THE ‘GRAPHIC' COUSINS' COT FUND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue X, 28 August 1897, Page 319

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 Zkaland Graphic, Shortland-street, or collecting cards will be sent on application.

Dear Cousin Kate.—l would have written to yon before only I was waiting to receive the badge, but it has not come yet, so I thought I bad best let you know. Jubilee week was not very exciting here, as the place is so small. Flags were the only things to be seen. My mother has sold Topsy, and I have another pony His name is Messenger. Do you think it a nice name ? Dear Cousin Kate, do you ever have chilblains ? I have them very badly. Sometimes they are so bad I cannot wear my shoes, I have to borrow my mother’s slippers. I am sending you a few riddles. —Your affectionate Cousin Lav.

[I am so sorry you have not received your badge. I sent it off immediately, but as it was just after the Jubilee, perhaps it got lost somehow! I have sent you another, which please let me know whether you receive safely. You gave me no street, nor name of your house, but I looked up your name and town again in my book, and see I have marked the badge against your name as sent. I have had a few complaints about badges not arriving, but the second one generally seems to get there safely, so I hope yours will too. I hope your new pony will be a good one. I think the name a little long for ordinary use, do not you ? Yes, dear Cousin Lily, I have chilblains, and after sitting all day—a wet, miserable day—in a cold office, they are now grumbling because they are near a nice warm fire. Not too near, for that is an excellent way to get chilblains. I am sitting at the table writing to you, and the cat is sitting by the fire on a hassock, looking very cosy- She has hurt her foot, and I have just been trying'to put a bread poultice on it. She gently but firmly refused to allow me to take any liberties with even a sore paw, though I gave her a saucer of milk to keep her quiet. Cousin Mervyn tells me they all had a try at bandaging her foot whilst I was away. Probably that’s exactly why she won’t let me touch it. Now for your chilblains: Paint them with iodine before they break, or rub them well night and morning with common salt dissolved in vinegar. We used to do this at home, I mean in England, in Yorkshire, when our chilblains were truly bad I It is the damp that brings them ; therefore put cork soles in your shoes and keep your feet dry. If broken, tie them up with vaseline. I should try carbolic oil (prepared by a chemist), but it hurts a little at first. The vaseline does not. Thank-you for your riddles.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate.—l hope you are well. It is our examination to-morrow. I hope I will pass. If I do I will be in Standard 111. There is going to be a Children’s Flower Show. lam going to send in a geranium. We have one cat and two dogs. Our cat is quite white, and we call it Snowy. One dog is all black, and is named Nigger. The other one is white and tan. Father called him Taffy after the play of ’Trilby.’ Cousin Vivian has not quite filled her card, but hopes to send it in next week. I must now close with love to you and all the cousins.—l am your loving cousin, Edith. fl hope you have passed your examination, dear Cousin Edith. What colour is your geranium ? Is it

the big Children’s Flower Show in November you are trying for? You have good names for your animals. It is sometimes very difficult to find nice names, is it not ? Cousin Vivian is very good about the card. Do you see that we shall soon have a Children's Cottage Hospital, and then our cot will be in a very much more comfortable place ? lam quite well, thank you, except for a cold ; but everyone has colds, have they not ? Have you ?—Cousin Kate.]