Previous letters pages can be found here.

Letters page from Volume 4, issue 17.
September 12th – 25th, 1956.

OUR

LETTER PAGE

A letter from Alison Aston, Beaconsfield, Bucks.
Dear Enid Blyton,
I am writing to tell you about my pet owl, called Oswald. About a month ago I was in the wood at the bottom of my garden and I heard a kind of clicking noise, and suddenly out came a tiny owlet, very fluffy, not more than two weeks old. I picked him up and took him home because he was starving and might be caught by a cat. Daddy was most surprised to see Oswald, and I thought I ought to take him back for his mother to find – but I didn’t think she could carry him back to the nest. But neither Daddy nor Mummy had the heart to send him back, for already he had snuggled up in my arms and was asleep. Mummy and I got a box ready for him. We put leaves at the bottom, then some newspaper to keep any draught out, then more leaves and a blanket on top. We put Oswald into it, and he was soon snuggled up asleep, though he wouldn’t eat a thing. For three days he went without food – and then suddenly one night Mummy called us out of bed – and there was Oswald in the kitchen, sitting on the table looking very proud of himself – and eating rabbit by the pound! After two months Oswald began to grow feathers, and at first I was upset to see him shake off his lovely down. A month later he was flying so we set him free. He flew into the wood – but when he felt hungry he came back again, especially as we always whistled when food was ready! Sometimes he flies indoors and on to my bed at nights. Often he flies down on our heads when we go into the garden – he watches for us from a tree. I send you a photo of Oswald. Lots of love from your Club member.
Alison Aston (age 10).

(This is the first time I have given up the whole of our Letter-Page to one letter – but it is such a remarkable one, and so very interesting and well-written, that I knew all my readers would enjoy it. The photograph of Oswald is lovely – the dearest little owl you ever saw! Thank you, Alison – you have given me much pleasure – and I am sure the readers will agree with me that you deserve our prize!)

I was going to point out that this is the first time I have seen a letters page dedicated to just one letter, but Blyton beat me to it!

It is a very interesting letter, and I agree that it was worthy of the letter prize. I’m glad this one wasn’t abridged to squeeze in other letters.