COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7, 18 August 1906, Page 43

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate, —I received my badge, and I thought it very pretty indeed. ♦ Mother and Marjorie went up to the .hot springs for a bath; they enjoyed it very much. Dear Cousin Kate, Dolly and I observed the moon eclipse last night. We went to bed at twelve o'clock, and we were very tired when we got up in the morning. We will write composition about it _ for our schoolmaster tomorrow. The s.s. Mangapapa came in very early this morning before we were up. Yesterday our school boys played Taneatua ’ a game of football, and of course, our boys won. Dear Cousin Kate, there is no more news to tell you, so I must close this note with love to all the cousins, not forgetting vourself.— HELEN. [Dear Cousin Helen, —I am so glad you liked your badge; do you wear it pinned on to the hand of your hat? Several of the cousins have told me they wear theirs there, and that it looks very well. You never told me what hot springs your mother and sister have been visiting. I have tried several and don’t know yet which ones I like best. I don't wonder you were very tired after sitting up until twelve o’clock to see the eclipse, and after all there was not very much to see, was there? Tell me how you get on with your composition about it—you ought to be able to write a great deal about it, I think. Why do you say “of course our boys won the football match ?” Are they so much better than the other teams about? Well, Helen, I must stop now. Write again soon, won’t you?— Cousin Kate.] ■F 4> + Dear Cousin Kate, —I suppose you think I have forgotten the cousins’ page. The reason why I have not written 'for such a long time is that father found some nice books in one of the shops. Three of these he bought for me, and they were called “One of the 28th,” meaning belonging to the 28th Regiment; : “With Clive in India,” “Drake’s Flag,” and I got so interested in them that I never once thought of the cousin’s page, until I chanced to meet Cousin Hilda, who asked me why I had . not written to the cousins. I did net know what to say, when I got I’thought I bar] hiateer start and write" again. I lam still wondering howjJ Will you please send Harold’s address, as I want toti^f^d’iliiin ’a‘ post card in return for the 6no nV sent me ? We have just, got twenty from Ngw South Wales, and they are very pretty. One died on the way otit, and another had the same ■ fate while in its eage. One cold morning we found the two little mateless birds cuddled up together. . I think o yourself and all the cousins.—l re-

[Dear Cousin Jack, —I have been wondering why I have not heard from you lately, and have been tempted several times to stop your father in the street and ask him what had become of you. You and Cousin Hilda live in the same street, don’t you? It was very good of her to remind you that there was still a cousins’ page in the “Graphic,” and I must thank her the next time I write to her. I don’t wonder you forgot about us when you had such delightful books to read though. “With Clive in India” is my favourite of the three, I think—which is yours? I must congratulate you on passing your examination. Was it a very difficult one, as you had doubts about getting through? I suppose you are very glad it is over for this year. Harold’s address is Master Harold Possenniskie, “Adblair,” Park Road.—Cousin Kate.] •F + + Dear Cousin Kate, —I am so glad that you let me be a cousin, and thank-you for the pretty badge. Bobs amL.I liaie a garden together- There are'two, srfgwdrops out in it to-day. I teaunt ’“ln Happy Moments” yet, but ’ I can play several little tunes,’ and Cam . learning Haydn’s “Surprise.” We h’ave two kittens; one is called Smut, the other Spot; they sit and look at me from'the window sill, for I am in bed. The doctor came, and said I must go for a change by-and-bye. Bobs and I are going to take turns to write to you. One of our hens has fifteen little chicks. Good-night, Cousin Kate; I am tired. —From Cousin Sydney. [Dear Cousin Sydney,—l am so very sorry to hear that you are ill in bed, and hope you will be quite well and jolly again by the time you see this. So many people are ill just now with colds and coughs, so I suppose yours is a cold too. Where do you think you will go for a change, down to see your Grannie in New Plymouth? I’m glad you liked the badge: you ought to get your mother to sew it on over the band of your cap, just to show that you are a little “Graphic” cousin. It is a very good idea for you and Bobs to take it in turns to write to me. because then you will have quite different things to tell me, which will bo nice, won’t it? Do you think that on-: hen will be able to keep all the fifteen chicks warm? If she can’t it will be very cold for the poor little things these cold night’s, won’t it? —Cousin Kate.] + + Dear Cousin Kate, —I now take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you, asking if you would please send me a cousin’s badge, "as-I would very much like to be included a-s one of; your many, cousins. lam a great reader of the ..“Graphic,” apd I greatly enjoy reading the children’s’'page. I will bee,verypleased to send you a long letter “next time.—l remain, your new cwusin, HAROLD. [Dear Cousin Harold, —Of couifee, I shall be delighted for you to join! our cousins’ band, and I shall look foxivard with great pleasure to your promised,long letter. I will post a badge to yon immediately, and shall hope to answer your long letter with one equally lengthy. Next, time you write, yortlniisd I fijid it much easier to write to the erfusins wlieq I know how old they are®6usiii Kate'.T*' " ' ' ” •

