CHILDREN’S PAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue VIII, 20 August 1904, Page 58

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

BADGES. Cousins requiring badges are requested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forwarded by return mail. (. COUSINS’ COKEESPONDENCE. I Dear Cousin Kate,—l was so pleased to see my letter in the “Graphic” and your nice answer to it. Thank you very much for sending the badges so quickly. They are very pretty. Tui and I like them very much. The pins both got broken in the post, so mother bought us new ones. I go to the Convent High School, Parnell, now and like it very much. The Sisters are so kind to us. Tui goes too. Our little baby brother is going to be chirstened next Wednesday afternoon, and we are all going to see him. Tui and I are going to a party to-day, and to another next Tuesday. Next time 1 write I will tell you how we enjoyed them. Tui is very pleased to be a cousin, and will write to you next week. Jack wrote this week because he was so anxious to get a badge. Fancy you knowing me by sight, and seeing me with Jack! Father has bought us such a nice book called “At Great Aunt Martha’s.” Have you been to the play called “Cousin Kate?” Whenever I nee it up on the notice boards it reminds me of you. Father is going to the play, “Cousin Kate,” to-night. Now, good-bye, wit.h love from Cousin Dorotliie, Auckland.

[Dear Cousin Dorothie,- —No, I did not see my namesake at the theatre because I was away on my holiday. I should have very much liked to have seen it, because all my friends say it was so good. T am glad you liked the badges. What a pity the pins were broken in Hie post. 1 shall be very pleased to hear all about your two parties next lime you write. What are you going to call the little brother? Next time, Dorothie, I will write a longer letter to you, and tell you about my trip.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am always glad to get the “Graphic” and see your answer to my letter. I will be in Standard IV if I pass. The mice and rats Bo spoil the hay, but I think the cat will soon frighten them away. I have got a little white kitten, but the tips of it* ears have been frost- Ijitten, and all the hair has fallen out. I hope it will grow again, because the kitten looks very queer at present. We used to have two pet lambs, Jenny and Billy, but we sent them up to our ifarm. I am going up to the farm in my holiday*. There are a great many ferns on the ereek that runs through Ilia farm. 1 will often be able Io gather them to take back home with me to remind me of the hush. With love.—From Cousin Helen, Waipukura u.

| Dear Cousin Helen,- —T am glad you like the Cousins’ Page in the “Graphic.” Have we not a lot of cousins now? I was counting them up the other day. and was quite astonished al what a large “family” we are. Your kitten must look strange with its frost bitten ears. Do you know. T never heard of such a thing happening to a eat before. The creek at your farm must lie very pretty with alt the ferns growing by It. Have you ever tried to keep ferns by dry-pressing them? 1

was looking at some very pretty ones the other day, done on cards.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —As you have, •such a iot of correspondents I thought J. would like to join them. lam ten years old, in standard 111., and expect to pass this year into standard IV. I have a sister going to the Grammar School. ft has been very wet here this week. We have two ponies—one is called Dainty and the other Maori. This is all 1 have to say, so must close now, hoping yon will let me be a cousin and send me a badge.—Cousin Alan. [Dear Cousin Alan, —Still another cousin! Of course, I am only too glad to have y.ou as one of my correspondents. Turua, your home, is where the white pine timber comes from, is it not? I have been past your place, but never stopped there. I think the view looking over those extensive kahikatea-cov-ered flats as one winds up the river in the Taniwha or the Waimarie is a most impressive one. No doubt you will also come up to the Grammar School in time, if you get through your standards successfully down there. You must, write- me a longer letter next time, Alan, and tell me all about your pets. —Cousin Kate.l ♦ ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —T wish to join your band, because I have seen many nice replies to your cousins. I am a little girl of ten, and I am in the fifth Standard. My brother is somewliatmore than a year older than I am, and he has a little piebald pony which he takes many prizes with. Every Friday morning I go to a cooking class connected with the school. On Satur, day 1 have a gay time cooking cakes, which last our family of five for more than half a week. Father has a fait.h- • fill old dog, sable and White in colour. When we were very small she used to be our playmate. One day, when I was -walking along the street, a boy came up to me and gave me the dearest little kitten you ever saw. In Carterton the weather has been very good and it is like summer already. I have enclosed an envelope for you to send me, if you please, a badge. My real name is Gwendoline, but my father will call me Guinea.

f Dear Cousin Guinea, — I am delighted to include you in my cousins’ list, and hope you will like the badge I am * sending yirti. What Un. uncomnwm name yours is! Some, of my new cousins have Io change their names because others have I lie same, but there, is no fear of you having to do that, is there? Your brother has also become one of us, so you must always remind one another to write to Cousin Kate. I am ghid to see you are fond of animals. Thai is always a good trait in one's character. I notice you felt the earthquake shock very - badly in Carterton. Did you see all the broken pipes at the Brick Company's works? Thera must have been a great smash-up. Your father’s dog must be a nice old thing. I have a sable, and white dog also, but he is quite young, and full of mischief. Be sure you write regularly and nice long letters, —Cousin Kate.l

Dear Cousin Kate, —I thought the badge you sent me was very pretty. We have had our winter holidays. T went to stay at my auntie’s place. I only, ttlayed there for a week. For a few

days I stayed at my grandmother’s place. With lots of love to you and the cousins. I remain Cousin Gwen.

