PETER PAN’S “ The Way to be Happy Oneself is to Make POST BOX

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19462, 29 December 1934, Page 13 (Supplement)

PETER PAN’S “ The Way to be Happy Oneself is to Make POST BOX

Norman Sowman, Frankton.— Ducklings are darlings to watch, aren’t they, Norman? write again soon'. —Peter Pan.

Whistler, Claudelands. —Peter is glad you enjoyed the book, Whistler; are you fond of reading? Thank you for the stamps.—Peter Pan.

June Swann, Aotea. —We hope Peter’s sore throat Is better now, June. Was the picnic a success? Write again soorr.— Peter Pan.

Jean George, Frankton. —Peter hopes Father Christmas brought you a full stocking, Jean. It is exciting, making Christmas cakes. Isn’t it? Did you help to ice them? Congratulations on passing your examination. —Peter Pan.

Sambo, Hamilton. —Your holiday in Auckland sounds very Jolly, Sambo. Peter loves swimming too.—Peter Pan.

Golden Fairy, Hamilton. —There has been such a jolly Christmassy feeling in the air for weeks now, Peter thinks, Golden Fairy. It Is really a very exciting time, isn’t it? You have eight points now, and you have to get 20 for a card, so try hard.—Peter Pan.

Adolphus Dear, Aotea. —Peter hopes you are enjoying the holidays, Adolphus Dear. Next time you write you’ll be able to tell us about the picnic, won’t you?—Peter Pan.

“Queen of the May,” Morrinsville— Congratulations on passing your pronciency examination - , Queen of the May. Peter sent your Third Card but probably the postman has been so busy with Christmas parcels that it arrived late. We hope you have it now.—Peter Pan.

Robert Toombs, Hamilton.— Christmas week was very exciting with lots of people buying presents, wasn’t it, Robert? The shops looked so pretty, Peter thought. Good luck to the swimming.—Peter Pan.

Yolando Vernell, Frankton, —We hope you liked the presents Santa Claus left on Christmas Eve, Yolande. The tea must have been Jolly.—Peter Pan.

Curly-Top, Ruapuke. —Getting the hay In is grand fun, isn’t It, Curly-Top? Congratulations on passing into Standard 3. Peter Pan.

Captain IVlcClusky, Frankton. —Thank you for the riddles, Captain McClusky. Your swims with* the water-hall must be great run. What are you going to call the pups? Write again soon.—Peter Pan.

Boxer, Frankton. —What a splendid day you had at Raglan, Boxer. Fishing is very exciting, Peter thinks, especially when one catches a lot. You had good luck, hadn’t you?—Peter Pan.

Pixie, Raglan.—lt didn’t rain for Christmas Day • alter all, did it, Pixie? The weather has been -glorious for holidays. The swim in the morning must be splendid.—Peter Pan.

Bruoe Iroton, Frankton. —Your weekend in the country - must have been fun, Bruce. Peter loves watching the hay being lifted high Into the air—Peter Pan.

Shirley Prime, Hamilton.—Such a happy time you must have had at the Lake. Shirley. It was hard luck being beaten at rounders, wasn’t It? Yes, Peter loves Christmas shopping too—Peter Pan. \

William Davis, Frankton. —What splendid fun you had rounding up the sheep, William. Peter is sorry—he is afraid that wicked bird did get your Nature Notes, hut he’d be very pleased if you would write him some holiday on'es for the corner.—Peter Pan.

Tiffen, Hamilton -We are answering both your letters this week, Tiffen, as the first one was too late for last week’s Page. Peter was so sorry to hear about the accident to Rags, and hopes his leg Is better n'ow—he is a scamp, isn’t he? Do write and tell us about your holidays at the Mount. We hope you have a very happy time.—Peter Pan.

loeland Poppy. —Congratulations on passing, Iceland Poppy. You did very well in' the examination, Peter thinks. We hope the picnic was a success; we’d like to hear about it when next you write. You have to get 20 points for an Honours Board Card.—Peter Pan.

Sweet William, Aotea. —We hope the card has arrived) now, Sweet William. We’d love to hear about your picnic, and are glad you had such lovely weather for It. Would you like Noel for your cair’s name—you will be able to remember that its birthday is at Christmas then, won’t you?—Peter Pan,

Beppo, Hamilton. —We’re glad you like your Nature Notes Card, Beppo, an'd are printing the notes you sent this week—thank you. The white butterflies are very destructive, and they do spoil the poor cabbages and cauliflowers, don’t they? Congratulations on passing. You’ll have to work hard this year for your proficiency, won’t you?—Peter Pan. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. Dear Peter Pan, —I have Just started my Christmas holidays and I am looking forward to having really good weather. I suppose I will spend a great deal of m.v time swimming. We had a lovely school break-up. Our school orchestra of violins was very good. We also sang our new school song which was written by two members or the staff. Aren’t you looking forward to Christmas, Peter? I am, and I always feel very sorry that I’m too old to have a stocking. It is so exciting to wake up in the morning and And all sorts of secrets tucked away in the stocking. We receive all our presents on our breakfast plate on Christmas morning. Christmas shopping is even more exciting. Judging from the way we march. through the town with our two or three shillings one would think we wished to buy the shops out. Our shopping usually consists of penny squeakers,' ice-creams and sticky sweets. I am past that stage now so I usually buy something worth while, .Mother and Father make us all reel very inquisitive a few days before Christmas. We usually hear some very mysterious rustles of paper and whispers coming from the sitting-room. We usually pay them out by looking very important and mysterious when we bring home their presents, and I’m sure they are really abso-, lutely bursting to know what we have, but it is past their grown-up dignity to ask. Wishing you a Happy Christmas, Peter.— Cd’ass Fairy, Claudelands. Christmas shopping is very thrilling, Peter thinks, Grass Fairy, and it is such run receiving presents, isn’t it? We hope you have very happy holidays.—Peter Pan.

