“ORIENT” CANNOT RESIST CALL OF HOME SWEET HOME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 19 (Supplement)

“ORIENT” CANNOT RESIST CALL OF HOME SWEET HOME

Dear Wendy,—l think it is about my turn to write you a few lines to keep the old "firm” alive, but really it is very shortly going into liquidation. You see my "offsider,” "Orient,” has been unable to resist the call of "Home Sweet Home,” and has at last decided to sail for China in a few weeks. Since our acquaintance (some four to five years) he has proved himself a friend of the truest calibre. His motto (to quote Shakespeare’s "Hamlet”), seems to be: "The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried. Grapple them to your soul with hooks of steel.” To again quote, this time from Bacon’s "Essays on Friendship,” "his friendship has been one that redoubleth joys, and ; cutteth griefs in halves.” He has promised to write me in each letter, his travels, any anecdotes, stories, etc. I can say that we, time, I am any judge, I can say tha we, one and all, are in for treats. I will forward anything interesting for our Hut. He leaves from Sydney in a month or so, and I have asked him to write his impression of Sydneyside, and the new bridge that is under construction. He wishes me to tell you that his sojourn in your midst, though short, has been thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday’s paper is the week's "red letter” moment for him (in fact, we two usually come almost to a "scrap” over who is to read it first). He conveys to you the best wishes for the Hut’s future happiness and prosperity. He hopes to hear while Home of our reaching the Srd thousandth mark. He is sure that the remembrance of the old "Hut” will always be yivid in his memory and in the course of his return hopes to revive tl)e firm of "Orient” and "Occident.” Well, Wendy, as I believe I have said all I can I must close with all the best wishes and love from the departing "Orient’ nnd myself.—From "ORIENT” and "OCCIDENT,” Raetihi. P.S.—You will be thinking me the usual type of girl to add a P.S. (with dun apologies) but really I clean forgot. "Orient” wishes me to tell you how "bucked” he was to see his last letter under headlines. It has always been a cherished hope of his which has. contrary to his expectations been suddenly realised. As he said to me, "Wendy must have a soft spot in her heart for me.” He conveys to you his thanks for giving him the opportunity of, before leaving, seeing his "masterpiece” in print.—Your "O.”

I read your letter, dear, with a certain amount of sadness and joy. That my sound strange, but it is nevertheless true inasmuch that I am sad our "Orient” is to take from us a long absence, but joyful to know that he is to visit his "Home, Sweet Home.” I can understand his excitement and pleasure in the thought that in a few weeks hence he will be on his way home. It will be wonderful to have his storiee about his travels. I do hope he will recount them for us. I am sure he will write to our Hut through you regularly. We shall all be with him in thought, and look forward to the time when he will recross the mighty oceans, and once more take up residence in the Hut that will await that time with eagerness. Will you ask him to write to me before he leaves? It gives me happiness to know that his ambition was at last reached in a recent issue of our pages.— Wendy.