Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 20939, 23 November 1929, Page 22

Between Ourselves

Cousin Mistletoe: I am not at the office on Saturdays, dear, so I hope you will be able to come in some other day. Let me know the day beforehand so that I can make sure of being in. Certainly the rainwas needed, but I do think we’ve had enough by now. Cousin Jeannine: I am so glad you are interested enough to get “writer’s cramp” writing to me. I hope your friend will not have to lose her nail. Jams are very sore things. Cousin Primrose: It is lovely to see the roses coming out once again. Already I have some beautiful red ones on my table as I write. I am glad you had such a happy birthday, dear. Cousin Morning Roses: Like you, dear, I used to look forward to examinations. They were always so exciting. Do you find the Girl Guide test difficult? Your father must be a very successful gardener. Cousin Dancing Sunbeam: The play house does sound a beauty, with its green paint. How lucky it is that the rain does not leak in. How many dolls have you? The little chickens soon grow up, don’t they?—before very long you will be wondering why they are not laying. Cousin Lady Nan: I am thinking of you during your examinations this week. Goodness, fancy your being old enough to sit for Public Service! Have you grown any taller? Are you going to be dux of your form this year? Cousin Fantail: I am so glad you like your enrolment card, dear. I hope it will bring you good luck in your examination. Do you think you will be able to come in for the Christmas celebrations?

Cousin Pussy Cat: I am glad you thought the competition was easy, little Cousin, and I hope you will try many more. Is it one of your duties to feed the pet lamb? Cousin Starlight: You certainly, were very lucky to have an extra week’s holidays: How did you manage that? What fun it must be looking for new young ducklings. Cousin Fairy Rata: Thank you for your gifts, dear. It was certainly very nice to hear from you again. I hope you will do yourself full justice in your examinations. Are you going back to school next year ? Cousin Moon Beam: I hope you will be able to come in to our Hospital Celebrations this year, but see, my dear, that you come as a Little Southlander, and not,, as a patient. All gifts will be very acceptable, little Cousin. !

Cousin Smiles: It was certainly very nice to hear from you again, dear. I have been missing your letters lately, although I realized that examination work would be occupying you. Thank goodness that will be over now!

Cousin Gladys: Y’our competition work was exceedingly good for a first attempt, dear. I hope you will manage to write regularly; though while you are in bed, would you please use a blacker pencil. It was very hard to read your work. I do hope you are better again by now. Cousin Tulip: Your competition w-ork was very creditable indeed, and showed a lot of care. I shall send you another enrolment card to replace the one that was burnt. Cousin Rose Marie: I shall be quite anxious to know whether you came first in your drawing examination. Won’t father be pleased if you do! I did not receive the money you were enclosing in your letter. Perhaps you forgot it. Do you love to feel the sun ? I’m sure you do. Cousin Margaret: I do hope you are better again, dear, and looking after yourself. Y'our work is improving ever so much, and I’m very pleased with you.

Cousin Connie: It was nice to hear from you again, dear, and I hope that now you have made a fresh start you will write often. ■

Cousin Sunbeam: ! hope you found your music examination pleasant, dear, and that your school ones are also safely over now. The flower you sent in was so badly crushed that I could not very well imagine what it had been. Will you send me another piece, please; ZZ. "~Z.~ Cousin Zonie: I-was very pleased, little cousin, to see how well you had done in your examination. Did you enjoy doing it? What a lovely holiday you are going to have. When are you coming to see me? Cousin Clara Bow: I am glad to hear from you, dear, whenever you can find time to write. What is making you so busy just at present ? Cousin Moonlight Reverie: What rejoicing there must have been at -the doctor’s news. Is your cousin up yet? I, too, hope you will be able to come down to the Christmas celebrations. Do you think there is a chance?

Cousin Betty: I did enjoy reading your letter, dear, and I hope you will find time to be a regular contributor. Are you quite well again now? Do you like learning music? Why not call yourself “Aenone” (which is pronounced as “aye-no-nay”) of whom Tennyson wrote so beautifully.

Cousin Pierrette: What lots of concerts you attend. Do you help with the programmes? I am so glad Annie liked her examination. Is she preparing a concert this year ? Cousin Lottie: I was ever so pleased to enrol you, little cousin. Welcome to our page, and I hope I shall hear from you often.

Cousin Narcissus: I’m sure you will like High School, dear, and I’m very glad you will have its benefits. You write very well, and, I think, very easily, so that I shall expect big things of you. Cousin Dewdrop: I was very sorry to know that Kitty’s four kittens caught chills and died. Poor Kitty must be very sad just now. All gifts are acceptable, dear, whether made by yourself or bought. Cousin Albert: I am glad the boat was such a success. You should make two and have races between them. Do tell me more about the concert and what part ygu are taking in it. Cousin Janet: Saving up your prize money to buy a watch is an excellent idea, my dear, and I do hope you’ll win many more prizes to add to it. Your writing has improved ever so much. Cousin Iona: You tell me’ you have “a gorgeous frock” and don’t even tell me what it’s made of or how —I call that very remiss and neglectful. I was thinking of you on Wednesday night, and I am looking forward to hearing all about everything. How well you did in the choir competition. Cousin Farmer’s Lazy Daugher:.! think you will be sorry to leave school when the time comes. What will you do with yourself all day long? You must have very clever fingers to be able to make your own frocks. I think a clan in your district is a very good idea, and we will think about it. Cousin Bell: I was very' pleased to find you again entering for the competitions, dear. Now that your examinations are over you should have more time for your writing. Cousin Dad’s Tom Boy: The party might be a good idea, dear. I’ll think about it. Please tell me more about the relationship. I am very interested. Are you keeping well now?

Cousin Try Again: Please try and let me know beforehand when you are next coming in. Ido want to see you, my dear. It’s perfectly ridiculous the way we keep missing each other. Cousin Hazlenut: I do hope your cold is better, my dear. I like you best when when you are being Christmas-y. Cousin Sunshine: I am extremely interested in your work, my dear, and am still looking forward to that promised visit. Cousin Sewing Maid: I had begun to think you had forgotten me, dear, and was very pleased to hear from you. Ido hope you will be able to come in on Christmas Eve day; Cousin Humpty Dumpty: What a lovely birthday present you received to be sure! That ought to spur you on to passing both examinations! Cousin Arley: It was awfully nice hearing from you again, dear. All sorts of interesting things do happen on a farm, don’t they. I think town children should envy you. I’m so glad the flowers are freshened with the rain. Cousin Al: I suppose you, too, are busy with examinations. What are you going to do in the holidays? Cousin Edna: I am so glad you are trying the competitions, dear. Keep going. You have lots of very clever Cousins round about you. Cousin Dad’s Girl: What does Sympathy do in the holidays? Help about the farm, I suppose. How long will you be able to keep Topsy? Cousin Pansy: What a lovely long letter from you, dear. I enjoyed every word of it. Y'ou will have to try and keep up your studies at home next year, if you think you may be going to college the following year. Perhaps some day you will be able to go to Rome and see the beautiful pictures you love —who knows ? ” Cousin Mary: When do you think you will be going back to England, dear? Do you remember very much about it ? Cousin Ismay: It must be fun being with all the other girls. Are you going back to school next year?