COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 12, 22 September 1909, Page 58

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE.

Pa eroa. /'fX EAR Cousin Kate, —We bad a small I \ Hood here, and the wind caused I B some damage. Chumie went out ~1 J iu all the silt which the river had f J brought over, and he was so dirty when he came home that we had Co give him a bath. Tom is always lighting with Chumie. Our old drake and Chumie fight also. The drake does all the biting, and Chumie all the running. We are having an early spring, and all the willows are beginning to sprout. 1 am, your loving cousin, K ITTY. [Dear Cousin Kitty,-That’s just what I Should have done had I been Chumie. But what a fighter he is. You will have to change his name. Thank you very much for the photo. 1 am very pleased to have it. — Cousin Kate.] ± £ £ Otahuhu. Dear Cousin Kate,--I wish to be one of Che “Graphic” cousins, as this is the first time I have written to you. We have a cat which is a great pet. He has been very ill. We call him Brownie. 1 am eight years old, and in Standard I. My brother Geoffrey had nine guinea pigs, and two dogs came and killed four of them. He has three little ones. With much love. From Cousin DR NEST. [Dear Cousin Ernest, —I am pleased to have you for a cousin. We have a eat, who is a great pet, too. Poor little guinea pigs! 'Write to me again.—Upusin Kate.] ± ± £ Otahuhu. Dear Cousin Kate, —Please can 1 be a housin’ Will you send me a blue badge? I am six years old, and I go to the Otahuhu School. Your loving cousin, GTJY. [Dear Cousin Guy,—Yes, I am very pleased to have you for a cousin. I hope you will send me some more letters.—Cousin Kate.] i Wakefield. Dear Cousin Kate, May I be one of your cousins? 1 go to the Wakefield School, and am in Standard IV. I believe my friend Olive writes to your page. Please will you eend me a blue badge. From your little friend, Cousin TILELMA. I Dear Cousin Thelma, —Welcome, as another Wak'efielder, to our society. Yes, your friend Olive does write.—Cousin Kate.] i * * Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate, — The letters that have appeared weekly in the “Graphic” have interested me greatly. I have visited many places in the North Island, but the one that interested me most was Whangarei. During my last visit a carnival was being held, which improved my holiday very much indeed. The Kamo Springs are a benefit to all who suffer from rheumatism and other complaints, the waters being up to my shoulders. I remain, yours sincerely, Cousin MAGGIE. [Dear Cousin Maggie,—l am pleased to Welcome you to our Cousins’ Society. You

did not send me an envelope—a good many of my new cousins have forgotten that today—<but I have sent you your badge. I should much like to visit Whangar’ei; I am told it is very pretty.—Cousin Kate.] i i i Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate, —As my parents are weekly subscribers for the “Graphic,” I would very much like to correspond with you. The letters have interested me very much. Although I am not old, I have visited many places in New Zealand, but the one I liked the 'best was Rotorua. ’ It is full of interest. The geysers are very beautiful, and the blue and green lakes are among the seven beauties of the world. I remain, Cousin ELSIE. [Dear Cousin Elsie,—l am glad that you appreciate your privileges, and have made up your mind to join us. What is the use of subscribing and not being a cousin? Rotorua is very interesting, but isn't the smell of the sulphur nasty? The geysers are rather terrible, as well as beautiful, I think. —Cousin Kate.] i Stoke. Dear Cousin Kate, —'May I become one of the “Graphic” cousins? We get the “Graphic” every week, and I like reading the cousins’ letters very much, and I like looking at Buster Brown. I am nine years of age. and in Standard 11. I have two miles to walk to school. The H.M.s. Encounter arrived in Nelson last week, and I was going out to see it; but the sea was too rough. I went down to the Tahuna Sands instead. We have three cats and a kitten, which we call Buster, and a dog which we call Trix. From WALTER.

[Dear Cousin Walter, —I gladly welcome another member of your family to our society. You have a long walk, but I suppose you are a brave boy, and do not mind. That was a disappointment. Is your kitty really a “Buster,” like our hero.—'Cousin Kate.]

