COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVII, 24 October 1903, Page 59

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate, —When I got home from school to-day of course the first thing I asked for was the “Graphic,” to see if my letter had been in time to be printed, and you may be sure I was delighted to see that it was. Our holidays are over, and mother says she is not sorry, and now I can’t have any more fishing till Christmas. The fish we caught on Monday were sprats; some of them were pretty big. On Saturday Hawea and I went to the matinee of “Widow O’Brien.” We liked it very much, especially Little Gulliver’s part. Don’t you think he is very clever for such a little man! Could you tell me, dear Cousin Kate, the name of a nice boys’ book for mother to get to read to me. That is the one thing I am most fond of —being read to? Now, dear Cousin Kate, I must say good-bye, with love to you and all the other cousins.—Desmond. [Dear Cousin Desmond, —Thank you for writing again this week. I hope you will keep it up. What do you do with the sprats you catch? I should think they are too bony to eat. I am told on all sides it is going to be a great year for fish, and that there are already a large number in the harbour. I am very fond of fishing myself, but get very little nowadays—even in summer. Have you read the “Jungle Books?” I think you would like them. They are by Kipling.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —I am writing to »sk if I may become a cousin again. I have not written to you for so long a time that I am afraid you must have forgotten me. I really must apologise reason is that I have not had a moment to spare. If I may become a cousin again may I have a badge please? We are moving to Parnell in about a fortnight’s time to stay for about six or eight months. Then we are coming back again. The house we are going to is in St. George’s Bay Road, ’’T the beach, but I do not know how I like staying there for so long after laving lived in town. I sprained my ankle about a month ago, so that the first week of school I had to lie up, and even yet it is not quite better. We lost our dog the other day. He ran away eom us after we had had him for a 1 think he has gone back to his <1 home, for when we came to feed him « was nowhere to be found. I must °se this short note now, hoping you

will accept me again as a cousin.—l remain, with love, Cousin Mary. [Dear Cousin Mary,—Of course, I shall be delighted to welcome you as a cousin again. It is certainly a very long time since you wrote to me last, but I have not forgotten you, and I hope you will have more time to write to me In the future. I posted your badge this morning, so you will have got it lon j before you see this. I heard you were coming to live in Parnell for a time. You won’t like climbing that horrid GarfieldStreet hill every morning on your way to school. It is so frightfully hot in the summer. You are going up for your matriculation examination, are you not? Do you intend to go up this year or next? How did you manage to sprain your ankle? It takes a long time to get quite well, I know, and it is so very painful, too. Was yours a very bad sprain? You must take care and not try to do too much until it is all right again. If you had only had your dog for a week I expect you will find that he has returned to his old home again.? Could you not find out whether he has or not?—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —Just a few lines to tell you that I would like to be one of your members. Would you kindly send me one of your badges. I have a little garden of my own, and the flowers are growing nieely. My black cat has got three kittens, which are jet black. I was eleven years old last July, and I had a nice party. My grandmamma has got an aviary full of canaries. I would he so glad if you would send me a letter back. If you think this letter is as good as the other little girls’ I will be very pleased. Dear Cousin Kate, I remain, your affectionate friend, Sybil Smith. [Dear Cousin Sybil,—Your letter is just as good as those of the other cousins of your age, and I am most heartily glad to welcome you as a cousin. What are you going to call those three kittens, and are you going to keep them all? I am very fond of both cats and dogs. Are you ever afraid your cats and kittens will try and get at the canaries? Sometime# they—the cats I mean —are so sly they pretend not to care about the birds when you are in the room, but as soon as you go out jump for them like anything, and frighten the poor little fellows dreadfully. I hope your cat is good in this way. Write again soon.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l saw my letter in this week’s “Graphic,” and also your very welcome answer, which I was waiting for when the mail came in. To-day being a lovely day, I went on the river with some friends. We had a jolly time. A little village at Opouriao, not far from here, were going to have a social, only it was postponed on account of an accident which happened to a young lad about nineteen years of age. While clearing in the bush a tree fell on his leg. Tnis happened last Saturday, and he died on Wednesday morning at half-past seven, and he was buried on Thursday. His parents live in Taranaki, and his father only arrived at Whakatane to-day. I tried those puzzles, but I could only find out the buried eatables. I cannot do that nine balls puzzle. My sister tells me that the electric trams are going to run on Sundays. Some people do not think it right. Our school has resumed duties again, and we have had a very enjoyable week’s holiday. I have got the “Auckland Weekly News” Christmas number,

