COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVIII, 31 October 1903, Page 58

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate—My little friend Amy Sibbald said she might write to you, as she gets the “Graphic"’ every week. I had my examination on Monday and finished on Tuesday, by Mr. Heriot, the head teacher, and I passed. Yes, we do have splendid games, but Muriel never joins in. The twins are very well, thank you. Yes, I did tell you. that they lived next door to us. Their eldest sister. Wilma, who is the one I love best, comes in very often to play. I mean she trys to join in our games, as she is a very little thing—not two years old, yet. She always crys when the nurse comes in for her, as she does not want to go home. She can say all our names very plainly. She is such a dear little thing. I am going out to Remuera to stay with my little cousin Olga, from Friday till Monday. My uncle Alf. has a graphaphone, and when I go out there I get Aunt Mamie to play all the tunes for me, as I like listening to it very much. My baby cousin Gretchen loves to hear it, and is as good as gold when it is being played. I have to go to bed now, dear cousin Kate. With love and kisses.—Valerie.

[Dear Cousin Valerie, —I have not had a letter from your little friend Amy, so I suppose she is not going to write to me after all. Your examinations did not take very long, did they? But lam glad you passed. What standard are you in now? Is Muriel much older than you are? I suppose she must be, as she never joins in your games. I know Wilma's mother quite well, but I have never seen either VVilma or the twins yet. I hope you will enjoy your visit to Remuera. You must write and tell me all about it when you come back. Graphaphones are grand things, aren’t they? and it is a splendid way of keeping babies quiet to play it to them, isn’t it?—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate—A very funny thing has happened. I think father has posted a rough copy of the letter I intended to send. I am sending you an addressed envelope to send it back in if you would please. I suppose you were very surprised at getting a letter 'with no signature, and all smudges and crosses. I will tell you how it must have happened. I was writing it last night, and mother called me to bed, so I just addressed the envelope so thnt I would know next morning what it was, but when I came to get it it was gone. We are in the midst of packing, and I am sure Ido not like it at all. How was it you knew I was going to Parnell?

Although most girls go up for the matriculation examination, I am glad to say that I am not; I do not like exams. I must thank you v-~v much for the badge, I like it exceedingly; the pin makes it look quite smart, does it not? Is not the weather bad just now? It makes one feel quite miserable. I do not see many old cousins writing to the “Graphic.” How is it? I think we will be going to the bazaar; it is sure to be very nice. We are going to have a Maori canoe sent to us soon, so that we shall be able to learn to paddle. I think it will be rather good fun. I will close now, hoping this letter will not be too late. —1 remain, with love, Cousin Mary.

[Dear Cousin Mary, — The rough copy of your letter must have got lost somewhere at your own home, I think, as it has never come to me. I should have been rather puzzled how to answer it. if it had come, as it had no signature; but perhaps I should have recognised your handwriting. I think moving is a most dreadful performance, don’t you? and you will hardly have got settled in Parnell when it will be time for you to move again. Someone told me that your father had taken a house In St. George’s Bay Road for six months. I knew you were in the matriculation class at the Grammar School, so I thought, of course, you were going up for the examination. I am very glad for your own sake that you are not, as I think it is just horrid having to go up for examinations, especially if you are nervous, as I used to be. I think a lot of the old cousins got tired of writing to the “Graphic,” but a great many of them are starting again now, lam glad to say. Cousins Alison, Roie, Dora, and yourself all left off for a time, and now you are all writing me such long interesting letters. Is your ankle quite right again now? —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l am enclosing the photograph of us all in fancy eostume. I am sorry to say that Cousin Ruby is not in it, as she was not dressed. I do not think y.ou will think the photo good enough to print, but I am sending it in for you to see. You could not recognise me if you did not know who it was. Are you going to hear the Glee Company? I am not, but my sister is going with my aunt and cousin this afternoon. One of my cousins received a photograph of Roie and her sister Gladys. They were paddling at Westgate-on-Sea. The photo was taken by an amateur, and was very good. We received a photo of my sister and her little baby. The baby is such a dear little thing, and very big for her age, being only two months old. I read such a pretty story called “Seven Maids,” by E. T. Meade. Cousin Ruby lent it to me. Have you ever read it, Cousin Kate? I am going to have my photo taken soon in plain costume. When I do I will send you one. Are you going to “A Midsummer Night's Dream”? We are, as father thinks it such a nice play for children. Our kittens are such dear little things. We have called them Tom, Dick and Harry. Here is a riddle for you, Cousin Kate: “When is beef at its highest?” Answer: “When the cow jumps over the moon.” We did not go to "Arizona” after all, as mother did not think it fit for us. She enjoyed it very much indeed, and also went to “Barbara Frietchie,” which she also liked. Now, dear Cousin Kate, I must close, as there is really no more news. With heaps of love from Cousin Gwen.

