CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XXIII, 3 December 1898, Page 739

CHILDREN’S CORRESPONDENCE COLUMN.

Any boy or girl who likes to become a cousin nan do so. and write letters to ‘Cousin Kate, care of the Lady Editor. ‘ Graphic ’ Office, Auckland. Write on one side of the paper only. All purely correspiondence letters with enelope ends turned in are carried through the Post Office as follows: —Not exceeding Aoz. id ; not exceeding 4oz, Id ; for every additional 2oz or fractional part thereof, |d. It is well for correspondence to be marked ‘ Press Manuscript only.’ Please note, dear cousins, that all letters addressed to Cousin Kate must now bear tlie words ‘ Press Manuscript only. If so marked, and the flap turned in, and not overweight, they will come for a id stamp in Auckland, but a Id from every other place.

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,' Shortlandstreet, or collecting cards will be sent on application.

Dear Cousin Kate, —I hope you are keeping well. It is a long time since I last wrote to you. I am very sorry that you had to leave Auckland on such sad business. How is your garden getting on? Our pansies are looking well. It has been very hot lately, and the plants need rain. We have a sheep dog. Its name is Whisky. Its •colour is brown and white. II ho is in the ‘Graphic’ Cousins’ cot now? That was a very nice photo, of the little boy in the ‘Graphic.’ Please send me a card to see if I can collect a little for Christmas. I think I must close with love to you and all the cousins.—l remain your loving Cousin, "V ivian. [I am very glad to hear from you, dear cousin Vivian. My garden is looking very well now. I have worked hard in it since I came home, and cousin Wilbert has been of great assistance. I will send you a collecting card with pleasure. lam going up to the Hospital next week and will see about the wee occupant- of our cot. What a tipsy sort of name for a dog! And I am sure he is a sober animal. We had eight wee ducks hatched last week. On Saturday night a rat calmly ran off with one. We have moved the ducklings and set a trap for Mr Rat. Do you mean to say you want rain already? What will your plants do when the really dry weather comes? And what shall we all do?—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I expect you have forgotten me, as it is a long time since I wrote to you from Masterton. I meant to send for a badge at that time, but we came to Wellington to live, and somehow I forgot all about it, as there was so much to see here, and all kinds of amusements. Do you remember about our little dog Dick, and how he used to chase the fowls out of the garden and lie on them until someone eame to take them away? He is with us here, but so fat now he looks like a woolly rug, he is so curly. He is nearly as old as I am, and I am afraid we shall soon lose poor Dick. We had some other pets—two darling cats and a mollyhawk, and a dear little sparrow. The sparrow Hew on mamma’s head one day in the garden, and never wanted to go away. He would fly all about the house, and at night would roost high up on the pictures. He seemed quite to love us all. and would hop about

us and nestle under my hair. The mollyhawk was a large sea bird, and was very friendly with Dick. If Dick wagged his tail the bird would try to catch hold of it. It was so funny to watch them. Dick is washed on washing days, but does not like it, so directly he sees any clothes on the line he runs away and hides. I could tell you much more about his funny little ways, but must not fill all my paper. Have you ever been to Wellington? It is a very pretty place; there are so many pretty bays all round it. We generally take a furnished cottage by the seaside for the holidays, and have great fun. We were six weeks at Island Bay last year, and of course went to see the hermit. He has gone away now, and his cave is blocked up. lam sending you some seaweeds which I got at Island Bay. We used to go in the water after them and catch them as they came floating in on the waves. They are much prettier then than when they dry on the beach. We used to go out in the evening and watch the fishermen haul in their nets. I think we are going to Worsen Bay this year. It is such a pretty bay, with hills all round it; which are covered with trees. The Fort is not far away, so it will be a nice walk to go and see it My little sister and I go to Miss Beere’s dancing class, and we had a fancy dress party for the breaking up. It was a very pretty scene. I was Winter (white satin and white fur ’snowballs all over it), and my little sister was Buttercups and Daisies. She looked very pretty. Miss Beere was Evangeline. Prizes and medals are given at the breaking up to each class. Last year I got the medal for my class. I enclose six stamps for a badge, and I will not be so long before I write to you again.—■ With best love, I remain your loving Cousin Athie.

[Many thanks, dear cousin Athie for your interesting- long letter. I hope you will have as good a time at Worser Bay as at Island Bay. Yes, I have several times been in Wellington. I was there for a night last month, and spent the evening in the House, listening to a rather dull debate. The sea weed is very pretty. Thank you for it. I have sent you a badge. It is so very hot to-day, I am in a melting mood,- and not much inclined for writing. I expect you and your sister are both good dancers. We shall be very gay in Auckland this week, with the Exhibition and Lord and Lady Ranfurly. Write again soon.—• Cousin Kate.]