CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue V, 4 August 1894, Page 119

CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

Any boy or girl who likes to become a cousin can do so, and write letters to ‘ Cousin Kate, care of the Lady Editor, Graphic Office, Auckland,.' Write on one side of the paper only.

Dear Cousin Kate,—l have not much to tell you, as there has been nothing to see or hear in this dull town lately. We have had nothing but rain and floods this winter, and I cannot think that it is ever going to be fine again. Mamma, my cousin, and my two brothers are ill with that horrible influenza, which is so prevalent at present. I hope I escape it. This cold, wet weather seems to ‘ help it on,’ if I may use the expression. The Wesleyans had a soiree in their church about a fortnight ago. We belong to the Church of England and I am organist in it here. To which church do you belong ? I suppose I may ask you that question. The * Youths' Page ’ is becoming decidedly interesting with its • Puzzle Column ’ and letters, etc. The • Cousins’ Humane Fraternity,’ or ‘Band of Kindness” will prove a good source of interest, too, I think. Don’t you think it would be nice if the cousins would write to the Graphic about any instance of cruelty to animals which they have endeavoured to hinder ? This is merely a suggestion, and need not make any difference to your plans about the members of the Band, or the Band itself. I saw a picture of the Kawa Kawa coal mines in the Graphic of the 14th July. Allow me to say that it is a very poor one. I can say this with confidence, as I live in Kawa Kawa. Perhaps the sketch the picture was taken from was very ancient indeed though ; that might account for the great disparity between it and the real coal mines. lam sending three puzzles for the new column, and answers to those in the Graphic of the 14th July. Ido not know whether I have guessed the last two correctly, but I think the first one is right. Dear Cousin Kate there is really nothing else to tell you in this letter, so with love believe me to remain sincerely yours.— Cousin Lou.

[I do not think the sketch was *an ancient one,’ but perhaps it was taken from a different point of view to that which you usually see. lam Church of England. Your suggestion about the Graphic Humane Society is a good one.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—We always take the Graphic, and so I read the Youths’ Page, and should like to become a cousin. We have four goats, and one of them has got a kid three or four days old. It is such a merry little thing, it jumps and skips about all over the place. I am nine years old, and am in the Fourth Standard. I have a little flower garden of my own, and I have a naughty cat which always goes and walks about all over the flowers. I can answer that puzzle which Cousin Victoria sent. Hoping to see my letter in the Graphic.—From Cousin Stella.

[Your answer is quite right, as you will see by the other cousins’ letters. I am glad to enrol you as a cousin, too. You are getting on well for your age. Have you names for your goat and cat ? Have you brothers or sisters.—Cousin Kate ]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l have not written to you before, but my little brother wrote a letter to you two weeks ago giving the answer to Leila’s puzzle. He would like to know if you received it. He is only seven, and lam ten. lam sending some answers to the puzzle column. I hope you will receive this letter safely, as we get the Graphic every week.—Your affectionate cousin, Jessie. Auckland. [I did not receive your little brother’s letter, or you may be sure I should have put it in. I wonder how he addressed it? You will fear yours is not going to appear, either, but I had to leave some out last week, because there was not room for them. I hope your brother will write again. Your answers are quite correct, as you will see by the replies of another cousin. You answered there Cousin Victoria’s, George’s, and Twin Gerald’s. That was very good. I hope you, too, will write again. Tell your little brother (has he no name !) that I am quite sorry for his disappointment at not seeing his letter in the paper. Better luck next time.—Cousin Kate ]

Dear Cousin Kate, —My father has just started to take in the Graphic, and I have been reading the children’s letters in it, and thought I might also write and become one of your cousins. Will you have me ? You will be glad to know that I am kind to dumb animals and birds. We have a little dog and a kitten. The kitten is mine and the dog belongs to my brother. They are both well looked after, and the little wild birds I feed when the weather is bad. Igo to the Terrace School, and am in the Third Standard. lam nearly ten years old. I live in Wellington, where we are having bad weather just now, and you may be sure I do not like the place as well as Auckland, where I used to live. Hoping I have not written too long a letter—l am your affectionate little friend, Ella S. F. Gill. [Your letter is a capital one for your age, and is not at all

