CHILDREN’S PAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue II, 9 January 1904, Page 56

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

Cousins' Badges. Cousins requiring badges are requested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forwarded l)Xz-return mail. * * ♦ Cousin Kate wishes all her cousins a Very, very Happy New Year, and warmly th anks the very large number who sent her Christmas and New Year cards for their pretty and kindly souvenirs. She is sorry she is unable to write and thank each cousin personally * * ♦ A GENERAL LETTER TO THE COUSINS. My Dear Cousins, —In the above message I have endeavoured to thank you all for your remembering me during the holiday season. I hope you will allhave a lovely time these long summer holidays, and will save a spare half hour, say once a week, to write and tell me what you are doing, and how you are enjoying yourselves. I hope to have ever so many new cousins during the year, and that all the old ones will still remember mo and write as regularly as possible. Please let me know any way in which you think I could make the Children’s Page more attractive. I am always glad of a few suggestions. I will have some competitions during the year, and hope all will go in for them. Let me know what you think would be good ones. Puzzles were decidedly not a success, as so few went in for them. Now, I must attend to individual letters, so good-bye.—yours affectionately, Cousin Kate. ♦ * ♦ COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Cousin Kate, —I received Colin’s and my badge last week, and I must thank you very much for sending them. Colin says he won’t write this week, as he is not well. He has eaten too much Christmas pudding; don’t you think so, dear Cousin Did you go anywhere on Christmas Day and Boxing Day? 1 < i-pped at home both days, and enjoyed myself very much. I went and gathered maidenhair ferns, and put them In my hat; and then I gathered all the “Graphics’* X could find and I went to the summerhouse and read all the cousins’ letters. I must finish writing now, Wishing you and all the cousins ths

compliments of the season.—l remain, yours truly, Cousin jenny. [Dear Cousin Jenny,—l am glad you and Colin like your badges, but I am very sorry to hear that Colin is not well. I should be sorry to think that lie had really eaten too much Christmas pudding, but I suppose you were only in fun when you said that, weren’t you? J went to the Domain on Christmas Day to see the cricket match between Auckland and Wellington, and on Boxing Day I went to the races, and enjoyed myself very much both days. Of course, 1 was very sorry our Auckland boys were beaten, but perhaps they will be more successful against Canterbury. Do you ever go to watch the cricket matches? I think it is a lovely way of spending a hot day. Well, I must stop, wishing you a very prosperous and Happy New Year.—Cousin Kate.] •$» •?* Dear Cousin Kate, —As Jenny is writing to you I will write a few lines also. I hung my stocking up on Christmas Eve, and I got lots of toys in it, so that I didn’t care to go anywhere on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. I went to the races yesterday at Alexandra Park, and the only things I liked to see were the jockeys in coloured jumpers and the racehorses when they were trotting. I must stop writing now, as I want to go and see the fireworks. We can see the sky rockets going up in the air; they look very pretty. I must close, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.—Cousin Robert. [Dear Cousin Robert, — Sant-a Claus must have been very good to you this year, filling your stocking with so many lovely toys. Did you stay awake to try and see him come down the chimney ? When I was little I used to stay awake for hours trying to see him, but I never did. The jockeys’ colours at the races are very pretty, aren’t they? and I think the horses look lovely when they are going round the course. I meant to go up and see the fireworks the other night, but forgot all about it till too late.— Cousin Kate.] •fr * Dear Cousin Kate, —With breaking-up and picnics I have forgotten to write to you. Christmas is drawing near now, and soon it will be 1904. The day we broke up at school was very sad. as my teacher was leaving, and they presented her with a silver-mounted purse and a book. Then as we marched out we all (shook hands with her and said goodbye. Then we went to the Sunday school picnie and enjoyed ourselves very much. I will be glad when I go back to school, as I feel very lonely without anybody to play with. We have got a fine crop of gooseberries, raspberries, and red and black currants this year, and the apricots are just getting ripe. I have got a lot of silk from my silkworms already, and I enclose a small piece that I have spun off. Madge’s mother and sister and brother will be down on Wednesday or Thursday, so she is looking forward to see them. £ hope you will excuse my bad writing, as I am a bad hand at it. Now, I must close, with love to yourself and all the cousins, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. —I remain, yours faithfully, Cousin George. [Dear Cousin George,—Thank you very much indeed for the pretty card you sent me, and also for your good wishes. Will you give Hope my love, and thank her for her card, too? Such * number of cousips have remembered

