Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 22

Between Ourselves

Cousin June: Welcome to our Page, new little Cousin. I was ever so glad to receive your letter, and to enrol you as a Cousin. I hope I will receive lots of letters from you, and that in time you will enter for the competitions in the Page. Cousin Kiltie: No, my dear, she did not write under a nom-de-plume; but it has been held over just as you supposed, which makes it even more honoured, doesn’t it! I am so glad that you are really going to coach your sister —how lovely for her that she has you! I do hope she proves an apt pupil, as I am sure she will. How excited you will be when the examination draws near! I am so glad, too, that your patient has become well enough to return home, and I hope very, very much that she has no set backs, but is able to appreciate the lovely spring weather. Cousin Robert : I was ever so glad to enrol you as a Little Southlander, dear, and I hope you receive your enrolment card safely. I was so glad to know, too, that it was the work of your sehool-fellow which spurred you to join, and I am hoping it won’t be long before your own work appears there, too! That would be lovely, wouldn’t it! Perhaps you could do drawings for one of the poems which you admire so much!

Cousin Bruce: I think it is very, very good of your teacher to take such an interest, and to inspire in your class such an interest in our Page. Wouldn’t it be lovely if every member of your class became a Cousin! I think it is so good of her, too, to have decided to read the Page to you all every Monday morning. We’ll have to see that it keeps getting better and better, won’t we, so that she won’t be disappointed in it! Won’t it be lovely when she has to read out some of the very own work of Cousins in your class! Cousin Emily: Please, my dear, don’t ever let your apron catch fire again, if you want to make me happy. Next time it may have spread to your other clothes before you could prevent it. It gives me such a horrid feeling even when I think of it, now. And Ido hope Florrie’s cut is better—it is such an awkward place, too. Did you see his Excellency the GovernorGeneral ?

Cousin Ngaire: Of course you like school now, my dear, just as I knew you would! I do hope the little black lamb has got over its sickness—is it going to be your very own pet ?

Cousin Kathleen: Welcome to our Page, dear—l hope you will be glad always that you are a Little Southlander, and one of my Cousins. Why not call yourself “Cousin Sunmaid ?”

Cousin Meadowsweet: I can just imagine bow much of your time is being taken up by your young nephew, my dear, and I am hoping to hear all about him when he goes again. It is lovely that you are dressing the dolls for the Christmas Tree—l hope that this year you will be able to be present at the celebration.

Cousin Golden Sunset: I am so glad your sister is quite better again, dear, and that your Clan is working so strenuously. I feel very proud indeed when I think of it. Isn’t it lovely when the sun is really and truly shining once more! Cousin Elinor: What a surprise you must have had when the inspector arrived to examine you for your proficiency! I am glad you did so well—what dp you intend doing next year? Do you think you will follow in your big sister’s footsteps? Cousin Awahuri: Forgive me, my dear, for not answering your last letter. I really thought I had done so, and have hastened to answer this one before the same thing happens again. I am sure the climate must agree with all of you, and I suppose your father’s health is benefiting by it, too. I will be quite anxious to hear the results of your examinations—they certainly were

over early; but isn’t it lovely to think there will be no more lessons this year. Do you think the lesions up there are harder than here ? Cousin Gladys: I was sorry to know that your badge had not arrived, my dear, and I am hoping you received it before reading this. Ido hope the measles have quite disappeared now, and for good. It is a comforting thought that they will not return. Yes, I have my hair off. Has the pigeon returned yet? Cousin Gwen: Welcome to our Page, my dear. Ido hope you will always enjoy being a Little Southlander. Send me a separate piece of paper with your age and date of birth on it, for an enrolment card. Cousin Pom Pom: I wish you had told me you would be in town that day, dear. I should have loved to have seen you. You will do that next time, won’t you, please? What did you do in the concert as Cupid? Cousin Sea Nymph: I’m afraid I can’t summon up any scorn whatsoever, my dear. Your excuse touches me so keenly that I can only accept it blindly, because, you see, I think one has to be born with the ability to “swot,” which is not a thing which one can work up in oneself. Besides, it wasn’t very important for you, was it? The magazine work was well done, my dear, and completely satisfied me. lam so glad your play is actually under way. Do you still want any addresses from me, or have you them all? Cousin Tulip: I will be in all Monday afternoon, my dear, expecting to see you. I do hope you do well in the music exam., and that you are not nervous. Yes, I used to like cycling ever so much, though it is ages ago since I last rode. Cousin Mayflower: I was so pleased that you wrote again so soon, dear. I hope you will always write as regularly as you can, and that you will continue to enter for the competitions, too. Cousin Sunflower: What a lovely Labour Day you must have spent, my dear! Doesn’t a day like that sweep all the cobwebs away and make you feel wondrously alive? I can just imagine how stiff you must be after the riding you did. Now, don’t go worrying about exams.—just make up your mind to do your very, very best, and be contented with that. It isn’t fair to yourself to worry about it, especially beforehand. That makes it harder for you to do yourself justice. Cousin Monnie: I do hope your dear wee sister is better again, dear, and that there is going to be no more sickness in your house. I just loved your clever letter, which I think was very good indeed for your age. Yes, the Woodhaugh Gardens must make a lovely playground for you. Do you live near them? And did Daddie take you a picnic ?

