Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 20044, 4 December 1926, Page 22 (Supplement)

Between Ourselves

Cousin Arley: Welcome to our page, my dear. I was ever so glad to receive your letter and know of your interest in the page, to which I hope you will be contributing before long. What a beautiful outlook you must have on your bushland farm! Have you always lived on a farm? The noise of the sawmill must have been rather disturbing at first; but I don’t suppose it was long before it settled down as naturally as the flow of the river nearby. Are there many long-tailed cuckoos in your bush? Certainly supple-jack berries are as pretty as any flower. Cousin Hopefield Lass: I was so glad to hear from you again, my dear, after such a long silence, and I can quite understand the things that keep you busy. Just

write whenever you can, and I will understand. No, I was not at the show. That was too busy a day for me, correcting the final proofs of our magazines! I hope, too, that you received the badges safely, and that they meet with a better fate than the last. Do tell me all about the show', please.

Cousin Oliver: Thank you very much for the jokes and riddles, young Cousin. I am glad you like your enrolment card, but I think you omitted to enclose the money you spoke of, didn’t you?

Cousin Katsalino: You must send me your age and the date of your birth before you can be enrolled, my dear. lam glad you wish to become a member of our page, and hope it, too, will give you pleasure. Cousin Peach Blossom: Yes, the printerman must have made a mistake, my dear. I am glad you found your answer, and I hope the other Cousin concerned did, too. Thank you for telling me about the Chinese Apple Blossom—l was interested to know it did not produce apples. What beach do you go to for picnics? Cousin Meadowsweet: We seem destined not to meet, my dear. Some day we will just have to take destiny into our own hands, won’t we, and arrange it to suit ourselves! I am sure you will enjoy your holidays immensely. Have you been able to attend school regularly lately? Cousin Jolly Jack Tar: I am afraid you must have forgotten to include the first verse of your poem in your letter, little Cousin. I have rescued the poem you sent in, and there were only three verses of it. Is the doctor pleased with the progress your arm is making? Cousin Gladys: 1 am sorry your nom-de-plume is already taken. Will you choose another, please. How nice that your friends are joining the page, too. Perhaps, next year you will be able to form a clan! What part of the shows interests you most. Cousin Wild Thyme: Of course you gained your proficiency, my dear. I had no fears about that. After examinations are over, it really is fun going to school, isn’t it! Especially when one ’-as passed. What records have you on the school gramophone ? | Cousin Smiles: It is lovely that your little mates are joining the page, too, | Cousin mine. I hope they will develop I into as enthusiastic Little Southlanders as you. Yes, I like listening to wireless very ] much, but like you, don’t like the “static" i very much. Have you really some work in the Technical College Exhibition?

Cousin Hazel-Nut: Thank you so much for the Christmas Tree gifts, my dear. They are ever so nicely made. I wonder if you are going to be down to see them hanging on the tree? I do hope you sat for your proficiency without becoming fearful and nervous—when will you know the results? Cousin Scotty: Thank you so much for not forgetting me completely, my dear; also ! for enclosing the “piece of paper with the | words on it" in your letter. I hope there will be many more. Are you going back to school next year? Cousin Maid Marian: I will have seen you (I hope) before you read this. Please don't dare pall my judgment—the outcome of thought and serious concentration—luck! I call that insulting! I enjoyed your letter very much indeed. Cousin Bell-bird: I hoped you received your badge safely, my dear; I am hoping that before this time next week you will also have received your magazine, the money foj which I received safely. I do wish you would come in at Christmas. You say you are “one of those unfortunate people who always feel out of place, just like Matthew Cuthbert in “Anne of Green Gables!" Nonsense, I say, and again, Nonsense! Don’t you realise that it is for Cousins like you that I plan these ways of having you all meet and make friends. Cousin Bert: I am so glad you are turning over a new leaf, little Cousin, and making good resolutions to write regularly. I can assure you your work is worth developing. I am quite anxious to hear the marks you gained in proficiency though I have absolutely no doubt as to how you got on.

