COUSINS’ BADGES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 17 June 1905, Page 54

COUSINS’ BADGES.

Cousins requiring badges are requested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forwarded by return mail. COUSINS' CORRESPONDENT E. Dear Cousin Kate. Will you have me for a cousin? 1 like the cousins’ letters very much: they are so interesting. I think ’Buster Brown" is a very naughty little boy. and ’’Hungry Henrietta’’ his a very big appetite, don't you? I have just started school again after three weeks' holiday. 1 have a canary and a parrakeet. and two kittens—a grey and white one and a tabby. There is to be a bulb show at the Sunday school in September. I am getting a bulb ready for it. My brother went to Sydney a fortnight ago for a holiday. I must say •good bye now. as it is bed time. 1 remain. your loving cousin. Jeanie. (Dear Cousin Jeanie. — Of course I shall be delighted to welcome you as ane of the members of the *’ ’Graphic' ousins' Band." and 1 shall hope to hear iirom you very often. 1 am so gla I you like the mu-ins' letters, and hope you will like them better than ever now that you are one of us. Certainly ’Rus tei Brown" is an exceedingly naughty little K»v. an.l what do you think you would d-» if yoh Lal to look after him? The only way to ke p him out of mischief would be to chain him to the wall in an empty room. 1 think. I don't like ‘ Hungry Henrietta'’ nearly as much as ‘Buster Brown." Did you enjoy your three weeks' holiday? 1 have just hid a holiday too. and 1 didn't like coming lack to the office at all. What a lot of pets you have: have you got names for all of them? 1 snp|M»sc you arc going to grow a bulb in a pot and sent it to the show. I hope you will get a prize; and you must write and Tell me h »\v it is growing.—Cousin Kate. 1 4-4-4-Dear ( ousin Kate. — Although I never saw my last letter in this week’s “G rapid " I will write for next week's. Most likeh my letter did not reach y »u in time. -•» probably I may -c e two of my letters in next week's ’’Graphic." So you have l»eeii to Waiwera. (ousin Kate. 1 hope you enjoyed yourself, but I am afraid that would b* impossible, as the weather has be»m -«» horrid lately. I have Ken to Waiwera. an! think it is a grand pin <■ in the summer time. Sin 1 was there the place h<i>» been greatly altered, the wharf having b*en erected si nor then. M\ mother and sisters have been there -in o the alterations. I am anxioush hoping it will be tine n»-xt Saturday, a- a frien I and myself are going out to The Sans •Smci. It is lovely going out to Onehunga in the car this time of the year (if it is tine, of course t. there is not much dust. Although I am so fon I of reading I have not rea l any books for some tim»* n >w, a- I have Iw-n sowing. <»r. rather. I should say, trying to. Have you ever played ’Pit." Cousin Kate? Most people hive, I think: one thing you need to Lave—a strong voice; du

