Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 20897, 5 October 1929, Page 22

Between Ourselves

Cousin Rex: I received both your letters, my dear, and although I was disappointed that the visit had to be postponed, I quite realise that your school-work must come first. Perhaps after your November exam, you will be able to take a half holiday from school; I should say by that time it would be even nicer, anyway. Watch your capital letters —the months and the seasons must both be spelt with capitals. Cousin Primrose: Yes, I hope that one day you will bring the quilt in to show me. I shall be interested, too, to hear the results of the essay competitions. Yours would certainly score on the point of neatness, at all events. Have you any pet lambs this year? This weather must be good for them as it is for us. Cousin Iona: Going to bed at nine o’clock and getting up at six o’clock seems to me a very good and practical idea. I have always contended that, it is as bad to have too much sleep as to have too little, and certainly one is always fresher to work in the early morning than late at night. Do you have to have an alarm to waken you ? I am glad you are playing in the recital. Chaminade is a very graceful composer—which of his compositions are you playing? And how about your reading? Cousin Columbine: When you do write, my dear, it’s always such a lovely long letter that I slop feeling neglected at once, and hope that the next one won’t be so long in coming. I should have liked to have been present at your Bible Class plays; when are they going on again ? I love the Island very much, and I think you are very lucky to be going there for your Christmas holidays. Goodness! That’s not very long to wait now. Cousin Albert: I’m surprised at you for allowing your opponents to “rattle up” such big scores against you! You will really have to alter that, as a future champion must not always be in a losing team. And do you mean to admit that the girls play hockey better than the boys play football? Shocking!

Cousin Mistletoe: I should like some daffodils from you very much, my dear. Yellow is»iny favourite colour, you know, which probably explains why I am so happy in the daffodil season. You said you were enclosing a story for the competition, but I did not receive it, so I hope it did not go astray.

Cousin Pierrette: I am so glad that grandma’s health is improving—it seems so unlike her to be indisposed. Give her my very dear love when you write, and tell her I am hoping to see her on her way through. I wonder if the little black lambs know that they are different from their fellows. Do the white, ones ostracise the black? Or are animals’kinder to one another than human-beings are?

Cousin "A Farmer’s Lazy Daughter”: I have always understood, my dear, that if there was one thing to‘ know about farmers’ daughters it was that they weren’t

lazy! Now, have I been misled? Please don’t prevent your young brothers from writing. I should like to hear from them, and there are lots of Little Southlanders younger than that who write to me. And please send me your competition efforts when they are completed, and let me judge whether they should go in the fire or not. I hope your leg is better.

Cousin Jeannine: Strawberries are very good things to be able to grow without any effort, yet you speak of them as if they were weeds. In two or three months’ time I’ll bet you will have changed your tune! And who finished her apron first? I really don’t think you need to bother much about the slope of your writing. Consistency is the main thing, and facility, and speed. Cousin Buster Boy: I am expecting some love poems from you any time now. I hope you will let me see them, won’t you? Perhaps you’ll go into detail a little more fully when I see you. Of course, by the time you read this I should have seen you. I will be expecting you. Cousin Brownie: Your news came as a great surprise to me; and although the change will be very nice for you, I cannot but think of it with regret, because you will be going further than ever away from the page, and me. You must promise not to forget us, and even amidst the excitement and interest of new surroundings to make time to write to me sometimes. Have you not been well lately? Cousin Dewdrop: What a lot of lambs to look after! I’m sure it must be lots easier to manage them in the lovely sunshine of the last few days. Do the daffodils grow wild on your other farm? Cousin Busy Bee: It was nice hearing from you again, dear. You live up to your pen-name so literally that I always know that when you do not write it is because you have so many other things to take up your time. Please tell me more about the new magazine you are taking. I have heard very little about it, and its title interests me. Will you tell me on what lines it is run, who is editing it, and who contributing—please. I think this must be a good season for whitebaiters. How many pints in a pound ? Cousin Starlight Rose: And so you hadn’t really forgotten about me at all! It was good to receive your letter, and I hope you will try .and write regularly now you have begun again. AncL tell Ginger Nut I want a letter please. 3 ’• The mistake in your age was another of that poor, harrassed printer-man’s. I looked up your age in the birthday book, and it’s entered correctly. Now see that you five girls don’t spoil that solitary brother of yours! Cousin Rabbie Burns: I shall be quite excited to hear the result of that final match—you’ll let me know at once, won’t you! , I think the weeds know it is Spring before we do, considering the rapidity with which they shoot up to greet it. Yet I suppose the poor things are just as much entitled to live as we are, though we do seem to be of more use, don’t we! Cousin Moonlight Reverie: I think it is good to let your thoughts wander where they will occasionally. It helps you to take a firmer grip of them afterwards. I hope I am going to see that train-inspired poem when it is completed. Yes, I like whitebait, now that I have overcome an aversion to those great staring eyes! Are you really letting your hair grow for good? Short hair is so convenient that I can’t see many people surviving a day or two of hairpins scraping and falling. Cousin Nonette: Welcome to our page, my dear. Your little friend has told me about you, and I am glad she has at last persuaded you to join. You children are certainly very lucky in getting a ride to school every day in such a nice car. Have you many miles to go? I think your countryside is particularly beautiful. Cousin Bruce: I’m very sorry, dear; you’ve waited patiently. But I hope it’s been rectified by now. When are you coining up to see me again? Cousin Sleigh Bells: Welcome to our page, my dear. I hope you will always be proud of being .a Little Southlander. I

