COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 68

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dear Cousin Kate,—May I be one of your cousins? My aunt gave me a little camera, and 1 took some photos; they turned out very well; one was a very funny one, where daddy’s boots come out bigger than himself because they were nearer the camera. We have two white cats, they are .named Ede and blitzing. We have a dear little calf, her name is Polly; she lets us stroke her out in the field. We went sucli a nice trip down the river a little while ago; all the people tluit have launches got up a big picnic . together and invited their friends; it was quite a big picnic and we. enjoyed ourselves very much. Nice farming Cousin Jim does with seven dogs, two cows, a cat, and a parrot. Does he want all the seven itogs- to bring the two cows in? We only have one dog to bring our two cows home. We had sueh a lovely slid down the hill, but the last slide we had we put the sleigh right at the top of the hill and it struck a grass lump and we rolled down in front of the sleigh. I have had enough sliding for some time. From Cousin ROSAMUND.

| Dear Cousin Rosamund,—l shall be very pleased indeed, to have you for a cousin, and I hope you will write to me very often, and tell me all the news. Do you think Fritz will be able to write soon? What a lucky little girl you are to have a camera of your own. I have wanted one for a long time, but have never been able to save up enough pennies in my money box to buy one yet. That must have been a very funny picture of your father; next time you get a funny one like that will you send me one? I expect you ofte-n go for picnics on the river, don't you? You ask Daddy if he remembers taking Cousin Kate across the river one very rough day; we all got so wot. Cousin Jim’s farming does sound rather funny, doesn’t it? bid I expect they keep the dogs to go out after the sheep, don’t you? Did yon hurt yourself much when the sleigh chased yon down the hill? It is great fun. isn’t it: I mean when you stay on the sleigh? The grass will be too wet io make a good slide now. and by next year you will have quite forgotten your bumps, and bo quite realty to try it again 1 expect. —Cousin Kate.] 4* 4- 4* Dear Cousin Kate, — I did not write before because I was waiting so long to see my last letter in print. I thought it had gone astray; however, it was all right. I can’t answer any of the questions you asked mo, because I don't know where the "Graphic’’ is. I will be fourteen on the 25th of next month. Please, Cousin Kate, excuse my writing, as all the children are pulling and pinching me. They arc a nuisance when you are writing, are they not? There was a dance here on Easter Monday. It was raining very hard about eleven o’clock, and the ladies could not get home. They

had a piano and an accordion to provide the music. Mr. Reid was just vamping. Can you play the piano, Cousin Kate? I only wish I could. We have a, girl friend staying with us for the Easter holidays. I wish you and all the cousins a happy Easter. I must wind up now as it is nearly a full page. I remain, your true “Graphic” Cousin TAI.

[Ddar Cousin Tai, —You are not limited to one page you know, so next time if you want to write more you may. I think that was just an excuse, because you had nothing more to write about, now wasn’t it? Yes, certainly it is very hard to write when there are children playing round one, and I must confess that they are often rather a nuisance. I can play the piano a little, but not really as well as I should like to. When I was small I hated practising, and always got out of it if I could, and of course now lam sorry. There is no reason why you should-not learn to play the piano if you really want 1 ,- but of course yeti must make up your mind to practise faithfully.-Cousin Kate.] + 4? 4Dear Cousin Kate, —I was very pleased to receive my badge. I wrote and thanked you before, but my letter must have gone astray. We were going for a riile this afternoon. I went to see dad dipping this morning, and took my pet lamb to be dipped. Mr. Saxby and I mustered some sheep for dad. Yesterday afternoon we went for a little walk. I am not able to write a long letter this time, but will next time. George’s dog drank some sheep dip and he was very sick after it, but is all right now. I must stop now. Love to all the cousins and yourself.—Cousin BERYL. P.S.—I am sending you the peacock’s feather this mail. [Dear Cousin Beryl,—l am glad you likeil your badge, it is not nearly so pretty as my peacock’s feather, which I received quite safely this morning; thank you very much for it, dear. People say that peacock’s feathers bring bad luck to the people who keep them; I hope mine won’t bring me bad luck, don’t you? I expect your pet lamb did not like being dipped at all; of course, it makes them feel much nicer after, but it must be rather horrid to be pushed in whether you want to go or not, mustn’t it? I don’t wonder George’s dog was ill after drinking some; it is a most horrible looking mixture, and has such a nasty smell.—Cousin Kate.] + 4 1 Dear Cousin Kate, —Thank you for your nice letter; my last one was very short, wasn’t it? J will try and write a longer one this time. Mother and I are staying up at Taupo for a holiday; we are staying at the Terraces Hotel, and it is so nice. We have not seen any of the sights yet, but I think we are going to see the Wairakei sights tomorrow. One day we were going to Tokaanu. across the lake, but the boat went at half-past eight instead of ten o’clock, so we could not go. On a very dear day you can see Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe, and Tongariro from the balcony. Have you ever been up here, Cousin Kate? I have never been before, but 1 like it very much. The drive lip was very nice, but 1 was very glad when

