A Page for Little People

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 40, 21 October 1925, Page 37

A Page for Little People

Conduced by . ANNE

My dear Little People, This week I’ve had a surprisingly good Letter Bag, all sorts of nice things in it. We’ve got several new Members; stamps for our Orphans’ Fund; letters from dear GrownUps who like their prizes, and chatty letters ■ from Club Members who just want to say Good-Day to all of us. Really, it’s been an altogether wonderful week. I’m Availing now, most anxiously too, to see what happens about our Writing Ladder and the other interesting things you’re taking part in. Are you all saying the Rosary? Mind now, you don’t, forget Our Blessed Mother this month, she doesn’t forget you. As Ave have so many letters I’ll just get right on to them, and . if there’s any room left over the page, we’ll have some poetry and a little story. BIRTHDAY MATES and LETTER FRIENDS I would like you all to get Badges ami join our L.P.L.C, before you write to each other, because it will be better that way, you will be a real Family Party. I have received letters from ever so many Little People telling their birthdays and asking for Letter Friends, will they please send for their Badges so that I can call them members of the Letter Club. I’m sure we will grow into a very big Club, some of the letters are such interesting ones that their writers will get - . Letter Friends. But, be sure you send for Badges all you who have not got them yet. Here are some of the names of the Little People who are going to join us, I’m quite sure: •Bernard O’Neill, Allandale; Gretchen McGre.evy, Kenilworth St., Waipawa; Kathleen Morahan, Clinton; Mary Leydon, 0 whan go: Eileen Carney, Rakaia; G. Fahey, East Belt. Rangiora ; Josephine Buckley, 42 Hogg Crescent, Masterton; Eileen Kotlowski, Main Road, Pahiatua; Marie Gill, Albany, Auckland Walter Neilson, Hampden; Mattie Nevin, Domain, Westport; Mary Walsh. 1* 0., Caversham; Maureen Walsh, P. 0., Caversham. Listen, all you Little People, I’ve kept your letters .in my Desk, and as soon as you send me stamps for your Badges you’ll see your letters in the Tablet. There are Birthday Mates Availing for most of you, and I hope you’ll* write quite soon. The following Little People have acknowledged receipt of their Badges and Prizes; VERONICA SMITH, Gore, liked her Badge and is ‘writing to her Letter Friends. She is studying for a music exam and is captain of the jockey team. (Hope you and your Mates are good Letter Friends. How is hockey? Anne.) • ' ' - A PATRICIA ROUGHAN, Lawrence, is S proud of her Badge. Patricia wrote to a j Letter Friend who did not answer. (Never 1 mind Patricia, but perhaps you’ve had an answer by now. I think Kathleen Smith, Crqnadun, might be a good Friend. She is

same age as you, and her birthday is on the 14th August, just 15 days after your own, — Anne.) MAGGIE RYALL, Barry town, is sorry she could not write sooner, but she is very busy with all the cows coming in. That’s quite all right Maggie, I would much rather you did your bit than sat writing to me when others are working. That’s no good at all. — Anne.) MARY BURKE, Wadena 'BO., Southland, thanks us for her Badge which she likes veiy much, also for the name for her kitten. (Glad you’re writing to Frances, has she answered yet? Sorry the kitten was lost, but glad you’ve got a. lamb to call “Gay.”—Anne.) MONA COTTERELL, Temuka, writes to thank us for her Prize and is going to send a penny each time she writes. (Glad you like the Prize Mona. Thank you for promising the penny for the Orphans’ Fund, I’m sure we’ll get a fine Christmas Box for them, — Anne.) MERCIA GRACE, Mangapiko, liked her Badge but was so busy with home work that she couldn’t manage to vote for the Competition. Mercia is going to make a garment for a. little child for Christmas. (Good girl Mercia, always get your lessons done even if pleasures have to be put aside for a little time. If you and mother make something for a. little Orphan that will be just beautiful. —Anne.) MARGARET WALKER, Enfield, likes her Badge and wants to put something in the Daydream Mite Box. (Glad to hear irom you Margaret, and hope you’ll write again soon, because your writing will be sure 1 o get a place on the Ladder.—Anne.) LETTERS ABOUT COMPETITION SUGGESTIONS TERENCE QUINN, Oka in’s Bay, Banks Peninsula, writes to say he is going to make a toy and will send one penny each week tor the Orphans’ Fund. Terence thinks he will make some Day Dream Aeroplanes, and pack them in boxes so they won’t break. His birthday is on 30th April, he is 10 years old and wants a Mate. (There’s a real Birthday Mate waiting for Terence, his name is Paul Porter, Students’ Buildings, Union Street, Dunedin. 'What do you think of that? Thank you for the stamps and for the promise of some aeroplanes for the Christmas stockings. TREPHENA QUINN, Okain’s Bay, Banks Peninsula, writes and encloses four penny stamps for the Orphans’ Fund. This is Trephena’s subscription for four weeks, and she is going to make a set of underclothing for a little girl. Thephena is one of our Senior Members, she is seventeen and she thanks all, the Little People who voted for her Mother’s letter. (So glad to hear from you Trephena, thank you for sending your exact age. Early next year, if not before, I hope to sort up all the Members into some sort of order, and that’s why I’m so anxious for the exact ages just in case Birthday Mates do -not exactly

