COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 23, 7 December 1910, Page 58

COUSINS’ CORRESPONDENCE

Ocean Bay. EAR COUSIN • KATE.—I hope you I B got Winiwie letters she sent you. ■ Do you know what my name is? f it is Memo, ami have three sisters ami a brother. All mv sisters are older than I am, but my brother is younger. Mamma, mv brother, my sisters, ami myself went up to the bush to-day,- and we had a lovely time. It is a lovely day, and So warm. We will be going up to Blenheim next month.—l remain, yours truly, MEME CRUMP. P.S.— I ant seven years old, and I was born in New Britain. [Dear Cousin Meme,- Thank you for the nice little letter yon sent. Do you want to Join the cousins? If so, send me your full address, and 1 will send you a badge. With love.—Cousin Kate.] i i 1 Ocean Bay. Dear Cousin Kate,—l received the badge you sent me, and was very pleased io get it. 'My little (Sister is writing to yon, too. I have a pet cat. and her name is Toriie. My father has three dogs, and their names are Rip, Ching, and Fly. My father has n •school, and lias twenty boys in It. My mother and we children go up to the bush nearly every Sunday afternoon, and see all the big trees. I am using mv badge for a book-marker. Now I must close.—With love from Cousin WINIWI. [Dear Cousin Winiwi.- 1 am glad von like the badge. Do you go to your fathers school. If so, you must have grand fun with all those boys. Have vou started to bathe in the sea yet? I am just longing for u dip. With love.—Cousin Kate.] i i i Devonport. Dear Cousin Kate.—l nut writing to ask If you will accept me as one of your cousins? I am 12 years old. ami am in the Fourth Xlamhird. I have live sisters, hut no brothers. I have a pot horse, and its name is Duchess. We have two hens with chickens One hits nine ••hicks and the other 12. Wh it is your favourite game, Cousin Kale? .Mine is golf. Will you please send me a blue badge. I must now close, with love to .ill the couebia and yourself.—From 1 IM

[Dear Cousin .Tim, —I am delighted to have a cousin who plays golf. You are the only cousin who does, and as I am very keen on it we ought to be great friends. I don’t like golf when it is hot, so I play tennis in summer. Have you started sea-bathing yet? I intend to come over often’to Devon■pant to bathe. With love.—Cousin Kate.] i * i Haituma, Hawke’s Bay. Dear Cousin Kate, —Will you have me for one of your little cousins. lam eight years old. 1 go to Hatuma School. I have a pet lamb named Tim and a little calf, which we «*all 'Smudge. My dog’s name is Watty. My brother Dick’s dogs’ names are Bruce and Don. We get the “Weekly Graphic,” and I like to see about Buster Brown, but he is a very naughty boy. It is very dry here at present. We would like to get some rain. Please send me a badge. I must now close, with love.—From your little Cousin KITTY. [Dear Cousin Kitty,—l am delighted to have a new little cousin. I quite agree with you that Buster is a very naughty little boy. - I wish you could have some of our rain; we could so well spare it. Write again soon. With love. —Cousin Kate.] dt £ dt Kaiinii. Dear Cousin K-ate, —I received your letter a few days ago, and am very sorry I have not written before, but I have not had time. I have a lititle calf. Will you give me a name for it? My sister Rene has gone back to Kaikoura 'to milk the cows for my grandmother. My aunt is staying at Kekerangu now. We have our pony with us, and we drive him to school. He goes well in harness, and can trot fast. (Now, Cousin Kate, the coach is coming, and I suppose I must stop, -with best love.—From Cousin ■MAKATA, [Dear Cousin Maraita, —You are a good little letter-writer, and I am always pleased to hear from you. I am sure you all must be very busy. How would Dodger do for the. calf? You are a lucky girl to have a nice pony to take you to school. Who drives, do you? With love. —Cousin Kate.] dE i £ Feilding. Dear Cousin Kate, —You may think me very unkind for not writing before. I received the badge safely, and was very pleased with it. On Friday last I went to the' Palmerston North Show. I myself very much. I am . going tb send you a postcard of Feilding. With love.—• From Cousin AGNECS. [Dear Cousin Agnes.—You have indeed been a long time answering my letter; don’t be so long again. Your letter is so well written and so beautifully neat.- We have bad some line pictures in our papers of the Fa Imerston Shu-w. I can well imagine you enjoyed it. Our Show is next week. With Love. —Cousin Kate.] i dfc 5; Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate, —I thank you very much for the badge you sent me. I received it on Friday morning. I have been ill for a week. We are going to get another parrot; the same as the one we have. I am going to Greenlane to get a pet kitten; will you give me a name for it? I am going for a picnic this week to the seaside. This riddle is for all the cousins and you, “Why does a bricklayer resemble a bird?’’ With 'love to ail cousins and yourself.- —Cousin ENA. [Dear Cousin Ena, —You answer very promptly. Next time, you write tell the cousins some of the things you can do in Auckland that they can’t do in the country. r rhat would interest them. How would Midget do for the kitten? With love.— Cousin Kate.] :fc £ zfc ? Eketahuna. Dear Cousin Kate. —As 1 have just tinished reading the cousins’ letters I thought. I would write again. Many thanks for the badge. Father gets “The Graphic” weekly, and as soon as baby sees it, she wants “here Buster, here Brown.” I have not. missed one Sunday from Sunday School, and I have been going for al>out three years. Vai ami 1 have been getting our guy ready for Guy Fawkes’ Day. and we are going to blow the guy up in the evening with fireworks. i will close now by giving you and the cousins a riddle: “What is that which smells most when you go into a chemist's shop?” With love to you and all the cousins. — From Cousin ALLAN. [Dear Cousin Allan. I am glad you wrote again. Fancy the baby liking Rusten She must be a dear wee thing. I expect you have great fun with her. The answer to your riddle is “The nose.” With love.— Cousin Kate.]