am so glad you are home again; but what was the trouble that kept you in hospital such a long time? There’s one good thing about it—you’ll appreciate your health trebly now, and you’ll realise how fortunate you are to live in the country.

Cousin Smiles: I think the schools set more homework now than when I went to school. But doubtless you benefit by the addition! Yes, I think the proficiency exam, will be quite enough for you for one year. I’m glad you’re keeping up your sport. Cousin Glenice: I do hope your mother returns with more favourable news of your grandfather, dear. lam so glad you passed so well. You will have to try and beat those other seven in the next exam! What busy fingers you have. What is the latest apron like?

Cousin Mickie Mouse: What a lot of accidents have interfered with your family this year, dear. lam glad everybody is surviving them so well, and that you will soon have that clever sister of yours home for good. When you write to her, please tell her that I’d love to receive a letter from lier. I suppose Norma feels that two bantam eggs are much more than one quite large hen-egg! There are lots of grownups like that. Cousin Bobby: I had forgotten about the “Ruth Fielding” books, but now that you speak of them I think I read several. I know the “Anne” books were my favourites. Certainly I can remember having tonsilitis, and horrid it was, too! What was your “Carnival” costume like? Cousin Betty: The norn-de-plume you chose is already taken, my dear, so I hope you will discover another one you like. I hope, too, that your thumb is better. What did vou do to it ?

Cousin Lady Nan: Certainly we seem doomed not to meet again—have you grown any taller than you were when I first saw you ? And do you think you will be coming to town again this year? What an excellent report you received. Evidently lessons are no trouble to you. Cousin Amethyst: Your nice long letter was full of the fragrance of Spring and the nice earthiness of nature-lovers, dear. So many interesting things are always taking place around you that I am not surprised that you find your time fully occupied. What a family of cats you must have! No wonder there were objections when it was taking all of one cow’s milk to feed them! Is the nest of white rabbits comprised of somebody’s escaped pets ? Cousin Annetta: It seems a pity that you cannot attend school more regularly, dear, because naturally you do not have an equal chance with other children when you cannot always go. Do you cycle, or go on horseback? I love the large yellow sunflowers. I don’t think there is any flower I like better.

Cousin Indian Chief: Thank you very much for the snapshot, which I will treasure with the rest of my collection. I suppose your sister had to spur you to write again, eh? lam glad you are going to enter for some more competitions. Cousin Rippling Stream: I am sure you are very proud of your pet sheep for giving you two lambs. Will they be your pets, too? It is not good to allow a cold to stay with you. Are you taking a good cough mixture? Cousin Kitty: It was nice to hear from you again, my dear. Fancy one sheep having four lambs; I thought triplets were unusual enough! I’m sure your auntie must be proud of that sheep. I remember your little cousin, and I should say she would be an asset to the page when she grew older. She had a very quick brain. What do you do with the cigarette cards ?

Cousin Molly: I have just read your letter, dear, and am grievously wondering if you came up to see me last Friday. Ido hope you didn’t, because I wasn’t down until later in the afternoon, not having read your letter. When next you make an appointment, dear, mark your letter “Urgent” and then I will read it at once. I hope you will be in again soon. Ido want to see you. And please keep up with your competition work.