Children's Page

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 13, 30 September 1905, Page 55

Children's Page

COUSINS’ BADGES.

Cousins requiring badges are requested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forwarded by return mail.

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate, —Yesterday week 1 went to the country to stay until last Monday. After lunch on Saturday afternoon all the boys and myself went to the Avondale racecourse, where we watched Newton play football against Avondale. Both sides played very well, but Avondale got beaten by eight points to nil. We stayed until the finish, and then returned home. Before breakfast next morning we went bird-nesting in the ti-trce, where we found about five nests and eleven eggs. As there was only one neatly-built nest among them all we only kept it. After breakfast we went to see- “Jessie” (a mare belonging to .the people with whom 1 was staying), and to look for some more nests and eggs. We only succeeded in finding empty nests. After this we went into the bush for supplejacks and ferns. When we had gathered a number we made our way to the place where we had tied up the pony, which we were going to ride. We then decorated him with ferns and flowers of all kinds which we had collected. After this we prepared for home to get our dinner. After dinner we played football and ran races until tea time. When we had finished our tea we were amused by a gentleman who showed us all kinds of card and other tricks and puzzles. Next morning we got up at six o’clock to catch the ten minutes to seven train from New Lynn. Well, deal’ Cousin Kate, don't you think I had a very nice holiday? Will you please give me the addresses of one or two of the cousins who want to exchange post-cards!—From Cousin Harold (Auckland). | Dear Cousin Harold, —What- a delightful holiday you had. No wonder you enjoyed yourself so much. Don’t you think it is rather cruel to take the birds' nests? When we went out nesting we used only to take one.egg out.of each nest, and we always left the nest just where it was. Isn't it lovely in the bush on a hot day, when the ferns always look so beautifully green and fresh? Didn't you gel any with roots to take home to grow? They look so nice in pots in the house. Did you enjoy riding the pony? I think riding is great fun ; but I don’t suppose that poor pony enjoyed being decorated much. Are y)>u very fond of football? Kight to nil was rather a bad beating for Avondale. What fun you must have had learning those card tricks. Can you remember how to do them? Six o’clock ■was surely very early to get up. If you will tell me which cousins you want to exchange with I will give you their addresses. —Cousin Kate.] * -fr + I ~ i Dear Cousin Kato, —I would like to become one of your cousins. I go to the 'Nelson Creek school. I am nine years old, and 1 am in the second stand-

ard. Our exant. is in another three weeks from to-day, so we will have to work hard. There are six dredges work ing here now. They make a terrible noise, but you soon get used to it. Jim always says he is going to write to Cousin Kate. He is in the first primer. One of my sisters is in the sixth standard. There were some nice long letters in last week’s “Graphic.” I have got a lot of flowers in my garden. I set a lot of seeds about a week ago, and nearly all of them are coming up. Mamma has got nearly all her seeds set. There is hardly any more news at present, so I will say good-bye, with love to all the cousins and to yourself. -—From Cousin Maggie (Nelson Creek). [Dear Cousin Maggie,—l shall be very glad to have you for a cousin, and also your little brother, if he will write. No doubt you are working very hard at your lessons. I suppose you must if you want to pass. What sort of dredges are they? Are they dredging for gobi, or what? They must make an awful noise all working together. The one we have here squeaks so horribly that it sets one’s teeth on edge. What sort of seeds are you planting? I planted a lot of sweet peas a long time ago, but none of them have come up, and I am very disgusted. Next time I will plant vegetables, and see if they will be airy better. Your examination is very late this year. Nearly all the other cousins have finished theirs. 1 hope you will do well. Please write on one side of the paper only. This is a very strict, rule with us. —-Cousin Kate.] 4. 4- 4 I Dear Cousin Kate, —I was so glad to see my letter in last week’s “Graphic.” I passed my examination at school, and 1 am now in the sixth standard. Mr Gapper is my teacher, and I like him very much. It has been tine all day, but it is raining to-night. I have just been writing a letter to my brother, who is in Port Chalmers. There is going to be a football match here on Saturday, when Westland plays Buller. There is going to be a conversazione in the theatre to-morrow night, and I think I am going. There is also going to be a ball next week in aid of the new hospital. The flowers in the garden are starting to come out now. I think this is all 1 have to say, so good-bye, with love to yon and all the other “Graphic” cousins.—From Cousin Jack (Westport). [Dear Cousin Jack, — I am so glad you were pleased with your letter, also that you passed your examination. I think they are horrid. It is a great thing to have a teacher you like. You always work much harder for him. f think we must be going to have our equinoctial' gales, because it has been blowing so hard for the last two days, ami it has been showery, too. Are you going to the football match? Of course, you want Westport to win. 1 hope you enjoyed the conversazione. They are usually great fun. I suppose you are not old enough to be going to the ball. What sort of flowers have you in the garden? Aly gardening was not at all successful this year, seareely any of my seeds coming up. I expect your brother enjoys your letters. When one is away frp.m home letters aye so lovely, I think. : -Cousiu Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—l received my badge safely, and I must thank you for sending it so promptly. 1 think it very pretty. I have been very busy lately. Aly sister and I posted nearly 20 post-eards last week, and it is quite a relief to know that they are on their way. 1 posted one on Saturday to Cousin Ethyl). I hope she will exchange with me. Do you think Cousin Alison would exchange with 'me? If so, will you let me have her address? I have three correspondents in South Africa, but I would like another. I received two pretty post-cards last week, one from Copenhagen. Denmark, and the other from Mount Morgan. Australia. It is my twin-sister's birthday on Monday. One of them learned cooking last year, and she made her firstloaf of bread the other day. It was quite a success. One of her friends learned for a short time, and one day, having the house to herself, she thought she would make some jam tarts as a surprise for her mother when she came home. I never saw them, but I heard that when her mother threw them out (which she did in some disgust) they made a hole in the wooden fence. I hope the cousins won’t, think too bad ofme for telling this, but I can assure yon it is perfectly true. I told you I have been very busy lately: well, I