• Cousin Kiltie: I was so glad to know Grandma is almost her old self again. Give her a big hug from me and impress on her the many reasons why she should take especial care of herself—l am one of them, tell her. I am sure the change would do your mother ever so much good. Are you going to the “Rocks" for your holidays? The result of the Plunket sale was splendid—why not write up a report for the page ? Yes, Alice Meynell has written some very fine verse.

Cousin Rex: I will expect you, young Cousin, on show morning at 10.30. I do hope it is a fine day, don’t you! I wonder if the clarkia seedlings were hurt—let’s hope not, anyway. Greater people than you have emulated the elephant on more significant. occasions, my dear, and have not suffered anything more than mental discomfit. And that is good for everybody! Are your sweet-peas really in bloom ?

Cousin Albert: What fun you must have looking after the little pigs! Can you recognise them apart? Evidently the horse cannot control them, at all events; It must be nice to have your brother home with you occasionally. I think you are very lucky, too, to have a grandmother and grandfather. Cousin Emily: Fancy snow in November! Wasn’t that just terrible! Let’s hope the sun shines for you to make you better again. I am so glad the measles are over and done with now in your family. They are horrid things. I am very sorry indeed that you missed your exam. Will that affect your standard? I hope that will not keep you back a year. Cousin Mountain Ruse: Please do take more care over your work, my dear. Believe me, you will prove it worth the trouble and your spelling is shocking. Of course I know that arises from carelessness, and not from ignorance; but do watch it. Tidiness is as important in literary work as it is in book-keeping! Cousin Mermaid: Have you just risen out of the sea, little Cousin? What a long time it was since I had heard from you! I was growing quite alarmed. Do let me know the results of your exam at once, please, although I have no fears of your failing. Cousin Charlotte: Welcome to our Page, little new Cousin. I do hope you will always be proud of being a Little Southlander. Did you receive your badge safely, and do you like it? Cousin Sunflower: I am sure you could not have been more disappointed than I at the disagreeable news, my dear. There is little I could not have done to alter it.

Please don’t say you failed in the exam. Keep on assuring yourself that you passed, that you did pass—and I am quite, quite sure if you go the right way about convincing yourself, you will indeed have passed. And please don’t develop the habit of folding your hands and saying “Kismet." After all, remember that “Kismet” is of one’s own creation, and is but as one makes it.

Cousin Dorothy: Welcopfe to our Page, little new Cousin. I hope that some day the Page that gives you so much pleasure will contain some of your very own work, too. How proud you will be when your little brother accompanies you to school! I, too, hopes he finds his lessons easy. Twentyone cows is a lot to be milking by hand, is it not? Have you received your enrolment card, and do you like it? Cousin Wild Rose: Thank you for the jokes and verses, my dear. How did you do in the examination? Tell Dorothy I was thinking of her on Wednesday morning, and that I hope she did herself justice. I certainly do not envy mothers at springcleaning time! Cousin Noall: I am so glad nothing serious happened to little Norma. Your mother might easily have hurt herself seriously when she fell down-stairs. If you are left at home with her you will take good care of her, won’t you? I wonder if you realise just how lucky you are to have such a loving, happy family? I am quite sure your mother would make your holiday at home as enjoyable as the longest holiday away. And anyway, you won’t have a chance to become homesick —and I’ll bet they will! Are you a good swimmer? Cousin Morrie: Christmas is not far off now’, is ft ? Do you go and have that tooth stopped before you come down , won’t you, please. It would be dreadful to have toothache on Christmas Eve day. I should love to see you in your Brownie uniform. Do describe it for me. What is the name of your new song? Cousin Sea Nymph: I did miss your customary budget, my dear, after which two pages seems woefully flat and inadequate. I do hope they are only temporary! What have I done to deserve that ? I am so glad you are not disheartened easily, dear. You will always retain that spirit, won’t you please? Cousin Pierette: I am so glad your father was able to recommend your cooking! I can yet see you head chef for Royalty—wouldn’t that be fun. Do tell me about some of the meals you cook, and the dishes you make. Only you’ll never quite foresake your writing, will you ? Don’t let your enthusiasm for cooking do that!

Cousin Anita: I do hope that you really will write a play, my dear. There will be a play-writing competition next year, certainly; but why not start mapping it out now, so as to leave yourself lots of time for alteration and improvement. What exams are you sitting for this year?