COT FUND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXI, 21 November 1896, Page 95

COT FUND.

Per Cousin Florrie : —Mrs Garlick, is; Mrs T. Wilks, is; Mrs Sellers, is; Mr Loram, 2s 6d ; Sirs Johnson, is; Mrs Dixon, is ; Mrs Spragg, is ; Mrs Farley, 6d ; Mrs Webb, is; A friend, is=ns. Per Cousin Ethel (Waipawa) Mr J. Pickett, is ; A.E.E., is; Mrs Bowden, 2s 6d ; Mr Sinclair, is; Mrs Bibby, Is ; Mrs Corskie, is ; Mrs J. Bibby, is =Bs 6d. Per Cousin Agnes;—Mrs Watson, is; Mrs Rattray, is; A friend, is; Mrs Tring, 2S ; Mrs Smith, Is; MrsJ. Hammond, is ; Mrs Milne, is ; A friend, 2s ; Rev. W. Morley, is; A friend, is=i2s. Per Cousin Elsie (Auckland) : A friend, is; H.H.G S., is; S.M.. is; J.R., 25 ; D.W.R., is ; M E.P., is; R.R., is ; Mrs Baird, is=gs. [Many thanks. Cousin Elsie, for your nice collection.—Cousin Kate ] Carried forward, /"148s 3d. Add ns, 8s 6d, 12s, and 9s = /.'i6 8s gd. Less/'6 5s for third quarter’s maintainance of Cousin Florrie = /To 3s gd.

Dear Cousin Kate.—l am writing to you again to let you know that I have not forgotten you. My parroquet’s name is Joey, like most others. My roses are coming out now. Have you any ? We are having very dry and windy’ weather here just now. Do you like driving ? Igo for one nearly every Sunday. Our exam is over, and lam in the Third Standard now. I have collected 8s 6d for the cot —Your loving cousin Ethel. [Many thanks, dear Cousin Ethel, for the full card for the Cot Fund. We are getting on so very nicely with the collection ; it is so kind of the cousins to collect as they do. Anyone who likes can do like Cousin Agnes. She keeps a card by her, and asks people if they have seen this neat card ? She generally gets something. But if you all collect once a year, it is quite sufficient, and we shall easily keep the cot going. I like to feel that we have enough in the Bank when I make a fresh quarter’s payment to carry us over the next. You have done well to get into the Third Standard. I gathered two exquisite roses this morning, one dark crimson, one cream ; they are in a vase in front of me. I am very fond of driving, but, alas I my carriage is seldom any vehicle but the omnibus ! —Cousin Kate ]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l think it is quite time I reminded you of my existence, else you will be forgetting there is such a person as Cousin Thelma. I have been sadly neglecting all my writing of late on account of so much dissipation, but intend to turn over a new leaf now, and be good. I made my first attempt at a Madeira cake, or what was supposed to be a Madeira, a short time ago. I carefully mixed one cup of flour, half a cup of sugar, five eggs, half a pound of butter, and essence. These I placed in a hot oven. I thought something had been omitted but did not trouble. After five minutes or so had elapsed I suddenly recollected that I had forgotten baking powder. Of course I rushed immediately and took the other ingredients out of the oven (by this time they had become hopelessly melted) and proceeded violently to stir in the powder. Strange to relate, the cake was a failure. I ate a little for appearance’ sake, but the boys did not seem hungry, and they steadily refused even to sample it, so mother sent it to some needy folk near by who no doubt fully appreciated my ‘ first attemp,’ and did not fail to see its many good qualities (?). I went to Mrs Sowerby’s juvenile ball last Wednesdav, and had such an enjoyable time, although it was so terribly crowded. I saw both Cousin Violet and Cousin Florrie looking very pretty indeed. I went as ‘ Sweet Seventeen,’ being dressed all in white with a large muslin hat (this I could by no means persuade to remain upon my head for more than two minutes at a time). Another young girl represented ‘ Sweet Seventeen,’ but fortunately was not dressed in a similar manner. My brother went to both balls as a Cricketer, and another brother also went to the second one as a Cricketer. My sister Gertrude went as Powder and Patches. Mrs Sowerby is giving one more evening, then the dancing season for me will be over. I met one of the little cousins last Saturday, and she told me she had a new collecting card, so please let me have one when they are ready. How is little Florrie ? I positively »nw*f go and see her. My sister Rhoda went and had a talk with her.—Your loving cousin Thelma.

[I was glad to receive one of your breezy letters again, dear Cousin Thelma. Many thanks for request for card. Though it is not your turn to collect, I have sent you one, for a Cot rule is : ‘ Never refuse a good offer.’ I have very nearlv finished my second supply, and must

get some more printed, so as to begin our financial year with eclat. Have you not been living in daily fear of an arrest for manslaughter after giving that curious cake away ? If you had beaten up your eggs, it would have been safer to have left them—under the circumstances—to effect the rising thereof. Have you seen the ‘ Gondoliers ?’ I went on the night of the fifth, and thought the scenery and dresses superb. I also enjoyed the bonfires which surrounded us going in, though, unfortunately, I could not assist at any. Where are you going for your Christmas holidays, and is your mother going to let you make the Christmas plum pudding ?—Cousin Kate.]