Children’s Page

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 21, 18 November 1908, Page 57

Children’s Page

COUSINS' BADGES. Cousins requiring badges are requested to send an addressed envelope, when the badge will be forwarded by return maH. COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Cousin Kate, —I have not written to you for such a long time. I have been in bed with chicken-pox for a good while, so 1 have not been able to write to you. We have got three broods of chickens out, and they are dear little things. A cat stole two of them out of the youngest brood and ate them. Guy Fawke’s day is dying out now I think, only a few people have any fireworks at all- My cousins did not have their fireworks last night, so they are going to have them on Monday. Before I was ill I was getting on well at school, but I am afraid I will be all behind when I go- back again. Hasn't it been beautiful weather lately, but rather windy and dusty. We have got plenty of loquats ripe at present. My sister and I made a garden the other day, and we planted a number of plants. I’m trying for the nature-study prize that is-to be given at Christmas, and so far I think I have some chance of winning it. Good-bve. — From Cousin BOBS. [Dear Cousin Bobs, —I am sorry you have had chicken-pox. Isn’t it a nasty, hot, itchy kind of illness, and you can’t rub because if you do it leaves such ugly scars; I quite understand that you could not write while you were ill. Whatare you going to do with the eat that killed those chicks? Kill it if you can catch it, I suppose. Did you and your Cousins have a good time on Monday with the fireworks, and did you have a bonfire* One of our neighbours had some lovely ones, and the children thought them perfect; they just yelled with enjoyment; if you had seen them you would not have thought Guy Fawke’s day—or night, rather—was dying out. 1 hope you did Hot find yourself very much behind the others when you went back to school. — Cousin Kate.] •fr ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —Katie’s letter and mine must have gone astray last week. Last Monday Katie and I and the dog went fi>r a picnic, and we got such a lot of pretty shells. 1 often go to the Convent with mother to see some girl friends. We have a new horse and a donkey, also a nice cow, and her name is Bessie. Sometimes she gets into a temper. We had fifteen chicks, but one died, and now we have only fourteen. Katies has left the collegiate school now.—Causia MINNIE. I’.S. —I woukl like a blue badge.— M. F. N. Dear Cousin Mimie, —Isn’t it dreadful the number of letters that go astray. You must have a regular farm to keep all those animals; I don’t think I would call Bessie a very nice cow if she gets into tempers. She might get into a temper

with you one day and chase you, then what would happen* Do you get many different kinds of shells on your beachs, we have some very pretty ones, but not a very great variety. I think you are lucky only to have lost one of your chicks; a great many of ours have died or been killed, and now our ducklings are being taken by the rats.—Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —Our rabbits had six little ones, but the mother killed them all. We are going to a picnic on Wednesday if it’s a fine day. Last Tuesday I went to the Humewood beach with Mrs McWilliams. On Thursday we are going to a party at Mrs More’s, from 3 to 6 pm. Yesterday we went for a donkey drive, and Neddy, the donkey, tripped. Once Bessie, the cow, tramped on Sam's foot. Yesterday the donkey ran away when Jack was leading him home from the paddock. I am nine years old now. lam going back to Mrs Mattingley’s to have lessons with May’s governess. With love to yourself from Cousin KATIE (NEAVE). [Dear Cousin Katie—What a horrid rabbit that old mother rabbit must be. Didn’t you want to kill her when you found what she had done to her babies; she deserved to die, I think. We had a cat that killed her kittens, so we poisoned her; we were so angry. You are having a gay time now with parties and picnics and donkey drives. That donkey doesn’t seem to be too amiable, but~ 1 suppose you know how to manage him when he is naughty. I think donkeys are awfully funny animals, but so aggravating. Were you tipped out when Neddy tripped* Would you rather have lessons with May’s governess than go to school* I suppose it is easier to do your lessons when there are only a few, but then you miss the games with so many others in playtime.—Cousin Kate.] 4 ♦ ♦ Dear Cousin Kate, —I suppose you have forgotten all about me; haven’t you’ I am sorry I didn’t write before, but I wril try and write regularly now. I have lieen for a holiday in Wellington, and I went out every day, wet or fine. A school friend of mine has asked Vera and me to go to a bonfire on Guy Fawke’s night, and I hope it will lie fine. On the King’s Birthday we are going for a picnic-at Westshore, if it is a nice day, and the Sailing Club opens on Saturday, the 7th of this month. 1 think it is time to stop now. With much love for yourself and other cousins.—Cousin AIRINI. [Dear Cousin Airini. —I have not forgotten you, but 1 thought you had forgotten us completely. 1 am glad to find I was wrong; 1 hate to lose any of my cousins. Was that your first visit to Wei lington; would you like to live there? Guy Fawke’s night here was quite fine, but I don’t think people are so enthusiastic about fireworks as they used to be. There was a huge bonfire on the North Shore beach, which set two lovely fir trees alight and burnt some poor unfortunate person’s fence. I hope you had a finer day on the 9th than we had: it was very showery all day. and. of course, the guns firing the salute made it worse. Nearly all our tennis and rowing clubs opened on the 7th: it was very fine, but rather windy —Cinr-a.- Kale.]