[Dear Cousin Gwen, —I am glad you liked the badge so much, and hope you will sometimes wear it so that other cousins may recognise you by it. Where is your grandmother's place? I suppose you sometimes go out to Island Bay; you live on the way there, do you not? Have you had it very cold in Wellington? Up at Te Arolia, where. I have been staying, it has been quite bit-, ter. Hoping to hear from you again soon. Yours with love. —Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —It is a long time since I wrote to you. Thanks very muck for the badge you sent me. I have a bad. eold now. I hope you ara quite well. I cannot go out for very long after school because it is too cold for me. I must say good-bye. With love to you and the other cousins. I remain yours truly.—Aubrey.

[Dear Cousin Aubrey,—Was it not curious, the very letter I answered before I opened your I asked if it had been cold in Wellington, and now I hear from you how severe the weather has been? I trust your cold is quite better, and that you are able to get about again, for it is horrid to have to stop indoors all day. Write again soon, and tell me how you are.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l see by the “Gr*. phic" you have accepted me as one of your cousins. I received your pretty; badge, which I thank you for. Mother took my brother Desmond and me down to Nelson for a week, and we enjoyed ourselves. We got our photos taken, and I will send you one to put in the “Graphic.” I put in my diary the kind of weather we have, and what f see every day, but I forgot to put anything in it when I was in Nelson. Desmond is writing to you. We have three miles to go to school. Love to the cousins.-— Cousin Willie, Murchison. [Dear Willie,—Thank you, I will be very interested to see your promised photograph. From wluit I have seen of Nelson in photographs, you had a' very pretty place for your holidays. That is a very good idea of yours to( keep a diary of all the. events of the days. What a long way you have to go to school. How do you get there—ride,I suppose?—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —I am sorry my. letter was unintelligible, but 1 will try, for the future to make it plainer by writing on thicker paper. On Friday night last I went to the volunteer bait with my mother, and my two brothers were there. The hall was decorated very nicely. There were a great many people there, and they kept it up till very late. We enjoyed ourselves very much indeed. The weather has changed; again, torrents of rain coming down—• quite an unpleasant change after the lovely weather we had for a week or two. We have a nice garden of flowers—■ red, white and pink camellias, jonquils, daffodils, violets, carnations, roses, pink, red and white- dahlias, snowdrops, and palms. Hoping your cold, is better, with best love to you and all the cousins.—Cousin Beatrice, Cambridge.

[Dear 1 Cousin Beatrice, —Yes, your letter was much better this week, only, there was not one stop in it! I think I have punctuated it so as to convey the meaning you intended. That ball must have been quite a gay one. Yes, thank you, my cold has got much better since 1 have been away from the toWnv What a lovely garden you have. If you ever have any photographs of it, you must send me one.—Cousin Kate.]

i)eaT Cousin Kate, —I would like to be bnc ot jour little cousins. I am nine years old. Mother took Willie and me to Nelson for a trip, and we enjoyed the outing very much. We had beautiiul weather while we were there. This place is 90 miles from Nelson. We have to go 60 miles by eoaeh and 30 miles by train. We live near the Kohi Kohi, Amikitea, and Bellevue dredges. Love to »11 the cousins and yourself.—Cousin Desmond. Murchison. , ■

[Dear Cousin Desmond, —I am always glad to welcome new cousins. What a long way you live from the sea coast, and how you must have enjoyed your Boliday to Nelson. Did you go to the Port while you were there? I have ipften seen the names of the dredges you Jnentioned, and have wondered what they are like. It must be very different from the quartz mining of our Auckland (district. You know we have no dredges up here.—Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you so much for offering to send Dora’s photograph to me, but I can’t- manage to transfer glazed pictures, so I don’t think it would be worth while trying a photo, do you? The day after I posted your last letter telling you I had not then had a reply from Olive, I got two from Christchurch—one from Olive and one from Winnie. I suppose it is another case of “speak of an angel,” ete. J heard on Saturday, Cousin Kate, you had gone away for your holiday. You have lovely weather at present, so I hope you will enjoy yourself. In Roie’s Setter I see she has offered to send me gome pictorial post-cards from London. Yes, Cousin Kate, I would like some Very much, so will you please send her my address by next mail—that is, if you pre hot too busy? Wilma’s father took Valerie for a tide yesterday in his motor-car—just down the Domain Carriage Drive and back —and Valerie thought it lovely. I should think it must be lovely to have a motor. My Uncle Leslie, in Horsham. Victoria, is getting one for my Aunt Hattie. I do

