Between Ourselves

Southland Times, Issue 22351, 16 June 1934, Page 18

Between Ourselves

Cousin Ike: Welcome to our Page! I am so pleased you have joined us and I hope you will like being a Little Southlander and will write to me often. I expect you have lots of jolly times with your little dog.

Cousin Titania: It was nice to hear from you again, my dear. Your writing is as neat as ever. Why not call your kitten Fluffems. I’m sure he is a fluffy wee fellow. The concert must have been great fun. I wonder who your new teacher will be.

Cousin Maude: Good girl for coming top in your examination. You must have had a busy time while the mill was at your place. How lovely to know you are working for the bazaar! Yes, marks for drawing, poetry and prose may all be counted together. You get marks for any Mind Sharpeners which you make up and I put in the paper. I do not keep your marks. You must add them up yourselves. Cousin Autumn Leaf: I like your penname very much, my dear. Fancy the nurses having a car like yours! Was it the same colour and everything? I am looking forward to seeing your apron. Cousin Sun-ray: I am so glad you like your enrolment card. Have you framed it? What a good win you had in your basketball match. Are you a shoot, defence or centre? I hope your nose is better now. The weather has horrid lately, hasn’t it? I always think chrysanthemums are beautifully pretty. Cousin Silvery Moon: I can’t remember if I sent your enrolment card. If not please send me your name, age, date of birth and address and I shall post your card. I am getting so thrilled about your parcel. I wonder what will be in it! You did not enclose the 6d, dear. I thought I had better tell you in case you had mislaid it. The snow is pretty, isn’t it. I hope your cousin is better now. Thank you for the riddles. Cousin Little Dinky Girl: I enjoyed your letter, my dear. Yes, the “Little Women” books are most readable. Your jersey sounds very smart and I expect it is nice and cosy. What fun your concert will be. Club-swinging is most effective I think and also it is splendid exercise for you. I wish your friends would write and then you could have such a jolly clan, couldn’t you? What a quaint little fellow your brother must be. I think that was a lovely joke about the colours! Yes I love music. How lovely having all those records. Are you going to learn to play the piano? Cousin Peony Rose II: Welcome to our Page, my dear little country cousin! I hope you will like being a Little Southlander. Do write me a long letter soon. I have put II beside your pen-name because I think we have another Peony Rose. Perhaps you would chose another name. Cousin Scottish Thistle: Welcome to Our Page dear! I am so pleased you have joined us and I hope you will like being a Little Southlander. Do write me a long letter soon. Cousin Nola’s Nurse: Welcome to our Page, my dear! I hope you will write to me often. Would you ask Sailor Mac to send me his full name age, date of birth and address and then I can send him his enrolment card. What a pretty name your baby sister has! You must be a great help to your mother when you look after the baby for her. Cousin Miss Muffett: It was so nice to hear from you again after such a long silence. I know how busy schoolgirls are. What bad luck having your house burnt down! I had not heard about it. Your puppy sounds very sweet and I like his name. What a pretty jersey you are knitting. It will be very cosy on these cold days. Do write again soon. Cousin Colleen: There is' a lot of work to do in Standard Six, isn’t there? Good luck for your proficiency. I do hope your mother will soon be quite better. What bad luck you have had, my dear. How nice to be able to knit things for your parents. Cable stitch is most effective, isn’t it? I used to play basketball when I was at school. It is a splendid game, isn’t it? Do come and see me some day soon.

Cousin Ginger: How I envy you the colour of your hair, my dear! I think “ginger” hair, as you call it, is so pretty. Meccano sets are very interesting, aren’t they? Yes, I love going to the pictures if there is a good programme to see. The country is a splendid place for a holiday, isn’t it?

Cousin June: I am very well, thank you, my dear. What a lovely lot of knitting you are doing in your house. It is a splendid pastime in the winter, isn’t it? I am so glad the concert is going well. It will be fun, won’t it? I can hardly wait for the night to come. How horrid of Mr Weatherman to spoil your chrysanthemums. Cousin Winter Rose: You will be glad to see the Mind Sharpeners this morning. Thank you for the poem about “Us.” I enjoyed it immensely. We will certainly have a Spring Page at the beginning of that season. We must make a splendid one of it, too. Cousin Anzora Viola: Yes, my dear, thank you for the Clan markings. I was thrilled with your contributions. Your hat sounds so pretty. Perhaps you will wear it when you come to see me. What a lovely clan you have at Rimu! I am so proud of it and am looking forward to paying a visit to you all very soon. Cousin Morning Dew: I hope your exams will not be too difficult. I shall be interested to know how you get on with . them. I just loved the bazaar contributions you sent. The baby’s petticoat sounds very thrilling. Feather and fan is such a prefty stitch, I think. Tell your brothers I was so excited to learn that they are saving their pennies for our bazaar.

