SUNBEAM COLUMN.

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 8

SUNBEAM COLUMN.

GOOD THOUGHTS TO ALL THE WORLD! My Dear Sunbeams, I wonder it th', picnic we had at Hokitika has put all of us to sleep. You know the week after our glorious picnic, 1 did not receive one letter, and I was lonely and sad because 1 had thought to receive a whole big bundle.y 1 was wondering for two weeks if 1 had finished being your Aunt, and 1 remained silent. 1 thought I'd write no more, when up conies a letter from our Gwennie ami then another and another, and here I am. You made me come back. 1 wondered if all of you just wanted tin picnic, and not Aunt Flora. 1 am pleased you made me think differently ■ 1 have a magazine and to-day as L was wondering what I’d tell my Sunbeues I came across this little- story on kindness to the aged: —‘‘Our life is line a piece of ground; the children play at one end; the strong men and worn m work in the middle, and the on. folks sit on the seats at the other end. I will tell you of the nation which rays respect Io old age more than any other nation on earth. I mean the e.dnese. The older a person becomes Utt more they think he should” be honoured. When a Frenchman, M. Simon, received a Visit from two Chinese villagers, he took care the best seat was given to the elder man. After talking of other things one of the Chinnme:! said to Al. Simon: “May I ask your happy age? [The Frenchman replied, “I am ti.irtysix. ” “I should have thought yon double that,” said the Chinaman very politely; and he meant his remark to give pleasure, for he. considered to be aged seventy-two was better than to be aged thirty-six. Always, there fore, in China, the younger people give way to the old, and attend to their comfort, and listen with respect Io their words. JI. Simon understood th< Chinese custom. If ever a crowd ot Chinese happened to approach hiliotise, regarding him with curious and mistrusting eyes, he would wait tilt he saw an old man, whom lie would invite to follow him to the best seat. He would place the old Chinaman in the seat of honour with many bows an I with kind words. At «nce the pcopiunderstood that lie was a friend; they listened to him and left off their cries or complaints. And as each father or

grandfather dies, his name is kept on a varnished board, and the story of his life is written in a book, and at least once a month the family will assemble in a quiet room and listen to the names and deeds of one of their forefathers. They never forget those who lived before them; and even a poor Chinaman can tell you the history of his family for hundreds of years. Is it not pleasing to see the son respect the lather, the young respect, the old, the present respect the past? Some people snect at the Chinese, but, for my part, I think they must be a good nation. Good thoughts to all the world always. AUNT FLORA.

Greymouth. Dear A-iut Flora. Uncles and Sun beams, —Greetings to all. 1 enjoyed ■ our picnic very much indeed, and we I must thank Aunt Flora and Uncle Jim ' verv much for making our picnic such a success. 1 was glad it was such a 1 lovely day. *1 was in the swimming bath most of Hie time. I have started at the; Technical School and I like H ' verv much. 1 have been in for :i swim every night for a couple of weeks. 1 can swim now. I must close now vt ith good thoughts to all. SUNBEAM GWENNIE. Greymouth. ’ Dear Aunt Flora, Uncles and Sun , beams, —Greetings and good thoughts to , all. I must write and thank you for the lovely time 1 had down at Hoki tika. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think 1 can safely say that all en-

. joyed themselves, t was so vetv pea ed to meet lsad and such a lot of th other Sunbeams. I went up to TotalFlat last Wednesday, and we had ; Icvely time up there. The weather wa beautiful and I went in for a swim a three different times. Well, I nius close now with best wishes to all fruit SUNBEAM MARY. Greymouth. Dear Aunt Flora.— Greetings am good thoughts to all. I was so ver; pleased to meet so many Sunbeams, enjoyed myself very much. We wen very tired when we reached home, bu we are glad to say that, we thorough!; enjoyed ourselves. I must dose not sending all good thoughts io all frou SUNBEAM JOHN. Grey mold b. Dear Aunt Flora, Uncles and Suu beams, —Greetings to all. 1 thank yoi ’for the lovely picnic you gave us las Saturday. I enjoyed myself ver.much. I am glad it was a fine day fo it. I went down to the swimmtn; bath and enjoyed myself very much, must dose now. Good Thoughts lo all. SUNBEAM BLUEBELL. Hukarerc. Dear Aunt Flora—Good wishes . t all the world always. We are havin: good weather down here just at pre sent. The children down here go fo swims every day. When I came hoim from Sunbeam Primrose's place, it wa raining something awful. Our D-ltoo picnic is this month, so 1 am looktu; forward for a good limo. SUNBEAM RATA. Hukarerc. Dear Aunt Flora, —Good wishes to til the world always. I suppose you haw been waiting for a letter. We had : picnic on Saturday and we had a love ly time swimming, racing and skipping How did you enjoy yourself at the Sun beam picnic? On the 9th of April v< arc going to have competitions in tin Ikamatua hall. I am going in fot whistling, reading tied recitation. SUNBEAM RATA. Alum Lee Dear Aunt Flora, Uncle Jim and Sunbeams, —Just these few lines to tell you I enjoyed the picnic very much amt 1 want to thank Uncle Jim for taking us to Paroa. As I have no more news

- just now I must close. Willi goo< ■« I hough ts to all from 3 SUNBEAM FORGET-ME NOT. Greymouth. Dear Aunt Flora. Uncle Jim ant ‘ Sunbeams, —1 am writing these f?w f lines to let you know 1 am still alive 1 I know I have not written for a lonj. time, but never mind, 1 enjoyed th< 'picnic very much indeed, and I want ti I thank Uncle Jim for taking us tc Paroa last week. Well that is all 1 I lean think of, so will close with besl > (thoughts to all from t SUNBEAM WALLFLOWER. Alma Lee 1 Dear Aunt Flora, Uncle Jim and Suu beams, —I am just writing these feu lines to tell you about the picnic. . want to thank Unc?e Jim about the ridi j to Paroa. As 1 have no more new; ( to say 1 must close with thoughts to all SUNBEAM MABEL. Hukarerc. ’ My Dear Aunt Flora, —Good wishe. 1 to all the world always. Wc have beei line weather here and L hope i lasts. The children have been fo fswims every day. My sister and , went out blackberrying on the 19th o >• February and picked thirteen and a ’ half pounds of blackberries. It is get r ting near mail time, so I must conclude SUNBEAM RATA. i Hukarerc. ; Dear Aunt Flora, —Good wishes t< all the world always. Aly sister Sun beam Rata has joined the column. but asked me to join too. 1 would be verx glad if I could join. We are having very wet weather up here, so it will the garden good. Wc are having < 1 school picnic this month. SUNBEAM VIOLET. Dear Sunbeams, —I am glad you have 1 learned to swim, Gwennie, ami that you * like your now school. 1 am pleased you • all enjoyed the picnic, Mary. I am sure Uncle Jim did, and I know I did. Yes, John, the picnic was good and so we all were happy. Bluebell had a i. time I am sure. T am plea.set! you enjoyed your school picnic. M hat a I big list you are in for Rata. 1 wish j. success. I think Uncle Jim is very I good to all of his Sunbeams, Forget-me-not. I am sure you enjoyed the ride to

,t Paroa as well as Wallflower ami Mabel. II wish I lived near you, Rata; I’d get some of those lovely blackberries. I !am glad yon came, Violet, and 1 hope ■ you keep on writing for we never have ‘ n Sunbeam too many. Love to all Sun- ' kams. • | AUNT FLORA-