COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 3, 18 January 1908, Page 47

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate, —I have just returned from a trip up the table-land, ■walked 16 miles up the top, from Stebbings, driving 18 miles from here. I went to Lake Peel with Mr. Travers. Speargrass grows there, and is all young and prickly.' I saw a pair of Paradise ducks, a long-tailed cuckoo, and woodhens. I played in the snow with stones, rolling them down. I wish you and other cousins a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. —Cousin WILLIAM. [Dear Cousin William, —How I should have liked to be with you on your trip up the Table-land; it must have been most interesting, but I think when you had seen so much you ought to have managed to write me a much longer letter describing it all. I expect as it is holiday time, you have not much time to sjrare for letter-writing, though I thank you very much indeed for your good wishes, the same to you and many of them. Write again, soon, and tell me more about your trip.—Cousin Kate.] 4- 4- 4Dear Cousin Kate, —A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We had a play at school the other day. It was the Greek play, “Tire Birds.” It was so good, and the songs were lovely.; In “The Nightingale” song the violin took the solo part. The chorus birds wore coloured crowns with white wings on them, and Grecian dresses. After it was over they all had their photos taken. ' My mother and father brought me home a necklace of shells from Hobart, a brooch, a doll's wardrobe, a doll's trunk, ;a box of quaint stationery, and a plate With a nursery rhyme .on it, and a lot of other things: Have you eyer_read, “Little Men and Little Wonie.t”? I do not .wear'my Jia'dge, but it is pinned up in my room. ~.We are. having, such a lovely time dew’d here a.t Waihelce; Out fishing the other day I. caught two small sharks, but jpst as I got them to' the top they,bit the-hook and got' away. We catch'. lot ot sprats off the rocks. ’With love from GWEN. Dear Cousin Gwen, —I suppose you have been .thinking that you were never going to see an answer to your last letter, and I, .piiist apologise for not answering it before. I know -you will forgive me, though wh»n I tell you that Christmas,and Ngw Year w’eeks are very busy ones for us in the Office, and so I simply have not had a minute to answer your letter before; Thank you so much, deal' Gwen, for your good wishes, and though it-ss rather late in the day, still I wish you the very happiest New Year. I heard about the Greek play at the Diocesan' School, and my informant said it was wonderfully good. I should like to have seen it very much. What w number of presents you had. I should think there was Very little left for you to get for Christmas. Yes, I have read both “Little Men” ami “Little Womem” and "Little Wives,'! too,

they are delightful books, I think, don’t you? You seem to have had a really lovely time down at Waiheke, I hope you did not get very sunburnt, because if you did, you would not look as pretty as you should have, in your bridesmaid's dress. Did you like being bridesmaid to your aunt. You must tell me all about the wedding next time you write. - —Cousin Kate.] 4- 4- 4Dear Cousin Kate, —I hope you had a very happy Christmas, and are going to have a happy and prosperous New Year. I am going away this week to spend my holidays in the country, and as I am taking a friend with me I expect to have a real good time, but I thought I couldn’t go away without wishing you the compliments of the season, so “here we are again.” When do you expect to have your holidays, and are you going out of Auckland? You ought to, I think, for it is so hot in town that it takes all the life and energy out of one. so that a breath of cool country or seaside air seems almost a necessity. I am. looking forward to plenty of riding, and driving, and a little fishing, and I may perhaps have a little rabbit shooting; so you see we are going to enjoy ourselves. Did you go to see “Blue Bell,” Cousin Kate? I was so disappointed because I wasn't able to go. I hear that some of it was very jolly. Must stop now, Cousin Kate, so good-night.—Cousin BERNARD. [Dear Cousin Bernard, —It seems ages since I had the honour of a letter from you; I am afraid you are lazy, and yet they say that auburn-haired people are always energetic. You must be the exception that proves the rule, I think. Thanks for your good wishes, my boy, and in return I will wish you the good old Irish blessing—do you know it? You and your chum are evidently preparing to have a glorious holiday; do be careful and not get into mischief, especially if you go out shooting. It is the easiest thing in the world for accidents to happen when young people are allowed to use firearms. Yes, I went to see “Blue Bell.” It was a very hot night and I was rather tired, so I did not enjoy it as much as I might have done; it was very good, though, and the way the children are trained is really wonderful. Mr. Pollard must have a real gift that way, I think. Write soon again, won't you? Of course I don’t expect a letter while you are holiday-making, though I should - like one.—Cousin Kate.] 4-4-4-Dear Cousin Kate, —I am afraid this will reach you too late to wish you and all the, cousins a very jolly Christmas, but anyway I hope you had a happy one, and that the New Year will be all that you wish and expect. I miss Cousin Hilda’s long and interesting letters from, our page, and wonder why she never writes now. If she sees this perhaps she will “buck up,” but I wish you would let me know her address as I want to send some post cards to her. I promised, long ago, and feel rather moan for forgetting. We have had a good deal of fun lately, and have been to the theatre every week. On Saturday wo saw “Under Two Flags,” which was very