Collingwood-st., Nelson. Dear Cousin Kate, —I received the badge, and thank you very much. The weather in Nelson is very unsettled, and the streets are terribly muddy. My sister had a little party and a competition last Friday, and we had such fun. I have a large black cat; his name is Billy. A friend of ours has a very pretty tortoiseshell cat. He has no name; could you give me a name? —'Cousin MINA.

[Dear Cousin Mina, —We, too, have had all sorts of weather lately, but, as a friend of mine says, “It might have been earthquakes instead.’’ lam glad you had such a nice time at your sister’s party. If your friend’s cat is a tighter, call him Mars. — Cousin Kate.] * * * Parnell. Dear Cousin Kate, —I have been interested in the cousins’ circle for som € time. We are weekly subscribers to the “Graphic.” I should be very pleased to join the cousins’ society, as I have a good deal of spare time, and would be able to write continually. Would like you to send me a blue badge.—Yours truly. Cousin GLADYS. [Dear Cousin Gladys,—l am very pleased to welcome a cousin with plenty of time. I shall hope for some of those interesting letters which it takes some time to write, letters with plenty of news in a very few words. With such a lot of cousins writing, I am afraid I shall be driven to put up one of those notices we see in offices, “Be brief.’’ Though’ I don’t love being brief myself, I have to be, dreadfully.—Cousin Kate.] * * *

[Dear Cousin Max, —Did you forget to put in your letter? You must have done Please write to me soon, for how can 1 know what kind of a cousin you are if I don’t get a letter. I sent your badge, and have put your name on my register. — Cousin Kate.]

Mapuna. Dear Cousin Kate, —I am just writing a few lines to let you know that I have not quite forgotten you. We are having some bad weather lately, but I think it is going to clear up now. Our school went down to play the Tangowahine school. Our boys wou by 47 to nil. All our fruit trees are now coming into bloom. I was very pleased with my badge, and thank you very much for it. I must now close, with much love to all. —Cousin ENA. P.S.—Our dear little baby has had such a bad cold In his eyes.— C.E.

[l>ear Cousin Ena, —I am so glad to hear from you again, and so sorry about your baby’s eyes, poor laddie! Bravo, your boys. They did “do themselves proud,” as the old ladles would say. Your mention of fruit blossom brings back to me all at once a heavenly Sunday morning in Cheshire long ago, a morning of apple blossom and the

clangour of church bells. I shall remember it when 1 am old, as you will these blossoms when you are old. Write again.— Cousin Kate.] * * i Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate, —Just to let you know my parents are weekly subscribers of the “Graphic,” which interests me very much.' I would like to tell you a little about the great tire which took place in the Strand Arcade in Queen-street . The buildings were burned to the ground, and the owners have had a great loss.—Cousin IRENE, [Dear Cousin Irene, —“The Graphic” will interest you still more now that you have become a cousin. The fire was very dreadful, and the place looks extraordinary with all the interior gone.—Cousin Kate.] i i i ' Onehunga. Dear Cousin Kate, —May I become one of your cousins? We take the “Graphic,” and I take groat interest in the letters. I am nine years old, and go to the Mangere Bridge school, and am in standard IV. I have a pair of pigeons that are sitting on a pair of eggs. I also have two cats. One is called Billie; he is blue, grey, and white; and the other is a tortoiseshell called Sally. I also have a dog called Carlo.—From your loving cousin, WILLIE. [My Dear Cousin Willie, —You are quite rich in pets. I am glad to hear that you like the letters so much, and willingly accept you as a cousin. Hoping you will write again.—Cousin Kate.]

Nelson. Dear Cousin Kate, —I received the pretty badge you sent me. Many thanks. Nelson is beginning to put on her pretty spring dress. The hills are yellow with broom, and all the gardens are looking so pretty with bulbs and spring flowers. H.M.s. Encounter often calls here. Before I close I must tell you that I am fond of playing hockey. With sincere love.—Cousin KATHLEEN. [Dear Cousin Kathleen,—l am so glad you like our badge. Isn’t broom lovely? I don’t wonder you like hockey. Almost any game that gives one a good run in cold weather is delightful.—Cousin Kate.]

