Cousins' Badges.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue XII, 22 March 1902, Page 574

Cousins' Badges.

Cousins requiring 1 badges are revested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forward'd by return mail.

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Cousin Kate, —It is a very long time since I have written to von. but I will make up for it by trying to make my letter as interesting as I can. The disaster to the Seventh Contingent was terrible, wasn’t it? I had an uncle severely wounded, but I am glad to say he is making a favourable recovery. I have also an uncle in the Eighth Contingent. I went to a picnic at Motutapu not long ago, and I enjoyed myself very much. It is such a pretty place, and it is very nice for boating and bathing. There have been a lot of bathing accidents this year, have there not? Did you go to see Wilson Barrett, Cousin Kate? I should have liked to have gone, but I had no one to take me. I went to see the Brough Comedy Company when they were in Auckland. The rain we have just been having Is very welrome. isn't it? Everything in our garden was dying before it came. I am sending you a story for the •‘Children’s Page,” Cousin Kate, which 1 hope you will consider good enough. Cousin Walter and Cousin Norman, correspondents of yours, are cousins of mine. They write very nice letters, don’t they? I think one has more to write about when they live in the country. Well, I must say good-bye now, from your affectionate cousin, Violet.

| Dear CouSin Violet,—Your having relatives in the Contingents must make you feel much interest in the war. How nice it will be when you have them back, and what stories they will be able to tell you of the battles they have been tn. Did von go to Motutapu in the same pienie party as Cousin Alison, whose letter appears on this page? And were vou one who went round the rocks? The number of bathing accidents should be a warning to us all to learn to swim. Can you swim? I went to see Wilson Barrett. If you saw the I troughs you saw a much better company. I have just answered a letter to Cousin Norman. He and Cousin Walter Ivoth write nice letters. You are quite right when you say that those bovs and girls who live in the country have more things to write about than those in town. If I could have my choice I would much rathei live in the country. Your story came safely to hand. I have not yet

read it, but will do so and let you know—-Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —What a long time it is since I last wrote to you, is it not? I hope Cousin Roie will enjoy her trip Home to England. I wonder if she is a good sailor; it will be very unpleasant for her if she is not. I love the sea, but I do not get many opportunities of going very long journeys on it. I have been to Auckland, and liked it very much. Dear Cousin Kate, when are you going to have a story competition? I do like competitions, although I seldom go in for any. I like to see how many small words I can make out of larger words. The word “Roberts,” for instance, you can make roe, Bert, Robert, bore, boer, bet and rot, besides a few more. Of course, you can use the same letter twice. I also like giving descriptions of holidays, etc. But I am afraid that I am not making my letter very InterestingMy music teacher gave a party last week. I was invited, and we had great fun. We had all kinds of games, ineluding “Forfeits” and “Musical Cushions.” I forgot to tell you that my teacher is going to be married, so we drank her health in lemonade. Just before leaving Cor home we all joined hands and sang “Should auld acquaintance be forgot.” Miss Alien was married the other day. Tt was a very pretty wedding. The bride was attended by two bridesmaids and two flowergirls. The latter were little girls of seven. They had white silk dresses reaching to their ankles and silk granny bonnets to match. After the ceremony the bride, bridegroom and her bridesmaids had their photos taken. I do not think’that I have any more news to tell you, so I will conclude now with love from your affectionate cousin, Winnie-

[Dear Cousin Winnie, —I have greatly enjoyed you nice long letter, which T found full of Interest. I am glad to think you like competitions, and probably when the long evenings come again we shall go in more for them than we have done. The “Graphic” readers all seem to like them. It is a very good exercise to try and make a lot of different words out of the letters contained in one. Your descriptions of the party and the wedding are very nice. The marriage must have been a pretty one. Don't forget to write to me again soon, for I like your letters. —Cousin Kate.] * ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —It is a long time since I wrote to yon. May has had typhoid, and that is why she has not written to you. She is getting better now. Carrie says we are to save all the oranges for her when she is better. I think Jungle Jink is very nice. The two boars are great tell-tales, aren't they? Kobin sits on a stool at school time, and whenever he moves it makes a squeak, and Dad says he is a drake. Carrie is giving Kitty a ride on old Nell, the horse, in the garden. I cannot think of anything more to tell you, so good-bye. — With love from Cousin Jenny.

