A GOOD IDEA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XVI, 19 October 1895, Page 503

A GOOD IDEA.

Dear Cousins.—This letter is intended for each one of you specially, and I want you all to read it, and give it your best attention. Cousin Muriel (Auckland) makes the following suggestion : — Dear Cousin Kate —My mother read out of the paper the other night that a children’s ward was very much needed at the hospital, and ever since then I have had an idea which I want to tell you of. Would it not be a good idea if all the cousins (there must be a great number now) would subscribe for a * cot * and call it the * Graphic Cousins’ Cot. It would be something in common for ns all, and bring ns more together. The child would be * our cousin,’ and we could send pictures and books and old toys to amuse him or her when they were getting better. Don’t you think it would be nice, Cousin Kate? You could tell us how much it would cost, as you know how many of us there are, and you could also tell how much each would have to subscribe. Distant cousins passing through Auckland could call and see * our cousin ’ and cheer them up. I shall be quite anxious to hear what you think about this, Cousin Kate.

Now I think this idea a first-rate one, and I should like to hear what all the cousins think too. Please each and all of you send me. as soon as possible, a letter or a post card, and tell me if you would each agree to collect 5s a year for the purpose of establishing a Graphic Cousins’ Cot in the Auckland Hospital. This is what I would propose, but it all depends upon whether enough of you agree to help. First, if I get enough promises, I will go to the hospital committee and see what the cost of maintaining a sick child in the hospitalis for a year. Now there are on my list 201 cousins’ names. But a large number of these have not written for a long time, and I will not count them. Let as many as possible promise. I could send them collecting cards, and they could ask their friends and themselves to promise a shilling a year to this Fund. Some people would even give more, and some active consins might take two collecting cards. The money—in postal notes—could be sent to me, and I will put it at once in the Auckland Savings’ Bank, acknowledging its receipt in the Graphic, so that you could all see exactly how we are getting on. When there is enough money in the Bank, we could choose a sick child whose parents could not afford to pay for its stay in the Hospital. Of course the parents must be deserving, and the poor little child in want of medical treatment. It could stay in till cured, perhaps a year, perhaps six months, then another could take its place. If more money is collected than is wanted for the year, it could remain in the Bank, and perhaps we could even support two children. Since I began to write this a gentleman has most kindly promised me £1 as a commencement. Is not that a splendid chance ? Now, dear cousins, try your best. This will be our *cot’ in the colony, and we shall all be very much interested in it, lam sure. If you all like, I could be hon. treasurer and secretary, and I should like some of the cousins’ fathers to act as committee, or appoint anyone else as hoc. treasurer and secretary. Dear cousins, remember what the Saviour says about a cup of cold water even, if given in His name, being accepted. Here is a grand chance for you all to do some work for Him, to bring health and happiness to one of His suffering little ones. For, oh, how some of those poor children do suffer ! It is terrible. There may be one sick child in a large, poor family. The mother does what she can, but she cannot afford the food and medicine it needs nor the time co nurse it. The poor little thing is neglected, starved, cries with pain and discomfort in its hard bed (probably none too clean). It has no chance to recover in such surroundings. But if you all like, we can help it. Will you ? * What thou doest, do quickly.’—Cousin Kate.

Dear Cousin Kate.—l should like very much to become one of your many cousins as soon as you will allow me. We get the Graphic every week, and I enjoy it very much. I thought the photos round Hokianga were lovely, and so were the sketches from Europe in this week’s Graphic. I intend to try for the story competition. I will write a longer letter when I get an answer from you. I will sign my second name, as you have two cousins by my first name, and send my name and address on a separate piece of paper, but do not wish you to publish it. Hoping you will allow me to be your loving cousin Dagmar, I will now say goodbye. [I am very pleased to accept you as a cousin. It is thoughtful of you to use your second pretty name, but dear Cousin Dagmar, yon forgot to put in that separate bit of paper ! Please send it next time, and if you like to join the Humane Society, send sixpence for the badge. Also answer about the • cot ’—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—l have not written to you before, but am going to now. I see by the Graphic you have a good many cousins. Igoto a private school in Christchurch, and like it very much. Some little time ago I saw by the Graphic that a piece of music was to be sent every fortnight to the people who take that paper. We do not get ours very regularly, and often it is three weeks between each piece. lam very fond of music, and some of the pieces in the Graphic are very nice. We have a pet goldfinch and it sings so nicely. We also have a cat who has often tried to get the goldfinch, but has not succeeded yet.—l must now conclude with love. —I am your loving cousin Ada.

