THE GUILD OF UNKNOWN FRIENDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 80

THE GUILD OF UNKNOWN FRIENDS.

; xMy Desir FriendSj-^-It is 7ery soon tomeet - again," but ■ the -flavour must not be allowed to nass from New Year greet.ings; so T shall empty my postbag to-day, [ and start February- " with a clear .conscience." A letter from' Taffy is always welcome, and so I will. spare you as much "of --mine as- t'can;,' "(But} -TtrffyV T "forgot io tell you there is a-mysteiy about this letter, which \vas\ written on October 31 and reached /somewhere about the. middle of December!) . .- • ■ : Deax Emmelme, — The hurry andbustl© 'ofthe wedding" is " dyer,' the honeymoonis spent -and all- are quietly "settling to their usual work^some to- thei town, to at' mi««r--able, soulless mechanism," and some of *us~ to jremain" on Ihe -.hilltops- "to develop our' mdnds and "souls out of doors." Truly I don't know which, is to be preferred. The • toil in town lasts, as -a rule, but eight hours, and then r the grind over, aurely there ia ■ but a step, to. bring one .in touch with miiet~ n«ss and 1 calm enough to satisfy the greediest. There »r« the ' great rolling wave«-^tons of influential Natur*' wrapped up light: One hour's breathing "of the. se«i air should suffice for a whole day's freshness and ,vigour. To be taken before ' breakfast if in search oi close communion with Nature. In She country Nature is very .near "to some: r It acts as .an ever-present force, strengthening their bodies and adding ' purity to; their ' souls. to the many, ■> country life means 'longer . ' hours of toil than in town/ and 1 after, that boredom. The sublimity' of Nature is - quite lost on them. I doubt if : they ever hear the thrush 'telling them 10-"ohe«r up, "be. quick," or to <d wait-a-bit," and finally/ rapping out accusingly, "You did, you did, you did." Or the itarlings making love, with ft most bewitching, jseductiver "Sw-e-e-t, ana a loag-drawn "Oh-h-h-h-b."- .of . Burprise that its mate takes so much wooing. Neither do they hanker after a quiet spot in. which to smoke the pipe of bliss mud peace. They; bie them away to the blacksmith* ahantx to ; play ■ 'billiards for preserved pineapple. The hills are all a-glory to-day. Tne clouds are lolling lazily, and on the hills wheX> the- back sun touches them, throwing shadows ot> the" gullies that crumple the surface,- the^s is' i^ght" and 'colour,. indescribable. On , the near hills - green— light, ..dark, and every «hade; -further .back, She next- range is, in -.varying purple; 'the third -'range is- .paler, the colours ..more meltvng,, and a bluer shade like a "reflection from above softens them, then the utmost, rim. of still . another shade-melta and loses itself in jhe^j blue' of . the sky." , It "makee , one= long' for -an artist's and brush, or for .the poet a pen. , The country .is l very beautiful, btrS 'such i are not beyond* the reacli oi--town dwellers 1 , and, much as 1 love ~the i country, I also love people — everyone, and I' like to feel myself among -them and of them. I hope that when -the club meets again "we will db you the honour that is your dv». The friendly messages to Hoohelaga gave -me ~ quite as much pleasure as they gave her, and Boy Friend's 'profusion of flowers nroln- ' plied the joy. Gabrielle; good comrade, remembered Taffy, -and gave a sigh for his loneliness. That sympathy, dear Gabrielle, I thank you for frora my heart. Do your \ thoughts, too, turn to the. lonely left-be-hinds? „ . ' , . v I I - have most thoroughly enjoyed the 1 companionship'of" the 'Unknown Friends during the 1907 session, and'look forward with pleasure to the little gatherings we will have in the absence of- our regular meetings. ' Kindest regards to all from—Yours \truly. TAFFY. !' . • •-'•'' Next come a few , words from Sally ins our Alley, time _and circumstance (homely expressions for the "more- mystic