have just put all <mi Hower and vegetable seeds-, in. and some of the Hower weeds are actually up. I love garden big when Icm get I lie time I *hi s ik a very good exei < iso. I bavr a grvai nuinv pansies. I l.a-.e jnM learnt to make little rrr.rhct pin cushions; they are heart-shaped, and a little sal in rushion is slipped in ilihh. ’W! mine with perfume and thi; k t i< a great improvement. I don’t rare for crochet as a rule, but these look very pretty, worked in coloured washing silk. Just now I am reading a book by Henry Seton Merriman, railed “The Slave of the Lamp?* I do not like it very much, but I never leave off a book when I start it. I am glad you like Miss Tittell Brune. She is far the best actress 1 have ever seen, .lust now we are frightened out of our wits, ami none of us will venture out on a very dark* night, as we have a “ghost” running wild in the dark streets. I am awfully afraid of “ghosts,” and especially, of this one. as he is supposed to -'airy, a coflin on his bark, and the letters “Prepare to Meet Thy Doom” in phosphorus. There is a rumour about that Ihe police wen* dressing up as women to try and secure it. but I don’t know how true it is. Al! I know is tha the ghost and I would not care to meet. The new Catholic Convent at Island Bay is nearly completed, and another new ehurrh is bring built near hex*. Dear Cousin Kate, can yon tell me if Sophia was a Maori guide, because I have a post-card called ‘‘Sophia’s Wharc. Wai roa. after eruption, .lune 1(1, 1886?” I think this is all the news I can find just now. so I will say good-bye. with love to cousins ami yourself. Cousin Floy (Wellington). [Dear Cousin Floy,— I must have been a great relief Io get all t host* postcards oil’ your mind. I know the feeling quite well. 1 am sun! Cousin Ethyll will be only too delighted lo exchange. I don’t know about Cousin Alison, but you can ask her. Iler address is, “Alison Salmon. Main road. Green Point, South Africa.’’ You must have a very large collection now, haven’t you? 1.1 aye you a big garden> We have, but I am afraid I don’t do much work in it. Sometimes I work hard at it for a week, then I lose all interest in it. ami don’t touch it agaTn for months, so it is just as well it isn’t left -to me. The* description of those little pin cushions sounds very pretty, indeed. Do you know. I am very fond of 11. S. Merriman’s books. I have