[I am glad to welcome you as my 199th cousin ! Did ever anybody have such a delightful number of relations ? Well, you have, becanse, of course, I count as well as the others, and have not added myself to the 199. I wonder who will be the 200th ? I hope you will join the Graphic

Humane Society. Send up six penny stamps and I will send you a badge. I hope your goldfinch will escape that hungry cat. Have they no names ? H%ve you bad them long ? Ido not think the music comes out every fortnight; it is not always ready then. —Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate. —I want to become a cousin very much. lam eight years old. Igo to school, where lam in the Second Standard. I live in Wanganui. My sister was dnx of the College last year. Her portrait was in the Graphic. I must close with love from Cousin Sheila.

[I am very glad to have you for a cousin, dear. How nicely you write for your age. Will yon join our Humane Society ? If you send sixpence, I will send you a badge. What a clever sister you have ! Will she not become a cousin too ? Send me your full address if you write for the badge, and tell me then if you will help to collect for the • Cot.' You are my 200th cousin.—Cousin Kate ]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l hope yon received my story safely. We are having lovely weather in Wellington. I went oit to the s.s. Aoteaon Saturday morning. Inspector Pender came out from Home by her, bringing with him Mr Leonard Harper. He was brought into the Railway Wharf in the Ellen Ballance to avoid any demonstration. The Boating Season was opened on Saturday by His Excellency the Governor. Another little friend of mine named Jessie is writing to ask you to allow her to become a cousin. We are getting a big St. Bernard dog from Sydney. I will tell you what he is like when he arrives. I went to the Honse of Parliament not long ago. The members were discussing * The Tariff.’ lam dressing a doll at school this term. The H.M.S. Ringarooma is in port. There is to be an Old Girls' Concert on the 11th of October, and when it comes off I will tell you about it if you like. Cousin Elsie has got something nice to ask you in her letter this time. I hope you will agree with the idea. I must now close my letter with love from Cousin Laura. Wellington. [I have your story. You will know the result as soon as possible, but not for six weeks, I daresay. Poor Mr Leonard Harper ! lam so very sorry for the family. His father was a dear friend of my father ; it is a mercy he is dead. I did not know they would allow dogs to land from Sydney. Do you pay a tax or duty ? It’s funny if you don’t, for they seem to tax everything possible and impossible now. We shall have to pay for having hair down to our waists directly. I can easily sit on mine, so shall have a lot to pay, shall I not ? What length is yours ? How did you dress the doll ? Tell me about the concert when von write again. Do you take part?—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—l was very pleased and surprised to receive your kind letter on Saturday morning, and I thank you very much for taking such a lot of trouble to let me know that I may compete for the story prize. lam enclosing six penny stamps for the badge, which 1 think is very pretty. On Saturday afternoon father and I went to see the new gold diggings at Karori. The men had a cradle with some quicksilver at the bottom. First of all they threw in some water and dirt, and then bailed the water out and the gold remained at the bottom of the cradle. We then went past the upper reservoir across the hills until we reached the lower reservoir, and we went through Vogeltown and arrived home at 5 o’clock. On Friday there is going to be a concert and a tea at school in aid of the games' fund, but as Cousin Laura is going to tell you about it, I need not give you a description of it in my next letter. I must now close ar I have nothing else to say —from your affectionate cousin, Elsie. [I am glad you like the badge. Cousin Laura said you had something nice to tell me. Some idea she calls it. Where and what is it ? Did you forget to write it ’ We are all, or I should say nearly all, wild over the gold mines here. Such crowds round the Exchange. I have not speculated at all, and think I shall keep out of it altogether. I have not been down a mine, only viewed them from a safe (and clean) distance. A coal shaft I peered down did not look inviting. You and your father had a nice long walk. I wish more girls would walk. It is so good for them.— Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—lt is a long time since you have had a letter from me. Since I wrote last I have been to Nelson for a holiday with my mother, sisters, and brother. We were there seven weeks, one of which we spent in the country at a place called Foxhill. While there we went out blackberrying and fishing, and caught some small fish. We went for several picnics np the Maitai River, and I was nearly drowned while bathing in it. I got giddy and went round like a teetotum, and was sinking when my mother rushed in and saved me. My mother took us to see ‘ Ali Baba or, The Forty Thieves,’ and also • Tambour Major,’ which I liked very much. On our way home we went ashore at Taranaki, and went to see the Recrea tion Ground. I thought it very pretty. We arrived home safely after a most enjoyable holiday, and found the garden full of fruit. We go into the bush twice a week exploring. I like it very much. We gather a great many ferns, which we find growing in the gullies, and they look so cool and pretty. One part we have named • Cut Knuckles,’ because the rocks are so large and slippery that you fall and very often cut your knuckles. It is more pleasant to explore the creeks than any other part. Do Sou like raspberries? We had some canes sent up from lelson, and they are growing nicely. I hope they will have fruit on this year. Some of the cousins think that Cousin Lou is a long time writing again, but when she does she writes long, interesting letters. We are having very wet weather now, but I hope it will soon change, as I like playing games out in the paddock after lessons. I must now conclude with love to all the cousins.—From your loving cousin, Nina. [I was much pleased to hear from you again, and very glad to learn you had such an enjoyable trip. Nelson is a pretty place. I went up to Foxhill when I was there. It was very fortunate you were not alone when you were bathing, or I might have to mourn the loss of one of my dear cousins. Thank you for the pretty fern. It arrived so fresh and green, you would think it was just gathered. I think I shall wear it at the opera to night, unless my heart refuses to allow me to spoil such a dainty frond. Will you help about the * cot ?’—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate. Reading the Graphic the other day I noticed that there was to be a short story competition, and am writing to ask if you will admit me as one of your cousins fn the New Zealand Graphic, and accept this short story for the competition, remaining ever yours truly, Mabil.

