COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5, 3 August 1907, Page 47

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate, —I must write you a decent letter now, I think, but 1 am an awful letter-writer. We had our midwinter holidays last month, but we only had a week. I did not go anywhere, but, really, I would rather have one long holiday than several short ones. We have had awful weather lately, haven't you? It has been wet and cold. Today we had a flood, bigger, than any that I can remember. My father said the last big flood eame right under our house, but this one did not come quite up to the house. Looking out from our baleony, several fields that were covered with water looked like one huge lake thajß was-divided‘-by fences. 1 had to hunt up our,fowls to shut up, but I could not catch them all. Happily, none of them were drowned. I took my gui-nea-pigs into shelter yesterday, anti 1 am so glad I did, because on looking out this morning, I saw that the place where they had been was covered with water, and very likely they would have been drowned. Last Friday?'when I was at school, and when the girls had gone out to wash their hands before sewing, we were trying to smear'eath other's face with soap. J was held in One corner, and being soaped, when I kicked"'something, and made a great noise. I rushed out, and fell, face downwards, on the scoria, and several others _fe.lL on top of me. When I got up-I hardly—knew myself. My nose was bleeding, and was nearly covered with scoria. I look very pretty now, you know;, with my nose nearly all skinned. lam afraid to go anywhere for fear of being laughed at. ■bu-t will have to stand it, I suppose. —(food-bye, with love from Cousin ROSA.

I’.S.— Have you ever been up .to Kau kapakapa ?—R.

[Dear Cousin Rosa, —Thank you very much for your nice long letter this week, and I wish I had time to answer it with one as long, but I am rather behindhand with the letters this week, so 1 shall have only a few minutes to scribble an answer to yours; but I will try and write more next time. We certainly have been having some rather wet weather, but I would rather have it wet in the winter-time, .when one expects it, than in the summer-time, wouldn’t you? I came down from the Waikato last January just after the floods there, and it was really a wonderful sight to see the river in some places. Of course, it had subsided a great deal before we saw it. 1 am glad your fowls and guinea-pigs did not come to grief. Was there much damage done to the fences, etc. 1 I expect your face was rather painful after being 80 closely acquainted with the scoria, end. no doubt, it is not An improvement to one’s appearance. I know I was a disgusting sight after T fell one. night when I was skating, s.o I can sympathise with you.—Cousin Kate.J

Dear Cousin Kate, —-I started a letter to you some time ago, but it got lost. We all went to town the other day for a treat, and bought a birthday present for dad,-and tried to get one for mother, but could not see what we wanted, so will try another day. We each bought a very nice hoop, and have been having games since we came home When we were in town we saw the Frenchman making sweets in the road, and mother bought me some, and I did not like them. We took our tricycle down the Avenue yesterday; it is a niee flat road to ride up and down. One of our little cousins has got the measles. I am down at dad’s office writing this on the typewriter. I hope you are quite well. Would “you tell'me when your birthday is, because I would like to put it in my birthday book? Have you had the measles yet? 1 have never had them. I might go to the buckjumpers this afternoon if it’s fine. It has bhen very bad weather lately. Do you remember that I told you I learned music, and you asked me if I had learned “In Happy Moments Day By Day?’’ Well, 1 have leaned it now, and I think it is very nice. In the bad weather the foivlyard fence blew down, and now we have built an iron one. 1 collect post enrols, and I'have quit.? a lot now.’ I think I have told you all the news this time, and I will write to you again soon, so goodbye. Love from Cousin SYDNEY.

[Dear Cousin Sydney,—l really think you and Bobs are such elevel little people. Lots of grown-up people could not write a letter nearly as well on the typewriter as you two ean, and it is so niee and easy to read it, so I hope you will often write to me from dad’s office. 1 haven’t seen the Frenchman making sweets yet, and I don’t think I will bup any when I do, as you don’t like them. I should think it would be grand fun riding down the Avenue on a trieyfle, but it must be rather a pull going up again. lam sorry your little cousin has the measles, and hope she will be alright again soon. You must be careful not to catch them, too. If you send your birthday book to me at The office I will put my name in it for you and send it back. Will that do? I wish I could hear you play “In Happy Moments Day By Day.” Can you play it without the music?—Cousin Kate. | T 4- + Dear Cousin Kate, —It is very cold up here lately, and is very windy, too. 1 nearly forgot to write to you again. 1 do not like writing letters, so that is why 1 always forget. My brother likes reading the cousins’ letters, and I suppose he will join in, too, some day. I can’t think of anything to say, so this is all I can write. With kind regards to yo„ and all the cousins. From ELLEN. [Dear Cousin Ellen,—l am glad you did not quite forget to write to me again, and you know I am satisfied with quite short letters, so I think you might try and write, say, once a month. I used to hate letter-writing before I went into the “Graphic Office,” but now I am getting quite fond of it, just because I have so much of it to do, I suppose. I hope your brother will join the cousins' band, i always like new boy cousins, because I haven't nearly so many of them. I'ha

weather has been wretched lately, hasn't it? But every day brings us nearer to summer now. Cousin Kate.] 1- -b 4Dear Cousin Kate,—l would very much like to become a cousin. I am staying with my aunt in Wellington. My home is in Devonport, Clarence-street,. Auckland. We live on ah gill hill. Before 1 return home my auntie is going to take me to Napier to visit my grandfather. He is an elderly gentleman, aged 90. He ean see to read and write without glasses, and is always so bright, kind, and nice. He has a number of children and some grandchildren. —I am, yours sincerely, CADIA. [Dear Cousin Cadia, —I shall be very glad indeed to have you for one of my cousins, and if you tend me an envelope with your name and address on it, 1 will post you a badge. Would you like a blue one or a red one? Do you know Cousin Kathleen? She lives in Clarencestreet, Devonport, too. What a lowly trip you are having. 1 expect you will be quite sorry to eome home again. I have often heard of your grandfather, and 1 think he must be a wonderful old gentleman. My grandfather was 95 when he died, and he was able to read and write without glasses quite well, only he was rather deaf. Write again soon, won’t you?—Cousin Kate.] 4- 4> 4> Dear Cousin Kate, —I received the badge safely, and think it very nice. 1 have not been to school for two weeks now, because 1 have had a sore throat. I have a very sore hand, and ean hardly write. We have two cats; one’s name is Gusl-or, and the other Mooky. Gusher is blue, and Mooky is dark, and striped like a tiger. He is very playful, and will let you dress him up, and will sit in a pram. 1 do not think I have any more news.— I remian, yours truly, Cousin KATHLEEN. I Dear Cousin Kathleen, —I am glad you goti the badge safely, and that you liked it. I hope your throat will be quite well again before you see this in print. It is.such a.horrid thing to have, and you are missing such a lot of school. it is to be hoped your examinations are not coming off just yet. What sort of a cat is Gusher? 1 don't think 1 have ever seen a blim one. Mooky must be a grand playmate. There are very few eats which will allow themselves to be dressed up and put in a pram, I think, don't you?— Cousin Kate.]