Auckland. Dear Cousin Kate,—l would very much like to become one of your cousins? 1 am twelve years old, and am in the fourth standard. Igo to the Convent School. We have a pet parrot. Will you send me a red badge, please? I like, out of all my lessons, reading, writing, spelling, and drawing. I have one sister and no brothers. I shall ask my father to get “The Graphic” every week.—l remain, your loving Cousin ENA. [Dear Cousin Ena,—l am delighted to have you for a cousin, and I hope you will write nice letters about the things that happen here which will interest the cousins who live in the country. With love.— Cousin Kate.] * 4 £ Grey Lynn. Dear Cousin Kate, —I saw my letter in “The Graphic” this week, so I thought I would write again. 1 went to see the procession to-day, but I did not like it as well as the one last year. I suppose the wet weather accounted for it. This afternoon I went to see the play called “Lovers' Lane,” and liked it very much. I think Miss L. Parkes, as “Simplicity Johnston,” and Mr H. Pl i miner, as “Rev. T. Singleton,” acted their parts splendidly. With love.— Cousin VERA. [Dear Cousin Vera. —I did not see the procession, for the weather was miserable, and so I stayed at home and wrote to the cousins. “Lovers’ Lane” was very pretty. Lizette Parkes is very charming, and a clever girl. You must be sure and come to the sweet pea carnival on the 3rd December. It will be lovely I think. With love. — Cousin Kate.] 3: 4: i Thames. Dear Cousin Ka«te.—l hope you will excuse me for not writing before, as I haven’t had much time to spare. We are having some wet weather here the last two or three days. I am still working in the shop with my father. I went to Te AToha on • Arlror Day, and it was raining in the morning and fine in the afternoon. _ Please send the names of the Pahiatua cousins and Ashhurst and Masterton. I will close now. with love ito all the cousins.—From LEONARD. [Dear Cousin Leonard, —Don’t you think Te Aroha is rather a pretty little place? Did you climb to the Bald Spur? I think the baths there are beautiful. lam sending you the names you ask for. Write again soon. With love. —Cousin Kate.] i i i Morrinsville. Dear Cousin Kate. —I am sorry I did not write 'before, but I have been too lazy. We are milking 29 cows now. and have 24 calves. We only feed four with the buckets, all the rest drink out of the trough. Cousin Albert’s leg is all right now, and he runs about all over the place. He is not going to school yet. Cousin Colin and myself go Ito school. Colin goes to Hamilton, and I go to Morrinsville. Grandma might come up and stay w’ith us for a while. The flowers are all out in bloom, and look very pretty, and the fruit trees are getting fruit on now. I will close new, with love to all ■the cousins, not forgetting yourself.—Cousin -ETHEL. . . [Dear Cousin Ethol, —You must indeed be busy. 'How many cows do you milk, and I suppose you feed the calves? I am glad Albert’s leg is better. What a long way for Colin to have to go to school, -but I suppose it is the High iSc-hool he goes to. The roses in Auckland are just wonderful this year. With love. —Cousin Kate.] i i ± r Havelock. Dear Cousin Kate, —I would very much like to become one of your cousins. It is the first time I have written to you. but I hope it will not be the last. 1 would like a blue badge, as it is the colour of our boat. Yesterday morning, before breakfast, I painted the name on our boat. Its name is ihe Victory. We have two cats, one is called Maori, and the other Longfellow. Nearly every Saturday we go out boating, and have some lovely times. I make bird traps, and go up the hills, and catch sparrows, yellow hnininers, ami goldfliwhes. Havelock is a nice little town, situated in the Pelorus Valley. Not far from Havelock is a very large sawmill, one of the largest in the South Island. 1 cannot think of anything more this lime, but perhaps‘l > can tell you •more next time. — From your loving cousin, STL’ART. [Dear Cousin Stuart.—l hope very much ■that it won’t be the last time yon write, for your letter is so bright "and interesting. How jolly to have a boat of your own. I don't know of any better fun than boating. What a funny name for a cat Longfellow. Is there good fishing down your way? With love. — Cousin Kate.]

