CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue VII, 18 August 1894, Page 167

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 Cousins. —I hear, with great regret, that some of the cousins’ letters have not reached me. I have always put in all I have received, and am very sorry indeed that any cousins should have been disappointed at not seeing their letters in print. The letters always appear the first possible issue of the GRAPHIC after I receive them. Through the courtesy of the Auckland Chief Postmaster, of whom inquiiy concerning the letters was promptly made, I give the stamps, aidress and weight necessary for the children’s letters, and I hope our nice little circle of cousins will keep up the correspondence, and that fresh ones will soon join, especially those whose first letters went astray. These are the rules : —All purely correspondence letters with envelope ends turned in are carried through the Post-office as follows : Not exceeding Joz., id ; not exceeding 4oz , Id ; for every additional 2oz. or fractional part thereof, id. It is well for correspondence to be marked * Commercial papers only.’—Cousin Kate.

Dear Cousin Kate. —I have never written to you before. Our examination was on the 18th of July, and I passed, so lam in the Fourth Standard. I should like very much to become a cousin too. lam eleven years old. lam going to tell you about my pets. I have a cat and a dog. I had the dog given to me for a Christmas box ; he is black and white. We have six cows milking, and I milk two of them. My brother takes the Graphic every week, and I like reading the cousins’ letters very much. We have our Midwinter holidays; the school will open on Monday. Please put this letter in the Graphic. lam sending some riddles for the cousins to guess. I like our teacher very much. I hope this letter is not too long. I must say goodbye.—Your loving cousin, Jane Nicholson. Te Mata, Raglan.

[Your letter is not at all too long, Jane. I hope you will write again. I like all the cousins to write as often as they feel inclined, so an invitation to one to write, means an invitation to all. Please, dear cousins, take the hint. —Cousin Kate. ]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l must say I have been very lazy for not writing and telling you the name of my goldfinch. His name is Pacific, and he begins to sing now. I did not tell you I had a creamy pony, but it died last Wednesday. My brother caught two black swans, but mine died on Wednesday, too. I don’t think I will tell you any more of my bad luck, or else I will never finish.—Yonr affectionate cousin, Lily. Takapau. [I am sorry for your losses in the shape of animals. Did you kill them with kindness, do you think 1 Tell me if you will join our Society for kindness to dumb animals. I want all the names I can get.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l should like to become a cousin very much. I always enjoy reading the cousins’ letters, and so does little sister Hilda. I have not much to tell you. Wellington is so dull after England. I lived in Leamington, Warwickshire, for two years, and the country in summer is lovely We had a lot of little friends there. We came to Wellington in the Ruahine and bad such a jolly trip ; Ido so love the sea. lam eight years old and very fond of writing. We have a sweet little canary ; I feed him for mother every day. I have no pet of my own, but 1 am going to have a puppy. I must say good-bye now.— Your loving cousin, Adele. Wellington.

[I should like to congratulate your mother, Adele, on having a little girl who can write so well when only eight years old. I wonder if she taught you ? Where do you go to school now 1 I know a good many pretty places in England, but have not been to Leamington, though I had several invitations to stay with friends there. I am glad to have you as a cousin.—Cousin Kate.]

* Marie.’—Your tale, ‘ Grandmother’s Story,’ will appear next week. I have already, I am afraid, more letters and stories than can go into our short space. It is nicely written.—Cousin Kate.

• Belle Allen.’—Your story is also left out for above reason.—Cousin Kate.