and hope the “Graphic” Christmas number will be out soon. Mother is sending several gifts to the Veterans’ Homa bazaar, from some old veterans resident in this district. I must conclude with love to all the cousins, not forgetting yourself.—l remain, your loving cousin, Florence.

[Dear Cousin Florence, —Many thanka for your letter, which I was very pleased to get. What a horribly sad accident that was. It must have been dreadful for the poor father. I wonder more accidents do not occur in the bush, for the men become so used to the dangers they run that they become careless and forgetful, and then, alas! one day a dreadful catastrophe occurs. I hope you will like the Christmas “Graphic*’ when you see it. Everyone seems to think it very good indeed, and of course I think it splendid. Will you be in Auckland for the veterans* bazaar? If so, be sure you look up the “Graphic” stall.—Cousin Kate.] * * * Dear Cousin Kate, —Please may I be one of your little nieces 7 I always like to read the children's letters in the “Graphic,” and I have often wanted to write to you. I have three sisters. Their names are Mary, Charlotte, and Winfred. Mary is married, and has three dear little children, whose names are Arthur, Oliva, and George Donald. They live out at Parawai, but often ome in to see us, as it is only a little over a mile, and a very pretty walk on a nice fine day. Winifred is engaged to such a nice man. He lives up in Auckland, but comes to stay with us sometimes. I must not forget to tell you about our little dog. ft i« a fox terrier, and is so clever, when he is well, but just now we think he has distemper. His name is "Jones,” and we also have a cat called “Tweedledee." There is to be a dance here on Friday night, to end the ping-pong season, and then the prizes are to be presented that have been won at the different tournaments. I think my sisters are going to it. Now, dear Cousin Kate, I 'will conclude, as I have told you everything I can think of to-night, but if you do not mind I would like to write to you again somv day. May I? I will look forward to seeing this in print, if it is not too long. With love and kisses. —I remain, your loving cousin, Georgina.

[Dear Cousin Georgina,—Your letter was not a little bit too long, and I am delighted you have decided to join our band. As for writing again, of course I hope you will do so, and the more often you write the better I shall be pleased. What a funny name for a dog “Jones” is. I wonder if any Mr Jones ever turns round when you are calling him in the street, and thinks you are addressing him. What fun it would be. Do you play ping-pong? TelJ me in your next letter. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I have just finished lessons. We began at about 9.30, and at about 10.15 our brother rang up to say that if we hurried down town we might see the procession, so we tore down town, but were rather late, so we walked up Queen street into Symonds street, and saw it there. I think it was splendid, and another reason I liked it was that we got out of an hour’s school. Yesterday my cousin, n friend, a little baby and myself, all went to the North Shore. We sat on the beach, and talked until it was time to go home. We enjoyed it very much, as it was such a love-