WateMC. Dear Cousin Kate, — Aw I did not see my letter in the “.Graphic” I tlmugtot I would write again. The weather has been very wet here lately, but it is getting better now. Dur Sixth Standard examination is -to be on -the Bth November, and I hope to pass; but I don’t think I will, because I have only been in the Sixth Standard since •August. My two friends, Elsie and were coming up on Saturday, but it rained. We were going for a bicycle ride. The wild clematis is out in flower in the gullies now, and it is lovely. W T e have school gardens at our school, and they look very nice just now. Mr Hodgson Is giving a prize of 5/ to the girl who has the best flower garden, and to the boy who has -the best vegetable garden. I will now close by giving you and the cousins a riddle: Jr Why do little birds in their nest agree?” [As there is no mime to this letter I have no idea from whom it comes. I expect your letter will have been in the “Graphic” ere this. With love. —Cousin Kate.], i i Palmerston N. Dear Cousin Kate, —I have not written to you for such a long time. I am learning music, and so is Dakyns. 1 have five little ehicks and a cat, and would you please tell me a name for the cat. On Saturday I went to the pictures, ami I liked them very; much. 1 cut my toe with a piece of glass*,* and Dakyns ran the fork into her foot, and so we both have sore feet. Why we cut out feet so often is because we are always barefooted. My mother has been very ill, and so she is going away for two weeks*holiday.—Your loving cousin, FREDA. [Dear Cousin Fredn.—l am so glad td hear from you. I always enjoy your letters, for you are one of our best correspondents. It is supposed to be very healthy* I know, to go bare footed. It is rathei* odd that you both should have mishaps th© same time. If your eat is black, call it Togo. I hope your mother is quite well by; this lime. With love.—Cousin Kate.] dfc i i Palmerston N". Dear Cousin Kate, —I have not written to you for a long time. I am learning music now, and I like it very much, and Freda is learning too. I have two little kittens, but I did have five, and we only kept two. I call one of them Smut, because it black, and the other is called Spot, because it has a spot on its back. We have twelve little chickens, and they are also mine. Last Saturday I went to some pictures with my brother, and I like them verymuch. I ran a garden fork into my and it was very painful for two or three days, and Freda cut her toe with a bit of glass. My garden is very pretty just now. : It has so many flowers out. —Your loving cousin, DAKYNS. [Dear Cousin Dakyns,—l am quite sura you must be very busy little girls. How; long do yon have to practise. I suppose you get up early and do it. But I am glad you do not forget the cousins. I have never received the pictures you promised to sen'K Did they turn out badly? With Cousin Kate.] i & i Blenheim. Dear Cousin Kate, —May I become one of your cousins? 1 have just turned ten, and am in the second standard. I have twef cats, and both of them are black and white. All our Sunday-school children are going for « picnic on the first cT November, wheni we hope to have a good time fii the country, romping on the hills. The weather has been very fine here for some time past. The mounted rifles went into camp on Saturday; last, and held their sports to-day.—Witlx love from ALICK. [Dear Cousin Alick, —I am delighted ta have you for a cousin, and if you send me your full name and address, I will send you a badge. I hope you enjoyed your, picnic. With love. —Cousin Kate.] ft £ i Dear Cousin Kate, —Just a few lines to ask you if you will accept me as one of your many cousins? I am ten years old, and in the third standard. The inspector’s examination was on the 2nd and 3rd of November. Will you please send me a pale blue badge? As this is my first letter to you. I think I will stop.—l remain, yours truly, ROSA. [Dear Cousin Rosa, —I am very pleased to welcome you among us, and though our Circle -is large, there, is still lots of room. Your letter is well written for your.age. and nice and neat. With love.—Cousin Kate.]] i 4 * Pukekohe. Dear Cousin Kate. — As I have been reading the “Graphic” for .many weeks, I would very much like to become one of your cousins. I am ten years old, and inf a few weeks I hope to be in the Third Standard. Will you please -send_me a blue badge? I am going to learn music soon. — Cousin IYY. [Dear Cousin Ivy, — I am very pleased to have you for a cousin. Your letter is well written ami neat. You will not have mqch'spare time when you stait music, but you must find time to write to. us. — WitU love, Cousin Kate.] i * Mamaku. Dear Cousin Kate. — May I become one of your cousins. 1 am twelve years old and in Standard 111. 1 have a cat called Puddle.s and a little grey kitten. Will you please give mo a name for it? We have been in Mamaku four months, and I like it very - much. I read the -“Graphic” every, week, and I like to read the cousins’ letters. I Have a brother and a sinter older than myself. I may be going to AuckUad

