Wendy’s Letter-Box

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 11

Wendy’s Letter-Box

(Letters to be addressed “WENDY,** e/o "Chronicle*’ Office, Box 105, Wanganui.)

“I HAVE ALWAYS READ THE HUT PAGE,” SAYS “COLE’S BOOK ARCADE” Dear Wendy—Here I am alter a year's absence, popping in to thank you for the birthday greetings of the 25th. My last letter to you was in October. Although I have not written I have always read the Hut page. What a weeny space the “Chronicle” gives us now, Wendy; but then if all the other Ites were like me and let a whole year slip by without writing we wouldn't need even that. Did you know that dear “Stranger” and "Stranger s Daughter” were in the Wanganui Hospital? Poor “Stranger” is still there, very ill, but “Stranger’s Daughter” has returned home. It’s agony to know that one’s mother is suffering so much and not be able to help her. It's hard enough when it’s a sister, but somehow it’s much harder when it’s one's mother. Yes, Wendy, the secret is out now for dear “Stranger” is my precious little mother and “Stranger’s Daughter” is my sister. They have had such a lot of illness but mother has suffered most. Oh, it’s a sad world, Wendy, and it’s a good thing that it’s soon to be ended and a new and happy one to take its place. I have been on the sick list, too, off and on this eight years, yet in my single days I enjoyed good health. Well, Wendy and co-Ites, this is hardly a cheerful letter. is it, so I had best ring off. Hoping you all are well. Cheerio for now. —Yours sincerely, “COLE'S BOOK ARCADE.” C.W.K.. Marton I am both pleased and sorry, dear, to have your letter to-day. Firstly I’m glad to have you with us and secondly sorry to hear of our “Stranger” and “Stranger’s Daughter’s” illness. I do hope a goodly measure of health will soon be theirs. I understand your feelings and counsel a stout heart. A happier day will soon dawn. Warmest regards.—Wendy. ♦ * * * A rich Maori woman was trying hard to emulate her pakeha friends in the matter of polite language. One day she had visitors on the verandah, just as the butcher called for orders. “Just a moment, butcher," she said. ‘Let me see now. Ah. yes. I’ll have a shilling’s worth of the pork’s feet.” Bobby: “If a poor hungry little boy came to the back door. Mummy, and asked for something to tea, would you give him that mince pie you have in the larder?” Mother: “Why, of course.” Bobby: “Good! Just wait till I get round to the back door.”

"IT IS NOT LONG TO CHRISTMAS NOW," SAYS "MOON ROSE” Dear Wendy,—Well, here 1 am once again. 1 thought 1 would pop in to see how you are all progressing, seeing that 1 haven't written lor sucn a long time. Come on, "Beauty Spot," how about writing a lew lines? Surely your time is not so precious as ail that. How are you keeping these uays, ".Moon Rose's Sweetheart ”? You ve appeared to have vanished all ol a suduen. Did you enjoy your swim on sunuay, •Rose Mariena"? 1 didn’t come down because the weather looked as if it might rain. Are you going to the pictures next Saturday, "Beauty spot"? 1 think r am. It's supposed to oe a fairly good one. 1 nope you didn’t get lost in the crowd on Saturday night, "Diamond Dewdrop.” There seemed to be a bigger attendance than usual. 1 suppose your calf is leading nicely by now, "Valincess." Well, its not Jong to Xmas now. There's only three w eeks' more schooling. I am leaving at the end ol this year. We piay tennis quite a bit at school. 1 haven t been in for a swim yet. Our school concert is on December 14. We are busy practising for it now. The exams are starting on Tuesday so we are kept quite busy. "Beauty Spot" and I have to play a solo each. Well, “Shepherd's Bride,” I haven t seen your letter in our page lor ages. You're not lost by any chance are you? Well, I'm afraid I have solved your identity, "King Ray.” ini sure you would like to know how 1 found out, too. Well, I must close now. Cheerio and lots of love to all.—l remain your true Ite, ".MOON ROSE, M.W.L., Mataroa. No. dear, it is almost no time now till the festive season will be with us. The year has passed so swiftly by, hasn't it? I hope you do well at your final examination. So school days will be over for vou? I hope all the years to come will be as happy.—Wendy. What volume is sure to bring tears into your eyes? —A volume of smoke. Old-fashioned Dadi When I was your age, John, my parents never had any trouble with me. Modern Son: Well, I can’t say that I have had any real trouble with you, either, <ftd. . .... , Teacher: “Now Tommy, do this subtraction sum mentally. Six boys went down to the river to bathe but I two of them had been told not to go I into the water. Now can you tell me i how many bathed?” j Tommy: "Yes, sir; six.”

J 1 THE GREATEST CRATER TO BE , SEEN THE WORLD OVER 1 t Far greater than the crater of Vesuvius, or of any other active ? or extinct volcano, is Ngorongoro 1 which lies to the north of Lake I Tanganyika in East Africa. , This remarkable hole in the ground i belongs to a strange land of craters i and is twelve by eleven miles in dla- ; meter, whereas Vesuvius is only half s a mile across. I ' Unlike other craters, it was caused i by a sudden sinking of the ground, 1 and it is surrounded by steep walls L that are from 1700 to 2000 feet high, r On the floor is a vivid blue, and J rather bitter, lake about four miles in ■ length, and the rest of the ground is : well covered by luxuriant vegetation. This means that Ngorongoro forms , the most remarkable natural sanctu--1 ary for animals in the world. It is • said that within its limits 50,000 head -■ of big game make their home. One 1 explorer described the scene when he ; visited Ngorongoro in these words: 1 “No matter where one looked over • the far crater-plain there were am- ■ mals .and, looking at them along a ’ flat surface, they might well be described as a sea of backs with an undercurrent of legs as they moved • hither and thither about us.” , Amongst the animals that inhabit the great crater are found the wild--1 beest, hartbeest, zebra and gazelle. In > addition, there are “hippos” wallowing in the pools of the marsh, and “rhinos” in the long grass. Unacctis- ; tomed to the presence of men, the animals are usually quite fearless, and troops of baboons move about in the • most unconcerned manner. Ngoio- ; ngoro is populated by storks and cranes in the winter, by ducks and geese, ostriches and giant bustards, guinea-fowl and quail. The great crater is indeed a paradise for wild creatures! * ’ Why are mile-stones like cherry ’ stones?—Because they are never in pairs (pears). I peeped through a key-hole and I saw red eating black. What was it? A fire.