THE 'GRAPHIC' COUSINS' COT FUND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XXIV, 12 June 1897, Page 751

THE 'GRAPHIC' COUSINS' COT FUND.

This fund is for the purpose of maintaining a poor, sick child in the Auckland Hospital, and is contributed to by the Graphic cousins—readers of the children’s page. The cot has been already bought by their kind collection of money, and now £25 a year is needed to pay for the nursing, food, and medical attendance of the child in it. Any contributions will be gladly received by Cousin Kate, care of the Lady Editor, New Zealand Graphic, Shortland-street, or collecting cards will be sent on application.

Dear Cousin Kate.—lt is a long time since I have written to you, so I think I will take this opportunity before my holidays are up. I intended to have written earlier, but the first week of my holidays was spent mostly in bed, with a kind of influenza. I was going away last Monday, but the boat went without me, for I overslept myself. Is not the weather annoying, nothing but wind and rain and cold. I went out last night and was caught in the rain. This morning we were treated not only to rain, but hail, too; I was nearly frozen. It is a pity one has to leave the fire in this weather, is it not ? I see in this week’s Graphic that one of the cousins would like a Turkish Delight recipe. lam sending you one for her. I think it is a good one. All the attempts I have made with it have proved successful. Are you going to take part in the Jubilee Celebration? Nearly everyone is, and everything is Jubilee, even to the lollies in the lollie shops. The weather will be very cold for pleasure seekers, sufficiently so, I think, to prevent them from indulging in much out-door amusements. With love to yourself and all "the other cousins, I am, your affectionate Cousin Beryl.

Turkish Delight.—lngredients: ioz French leaf gelatine, half a cupful of cold water, 2 cupfuls of sugar (white), 1 cupful of boiling water, a pinch of citric or tartaric acid, a few drops of cochineal, a little flavouring, ioz icing sugar. Method : Soak the gelatine from 15 to 20 minutes in the cold water, then put into an enamelled saucepan with the sugar and boiling water. After the whole begins to boil, let it boil for 20 minutes, stirring it well all the time. Then add the flavouring and cochineal. Pour it into a well-wetted tin and put into a cold place to cool. Cut into squares with a wetted knife, and coat with icing sugar ; afterwards eat. [Very many thanks for the Turkish Delight recipe. I think I shall also try it myself—when I get time. lam sorry to hear you have had influenza. We have all had it too. I found salicin—a little white powder—the most effectual remedy ; it relieves that horrid pain in the head. Yes, we have had some real wintry weather. I do hope it is going to be fine for the Jubilee. I fancv most of us will have had enough of it by the time the day arrives. I have got two flags—Royal Standard and Union Jack —which I am going to lend our church for the 20th by way of my share of decoration. There is to be a good deal of outdoor amusement, so it is earnestly to be hoped Queen’s weather will prevail.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate. —I am a very naughty girl not to write to you. Whenever I remember to I always forget it again. I hope that little Florrie is quite well again now. Mother reads to us about her in the Graphic. We are having our house painted, and it has put the place in a great muddle, but it will be finished this week, and I will be very glad. I am very much afraid of getting my clothes smudged. My brother and I are going out to tea this evening. I hope it will keep fine ; it looks rather black now. I think my cousin would be very sorry if it did rain, as she has asked a lot

of friends to come and play. Now I must say good-bye. —I am your loving cousin, Edith A. Lowe. [I am very glad you have at last remembered to write. I hope you had it fine at your cousins.’ You will see a picture of Cousin Florrie in this Graphic. She is out of the Hospital now, and can walk about on her crutches. She is as well as she can be. I hope she will not get ill again. We are looking out for another child to put in the cot. What a great deal of rain we have had. —Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate.—l have been a very long time in answering your kind letter. Whenever I think of doing so something else comes in the way. I have just started to go to the public school and like it very much. There are about a hundred scholars in all. My sister and I are going to a fancy dress ball at Government House on the 25th June, and I expect there will be a great number there. I have joined the football club this year, and I like it very much. I had four rabbits some time ago, but a dog knocked over the hutch and the rabbits got out in the night and I was very sorry. I must say good-bye.— Your affectionate cousin, E. Harold Lowe.

[I hope you will enjoy your dance at Government House. It is sure to be very good. You might write and tell me how you liked it. What are you going as ? Is your sister going too ? And what will she wear ? I am so sorry about your rabbits. Shall you keep any more ? Cousin Jack and I are going to keep fowls. We have just made a nice place for them. We have begun with three. We call them Adam, Eve, and Noah’s Wife. Had your rabbits any names ? I was so pleased to hear from you.—Cousin Kate.]