good; “The Christian” (new version) was good, too, but not so interesting as the old one I saw in New Zealand. “Lady Godiva” I was disappointed in. I had some fun on my 21st birthday last week, and was given a great many more presents than I expected, which, of course, I did not object to. All the same, I wish I had not reached that dreadful age, but would like to be still at school. I wish you could have been here for Alfred Hollins’ organ recitals; they were simply glorious. He is blind, you know, and plays perfectly. I did not think any full hall could have been as quiet as ours was during the recitals. I went to four out of six, and wish I could have been to all. We have had a good deal of music lately, but I think the organ recitals were best of all. There are very few of the old cousins left, so I suppose none of them remembered Violet Tate this year. I do not really belong to the page, so did not feel that I ought to ask them to do what they have always done. My married sister has come down for Christmas, so we are having a good “fly round” with her; she spends most of her time buying dresses, etc., and is just the same as ever. She thinks of taking my other sister back with her, and I only wish it was my turn again. I had such a grand holiday of two months (last March] staying with her. We rode and drove nearly all day, mixed up with fresh-water fishing, walking, and climbing the little kopjes all round her pretty home. I was not at all anxious to come back to town, and my holiday simply tore along so that I had no sooner arrived than I seemed to be coming home again. It was a three days’ train journey, and I grew very tired of it. We passed De Aar (first Majesfontein), Kimberly, Mafeking, and other places known by name to everyone in connection with the war. I hope you won’t mind the length of this letter; and with love to you and the cousins, I remain Cousin ALISON. [Dear Cousin Alison, —-I wonder if you will be surprised to see one of your letters in the Cousins’ Page again, it will seem quite like old times to see one there, and you can't think how pleased I am that you should still remember your old friends. Thank you so much, my dear Alison, for your good wishes to myself for the New Year, and though it is rather a trite remark, the same to’you, and many, many of them. I am leaving the cousins to answer for themselves you see, and I am sure they will all be delighted to hear from you again. Christmas seemed to be rather a rush this year; for one thing, I only got back to Auckland from the country on Christmas Eve. There seemed so marly presents to see to, and so much to do, that we were all tired out on Christmas Daly, and rs it was very hot we only felt like “loafing,” but we managed to <l6 that well, it is one of the few things I am good at; so after all we did [rave u happy Christmas, though not in the orthodox way. I think we all miss Cousin Hilda's letters, they were always full of interesting information, weren't they? and I expect she has less time for’writing to the Cousins' Page now, but I wish she would write again now and' then. I should be satisfied with a letter every two months, though, of course, 1 should like more. I canno