Cousin S.S.S.:-If you send me 12 penny stamps I will be very pleased to you another badge. What bad luck losing your other one! The measles have been making a nuisance of themselves lately haven’t they? I expect you’re glad you’ve had them. Do write again soon. Good luck for your Proficiency! Cousin Violet: Yes, I am quite sure our bazaar is going to be a roaring success. All the cousins are so enthusiastic and are working really hard for it. Your apron sounds very pretty and I am looking forward to seeing it. It will be splendid to have actually had the measles and be done, with them. They are a nuisance aren’t they? I enjoyed your letter very much. Do write again soon. Cousin Delores Del Rio: Yes, it is difficult to chose the best stories. They have all been so good lately. Post your paintings to Cousin Annie Murphy, Winton. The Happy-go-lucky clan will be thrilled to receive them and frame

them. I used to love basketball. I expect you play a great deal. Baroness Orczy’s books are most exciting aren’t they? Cousin Sunny Morn: Won’t it be gorgeous if you can come to the bazaar! I do hope you will be able to. I’m so glad you enjoy the Page so much. The bazaar will be at the end of August. In the term holidays, I hope. It is lovely to know you are working hard. Do write again soon. Cousin Rosie Posie: You won’t take very long to reach 50 marks my dear and then you will receive a prize of 2/-. Do the drawings on drawing paper, please. No, it certainly would be dreadful to copy from another look, wouldn’t it? I like your idea for a competition. Do write again soon. Cousin Rex: Of course, I am just thrilled to enroll you, my dear! Welcome to our Page. Are you going to choose a nom-de-plume? Most of the cousins do and it is rather fun. I think. I hope you will write me a long letter very soon. Cousin Peter Pan I: You must have been surprised to see your pen-name in the Paper last Saturday. I am glad you still read the Page. Cousin Ruth has been writing some splendid stories lately. The Bazaar will be held at the end of . August. I hope you will be able to come to it. . t Cousin Love Bird: It was nice to get your letter, my dear. I do like your pen-name. The basketball match you were watching between Hedgehope A and Seaward Downs must have been exciting. The idea of another party is splendid, I think. I hope your mouth is better now. How long are you going to keep you* prize? I thought your costume was splendid. Cousin Blue eyes: I enjoyed your first entry immensely, my dear. What a pity the pin came off your badge! I expect you will have it mended by now. The winter is very cold, isn’t it? However the shortest day will soon be over, thank goodness, and spring is not so very far away. « Cousin Doris: Yes, I have a brother who plays football. It is a splendid game to watch I think but I wouldn t like to play it very much. The players seem to get hurt quite often, dont they? It will be fun at the bazaar when all the cousins can have a chat together. I do hope all the country cousins can come into town. What a pity you made the mistake about going to Nightcaps. Basketball is a splendid game I think. Cousin Sporting Maid: No I did not see “Little Women,” but I enjoyed “Paddy the Next Best Thing” although it was rather sad in parts. Have you been reading very much lately? Tins is just the weather for having lots of books around us, isn’t it? Cousin Lover of Books: How splendid to have another party. I do hope it will be as big a success as your last one. I’m afraid I shan’t be able to come this time, but I will think of you, of course. No, there are no cousins in Wellington who are writing just now. Yes, I do have a very hard time judging the stories and poems. Cousin Mum’s and Dad’s Right-Hand Girl: Yes, Old Man Weather has been quite disguesting lately, hasn’t he? I do hope you will manage to miss the measles. They are horrid things aren’t they? I am still hoping to see Betty one of these days. Yes, the Henderson cousins certainly are an absolute credit to our page. Do write a long letter soon.

Cousin Weeping Willow: What a pretty gift your mother gave you for your birthday. Rose pink is a lovely colour isn’t it? You know, you don’t count the Mind Sharpener marks with the entry marks. You receive a prize of 2/- when you have 50 marks for poetry, prose, and drawings, and 2/when you have 800 for mind sharpeners. Your letter was very neatly written, my dear. Cousin Stormy Petrel: Have you framed your enrolment card? It is rather a good idea to do so and then you can hang it by your bed. Please be careful to put your age beside your entries, my dear. You omitted to do so with your Mind Sharpeners. I like your pen-name.