not? It is getting late, so I will say good bye. with love to the cousins and yourself. —Cousin Eirene. [Dear ( ousin Eirene,—l have not beta at the office for nearly a fortnight, so 1 dare-ay some of the cousins’ letters have been mislaid, and’ that is very likely why you didn’t see your last letter in print. Yes, 1 have been to V wera. and enjoyed my rest thoroughly. Of course, there was not very much to do. and it is very quiet at this time of the year. The hotel is very comfortable. and the baths are lovely, so. though the weather wasn’t very good, we managed to pass the time very pleasantly. The wharf is a great improvement ; it is twelve hundred feet long now, and there is some talk of lengthening it three hundred feet more. I hope it will be tine on Saturday, too. because 1 am going out to the races at Ellerslie, and it is horrid out there on a wet day. 1 like going out to Onehunga on the car at this time of the year, too, though it is rather cold sometimes; but. still I would rather b? cold than smothered in dust, wouldn’t you? Pit makes your throat very sore, does it not ? because one has to call but so loud to make oneself beard. 1 think it is a game people will very soon tire of. don’t you?- (. ousin Kate.] 4 4- 4-D-ar (.ousin Kate.—l shall soon be able to writ • to \on by myself, and not wait for anybody to help me. as I go to school now . and shall soon learn to w rite. 1 am in the First Primer. On Empire Dav wo had a holiday from school, and mother took us all to the theatre to see the Bioscope and ( ircn-cope. We djd have fun. I have got 9 little chi -kens of my own; seven white and two brown. They and their mother have a little run out in the garden, but they got very dir tv this wet. cold weather. Good-bye. now. 1 hope you don't mind me being so long writing.—From ( ousin Jack. | Dear ('ousin Jack.—l am very glad to hear that you are getting on well at school. and am looking forward to the tim*- when you will be able to write to me ’’all by yourself." I wonder what school you go to? You must tell me next time you write. 1 did not go to see the Bioscope and ( ircusvope. but 1 heard of lots of little Kiys and girls who went to the matinee on Empire -Day. 1 had a holiday, too; it was such a level v day that I went across to the North Shore. The boats wvr • crowded with people, who writ- going’ over to the Takapuna i.iccs; -<» it was a good thing 1 did not take my little nieces across, wasn't it? I expect your chickens do get verv wet and dirty. 1 hope they have got lots of ni<-e. fluffy feather-, to keep them warm, because it lias been cold the last two or three night-. Won't it l>e nice when they grow up. and liegin to lav eggs? You will Im- able to go anil collect them every day youi>olf. Have Dorothie and Tui got some chickens too.’—Cousin Kat,-.] + + + Dar Cousin Kate.—-I supp€>sc you think I am a very bad correspondent, but I seem to have sHidi a little time to iny-udf just now. It has Ken a very stormy day. hut to-night it i.-».soviething terrible. On Moimlmv I went to .a !<•<•! urc by the Rev. David Cany. It is really not a lecture but au entertainment. He gave

us a lot of sketches from Charles Dickens’ books. He is a splendid imitator; he imitated such characters as Oliver Twist, Mr. Winkle, and others from different books. I think the shops here are going to close on Monday instead of Saturday. I hear that the Auckland shops are going to close on Saturday. The post-cards in this week’s ’’Graphic" were very pretty. 1 thought, especially that one of Sumner. Auntie has just come back from Auckland. She has been there a fortnight, and she enjoyed herself very much. One of my cousins is staying with us just now: she says she has met you before. Her name is Flora Harvey, from the Lake. They have left the Lake, and are living in Ponsonby.—lda. | Dear Cousin Ida. —I don’t think you are such a bad correspondent, though I would not call you a good one. There are several members of the cousins’ band who don't write nearly as often as you do; so you are not the worst 1 know. The Rev. David Carry’s lecture must have been really entertaining, especially as he is such a good imitator. I have never heard of him before. 1 hope he comes to Auckland, and gives an entertainment here, as 1 should like to go to it very much. 1 suppose you have read nearly all Dickens’ books? And that, of course, would make the lecture much more interesting. A great many of the

shops in Auckland were closed on Empire Day. but it wasn't by any means a public holiday, because several of the larger shops decided to close only on the Prince of Wales Birthday. The '‘Graphic" postcards are very pretty, are they not? At least, some of them aie, the coloured ones in last week's w'ere very good, 1 thought. I think' your cousin must have mistaken someone for me. because I tlon't remember meeting her, though 1 went to their house to "spend the day with my sister, once when she was staying at the Lake. They had such a lovely view from their house. Were they not sorry to leave it?—Cousin Kate.] 4-4-4-Dear Cousin Kate.—Hasn't the past week been dreadful? I am afraid your holiday at Waiwera will be quite spoilt if the weather does not change. Do you mean to be down for the holiday. Cousin Kaier I wish I could think of some means by which you could encourage the cousins to be more regular, and take more interest in our page. Couldn’t you put the names of those cousins who write each week at the top of the page, instead of the children on the sea-saw? Mother got the game ’’pit” on Friday, and Des. and X al. are simply going mad over it. Do you know the song. ‘’Rose of mv Life," Cousin Kate? Mother got seven more pieces from Aunt Jessie at the beginning of the week, and that was among Them. It is awfully pretty. 1 went to the conceit that I told you I might be going to. and enjoyed it immensely. Madame Wielaert and Mrs. Sutherland's voices were lovely. 1 got such a pretty post card of E<lna May from M innie on Tuesday, Haven’t some of the places in town got lovely post cards of actors and actresses. Cousin Kate? Oh. dear! mother and father are playing ‘ pit with Desmond and Xalerie, and they are making such a noise and shaking the table so much that 1 am afraid I must say good-bye until next week. With love to yourself ami the cousins, from Muriel J., Auckland. [Dear Cousin Muriel, —The weather certainly was rather disagreeable while we were at Waiwera. but it didn't spoil my holiday. We managed to get out every day. if only for a blow on the pier, without getting wet. and the rest of the, time we read or sowed, and just rested, which was what J wanted. The baths down there are lovely, are they -iotT and so beautifully warm. We used to go down every night about nine o’clock

