Children's Page

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 23, 7 December 1907, Page 48

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, —I was very glad indeed to see my letter in print last week. My health is first rate and I sincerely hope yours is the same. Captain Ryan’s oil launch came up last Saturday, and it stuck in the mud about a mile from Taupo; but now it is in Lake Taupo. The Church of England over at Tokaanu is being built. Mr. Chisholm and Mr. Reid are building it. On Saturday a very successful ball came off in Mr. Rewcti’s new billiard-room. People might as well call it a “Darkie's Entertainment” instead of a ball. Mr. Jimmy Scrubber Pig was M.C.; he really was, Cousin Kate. Aunty Riri came home last week from holiday-making in Auckland, and she brought back some Christmas cards. 1 must conclude, with love to all the cousins, remembering yourself. I remain, your loving cousin, TAI. P.S.—Tell me what this riddle is, Cousin Kate: Hairy all over, rough on the skin, two waggers, and one gone in.—T.R. [Dear Cousin Tai, —Did you go to the ball and dance, or are you considered too young to go to dances yet? It must have been amusing, and how did the pig get in, and how did they get him out again? 1 wonder how long it will be before the Church is finished? It always seems to take such a long time, doesn’t it? though not so long as it does to pay for it. Were the Christmas cards your aunt bought very pretty? I don t think I have seen any of this year's yet. I haven’t the vaguest idea what the answer to that riddle is; in fact, I give it up.—Cousin Kate.] + + + Dear Cousin Kate, —It is quite a long time since I wrote to you. When you come up to Tirau you must try and see the hatchery. It is very interesting to see the fish, especially when they are being fed. It is so pretty to see the large fish jump up from the water when the food is throw’ll into the ponds. Their food consists of raw liver, which is minced up. The eggs are lovely, they are like large white hailstones (the wild ova is pink). The baby fish, or fry. are kept in long troughs, with water constantly running through them. The fry are fed with boiled liver grated up. I passed my examination, and I am in standard six. I want Arthur to join the Cousins’ Society, but he says he hates letter-writing. I wear my badge on my sailor hat. We spent our holiday on Dominion Day in school. 1 think it was too bad. The answer to my riddle, “What goes round a button?” is “A goat goes round a buttin’ (a button). Love to the cousins and yourself, from Cousin LUCY. [Dear Cousin Lucy,—When I come to Tirau I shall ccrtaialy make a point of going to the hatchery, that is if they let stray travellers in. It must be in-

teresting, and I have never seen anything of the sort, and should love it. I am glad you passed your examination; it must be such a relief to have it over and done with for a year. Why didn’t you have a holiday on Dominion DayT 1 thought everyone had to have one. It certainly was very hard luck to have to stay in school when all the other schools were having a holiday; almost enough to make one take the matter into one’s own hands and stay away. The riddle was very good; 1 should never have guessed it.—Cousin Kate.] 4* 4- 4* Dear Cousin Kate, —I am so glad you let me join the cousins’ band. Thanks for the badge; I like red, don’t you? The kitten cannot reach the doves’ cage for it is on legs. The eggs did not hatch. I am sending the “Star” this week. You will be pleased, I hope, with our show. I got some prizes. I got two Ist and special prizes for button-holes, Ist and 2nd for turnips, and Ist for radishes. Father and mother have got some .prizes, too. I have over three hundred postcards. I have only just finished Swiss Family Robinson. With love, from Cousin WILLIE. [Dear Cousin Willie, —I am glad to hear that the doves are safe. Cats are so cruel with birds, I think, and even if they don’t kill them they frighten them so; though I have a bird that is too much for the cats, and the dogs, too, for that matter. It is a very large white cockatoo, and when he is loose on the grass they have to keep out of the way. He bit the cat’s tail the other day So badly that it won’t go near the cage now. Weren’t you very proud of yourself for winning all those prizes? I should have been. You must have had to work very hard in your garden, though, to get such good results. I remember when I read the Swiss Family Robinson thinking that no other book could be so good, but after I had read Robinson Crusoe I did not care a bit about it.—Cousin Kate.] 4 4 1 4Dear Cousin Kate, —I was very pleased to see my letter in the “Graphic,” and thank you very much for the nice answer. 1 received my badge safely, and nothing was broken. 1 was glad to get it. A swarm of l>ees settled in front of our place in the hedge, and my father went and caught them in the night when they were quiet. My brother Bernard and I go down the paddocks and help father to get the sheep into the pen; there are such a lot of nice lambs. The weather seems to be a little hif settled now—l wonder how long it will last. Our garden is coining on finely now. The Druids held their annual sports on the lieach on the 11th of Noveinbcr, which went off very successfully. My sister can play the accordion very nicely. To-day my brother and my three sisters and I walked a mile to try and catch some white-bait, but we were not lucky enough to catch any; so we started for home, and were ready for a good tea when we got there. This is all I can say this time. I remain, yours truly. Cousin RODERICK. [Dear Cousin Roderick, —I am glad you were pleased with the letter au't

badge, and that no damage was done on the trip down. I have often wanted to see a swarm of bees, but I doubt if I would have the courage to go close enough to see them properly. It is really hard work getting sheep into pens, isn’t it? Either they are horribly obstinate or very stupid; anyway, they are very aggravating. We have had the most lovely weather for the last fortnight; so fine, in fact, that I heard some people in the cars saying they thought we were in for a drought, and the garden is certainly beginning to look very dry. I thought it was too late for white-bait now. —Cousin Kate.]-