| Dear Cousin Jenny,—l was so sorry to hear that May had had fever, and am glad to know she is now getting lietter. You must be very kind to her. as I know you will be. Yes. the boys attending Dr. Lion's school are terrible pickles. Just fancy

such a school. I laughed when 1 read about Kobin and your father’s name for him.- Good-bye. Don’t be so long in writing me as you have been. I shall look forward to getting a letter from you. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —4 l°t gi r l s got up a pienie party, and went with the Sunday-school children on Saturday. We all took our own lunch, and had a grand time. We had a nice bathe first; the. sea was very cleai and deep, so we enjoyed it, as it was sueh a hot day. The picnic was at Station Bay, Motutapu. I hadn’t been before. There is a small stretch of sand, with rocks at each end, and high hills all round. After having lunch, we decided to go round th 5 rocks, but first I must tell you the boat we came in could not get off, as it was left high and dry. This was rather awkward, because it was supposed to go back and bring a second party in the afternoon. The only thing to do, they said, was to wait till eleven o’clock at night, but word was sent, and another ferryboat brought the other people down, but they were not allowed to land, because we had to come straight baek by that boat. Well, three of us not knowing another boat was to take us off, went round the rocks, getting sea-eggs and crabs’ claws, also a few oysters. Thinking we had heaps of time, we went a long way, and then cut over the hills to go home, but we sat down in the grass and rested for a few minutes. Then we began to have slides down it. The grass was yery slippery, and dry, and we were enjoying ourselves thoroughly. We got rather hot, so went down to the sea to cool our feet, when one of the girls came tearing over the hills to tell us the boat was going, and the others had been waiting a long time for us. We jumped up, and ran as fast as we possibly could, and soon came in sight of the boat, but there were such crowds still to go that we thought the fuss had been for nothing. So we sat down and put our shoes and stockings on, and tore on down the hill. We got on the boat that was high and dry, to wait for the boat that was to carry us to the other, and we had no sooner got on it than we had to go off, and crawl round some slippery rocks, and cross from one lot of rocks to the barge, and got safely to the ferry. My sister was rather scotty with me for staying so long, but we had a grand time all the same. I must close this letter now. —With love from Cousin Alison.

[Dear Cousin Alison, —You write a first-rate letter. I was most interested in the account of your adventures. and I am sure all the other cousins who read it will be also greatly interested. Only I don't like your using the word scotty. Is it not rather slangy? Motutapu is a delightful place. I have often been there, but I do not think I ever was at Station Bay. unless it is near Emu Bay, or Home Bay. I must thank you for your letter.—Cousin Kate.]

My Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you very much for your nice long letter. I was very glad to see my letter. We were all very miserable a little while ago. One of our cats had something the matter with him. We think that he was injured in some way, and father had to shoot him, to put him out of his pain. It’s dreadful to lose one’s pets, isn’t it? The gardens are