nnd get a good roasting before goin rr to bed. 1 have l>een so busy since I came back to the office that 1 haven't had time to ask the editor about the suggestions made by the cousins for making the cousins’ page more interesting; but 1 will ask him about it the first Opportunity I get. I think your idea is a good one. Did you mean to put in the full name or just the Christian name? Pit is a very amusing game to play just "lice or twice. 1 think, but it is dreadfully noisy, and makes one's head ache after a little. It won't last as long as ping pong did. I think. It must be so nice getting such a lot of new music from England. I expect you all look forward to mail days, don’t you? There certainly are some beautiful post cards in the shop windows now. I like the views best, though. I suppose you like the actors and actresses best, don’t you? I saw such pretty ones from Japan Ih'e other day; the colouring was simply lovely. I wonder you managed to write as much as you have with “pit" going on in the same room. I’m sure 1 could not have written at all. Cousin Kate.) * * * Dear Cousin Kate.—l hope you have not forgotten me after this long time that I have not written to you. I always read the cousins’ letters evorv week. and now 1 am going to trv ami write regularly every second week, if I have anything to write about. We have just had three weeks* holiday from school: we went out such a lot. It has been very cold and wet this week, and we get half drowned coming home from school: but we don’t mind much,. as we like getting wet. Wo have started going to a dancing class every Saturday afternoon. and we quite enjoy ourselve-. What beautiful long letters some of the cousins write to you. 1 wish I could write such nice ones, but 1 suppose they are a lot older than I am. Do yon over go to the skating rink? The fancy dre-s night must have looked lovely. I am sorry that it is winter, and will he glad when it is spring again, and when all the trees come out in green, ami the flowers begin to bloom. We have hundreds of jonquils in the garden: they are just beginning to shoot up. We will have such a lot soon. Have you been to see Nellie Stewart yet? We all went to the circus-scope the Saturday before last, and we did enjoy it. Did you go? Dear Cousin Kate. I must close now, with lots of love to all the other cousins and lote to yourself, from Cousin Dorothic. [Dear Cousin Dorothie.—lt seems such .a long lime since you wrote to rie last, and 1 was very pleased to get your letter this morning. Tui told me in her last letter that you were so tired of writing that you were not going to write to anybody for a long time, so I didn't expect to hear from you just yet. 1 hope you will manage to write every second week. You will find it ( ver so much easier when you once commence writing regularly, ami 1 am interested in everything you do. so you will surely be able to find plenty to write about. I suppose you were very sorry when your holidays were over, especially as you went out so much, and had >uch a good time. I have just had a holiday, too. but I didn’t have three weeks. A ou are sure to like going to dancing class. I used to love it when T was about as old as you are. I wonder if you are going to the same (lass as my little niece May goes to? I don’t like the winter, either, and shall bo very glad when it gets sunny and warm again. \A e have a number of bulbs coming up now. too. but ours are not all planted yet. We have been too lazy to put them in. I have been to Nellie Stewart three times, and 1 am going again on Saturday. I did not go to the bioscope, though. I* think you write charming little letters. (leuyDurotbie. and I am sure yours will be quite as nice and interesting a< the 'older cousins are w hen you are older. C mtsin Kate.] * * ♦ 1 Dear Cousin Kate.— I have not yet read your answer to my letter this week, as the “Graphic’’ has not arrived, but as 1 have school again to-morrow I thought I might not have time to write to you unless I seized this opportunity. I was pleased to see that a number of cousins‘•-wrote last w eek. There were Several letters from “old’’ cousins, were there not? Last Wednesday, Empire

