Peter Pan's Post Box

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 14 (Supplement)

Peter Pan's Post Box

DEAR LITTLE PEOPLE, —

At a plcnlo which I attended during my holiday I noticed a crowd of children eagerly gathering round a man who had in his arms an animal, something like a cat, with a beautiful thlc’ fur coat and a long bushy tall. Some of you have already guessed! Yes, an opossum. It was a particularly fine specimen, and In spite of sharply pointed teeth and long claws was very tame, for It licked Its master’s face like a kitten. This, said the owner, was because he had had the animal since it was very tiny, having taken It from the mother’s pouch. Opossums belong to the same family as kangaroos, you know. When It was held up by the tall some little folk were afraid that the pretty creature was being hurt, but they were told that opossums ollng on to trees by their tails. For some time the proud owner was besieged by admirers of the uncommon pet, and one woe girl was so delighted that she thought of ordering one from Father Christmas!

Good-bye, until next week. PETER PAN

ANSWERS. Jenny Miller (11), Hautapu. —Thank yon for your little noto, Jenny. The motto is a very good one. W rite a long letter soon.—Peter Pah. Enid Gerrand (12). Driver’s Rd., Taupi>j,—y am glad lo have you as a Circle memher, Enid, and I hope you will write me a long letter telling all about yourself soon. —Peter Pan. . Imelda Lerko (8), Hamilton. —I tlnnk that original sorles will have to he very good to -be put in the Post-box columns now that there are so many letters, imelda. I may possibly use your Jacko story, hut I cannot promise. Write again soon.— Peter Pan. A BROKEN BICYCLE. Dear Peter Pan, —I had a bike and it broke It is called -Brownie. We have four little pigs. I have a cow. Her name is Kitty.—Charlie Bluett (5), Motuinaoho. , . We’re glad to have you for a member of the Circle. Charlie. Write very often, please. Is Brownie broken so badly thathe cannot be mended? What colour Is Kitty?—Peter Pan. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. Dear Peter Pan, —I got a nice big doll that goes to sleep, a stocking, a nice eggcup with chocolates In it, and two strings of beads for Christmas. I have passed into Standard 11. now. My mother Is taking us for a holiday before we go back to school. —Lorraine Anniss (8), Frankton. I expect you have had great fun taking your dolly out for walks these Ane days, Lorraine. What is her name? Don’t forget to tell me all about the holiday.— Peter Pan. WHEft 808 RAN AWAY. Dear Peter Pan, —I am a new memher of your Circle. lam in Standard 111. I am going to tell yon about my pet. His name "is Bob and he is a sheep-dog. One day Bob ran awsy and we couldn’t And him anvwhere. When Daddy went out to his farm he found him out there. When I first got him he used to bite, but he does not now. I will tell you more about him next lime. With best wishes. —Yvonne Katavich (9), Hgaruawahia. Welcome to the Circle, Yvonne. I expect Bob felt that he wanted a breath of country -air and a romp through the paddocks. Sheep-dogs make splendid pets, for they are so Intelligent and raithful. Another letter soon.—Peter Pan. SWIMMING IN THE SEA. Dear Peter Pan, —I am going to write you the long letter you asked me to. I thad a good time at Christmas and got a lot or presents. I passed my examination, so lam going into Standard VI. I got a prize at school, the name of which is “Masterman Ready.” I like it very much. Wc had a Christmas tree and a concert when we broke up for the holidays. The hav is nearly all 1n round here. We live quite near Camp Fergusson. A lot of hoys arc there. I have started swimming now in the sea. Wo are going to have our Sunday School picnic soon, when the tides are fight. Good-bye, Peter Pan. — Lyndsay Harsant (11), Okete. ‘i thought “Masterman Ready” a jolly hook, too. when ! read it many years ago. It must be very nice where you live — away in the country and so near the sea. I -wish some or the hoys who have been to the eamo would write and tell us about it, don’t you? T should like to hear about the picnic, Lyndsay.—Peter Pan.

A BIRTHDAY. Dear Peter Pan, —I am sending 1 you a little letter to tell you I am nine years old to-day, which is Monday, January 3. I passed into Standard 111. I will he in the headmaster’s room ir ave do not get another teacher. We had three teachers in our school, hut the children began to go away, so one teacher went away to another school. We miss her dreadfully, becuase just after she went away our other teacher got ill. Good-bye, dear Peter Pan. —Molly Barron (9), Manawaru. (Many happy returns of the birthday, Molly. I would not be surprised ir the teacher missed the little scholars she lenbw so well, as much as you missed her. Are you going away for the holidays?—Peter Pan. STACKING ENSILAGE!. Dear Peter Pan, —I suppose you have nearly forgotten me, because I have not written for so long. We arc busy putting our ensilage in now and I go down and help. Wc havo a stacker to put it up with and once I went tip with a load and it was very nice.—Verdun Bulmer (8), Pukeatna. It would bo fun to go away up and up into the air like that, Verdun. You are quite a littlo farmer. It is a good way to spend the holidays, for you will lie fat and brown and strong with ihc fresh air.—Peter Pan. OFF TO THE BEACH. Dear Peter Pan, —We arc going to Tauranga Beach, and wo are hoping to nave flue weather, because the road was impassable a while ago.—Beatrice Bulmer (7), Pukealua. ' , , How lovely to be going to the beach! What good times you will have! Tell me all about it and whether the road was impassable —a big word for you, little sevenyears.—Peter Pan.

