THE ‘ GRAPHIC ’ COUSINS' COT FUND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XVI, 14 October 1899, Page 702

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 £•2.5 a year is needed to pay for the nursing, food and medical attendance of the child in it. Any contributions will be gladly received bv Cousin Kate, care of the Lady Editor, ‘New Zealand Graphic,'Shortland street, or collecting cards will be sent on application. IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL ‘GRAPHIC" COUSINS. A NEW COMPETITION. My Dear Cousins, — I want to talk to you — especially my girl cousins—very seriously about the new Competition which is now open —the Competition for the Best Dressed Doll sent me. I want you to dress these dolls for the children in th? Hospital and Orphan Homes, and the children of people so poor that they never get a Chrishtmas present. Now read over carefully the conditions and try and observe the rules strictly. THE PRIZES. First prize, half a sovereign. Second prize, five shillings. Four other prizes of half-a-crown each. CONDITIONS. The DOLLS WILL BE PROVIDED free until further notice. Any cousin who wants to dress a doll has only to write to me or call at the “Graphic" Office: but. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. they must bring or send with their own letter one from either their parents or guardians or teacher stating that they will see that the doll is returned in good order directly it is finished. Remember, the dolls are for other children’s presents and not for you to play with. You may dress the doll in any way you like, as a boy or girl, or baby, or sailor, or soldier—-any way you like whatever —but you must make the Mothes -ourself, though you may-

have them cut out for you. They must all “put on and take off.” The Competition will remain open until further notice. The dolls are now ready and may be obtained by any cousin sending in a request as I have explained. I do hope, dear cousins, you will enter into this competition with spirit. For very little trouble you can in this way give a vast amount of pleasure to others. And that is always well worth doing, is it not? COUSIN KATE. ® ® ® COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Cousin Kate.—Please send me a doll to dress. I don’t think I can dress it well enough to win a prize, but I think I can dress it well enough to give a little pleasure to some poor little child who has to lie in bed for months, and perhaps never had such a thing as a doll in its life, or any other plaything either. What a life it must be for little children, who cannot read or do anything to amuse themselves, and for grown people, too. because you never feel inelined to read or do anything if there is anything the matter with you. Not that I have had much experience in that line, for I never had much the matter with me but measles, and measles is the only illness I stayed in bed with. We have all had the measles: all except father. We are better again now. all except mother. but she was very ill: she is getting better now. I hope all the cousins will try and do something for the little chap in the cot. (Poor little fellow; is he any better?) I suppose he is too old to lie amused with a doll, though? (is he not?) I wish I had some money to send you for the cot; but I do so hate the very idea of asking for it. Did you get many dresses sent in for the competition? What nice letters Cousin Elsie writes; she well deserves all the compliments you give her. and lots more. That was a splendid description of a walk she and one of the other cousins had together. I always look for Cousin Elsie’s letters in the “Graphic.” Have you got many flowers up Auckland way? We had lovely violets this season (better than I have ever seen before). but the bulb flowers are not very good. We have been having lovely weather lately, but it is raining today a little, and it is so hot. You had better pack the doll in a small box, so it will not get broken, for it is a good long way from Auckland to Tikokino to send such things as dolls. Wishing you success with the Doll Competition, I must now close. —Cousin Anna. P.S.—You need not be afraid that I will play with the doll, for I never did care much for dolls, and I should not think any girl of my age would care to play with a doll. [Dear Cousin Anna, — Thanks so much for your long letter. I am glad you are going to dress a doll. We did not get so very many garments in for the little lad who was in the cot. He has left now. but may have to go back again, as he is not yet cured. I quite agree with all you say about not being able to read. Cousin Elsie does certainly write very clever letters. I expect she will become an authoress one of these days. You say you are too old to play with dolls, but I have known some quite grown-up girls fond of dolls; indeed, my grandmother used to play with dolls even after she was married. But she was only sixteen then. Our gardens are beginning to look gay again now, as the azaleas are out in Auckland. The bulbs are over, A week or so ago all the plum trees were a mass of blossom, and it seems as if we should have another good fruit year. T have sent you the doll. — Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, — We take the “Graphic” every week, and 1 always read the cousins' letters, and wish to become a cousin myself. I saw by the last week’s “Graphic” that you were offering several prizes for the bestdressed doll. As I have not been able to attend school for some time, on account of a sore foot--and I doubt if I will be able to for a few weeks to come—l should like you to send me a doll to dress in my spare time. I am very fond of sewing, and I will try my best to dress the doll as nieely as possible. Will you kindly send the doll to my address as soon as possible so that I may set to work and dress the doll without delay. I must now conclude as I am afraid this letter is getting rather long.—l am, your loving cousin. Dora Phillips. Ponsonby.

[Dear Cousin Dora. — I have just packed off a doll, a badge, and a col-lecting-card. so you will see you are now a full-fledged cousin. I was so sorry to hear of your poor foot, and hope it will soon get better. Still it is better it did not happen in the Christmas holidays, is it not, for then everyone wants to enjoy themselves so much. I am always dreadfully sorry for any child who has to keep still for a long while. My favourite sister had an accident through a careless nurse when she was four years old. and she was strapped to a flat board for two years. I was six at the time, so it is a long while ago now —how long I care not to think—but I have never forgotten those two years. I hope your foot will not keep you a prisoner even two weeks. — Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —Would you mind sending me one of your dolls to dress, as I should like to dress one for a prize, and if I do not win a prize I hope it will make others happy. Now, I shall give you a little idea of Napier, which has some nice scenery about it. The Parade is very pretty, also the gardens and cemetery. I must tell you that my sister got her doll, but it was smashed to pieces, but she went and got another from one of the Napier shops. So now I must close, hoping you will send it soon. Goodbye.—l remain, your cousin Alice, Napier. [Dear Cousin Alice, —I was quite distressed to hear of the accident to the poor doll I sent Cousin Edith. It was very nice of her to go and get another. I am packing yours in a different way. and hope it will be quite safe. I would like you and all the other cousins to know how very glad I am that you and so many of the cousins who send for the dolls say that you do not care if you win the prize or not so long as you make someone else happy. If you stick to that idea through life, Cousin Alice, you will find that the world is a very pleasant place to live in. It is the people who only care about winning prizes, whether other people are happy or not, who make life miserable for themselves and others.—Cousin Kate.]