[Dear Cousin Gwen, —I have answered so many cousins’ letters this morning

that I am beginning to feel quite stupid, so I am afraid your - letter won’t be very long or interesting to-day. What a pity Ruby was not in the photograph you sent me. Thank you very much for it, but I am afraid it is not quite dark enough for us to take a copy of it for the “Graphic.” Could you send me another one, do you think? What a pity you did not hear the Glee Company; they were so good, and some of the boys had such beautiful voices. I suppose you are getting very excited about your sisteh coming over. They will be here quite soon now, will they not ? I meant to ask you last week to tell me some nice books for a little girl of nine years old. My little niece’s birthday is coming very soon, and when I asked her what she wanted for a birthday present, she said some new books, so I thought I would ask you for the names of some. I shall be so pleased to get one of your photographs, Gwen dear, and I hope you will have it taken soon. I hope to go to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as I hear it is going to be very good indeed.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I was very pleased to see my letter in the “Graphic,” and your most welcome answer. I thank you very'much for the pretty badge you sent me. I showed it to my teacher- at school, and she thought it was very pretty. My auntie is coming from Australia, and she arrives at Napier at 7 a.m. to-morrow morning. What a most interesting letter Cousiu Roie wrote last time. I have got a lot of silkworms now, as they are all hatching, and to-day when I came home from school I found twenty out, and just after tea there was two more appeared. I never knew that there was a cousin in Hastings until a week or two ago, when I was looking at the “Graphic,” but I would like to know the one, as I live only 2J miles from there. The entertainment v-as a great success on Wednesday night. I will tell you what one of the dialogues was. It was a young man who was getting tired of his servants, who were always having young men up at his house, and one day he went in and found two soldiers, a policeman, and two swells all drinking and eating at his expense, so ha advertised for a wife, and when he got his answers he had four sacks full of letters. My two brothers and Hope and myself went, but Hope did not come home, because she stayed at my sister-in-law’s in Havelock, but you may be sure I had to come home. It was 11.20 when we got home, and was I not tired next morning, for I was nearly going to sleep in school. It has been very hot lately, and I felt it at school, so all of we boys made for the park under the trees at dinner-time, and for the river at night, when we got out of school. I have exhausted all the news, so I must stop. Love to all. —I remain, yours truly, Cousin George. [Dear Cousin George,—l am glad you were pleased with your badge. I think they are rather pretty. What are you going to do with yours? One of the cousins told me she wore hers fastened on to the band of her sailor hat, which I think a splendid idea, don’t you? Are you excited at the prospect of your aunt coming to visit you? I hope she had a pleasant trip across. Don’t you think silkworms are a terrible nuisance? I used to have them when I was young, but though we had mulberry trees in our garden I never seemed able to get enough leaves for them. The entertainment you went to must have been very amusing, but I don’t wonder at your being sleepy in school next day. Hope was lucky not to have

to come home too, wasn’t she? 1 think people always feel the heat more, just at the beginning of the hot weather. I suppose we get used to it later on. Well, George, I think I have exhausted all my news too. —Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ + Dear Cousin Kate, —I had a holiday from school last week, as I was not well. Last Sunday my father and I went to Henderson for a drive, and it was so nice out there. We did not get homo until past eight. Last Wednesday I went over to Northcote, and we had a fine time over there. I have been down to Invercargill to see my grandmamma, and it is very nice down there. It was Christmas time when I was there, so I did not feel the cold. She has a very nice garden, and a very large orchard, and such a lot of fruit. I have been to a number of places in New Zealand, but I don’t remember much about them. I should like to go to Australia, but I would not like the boat. I would far rather go in the train. I like the post--cards that are in the “Graphic.” I am going to keep them. How nice to hear from Cousin Roie again. She must like being in England. Now I must close, with love to yourself and all the cousins.—Muriel.

