COT FUND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XIX, 7 November 1896, Page 31

COT FUND.

Per Cousin Paerau and Cousin Riu = Bs. Per Cousin Agnes :—B. Buttle, 2s 6d ; Mrs T. L. Murray, 2s ; M. A. Davies, is ; Miss T. Richmond, is; Miss M. Richmond, is ; Willie Carrick, is ; Mrs P. M. Knight, is ; Mrs Harry R. Dewsbury, is ; Mrs W. Gittos, is; Mrs John White, is ; = 12s 6d.

Carried forward, /12 14s 6d. Add 8s and 12s 6d Zi3 15S.

Dear Cousin Kate.—l have been engaged in writing this letter for almost a week, but unfortunately I seemed quite unable to get beyond biting the end of my pen, or decorating the paper with a series of designs, artistic and otherwise. And now that I have started there is simply nothing to write about, unless I fall back upon that evergreen topic—the weather, which is at present delightfully windy. Since I last wrote I have become a subscriber to a magazine called the Weka which is presented to the public, or rather a small and select assembly of members, once every month. Hilda bolds the responsible position of editress, and Florrie writes the Literary and’ Dramatic Notes. I was given charge of the ‘ They Say ’ column, the consequence being that particular column is now no more, for I soon discovered that people say or do very little worth recording. The Weka has, I think, fifteen contributors, including a special artist, who sends funny sketches, and a War Correspondent, who in times of peace writes poetry, and very nice poetry too. I trust this letter will escape the eye of th% editress, for I understand the rules, which I have never seen, declare that ‘ the existence of the magazine is to be strictly secret,’ and that being the case, my position is far from enviable. —LILLA.

[I am printing your letter, dear Cousin Lilia, and upon your own bead be the consequences of your rash betrayal of editorial confidence. Quite between ourselves, could you not let me have a peep at The Weka ? Is it a weekly publication ? I hope the editor will not—as you sa y— S ee this, for you might find it difficult to obtain a copy for me. Dear me ! nothing to write about I Yet you get up every day and go to bed every day, and walk out every day, and go to parties sometimes, and sometimes to tennis, see people and hear people talk, and look at your garden, and note the spring seeds either coming up or refusing to do so for want of water, and buy some new music, and read a new book, etc., oh ! I am out of breath 1 Au revoir, and think over this list.— Cousin Kate.]

dear Cousin Kate.—l am afraid you think there are a good many of us boy cousins like Cousin Zachariah, who find it difficult to know what to write about. I have not even that excuse, for I had something to write about and ought to have done it long ago. It is a plan of ours to try whether we could help the Cot Fund a little without actually asking for money. We thought it would be a good idea to have a * Cot Box,’ and directly it was mentioned one kind friend made us such a very pretty box while another friend painted and varnished it.andput on it in pretty gilt letters, ‘ N.Z. Graphic Cousins’ Cot.’ We then put it in a place where we think it is sure to be noticed, and cut out the heading you have on the ■Children’s Page and pasted it up over it. I tried to

make a sketch of it so that you might see what it was like, but could not do it well at all. I like funny pictures best, but I am doing first grade freehand now, and hope I shall get on better with straight lines. We are sorry for poor little Florrie and her brother. How good the girl cousins have been in helping, and how very kind of you and Mrs Thompson to give those whq could come such a pleasant time ! What a number of letters in our last Graphic (October 10th), some of them so very interesting, too. —Your loving Cousin Paerau. P.S.—We unlocked the * Cot Box ’ this evening and found there was 5s yd in it. A kind friend who was standing by added 2s 6d. Riu and I are very pleased to have 8s to send. We put the odd penny back. We will open it again after Christmas, when we hope to have a larger sum, as there will be more people about at shearing time.—Cousin Paerau. [How very good you all are to the Cot Fund, dear Cousin Paerau! Many thanks, indeed, to you and Riu for sending the Bs. It was very kind of that friend to add the 2s 6d, and extremely wise of you to put the odd penny back for a nest egg. Your two letters are very nice indeed. You see I put the later one as a postscript. Your idea of the Cot Fund Box is really excellent, and your sketch gives me a capital picture of it. The heads you send are nicely done. lam so glad you are learning free hand. What book are you using ? If you were only near the Technical School in Auckland it would just suit you. Persevere with your drawing, for I am sure you will get on. Be sure you learn perspective ;it is such a help, and very interesting. Have you got any birds’ eggs this year ? any new pets ? anything new in the garden ? Cousin Jack brought a little pup home from Sunday-school yesterday. We don’t want to keep it, for it already seems full of mischief. I hope to hear when I go home to-night that ii has eaten its string and taken French leave of us.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—You will think I am very rude not answering your kind letter before this, but I have had so little to tell you. Let me thank you very much for adding me to your list. I went to a juvenile ball last month ; it was very enjoyable, and last Thursday my sisters Lilian and Belle and I went to the Star Football Social, where three cups and a banner were presented ; that also was nice. How good you were to answer Nell’s letter after returning from a ball ! I am sure I should not feel very much inclined to start writing after a ball. In our flower garden, which is large, we have such lovely pungas, ti-trees, toi-toi, and flax bushes ; they look so graceful. Anything mamma puts in the garden grows so beautifully. I have a lot of kidney ferns growing in baskets, and also Prince of Wales ferns. If you were nearer I would give you some. The Prince of Wales were brought all the way from Mount Egmont, so they are especially rare. I am so glad little Florrie is getting better.—With love from Cousin Maud. P.S.—Chris is away, and when he returns I will ask him to become a cousin. I enclose six stamps for a badge.