LETTERS to bo . Addressed * PETER PAF3-, Car® Wtolkat© Tsrtl&Sc Box 155* HASSII-TOE&

FOUR DEAR LITTLE KITTENS. Dear Peter Pan, —I have read the account of the children’s joy on receiving’ their presents, and I am sure we are amply rewarded for the presents we sent. The giver of a present receives as much joy as a receiver. You will he pleased to hear I have gained my proficiency. Our plums are growing big and ripe now, as also are the other fruit. My sister is leaving for Picton. but we others are not leaving home until later. We have four doar little kittens—two black and two grey. They are very playful and pretty. Our little cair wrn have named Blossom, as its mother is Betty, and her mother Biddy. We have also a Beauty and a Bonnie, so we have uulte a number of cows’ names beginning with B.—Clarice Turner (13), Dinsdale Bd., Frankton. Blossom, Betty, Biddy, Beauty, Bonnie—why, what a good tongue-twister they make. ■Glad you got “Pro.,” Clarice. A number of my young friends have obtained it. I hope to hear all about your holidays next time.—Peter Pan. TAKING A DOG FOR WALKS, Dear Peter Pan, —We have ten dear little ducklings. Mother says they are her birthday present. We call the calf Blossom. I have a nice dog here while bis people are on holiday. I take him for walks, looking for rabbits. I am going ror a holiday to Raglan.—Alfie Turner ({?) „ Frankton. It is great fun taking a dog Tor a walk, isn’t it, Able? They love It, especially if they get away from town and can romp through the paddocks chasing birds and rabbits.—Peter Pan. OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENTS. Dear Peter Pan, —Do not think that I have forgotten you all, for I am just wondering if any of your Circle members would, care to write to folk in far countries, as I have joined a club In Scotland, and there are children who have very few friends and want to write to people out here. I can post you dozens of addresses and ycu could print them in your page. One little girl is In Mexico, and others are in Holland, Germany and other places. You know, Peter Fan, it is really wonderful to read their interesting letters, and they are always grateful to have news about New’ Zealand. The following are the addresses: —Miss Esther Sotomayor. Chihuahua Av.. Oananea, Son. Mexico. Miss Doris M. Sinclair. 10 Studley Park Road, Kingston, Jamaica. Master Kruger M. Phantew, Caro Daeon Hostel. Jaiaw, Shillong, Assam, India. H. van Donselaar, Waverstraat GO. Amsterdam, Holland. 0. Haerker, Berlin. Venkolln, Thomas St., 25, Germany. These have been asking for cor-respondents.—“Tane-Nashl,” Wardville. 1 should think that some of the Circle members would be delighted to correspond with young people overseas, for it is not only a means of acquiring information regarding other lands and peoples, hut it is an interesting hobby.—Peter Pan. A LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA. Dear Peter Pan. —I am sending you tints little present. I hope you will like it. I received some lovely presents for Christmas. Among them were handkerchiefs, cards, book, bottle or scent, and live shillings. The book is called “Warne’s Pleasure Book for Girls,’ and it Has some lovely schoolgirl stories in it. On Monday Vera and I went to the Oatlands races and had a lovely tinjfi. Our garden looks very pretty now, as all the beautirul roses are out in bloom. We have two dear little canaries; they are very pretty little things. I have no more news to tell you, but hope to write a longer letter next time.—Madge Hall, “Kewsloke,” York Plains. Tasmania. It was very good of you and Vera to think of sending me presents, Madge. I think they are both lovely. The gardens here have been gay with summer Bowers, too, but they are not quite so pretty now. I hope to bear again soon from you and your sister.—Peter Pan. A MUSIC EXAM. Dear Peter Pan,—l have not written to you for a long time, but I have not. hart much time for writing. I passed my music exam, with S 3 marks out of 100. 1 hone you had a very happy Christmas. I dirt, and received many nice presents, among them «. lowly Christmas candle, a book, handkerchiefs, several cards, apd many other things. On Monday (day after Boxing Day) Madge and I went to Oatlands races and had a very good time. Cecil Smith sends me the Waikato Times every week and 1 enjoy reading your page very much. I think I had better close now, but will write again soon.—Vera Hall, “K'ewstoke,”' York Plains. Tasmania. You did very well at the music exam., Vera. Practising for it would keep you busy. Yes. I bad a bappv Christmas. Thank you very much for your present. I shall treasure it very much. Glad you enjoy our page.—Peter Pan.

A WONDERFUL PARTY. Hear Peter Pan, —It has been very nice weather down here. I went to a birthday party on January 12. First we hart games. The first one was oranges and lemons, then drop the handkerchief, nuts and may, and hide and seek. Next the hell rang, and we went in to tea. It was a most wonderful tea. or course the birthday cake was the best. After tea we had a scramble. It was a wonderful party.—Gxvcn Bluett (10), Motumaoho. Yes, the party must rave been very jolly. Gwen. I am so glad you described it, because hearing about good times is always the “next best.”—-Peter Pan. AT THE SPORTS. Dear Peter Pan.—l have, not written for a long time, so I will write a big letter. I have another darling little calf and T would like a nice name for it. 1 think beauty is a nice name for my other calf. Our little goat, Mabbit, eats very thin willow branches. I will send you that drawing I promised you. When I was about nine I drew a girl which my mother told me not to lose. When we were out feeding our ducklings my little sister, Mary, was chased by a cow. My mother dropped everything and grabbed her. Mary was not hurt hut she got a fright. Wo went to the Springdale sports. I won two races and got 2s Ort. I must get ready lo milk now. Good-bye.—Mona Slocklc.v (13), Kls low, Waihou.

Thank you for the drawings, Mona. They are very good and I am pleased to add them to iny collection. Would you like to call your calf Mayflower? I am glad you did so well at the sports.—Peter Pan.