COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

Southland Times, Issue 20669, 15 December 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

COUSINS, MY DEAREST DEARS, Our second last page this year—and"quite a good page, at that 1 Can you imagine. Cousins, that twelve whole months have gone since the last time we were making our plans for the Hospital celebrations? It seems hardly possible that the year we were even then looking forward to with hopes of fulfilment is already fading into the old, and even now we are on the verge of the new, but our anticipation is a year older! One Cousin wrote to me during the week saying she is already thinking of the rime when she will be old and grey, with little of life still to live; the time when she will walk down the street and see young girls and boys wearing the badge of Little Southlanders, and she will look on them, even then, as her Cousins, and enjoy the relationsuip Ido not like looking forward to age. on the contrary, nor to the time when I will be too old to be the Cousin Betty of Little Southlanders; but with the passing of another year these thoughts occtfr to one, even to me, with increasing frequency, and I find them not pleasant thoughts. Meanwhile, therefore, I do not look ahead more than a week, and as a matter of fact this week is going to be crammed almost to overflowing with things to do, with Saturday at the hospital as the culminating point. There are school break-ups, and prize-givings, and concerts and holiday preparations,; and there are also a number of children, and grown-up children too, lying in the hospital waiting for the Christmas cheer we are going to bring them. The money in the fruit fund is mounting up, although I hope there will be much more than the 29/6 we have at present. With £2 I think we should be able to buy sufficient fruit to give each patient a share, so try and make it up in this little week we have left, my dears. And I’m afraid many of you are leaving the sending oi your gifts till the last minute, Cousins, because so far there are surprisingly few in comparison with those of other years. Now you know we must always go forward, never back, and it is our aim to make this party the biggest and best yet. I have heard from quite a number of country Cousins who are coming in for the afternoon next Saturday, and I am hoping that as many town Cousins as possible will be there. Wouldn’t it be lovely if there are several hundreds of Little Southlanders alone, not to speak of your mothers and fathers, *and sisters and aunts and other grown-up friends whom I hope to see on that day! Remember that everybody will be welcome, no matter how old or how’ young! It is our day for giving happiness, isn’t it, and we want not only the poor sufferers in hospital, but all our friends to share it with us. I don’t think there are many instructions I have to give you. Send in your gifts as soon as possible; and those of you who have flowers to bring, bring them along in all their loveliness on Saturday afternoon. The celebrations will begin at 2 o’clock as usual, and besides the usual distribution of gifts from the tree by Santa Claus, I have asked Mr Pryde to present this years trophies. Now. Cousins, I know you are all agog to know who has won the gold medal for 1928. Last year, and in the one previously, it has been given to the “best all-round Little Southlander.” But, as you know, some little time ago now a business man in the town told me he wished to give a watch to the Little Southlander, boy- or girl, setting the best example. This watch goes to Cousin James Edgar Botting. Woodlands, who, I consider, lives up to the name more fully than any other Cousin. He rarely misses his weekly letter, his competition attempts in drawing, prose and verse, are frequent, and he contributes at not infrequent intervals to the Original Verse section. For our bazaars he is one of our most indefatigable workers, and throughout the winter he made special trips to town to attend the somewhat arduous rehearsals of his big part in “Goblin Gold.” Throughout the play period he was a very great help to me, and there were many times he came in to rehearsals at no little inconvenience to himself, whereas the town children were closer at hand. 1 know there will not be a, Little Southlander but will be happy at my choice. With the gold medal I found a more difficult task. Having announced I would award it for progress, I had to set about watching the work of all of you very intently Undoubtedly Cousin Mabel Wright, had she not reached 16 during the year, would have won it, her work having improved far beyond its earlier promises. Then there is young Cousin Gladys Robertson, who is making steady progress, although working only in fits and starts, as does Cousin Vera Gillespie, too, both promising writers. Cousin Clare Hunter works well, but infrequently, as is really the case with lots of you. Cousin Mary Heath was one of the foremost in the running. After most careful consideration, therefore, the 1928 gold medal for progress goes to one who does not live amongst us except in her writings which throughout the year have been regular, and have improved, both prose and verse, as regularly. I refer to Cousin Annie Williamson, of Balclutha. and I very much hope that she will be able to be present at the Hospital next Saturday to receive in person what she has won. Goodness gracious, my dears, how this letter has run on! I really must stop. Send in your gifts and on Saturday next at 2 o’clock we will all meet at the hospital where there will surely be no happier or prouder being than your own