A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 82, Issue 305, 24 December 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

I ■"io m o i "" "»o ao i —i o rao i f oes o i < SERIAL STORY J S “THE SECRET OF TREASURE ISLAND.” g fl A TALE OF INTENSE, GRIPPING ADVENTURE! I'—=OE3OI .JOE3OI I (BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO COLUMBIA PICTURES PROPRIETARY, LTD.)

EPISODE THREE. THE PHANTOM DI EL.” Toni Morrell and Larry Kent arrive at Treasure Island, a volcanic forma::on off the coast of Mexico, where the girl hopes to iidn her father, believed to have been cast ashore from a shipwreck years before. Larry has been assigned to investigate the work of Thorndyke, a fellow pressman who disappeared whilst trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the island. Here they are made prisoners by Collins, a man gone maa in his hunt ; for pirate gold reputed to be buried j there. To successfully accomplish his purpose, Collins must get possession of halt an old map that was left in Toni’s care by a dying sailor. Later in the corridors of the dimlylit castle. Toni and Larry come face to face with the Ghost of the Black Pirate, a spectre which haunts this isle of fear Larry draws his revolver and fires but it has no effect upon the apparition which continues to advance towards them. Just then the lights in the hallway go up and with a sinister laugh, the ghost fades into nothing. Toni and Larry now find themselves in a labyrinth of tunnels, one of which they believe leads to Captain Cuttle's cabin, so they decide to look for the old man and endeavour to question him regarding the queer set of circumstances into which they have been j plunged. Continuing their journey through i the passage they are suddenly confronted by Hawkins, Collins’ butler and one of his chief henchmen. Hawkins, who is quite friendly towards the young couple, tell them that it is dangerous to move about the tunnels without a guide, so he escorts them back to daylight. Collins, scoffing at the ghost story, orders Professor Gault to summon everyone to his study through a radio directional beam over which his voice comes to one individual after another. “The Shark” reprimands Toni and Larry for leaving their rooms without permission and tells them he wants it clearly understood that he is master of the island and the sooner they realise it the better. He goes on to question every one present regarding their knowledge of the ghost. When he calls Grindley it is noted that he is not present and he instructs Hawkins to go and find him. Hawkins begs Collins not to send him out alone but he is ordered from the room immediately. In terror he runs into a ruined building and there stumbles upon the treasure. Almost delirious with fear he screams for Collins, yelling: “I have found the secret of Treasure Island —I have found it—l have found it” As he stumbles madly through the dark, a bomb-like missile traces a fiery arc. He is enveloped in flame and smoke and pitches forward dead. Larry Kent is the first to reach him from the clenched fist of Hawkins, just as the others arrive on the scene. Collins had only heard Hawkins’ shout and had not been able to decipher, at the distance, what he was yelling about. Collins questions Kent on this matter but Larry only answers