Cousin Patrick: I do hope your touch of influenza is better. I am bursting with pride at the result of your sale. Please keep any money you want for buying materials to make bazaar contributions and forward the rest of the money to me. I will credit it to your clan. Thank you for the solution. I knew you would keep your word. Cousin Birthday Roses: Thank you for the puzzles. You enjoy the Mind Sharpeners, don’t you, my dear? I hope you escape the measles. Give Norman my love and tell him I’m glad he’s better. I suppose he was able to read lots of books while he was in bed. It will be lovely to see you in town some day. Cousin Lover of Horses: Yes, I forgive you for last week, my dear, because you have been wonderfully consistent in your correspondence with me, I hope you enjoyed the basketball tournament. It must have been very jolly. What a gale you must have had when all the papers were blown away! The weather has been horrid lately, hasn’t it? I think it must have been even colder with you than in Invercargill. Fancy you seeing me on Sunday! I wish you’d coo-eed out to me and I’d have stopped and had a chat. As you can imagine I am thrilled about the baby’s frock you are knitting. I am always hoping you may be able to pop up to my office some day. I hope you win the euchre prize next time.

Cousin Joy: I expect you enjoyed your visit to town last week. How do you like being housekeeper? I hope your mother is having a lovely holiday. The weather has been wretched lately but we will soon be past the shortest day and spring will be here in no time. I am so glad you are going to enter for tjie competitions. Cousin Ruth: Yes, August is very close now. It is marvellous how the time flies. How nice having a library in your class at school. The book you mention, certainly is sad. How lovely to think you may be going to spend a holiday in Wellington. Yes, I love animals, especially horses and dogs. I love my cousins to send me mind sharpeners.

Cousin Winkie Wee: The weather has been very cold lately but I suppose we have to expect that in mid-winter. What fun you will have with your little friend on her birthday! I wonder what you will play at? It is nice that at least one member of your family is near your own age. What is your sister’s name? Cousin Dawn: It was such fun seeing you on Tuesday. I knew you were feeling shy but I hope we will become friends when we know each other better. How lovely to think you may make something for the Bathroom Stall! I wonder what it will be. Do come up and see me again soon, won’t you? Cousin Plain Jane: It was nice to hear from you again. Euchre is rather fun isn’t it? I used to play quite a lot once upon a time and I always enjoyed it. I really never do very much knitting. You are very sensible to commence your tennis jumper now. It will be ready for the opening of the season. Has it got long sleeves and what stitch are you doing? Cousin Rilla of Ingleside: I like your pen-name. Have you succeeded in getting the book yet. The Anne of Green Gables books are gorgeous I think, especially the first one. I’m so glad you received your enrolment card. Are you going to frame it? Cousin Golden Locks: Welcome to our page my dear! I’m so glad you have decided to join us and I do hope you will enjoy being a Little Southlander. It is lovely to think the short-

est day will soon be over isn’t it? Have you really got golden locks and are they curly? Do write a long letter soon. Cousin Eastern Bride: What a pretty calendar your mother’s friend sent from Scotland. I love heather don’t you? What games of cards do you play? The snow is terribly cold isn’t it but I always think it looks so pretty. Do write again soon. ' Cousin Rex I: I have put a number beside your nom de plume because there is another Rex in this column today. I did appreciate your writing and sending me that song which I enjoyed reading. I have always wanted to meet you because I know that before you grew too old you were one of the most prominent Little Southlanders. I have kept your copy of the song and will publish it later. Thank you. Cousin Rata Sprite: I think you have thought everything out splendidly, my dear and you have a good organizing brain. The money you made from the supper cloth could easily be put towards the train fare after you have paid the competition prizes. Yes, snow is beautiful to look at, isn’t it? Jack Frost has a store of beauty in him, too. I am so glad you can appreciate beauty, my dear. It all adds to the joy of living. The Times Office is in Esk street—towards the end of the second block from the station and it is on the south side. You will have no difficulty in finding it. Cousin Mist o’ Morning: The .wind is most exhilarating if you are warmly clad isn’t it? I am glad you enjoy corresponding with the other cousins. I wonder what you are making for the bazaar? I do hope you will be able to come down for it. Let me know how you get on with your exams won’t you? Congratulations on gaining another 50 marks; my dear!