A PAGE for LITTLE PEOPLE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 48, 6 December 1923, Page 39

A PAGE for LITTLE PEOPLE

CLmJIV^

My dear Little People, Quite a number of new friends have written to me this week so, we’ll see if we can manage another short trip before Christmas. I know it’s a very busy time for everybody because there’s always so much to be done at the end of the year. All the same, I would be half-sur-prised if the grown-ups are glad to be rid of us for the next few days, so, instead of going home after school in the afternoons, we’ll try to make*the acquaintance of our new friends, and the first place we’ll hurry to is Appleby, where Sheila O’Connor lives. Sheila and her cousin Keen have been white-baiting, and one day they caught six gallons. Sheila has a baby brother who smiles nicely, and a pet lamb for which she wants a name. Suppose we call it “Happy” because the Wool Sales have been so good everywhere. Then we go on to Barrytown, to Maggie Ryall. What do you think Maggie has? A pony which used to bo in a circus and can still do some tricks! Think of that, and just imagine the fun we’ll have. Besides that, Maggie’s aunt is the teacher at Maggie’s school, so, we’ll go there as well. Would yon like “Tiny” for your lamb’s name, Maggie? Cronadun is next, Tessie McMahon lives there, and she writes giving me a message for Hannah Buckley who wanted Mollie Punch’s address. If Hannah comes along /with us Tessie can tell her that she has been writing to Mollie for some weeks. If, however, Hannah cannot join us, she has only to -write to Tessie, get Mollie’s address, and they will all be friends. Quite a number of the Little People want to write to each other, how is it for a Letter Club next year? Let me know and I’ll try to arrange it. Now then, on to Dunedin, and we’ll spend a little time with Paddy Hussey. What a country this is for kittens! There’s Paddy has three little new- ones, black with blue eyes. I sure would love one Paddy dear, and it is really a good idea of yours to leave one at the Tablet Office for me. The good people there will give it a saucer of milk every day until I-can call for it. Thank you also for the pretty pictures you sent me, and the kisses. Now we go up north, to Hastings where we have a heap of friends to call on. They are all at the Convent so, if Sister will let them out with us, we’ll go off to some nice little nook and talk to each other. First on the list is Florence Balcombe, and would you believe it, she too wants a name for, a new kitten? Would you like “Smut” for his name, Florence? I think it will do quite well as he is black. Does anyone know Florence’s riddle: “When is a door a jar?” Next is Colin Brimer who writes for the first time, and who wishes us a Happy Christmas. Next is Maurice Brooker who tells me he is very fond of school and of his teacher. He has a little brother too. Next is Ethel Barrett, who wants to get in another letter before Christmas. Perhaps by the time we get to Hastings, the mite boxes will have been opened and the coins counted, Ethel? I wonder who will get most? Next is Margaret Downing who has some riddles for us “I sent forty white horses up a red hill, there they go, there they go, there they stand still.” Yes, Margaret I know that, and one of my white horses has a gold crown. “A man rode up a hill and yet he walked”; “What is it that has a mouth but not a tongue?” Next is John Hallaghan, who also has some riddles' he wants answered: “How can you make a thin man fat?” feed him well John, I should say. “A kitchen full a house full and I could not catch a spoonful.” Is that air, I wonder? Next is Cecilia Koorey, who wants to know my address. Will some of ray Little People tell

Cecilia when we meet.Hier v Next is Joe Martin, who tells me he has five sisters and one brother, also six bantams. Joe has to take the milk somewhere every Y and morning, so, he’s quite a busy boy, isn’t he? Next is Esme Morgan and she is asking riddles too. lam beginning to think there must be a riddle factory in Hastings. See if anyone knows this: “A man went up a hill for a year and yet he came down on the same Friday as he went up.” “The ragged rascals ran round the rock, how many It’s in that?” Next is Martin Nihill who had such a good time during carnival week that he wishes it could have lasted for ever. Martin tells me that the whole town was decorated and there was a procession of decorated cars and lorries,. What a pity we misled that.. Next is Patty Pimley, who has a big orchard at her place. Won’t it be fun looking at the baby apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, and quinces we can’t even taste because they won’t be ripe? More riddles: “How many sides are there to a tree?” “Where did the Witch of Endor live?” Next is Garrett Ryan who tells me that Sister read some of the Little People’s letters to them, so, Garrett wrote to wish me a Happy Christmas. Thank you son, I hope you too will have 'a jolly time. Next is Walker Rangi who thinks I will not forget my little friends after the holidays. Certainly I will not, Walker, and we hope to have a. better page next year. Next is Barbara Smith who asks us: “What is black and white and read all over?” That’s a paper, Barbara isn’t it? Next is Gwen Williams, and she wants to know “If I dropped a stone in the sea what would it be?” Barbara is trying to get the regular attendance prize this year, so, we wish her luck. Next is Eileen Wright, who lives out of Hastings, at Tomoana. Perhaps we’ll go out there to see her. Next is Anthony Winstone, and he has a hatful of riddles to answer. “What word of eight letters is there from which you can subtract five and leave ten?” “What did Adam first set in the Garden of Eden?” His foot, I think Anthony. Cheerio to you too. Now, down to Invercargill, to meet Delia Bennett, who tells me they have moved into their nice new school. Have you got your new blinds up yet, Delia. Do you think they’ll let us have a party in the new school And the very last visit this week, will be to Owenga, Chatham Islands,. but, as we will have to go across in a boat, I will read the whole of Edward John Prendeville’s letter to you, so that you will know something about the brand new place we’re going to: —Dear Anne, I am glad you liked my letters. Last month two launches went to a rock called “Forty-Fours” and got three hundred albatrosses. The call them “Teroas.” They are very fat and will keep good for months if boiled and left in their own fat. - Every year men go to get them. They are easy to catch as they are too fat to fly and men kill them; with sticks. Another rock where they hatch is called the “Sisters.” Last Sunday we all went on a cart for a picnic to the lake where the swans are. It is seven miles■ away and a sandy beach, nearly all the way. One day ' at school a boy found a pen (?) in the playground. It bit his foot when he was teasing it. Pattie will be able to ‘ write to you soon as he knows all his letters now, 1 and can read from a book. Your little friend, Edward John Prendeville. Now, look and see where Chathams is. See what a, long way away some of our friends are. Goodbye for this week, another short trip next weekbut we must not get too far away or we will find ourselves in some strange land for Christmas. Anne.