wish we had One; quite a number of Auckland people have them now, haven't they? Wasn’t last Wednesday * dreadful day? Every Wednesday morning our class has to go to cooking, but last Wednesday "was such a dreadful day that instead of going up to school after cooking, I took a car Straight home. I don’t like going to cooking a scrap; but I must say it is much more convenient for my going than the Remuera children. We have from nine until eleven o’clock every Wednesday morning. I must now con'clude, dear Cousin Kate, with love from Cousin Muriel J. (Auckland).

[Dear Cousin Muriel, —I was vety, pleased to see that you liad written Again, for I feared some of my regular correspondents might drop because I was out of Auckland? Yes, thank you, the weather has been lovely, though very cold. There is a tremendous lot of snow on the mountain, but the air is Simply lovely. I have gone to the baths several times, but think it is rather dangerous coming into the chilly air after the very warm water. I have been in several motor-ears at one time or another, and like the quick travelling immensely. Nearly all our Auckland doctors seem to be getting them, do they not? lam rather fond of cooking when there is not too much of it, and certainly think everyone—at least every girl—should learn something about it. Tell me next time you write what you are learning to cook. I will send Cousin Roie your address, as you ■desire.—Cousin Kate.] —'’if’ r• i ■■ 4. 4. 4; ■ '

Dear Cousin Kato, —I have not yet seen my last letter in print. We have had a big snow-storm since I last wrote —indeed, the remains of the snow are still on the ground. I can tell you wg had some fun. I see by the papers that Mr. Clement Wragge has prophesied that after two or three clays we will have the largest snowstorm ever heard of in New Zealand and that New Zealanders will have cause to remember it. I hope for everyone’s sake that his

prophecy will not come true, do you not? Snow-balling has been the prevailing game for three days now. No one has seemed to sicken of it, though you • may guess that snow three days old is not very pleasant, especially after it hard frost. This afternoon Canterbury is playing England in Lancaster Dark. 1 do not know if 1 will go. My brother and father, and I believe Olive are going. Is it not a pity the snow came so soon? It has made the park so wet and unpleasant. The caretaker has been hard at work clearing the snow, and I believe everything has been done to make the game a good one. I do hope Canterbury wins, though, of course, if they are beaten we will know it will be no mean defeat. Do yon like reading about the St. Louis Exposition? I think it so interesting. They are talking of holding a World’s Fair here in 1905. I hope it comes off, though it seems a good while to wait. I am reading “The Mettle of the Pasture,” by James Allen Lane. It is a lovely tale. I do such, a lot of reading. I like historical tales best, though. I have just finished “The Lion’s Cage,” by Charlotte Yonge. It was grand. Dear Cousin Kate, I do wish the summer would hurry up and (me. One is never at a loss for news then. I will have to stop now for want of anything else to tell you. Your loving Cousin Winnie, Christchurch,

[Dear Cousin Winnie, —Has the great snow-storm come off yet? I have not; read anything of it in the telegrams from Christchurch. Perhaps Air. Wragge js wrong for once. He has been giving lectures here for some days, and some people like them very much, while others are very disappointed. It is many years since I snow-balled, but remember,it was very good fun so long as the snow was not frozen. Canterbury made a firstclass ptand against the British, I think, and deserve great credit. I fear they will beat New Zealand, but we will know all about it before this appears iu print.—Cousin Kate.] A h 1 -u-- ♦ -fc * ' Dear Cousin Kate, —Will you send rod E badge please? 1 am a little boy eleven