[Dear Cousin Muriel,—l am sorry to hear you have not been well, and hope you are quite well again now. What a lovely drive you must have had out to Henderson, and back. It is very pretty out that way, isn’t it? It is such a long time since I have been over- to Northcote that I have almost forgotten what it is like. Is it a nice place for a picnic? I expect you would like to go down and see your grandmother often, -wouldn’t you? Are you a bad sailor? I suppose you must be, as you say you don’t care for steamers. Are you collecting post-cards? A great many people seem to be lately.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am so glad to write to you. I have got a sore leg. and when I walk it pains me. I saw that yacht Kia Ora, and think it is a small boat to sail to England via Cape Horn. She is now stranded, and is blown far out of her course by great gales. She is in command of Air Buckridge, formerly of the Tilikum, which came from America. The yaeht Kia Ora was built by Messrs Bailey and Lowe. My mother is very ill and cannot leave her bed, so good-bye. From Cousin Louis. PS. —Please excuse this writing because I am in a hurry.

[Dear Cousin Louis, —I am sorry to hear you have got a sore leg. Are you able to come down to the office every day? I quite agree with you in thinking the Kia Ora is a very tiny boat to be going from here to England, and I think Mr Buckridge must be most foolhardy to attempt such a voyage. I really have no time to write more this morning, Louis- I hope your mother will be quite well by the time you write your next letter.—Cousin Kate.]

My Dear Cousin Kate,—The “Graphics” have not eome up from Suva yet, so I have not read your letter. Aly garden is looking so well this morning, when it iS all wet with the dew, there are a good many yellow flowers. On Saturday father- took some of us children in the boat to Nausori; none of us took wraps or umbrellas, and the rain came and we got wet- We did not get very wet, though. We often go bathing in the river, and we have lovely times; but at the top of high-water it is nicest, at least I think so for I can swim. We were wanting rain so badly, we had not had it for ages, and we thought we would have no drinking water left, but rain came at last. I am sorry to have to stop now, Cousin Kate, but there is something wrong with my eyes, and they are troubling me more than usual, so I cannot write much. With much love to you and all the cousins. From Cousin Lorna.

[Dear Cousin Lorna, —I am so dreadfully sorry to hear about your eyes. What is the matter with them? You should come up to Auckland and stay with your aunt while you have them attended to- I hope they will be quite right again soon. I remember you told me before what lovely times you have in the river. But I suppose you don’t bathe much in the winter. You never mentioned your little baby brother in this letter. Is he quite well? W®

have been having a fearful lot of rain lately, and instead of feeling short of ■water we are having too much I think. What would you have done for water supposing the rain hadn’t eome just then! Is there any place close to where you could get some from? Well, Lorna. I haven’t any news for you this time, so will stop now.—Cousin Kate.]

[Dear Cousin Florence, —Your letter was so shoiat that there is nothing for me to answer in it, so I will only tell you that your Christmas number of the “Graphic” was posted to-day, and I hope you will get it safely, and that you will like it. Please write me a longer letter next time. —Cousin Kate.]

Deal- Cousin Kate, —I suppose you will think me a very bad correspondent. But I have not had the least bit of news to tell. I did a lot of buried words, but mislaid them, and I cannot find the “Graphic” to do them again. What a long interesting letter Cousin Boie wrote. I wish I could write interesting ones. I have been promised a ride in a motor car, and I think it will be very nice. Dear Cousin Kate, I am so glad you are going to put your photo in the “Graphic.” I have just been wanting that. We had a very pleasant trip round the harbour on Labour Day. We had the band on board, and afternoon tea. I saw the procession in the morning, and thought it very good. The gardener has been cutting the lawns to-day, and we have had such fun playing with heaps of cut grass. I must now close, as it is getting late, with love to you and all the cousins.—l re main, yours truly, Cousin May.