'* fortnight, to stay at Devonport for $ few weeks, but I am not sure -yet. Will you please sgnd me a blue badge? I must Klose now, with best love to yourself and 4&11 the other cousins. — From MARIE. J Dear Cousin Marie, — I am pleased to ■have a new cousin. How would “Bubbles” 0o for the grey pussy. I am sure you will fenjoy yourself if you come and stay in J)evonport. You will have such fine bathing and playing on the beach, and nice trips over to Auckland on the ferry boats. love. — Cousin Kate.] 4 * * Aniseed Valley. /Dear Cousin Kate,—l hope you have not me. I think this will be the last fetter I will write, because we are going Away from here. It is wet to-day, so I thought I would like to write to you. I have not written for a long time. Our deer has lost his horns, and he looks so funny them. I passed at the examination,

and am in the third standard. My brothers have a large number of birds* eggs and heads. We have got a new teacher. The willow trees are quite green now. I like reading best of all school work. I will close now, with love to all the cousins, not forgetting yourself.—From your loving cousin BIRDIE. [Dear Cousin Birdie, —No, indeed, I have not forgotten you. I cannot see, because you are leaving Aniseed Valley, why you should stop writing. Please don’t. I do think it is such a funny thing why deer should lose their horns. With love. —Cousin Kate.] i dfc i Napier. Dear Cousin Kate, —I suppose you will nearly have forgotten me by this time, but I hope not quite. It is nearly a year since I wrote to you last, but we left off getting “The Graphic” for a time, and then I couldn’t write, because it wouldn’t, have been tny good if I had not been able to

see your answers, which are much the nicest part. We are going to take “The Graphic” again, so I will be able to write to you now; We liave been living up at a place culled Makotuku all thia year. It is one of those little places on the railway line, end was very quiet, but we have come hack to. Napier again. We are going to live out at a place called Petane. It is just seven miles out of Napier, but of. course we will often be able to come in. Did you go to see that play, “Lovers’ Lane”? It is coming to Napier in December, and we are going to it. How have you been all this long time, Cousin Kate? There don’t seem to be many of the bid cousins now; they all seem to be new ones. O n Guy Fawke’s night the people here were not allowed to set off any fireworks, because the place is so dry for want of rain, but the weather is beautiful, only very hot. They have got swimming baths here in Napier now. They were opened last summer. It is such a nice building, and they have tea rooms there too. 1 haven’t been to the baths yet, but

am going fhte Bummer. Just fhncy, Christmas is nearly here again. Hasn’t the year gone quickly; but won’t it be nice to havb Christinas again? Arc you going away anywhere for the holidays? I am going to thf* opening of the tennis courts on Saturday. Well now, dear Cousin Kate, I think I win slop, with much love to you and all the cousins.—From MAILJOB !£. [Dear Cousin Marjorie, - You can’t think how pleased 1 was to get your letter, and such a nice long, interesting one. I am so glad you are going to start and write again. Napier must be a charming spot. Though Auckland is such a lovely place, there h* one thing we have not got. and that is a nice bath. We get lovely bathing from the beach at Cheltenham, Takapuna, and other parts. No. I am not going away for t'hrLstimas. My holiday will come later. “Lover’s Lane” I saw, and it was sweet. You wilt love Lizette Parkes as ••Simplicity.” With love.—Cousin Kate.]