that he thought Hawkins had been terribly frightened about something. Collins then instructs Doctor X to find out what had killed his butler. The King of Treasure Island and his offsider, Grindley, go back to their I quarters to formulate a new plan, j Grindley is anxious to destroy Kent, ! whom he believes knows too much and ; may cause complications, but Collins reminds him that Kent’s Editor had sent him to Treasure Island because i one man from the same paper had ’ been lost and that if anything happenI ed to Larry Kent, another reporter ’ would be sent down to replace him i and they would have to do the same : job all over again. ; He decides that Westmore, the - editor of the paper, is the man they will have to get rid of and instructs Grindley to contact Andy, one of their henchmen in San Pablo, to take care of the job. ■ Later, when the old castle is bathed I in slumber, Larry is startled by a rapj ping on his door but when he opens it, 'it is to admit Toni. She tells him she has been unable to sleep and that the eyes of the picture of the Black Pirate in her room always seem to be staring at her. She urges Larry to tell her what he was doing in the earlier part of the evening and he informs her of the death of the butler and shows her the coins he found clenched in Hawkin’s hand. The couple sit discussing the proof of their being treasure on the island when they are surprised once again j by the Black Pirate. i Rapier in hand, the appirition lunges towards Larry, but the latter seizes an iron poker and parries the thrust. They make for the doorway and, cringing with terror, Toni witnesses a desperate fuel with swords on the stairs. One minute the Black Pirate seems to have the upper hand, and then with a tremendous effort Larry sends him back again, only to be met with a terrific forward attack by his opponent. They both tight gamely, but Larry seems to be on the advantage side, when he suddenly stumbles and rolls to the feet of the Black Pirate, helpless. CHRISTMAS TIME IN PUSSY LAND. Christmas time in Pussy Land is rather different from our own Christmas. Santa Claus is a big old Tomcat, who wears baggy red trousers and a red coat and hat trimmed with white fur; but everyone looks forward to Christmas morning like we do, and the kittens jump about because it is holiday time. j This particular Christmas Wrenny and Purr White-cat went down to the I post office very evening to bring the , mail home, and nearly every time 1 there was a parcel for some member of the White-cat family, with the inscription on it, ‘‘Not to be opened till Christmas morning.” Oh, it was all very thrilling! Then it was Christmas Eve, and 1 Purr and Wrenny went down the street shopping with Mother White-cat. { Purr and Wrenny were very excited. Christmas morning came at last, and , Purr came running downstairs. ‘‘Merry Christmas, Ma! Merry Christmas, Pa!” he called out to his father and mother, who were in the kitchen. Then he ran upstairs to his sister’s room. “Wake up, you lazy thing,” he called to her. -Old Sandy-cat, the fisherman, has been there with tho fish, and we’re to have some foi breakfast.” Suddenly he heard a meow of delight from Wrenny, and he went over to see what she had. On the table beside her bed were a skipping rope, a story book, a rocking horse, a little feaset, and last of all, a weeny little kitten in a cradle. After dinner Wrenny and Purr went round to the party at Tabbycat’s and had a merry time playing with all the other kits. In the evening Mr. Black-cat and his daughter, Jessie, came round to Cat Villa, the home of the Whitecats, and before they went home they gathered round the piano and sang some songs. So ended the Christmas at Cat Villa.

> A CHRISTMAS PRAYER A prayer for you is said to-day, !• May the love of God.ever with you stay; ■I Wherever you are, whatever you do !; May the blessing of God ever rest on you: % And in the years that are still to come \ May the peace of God be in your home. ;■ At Christmastide and in the New Year, too. J May God’s great love abide with you.

“SARAH’S PICTURE.” It was the morning of Christmas Eve. Swooping out of a cloudless sky came a wonderful silver bird, or so it appeared to the gaping natives who lived in the primitive African village. Down, down it came, and landed on the meeting ground in the middle of the village. Then a door opened in its side and out stepped three white men and two women. It was not the first time the natives had seen white people, for there was a mission station about five miles away; but it was the first time they had seen an aeroplane. The visitors explained to those of the natives who had taught English by the missionaries that they intended to stay at the mission house, imagining it to be in the village—not five miles distant. As there was a large hut in the village, however, they decided to spend the night there, and walk over to the mission house on Christmas Day. The white people then busied themselves taking a number of packing cases from the interior of the aeroplane. These cases contained various toys and gifts, which were for the native children who attended the mission school; but as the whites had landed directly in the village they decided to distribute the gifts in the evening. When night fell they went round the the huts giving the presents to the parents for their children. Christmas Day dawned, and the visitors prepared to depart. The little ebony-coloured children strutted proudly round carrying their brightly-, coloured gifts, but among them was ‘ one sad-faced little girl. This child, ■ whose name was Sarah, was an orphan j and slep in any house. She had been over-looked—and now there were no 1 gifts left. Margaret Langston, one of 1 the white women, seeing the disap-: pointed look on the child’s face and | noting that she alone carried no pretty ' doll or toy. went back to the aeroplane, which was left standing in the 1 middle of the village, to see if she ; could find any trifle to give! Sarah. i To her dismay there seemed to be nothing, when suddenly she • though of a dear little picture which she had been going to give to her friend at the mission house. For a few moment only she hesitated, and then, taking the picture, she sped back to where Sarah waited near the edge of the village. Quickly she pressed the picture into the small black hands, and ran to join her companions. That night, when other little girls of ’he village were clasping their dolls in bed. a happy little Sarah lay fast asleep with her small fingers curled tenderly round the picture—and surely the angels in heaven smiled to see the pictured angels so lovingly embraced.

“WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE GIFTS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GAVE US,” SAYS “WAYBACK LiZ.” Dear Wendy,—That letter writing call just demanded wee message before this old year disappears. It is so long since I wrote a letter to you and the Ites. Perhaps I have Deen waiting for an inspiration. Who knows? I hope you are’well, dear Wendy. There has been so much illness, but I hope by now all our clan are well again. There is nothing on earth so precious as good health. Do we prize it as we should? Do we take care of our wonderful bodies as we should? Our Heavenly Father has given us precious gifts. What are we doing with them. Are we doing all we know to take care of such wonderful bodies. Little self-indulgences; how they creep in. He has given us powers to overcome, do we use them as we should? We look back as this old year creeps on and see failures but He gives hope and strength and courage if we need it to overcome

Our Birthday Book "MANY l;Kl<C? Ob THE UM December 24 “Maunga Ohotu,” Kawana. “Baby Eva,” Katana. “The Red Tulip,” Putorino. “Coral Queen,” Wanganui East. “Mousey Montyite,” Mataroa. December 25--“Xmas Joy,” Wanganui. “Red Riding Hood,” Kapanui. “Ginger Mick,” Taihape. “Xmas Boy,” Ohingaiti. “Christmas Doll,” Mataroa. “Dad’s Best Girl,” Tayforth. “Hut’s Electrician,” Wanganui East. “Rahiri,” Hunterville. “Yodeling Cowboy III,” Taihape. December 26 “Pink Petal,” Rangataua. “Little Jonathan, ’ Horopito. “Peep-Bo,” Koere. “Aotea-Roa,” Okoia. “Red Ball,” Wanganui. December 27 “Golf Leaf,” Waverley. December 28— “Baby Doll,” Ohingaiti. “Mummy’s Mischievous Imp,” .. .aiganui. December 29 “Daisy Bell,” Mangaweka. “Princess Peggy,” Marton. “Mary Pickford,” Marton. “Moon Wink,” Taihape. “My Blue Heaven,” Ohakunc. “Don John,” Greatford. “Smiler” Waitotara. “Billy Bull-dog,” Waitotara. “Floval,” Wanganui. “Brownie Gnome,” Patea. December 30— “King Cole,” Fordell. “Tiki,” Kai Iwi. “Queen of Hearts,” Ohingaiti. “Tarzan,” No. 1 Line. “Coney Rae,” Raetihi. “W T ee Tiny,” Ohingaiti. “Jimmie the Milker,” Taihape. ; “Air Commander Koehl,” Rangataua

