Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

Between Ourselves

Cousin Mexicali Rose: I hate to be discouraging, dear, but I have often heard it said that a boil is generally followed by nine others! Of course, I hasten to add that I hope I have been misinformed. Cycling against a north wind does not sound very agreeable. Cousin Babs: It is nice, my dear, to come upon young people who give their parents the amount of respect due to them. I hope you will always champion your father as enthusiastically, and that he will always deservY your championing. I enjoyed my holiday very much, despite the weather. Cousin Hiawatha: Yes, practising scales is not the nicest part of being able to play the piano although it is certainly one of the most essential to good -playing. Do you like drawing ? Cousin Snow Queen: What a nice trip you had with your basketball team, and what a successful one! Yes, I like tennis very much, although it is unfortunately not possible for me to play at present. Cousin June: Yes, I like deep-sea fishing best, too, although I can remember sitting on a river-bank with a bent hook, a worm and a piece of string, getting a great deal of enjoyment from catching cock-a-bullies. Yes, you may copy the riddles and jokes to Send to me. Cousin Sailor: I was certainly very pleased with your competition entry, which is about the best I can remember receiving from you. And ycur writing is very nice, indeed. Well done! It is very regrettable that the school at Port Craig had to close down too. Cousin Brownie: I can remember what lovely flowers can be grown where you live. Your mother must delight in the gardening she is able to do now. I do hope you will pass your exam. well.

Cousin Orion: It was a very nice surprise, your letter, just as I was beginning to despair of ever hearing from you again. I am glad you are quite better now, and that your exams are over. Pansies are also my mother’s favourite flowers; but I like I roses best, red ones, and then hollyhocks and sunflowers and big Californian poppies. Cousin Humorsske: I can quite deplore ■ with you your lack of time, my dear, but please don’t try to minimise your brains. I know sufficient of them not to be misled. Your style (literary) is improving very much, really it is, and I do hope you will find time for the future to keep up a fairly consistent flow of work for me. Concentrate on prose, and read as much as you can (when bans are removed, of course!) Cousin Mone: I am glad you like your badge, dear, and that you are looking forward to the clan meetings. Don’t forget to sign your name to all your work. Cousin Spring Blossom: What a nice surprise to arrive from Queenstown. I love surprises! I will consider having the competition you suggest, some time next month. Cousin Rex: I waited in for you until 3.30 on Tuesday and just in case I am not there on Thursday I wanted you to know. Will your mother come and see me on Tuesday? I hope she will have, the time to have tea with me. I was delighted to hear about your proficiency at swimming. That’s a splendid aid to development, you know. Cousin Captain Jim: It must have been a nice change for you to be away for two months; but if it meant hearing from you again, I’m glad you are home. It is very early for the hens to be laying so well, is it not ? Cousin Jackie: Welcome to our page, new Cousin. I hope you will not only enjoy reading our page now, but will also enjoy writing and drawing (or both!) for it. Are you going to try? Cousin Pie Pie: Monday afternoon is the best time to come and see me, dear. It is the day I always keep, if I can, for Cousins to come and see me. I think your mother is wise to insist on your staying at school for another year, and you have been, and are, very fortunate in your teachers. If you really intend to be a nurse when you grow up you will be glad of the extra schooling, believe me. Cousin Gladiola: It’s a long time yet until the 31st of October, and your school sports, so that there’s plenty of time for the weather-man to learn to behave himself between now and then. Yours is an admirable ambition, dear, and I give you my best wishes for it. Cousin Charles: You are one of my best writers amongst my boy Cousins, and I really think I will revive the “Best Writers’ ” column. Just now, when all the trees are budding, and the flowers beginning to bloom, I very often wish I lived in the country; but living in town has its compensations, too, and I really think that only by experiencing the one can one appreciate the other. Cousin Jack Sprat: Gardening is one of the best things you can do to build . yourself up again, young Cousin, as long as the weather is fine, and for that your mother and father must have been glad to have you at home. But don’t worry unduly about the lessons you have missed at school. There’s plenty of time still for lessons, and health’s much more important, • of course. , Cousin Southern Light: Ido hope you are not suffering from swollen glands, dear, but if you are, try gargling your throat with cold lemonade, which I find has miraculously soothing results, better than ' lemon juice. I don’t envy you the visit ’ of the inspectors—the school sports sound much jollier! Cousin Mickie Mouse: I am very glad . you are quite better again, young Cousin. And there are lots more holidays to enjoy, eh? Even though you find the ’Sharpeners much harder to work out, it is worth the extra effort in the end, don’t you think? The dialogue sounds very interesting, Mr. j Fashion. Please tell me more about it, i I used to love them. Cousin Dancing Sunbeam: When I read of all your flowers blooming into beauty and fragrance, dear, I feel it in my heart to envy you—and envy’s a horrid thing to harbour in one’s heart! You’re a very lucky girl. I don’t like the sound of those headaches, however, which don’t fit in at all. I think you’d better have your eyes 1 tested, don’t you? The “fancy garter sachet” in crepe-de-chine sounds very interesting. Will you describe it to .me please?

Cousin Reta: What an interesting time you had dear—too many activities to feel the time hang heavily on your hands, eh? As long as you find time to write to me in your nice, cheery way I won’t complain, at all events. Have you many lambs, and have you made any pets yet? Cousin White Rose: It is good of you to make the time to write to me at all, dear, with all the lessons you are doing at present. I don’t think you will have much difficulty in gaining your proficiency, however. What then do you intend to do next year? Your writing is very neat indeed. Cousin Lady Olive: Welcome back, dear. I was sorry to hear that your mother had been so ill, though glad to know she is making a satisfactory recovery. It must mean a lot of extra work for you, however, so of course I forgive you for keeping me waiting for a letter. The marks are mainly to indicate your progress. Cousin Ruth: I had pineapple for dinner, too, the very same day that you did. Only I knew that you were having it, too, and you didn’t know I was so that I could eat pineapple and think of you, and you could only eat pineapple and think of other things. There’s a very complicated sentence, eh! Really, my dear it’s time you began to realize that hammers are for hitting nails not fingers. Don't do it again. Cousin Rosemary: Are your potatoes really ready to “pick up” already? That is very early for Southland, is it not? Yes, I did used to get stamps—occasionally; but I’m afraid to confess how many times there were when I didn’t! Are you looking forward to Santa Claus’ visit already? Cousin Persephone: Jock's 11 pet rabbits must keep him very busy; are they white ones or ordinary grey ones? And aren’t they hard to keep from escaping? You are lucky having a lot of fluffy little yellow chickens. I love them, if they’d only stop growing up. Cousin Meadowsweet: Your letter interested me very much, dear, and I am glad that you regard the matter as I do. By your change of address I gather that you are working again, are you? I do hope to have your help at our next bazaar, very much indeed. Cousin My Lady’s Page: What you say your drawing master once said to you interested me very much. It had never occurred to me that girls should use the first idea that comes into their heads, while boys should give the matter further consideration; and I’m not even sure that I agree with him. You really draw very accurately, and I should like to see more of your work. Cousin Raimonda: I think it would be splendid to form a new clan, because, as you say, there are some of you who find the distance too far. I was sorry to hear that you had left your competition essay too late. Please don’t do that again, will you.