A PAGE For LITTLE PEOPLE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 37, 20 September 1923, Page 39

A PAGE For LITTLE PEOPLE

My Dear Little People, - Have you read or has anyone told you about the big earthquake in Japan. Most of you know what an earthquake is like, but never have we felt anything like this dreadful one which has destroyed whole cities. Japan is a beautiful country, overseas a long way from here. It is a land of wonderful flowers and clever people, and as there are a lot of people, there must be many houses. Well, this big earthquake shook so many houses down and did so much damage that you could hardly picture to yourselves the terrible scene. lon know that when houses come tumbling down in cities, nearly always the ruins and the wreckage goes on fire, because, of course, people have gas and fires in their houses to begin with. In one big hospital, they say, 800 patients were burned to death, and some of our good Sisters have perished. Think of it! Little People, pray for the dead and suffering.—Anne.

TAKAPUNA ORPHANAGE FUND. Already acknowledged, £9 2s; Tottie Duncan, os; Ellen O’Gorman, 2s; Mary O’Gorman, 2s; total, £9 11s. Dear Anne, —This is my first letter to you and I hope, it ndl not be the last, My brother is a correspondent for the Tablet. We have eleven kittens, some black and white while the others are grey. They are very playful. I go to St. Joseph’s Convent and am in Std. V. I. will he 12 in September. Well I must close as I have no more news. Yours faithfully, Harry Whittle, New Plymouth. (I seem to have quite a lot of friends in New Plymouth. What a pretty place it is, no wonder you like living there. How are the kittens? Anne.) Dear Anne,—This is my first letter to you. I am very glad that the children have a page in the Tablet. My father and two uncles keep a farm at Evans’s Flat. My brother, sister, nine cousins, and myself drive to school in a buggy. We have a nice little pony and I am learning to ride. I am nine years old and in the third standard. I hope this is all I have to say this time. Your new friend, Rita Fahey, Lawrence. ’ (“Some” bugy that you twelve drive to school in, but I hope the dear little pony doesn’t be in the shafts. What is your pony’s name? Anne.) Dear Anne,— is my first letter to you. I am 8 years and in Std 11. I have about 3 miles to go to school. There is a river all the way so can paddle to and from school in summer time. Dear Anne pleas© tell me which page your photo was on, in the jubilee number. From your new friend, Stanley Orlowski, Island Cliff. (How good to go to school in a boat. Which is the (“nip-stream” trip—going to school or coming home?— Anne.) Dear Anne, —This is my first letter to you. I am twelve years old and I am in Std 5. Igo to the Eiffeltoa school. I have one sister and two brothers. My sister boards at the Ashburton Convent and I hope to go their next year. We have five miles to go to school and we drive a pony called Topsy. We live on a dairy farm along the Hinds river and we send our milk to the cheese factory. Well Anne this is all I have to say hoping you are well. From your new friend, Kathleen Davidson. "Eiffelton. (Welcome Kathleen, it must be cold driving to school these frosty mornings. Summer will he here soon now and then you will enjoy the trip won’t you? Anne.) Dear Anne,Just a few lines to let you now that I am quite well hoping you are the same. I am eleven in std 3. I go to St. Patrick’s School. Lawrence. Here is the answer to your sheep riddle 5. I hope to see my letter in the Tablet soon. I have only one sister she is in class 3. We have three cows, two pigs, fifty hens, and one calf. I have one pet rabbit will you give me a name for it. Dear Anne I read the little people’s page. I am sending you two shillings for the orphanage fund. Well Dear Anne this is all the news this time. Your loving friend, Margaret O’Gorman, Lawrence. (Yours is a fine newsy letter Margaret. I think “Flip” would be a good name for your bunny. Thank you for donation. Anne.)

Dear Anne,— This is my first letter to you. My sister reads the letters in the Tablet for me. 1 have twenty four cousins and ten uncles and 13 Aunties. lam six years old and in class three and 1 am sending you two shillings for orphanage fund. My birthday is in septenber the twelfth and I will be seven. 1 go to st. patriot's school, lawrenee, and I like it very much. Your loving friend, Ellen O'Gorman, Lawrence.

(What a lovely lot of cousins, uncles and aunties volt have. Do yon know 1 haven't got even Anne.) Dear Anne,— l hope yon have not had the flue, it has been very bad in Christchurch. We are having lovely weather just at present. There was only five children going to last month but they are all back now. I have two brothers going to school. I am sending five shillings for the Orphanage Funds. 1 wil close with the best of love from Tottie Duncan, Waiau.

(Thank you Tottie for your donation. The fund is growing slowly but surely. Hope the 'Flu is better now.— Anne.)

Dear Anne,—This is my first, letter to you, and I want to become a member of your little band of readers. I am twelve years old and in Standard five at the Marist Brothers' School; my birthday is on the 24 of Januray. My grandmother lives with us and she has been getting the Tablet over since it started, but 1 have only takeTi an interest in it since The little People's Page was started. I will now close with love from your new friend, Bernard Baillie, Wellington. (Glad to hear from you Bernard. We have two birthdays now on 24th January, yours and Eileen Whelan's (Waimatuku.Anne.) Dear Anne,—Am I welcome to "The Little People's Page"? I am just 12 years old and I am in Std. V. I was too of my class last term. I have four sisters and four brothers. My eldest sister is a nun at a place in the Auckland province. My birthday is on the 4th of March. I have sewing prizes for my sewing at school. I know many of your little friends, one was a relation. I have not many news. With love from wour friend, Mannret Hviand, Tawai, Glenavy. . (Yes. you are very welcome Margaret. Don't you think it good fun reading all my letters?—Anne.) Dear Anne,— is my first letter to you. I live in Wharehina and go to the Stratford Convent School and am in Std o. I am twelve years old and my birthday i* on the 21st of November. I have five sisters' and six brothers, four of whom are now attending the Stratford Convent School with me. Tam very fond of reading the L.P.'s P so I thought I would like to write and be a member of the L.P.'sP. Well dear Anne as I have no more news to tell I must close. With many good wishes from your new friend, Agnes Kowalewski, Wharehuia, (What a good time you must have when you are all at home, Agnes. Lexie O'Connell has a birthday same date as yours. Write on o/ie.side of the paper next time.— Anne.) Dear Anne,— like reading the Letters in the Little Peoples Page in the Tablet . ' I will be eleven on the nineteenth of September and I am in Ski 11. Is the answer to your sheep riddle five Anne. I have two brothers and three Sisters. My Mothers birthday is on August fifteenth. Every morning T feed fif-teen horses and milk one cow lief ore I go to school. My sister, brother and I rule the one horse to school. Love from your little friend, John Edward Keenan, Tuapeka Mouth! ■ ,'i (Glad to hear from you John.. Yes, you have guessed my riddle. What do you feed your horses on? A happy birthday, you just missed the general good wish.—Anne.) Dear Anne—This is my first letter to vou, and I think it is the second from RivertOn. lam ten. and in the third, my birthday is on the 6th of April. We get the Tablet every week and I like reading the Little People's page, and the last one, We are having very frosty weather down here. I must close now dear Anne so as not to take up too much space. Your new friend, Martin O'Leary, Riverton.

(Glad you like our page Martin, and that you do not miss the "smile-raisers."—Anne.) : , • \