TRUE BLUE IN ALL THINGS

our faults. Looking to our Heavenly Father we j receive a power beyond belief. Do we ’ think right? Thought guides our very ’ existence. Do we remember the 1 Kingdom of God is within not a thing from outside? Do we shut out this 1 power? It is good for us to think of i these matters and thinking so effects ■ our standard of life generally? When ; we look into history we see men, not a few, but countless millions who have ' mounted to power. Thought has been : their urge; has made their greatness. I Many came of poor birth. We have ‘ j much to thank the thinking men for. 3 j No one is great if they are selfish, ■ I greatness cannot go hand in hand with I I selfishness. One of the most attrac--1 | tive sentences in the Bible is: “Let the 3 ; beauty of our God be upon us.” Let f \ us bring out its meaning by thinking ‘ i first of beauty in general. Secondly, 1| of the beauty of God. Then, thirdly, ij of how that beauty may be, so to ’ I speak, transferred to us. Firstly, e i about beauty in general: Beauty plays 0 i an important part in life. Some folk 0 j get along without it, but such folk hardly live at all. Beauty has a mighty ; effeC: upon us. These days beautiful things are within everybody’s reach in pictures, music, scenery, and books. We should see to it, that we have lovely things about us and lovely beautiful things in our ■ hearts. What a mighty effect a - \ touch of beauty can have on a human life. 1 ! A tiny bit of garden in an ugly min- ‘ i ing village, a window-box in a slum dwelling, how wonderful are the ■ effects of such things. The beauty of 1 ; the Master is reflected in such things. f I The great St. Paul put it, we can reI i fleet as a mirror the Glory of the f ■ Lord. In this way our lives can radi--0 ate the very spirit of the Master, and it is well to note that this beauty treatment is quite free. We meet ’ this lowly Master .and reflect, as a mirror the glory and beauty of the Lord. This Master points to the fact that old faults and bad thinking can be thrust to the background and new wonderful thought of beauty and greatness can come to sweeten and beautify our lives and make life the ■thing it ought to be. This is just a I message for each of us and one we I cannot leave out of our lives if we i want that wonderful spirit within. I Every good wish to you, dear Wendy, j and fellow Ites.—From “WAYBACK ‘ I LIZ,” Letterland. My thanks to you, dear, for your j lovely message for the Yuletide. I I trust its lesson will bear fruit. I hope ’ ' your Christmas will be one of great * happiness to you.—Wendy. “STAY TO SUPPER” We were a numerous family in the good old days of yore, But no matter how crowded the table seemed there was always room for more. And Saturday was baking day for I cookies and cakes and pies, When mother was loading the pantry shelves and tempting our greedy eyes. Foi Sunday brought in a merry group and for supper they always stayed Till the table grew to a banquet board with places for twenty laid. . “Stay for supper!” Is that phrase lost? so seldom I hear it now. Can’t the tables be stretched, as we used to do, or have we forgotten ho w ? Don’t the mothers cook as our mothers did? Don’t they load up the pantry shelves At the end of the week with a little more good food than they’ll need themselves ? I When Sunday comes don’t the friends drop in in that good old-fashioned way. jjust for a visit; but, deep in the I hearts, don’t they know they’ll be asked to stay? I Why, Sundays brought us the sisters’ I beaux and my brothers’ friends and mine. i ’Twas a stormy day and a dull one, too, that we didn't feed eight or nine. And I think of the mother and think of the dad who looked to the day of rest, . With food for an army, if one should I call, at a time that they loved the I best. (Then home was the merriest place of all those days that have gone I before, I For no matter how crowded the table j grew we always had room for ': more. •

Enter . 4631 “ADAM’S PAL.’ 4632 "EBB TIDE II." 4633 "SPEED DEMONS." 4634 "TEKI’S SHADOW.” 4635 “THE BEG'S PAL" 4636 “UNTIL.”

Dear Wendy,—l am really going to join up with the Ites. 1 know quite a number, especially the •‘Gypsy Twins.” What say you, P.M. and F.C.? Am I right “Twins”? How are you, Wendy? Isn’t Xmas Day near at hand now? Isn’t the weather dreadful just now? The men cannot get on with the shearing. May I have “Teki’s Shadow” for my pen-name? I will send the coupon next time. Love to all the Ites and you, Wendy.—From “TEKI’S SHADOW.” Rata. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. I am so happy tc have you in our merry clan. The weather has been really dreadful, indeed. I have given I you “Teki’s Shadow” as the pen-name you asked for is not permissible. A Merry Xmas to you and pop in again soon, won’t you?—Wendy. . Dear Wendy,—May I be enrolled in the Wendy Hut, and for a pen-name may I have “Adam’s Pal”? Being a member of the Wendy Hut is all the craze, so I thought I would join as I well. “Teki’s Pal” and your friend, are you the two who “Mickey’s Pal” I and I saw on Sunday strutting up the! • road as if you owned it? “Princess Julia,” I think you guessed wrongly when you wrote last week to Wendy to say that “Teki’s Pal’s” initials are B.S. Try, try, try again and you may be successful in the future.—From “ADAM’S PAL,” Rata. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. How pleased I am to have you as a member of our merry clan. You may have the pen-name you have asked for.—Wendy. Dear Wendy,—May I join your happy band? I will send in the coupon next time as the paper was torn. Isn’t the weather wretched for this time of the year? I have only had a couple of swims as the water is really too cold. May I have “Until” for my pen-name, please, Wendy? My word the Rata clan is growing. There are still a few left, so we must hunt them up. Come on the two “B.S.’s.” Don’t make work your excuse. Love to all the Ites.—: From “UNTIL,” Rata. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my! dear. I am so pleased you have popped in to become one of our happy band. The weather has been simply dreadful indeed. You may have the pen-name you have asked for.— Wendy.