ly day. We have just received the delightful news that our sister Is coming over with her little baby on the ninth cl next month, and is going to stay for Sbout five months. Father went away 1 the Rarawa last Sunday tn Onehunga, and will return Thursday. Does it not seem silly taking thre days to go when you can got in twenty minutes in the trams? Last Saturday afternoon my uncle took my sister and cousin over thi reservoir, and the: man who showed them over wanted to give them a tow on ft, but they were frightened. I would have if I'd had the chance. I think we are going to “Arizona” on Thursday evening. A friend of mine went last night, and she thought it grand. Are you going, or have you been? Now, dear Cousin Kate, I must close. I would write more, but I haven’t any more time, with heaps of love.—From Cousin Gwen. (Dear Cousin Gwen, —Your letter delighted me. It was so fresh and ns tore 1 and just what I used to think at your age. I, to, would have thought any procession nice that got me out of an hour’s school. But, quite apart from that, did you not think it very good? I was quite amazed. I never Imagined Auckland could turn out so good a show. Was not Hellaby’s display excellent? 1 had some children in a cab, and they enjoyed it very much. I went to “Arizona” the first night, and liked it very much. Please excuse a short answer, as 1 have so many letters to write, as yesterday was a holiday, and I did not work.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l was very glad to see my letter in the "Graphic” this week. I will send the only puzzle I can do in to-night. We are having two weeks’ holiday this time instead of one, because we could not get a relieving teacher, but we have got one now. We will start school on Monday. Part of last and all of this week we have had terrible weather—either drizzling all day or raining heavily all day. To-day moat of the places are flooded. In Cousin Stanley’s place all are covered In water about two feet deep. We will have to work very hard when school begins to moke up for the week we lost. 1 must close now, Cousin Kate, with love to all tho cousins and yourself.—l remain, Cousin Arthur.

[Dear Cousin Arthur,—l am so glad you tried to do some of the puzzles, but what a pity you could not do more. Never mind, perhaps next time you w’ll be able to answer them all. Were you not glad to get two weeks’ holiday instead of one? but I suppose the weather rather spoilt all your pleasure. You often seem -to have floods down your way. When we were at Te Aroha some years ago, the river overflowed the banks verv considerably. It is pretty to see it, I think, but of course it does a teiTible lot of damage. I expect Cousin Stanley will write and tell me all about their place being flooded.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —It is a long while since I wrote to you last, but 1 have had nothing to tell you about. There has been a good deal of rain up here this last week, but the wind has changed round to a good quarter now, and I hope it will stay there and be fine for some time to come. The weather is getting very warm now, isn’t it? And it looks as we were going to have a dry summer. Flower gardens are beginning to look nice now, too. We have not gfot many flowers yet, as our garden has not been made long enough, but hope to have a good many soon. The other day we yoked up the horse and drove over to the place where our old house used to be. We boiled the billy and had our lunch there. When we had finished we dug up a lot of plants out of the old flower garden and brought them home with us. It looks very deserted all about, but the children all enjoyed themselves, eepecially having their lunch outside.

Have you ever seen a black pansy? We have one plant, but it is not a very good one; the flowers are rather small, and not quite as dark as they ought to be; but I like them very much; they look so soft and velvety. I am very fond of flowers, especially roses, violets, pansies and daffodills. What are your favourites, Cousin Kate? My father is sending a pair of bay Shetland ponies down to Auckland this week. A cream parir and dark points went down last week, too. They are such pretty little things, aren’t they? And so quiet too.

I think most of the Shetland ponies you see about Auckland have come from this estate. I must stop now, with love to you and all the cousins.—l remain, Cousin Nellie. P.S.—I enclose a little letter from my sister. [Dear Cousin Nellie, —As you say, it is a long time since you wrote to me last, so long, indeed, that I had to look your name up in my cousins’ book to find all about you. 1 hope you will write oftener now. We seem to have had a dreadful lot of rain lately, and now it is getting very hot, isn’t it? What we shall do when the summer really comes i don’t know. 1 hope the plants you dug up out of your old garden will grow, though I am afraid it is rather late in the season for transplanting. You must have had a delightful day when you drove over to your old home, and 1 don’t wonder the children enjoy ed themselves so much. I think there is nothing nicer than a sort of family picnic. One can do exactly as one pleases; but wasn’t it horrid to see the place look so dreary and deserted looking. Yes, I have seen black pansies. They are not very common 1 think. They arc very soft and pretty looking, but I never like to see them picked. You ask me what arc my favourite flowers. lam fond of so many that I really don’t know which are my special ones. Have you many Shetland ponies at your place? They are such dear little things I think. lam always wanting a pair of my own to drive, but I shall have to wait till my ship comes in before I get them.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —It was a fine day to-day, but yesterday and the day before it was raining hard. We have two gardens ma de, and there are a good many plants in them. When they were being dug we found a lot of kauri gum. It was my birtlniay the other day, and I got a lot of presents. One was a doll. I have made a dress for it, and I call it Sybil. I have another doll called Rose, and I have made a lot of clothes for it. We haven’t been out in the