too long. Certainly I will have yon as a cousin, and I hope you will write again soon. The weather is always changeable in New Zealand this month. Your answers to the three riddles are quite correct.—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —May Ibe a cousin too. I live in Castlemaine, Victoria, now. I used to live in Wellington. My grandpapa, who lives in W anganui, sends the Graphic to my mother every week. My age is nine years, and mother thinks I am too young to write in ink, but I write in ink at school. Do you mind my using pencil to yon ? I have three dolls. The largest is called Starrylight; she is dressed in light blue. The second is called Bluebell; she is dressed in dark blue. The smallest one is called Pearl ; she is dressed in pink, and I made the dress myself. Do you like their names ? May I write to you again ? —Your loving cousin, Gladys Thompson. [Yes, do write again. lam glad to enrol you as a cousin. I think your dolls’ names very pretty. I hope to hear again from you. —Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—Are these the answers to the puzzles put under Children’s Puzzle Column ?—I remain, Chummily. [Yes, the answers are right. Send a longer letter next time.—Cousin Kate ] Dear Cousin Kate.—l have not written to the Graphic before, but have always intended to do so ; somehow I have never had time, I have so many letters to write. I like writing. I think it a most pleasant pastime. I generally write about eight letters a month, but this month I have not written so many, because Ethel, the friend to whom I write every week, is now spending her winter holidays with me, and I can’t write very well and go out with my friend too. As it is very wet to-day, and I have nothing else to do, I thought I would write a letter to the Graphic. We get the Graphic every week, and my younger sister and I always delight in reading the cousins’ letters. Louie is my sister, and says she is going to write to the Graphic, bnt never seems to be able to make a start. She is eleven years old, and a very mischievous little girl. She delights in playing practical jokes on any and everyone. She often gets up to them. Ethel and Louie are always playing tricks on me, as they call them. They are both full of fun ; they are a very good pair, and get on well together, though Ethel is two years older than Louie. I am nearly a year older than Ethel. I do not like practical jokes. I must not dwell on this subject any longer or my letter will consist of nothing else. We have been living in Picton for three years and a-half. Ido not like it very much, though it is a very pretty place, I must say, and a very healthy place too, but very quiet, nothing fresh from one year’s end to another, as most girls say here. There is an exhibition going on in Picton this week. It opened yesterday, July 10th. Ethel, Louie and I went last night. We saw many strange things, among them was the sword Bluebeard killed his wives with, also two very large lizards and many other things. Louie dressed a doll and got third prize. We have a large Newfoundland dog, of whom we all make a great pet. He is eight years old. When we first went to school he used to come as far as the school gate and wait until we went in, and then go home, and come after school to meet us, but we do not let him come very often now, because the last time he came he would come into school, and of course we had to take him out, and we had such a trouble to get him out, but succeeded at last. He waited until playtime, and wanted to come in again, but was locked out. He waited until school was out for us. We never let him come now if we can prevent him. He generally comes for a walk with us afterschool. People often tell us we ought to get a saddle made for him and let my little brother ride on him, but we think that would be cruel, as be is getting old, and I am sure is not strong enough to be ridden about. Igo to the Borough School and am in the Fifth Standard. I like school very well, but I do not like arithmetic I belong to the Borough School Excelsior Society, the object of which is to encourage us to be truthful and courteous. I cannot conclude my letter without giving you an account of four boys who nearly bad to spend a night on Mabel Island in Picton Harbour. They went out in a boat and could not get back as it came on very rough. The gentleman with whom one little boy from Wellington is staying had to get a steamer to go out for them. I bear some of them amused themselves by crying over • what mother would think,’ others by smoking and jeering the half hearted little fellows. I don’t think it was very kind of these boys to laugh at the others, do you. Cousin Kate ? Hoping this letter will not be too long I will now conclude with love.—C.C.H H. Picton.

P.S.—I enclose my proper name because mother thinks I ought.

[Yes, I like the proper name for my own edification only, of course. But, • C.C. H.H.,’ or whatever those wonderful initials are, you forgot to enclose the turns, or the post office people abstracted it, or something ! Your letter is very interesting, but do they not teach punctuation at your school? I hope to hear again from you. Tell lazy Louie to write.—Cousin Kate.]