match in ages. Thank you for stamps and for promise of some sewing. 1 think dear, if you have not cut out the garments yet, that a little bigger than two years old would be more useful. Glad you and mother like the prize. Anne.)

LEN McMAHON, Cronadun, sends along six stamps a,s his donation for six weeks. (Thank you Len, you’re a real sport, and you’ve given so briskly. Do you know old man, that they say, "Who gives quickly, gives twice.’’ . Glad to hear- from you. — Anne.) ■ '

Mrs. COTTER ELL, Temuka, writes ever such a nice letter thanking us for the prize. This is what she says;

Dear Anne and Little People, I write to. thank you all for the trouble

you have taken over the competition,, and especially to thank the Little People who voted for ray letter. It was very kind of them and I appreciated it very. much. And just fancy you, “Anne,” giving prize for each letter. Your pocket must be nearly empty now, unless it is a magic pocket. Or, perhaps it is like Mother. Baucis’ pitcher in the old Greek tale. Do you remember , how Mercury with his winged feet. and curious •staff called on Baucis and her husband Philemon and asked for food, and they in their charity gave him. all that they, had— a small brown loaf and a pitcher of milk. The more bowls of milk that were taken out of the jug, the more remained in it, until Baucis could scarcely believe her eyes. For their kindness and charitableness, Mercury, on leaving, blessed them. and granted to them the dearest wish of their hearts. We arc not Mercury, Anne, so are not able to give all that he gave, but we do give you our best wishes. I am enclosing a few stamps to start the fund for the Competitions, for I have just thought of some words of an old song. They arc: “Let your watchword be ‘despatch and practice what you preach,’ ” so I am acting oil them. Again thanking you all, with best wishes, from Mrs .Ootterell.

P.S. Mona is writing to thank you for the prize.

(Dear Mrs. Cotterell, my pocket is sure empty enough, but the little picture I have sent to each of.the dear Grown-Ups who thought enough of my Little People and theirs, to write, is only very tiny. And so, .von would like to give me the dearest wishes of my heart, would you? Thank you for that, and also for the stamps enclosed in your letter. So long as my Little People stick to me, my pitcher will never go dry and they’ll keep me young.—Anne.) i;

MISS LILY MULLIGAN, Okato, Tara-) naki, writes that, she, received - her prize, thanks us. for it, and' says it;: is indeed very nice. ;; Miss; Mulligan wishes I to thank each of , the Little People 1 for their votes and wishes our Club every success.' (Glad the prize arrived safely and that you like it. Some day we’ll ask you to do something else for us. Anne.) . G-'