not read "The Slave of the LimV though J have read most of them. “With Edged Tools,” “The Sowers” and “Barlasch of the Guard” are his best, and 1 loved them. Have you lead those? How horrible it must be to have a "host anywhere in the neighbourhood. 1 do hope the police will soon get him. He deserves to be severely punished. I think it is dreadful for anyone to be frightened, but especially children. It. takes them so long to forget anything like that. Sophia is one of the Rotorua guides, but she is very old now. Do you learn cooking, too? I think every girl should learn, don’t you? As for your story about your friend’s pastry, we must all take that with a large piece of salt. —Cousin •Kate. | + + + Dear Cousin Kale, —I am sure you would like Kamo. If you came here you would not be in a hurry to get away again. 1 went for a drive not long ago to the Whangarei Falls—they were lovely. The water falls from a height of about 120 ft, and it does make a roar. You can walk out right on the edge of Hie falls and look down; but I do not like risking it, it would be awful if you were to fall in. A six miles’ ride or drive from Kamo brings you to Ilikurangi. where there are lime rocks and coal mines. The lime rocks are simply exquisite, and are one of, if not, the grandest sights above Auckland. They' are all different shapes and sizes, some are like boats, some like fish, and some are. shaped like men’s heads. Besides these curiosities there are deep caves, and if you take a lighted candle into them the effect is wonderful. The people at Ilikurangi say that they are part of the Old World, and I would not be a bit surprised if that was right, as you can often find oyster shells and shark’s teeth in u piece of lime stone. 1 have not been down any of the coal mines yet. though I intend to flo so soon. We have, mineral sodawater springs up hero, they are healthy to bathe in as the water is so good; it is also fit to drink, for it is exceedingly beneficial. Invalids and tourists visit these springs in the suinmer to obtain those benefits. Would you kindly give me the addresses of the following cousins—Cousins Hilda ami Jack—for the purpose of oxchanging post-cards .with them. I liked Auckland very much while I was down there, but 1 like Kamo better. Of course we have no trams up here, but we have a railway, which suits very well. My' holifiays arc in November —1 am going to Rotorua. Tc \rohu, I’aeroa, Waihi and the Thames. 1 have relatives in Waihi with whom I am going to stop. I think 1 will have a good time. As time is not waiting for me, 1 shall have • to say good bye, with love to you and all the cousins.—Cousin Clyde (Kamo). [Dear Cousin Clyde,—l am sure .1 Would love Kamo in summer; but in winter 1 always want to be in town. 1 know I would thoroughly enjoy' the fcodn-watcr baths. The Whangarei Tails must be lovely, and I am sure it would be worth the risk to see the water falling all that, way down. 1 have always heard that the lime rocks were simply perfect, and they must, be if they arc like your description. Some of them must be rather awful, too. Have you any of the shells or shark’s teeth, or aren't you allowed to take anything away' from the caves. 1 would like some for curios. 1 have never been down a coat mine, and I don’t think 1 want to much, t-ticy are so wet and dirty, aren’t they? What a grand holiday you are going to have. Have you been to Rotorua before? It is beautiful. You won't want io go back to Kamo perhaps after you have been there. The addresses you want are Miss Hilda Daws, I’onsonby-road, Auckland, and Mr Jack Pair, I’onsonby, A tick la nd. —Cousin Ka t e. | ♦ ♦ + Dear Cousin Kate, —My cousins arrived safely last .Sunday week. They are dear little things, especially Eileen. She is only two and a-half, and she can speak very plainly. The baby’s name is Muriel, she is three months old. I like taking .care of her. They have gone to Mount Roskill to live, and as we Are having holidays next week I am going to spend a day with them. Last. Bunday 1 went a drive io Avomlale. although the day was not pleasant, I enjoyed myself very much. My collection of post cards is getting larger. 1 had • nice album given to mu. 1 am

reading “His Next of Kin,” by E. M. Worboise. 1 like her books; my sifter had nearly all hers, so 1 shall read them now. Well, I must stop now, as I have no more news to tell you.— Muriel (Auckland). | Dear Cousin Muriel, —Your cousins have delightful names. I suppose you are sorry they are going to live " so far away from you when you were so anxious they would live near you; still, you can always get a train, can’t you? The holidays are coming very close now, of course you are delighted. I do hope you will have fine weather an-1 a good time generally. Didn’t you get very wet driving out to Avondale? Last .Sunday was such a horrid day. 1 suppose you need a very large album for your post-cards now? It. is lovely watching your collection getting bigger and bigger, isn’t it? AH E. M. Woiboise’s books are pretty, aren’t they? You are going to have a treat if you read them all. Has your sister many books, and does she read much? 1 think reading is one of the nicest forms of enjoyment.—Cousin Kate.]