The Little People's Page

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 13, 29 March 1923, Page 39

The Little People's Page

Conducted by Anne ! '-■■■ T ' ; «,., ,

My Dear Children, ' On account of the Easter holidays and the general bustle there is to get the Tablet printed, I have decided to announce the result of the competition next week instead of to-day. As I have received some fresh letters wo will read them all together.—Anno. Dear Anne, —I suppose you think I have forgotten you altogether, but no I nave not. T have been reading with interest the Little People’s page every week. What a long distance you are getting letters from, perhaps you might get some from dear old Ireland. Wouldn’t that be nice. I post the Tablet sometimes to cousins in Dublin. I am back to school a month now after spending my holidays on a friend’s farm at Okoia. I had great fun riding the horses and feeding the calves and two pet lambs. I am in std. V. this year and have lots of lessons to do. I hope you will be glad to hear I am serving A! ass almost every morning. I hope you had a most enjoyable holiday. Love from May and Teresa. With best wishes. I remain, Patrick E. J. Tleagney, Wanganui. (So glad to hear from you again Pat and was sorry I had not room for your letter last time you wrote. You remember we had a fearful rush just then. Do you think your cousins in Dublin would write to me. That would be something extra nice wouldn’t it? Love to May and Teresa. Anne.) Dear Anne,—l am writing to you in the hopes of one day receiving a letter from you with all the other little correspondents. Our parish priest has recently opened the new St. Francis’s Mall, and it is now screening pictures. One of my friends lately went down to Dunedin, and in one of my letters I received from her she told me how fond of it she was. As we are now in the middle of Lent, I have been trying to make many little sacrifices. Last week Sister gave us a catechism examination, but not being too successful 1 did not gain the prize much to my disappointment. Now dear Anne as I wish to give other little writers more space I shall now conclude, with all good wishes and successes to you. Your friend, Marie Harris*, Wellington, (I read about the opening of your St. Francis’ Hall and am interested in the picture screening. Will you write again Marie and tell me what kind of pictures and if you go. — Anne.) Dear Anne,—l am very sorry to have forgot to tell you my age, I am 14 years old and my birthday is on the 11th of July. We are having a mission down here this week and I think it will be a great success. I have not been at a mission for six years. The weather is just lovely this week. I am very anxious to hear about the competition. Well, as news is scarce, I will close just now. With best love from your loving friend, Alary Fahey, Bluff. (Thank you for telling me your age Marv. Soon you will see the stories in the Tablet. Glad vou enjoyed ‘the mission.—Anne.) ‘ ‘

Dear Anne,—l wonder if I am the first to write to vou from Riversdale, as I look the Tablet everv week but' do not see any of the Riversdale children's names in it We have no convent school here so I go to a public school and am in std. VI. I will be 14 on the Ist of November and 1 would like you to put my name in your birthday book. . I av \ two sisters and two brothers. Mv eldest sister is left school but my other sister and mv two brothers are younger than myself and are .still going to school. Well dear Anne this is all my news as this my first letter but will write a longer one next time. Your new friend, Margaret Welnoski, Riversdale. Tii (Yes Margaret, I do believe you are the first from Kiversdale, and whereabouts is Riversdale? Soon I shall have to get i 1 great big map of New Zealand and mark out all the places where my children live.—Anne.) Hi, D ear Anne,—l am a small second standard bo v who likes to read the Tablet, which we get every week; I read it usually on, Sunday, I like the last page best and the Little People's page second best. My brother Jim is a big boy so he likes the sports' page very much. Please, Anne will you write some more about the Maoris; when I was in the A.B.C. class there was a Maori Missioner down here and be was a good shot, he was shooting at a penny in the ulavground and hit it every time. Did vou hear the banc?. at" contest time Anne? We were all hoping the Hibernian Band would come top it did too in the quickstep the Hibernians uniform looked the grandest of all There were a good many Catholics in the Redfern, the An, band that came ton. There was a fire brigades' demonstration here last week and one night the Chinese citizens Tlovely fireworks display did you see it Anne? Our Far East friend "Maureen" should have come over for it. You ouSt to come down to the Basilica for Holy Mass to-morrow Anne St. Patrick's statue is decorated beautifully this week-there