Rockville. Dear Cousin Kate,—May I become one of your cousins? I go to the Rockville school, and am in standard VI. I have five brothers and one sister. I am sending an addressed envelope to get a sky blue badge. We are going to have a tea ’party for the opening of the new school. My sister and I have a flower garden, but only primroses, violets, daffodils, and forget-me-nots are out just now. We milk 63 cows in the summer, but we have milking machines to milk them with.—Your loving cousin, GERTRUDE.

[Dear Cousin Gertrude.—l have not any sky blue badges, only navy blue. I have sent you one, and put your name on my register. You must need a machine for so many cows.—Cousin Kate.]

Wakefield. Dear Cousin Kate,—My friend Aileen Harris came up to stay last B'riday night. I am going to have a birthday party on Saturday, if it does not rain. I was going to have it last Saturday, but it rained. We are going to have a Sunday-school concert on Friday night.—l remain, yours truly, Cousin OLIVE.

[Dear Cousin Olive,—J must thank you, 1 feel sure, for my new cousin, Cousin Aileen. I hope that you have been able to have your birthday party, and I wish you “many happy returns.”—Cousin Kate.] dt i i

Waaefield. Dear Cousin Kate, —May I become one of your cousins, as I like reading the cousins’ letters, and thought I would like to write too? I am eight years old, and I am in standard I. We are going to have a Sun-day-school concert on Friday night.—l remain, yours truly, Cousin AILEEN.

[My Dear Cousin Aileen,—l am glad to accept a little friend of Cousin Olive’s as a cousin. How did the concert go off?— Cousin Kate.] * * *

Richmond Brook. Dear Cousin Kate,—May I become one of your cousins? I am twelve years of age, and am in Standard VI. I go to the Richmond Brook School, and I like it very much. I have two sisters and one brother. We have eight pet lambs, such pretty little things. We have a lot of bulbs, and a lovely fot of violets. I like reading the children’s page, because some of the letters are very interesting. With love to all. —From Cousin MYRTLE. [Dear Cousin Myrtle, You may certainly become one of my cousins. What a lot of pet lambs! Have you any wallflower Cousin Kate.]

HarrtevfTM. My Dear Cousin Kate, —Since writing te you last, my mother and I have been a trig to town. The weather was not very nice. One of our plum trees Is budding, and will soon be into full leaf. I was over at a neighbour’s this afternoon, and she put a hat on her dog’s head. However, It did not remain on long^—Your ever loving consin. FREDA. [My dear Cousin Freda, —I am pleased to hear from you again. I hope you enjoyed your trip to town. The dog must have looked funny.—Cousin Kate.] db i: i Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate, —Please may I becomg one of your cousins and have a pale blue badge? I have two dolls; their names are Jean and Alice. I am five years old, and I don’t go to school yet. I have a tiny doll with both its legs and arms off. Frisky is so funny sometimes. He stands with his hind legs on the shelf of the oven, and looks as if he was saying his prayers. Helen wrote this for me. With love, from Cousin IDA. [Dear Cousin Ida, —I’m so glad to have Cousin Helen’s little sister for a cousin. I am sure you love your lame dolly. Give my love to Cousin Helen, and ask her when she is going to write me another nice letter from herself.—Cousin Kate.] [P.S. —1 have not any blue badges except navy.—C.K.]

Stoke. Dear Cousin Kate,—Please will you accept me as a cousin? We take “The Graphic,” and I like reading the cousins letters and looking at Buster Brown. I have five sisters and no brothers. I have seven bantams and two pigeons, one being a magpie and the other a blue chequer, and they are sitting now. I have a goat named Nannie, and a puppy, and I was going to call her Topsy, but please will you give me an uncommon name? I have a vegetable and flower garden, and my favourite flower is a pansy. Hoping you will accept me.— From your would-be Cousin JIM. [Dear Cousin Jim, —I am pleased to have another Nelson cousin. I hope your pigeons do well. How would “Tear” do for your pup’s name?—Cousin Kate.]