!” EXCLAIMS “FATTY” AS HE POPS INTO HUT. Dear Wendy,—May I come in, for it is very cold outside? I am nearly frozen stiff. It has been very cold lately, hasn’t it, Wendy? I hope you are in good health. Tho winter will soon be over and spring here again. We have five little lambs and they are such dears. It is early for them, too, isn’t it. Wendy? “Wee Jean from Aberdeen” and “Otara Maiden” have just returned home from a holiday. Last Saturday we played a game ot basketball against Mangaweka and the scores were 2 all. It was a very enjoyable oame. The boys played football and lost. I’m afraid they were badly beaten, 40—3. “Kune Wings” has not written for a long time, either. I think the old Witch has got her, don t you, Wendy? I am glad tq hear that our dear Wendytown leader, “Aunty,” is out of the hospital and hope she is soon in good health again. I wish “Grandaddv” would write more often, tor 1 love his interesting letters. The Maoris are playing well in Australia now. Well, Wendy, as news is scarce 1 shall say cheerio. With lots of love.—From “FATTY,” C.W.K., Wendytown. I have kept a special seat right near the fire for you, dear. There, isn t that just fine? You will soon get warm bow. What a blessing it will be to have the sunny days again, j too, will be pleased. The little lambs num nearly freeze to death, I m sure. Oh, dear, how badly the boys did. However, they may turn the tables nex. time. It is splendid to know that “Aunty” is now on the way to good health once more. I’ll have to drop our “Grandaddy” a hint. He is as B.W as most truants, isn’t he? Do wnte again soon, won’t you? Wendy. MORE ABOUT WRESTLING FROM OUR “TIPPERARY TOM.” Dear Wendy,—l went to the wrestling last week, where Jack Bj an wrestled a draw with Jack Crow after ten strenuous rounds. In the first round Jack Ryan picked his opponent up and dumped him out of the ring, and was warned by the referee. In the next round Crow got a headlock on Jack Ryan and tossed him up in the air and nearly knocked him out. After the match was finished the referee aecia™} the bout a draw. —From ‘ ‘ TIPPI.RAR x TOM,” Taihape. , How interesting you must find tae wrestling tournaments. I hace sometimes heard the broadcasts over the air but, of cwurse, I am always very puzzled about what the announcer is saying. There always seems to be a great deal of excitement, too.—Wendy. THE CAKE THAT KATE BAKED. This is the cake that Kate baked. These are the plums That lay in the cake that Kate baked. This is the boy That ate the plums That lay in the cake that Kate baked. These the ills That worried the boy That the ate the plums That lay in the cake that Kulv baked. These are the pills That cured, the ills . That worried the boy That ate the plums That lay in the cake that Kat- oiiked. This is Katie, pretty and sweet, Who gave the pills That cured the ills That worried the boy That ate the plums That lay in the cake that Kate baked. 'This is tho doctor, so grave and neat, Who proposed to Katie, pretty and sweet. Who gave the pills That cured the ills That worried the boy That ate the plums That lay in the cake that Kate baked. This is the parson who thought it a treat To marry the doctor, so grave and neat, Who proposed to Katie, pretty and sweet, Who gave the pills That cured the ills That worried the boy That ate the plums That, lav in Hu* cake that Kate baked.

“WOULDN’T OUR HUT BE IN A HOPELESS MUDDLE,’’ SAYS “HAPPY OPHELIA” AND “ELVIRA.” Dear Wendy,—Have you a vague recollection of we two? You just think back to your old-timers and gee if you can remember us. Just fancy, wouldn’t our Hut be in a hopeless muddle shold you follow some of your Ite.-’ doings and quite suddenly disappear from our -lages. Oh, Wendy, I’ve often shuddered at the thought of it, so for pity’s sake don’t you get any such idea into your head. It’s marvellous how all our clan have drifted apart, but we are gradually reforming the old circle again now that “White Forget-me-not” has come out of hei shell, and we be must very careful of ourselves in case wo do something to make her disappear again. We were nil quite lost without her for four years, then suddenly turned up with a “better half.” us -lie

has owned him for the last 15 months. That’s just a thing "W.F. ” would do! Quite a number of use have not recovered from the shock of it yet. “Karoro” and “Midgv” did guard their secret for them.' We were terribly disappointed at not meeting “Midgv” while she was in Wanginui. Well, Wendy, another old-timer says we’ve had audience enough with you and (wishes to have our pad and pen, so we bid von cheerio. Your truants. —“HAPPY OPHELI A” AND “ LLVIKA,” Putiki. I recollect you both very well, my dear.-, ami I am delighted to see that after such a long absence you have come to pay the Hut a visit once more. There have been scores of our Old Brigade popping in lately. It is comforting Io know that the old and honoured clan are returning. Yes, wo must, lie careful indeed not to frighten our “W.F.” away. What, a _>ity you wer? not. able to have met “Midgy.” She is a real spartan, indeed.— Wendy.