[Dear Cousin May.—l was delighted to get your letter this morning, as I was really beginning to think that you had tired of writing to me. What a pity you lost your buried words, but if you find them before the first week of November you can still send them in. In anv case I hope you will try to do the rest, as the prizes are awarded to whoever gets the highest number of marks,

go even if you don’t have many marks one week, you may make them up by sending in an extra good paper the next week. I didn’t say I was going to put my photograph in the paper. I said I would think about it if all the cousins sent theirs to be put in. It must have been lovely going round the harbour on Labour Day, especially as you had a band on board. I think music sounds better on the water than anywhere else, don’t you! I hope the grass was not damp that you were playing in. One is so liable to catch colds and bronchitis from it.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am trying to do some of the puzzles, but I don’t think I am right. I am going to see the “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and was going to play in it as an elf, but owing to the silly laws of the country I couldn’t stay away from school for the rehearsals. My brother’s birthday was to-day. and he was eighteen. I was so disappointed that I could not go on the stage that I made papa say he would let me go on the next one he knew. I hope you will forgive me for not writing. I must.now say goodbye.—From Cousin Ivy. [Dear Cousin Ivy,—l am so sorry you were disappointed at not being able to be in the “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” You would not have to have missed much school, -would you! Never mind, you will be able to go and see it. and next time you will be older and able to enjoy it much more. It is going to be a splendid company, I believe, and I am very anxious to go and see them. Did you go to see “Arizona ?” That was very good, too, but I haven’t cared for the other pieces the Frawley Company have played very much. Next time you send in the answers to the puzzles, dear Ivy, would you put them on a separate piece of paper?— Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l am sorry I could not write you a few lines for last week’s “Graphic,” but I have been so busy with my lessons lately that I had no time. It was our school examination last Friday, and I am pleased to say that I have

passed out of the sixth standard, but I do not think that I will be able to leave school yet. We will be having our school holidays the week after next, and I will be glad, although I rather like going to sclrool. I was thinking Cousin Roie must have forgotten all about our “Graphic,” but I was very pleased to see a nice long letter from her in last week’s “Graphic.” She always seems to write such long and interesting letters now when she writes. We have one hen with ten little brown Leghorn chickens out now. I think they are sueh pretty little things when they are young. There was a dance in our school last Friday night. I could not go to it, but my two sisters went, and enjoyed themselves very much. My cousins are giving a party next Friday, and 1 am going to it, so I hope it will be fine. Now I must close, with love to you and all the cousins.—Cousin Ethel.

[Dear Cousin Ethel, —I was sorry not to hear from you last week, but still it was better not to neglect your lessons when you were so close to your examination, wasn’t it? I congratulate you most heartily on passing the sixth standard. Will you stay another year in the sixth, or have you a seventh standard in your school? They have them in a few of the town schools, I believe. I was very pleased to hear from Cousin Roie again, too, and I hope that now she has started writing from London she will write often. Chickens are very pretty when they are young, and so are ducklings. Isn’t it a pity they don’t grow up as good-look-ing? Write and tell me about the party. I hope you will enjoy it.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —1 am writing a little note to you. 1 went to that party I was going to. It was a great success. I have enclosed an envelope. It has been a beautiful day. Papa is going to take a house at the seaside this summer for six weeks. 1 wish the. holidays were here, don’t you? Mamma. has been shopping, and it is getting late. I ought to be in bed now. We have some lovely flowers out now. Do you like flowers? We have some big red velvet flowers called clarkia. 1 have a

dear dollie with pretty browx curia all over her head. She goer to sleep too. I think I will now cud this short note.—l remain, with love to all the cousins and yourself, dear Cousiu Kate, yours truly, Cousin Fenton. » [Dear Cousin Fenton, —I am so glad you enjoyed your party so much, aud that it was such a success. I received your addressed envelope, and I will post you a cousin’s badge to-day. hat a lovely time you will have for your Christmas holidays if you have a house at the seaside for six weeks. No wonder you are in such a hurry- for the holidays to come. 1 am very fond indeed of flowers, but I don't care for gardening very much; it makes one’s hands so rough and horrid. You never told me the name of your doll. Yon must tell me more about her next time you write.—Cousin Kate.] + 4- + Dear Cousin Kale, —I ani so glad to become one of your cousins. I read the children’s page, nearly every week. On Wednesday it was Labour Day. and I enjoyed myself very much. I watched the procession, and afterwards walked with it to the Domain. When 1 got there I had great fun. I first, wont on the merry-go-round, then I played about until the races began. Then I sat watching them. Near the last of a bicycle race two men on bicycles collided, and one had -to be carried off the grounds. Then I wathced the Maori haka and poi dances, and then about three o’clock I left, tlie grounds to go down to the office and work for an hour or two. I must close now, so good-bye, with love from Louis. [Dear Cousin Louis, —I was very pleased to get your letter this morning, and I am very glad you enjoy reading the children’s page. I went into town on Labour Day too to watch the procession. It was splendid, wasn’t it? Did you get any of the bags of biscuits and sweets they were throwing out of the carts at the people. My lit tle nieces tried very hard to catch them, but we were not quite close enough. What a delightful