[You seem to have been quite festive lately, Cousin Maud, with so many balls. I understand that the Star Football Social was a very charming dance. I have just come back from the first picnic of the season, and feel very burnt and generally disorganised. We got one dear little maidenhair fern, but none of the beauties you mention. There is a pretty punga in our garden, but I confess to a wish for closer proximity to you to accept your kind offer of kidney fern and Prince of Wales. I did not know the latter grew in New Zealand. As regards the former, I was coaxed up to one of the high points of the ranges one baking day to get some kidney fern. I was new to Auckland ways, and was not aware that the fern in question never had grown up there ! I am sending you a badge, and hope you will successfully coax Chris into becoming a cousin. I think your garden must look very graceful with so much vegetation of the fern order in it. Your mother must have a genius for gardening. I wonder what her secret is ? My mother is also very fond of looking after her flowers.—Cousin KaTE.]

Dear Cousin Kate. —Really you must think I am a nice cousin for not writing for over two months, and especially when I am supposed to be a good correspondent. Most certainly in this case I have not proved so lately, but I am going to turn over a new leaf and write regularly from now. There is going to be a grand floral f6te held in the Recreation Grounds on the 9th November. We are looking forward to it with great pleasure. You and the cousins must have had a jolly day at Cousin Gwen’s, and I did wish that I lived nearer so that I could have joined you. Do you still intend to print the list of cousins, or are you waiting for more to join ? I was much surprised when I saw that poor little Florrie is ill again, and also very sorry. Is her little brother getting better ? I must close now, dear Cousin Kate, as I am coming to the end of the paper. With love to all the cousins, I remain your loving Cousin Belle. Puketotara.

[lt is very curious, dear Cousin Belle, what an objection we all have to taking another piece of paper and continuing our letters. I myself often close an answer to one of you very abruptly just because I am at the foot

of the page, and if I take a fresh sheet I must fasten it somehow to the first one for fear it should be tacked on to another answer, because I often have (as at this moment) several cousins’ letters before me, and there is always the risk of the replies getting mixed. 1 generally write close to the end of my paper, my caligraphy getting ‘ beautifully small and gradually less.’ That quotation is not right, but I am so sleepy I cannot turn it out of my brain cupboard to-night. I hope you will write me an account of your grand Floral Fete. Are you going to decorate anything ? Ours comes off at the end of November. I will telephone up to the Hospital about Little Florrie and her brother before we go to press.—Cousin Kate.) Dear Cousin Kate. —Thank you for your nice letter. How good of you to write after having been to a ball ! Thank you for saying I write nicely. I told mother, and she said I must try to improve more and more. I went to two juvenile balls, one last year, and the year before I went as a china doll and ivy. lam sorry to tell you my poor dog Banquo was kicked by one of the colts and had to be shot. I passed my exam, and am now in the Third Standard. I love the stories and poetry in my reader. Ido so like * Lucy Gray.* I did not feel so afraid of the Inspector this time. lam sorry poor little Florrie is back, and hope she will soon be better. I hope you are quite well, dear Cousin Kate, and all the cousins.— Cousin Nelly. [I am sorry, dear Cousin Nelly, about poor Banquo. Did you give him a grand funeral ? That used to be our only solace when our pets died. Indeed, I gave a little bird decent burial only last week. I must congratulate you on your success at school, and wish you the same next year. I never liked ‘Lucy Gray,’ though I really cannot tell why. Are you going as a flower to the Floral Fete ? Would not a pink daisy look pretty ? It should have a green bodice, and long pink petals hanging down from the waist, wreath of daisies in the hair, and carry a stick entwined with daisies. —Cousin Kate.]