Day, T went to Onchunga with father and my little- brother. We went all over the Rotoiti. which sailed that afternoon, and afterwards to the kiosk for afternoon tea. The cars were all so t row ded coming’back that we had to. go on top of a double-decker. I had never been on top before. It was beautifully cool, just like being in a motorcar. Have you played “pit" yet. Cousin Ke.tr? It is most exciting, especially when someone gets a “corner” in “wheat. - ’ I went to a “pit” party last night, and only got one corner in “oats” the whole evening. Was it not shocking? .About fourteen played, so there were several double suits. The other day 1 got a post-card from Sweden. It is so pretty, and has a picture of three girls with their national Swedish costume. Cousin Kate. I read the other day in one of the magazines of a scheme which I thought would be suitable for the cousins to carry out. I am. of course, only suggt sting it to you. and it is for you to decide whether it would be suitable or not. It is the following: For the poor little sick children in the hospital, or som? such institution, the cousins could each make a “Wonder Bag.” to lie distributed at Christmas time. This they »-mild make of whatever material they chose. It would need to be fairly larg?, with a strong ribbon draw-string. Let us suppose that we desire the invalids pleasure and surprise to continue for an entire w.ek. Seven articles of various kinds must be collected—things each cousin thinks would please some li tie invalid, say. for instance, a book or now magazine, picture post-cards, a tiny doll or two. a box of coloured Beads, a dainty break fast tray cloth, packet of coloured chalks, or anything else that the cousins think tiny would appreciate if they were ill or lonely. They then should wrap every article carefully in a nunib r of papers, so as to disguise it as much as possible, tying eaYli one up with narrow ribbon of different colours; then place the seven parcels in the bag. allowing the ribbon ends to hang out: the draw-string must then b? drawn securely, and a note despatched to the invalid, instructing her to draw, every day for a week, one parcel from the “Wonder Bag.’’ The following verse should be neatly written out upon a card, and sewn to the outside of the bag: AVhcther weary, sad. or gay. lake but one gift every day: Then before the string is broken. Guess the friend who sends this token. Do you not think that it would be nice for ns to do. Cousin Kato? I always feel so sorry for the poor little children in the hospital, especially ai Christmas time. Now. dear Cousin Kate. 1 have my homework to prepare, so must sav “Au revoir” till next week. With love to my “Graphic’’ cousins, and an ext’ra share for you. Cousin Kate. I remain, yours affectionately, Ruby Coleman, Auck land. Dear Cousin Ruby.—lt was verv good indeed of you to snatch a few minutes to write to me. and if yon are alwavs as quick to seize an opportunity I expect I shall hear from you pretty often —at all events. 1 hope so. I wonder what all the cousins thought when th v opened last week’s “Graphic” and found, that there were no answers to anv of their letters. I must read them all through and see if there are any questions to be answered. I was verv pleased when I received so many letters tlh‘ week b fore last, though it took me some time to answer them. 1 was going to Waiwera next day. so had to hurry over them rather. I always wonder where all the people who travel on the tramcars on holidays come from, don’t you? I like the sensation of travelling on t he top of the double-deckers, but f mint confess to finding a wee bit nervous going down hill on them; they sway <:> that I’m sure if I went very far on one I should be seasick. Yes. I have played “pit." I think nearly everyone has. It is great fun for a little while, but it makes one so tired that one is soon glad to leave off. Aon must have had a nice rowdy party with 14 playing. I think the “Wonder Bag” scheme is splendid, and 1 hope all the cousins will enter into it. It would be nice to have two or three dozen bags ready by Christmas, wouldn’t it? amt we might get them hung on the Christmas tree which is always given to the children at the Hospital every year. Thank you very much indeed, dear Ruby, fur suggesting it.—Cuusin Kate.]