A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN. Dear Deter Pan, —We have already had one week of our holidays, and it seems to have gone so quickly. I do hope all of it does not fly away before we have time to realise it. At our school break-up, about two hundred parents were present. Alter the headmaster, the chairman of the School Board and the Hon. J. A. Young had delivered their speeches, the choirs sang, followed by .various selections played by the string orchestra and the brass sextet. The school then sang our song which was specially written for us. The prizes were presented, and then the sports trophies and house shields. The various house and form mistresses were given presents. Our garden is lovely now, so I am going to tell you all about it. I’ll start from the back garden so that I will not miss anything. Along the back fence are J ove L trees (like dozens of palm trees joined together); then there are flax bushes which are from ten to twelve feet high. Next are some pretty red and pink dahlias (which white butterflies seem to love); bonfire salvias, nasturtiums, pohutukawa shrubs, nightshade (which reminds one of thousands of white stars lying on a green velvet cloth), and roses. Along the side garden there is a mass or rova.l. purple, mauve and heliotrope larkspurs. Arter this comes gladioli, dahlias and nasturtiums, stock, beautiful dark-red snapdragons, more nasturtiums, and geraniums. Then come put pie and red gladioli, clarkias, cosmos, larkspurs, nemeslas, phlox, snapdragons, hollj hocks (red) fuchsias, sweet peas and stock, On our verandah we have two beautirul King ferns, a small orchid, and the most gorgeous cactus flowers I have ever seen. The plant part Is very ugly and prickly, but the bright scarlet flower is perfect. The petals are similar in shape to those or a water-lily, and there are six layers, the whole forming a bell. Inside the bell are white velvet carperts, and an extra long stamen. The latter has a whlte^

“ The Way to be Happy Oneself is to Make Others Happy.” _

star-like flower on it (It Is about onequarter or an Inch In diameter), while the former have tiny reproductions of the flower. It has been about ten days In flower now, Peter, but it is showing signs of dying. I think It Is a pity that such a beautiful thing should die. We have dozens or miniature sunflowers coming up. They are self-grown. Next come some big trees with pretty mauve flowers on them. I forget their names. I discovered some callegonlajns tucked away In a corner too. I found a new plant the other day. It is about 3 oin. high and has small, pointed leaves growing alternately up to the recepticle. Here it divides into six parts, and the three larger petals, in a triangle, form a protection for the three smaller ones, two or which lap over the centre large one, and the other is by itself. The larger petals have a bright green line from the reccpticle to the tip. The others have a golden brown stripe down the centre of their more pointed petals, and on each side are small brown ticks. The carpens just reach the end or the petals, which are about two inches in length, and the stamen continues for an inch. Each has an anther on' the tip. The colour of the flower is golden yellow, and is very pretty. Did you see the Grenadier Guards, Peter? I did, and I thought their marching and playing was splendid. They looked very smart in their red and gold uniforms. There Is a lot of excitement about the Duke’s arrival, isn’t there? And who wouldn’t be excited. Wouldn’t you have loved io have been at his reception in Rotorua? 1 would. Well, I hope the Weatherman continues 'to give us the lovely weather we have had lately. Isn't there a lot of excitement about Father Christmas? I am glad the Cheer Chest was such a success. Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year. —Ranee (14). Claudelands.

Your garden sounds very lovely, Ran'ee. Y’es, Peter saw the Grenadier Guards and loved their colourful uniforms.—Peter Pan.

A CHRISTMAS PARTY. Dear Peter Pan, —On Saturday the Women’s Institute grave the Waitetuna and Te Uku children a Christmas party. It started at ii o’clock and when I arrived at a quarter to eleven there were very few people there, so I helped to cut sandwiches In the back room of the hall. Later on more people had arrived and our school teacher took the boys for a swim, and when they had finished we girls had a swim. The water was lovely after the boiling sun, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When we got hack to the hall they were just having lunch and we all sat down to do justice to the lovely things the women had cooked for us. Afterwards the waitetuna children sang songs and we did four folk-dances to amuse the audience. We were then marched into the hall to receive our gifts from the Christmas tree which was gaily hung with toys and decorated with lighted candles and balloons. I was given a cup and saucer from Santa Claus, who had swaggered in after we were in our seats, much to the amusement of all present. Afternoon tea folio-wed. after which everybody lert for home.—Dorothy Bates (14), Te Uku.

The party must have been a great success, Dorothy. You were lucky to get such a lovely present, weren’t you?— Peter Pan.