boat lately. Mr Reed and Mr Marshall are starting a flax mill up here. Good-bye.—From Cousin Jenny. [Dear Cousin Jenny,—Thank you very much for your dear little letter, which Nellie enclosed in hers. We have been having horrid weather, haven’t we? But the worst of it is over now, I think. It is horrid starting a new garden, I think. Don't you? The flowers never seem to grow quick enough. What did you do with all the kauri gum you dug out of the garden. It is rather late to wish you many happy returns of your birthday, isn’t it? But I hope you will have'a great many very happy ones, all the same. I suppose it has been too cold to go out in the boat much lately, hasn’t it? Write again soon. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —Will you add me to your banu of cousins? I would be pleased if you would. lam twelve years old, and am in the seventh standard. Have you ever been to Nelson? It is just about one and a half hours’ drive from Here. It is a pretty little place, although some people think it quiet. We do not get the “Graphic” weekly, but we often get one lent to us. I see you are going to give a corner of the children’s page to puzzles, but 1 am afraid I cannot do those you put in last week. Will you kindly send me a badge if I send an addressed envelope? But 1 must conclude now, as it is school time.—With love to all the cousins and yourself, I remain, your Cousin Ivv.

[Dear Cousin Ivy,—l have just posted you a badge, which I hope you will like. I think they are very pretty, and the, little pins show them off well, do they not? No, I have not been in Nelson, but have always heard it was a lovely place, and I am sure it must be, from the pictures we have had from time to time in the “Graphic.” I hope you will write regularly and try and get your parents to take in the “Graphic.” so that you may see your letters and answers each week.—Cousin Kate.]

My Dear Cousin Kate, —It is such a long time since I wrote to you last that it is quite probable that you have forgotten me. I have not forgotten you, though, but now I am a shorthand writer and typist in an office, and have not the time to devote to my correspondence that 1 once had. I am kept very busy where I am, but I like it very well. My hours are rather long, I think, from half-past eight to five o’clock, but the time passes very quickly. I am glad that summer is coining again, for I will be able to indulge in my favourite exercise, swimming. 1 am very fond of it, are you? We do not live near the seashore now, and I miss it a good deal, but I am going to the seaside every holiday. I do not think you can see too much of it. What do you think of the electric ears running on Sunday? I think we would have done just as well without them. I am sending you another story written specially for the children’s page, entitled, “A Tragic Half-holiday.” I hope you will consider it suitable. I must close now, dear Cousin Kate. With best wishes, I remain, yours sincerely, Cousin Violet. [Dear Cousin Violet, —I do not think I have forgotten you, but I had two or three Cousin Violets writing at one time or another, and I get confused tryin" to remember which is which. Arc yon the Cousft Violet who used to live at Tapu and had a sister Millie, who was a cousin. I believe you must be, because I remember in several of her letters she said she was fond of swimming. I am glad you like the office. The hours are certainly a little trying, but if yon like the work the time, as you say, soon passes. I hope you will write next week for I am quite anxious to know which Cousin Violet you are.—Cousin Kate.] •fc "fc Dear Cousin Kate, —I have not yet seen this week’s “Graphic,” so I have not read your letter, but I am writing all the same. The church people are getting up a social on Friday night. It is to be held at Taneatua, which is a pretty little farming township about nine miles from here. A large store and grain shed

is being erected on the Wliakataue wharf, and when it is finished it is to be opened by a grand fancy dress ball. Well, I must now this very short note, with very best love and a promise of a longer letter next time.—From your loving Nelgcn. j

[Dear Cousin Nelgen,—Your letter, though short, was very welcome, I am not so silly as to suppose every cousin, can find time to write a long letter every week. I know how hard it often is to find things to say, so as long as I get a line or two just to show I have not been forgotten I am quite satisfied. I hope the social went off well, and that the ball in the new shed will be a big success.—Cousin Kate.] _