we got here, because two days’ coaching is very trying I think, don’t you? There are such lovely hot baths up here. Are you going to see “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” if we are home in time I think we are. Do you like playing cards, Cousin Kate? We all play euchre every night, and I do love it. I am not in any hurry to get home again, because I want to miss the exams. I do hate them, didn’t you use to? We walked to the town of Taupo the other day, and when we got there we had to look out very hard for the shops because there are only about two. We are having lovely weather up here; what kind are you having in Auckland? Did you see that picture of the Ocean Wave in the “Graphic”? I went on it such a lot while I was in Napier; I was so sorry when it went away. What a lot of “Graphic” cousins you have got' haven’t you? more and more seem tv join every week. I have just redd a book called Beau Brocade, and I think it is lovely; have you, read it? Now, dear Cousin Kate, I must stop, with lots and lots of love for all the cousins and yourself from MARJORIE. .

[Dear Cousin Marjorie,—l quite envy you your holiday at Taupo, though I think I should prefer if in the summer time; isn’t it rather cold there now? 1 have never been there yet, but' am looking forward to a trip all round that district next year if I can manage it. Coaching is very tiring I think; I always want to get out and walk every few hours, one gets so cramped and stiff sitting still so long. I have often seen Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngaruhoe; are they not lovely, especially when they have their winter caps on? I went to see "The Scarlet Pimpernel” twice and enjoyed it immensely; it is a wee bit disappointing, I think, when one has read the book. I am sorry to say we are not having particularly good weather just now, the last few day« have been very dull and showery. Didn’t going on the “Ocean Wave” make you feel seasick : just watching it makes me feel ill. and 1 wouldn’t go on it for worlds. I haven’t read Beau Brocade; I must try and get it. —Cousin Kate.] 4 1 4 4 1 Dear Cousin Kate, —May I be a cousin and have a blue badge? On Easter Monday we were all going for a lovely picnic up in the hills amongst the bush, but there was no train, so we had to go to a muddy place by the sea instead. We have a cat who, when she wants to drink the milk out of a jug, dips her paw in and then licks it. Good-bye.— COUSIN MARGARET.

(Dear Cousin Margaret,—l shall be very pleased indeed to have you for a cousin, and I hope you will write to me often, ami tell me heaps of news. Wasn’t it a pity there was no train for you on Easter Monday, but perhaps it was just as welt, because it came on to rain in the afternoon, and the bush would have been very wet for you to play in. Were you going out to Waitakerei? Your cat is clever, isn’t she? She knows her head might got stuck in the jug if she put it in, so she is very wise just to put her paw, I think. I hope you liked your badge.—Cousin Kate.]