will be a Solemn High Mass at 9.30. No more news this time Anne. Yours truly, Ronald, South Dunedin. (What is your full name Ronald ? Glad to hear from you and such a lot of news too. What a gay time you’ve all been having, —Anne.) Dear Anne, —Every Thursday my class-mate George Walsh, who lives near the school runs home quickly at dinner time to see if the postman has brought the Tablet. In the afternoon George tells the boys, who bring their dinner to school, all about the Little People’s page. You should see how we crowd round him all talking together and asking: “Are there any letters to Anne? Who wroto to Anno this week? Any South Dunedin letters?’’ In the evening each of us has a read for himself. Just think how disappointed we were to-day when we could not find our page. What has happened Anne? I hope you are not ill. lam fond of reading. When we lived at Oxford in Canterbury ray father used to get the Farmers’ Journal which has a good page for children. I live in Dunedin now. My two sisters go to St. Philomena’s and I attend St. Patrick’s Catholic school. I am nine years old. When I grow up I hope to become a priest. Good-night now Anne; your new friend, Victor Aldous, South Dunedin. (So you missed our page did you Victor? I was ill unfortunately but am well again now and will try not to disappoint you again. —Anne.)

Dear Anne, —I wish to become one of your little friends although we do not get the Tablet. Many of my companions toll me about Anne and all her little correspondents. I go to St. Patrick's School. lam in std. IT. and hope to pass into the third when the inspector comes. Good-bye dear Anne. From May Borrie, South Dunedin. (So glad to hear from you May, specially as you do not get the Tablet. Write again,—Anne.)

Dear Anne, — I was very disappointed when I opened the Tablet this week and found that the Little People's page had been missed out. We are going to get a new church built at Tuatapere and to get the money for this, purpose a queen carnival was held. We have seven little ducks and 31 chickens. I have only a five minutes walk to school. There are about 50 children going to our school and we have two lady teachers. I will close now with many kind wishes to all my little friends and yourself,Annie O'Brien, Clifden.

(How do you like school Annie? T am sure you never miss a single day. you live so close. Are you fattening some of the ducks for Easter? —Anne.)

Dear Anne, —I was very disappointed to find no Little People's page. 1 am in std. V. at school. Our picnic was held on the 9th. I have six brothers and four sisters. The Waiau River runs through the foot of our farm. I have two brothers left school. The names of our teachers are Mrs. Stirling and Miss Nelson. I will close now with kind wishes to all my little friends and yourself, Dolly O'Brien, Clifden.

(Do you go for a swim in the river sometimes Dolly, or is it deep and dangerous? Anne.)

My dear Anne, —My brother Leonard wrote to you last week so I shall send you a little letter to-day. Len and I are in the same .standard. 1 have no sisters biit ' two brothers Len and Georgie, who are very good to me. Wo have had very windy weather down hear lately. Have you ever been at South Dunedin Anne? We are looking forward to St. Patrick's Day which is the Feas* of our school and parish. We shall go to Holy Communion at one of the early Holy Masses and after breakfast come back for tho High Mass. We all hope that St. Patrick will obtain peace for Ireland. Lots of good, wishes for St. Patrick's Day to you, dear Anne. From your new little friend—Mabel Thompson, South Dunedin. (You are a very lucky girl Mabel to have two brothers, I hope you are a real good sister. Tell me later if you had a good St. Patrick's Day. Anne.)

Dear Anne, —It is my second letter I wrote. There is going to he a demonstration at 'Waimatuku on Wednesday and my father is going to it. It is very bad weather down here just now. And there is a lot of crop out. We went eeling the other evening and it was great fun. We caught seven and brought them home for the fowls. 1 am going again the first fine evening. Now I must close my letter as I have no more to say.—Eileen Whelan, Waimatuku. (Sorry Eileen that, you are having such bad weather, we all have had a very poor summer. Isn’t eeling good fun ? Did the fowls enjoy them ?—Anne.) , ——— -/ Everyday Life » The simple things are always best, The simple flowers most fair, - And God, who knows a heart sincere, Will grant the simple prayer. To long for wealth and hope for power . Lead oft to discontent, . But pleasures from the world withheld ■ To simple souls are sent.