COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

COUSIN BETTY’S LETTER

My dear Cousins,

On Monday of this week Percy Pencil was discussing our election with Isobel Inkpot when he heard the tramp tramp of feet on Sally Staircase and guessed at once that the first visitors of the new term were climbing up to see Cousin Betty. He was quite right and soon the boys were busy changing their library books and investigating the copies ot the Takitimu Echo and the Waituna Herald which have made their homes on Table-top Land.

On Tuesday everyone knew when the girls were approaching, for my fairy-like girl cousins seem to make much more noise than the biggest of the boys, y Susan Spring has definitely chased Jack Frost away, and he has set out on his long journey to the other side of the world, where Annie Autumn is preparing the earth for his coming. Susan has penetrated to every comer of Southland, bringing the sunshine and warm winds with her. From all over the province I have received letters telling me about the baby lambs and calves in the fields, and the tiny crocuses, violets and daffodils that are brightening your gardens. How does Susan manage to be everywhere at once? That is what my helpers would like to know. Perhaps a sunbeam playing on the table-top will be able to tell them. A favourite game at present' is “hide-and-go-seek.” Percy Pencil, Penelope Pen, Ronnie Ruler and Ruby Rubber play it with the sunbeams, and usually the visitors win. Percy says he is polite, and allows the sunbeams to win, but I am not so sure about that. The sun’s helpers have so much practice playing the game with sick children and invalids that they are experts and dart all over the room while the slower pencil and pen are still looking for them under a pile of entries. Try to catch a sunbeam and see how successful you are 1 . More news of the election next week. Your loving