me this year that I feel quite proud. I expect you were very sorry to say goodbye to your teacher, but she must have been very pleased to get such nice presents. I hope yolu will like your new teacher just as well, though, of course, you won’t just at first. What beautifully line silk you have got from your silkworms. The sample you sent ma is lovely. My little sister used to have hundreds of silkworms, but I don’t think she ever had such fine silk as yours. I must stop now, as I have other letters to write; but first I must wish you and Hope a very “Happy New Year.” — Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —As you will see by the heading of this letter, I am now at Rotorua, and enjoying myself very much indeed. On Saturday we went out to Whakarewarewa. We also went out there last Thursday evening after dinner, and camo back in a motor car there are quite a lot of them up here. To-morrow we are going to Rotoiti and Okere falls. I expect we shall enjoy it very much, as we will be out all day, and have to go across the lake in a boat. I have got four new books, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “Betty and C 0.,” “Martin Rattler,” and “An Australian Lass.” I need not ask you have you read the first, as I am almost sure that nearly everyone has, but have you read any of the others? I suppose you wondered why 1 have not written to you for a fortnight? Weil, the reason is I had no news the first week, and the second 1 hud no time, as the day I usually wrive we were in the train. I forgot to ask you did you go to the bazaar? I went four times, twice in the day time and twice in the evening. I did not buy much, but went in for a good many of the rallies, but was not lucky enough to win anything. Now, dear Cousin Kate, I am afraid I must close, ns I have got such an awful lot of letters to write. With love from Cousin Gwen. [Dear Cousin Gwen, —You letter came as a very welcome surprise this morning, because I had begun to think you were enjoying yourself so much at Rotorua that you would not have time to write to me. What perfect weather we have had during the holidays, have we not? I do hope it will last till after the New Year races. The races mi Boxing Day were lovely, and I don’t think I have ever seen such a number of people on a racecourse in Auckland before. Yes, I have read “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Most people have, I think, and I have also read “Martin Rattler,” but the gthers are new to me. I wort to the bazaar several times, and enjoyed it very much. I was luckier than you, though, for I won a hat. We went to see “Mistakes Will Happen” at His Majesty’s last night, but we did not care for it very much. People say that “The Bank of England.” by Miss Fitzmaurice Gill, is splendid, so we must go to that one night. 1, like you, have a great many letters to write to-day, so I must wish yon a very prosperous and happy New Year, and close. —Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate, —I suppose you have so far spent your holidays very pleasantly, and hope you will during the rest. On Boxing Day Desmond and Valerie went for a picnic with some friends down to Judge’s Bay in Parnell. They had a lovely time, but got frightfully burned whilst bathing. They said they went m about three or four times. When they obm home about half-past seven p.sn.