realise that you are twenty one; have you bad a photograph taken since you grew up? if so, 1 should so much like to have one if you could spare it. I can't understand your wanting to be back at school again. The years from eighteen to twenty-two are supposed to be the best and happiest of a girl’s life. I am afraid none of the cousins did remember Violet Tate this year. I must try and remind them next Christmas, so that they may send her some little remembrance from New Zealand. You seemed to have had a most lovely holiday staying with your sister. I would like to have been there, too. Remember me to her when you write, won’t you? I must stop now, though I really have heaps more to say. Thanking you again for so kindly remembering us all. Sincerely yours, Cousin Kate.] The address you want is Miss Hilda Dawes, Ponsonby-road, Auckland. 4- 4- 4Dear Cousin Kate, —I am very sorry indeed, that I did not write before. Thank you very much for your very nice letter; I read it in the “Graphic. We have no launch here, but there is a punt, which we often go for a row. in. Yes, I do go to school, but I am ’having holidays now. There is such a dear little baby here, it is ten months old, and has six teeth. Do you like babies, Cousin Kate? I hope you had a very happy Christmas and a happy New Year. With love to all the cousins and yourself.—l remain, your loving cousin MOYRA. [Cousin Moyra,—Thank you very much for your good wishes. I did have a very nice Christmas indeed, but I think I am glad it is over all the same, there is always so much to do at Christmas time, and then it is so very hot that one feels good for nothing. What did you do on Christmas Day? and are you enjoying your holidays very much? Yes, I lovo babies, especially little girls, and to-day I am going to a christening, the baby to be christened is such a dear wee thing with lots of dark hair. I hope she will be good and not cry. Write again soon won’t you?—Cousin Kate.] 4- 4- 4 Dear Cousin Kate, —I had a jolly good time on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. On Christmas Day it was something awful. It was raining terribly. I was very sorry I could not write before Christmas. On Picnic-day we did not get our prizes as they were lost on the way from Auckland. Although we received them on Boxing Day we weren’t very pleased. My brother Tom and I, who are in Standanrd VI. now. both obtained nice prize books. The heading of my book is called “The Girls of Wakenside.” Have you read it? It is a very nice book to read. Tom's book is called “Cassels’ Sports and Pastimes.” My sister Jane got two prizes, one of them was awarded to her for taking the first place in Standard IV. The dance which was held on New Year’s Eve was very successful. Good supper was provided. The dance lasted till dawn. A few of our friends have gone for a holiday. 1 must conclude with best wishes. Love to all the - cousins and yourself.—l remain your “Graphic” cousin TAI. [Dear Cousin Tai, —Thanks very much for the postcard and also for the good wishes you sent on it. I know “Kia' Ora” means something good, but I don't know its exact meaning, do you? How is the postcard collection getting on? Y'ou haven't sent for me to get you anymore lately. I suppose you are getting tired of them now and are on the lookout for a new hobby. What a pity the prizes did not arrive at the right time, still it was lucky that they turned up at all. atfer having been lost, I think. No, I haven't read “The Girls of Wakcnside.” I am glad the dance on New Year’s Eve was such a success, but it must have been dreadfully hot. and I don't know how the dancers could keep on until dawn: they must have been tired out when it was over. Are you not. going for a trip somewhere for your holiday? I hope you have a good time anyway, whether you stay at home or not.—Cousin Kate ] 4-4-4-Dear Cousin Kate, —I hope you will excuse me for not writing to you before, but we have been very busy preparing for Christinas. Did you have a happy Christmas? We did. although it was such a wet day. Dili old Santa Claul

give you auy presentst We hung up pillow slips, because such a big parcel came to us besides another small one. 1 got a beautiful sleeping doll with a handkerchief over its face, a blue hair ribbon, a pair of white gloves, a lovely purse, a very pretty umbrella (a sort of strawberry colour), another pretty little handkerchief, and a box of chocolates. I don't know why we didn’t have a holiday on Dominion Day. but the town children have mo:e advantages than tha country children in many ways. They let anyone in to see the hatchery, 60 you will be able tG see the fish if you Come to stay at Tirau. I was fourteen years old on the 3rd of this month, and though I got such a lot of Christmas presents, I was given some more lovely presents on my birthday. Mother and father gave me a very nice manicure set, Z.antie Edith sent me a box of envelopes and paper, and I was given a .very pretty little brooch. Don’t you think I am very lucky? I will send (this letter in one of the above mentioned envelopes. I must close this letter now, wishing you a happy New Year from Cousin LUGY. [Dear Cousin Lucy,—l know how busy everyone is just before Christmas, so I never expect very many letters from the Cousins just at that time, though I must confess I am always a little disappointed when they don’t write. That is rather unreasonable of me, isn’t it? We had some rain on Christmas Day, .and it Was very hot and muggy, but we mannged to go out in the afternoon without getting even damp. Santa Claus didn’t (bring anything for me this year; 1 expect he thought I was too old, but I had some lovely presents sent to me the day before Christmas, so I didn’t miss Santa Claus so much. What a lovely lot of presents you had; and then to have more on your birthday, so soon after. It must have been like having another Christmas; you are indeed a very lucky little girl, I think. The envelope is very pretty, and I suppose the paper matches it, doesn’t it? —Cousin Kate.]