“WE PLAY MANY GOOD GAMES OF FOOTBALL,” SAYS "KIWUTI” Dear Wendy,—ln winter it is ve.y cold and frosty in this part of the ' gantry. We do not have much snow here as we live in a valley. We have a new football at school and we play many good games. At home we have a pet cat named Joe and if you annoy it it will bite you on the leg. It will also stand up on its hind legs ami box you with its paws. 1 will close now, Wendy, as I have no more news.—From ‘ ‘ KIWUTI, ’ ’ Raetihi. Never mind, dear, the w.ntei has almost passed by now and ere tong the warm days of spring wid be willi us. What happy times we will be able to have then, Football is just '.he very thing to keep one warm, isn’t .t? What a pel Joe is.— Wendy. ■ THE SURPRISE OF HER LIFE FOR OUR “MYSTERIOUS WANDERER’ ’ Dear Leader, —Have just completed scanning every inch of our Hut ■ age, noping to queil my nervous levn.ig, . u. seeing tncy retuse to bo soouiuu "j reauiug lin trying them out witu writing. Aly father burst in at lunch lime yesterday anuc-uucuig tne iuct that he had invited his employer and ins wue to inspect ins rerne._.. iliut a just what my rather would uo, t wunu J was here on iny own. J foil very vexed because ho could not wait n.i mother had returned from her hviiuay. i op the uest pail ul twenty-iuur liuu.o I’ve worked into a pitch wonuciiug u I’ll say the right tiling at toe moment and just what 1 am u.\ r f'.rei to. 1 rather like entertaining father's work-mates and the? wives) but the bess and his Wire! it’ll Ue u long time before 1 forgive ialner lor it, and they are expected any minute now. 1 only hope their car a.is squeaky brakes to give mo plenty of warning when they arrive. “Karoro,’' my humble apologies fur the imslaKC, out naturally 1 thought you a mcmb’cr of the Maori race with the pen-name you have. Hello-a, Wendy! Ji. is just nalf-an-hour since my visitors Jett. Isn’t it great how one forms a picture in one’s mind of an unknown person and that person turns cut Lol ally different, 1 was so sure I would not like our lady visitor. 1 cuuld picture her wrapped up in a fur coat, haughtily stepping out of a car and surveying our house with disapproval, instead, a dainty little Red Riding Hood (because of her cape) sprang from the car and tripped gaily up our steps, bile was everything I thought she would not be. She made me feel so perfectly at home and when she noticed the open liut I’age she lingered a second to glance over it. From behind us came a gasp of surprise then, “Oh, you have her weakness, too,” from father. So I explained 1 was a member. “L ni exceedingly - interested in it,” was her reply, bo for a while 1 tell to lamenting about our old pages, also voicing my one hope I’ve had since—to meet “White 1 orget-me-not. ” Aly com ipanion laughed and said she wondered why folks were so eager to meet “W.F.” The two men came in from hho fernery just as that was said and Air. said, “What’s the matter with ‘W.F.’? What’s she being doing now?” I answered, “I only expresseu the hope of some day meeting her.” ‘‘.Meeting her,” he exclaimed, “why, haven’t you been talking to her for the last hour?” Now, Wendy, 1 ask you isn’t that just the sort of trick

‘‘W.F.” would play? I’m terribly thrilled because she has invited me to her house, and how I’m locking forward to that visit. Well, Wendy, 1 have rambled, haven’t 1? But you must forgive me and accept the warmest love of your excited “AlYS'J’Llil01S WANDERER,” Wanganui East. Oh, but how 1 can sympathise with you, dear. However, 1 see all went well and that the bogies you r fancy conjured up did net materialise. Yes, it is deceptive usually if one attempts to form any sort of picture of n stranger. Always, I think, one is wrong. Oh, but what a great surprise for you. I know our “W.F.” would delight in the joke, too. How lovely of her to ask you to her home— Wendy.