looking very bare just now. The weather has been very dry and hot for them, but we have just had a lot of rain, and we hope it will freshen them up. My two little brothers are learning to swim. The boy takes them in every day. They swim on bamboos, and I think they will soon learn, because they are fond of the water. I can swim, and I love having a bath in the river. 1 am expecting my two cousins in a few days. They are going to stay with us till the next steamer goes to Auckland. They are going there to school—l think to King’s College. I must close now, as it is nearly time for me to start my lessons. With love to you and the cousins.—From Cousin Lorna. [Dear Cousin Lorna, —I am always so glad to get your nice letters. I was sorry to hear of the death of your pet cat. Some time ago a dear doggie of ours died, that we had had for years, and we felt it dreadfully. All the gardens here are burnt up, as the water has been very scarce. I am afraid all the dahlias are a failure. How do your brothers manage with the bamboos? I saw a little girl trying to learn to swim. She had a cork jacket, and it was not very successful. lam glad your cousins are going to King’s College. It is such a nice school. I know quite a number of boys who go there. They like it so much.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ * My Dear Cousin Kate, —I read the letter you wrote about the pranks you played when you were little, and I think they were very funny, and I hope you will write some more. It is such a nice day to-day. We have some dear little chickens, they are so small and pretty. We had a flood which came all round the back of the house, and if it had risen much more the water would have been all round our house. Father and my Auntie are going down with my cousins to Suva to-day. They are going to see the boys off by the Taviuni to Auckland. We feel very sad saying goodbye to them. I got such a nice box of paints sent to me the other day, and some nice little paint books. I saw in one of the cousins’ letters that she had read “Little Women ” and “Lord Fauntleroy.” I have read both of them, and “Little Men,” and I think they are very nice books. I must close now, dear Cousin Kate, with love to you and all the cousins, from Cousin Loma. [Dear Cousin Loma, —I am printing another of your letters on this page. When I have time I shall try to recall other things which happened to me when I was a little girl. I have so many letters to answer this week that I must make this one very short.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I don’t know if I ought to write this week as my letter wasn’t in the “Graphic” last week, and I was afraid I might be sending two for one week if it was published some other time- Cousin Anna did write a jolly letter. There are quite a number of cousins now. I have read "Misunderstood.” I think it is the saddest and prettiest book I have read. Have you read “Seaforth” by the same author? I like it very much; also “A Christmas Carol ” by Dickens, and I have now “Little Dorrit.” I hope there will be some more puzzles soon, I like trying them, although I haven’t had any luck yet. It is so interesting when the answers come out. I don’t know either of the last two winners, it is more interesting when you do. A few years ago we had two small bazaars, just working by ourselves, and they were so successful that we thought we would have another, but we were helped by a grown up person and so she thought it would be a good idea to have a meeting every Saturday to make different things, so we do, and she had a few things sent from India and we are to have it this month, only this time a lot more girls met with us and did a lot, so it will be bigger. Last year we made over eight pounds. Tt doesn’t seem very much but it all helps, because we send it to the Mission. and it is something to do getting everything ready- Bazaars aren’t very enjoyable, but they are more so when you help in them your-

self. I really have nothing to write about, and feel bound to close this short letter. With love to you and the cousins, from Cousin Alison. [Dear Cousin Alison, —I have not room this week to do more than acknowledge your second letter which is full of interest. I am very pleased to find you like writing, and I am still more pleased to receive letters so full of things as yours are. I know the cousins will enjoy both your letters.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I thought I would write you this letter to let you know I found the cat. This is the first time I have written to you. The cat is in the right hand curtain near the top. It is a white cat with a large black spot on its body, and it also has some black stripes over it. T have put a cross at its head and tail. I hope you will be able to see

the marks. Now, dear Cousin Kate, I must stop. With love from Cousin Willie.

[Dear Cousin Willie, —You found the cat all right. 1 thought it pretty difficult to find, but quite a number of cousins and others got it. I fancy young people have much sharper eyes than their elders. In the case of so many being right all the correct answers are jumbled together in a box and the one that is first drawn takes the prize. I am glad you are to be a cousin and am sending you a badge. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am just writing a few lines, asking if I may become one of your many cousins. I am 10 years old, and I am in Standard IV. We have a pet cat with four little black and gray kittens. I cut out the prize picture, marking in the cat in the window curtains. I have no more time to write a large letter, and my brother is waiting to post it. Excuse this bad writing. Your affectionate cousin, Ivo. [Dear Cousin Ivo, —You are most welcome to our happy circle of cousins. I am glad to learn you are so well on for your age. You can’t give too much attention to your lessons. As it is you write a nice clear hand. Are not the little kittens funny little things? Shall I send you a cousin’s badge?—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am very pleased at winning the prize for the cat puzzle. We are having very bad weather at present. I am just thirteen years of age. and have passed the sixth standard. Our school is very small, and' has only forty in attendance. I am going up to Auckland for a musical examination in June. I have three sisters and three brothers. We keep the only hotel in this district, which is twelve miles from the Thames. Now I must bring my letter to a close with love to you and all the cousins.—l remain, your loving cousin, Millie. [Dear Cousin Millie, —I hope your

success will encourage you and others to try other puzzles. A great many others found the cat, but as you were the first drawn you have gained the prize.—Cousin Kate.]