Cousin Mickie Mouse: Send your enrolment card back to me, my dear, and I will sign it. It was stupid of me to omit to do so before; my only excuse is that I sent out over 50 at the same time, so I suppose I was just getting a little careless. There are several badges in your town—wouldn’t it be lovely if you were to recognise another on somebody else! It is nice for you that you already know some of the Cousins. That makes it ever so much more interesting, doesn’t it! If you like writing to me, half so much as I like receiving your letters, you’ll never miss a single week! There now! Cousin Shamrock: Did you collect all those bird’s eggs yourself, dear, or did somebody else find them for you? I suppose you blow them, do you ? Won’t it be lovely when you have your tennis courts ready! Have you ever played? Cousin Daffodil: I wish you had told me you would be in last Thursday, dear. Then I could have arranged to be in to see you. You will let me know when you are coming in again, won’t you ? What an unfortunate accident to have so near you—l am glad you did not witness it, as the horror of it would always be with you. Cousin Rosemary: I am glad you received your badge and enrolment card safely, my dear, and that you like them. Change the date by all means, dear. I hope it will not spoil the appearance of it. Cousin Mellow Moon: I was very pleased indeed with the heading, dear, and think you did it very well. lam so glad you joined the drawing class, and I am sure you will benefit by it very much. If you keep on as you are doing, you’ll be quite a formidable tennis player before long! Cousin Kamahi: I am so glad you did not take stage-fright, my dear, and that the concert was such a success. What a lovely long ride you had on Sunday! Were you not tired after it? Cousin Trixy: I am very glad indeed that the earthquake did not last any longer than it did, my dear. They are best done without, really they are, as you’d agree if you read of some of the dreadful earthquakes that have destroyed China and Japan and parts of America.

Cousin Joyce: The concert was a great success, my dear, and your teachers should be thoroughly proud of their pupils. Keep on entering for the Mind Sharpeners, won’t you, please. Cousin Kia Ora: Do you spend a little time each day in your garden, dear? I know that’s what I would do if I had the time. There are some columbines, pink and yellow, just peeping in my bedroom window just now. And a huge lilac tree across the path, and red-and-yellow broom, and a rhododendron shrub. It is an enviable picture. I can assure you. Cousin Nancy: Welcome to our Page, little new Cousin. What a lot you will be able to tell me about your delightful life on a farm. When the sun is shining and the days are warm, I envy you very much. How lovely that you have had your mate for so long! You will find that old friends are always the dearest, and I hope you will keen her as such always. Cousin Rosalie: How lovely that you have a new little baby brother, dear, and how proud of him you must be. My favourite name for a boy is “Peter”—partly from ‘Teter Pan,” I think, {{peter John” is «a good, sound, substantial name—but don’t ever call ‘Teter” ‘Tete,” will you? I will be anxious to hear all about the school concert.

Cousin Ina: You will tell me all about your birthday, won’t you, please? I think it must be lovely to have your birthday in the country. This time next year, you, too. will have proficiency to think of! Cousin Puck: Ever since I read your letter I have been hoping that your fainting turn was not the forerunner of anything more serious* my dear. You must not over-

work, you know, and you must remember, too, that at the end of the year one is never so fit as at thejbeginning—one is constantly drawing on one’s reserve energies throughout the year. I am not yet quite clear about the F.F. affair—would you please explain it more fully to your very unintelligent big Cousin? Please, please, my dear, be neither hurried nor worried—life’s too short for that, you know.

Cousin Brownie: I am so glad you are finding those particular sums so much simpler to handle, dear. Just keep on trying with them, and you’ll be surprised how all their difficulties will disappear. Cousin Golden Emblem: Thank you for your contribution to the magazine, my dear, which I was very pleased indeed to receive. I do hope you will be able to be present at the hospital at Christmas Eve day—do you think that will be possible? I remember most of the books you speak of, and am so glad you like them, too. Was the bazaar a success? I am looking forward to hearing all about it, you know. Cousin Rex: I had a very good holiday, thank you, my dear, and I am hoping your cold is better by now so as not to interfere with the rehearsals for the play. I will be so anxious to hear all about it from you. That line from “Oriana” has the additional words “Thou comest” to make it different from the original, of course. I wonder if the owl knows that you share her secret? Cousin Daisy: I am glad you received your prize-money safely, my dear, and hope it will not be the last you will win in the Page. Are you very busy at school at present, preparing for the examinations? Cousin Merrymind: Just keep that extra 2/6, dear, and I will not need to send you a postal note this week. It was stupid of me to make the mistake. The springtime will soon be over now, and the lovely summer will h>ve taken its place.

Cousin-Hawthorn: You are so lucky to have that lovely other farm to visit, my dear. What sort of flowers did you bring from it this time?