“OUR AIISS GIBBS” POPS INTO HUT FOR CHAT WITH CLANSFOLK Dear Wendy,—Here 1 am once again creeping into your 11 ul almost ashamed to snow myself. 1. must reaby thank you for my birthday greetings last mouth. 1 had intended writing to yuu before this but it siippeii my memory. 1 wrote a letter last i.ue.sday in school but 1 had it in my pucket so lung that my news would Dv of no use. We have started our school examinations and 1 hope i have good marks. I came fifth in l lie class last term. 1 know who “Lola'' is because she is a friend of mine, and we often play tug'-ther ai school. News is very scarce this way just at present. Wendy, did you read about tlio train mishap near Taumarunui? Wasn’t it a blessing that the oncoming train was not a bii earlier or th-c smash might have caused disa.slci for the passenger.'.’ I also read where one of the worst train wrecks have oc curred in Souinland, near ln\crcaig'H. and 2<> passengers escap’d injury, but bad the experience of clearing the line. Well, Wendy, when I do stall to write a lettvr 1 don’t feel like slopping,, id though there is nothing tu say, >u I had better slop because I will soon be fall ing asleep if I don't. Good-luck to you and your chin. I remain your loving Ite—“OFK MISS GIBBS,” Taihape. How plctised 1 am to have your wel come letter, dear. 1 hc-pe you spent a very happy time on your birthday and received lots of nice gifts. You will let. me know how you succeed at the lest, won't you? It; wa.s a blessing indeed that more svfious consequences did not. attend the train mishap.--Wendy.

“ALL THE PADDOCKS ARE MUDDZ AND WET," SAYS “SPRING MAID." Dear Wendy, - How are yon.' I hope you are well. It is raining here and all the paddocks are mild ly ind wet. “Blue Dixie" will be writ ng soon. We 1 ha\r two pet cal\es and ll.<v race | mound mid ph}. I must c!o-r now. j Lo\e. I'Tom “Sl’b'iNG .u AD. ’ Hun I ;:;n keeping <|.i te well, deal, and I I liui... . ...I arc, a Tlie .aia rb.e- make merylli ng so wv| iindei ■ not. <!<»< sn’l it.’ Never mind, the siinnx 'lay.- ot spring will soon be here now. The • - al\es arc dear , aren’t, the,'’Wendy. "WHY, THE VERY AIR SMELLS OF SPRING!" EXJuAIM., OUR • ‘ WHITE FORGy i’-ME-N OT.' ’ Dem - Wendy, .List to help Keep the . I rem.i-I.ne oi oid-tline.s, 1 thong.it maybe yuu would not mind an cpisJe from me. I gii! These cold morn.ng- ' They get the belter of me as 1 very ginger.y poke my nose I rum benealii the blankets, but as soon as 1 smell I lost I qui'ckly dvc back nto the warmth of the blankets to remain there until the sun chases all traces of frost from my backyard. Though there’s some mornings (that is to say, the ones that ijnd me getting out of the right side of the bed) 1 look in awe (th.uugii i.>c w-iidow, of course,i al th*.* trust ad . hit were snow, i’ui as yet I’ve to. n.id the good luck to be near •ni... i. felt highly honoured, and nut .o add Battered, when I read “Fullojuy’s” letter to you because we all Know, Wendy, that there’s not one of our clan the “nice kind lady” our Wendy is. However, I have lad the good luck to meet * ‘ Fullojoy ’ ’ quite recently. iSlie certainly is piite a cheerful ray of sunshine with her quaint and whimsical sayings and she has the uncanny knack of popping in any t. >e of the day and she always seems to pop up from nowhere that I have acquired the habbit of calling her (much to her disapproval i ‘‘i he .x.gger From the Woodpile.” I’m sure, Wendy, you and your Lies must know a.I about the nigger that kept popping out of the woodpile just when peup.e were thinking about him. 'l’o-dav is the fourth day of spring! Isn’t it hard to realise that the lung, dreary winter months a.e behind us once more.’ Why, the very* a r smells of spring and one’s thoughts cannot but help leap ahead and think of sunny day.-, blue sk-es, picnics under the shade of the l.ranches of some Imsh giant and happv days by I lie si;:;.'ide. I know I, for one, am cageily awaiting those days and I du not t ire., my surmise is far wrong when I say many of our Iles are waiting like I am. 1 have very high hopes of travelling in far-off Held- this .summer, but all my hopes have been shattered through an accident befall.ng someone veiy dear to me. There’s one consolation though, that tnere arc plenty more summers ahead. Wendy, I have a pet seagull and he always comes io my door at 12.30 and if I am not there waiting for him (with his dinner) he makes such a terrific noise that I :;m quite glad to drop whatever I am doing and give him his iood. He is at my door at present and i ; ; making certain that I can hear him, so must send yuu all a. happy cheerio until another Letterlund day. My be.-t wishes and kindest regards to all. — From your "WHITE FORGET-AIE-N'OT, ” Z.S.W.M., Wanganui. 1 am always so pleased, my dear, to

have a letter from you and to express my great gratitude for the way you are sending our Old-timers back to the ranks. .[ shudder at getting up these mornings, too. However, the sunny days will sou come again, won’t they? Yes, the “nigger in the woodpile” is an old saying, indeed. *1 hope the summer will see all your hopes realised. I have big plans, too. What a quaint bird the seagull is. I wonder if it is ‘‘ Jimmy Seagull” of ‘‘ Aladcap’’ fame. —Wendy. "WE HOPE THE ALL BLACKS WILL WIN EVERY GAME THEY PLAY,” SAYS "RED TERROR.” Dear Wendy,—l am writing again to let you know how we are keeping. Well, I may tell you that we lost when we played a football match against Alarton High School by 30 points to 3, but the following day (which was Saturday) we won defeating Ohingaiti, the scores being 40 points to 3. The New Zealand 1935 All Blacks have departed these shores at last. We hope they win every match they play. Well, as news is very scarce these days 1 will close this letter. Yours truly, “RED TERROR,” Alangaweka. Oh Dear! Never mind, perhaps next time you play your team will win. Goodness, but what sec-res! The All Blacks’ tour will be watched with great interest by every New Zealander. Have you a radio?—Wendy.

