COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 18

COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

quotation for to-day. “When the sunne shineth, make hay.” —J. Heywood.

My dearest cousins, o ]<j maxim “Familiarity breeds contempt?” It is a very wise old saying and your own Cousin Jetty thinks it is one of the truest that has ever been written. Last week-en a motor trip up the Eglinton Valley. I don’t know ne Southlanders have done this trip but, from a scemc point of view, of the loveliest in the world. The steep, steep hills whic h rise from the edg of the quiet lakes are covered with birch trees and, above these hills to snow-capped peaks of high mountains display themselves mag "^ nt stern guardians of all the beauty that lies far down below them. In the levy thicknesses of the birchs the wild pigeons coo andl play woccasionally one sees a silver ribbon of water bubbling downhill between the trees, making, in its hurry to reach the sleepy lake, a fairy s melody. And I am sure that such a spot is the hiding place of numbeiiess_faines -11 the good ones. For it is from such a glorious comer that Good Thoughts ■’and Happiness springs. Don. you ogs.o, Weil, J-” S the “Familiarity breeds contempt maxim comes in. my Little Southlanders to take beautiful things for granted, or because, we are lucky enough to live in a place that is full of beauty, to loose e, - thusiasm and become bored about things are really veij lovdy. C you imagine what it would mean to a little London child, who has never known anything but smoky air and dirty streets, to suddenly go for a picmc such as you do almost every week in the summertime in a place like the Eglinton Valley, or Oreti Beach, or Thomson’s Bush? Can t £° U h * ar * gasps of delight and see the sparkle in their eye as they see the little lam froficing in the green paddocks, the children sliding down the haystacks, the birds burbling with joyous song, the clean creeks meandering below the hills and the blue, clear sky guarding it all. Tne London child would be amazed, awe-struck, but you, my dearest Little Southlanders, are surrounded by such things every minute of your l.fe. So, be thankful my cousins thankful and let your lives reflect the beauty that surrounds you and may you never take God’s gifts for granted. . , , And now-the Peggy Squares. They must all be m by to-day week How many am I going to receive by that day? I am hoping hat will be covered with them-in fact I shall be only too pleased if I have to climb over piles and piles of them to get to my table! Now, dont disappoint me, my dears, but go for your young lives and work the post-man like anything. I know he won’t mind a scrap. . How are the Christmas Tree gifts progressing? I have already received contributions for it and I want you all to work really hard. It would be a good idea for some of you to make scrap-books. One cousin has alrea y sent me a delightful one-they are just what children in bed love to look at, and they are not difficult to make. And then what about pincushions or face-cloths, or dolls—which can easily be made by stuffing a stocking, making arms and legs and sewing a face with coloured cotton. I am sure you are al full of bright ideas, so do get busy and do things! Christmas is very very near to us now and there is no time like the present. I seem to have said such a lot to-day but, after all, one letter a week isn’t very much it is and I do love my Little Southlanders so much and am so proud of them. I think I have reason to be, don’t you? Your loving