COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XV, 13 October 1900, Page 710

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

My Dear Cousin Kate, —Is it not grand news that has been quickly sent along- the silent wires? The Duke and Duchess of York have accepted the invitation of the Government to visit this colony. Coming- with the roseate dawn of a new century —for we hope it shall see the complete dispersion of the clouds that have darkened our skies of late—such royal appreciation will linger long in the mind of the people of Britain's far-off colony. This gracious act of the Queen shall be for us of the Land of Aotearoa, the greatest event of the longest and most glorious reign in English history. The love borne for her by her people, and the knowledge that she is still dearer to them to-day than she ever was before. must make all desirous to give a loyal welcome to her grandson, who may one day wear the Royal crown. It is said that France is considering the contingency of war with England. I think we need not take a gloomy view of such a position, or think seriously of the chances of a French invasion, but rather sing with Alfred Austin: And. though the world togetner band, Not all the legions of the land Shall ever wrest from England’s hand The Sceptre of the Sea. The war in South Africa is drawing to a close, and I am sure the termination of the twelve months’ strife will Im* hailed with the wildest delight throughout Great Britain’s vast dominion. All should determine to do their best to show the loyalty of our small colony 1o a great Empire, and an historic throne, and mark in a befitting manner the auspicious occasion when Britain furls her battle banners, twines the peaceful olive round the sword, and rings the bugle call of victory.—Your loving Cousin, Jack. [Dear Cousin Jack, —Thank you very much for your very eloquent and scholarly letter. It will be read with pleasure by all the Cousins. It only arrived just as we were going to press, so T will ask you to excuse a brief reply.—Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —We are indeed getting a large, happy band. I am very glad to be welcomed as one of the Cousins. Could you tell me about how many there are? I have an air gun with which T practise shooting at a

mark. All otir fruit trees are in blossom, and we hope to have a good crop this year. Would once a month be too often for me to write to you? My father thinks it is very good practice. He wishes me to be a doctor. I like giving down to the beach to fish. Summer is coming, and I will be able to continue my lessons in swimming.— Cousin Oscar, Thames. [Dear Cousin Oscar, —You must write just as often as ever you like, and not regulate yourself by any fixed time. I am afraid I could not spare time just now to send you a list of all the Cousins, but we must count ourselves by hundreds now, I think. I hope you are very careful with that air gun. They are rather dangerous toys, I consider. 1 hope you will be a doctor, too. It is a noble profession.— Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —I wrote to you !n June, and it is now the 24th of September. I have had no answer to my letter either in the “Graphic” or a private one, so I am wondering what has happened to you. Tread the Cousins’ page every week, and from your answers to their letters I see you are still alive and well, so I cannot understand why 1 have not heard from von. The letter about the coleuses Jias'not arrived here yet. Mother cut the coleuses down and put them by the fire every night, but two of them'died. Was not that a terrible thing about the blacks in N.S.W. murdering the people? We were told that they were in the country that Rolf Boldrewood wrote about in “Robbery Under Arms.” Did you ever read it? I think it is a splendid book. What has happened to the "War Competition”? There has been nothing about it in the "Graphic” for a long time now. The last South African war news we hear is that Kruger has got away to Holland after all. When we last heard from our brother he said he believed Oom Paul would be too many for them yet. Have you ever seen an Australian magpie, Cousin Kate? There has been one about here for the last three or four days, such a pretty big black and white bird; but the poor thing was lame. Some people tried to shoot it. and they must have lamed it, and the poor thing came down here. I have not seen it today. I have read the book you sent to Dora for a prize, “Polly, a New Fashioned Girl.” There is one very amusing piece in it about a little dog that is always biting, and two of the children, one an Australian boy and the other an English girl. They dig a hole in the ground, hide the dog (they do it at night, so that they will not be seen), and then the boy sells it the next night, and puts the money in its owner's purse. Its owner Is a very crabbed old woman, so you can imagine what the result is when it ls> found out what they have done. One of the Cousins (a Wellington Cousin, 1 believe, it was) said she had read a book called “Elsie’s Motherhood.” I suppose it was one of the “Elsie” series, by Martha Finley. I have read a lot of them. right from the first one. to the one called “Elsie’s Kith and Kin.” I liked them, and wish I could get some more. I am looking forward to seeing those photos you have been promised for the “Graphic.” I. like you. could not understand Cousin Norman’s letter about his photo. As far as I could make out you had put the wrong name under one of the photos. All the last photos that have been in the “Graphic” of Cousins I have put in my book that I told you about, with ferns round them. I liked Mr William ftatchell's patriotic verses that were printed in the “Graphic” a little while ago. The one called “Mafeking” T liked best. That letter from Lord Roberts to Dorothy Cummings was not written by him. It was begun and signed by him; but the rest was