NEW MEMBERS who have sent for their ■£? -/L.P.L.O Badges '* - EVA CASEY, Edendale, an old friend, has k; .sent along her Badge Money and wants to kSC join the Club. Eva has a birthday on the pv 20th November, she will be 12 years old and wants a Letter Mate. (Indeed we have not \ forgotten you .Eva and we’re so glad you’ve - joined us altogether. Sorry you’ve no Birthday Mate, but will you and Phyllis McAuley, Glen-iti, Timaru, be friends? Phyllis has no mate either, is about your age and her birthday is two days after your own. Anne.) JACK HOWARD, Shiel Street, Reefton, is a nine-year-old who has sent for his Badge. Jack .was confirmed by Archbishop O’Shea last month, he goes to the Convent School, and is mad on football, which he plays with • - Norman -Kiely. Jack’s birthday is on the 7th May and he is looking for a Letter Mate. (Welcome Jack, I’ve got a friend for yon, although his birthday is four days after your own. His name is Aidan Reilly and his address is 100 Highgate, Roslyn, Dunedin. Aidan is same age as you. Hope you’ll be good Letter Friends. —Anne.) RAYMOND WILKINS, Gladstone Road, , Mosgiel, thanks us for birthday wishes and for getting him a Letter Mate. Ray and Pat Abbot are writing to each other regularly. (So glad you’ve sent for a Badge Raymond, and pleased too that you and Pat are writing to each other. Yes, the sixpence you sent is right for the Badge. What sort of stories do you like best, what books do you take out of the school library?— Anne.) >--k„ MOLLY GRIMES, 14 Walker St., Christchurch, is a new Member, and, dear Little People, she’s not very well this long time. Molly is 11 years old, and although she is not able to write in ink, I just wish you could f see the nice pencil letter she has written. Her birthday is on the 9th April, and I’ve no real Birthday Mate for her, so what are we going to do about it? I suggest that every Member of our L.P.L.C. writes a. cheery letter to our new Molly. It won’t take anyone very long and Molly will know, we’re all thinking of her. I’m going to write, and am sure you’ll do the same. (Welcome Molly. I’m sorry dear you’re ill and hope - you’ll get better soon. 'You have no real birthday mate, but I’m sure you will get letters from some of the Members. But do not try to answer them all if it makes you tired. Anne.) EILEEN BURKE, Waituna P. 0., Southland, has sent for her Badge, has a birthday on Ist September, and wants a Letter Friend. (Welcome Eileen, yes, Ido think it’s high time we had fine weather. I’ve got a real Birthday Mate for you, but, would ' you believe, I don’t know her address. Maybe she’ll see this and write to you herself, her name is Eileen Young. If not I’ll find you p." .someone else.—Anne.) P.S. for the other ■■Eileen —Will you join us Eileen and let me € have your . address? —Anne.) Iff* ' MONICA McLAUGHLAN, Edendale, has ' . been reading our page for a long time and has ; sent for her Badge. Monica’s birthday is ; ■on 10th August, she was 11 and wants a Letter Friend. (Welcome Monica, and there’s a* mate waiting for you. *, Her name is Phyl-

lis Woods, she lives at Norwich Street, Hampden,' Otago. I hope you two will be such good Friends.—Anne.) STORY CORNER and POETRY TOO We’ve just a. wee bit of.space left so we’ll have a little story and verse or two. All . you Little People who recite should make a : point of cutting out or copying any catchy little pieces you see in the Tablet or other papers. This is the very best way of getting a good' collection together, something far better and more interesting than you could buy in a bound volume in any shop. Try it and lei mo know how you get on. STORY CORNER Would you like a little short story, such a short one that you can learn it off by heart, almost. THE SUN AND THE WIND. The Sim and the wind, once had a quarrel as to which was the stronger. Each believed himself to be the more powerful. While they were arguing they saw a traveller walking ’ along the country highway, wearing a great cloak. “Here is a chance to test our strength,” said the wind; “let us see which of us is strong enough to make that traveller take off his cloak; the one who can do that shall be acknowledged the more powerful.” “Agreed,” said the Sun. Instantly the wind began to blow ; he puffed and tugged at the man’s cloak, and raised a storm of hail and rain, to beat at it. But the colder it grew and the more it stormed, the tighter the traveller Held his cloak around him. The Wind could not get it off. Now’ it was the Sun's turn. He shone with all his beams on the man’s shoulders. As it grew hotter, the man unfastened his cloak; then he threw it back; at last he took it off! The Sun had won. A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING. A Fairy went a-marketing— She bought a little fish; She put it in a crystal bowl - - Upon a golden dish. An hour she sat in wonderment And watched its silver gleam, And then she gently took it up . And slipped it in a stream. A Fairy went a-marketing— She bought a colored bird; It sang the sweetest, shrillest song That ever she had heard. She sat beside its painted cage And listened half the day, And then she opened wide the door And let it fly away. ...i A Fairy went a-marketing She bought a winter gown - -. ; All stitched about with gossamer And lined with thistledown, ■ She wore it all the afternoon t * v And prancing with delight, • - Then gave it to a little frog • ■ • v i ,To keep him warm at night. ... J-

A Fairy went a-marketing— iM | She bought a gentle mouse . "p-fl To take her tiny messages, , . To keep her tiny house. -p? All day she kept its busy feet EpfviSf Pit-patting to and fro, And then she kissed its silken ears., Thanked it, and let it go. - ■■ •■■■■• THE SAD STORY OF A LITTLE BOY THAT CRIED. " Once a little boy, Jack, was, oh! ever so go'6d^|^^ Till he took a strange notion to cry all he ’ could. • jl|| So he cried all the day, and lie cried all the' _ night, ":|g He cried in the morning and in the twilight.' - He cried till, his voice -was as hoarse as a crow, ell And Iris mouth grew so large it looked like a great 0, . . "Jf| It grew at the bottom and grew at the top;. . lli. It grew till they thought that it never would stop. g Each day his great mouth grew taller and '4% taller And his dear little self grew smaller and % smaller. At last, that same mouth grew so big that—- - alack ! . sf| It was only a mouth with a border of Jack. si Sj Good-bye till next week, ‘ || . . —ANNE.' ' ■ r -