Dear Wendy,—May I join your happy band of Ites? I always read the letters every week. It was really "Hut’s Queen” who persuaded me to write; she said it was great fun. May I have “Ebb Tide” for my pen-name? I think I know one or two of the Ites, but I am hoping to find out more of them later on. The weather here is dreadful. I am out shearing Wendy and the rain has held us up for one whole week. You can just imagine what bad weather we are having here. Xmas is here and that’s the time we enjoy ourselves most. I had better close now.—From “EBB TIDE II,” Raetihi.

Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. I am ever so pleased to have you in our clan. You may have the pen-name you have asked for. The weather has been rather dreadful. I do hope we are to have good days for the festivities. —Wendy.

HEALTH

—A Penny for Postage —A Penny for Health. <><s><?><s>

My Dear Children, — Upon the eve of Christinas, as it were, I confess it is with some difficulty I cast about for a subject suitable for my festival message to you. However, I’ve hit upon the very thing and it comes to me in the shape of a beautiful Christmas card bearing an equally beautiful expression of greeting and wishes true. Let me read it to you:— I wish you such a lot of things, I find it really hard To tell you all.the things I wish, Upon a Christmas card. So I have told the fairies Just what I wish for yon, And you should have a lovely time, If what I wish comes true. The signature is that of a very old member of our clan. 1 es. it really is “Madame X” I Isn’t it like her to wish others so much joy? Her kindly remembrance inspires the message I've been searching for. I’ve often pondered why the spirit of the festival season should make us wondrous kind in our thoughts and actions towards others. Why could it not always be so? Not just at Christmas-time but every hour, every day, every week and every month of the year. Just think, dears, how very happy we should all be if this spirit of friendliness existed in our every-day walk of life. Could you imagine any sadness or hardships to bear? The benign spirit would, if allowed, banish all troubles besetting our divers ways. Everywhere there would be laughter even on the dullest day and every hour would be spent in pleasurable contemplation of kindly actions performed one to another. May I hope this spirit will be fostered in your hearts throughout the coming year? Now, I must steal a moment or two to spend with our dear “Stranger,” who lies so ill in Sick Bay. Dear “Stranger.” I received your little note and complied with your wishes last Sunday afternoon. Did you receive any comfort from the thought? I send you my own and our clan’s warmest wishes for a Merry Xmas. May the spirit of Yuletide bring peace to you. I tliifflfc it can safely bo said everyone likes surprises, especially nice ones and only the other day our postman brought me one that pleased me very much indeed. It was a message of remembrance for my birthday and wishes to all her fellow Ites from “Aunty,” formerly of Wendytown and now of Christchurch. “Aunty” wishes everyone the merriest of Christmases and the brightest of New Years and adds that although so far away our Hut still finds a warm place in her heart and her thoughts are with us in our activities. I trust the warmth of her greeting will find an equal reciprocation. Well, I must conclude for to-day’s a busy one for our Mr. Printerman and I take this opportunity of asking him to accept our thanks for his good service during the year. His interest and co-operation has been of the greatest assistance and I am indebted to him in no small measure. To him then, cherubs, let us say “A Merry Xmas!” To all our clan who may still be in Sick Bay, I send a special message of comfort and cheer. May Santa remember each of you to your heart’s desire. A Merry Xmas is my sincere wish to all the clan. From your ever affectionate

Wendy’s Letter-Box (Letters to be addressed “WENDY,” c'o “Chronicle” Office, Box 105, Wanganui.)