"WE JUST ABOUT GET BOGGED!” EXCLAIMS “RIDER X.” Dear Wendy,—How are you, leader? Well, I hope, as this letter leaves me so. Aren’t we having awful weather? It is raining - , blowing, ami is very cold. We are just listening to u man giving a lecture on the Alaori language over the wireless. I am milking cows now. We milk about thirty in the morning and fourteen at night. “Somebody’s Lonely Sweetheart,” how long does it take your pen-pal to write? Did you hear Sir Charles Kingsford Smith speak from Auckland? We heard him. My, isn’t it muddy round the shed now? We just about get bogged. Don’t you think Girl Guides and Boy Scouts are very good? lam a Lone Guide. 1 find it very interesting work. We have to get our leader ferns, pictures and stories of New Zealand, and about, its native birds and plants. Well, I must close now. Lots of love. —From “RIDER X,” C.W.K., Kohi. The weather has been wretched indeed. but never mind the sunny days will soon be here now, and then for the seaside! No, I did not hear Sir Charles. The rain has made the ground very wet underfoot indeed, especially so in the country districts. I am delighted Io hear you are a Lone Guide, 1 think they are a splendid organisation.— Wendy. "WE ALL HAVE A COLD UP HERE." SAYS "DIAMOND DEWDROP.” Dear Leader, -The weather is very wet and eold. I think it will snow; it is cold enough, too. Is it cold at Wanganui. We only milk one vow now ami have another one to come in, in a day or two. Wendy, have you a '-old? We all have one up here. I will be glad when the holidays come, we will have a rest from school. We will soon be having our second term tests. There is only one of our fowls laying, ami our ducks aren’t laying yet. Well. Wendy, I will close. Love to you and all the Ites. From “DIAMOND DEWDROP,” '.W.K., Tiriraukawa. What terrible weather we have had, and I cannot understand exactly what ever our Weather Ulerk can be about. I have so far managed to evade old Air. ’Flu Germ, thank goodness. I hope he soon leaves your district. .1 hope you •Io well at the second term examina- ' ion. Wendy.

“OH, AREN’T YOU GLAD SPRING IS HERE!” EXCLAIMS “HUT’S DREAMER. ’ ’ Dear Wendy,—Can you survive a second shock? I happened to be visiting our co-ltes “Happy Ophelia” and “Eliera” while they were writing you and thought maybe you’d not mind if I followed in their footsteps. 1 see we have a new ite by the pen-name ®f “Hut’s Major.’’ If I’m not mistaken I met him while he was in Wanganui, His referring to the power station gave him away. Since our “White Forget-me-not” wrote the “Song of the turbine” she made some of us very curious to know (or should I say she) what those four brick walls contained. 5 es, I was one who is not quite so dreamy as my pen-name would, suggest. I have quite a lot of spare time, and during that said time I study electricity, so I ventured to the power station one day. How our “WJ. O could remember what all those gadgets represented beat me, but then I discovered something else. We know now where she keeps that “better half” of hers, and why her chief escort is our worthy ‘ ‘ Karow. ” While talking of that, Ites, reminds me we were among the several honoured by “W.F.” inviting us to her house to welcome home ‘‘Sylvia’s Pal.” Poor “8.P.” did put her foot into it. bhe happened to be ’ast presented tot “Alr W.F.P hut as she said it passed off as a joke. Oh, aren’t you glad spring is here. I remember “ZooLoo’s” line or two: “I’m. the spring of the year. I walk the country road with happiness and Vheer.” Why, el ready one feels the benefit of the warm rays of the spring sunshine. One can hardly realise old King Winter is on the verge of retiring for a few’ months. Well. Wendv, you’ll be telling me “time changeth me not” and that, I’m still the nuisance that just babbles on, so T think I will say cheerio and good vishoß.—From “HUT’S DREAMER,” Wanganui. I have manage*], as you see, to survive the shock of your visit, dear. 1 think I could survive many more just to have all my Old Brigade return. _ So I see you have made some discoveries? \ es, it is simply wonderful to know that the spring is close at hand for I think wo have all had enough of winter, don’t you?—Wendy.