[I have put down your name as a cousin, and your story will be considered with the others. I have made no age limit for cousins, but of course in a story competition where age is mentioned, we expect more from the older than from the younger competitors. What do you think of the idea for a* cot’? You are my only cousin in your neighbourhood, and you might help us very much. Will you? Your envelope should have had the words * Commercial papers only ’on it. We had to pay 31 for tte letter. I suppose your postmaster did not understand that the contents were to be printed. The chief postmaster in Auckland himself gave the notice which stands at the head of the children's letters.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l am sending you the six stamps for the badge, which I hope I shall receive soon. I went for a picnic last Monday, as it was onr examination holiday. I went with several school friends up in a beautiful bush. We saw several of the largest trees I have ever seen. Red pines towered above ns all over the place, and the pine leaves hanging down several feet from the tree looked beautiful. After going through the bush, stumbling over logs and getting stuck in bogs for about an hour, we arrived at a beautiful waterfall between two high cliffs covered with moss and ferns. Beautiful ferns which I had never seen before were hanging from the pines on the tops of the cliffs. While we were gathering ferns one of the girls gave a shout, and we all looked up to see what was the matter, when we found ourselves in front of a charcoal kiln. There was a little hut built at the side of the kiln. After we had examined the hut and the kiln and made ourselves pretty dirty, we went back to where we had had our dinner. We got ourselves clean in the river under the waterfall. When we came out of the bush we went to one of our friend’s house, where we had games until It was time to go home. About sixteen miles from here is a beautiful little seaside. A lot of houses have gone up the last year or two. Three years ago there were no houses there, as people used to go out there only to spend the day, but now they live out there most of the summer. The beach is about a mile long—all sand without a rock or break in it. The Maoris used to live several miles round the bay. They have a graveyard up there, but they won’t let anyone go into it. I hope you will not think this letter too long, and good enough to print.—Your loving cousin, Ida No. 2. [1 have sent your badge, and yon will, I trust, have it by this time. What a delightful day you had in the bush I You see your letter was quite good enough to print. I had no idea red pines grew like that. How curious and interesting they must be ! I should so much like a leaf. In all the letters I have received since the one from Cousin Muriel, I have mentioned the ‘ cot,’ but those cousins whose letters were answered before it came, will, I hope, understand why I did not ask them to help individually, though I earnestly hope they will, and yon too.—Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—l have never written to you before, but I hope you will allow me to become one of your cousins. Cousins Laura and Elsie, friends of mine, write to you, so I thought I would write also. Igo to the Girls’ High School every day in the train. lam in Form IV. B, and have been to the school for two years. On Saturday afternoon I went to see the opening of the yachting season. The place was crowded, and we could hardly get a seat. At the head of the boats was the Ellen Ballance, and then in order came the Petone and Wellington Navals, the Star Boating Club and the Wellington Boating Club. They sailed out a little way and then came back. After the procession was over the ladies had afternoon tea and then went home. Petone is a suburb of Wellington and about seven miles from that place. It is very pretty in the spring and in the summer. There are a great many picnic places, and the bush is also very pretty. We live close to the sea, and about a mile from the railway station. About four miles from Petone is Lowry Bay, a very nice place for picnics. I often walk there with friends for picnics. May I join the New Zealand Graphic Humane Society, and will you please send me a badge? I am sending you a story for the Christmas Competition, which I hope will do. lam enclosing my name, age, and address, but not for publication. I must now close my letter with much love from your affectionate Cousin Jessie No. 4.

[I have already three cousins of your name, and must therefore call you Cousin Jessie No. 4, uuless you will let me call you by your second name, will you ? or do you prefer Jessie? I will send you a badge with pleasure if you will send me sixpence in stamps. Thank-you for your full address, which I have entered in my book. Petone must be very pretty. Your account of the boating is interesting. Tell me of some of your picnics. I suppose you are on the water a good deal in summer. Does not Cousin Laura live some distance from you? I suppose you meet nt school.— Cousin Kate ] I Several Cousins' letters are, I am sorry to say, held over for want of space.]