they went straight to bed, and I had tn nearly smother them with land me. Ob the Sunday morning Valerie could hardly walk, as her legs were so sore. Desmond’s were not so bad, but his back was frightful. I think they are going again on New Year’s Day, so Valerie is living in hopes that her kgs will be quite well. I did not go anywhere, so Ruth c.uae up and spent the day with me. 1 think we had just ns much fan at home as many of those that went out. Did you go up to the cricket in the D.u iain" Mother and fathei went aero < i istanas and Boxing Days. Mother and I might go on Monday, as father will b- at the office. 1 am glad ire have no great distance to go as some people have. How dreadfully busy yon i.m t have been daring the week of the bazaar? 1 w.i. rather sorry yonr answer !•> my letter v. as o short, because 1 always lit.c reading tlnau. On Boxing night mother and father went down to sec “Mistakes Will Happen.” Mother thought it was splendid, although it was so silly. Have you been to any plays lately? The last I went to was “Never Too Late to Mend.” Cousin Kate, have you read “Nigel Browning,” by .Agnes Giberne? I had it given me for a Chri-tiros box. I also got “The Girls’ J'mpire” and a number of other presents. Desmond got a book colled “Young England,” and a box of different puzzles, etc. Valerie can do all the puzzles, seme of which are rather difficult. I can’t manage any. I am afraid I must be very stupid at things of that sort. Don’t you? Are ion going to see the fir? w -i ■:s in the Domain next, week? I don’t tl-.ink we are going, as we can see them quite well from our upstairs windows. Cousin Kate, did you have to pay on my last letter? 1 am not sure how many stamps 1 put on, ami thought perhaps the card might have made it overweight. V. hen 1 first read that letter in the “Graphic” from Cousin Ruth I thought it must have been my friend, but she says not. I must now conclude, with love to all the cou ins and yourself.— From Cousin Muriel. [Dear Cousin Muriel,—l am afraid this letter will not be very much longer than the one I wrote to you during the bazaar week. There is so much work to do that 1 hardly know where to begin, but the holidays are nearly over now, and then we shall be able to rattle down and write nice long I; ' r:s . ■ n. I am so sorry Valerie and Desmond got so sunburnt at their picnic. it rather spoils one’s fun, don't you think so? I went to watch the cricket for a. little while on Christmas Day, and I was so disappointed at the. poor display our Aucklanders made. 1 hate them to be beaten, don’t you? No, 1 haven’t read “Nigel Browning.” I don’t have time to read half the books I should like to. I am awfully stupid at games and puzzles too, so 1 can sympathi.se witn you. Some people seem to have almost a genius for that sort of thing, and 1 suppose Valeric must be one of them. There wasn't any extra postage. on your last letter, so you must have had enough stamps on it. I have another Cousin Ruth now, but I should be very glad if your friend Ruth would write again.— Cousin Kate.J q. q. * Dear Cousin Kate. —Do you not remember Cousin Rita? She wrote to you before she went away to Dunedin. I received such a pretty Christmas card from her. 1 expect the reason why she had not written to you is that she gets so little time to write. Mother, my sister, and myself went to the bazaar on Tuesday, and enjoyed ourselves very much. The maypole I thought very pretty —I have not seen it done in three rows before. 1 should think it must have been very difficult. On Saturday evening Captain Hughes dressed up as a court lady, and be did look so funny; he was -elling tickets for Lord Northland’s hat stall. Last Monday we went down to W.-dwera for a picnic; it just poured when we started, but I am glad to say by the time we got there it was quite fine. In the afternoon we went for a bath, which I think was the lw-1 part of the day. It was lovely and hot. J think we stayed in about an hour. 1 must close now as father is going. ith love, I remain. Cousin Mary. [Denr Cousin Mary,—T remember Comic Rita very well indeed, and Eileen, too. They both promised to write and tell me how they liked Dunedin, and what sort of a trip they had, but I hove never heard from them yet. Perhaps Rita will write during the holidays. One doesn’t get much time for

writing at boarding school-. You have another friend named Rita now, haven't you? The bazaar was a great success, wasn’t it? 1 think the Maypole dance was the prettiest I have ever seen—Mrs Boult must be a splendid teacher. The Wai w era balhb are lovely; I don’t wonder you though;, the bath the best part of the day, but it is not good for you to stay in too long. L must wish you a happy New Year now. Mary, and close this, as 1 have several other letters to write, and one is to another Cousin Mary. Cousin Kate.] * * * Dear Cousin Kate. 1 am afraid I Lave not much to write about to-night, as we have just started our holiday. 1 liked the Veterans’ Bazaar very muchAmy ami myself were playing tennis for nearly an hour to-day, and it was lovely. Wo are going to Ruth’s Island for our holidays; it is quite near Waihekc, do you know it? It is a lovely place to spend holidays. I am sending away cards Io my friends this week, and I am sending you one. which 1 hope you will like. Have aon been Io the Magic Cave in the !»>.<•? It is just beautiful. I have been twice, and I would Jove to go again: I really think 1 must the next time I go to town. It must keep you verj busy answering all the cousins’ letters. 1 am afraid I would not have enough patience to write so many letters. 1 cut my linger on the knuckle when I was cutting bread, and it is very sore. Dear Cousin Kate, 1 am feeling so sleepy that 1 am afraid I must end now. With love Io your dear self.- I remain your loving Cousin Mary. P S.—l hope you will enjoy your holidays immensely.—Mary. [Dear Cousin Mary.—Thank you very much indeed for the lovely card you sent me, and also for all your good wishes. I am afraid it is rather late to wish you a merry Christmas, but I wish you a very happy, prosperous New Year. How are yon getting on with your tennis? T shall expect io hoar of you as champion of Auckland some day soon. I have heard a great deal about the Magic. Cave, at the D-S.C., but have never had time to go yet. It does take me rather a long time answering Vie cousins’ letters every week, but I like it, ami that always makes the time go bo quickly, doesn't it? I hope you have not cut your finger very badly, and I also hope you will have a lovely time at Ruth’s Island. I have been there, but not to stay. We spent six weeks at Waiheke, just opposite, once.— Cousin Kate.]