day you ►e:m to have spent in the Domain. Did yon have your luucli there? i hope the man who fell off the bicycle was not -criott-ly hurt.—Cousin Kate.] •*• + * Pear Cousin Kate, — I am just going to write you a few lines. Was that not an awful treating Auckland gave Caitteibury? I am trying to get. the prize for puzzles, and 1 hope, my first paper will not be too late, as we do not get the "Graphic” as soon as you do in Auckland, ami 1 could not get them done in time for the mail on Wednesday. We get the "Weekly Press” and the "Otago Witness,” but I do not think Dot’s Little I’o’ks or Aunt- Hilda’s are half so good. We are having lovely weather. On Saturday we went for u paper chase away out past Dean's bush. In the bush we saw a black rat, and a nest of young ones. Every time you shook the tree you would see the rat eome out and run up the blanches. Be saw a lot of peacocks and peahens. They are beautiful bird?, with their long tails. What n lot of cousins you have now. You will not have room for them all soon. ) think this is all the news I have to say just now. With love to you and all the cousin*. -Cousin Cecil.j [Dear Cou*in Cecil, -Thank yon very much for your nice letter. 1 got your puzzles safely this morning. I meant to tell you all that the prize, won't be award'd till the first week in November, so as to give everyone plenty of time to send their answers in. f am so glad you like my letters better than th:* ones in the "Weekly Press" and in the "Otago Witness.” What sort of a paper chase did you have? Did you follow on foot or ride? I went out to the hunt one day in Auckland to see a paper chase, ft was very good fun indeed. Peacocks are lovely birds, are thev not? but- I do dislike th? shriek they make so much, don’t you? Some one was telling me tli£ other dayabout Chinese pheasants. They say there are white ones, and I forget how long their tails arc. They must bo very handsome birds. I should like to see one very much, wouldn’t you?— Cousin Kate ] * + * Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you very much for your nice long letter in last week's “Graphic,” and I am so pleased that my story will be printed. To-day being Labour Day there are sports up the country, but I am not going, although I have got a holiday. Since last writing you I have, get a yacht—a regular beauty, about 3ft. in length, and painted red and white, with a blue line around it. There is a new vessel just in, and there is a black man on it, who is very comical. The other day he was walking along, when someone on the wharf said to his mate: "I say, Charlie, look at that, black coon.’’ The darkle heard this, and turned round, and in a good-humoured way said, "Oh, yes, ain’t I dark? but vou should see some of the other fellow* wdiere 1 come from. Why. they ere so dark that you cannot see them without a light.” I am trying hard at. the puzzle*, and I am hoping to win a prize. I am afraid this is a very short letter, but I will write more next time, for I must now close with love to you and all the cousins.—-Carle. [Dear Cousin Carle, —I am glad you managed to get a yacht after all, and also to hear that you are so pleased with it. Where did you get it from? How did you spend your holiday on labour Day, after all? It was dreadfully hot up here in the morning, and • luring the day some rather heavy showers fell, which must have spoilt most people’s holiday a good deal. In the morning I drove down to see. the pfbeession start from Queen-street. Some of the exhibits were really splendid. J wi-h you could have seen them. Some of them were very ludicrous, and had to stand a great deal of chaff and laughter from the crowd. Negroes are generally vciy good-humoured, aren’t they? and they say such quaint things sometimes. I hope you will get on all right with the puzzles. Are you going to send them in all at. once? It is the best way. 1 think, as they are not likely '•b go astray then.—Cousin Kate.]