not his hand writing. Anyone could see it was two different writings. Now, 1 expect this is long enough, and I must not take up two much of your time and space. Good bye.—l remain, your Cousin, Anna. Dear Cousin Anna, —I eannot imagine what became of your former letter. Certainly I never saw it. It must have got lost or perhaps you forgot to post it. I have done that once or twice myself and found the letter ages after in a blotting pad or a drawer. Most certainly you have not offended me. lam very glad you like to write and take so great an interest in our cousins’ page. Your letter was a capital one, and I hope you will soon write again. I should not think the fire was very good for the coleuses, but perhaps you may save the second one. I told you in my letter that it was very difficult to keep them save in a greenhouse but to give them a nice warm window, and not too much water. You must excuse a short answer, as I have several other cousins to write to. — Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —Wellingtonians are experiencing very funny weather just now for the mornings begin with being very pleasant and sunshiny, and then quite unexpectedly it begins to pour with rain. At the Opera House this w-eek Donald Macdonald has been delighting us with his lectures on the war. The first night there were 2000 people present to hear him, and for the four succeeding nights there were very large audiences. The ever-amusing Pollards are coming here again on Monday, and will open with “Paul Jones.” We are having plenty of amusement here now in the way of variety companies, for there is another one opened in Wellington now besides Dix’s and Fuller's; it is called Hooper’s, and promises to be as great a success as the former ones are now. The spring fashions are now in full play, and we see the fascinating cherrytrimmed hats and toques with their billowy heaps of chiffon. Some of the dresses worn now are very beautiful, and the fashions this year are the prettiest and most expensive we have had for some time. Dear Cousin Kate I have not yet received my card. Hoping to do so, I remain, Cousin Winnie, Wellington. [Deal- Cousin Winnie, —I have just posted you your card. I am sorry I overlooked it before. The weather here has been horrible, and everyone is ill with influenza. I am glad you liked Donald Macdonald. I thought him a capital teller of war stories. Have you chosen your spring dress yet?—Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —I should like very much to become one of your cousins. We take the “Graphic” every week, and I am always very much interested in the children’s page. I think it would be very nice if the cousins who collect stamps, crests, or monograms would put their whole address to their letters when they write, because then we could write and exchange stamps, etc., with each other. Cousin Roie who writes to the “Graphic” is a real cousin of mine, though we have never seen each other. I am fourteen, and go to Pepitea private school. My favourite subject is French. A French master comes to teach us. Cousin Aileen goes to the same school as I. Will you send me a collecting card please. I must now close my letter.—l remain, your affectionate cousin, Zaidee Nathan, Wellington.

[Dear Cousin Zaidee, —What a very quaint and pretty name you have got. I am most delighted to have you for a cousin. There is a letter you see from Cousin Roie in this “Graphic” too. I think your suggestion about the stamp collecting cousins a capital one. Perhaps some other cousins will take the matter up. I am sure you will find French very useful, espe-

cially when you go home to Europe. Write again soon.—Cousin Kate.] ® ® ® Dear Cousin Kate, —I received my badge quite safely, and please let me thank you for it. My holidays are now ended, so I am at my- lessons again. Has it not been nasty weather lately. Mother took my little sister and my-self for a drive yesterday’ out to Alt. Wellington. We had a lovely blow. There were such a lot of dear little lambs on the way in the paddocks. Was there not a big hailstorm this morning; we got a big basin full of it. I hop? this letter will be in time for next week’s “Graphic.” Are there not a lot of new cousins? I am trying to write a little story, and if I ever finish it perhaps you may think it good enough to put in the “Graphic.” I think that is all I can think of to say. With love, I remain, your affectionate cousin, Koie. [Dear Cousin Roie, —I was so sorry this letter arrived just a few minutes too late for last week’s “Graphic.” I hope you were not very much disappointed. It is a very nice drive out to Alt. Wellington, is it not? I have ridden and driven there several times. I shall be so very’ glad if you send me in a story- for the cousins’ page, and it is capital exercise for you to try. You will see by a letter just before this that a real cousin of yours in Wellington has joined us. Are you not glad?—Cousin Kate.]