My Dear Cousin Rate,—l received my badge. T like the red badge better than the blue. Ou (Saturday Cbnsitt Mary, tjouein Lorelei, Cousin Myrtle; Urmsin Ivy, aad I were going for a pienie, only it rained mostly all duy, so we did not go. On Easter Monday Cousin Lorelei went to Feilding races, and oh Tuesday I went and enjoyed l myself very much. My bantams and dog are quite well. Love to you and all your cousins. —From COUSIN ALICE.

[Dear Cousin Alice, —You and I agree about the red badges. I like them best, too; the blue ones are rather too pale, I think, don’t you? I am sorry you were unable to have your picnic, but. it wouldn’t have been very niee to go out and get wet, would it? Didn’t you have rather dreary days for Easter Monday and Tuesday ? Up here they were very dull and showery. I suppose you had a week’s holiday at Easter. How did you manage to amuse yourself ? I always think it would be much nicer to save up the holidays and have them all at once in the summer time, when one can be sure of better weather.—• Cousin Kate.]

Dear Cousin Kate,—May I become a cousin and have a blue badge? We have a lovely garden at our place. There are lovely trees there, and one tree is covered with purple flowers in the spring, and after the flowers are over brown nuts come. We have an old loft which Used to be full of old hay, but my sister and I swept the hay to the back and covered it with old carpet, and put up old curtains, and the other half we made into a drawing-room, with a kitehen in one corner. We danee and play games there. On Saturday nights we have a sort of club with our friends, who live near, and play games and dance. My cousin Margaret is sending a letter, too. Good-bye, with love, from COUSIN SELWYN.

[Dear Cousin Selwyn,—l shall be delighted to have you for a cousin, and I hope you will like the badge which I have already posted to you?' Isn’t it nice to have a big garden with lots of trees to play in and under ? Ours is like that, and all my little nieces and nephews have grand times climbing the trees and swinging on the branches, and there are such lovely hilling places; too. I wish we had a loft, too. You must have very nice times ' there. Don’t you think you might ask me out some Saturday night?—Cousin Kate.] 4> 4> 4 Dear Cousin Kate,—l have not written to you for a long time. I have now come back to my home in Auckland. I wrote a fairy tale, and I gave it to the editor of the "Graphic” this morning. I will be going to school as soon as the Easter holidays are over. Do you like that game called Diabolo? I think it is so nice when you can catch the cone. When the American .fleet comes to Auckland we will have a lovely view, because our verandah looks over the harbour. I must say good-bye, Cousin Kate.— COUSIN CADIA. [Dear Cousin C'adia, — I am so very glad to hear from you again. It is -like' old times to have a letter from you once a fortnight or so. I expect you are thinking that I am never going to answer your letter, but the Easter holidays have kept us all so busy that I have never had a minute before. The Editor sent me in your little fairy story. It is very good inded, but it needs a few, corrections before it ean be inserted in the paper, so it wilt be some little time yet before you see it in print, as I will not have time for a week or two to go over it again. I am not very clever at games, and Diabolo seems to need such a tremendous amount of practice before one gets expert at it. It must be a most interesting game for those who can play it really well, I think. We have a very good view of the harbour front our place, too, and we are eagerly looking forward to the American fleet's arrival. It will be a grand sight, I expect.—Cousin Kate.] ♦♦♦ • ’ n Dear Cousin Kate, —I would very much like to join the Cousins’ Band, and would very much like to have a badge. 1 am so anxious to see it. I see you have a great luimb'r of eoushis. You must And your time fully occupied itf writing to them all. 1 must ehiwe now, with fond love to you all. Hoping you

will send me a blue badge.—COUSIN MINNIE.

[Dear Cousin Minnie. —Of course jou may become a cousin, and I Rave already sent you a badge, so tong before you see this answer to your letter you will have the badge, that is, if it does not go astray. Yes, I have a great number of cousins, but some of them are very irregular correspondents, so that it does not take quite' all my time to answer them. Good-bye for the present, dear Minnie. Write again soon, won’t you? — Cousin Kate.]