Dear Cousin Kate, —-I suppose you thought I had forgotten you and ray other cousins, or else, that I was dead; but, whether or no, 1 am happy to say that that is not the case. 1 liave been ill for the last two months,-but have nearly recovered. I went tip the country for three or four weeks, and the fresh air did me good. It was quite a change from the noisy, dusty city. I was almost sorry to leave it when I had to return. Is it very hot in New Zealand now? It is extremely hot here. We are having repl summery weather. How are you and all tny other cousins? I suppose you have plenty of work to do? Melbourne is thronged with visitors for the “Cup” races, which are to take place on Tuesday. Well, dear Cousin Kate, as I have no more news to tell you now, I will conclude with love to you and all my other cousins, and wishing tire “Graphic every success. —I remain, your affectionate Cousin, ANNIE. {Dear Cousin Annie, —I am so sorry to hear you have been so ill. and for such a long time; what has been the matter with you? However, I am glad to hear you are better, and by the time you get this, I hope you will have quite recovered. To go into the country for a few weeks is lovely, but I would not like to live there, would you? The noisy, dusty cities appeal to me much more than the quiet of the country. We have had lovely weather lately, but not very hot yet, though everybody prophesies a long, hot sum mer. All the other cousins are very well, I think, and. as you say, very busy: lire last two months before Xmas are always busy times. I think, for everybody. t up week in Melbourne is always very lively, isn’t it. and such crowds of people? -Cousin Kate.] Dear Cousin Kate. —I have not written to you for a long while. I went to a native school concert, and they acted very well. Some of the items were the fan danee and hoop drill, done by native and white children attending the school (girls), dressed in white dresses, with red and blue sashes. Ono native boy sang the solo, ‘‘Polly Wolly Doodle.” and about twenty children joined in the

chorus. Another item that took well was “The House that Jack Built." acted with live animats, except the cow, which had to be painted on a board on account, of its size. The exciting debs I.- I went to was "Should spring cleaning be neces■ary in a well ordered house''" Two ladies took the question, and the one that said it was necessary woa the debate We will be having our examination verv shortly, and I think I will be pleased when it is over. Love to all the cousins and yourself.—From Cousin Rl'BY. [Dear Cousin Ruby.---The concert must have been a great success; 1 should think; the programme sounds verv attractive. I love to hear children singing ehorus songs. Did they sing them in parts* Having the animals real for the "House that Jack Built” was certainly a novelty, but- how did you manage to keep them all quiet behind tile scenes, especially the cat and rat? We wanted a bull for some tableaux once, so we got one of the huge Bowil advertisements, and pasted it on to the scenery at the side; it was really most effective, so I expect the cow was quite as good. I should like to have heard that debate on “Spring Gleaning."- Cousin Kate.]