years old. I have a pony which takes prizes at the shows for jumping, ami u dog which is also a good juniper—his name is Phil. I am in the sixth standard, and our next examination will be held in September by Mr. Fleming. 1 have' some very long drives and rides. I often go for a 14 mile ride with young horses. I think I am going tc Wellington with the Wairarapa rep. team of footballers. —Cousin Dougins. [Dear Cousin Douglas,—l am delighted to welcome you to the cousins’ circle. Carterton, where you live, is a long way from Auckland, but you must write often nevertheless. You are very fortunate in being able to take such long rides. Have you a bicycle? A friend ot mine tells me there are beautiful roads for cycling round about your district. The ride to Gladstone, he says, is very nice. He was once riding along th - Carterton-Masterton road, and win n crossing one of those horrible little sidebridges which span the streams running across the road in several places, his ma chine swerved, arrd his hand was so badly cut against the barbed wire that he had to get it sewn up by Dr. Bute ment. You must write and tell me how you enjoy your visit to Wellington if you go. I hope you will be successful next September in your examination.— Cousin Kate.] Ik?!? * H? * Dear Cousin Kate, —I was so glad to get my badge safely. We are going to have our concert repeated on the 30, li of September, and I am so glad. My sister Marjorie has got toothache. My birthday is to-day. I am twelve years old. Last night I was going to wr.tc to you, but I could not find any news to tell you. I do like learning music. ,\Ve had a fancy dress ball down here, Jind my sis tex, Blanche was the belle. It was wet in the afternoon, but got line in the evening. My brother George ca :i nearly Calk. It is so cold down here that 1 do not like getting up in the mornings. iWe have a nice museum in our school jodin. We all take something to add to itj and make it look nice. It is used in

connection wilti “Nature Study.” There is not much news, Cousin Kate, so please excuse this short note.—Your loving Cousin Dorothy, Wkakatane. [Dear Cousin Dorothy,—Many happy returns! You say you have not much news. Why, there is quite a lot in your letter, Dorothy. What music are you learning—the piano, I suppose? I came across a very pretty piece of music the other day. It is the Corelli Gavotte, arranged by Friedenthal, the clever pianist who was recently through New Zealand. It is a Very dainty melody, hut perhaps rather difficult for you just yet. Your sister must have looked very nice. What did she wear? Do you like “Nature Study”? It seems to be getting quite popular nowadays, 'especially at Home. Wc never had anything like that when I went to school. Perhaps it would have been more interesting if we had. We have also been having very cold weather up here, but spring Will soon be coming now, and then we will have forgotten all about the cold and wet.—Cousin Kate.] . 1 * * if . Dear Cousin Kate.—lt is such a long time since 1 wrote to you that you must have forgotten me, but I have really had no time. I am going to try to write to you every three weeks now I have started. School breaks up on the 26th inst., I am sorry to say. I like holidays very much indeed, but I would rather be ut school. We have three weeks boll* days, and I think we are going away. Did you see the Governor, Lord Plunket? I did, and saw him four times, so had a good view of him. Did you go to hearMr Wragge? 1 did. and liked it very much indeed, especially the coloured pictures of all the places.—Yours sincerely, Cousin Daisy, ParnelL [Dear Cousin Daisy,—lt is quite a long time since you wrote me, but 1 have not forgotten you by any means, and now

[Dear Cousin Daisy,—lt 3s quite a long time sinee you wrote me, but 1 hare not forgotten you by any meins, and now that yon have started again you intist write regularly. Do not forget to tell me all about your holidays, I saw Hord I’lunket, but only in the distance. No; I did not hear Mr Wragge, and regret it very much, as all my friends who went were charmed with his lectures. How are your beautiful collies? Did you see the very handsome dog called “Sir Thomas” which took the principal collie prizes at the Auckland Dog Show? Judging from the photograph we had of him in the “Graphic” he. must have been a beautiful animal.—Cousin Kate.] « i. ’ * ® * Dear Cousin Kate, —We have Just been enjoying the first snow-storm we have had this winter. I have not been out for a snow-ball yet, because'l am just getting better of that horrible influenza, which seems to be so prevalent now, I have not seen this week's “Graphic” yet because it was too cold last night for anybody to get it. Do you like hockey? Next Saturday week there, is io be a match—the I.adies’ Malvern Club against the gentlemen. The latter are coming out in trained skirts. A gentleman down here the other night showed US some lovelyviews of Auckland, I should like to go up for a holiday, but dad says he is going when the funnel through Cook

Strait is completed. I have some relations living at a place called Waihi, about 85 miles from Auckland. I must stop now, with kind regards to yourself and the cousins. Cousin Myrtle, Waddington. [Dear Cousin Myrtle,—Your letter reached me on August 11. Y’ou had <lated it the 14th, and had a reference to the New Zealand-Great Britain football match, of which you say you “had not yet heard the result.” I should be lather surprised if you had under the circumstances. I have heard of Japanese and Chinese reading backwards, but really your letter looked at first as though we had someone in New Zealand who “lived” backwards! I envied you that snow-storm. We had some beautiful snow pictures in last week’s “Graphic,” which made one feel “shivery” to look at them. Yes, I think hockey a grand game for girls. Waihi I know quite well. Some time ago I spent the fortnight there, and went all over the famous Waihi mine, which is one of the biggest in the world. lam sure - you would like Auckland, and you must try and come up for a holiday without waiting for the Cook Strait tunnel, and if you do be sure you come and see me. —Cousin Kate.]