THE WENDY

our CHIT-BREN’S CORNER

Dear Wendy,—We would very much like to join the Land of Make-believe if you will allow us. I can’t see all our pals ana males Joining and us left in the cold. Well, Wendy, how are you? I sincerely hope you are well. We haven't long to wait for Santa now. I think I will be going away for a holiday later on to Whangarei and Auckland, if I work hard. I know quite a number of Ites. They are “Mickey Savage,” “Teki,” “Teki’s Pal,” “Purple Cloak I and II,” "Always Guessing,” "Deep Thinker,” "Sinister Ray,” "Micky’s Pal,” "Wild Irish I Rose,” "Dawn II” and a lot of others. I “P.M.,” you can't hoodwink me. I am too cautious. However, keep going, you are doing line. You seem to like writing, but never mind "P.M.” Can we have "Speed Demons” for our pennames? Cheerio for now, Wendy. Love to all the Ites.—From “SPEED DEMONS,” Rata. Welcome to the Wendy Hut, my dear. I am ever so pleased to have you join our clan. I hope you will enjoy your holidays. What a large number of Ites you know. You are able to have "Speed Demons” for your pen-name as the other was taken years ago.—Wendy. “I TRUST ALL WILL BE BLESSED WITH A MERRY XMAS,” SAYS "STRANGER S DAUGHTER.” Dear Wendy,—Enclosed please find 113 used stamps for the Blind Children's collection. I hope they are of use. You will be sorry to hear that "Stranger” is in the Wanganui Hospital. I went through to see her and stayed a few days. I am sure the treatment will do her good. Well, Wendy, Xmas is here. The year has gone far too quickly for me. I am sending you a little gift and hope it arrives safely. I wish to convey my best wishes to ail my eo-Ites, also yourself, and trust l.hey will all be biassed with a very Merry Xmas and happy holidays. I will conclude now, land later I will send in a special contribution to our page, My best wishes, Wendy. From "STRANGER'S DAUGHTER,” C.W.M., Hunterville. Ever so many thanks, dear, for your help with our collection of used stamps. Yes, I received a letter from “Stranger.” 1 was sorry to hear that she had been admitted to Sick Bay. I hope her recovery is rapid and the treatment greatly beneficial. Many thanks for your wishes. I send you mine, too, for all you have wished for me.—Wendy. "I ARM BOY II” REPORTS STORMY WEATHER CONDITIONS. Dear Wendy,—l hope you arc well, at school I came third in the examination. Now we are having rain every day. On Friday we had a heavy storm. On Monday my aunty is coming to stay for three days. The garden is looking fresh ag.|in. Our two tanks are running over. On Friday night we gave the headmaster a sendoff. It is not like summer at all. Well, Wendy, I think I will bring this note to an end. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.—From "FARM BOY II,” Halcombe. Thank you, dear. I hope you are in excellent health, too. Oh, but hasn't the weather been dreadful? I cannot understand what can have happened to our Weather Clerk. I think the Witch must have him in her clutches again. Many thanks for your wishes. I send you mine also for a very happy Christmas.—Wendy.

NOTICE BOARD | “Yellow Rose of Texas.’’—Many I thanks for your help with our Blind | Children’s Used Stamps collection. “Primrose Lass.”—My warmest . thanks to you, dear, for your kindly thought and wishes to me for the festive season. 1 send you all that you i have wished for me a hundred fold. ■ “Old Gran.”—“Aunty” has asked me rto convey her wishes to you upon your birthday, together with special thoughts for the Yuletide. “Clematis ll.”—Many thanks, dear, for your lovely card and wishes. I appreciate ycur kindly thought and I trust your Christmastide will be a very happy one indeed. “Fairy Cobbler.”—Ever so many thanks, dear, for your help with our Used Stamps Collection for the Blind Children. May your Xmas be a very happy one. WENDY.