LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS’ CHRONICLE

Southland Times, Issue 25642, 9 April 1945, Page 6

LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS’ CHRONICLE

My Deal- Cousins, In future when addressing letters to me will all of you try and remember that the Southland Times Box number is 805.

Several times lately I have had written across envelopes “please put box number,” so I hope that you will make a note of it, and from time to time, too, I will jog your memories. Would any of you, big and little cousins, like to make me some scrap books for the children in hospitals? Story books are so expensive to buy these days and the days are sometimes very long for the little ones in hospital. The books need not be very big, and perhaps several children or a clan could work together and produce a really good book. It would be an interesting occupation for a wet day, and would bring a great deal of joy into the little patients’ lives.

Today at 5 o’clock I will be speaking “over the air” to you, and I hope you will enjoy the story I am going to read to you. With much love from LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS DEGREES A.C. (Able Contributor), 50 marks; V.A.C. (Very Able Contributor), 100 marks; M.A.C. (Most Able Contributor), 200 marks; M.A. (Master of Arts), 50 marks; M.P. (Master of Puzzles), 50 marks; W.L. (Writer of Letters), 50 marks; M.N. (Master of Neatness), 50 marks. Keep your marks cards and when you have 50, send a list of the marks, and the dates on which they were earned, to Cousin Betty. For degrees you may include marks which are given with prizes, but for a prize of 2/for 50 marks, prizemarks must not be sent.

DEGREES Marie BerryV.A.C. Mary Carran —A.C., M.P., and M.A. Russell Fergus, MP. COMPETITIONS 612TH COMPETITION—Story for all Cousins: “My Hobby.” Entries close TUESDAY, April 17. 172ND ART CLUB COMPETITION. —“Fairy Twinkletoes”.—Prizes of 1/- to Patricia Davis, 106 Don street, Peggy Riddle, Thombury, David Grant, 44 Ramrig street. 173RD ART CLUB COMPETITION.— Colouring competition for all Cousins: “On the Peninsula.” Entries close TUESDAY,- April 17.

AUTUMN —PRIZE— I love to walk through the Rose Gardens when the leaves on the trees turn to beautiful shades of gold and browns and flutter down from the trees. Out on the farms the apples and plums are ripe in the orchards and auntie gathers them in the clothesbasket to store away in the shed. Uncle is very busy in the paddocks making the best of each fine day to get his oats and wheat cut, stocked and then stacked. In the mornings it is net quite daylight when I awake, and as soon as we have had tea, it is time to put on the light. Soon it will be winter. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Valerie Harrington (10), 118 Scandrett street. —PRIZE— Gaily pretty summer vanished, leaving be* hind her Autumn, a younger sister, dreamyeyed and sweet. Autumn had come once more to England—the beautiful, refreshing English autumn, lingering along through October and November in a succession of sweet, fresh, chilly days, with bright, glowing sunsets and miracles of coloured growth. The birches in the hills and valleys turn to a colour as golden as the sunshine; the cherry trees along the lanes put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, and the tall, straight maples of numerous woodland haunts and shady dells are a royal crimson colour. Wild roses and little curly ferns growing on the waysides are covered with pearly dewdrops, and here and there miniature veiled lakes, with small, green frogs croaking may be found. ‘ These autumnal days are calm and cool after the hot, sweltering days of summer. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Joan Davis (13), 106 Don street, Invercargill. —PRIZE—

Across the fields he comes, dressed in a suit of rustic brown. He skips here and there mischievously tinting and painting the trees and fruits as he goes. He paints the apples and plums a rosy red, the pears a golden yellow, while he paints the greengages a pale green to deceive the little folk, so he says. They will think they are still green. Then he paints the wheat a rich golden brown, and tints the leaves of the trees and shrubs with reds, gold, yellows, orange and browns. He kisses the autumn flowers a gentle farewell as he passes. He cheerily plays around for three months and then he sends a strong chill wind to strip the leaves of the trees, so that when winter arrives he cannot copy his handwork. He knows that the fruit has all been picked and the farmers have cut their crops so his work is done and he travels on dabbing his paint brush here and there. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin June Holland (15), 45 Wigan street, Gore. ENROLMENTS Valmai Sparrow (11), 24 George street. Jill Macalister (11), 73 Gala street. Alan Bruce (10), Section 8, Glencoe R.D. Valerie Harrington (10), 118 Scandrett street. Patricia Wilson (6), 101 Islington street. Joyce Wilson (13), 101 Islington street. Judith Myers (7), 103 Islington street. Joan Davis (13), 106 Don street. Jack Hawke (10), 40 Heriot street. Kevin Hawke (8). 40 Heriot street. HOW TO ENROL Send your name, age, birthday and address to Cousin Betty, The Southland Times, Invercargill, and a coloured enrolment card will be sent to you.