My Dear Cousin Kate, —It is ages ago since I have written to you, but I have not forgotten you after all. I have plenty of news to tell you now. My turned ware got a special prize up at the Kohukohu Show. I suppose I would have had a good show against others in turning, but there was no other exhibitor to exhibit with. lam going to send my turned ware up to the autumn show up at Waimate North, on the 12th March L always work our gas engine now. We saw our wood by a circular saw, too, and cut our chaff. I am sending you. that puzzle that I found out. I think it is right.-—I remain, yours truly. Cousin Norman. | Dear Cousin Norman, —Let me congratulate you on your success at Kohukohu Show. You are a clever little boy to be the only one who exhibited. I hope you will do as well at the Waimate Show. Tell me how you get on. What a great saving of time and labour it must be to have a circular saw to saw your wood and cut your chaff. Your answer to the puzzle is correct.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I hope you will accept me as a cousin, as I should like very much to be one; if you have any badges left will you please send me one. lam eight years old, and of these I lived six in Fiji, where it is much hotter than here. I like reading the children’s page in the “ Graphic ” very much. Now I must conclude, dear Cousin Kate, as I have to go to bed. lam in the third standard at school. —Your affectionate cousin, Hastings Senior. P.S.—I enclose the envelope for the badge. [Dear Cousin Hastings,—l am most pleased to have you for a cousin. The “ Graphic ” goes to Fiji, and the children’s page which you like so much has little readers there. Perhaps you may know some of them. Do you like New Zealand better than Fiji, or do you miss the heat and the tropical fruit? lam sending you a badge in the envelope you sent me.— Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I nearly forgot to write to you, 1 am afraid I did last week. I went to the North Shore yesterday and had such a lovely bathe. Has it not been very hot weather lately? Do you like reading very much. Cousin Kate? I do; I think it is very nice. Now, dear Cousin jxate. I must end, with love from cousin Airini.

[Dear Cousin Airini, —It has been hot indeed. This is the sort of weather when one would like to be in the country instead of the dusty, close town. I am glad that you like reading, for you will fine as you grow older that it affords you one of

the greatest of pleasures.—Cousin Fate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I should like Ber.v much to become one of your bouains. We always take the ‘Graphic.” and 1 am very interested in the “Children’s Page.” I went down to the Bowling Green when it was lit up. and it looked very pretty. There was a great crowd there, but 1 daresay you were there, too, and saw it all. As this is my first letter 1 do not expect it to be put in the “Graphic,” but. hoping you will receive me as a cousin. 1 remain, your loving cousin. Ruth. | Dear Ruth, —I am most pleased to welcome you as a cousin. Before you see this in print you wll have received a badge, which I am sending you. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —1 always read the letters in the "Graphic "Children’s Page,” and 1 thougnt i would ask you it 1 might join your baud of cousins. 1 hate writing letters, but I like receiving- them, and 1 think when you read the "Cousins Page” it is like someone playing a trick on you by sending you a lot of letters, and you try to think who they are from, but don't know. The other day 1 was playing cricket with my brothers (you know, 1 have a good many brothers, but most of them go to boarding school), and the ball hit me right on the eye, so it is quite black now. I have fried for several of the puzzles in the “Graphic,” but I have never got anything yet (luck never comes my way), but 1 suppose I ought to be a cousin before I try for their prizes. I like the riddles best. It does not matter how I write in this letter, for it is always put in the “Graphic” in jlrint. I will send you an addressed envelope for a badge. In the beginning or this letter I told you I hated writing letters, so you must not expect one from me more than once a fortnight, and it won’t be a very long one either. I can’t think of anything else to say, so I must close. With love from Cousin Beth. [Dear Cousin Beth, —The badge which you asked for will have reached you by this time. You are now enrolled am.mg the cousins, and I hope you will enjoy our society. I am glad you like the puzzles and prizes. If you don’t win at first you know the motto, “Try, try, try again.” 1 shall look forward to your letters, and shall be more than pleased if I get one a fortnight, as you suggest. I hope your eye is quite well again, it must have been a nasty blow.— Cousin Kate.]

[Dear Cousin Nellie, —I was pleased to receive your letter and answer Io the puzzle, which was considered amongst the others. It is so nice that a number of the cousins are interested in puzzles.—Cousin Kate.]