ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 72

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Misery. —l really don't see that you can do anything, unless send a. very carefully-worded little note asking if there is any reason for the break in a friendship which you had felt convinced was as pleasant to the other side as to yourself. Of course, such a letter requires to be worded delicately, but you are quite justified in asking if its cessation is due to any misurjderstanding, which might be removed by frankly talking it over. IiAVENDEB. —Thank you for your kind and 1 pleasant letteir. It is always a pleasure to hear from you, and 1 I am so glad to hear that the correspondence you mention has begun so happily. I am sure that a note from you would give the dear Grandmother much -pleasxire; her life in her tropic island home is necessarily a isolated one, though nothing will ever quench the keen and intelligent interest she always takes in the affairs and topics of the outside world, as well as the warm interest she feels in all the writers to my page — C.C.G.' members or not. I'll gladly forward a letter for you, Lavender. Cousin Jean. —"Very glad to hear from you again, and so pleased that the cuttings of the ice-plant are growing beautifully, and are a pleasant i-emindar of your remembrance of E-nxmeline. C.C.C, members are askedi to accept kindly greetings, good 1 -wishes for 1908, and warm appreciation of the club's work during 1907 from Cousin Jean. Boy Friend. —Gabrielle in her last letter to me says: "I have a copy of 'Neptune's Toll,' and' like it very much. I hope Boy Friend may have much success with it. . . i May the little army of New Zealand writers grow and go far." In answer to your suggestion, my dear friend, as to sketches, I scarcely know what to say. except that J.ML, coming more in touch with actual publishing details, is a better counsellor than I could be. Yes, that was a strange coincidence about O'Dowd's booklet. Gabrielle. —Did I tell you how much I * liked the lovely little paStoral -which brought me your Christmas greetings, Gabrielle? It is to be framed this afternoon —my day off —to keep yoin friendship pleasantly before me. You'll let me know your new address, Gabrielle, won't you? I have a little plan, dear, which I hope may be workable > for you and' me later on. Cantab. —l should very much like to know if you received the patterns and prices for curtains from the' firms in Dunedin —if they were satisfactory and enabled, you to make any choice. I was so disappointed at not hearing from you. Country Mouse. —l was so glad' to hear from you. Saw your new home as I passed to and from a very microscopic holiday. It is jealously hidden from the landward side, but must have a lovely fine outlook over the ocean. Am writing as soon as possible, my dear friend. Violet. —Thank you for youir letter. You are right in guessing my feeling, and I knew you would entirely comprehend. I wish I had time to write, again, but "be of good cheer, dear heart," the clouded atmosphere will brighten, be sure. Reading is one of the greatest helps, I think. A little quiet light "reading does wonders sometimes. Gabrielle and Rangiora, Lex and Val. — To each of you our dear friend Violet, too busy to do more, sends her love and thanks for cards and good wishes, _ and \o eaoh of you her love and kindly greetings for the year 1908. Shasta. —Your, truly nice letter just arrived in time for an answering word, dear. I can't tell you how it is I sometimes— often —feel such things, as old wives say, "in my bones." There seems to be some curious process by which I am aware of the mental and emotional atmosphese of the person without knowing the cause which produced it. I ami going to post you a list of Everyman's Library. You remember, dear, the Is volumes you get at Braithwaite's Book Arcade, because I remember what you said about wanting some of Diekens's works. But I must tell you that I also saw a very nice edition of Dickens, published by Chapman and Hall, at Is a volume, cloth, 2s leather. I wish I had time to write privately a!bout t&-° tonic touched on in your letter, bvit

cannot attempt it here and now. If I choose that topic some day soon , you will know who was in my thoughts as I wrote. Thank you, dear Shasta*, for your oaare of the little green things. My greenhouse is too much in ther shade to be really useful, but it suits the modest requirements of ferns admirably. The Silent Member. — Thank you very truly. So it shall remain, until a day may come, for I understand.