Dear Cousin Kate, —No doubt you will think that I have quite forgotten the cousins’ page, but I have not. I was going to write to you before this, but I kept putting it off, so to-night I thought that 1 would write you a few lines, hoping that you will excuse me for not writing to you for so long. 1 was very pleased to see a letter from Cousin Jxate in the “New Zealand Graphic.” I thought she had forgotten you altogether. Cousin Kate, haven’t we been having some horrid wet weather? it has been raining nearly every day, and you eannot go out anywhere. 1 think you will have to excuse such a short, untidy letter, as I have to go to bed, so I will say good-bye. With love to all the other cousins, and not forgetting yourself. —I remain, vour loving cousin, QUEENIE. [Dear Cousin Queenie, —I am glad you have not quite forgotten me though I was beginning to believe you had, and I think you gave me good reason to think so, don’t you, when you allow such a long time to elapse between your letters? Cousin Kate is even worse than you are about writing. Don't you live close enough to remind each other to write about once a month. We have been having very disagreeable weather certainly, but to-day is lovely, much too sunshiny and bright to spend indoors, unless one can help it.—Cousin Kate.] •F *l’ + Dear Cousin Kate, —I suppose you have nearly forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you. I have been working for the examination at our school, and I am so glad to hear now that I have passed it. lam in the fourth standard now, and have to get different books. On Tuesday evening the prizes for our Sunday-school were distributed in the Baptist Church, and I got one which was called “Melbourne House.” Have you read it? If you have, will you tell me if it nice? I have not read it yet. It was my- birthday the other day, and among the things I got was a lovely. large book called “Little Folks.” which came from Wellington. A puzzle: This is the name of one of our cousins. The letters are jumbled together. “Yduaer.” Do you know what name it is?—Cousin GWEN. [Dear Cousin Gwen, —I congratulate you most heartily on passing your examination; do you think you will find fourth standard work much harder than third? I used to like getting new books when I was at school; we always used to read them right through at once, and then we got so tired of them before the end of the year. I read “Melbourne House” years ago, and liked it very much indeed, and I am sure you will, too. It isn’t too late to wish you many happy returns of your birthday, is it? “Little Folks” is a delightful book for children ;• you were lucky to have it sent you for a birthday present. I have tried to make out your puzzle, but eannot do it. Perhaps some of the cousins will be cleverer than I. and find it out. if not. I must wait for the answer until you write again.—Cousin Kate.] ■F + + .Dear Cousip Kate,; —T expect you have been wondering why I have been such a long time writing.,t.o you. However, I am sure you will pardon me when you

know my excuses. I.have been busy preparing for two examinations lately, but now that they are over, 1 shall have more time for letter writing. Gwen and I go the gymnasium at the Leys Institute on Saturdays, and we have such a jolly time. We drill with clubs, dumbbells ami wands; and have breathing exercises and swinging on the Roman rings, but I prefer the jumping to all of these. We run up a plank, take a jump over the hurdle, and land (sometimes on our feet, but often in a much funnier position) on huge mattresses. Altogether we have a delightful time. I do not think 1 have ever enjoyed a letter in our "Page” more than 1 did Cousin Hero’s last one. The way in which she described the many different floral scenes was, 1 think, beautiful Cherry-blossom land must Tn some seasons appear like paradise. Cousin llerp must be a great lover of flowers. I wonder if she has visited Auckland yet. Her description of the daffodils reminded me of a scene on the banks of the river Avon one spring. Each side of the water the banks were one mass qf daffodils, which refleeted in the river and made it appear as a huge basin of gold. Whenever I think of the scene some of William Wordsworth's poena on daffodils always comes to my “I wandered lonely as a cloud. That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once 1 saw n erowdA host of golden daffodils. Beside rT>e lake beneattr.;the trees. Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” I should bo delighted if Hero would exchange post cards with me. that is, if she collects them, and if she does not, I wonder if she woidd correspond witji me. If Hero lifts not read "Nearest tj» Nature’s Heart." by E. P. Roe, I thinje she ought to. The last book added to my small library was “A Ring of Kilbies." by L. T. Meade. Like all the r?|t by that author it is very interesting. No doubt you have read it. I think the spring flowers are looking beautiful fterywhere' jns’t now. Our garden is looking quite gay with its violets. snoWilakcs and jonquils all out, and h{re anil there a daffodil just opening out its golden head. It is two years all ln[t a month’ sinfJ I first wrote to you and became a member of your band, deafly all the Cousins whose letters I was most interested in at that time have apparently quite forgotten us now. 1 wonder what has happened to Muriel, J., and Ruby. Then there was Olive and Dora. I wonder Winnie does not give Olive a gentle reminder now and again. 1 am sure it is quite time I brought this dry letter to a close. Netf's is really Very scarce,' sb good-bye fo-r the present. With love to all the cousins? I reniain, vours truly. Cousin ESSIE. [Dear Cousin Essie,7 It is rather a long time since you vyrote to me last, but you have given..-vefy. excellent reasons why you have not. done so, but .1 hope now that your examinations aye over you will keep yopf promise and write often. By the., way you never mentioned whether you had passed your exams, or not. There., is a splendid gymnasium at the Leya institute isn’t there? Who is the instructor? Drilling with clubs, dumb-bells and wands is splendid for the figure, and makes one keep one’s . shoulders back, so it is especially good for children who are inclined to stoop, though it may not be such fun as jumping. . Hero’s letters are always delightful I think, but. I think I liked the one you mentioned best too. You will see in Hero's letter to the “Graphic” this week that she does not collect post-cards, and I think if you both write regularly to the. “Graphic,” and answer each others questions, that it would be belter than starting a private correspondence. as Hero is only going to be such a short time in New Zealand. The spring flowers are lovely, especially the daffodils and violets. . Are you going to the lecture on daffodils which is to be given by the Rev. J, G, Ellis this week? It. is sure, to be interesting,, I think. Muriel J. has quite left off writing to the “Graphic.” bqt I don't jhink .Cousin Ruby has. Olive is very lazy about writing, but her sister Winnie is so good that she very nearly makes up for her, doesn't she? —Cousin Kate.]