CHILDREN'S PAGE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 25, 21 December 1910, Page 61

CHILDREN'S PAGE

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION.

Open to All “ Graphic ” Cousins. SPECIAL, PRIZES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. 'Dear Children, Christmas mil soon be here, and I want you all to take part in the Competitions for boys and girls this year. Hr. Editor has promised me two beautiful books as prizes. One will be given to the boy and one to the girl who wins the first prize in each competition. lam going to offer special prizes as well for the next best boy and girl. The Competitions are to be for THE BEST LETTER written to Cousin Kate. The subject chosen for the boys to write about is:— ‘ WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE WHEN I GROW UP AND WHY.” The subject for the girls is:— . '‘DESCRIBE WHAT YOU IMAGINE COUSIN KATE IS LIKE AND THE KIND OF HOUSE SHE LIVES IN.”. Tour letter must reach me in Auckland by Saturday, 31sf December. The prizes mil be awarded to those who write the best letters and make the fewest mistakes in spelling and writing. I hope you will all have a try. Do not imagine you cannot win. Tou might 'get a second prize, if not the first. Don't forget the day when letters must be in —Sisi December. With best love, Tour affectionate friend, COUSIN KATE.

To Our Young Readers.

Pur young readers are cordially intoited to enter our wide circle of Cousins, by writing to 'COUSIN KATE, "The Weekly Graphic,” Shortland Street, Auckland. Cousin Kate is particularly desirous that those hoys and girls who write should tell her whatever it interests them to tell, about their games, their pets, their holidays, or their studies. Their letters and Cousin Kate’s replies Will appear in the “ Weekly Graphic,” lon Hue Children’s Pages. iAll Cousins under the age of fourteen nr6 accounted Junior Cousins, all above that age Senior Cousins. Cousins may tontinue writing until quite grown up, and after, if they wish to do so; for we are proud to number among our Cousins some who have passed out of their teens. 14 Badge will be sent to each new Cousin on the receipt of an addressed Envelope. IfOTICE. ' r <Miss Amy Holland, Secretary of the Auckland Branch of the Victoria League, Pity-road, Auckland, will be very glad to fave the names and addresses of any Graphic” Cousins who would like to Oorrespond with children in

The Boy We Admire. (By F. P. Pitzer.) It is easy enough io be happy When Santa comes down your flue, And fills up your stockings with dainties And leaves you a toy or two, With maybe a sled or a camera, Or a new kind of kite to fly; But the boy worth while is the boy who will smile When Santa Claus passes him by. It is easy enough to be pleasant To every one Christmas Day, If Santa has left you a rifle Or a whole lot of games to play, Or a violin or a bicycle On which you can speedily pace; But the boy ifrorth while is the boy who will smile When Santa Claus skips his place. It is easy enough to be joyful If Santa, bn Christmas Eve, A miniature auto or wagon For you at your house does leave, Or brings you a Christmas tree trimmed up, Or a pair of fine skates or ball; But the boy worth while is the boy who will smile When Santa Clause doesn't call. Marton. BAR COUSIN KATE,—Thank you I * very much for the badge you so I ■ kindly sent me, The skating aea- > son has closed now, and they (J had a fancy dress carnival for the wind up. The public school closes on the 23rd of December for the Christmas holidays. Can yon guess this riddle: I was going along and I Sirw a little ■white thing, but when I came back it was not there?—Your loving cousin, ROSA. fDear Cousin Rosa,—We have au open air skntiug rink tn Wonderland here, whtcn 4* Very delightful, «ud so nice and cook

You will see there is to be a competition: “W«bat you think Cousin Kate is like.” I hope you will go in for it. With love. — Cousin Hated dt i i Carluke. Dear Cousin Kate, —I am now taking the pleasure -of writing you a few lines in a new er to your letter in the “Graphic. We are milking forty-three cows altogether for the cheese factory, night and morning, ho I have not had time to write before. It is raining iiere again to-day, and the flowers in the garden look very pretty. I go to the Flat Creek school, and mrlk eight cows. •I think there are a lot of children joining the Circle, don’t you? Dear Cousin Kate, tthe name that you gave me for my calf rwas a very pretty one. Thank you very much for it. I have not got much news to tell you this time, so good-bye, wishing you a Merry Christmas. We have got a little kitten. Will you please name it for me? —I remain. Cousin ALiBERT. I Dear Cousin Albert, —I was so pleased to get your letter, especially as you seem to be such a busy chap. Fancy your milking eight cows. I wish you would put your full name next time you write. I have several Cousin Alberts, and have got mixed up with them. I am very anxious to know •what the boy cousins think I am like, so I ‘hope you will go In for the competition—-the best letter describing “What you think Cousin Kate is like.” How would “Nips do for the kitten? I hope you will have lots of fun at Christinas time. You must tell me about it. With love.—Cousin Kate.J £ i Tonsonby. Dear Cousin Kate, —Did you go to the flower show last week? I did not go, but I heard it was lovely. It is our school picnic next month on the 17th, and I am looking forward to it, as I have made up my mind to have a good time. We do not leave Auckland until 12.30 p.m., but we will have long enough, as we do not come home until 7 p.m, I am going to the show to-morrow, and I hope it is a fine day; I have never been before, so I am looking forward for the time to come, I am reading the story in the “Graphic,” and I think that is a. very nice story for a little girl to write. I only wish I eould write like that If I could, I would be writing ail day long. We are going into our new school as it is much, nicer than the one we are in now. I am going in for a swim before I go to the show to-morrow, so I hope the weather keeps fine. JBest love. —Cousin MOI2LTE. IDear (Cousin Mollie, —Yes, I went to the flower show, and also the sweet pea carnival, Which was beautiful. Your letter is so well written and so neat. I hope you enjoy the picnic. I agree with you that the story is pretty and well written. Write again soon. With love. —Cousin Kate.] at a i Motumaoho. •Dear Cousin Kate, —We were very glad when Albert came home again. He is going to the Hamilton school soon with Colin. We have a nice vegetable garden here, and we have had new potatoes for about five weeks already, and we have beans and peas ready to use also. Our grandmother came up here on November 3rd, and the day after she came here she took and is in the Hamilton Hospital at present, but we hope that she will soon be well again. The flower garden looks lovely now, with all the flowers out. We have a few sweet peas out, and I think they are such pretty flowers, don’t you, Cousin Kate? There is a big privet tree out in flower, and it smells beautiful. Our geraniums are all out in flower, and we have fourteen different varieties, so you may guess what a lovely show we have. Most of the geranium plants are as high as 1 am. We have not got a very big orchard here yet, and we will not have much fruit. There are a few nectarines on the trees, and we will have a few’ apples, plums, and peaches. The people are trying to get a school and a post office up here. There are over thirty children who will go to the school If they get one. My three brothers and I often go bird-nesting in the tltree gullies, and we find a lot of nests. We take a few eggs out of each nest, and we have fifteen sparrows’ eggs. Ave thrushes’, three blackbirds’, one lark’s, and one chaffinch’s eggs. We have twentynine calves, but are only going to keep three for ourselves. I hope this letter wiU not be too long to print. I will close now. With love to all.—Your loving rous'd, LENA. (Dear Cousin Lena .- -Many thanks for your nice, intereating letter. 1 wjsh you could have seen the sweet pea and'carnation carnival just pastf it was beautiful, and there was such a wealth of blooms. It would have astonished you. I hope your granny will soon be well again. Thank you for the pressed flowers. With love. -» Cousin Kute.j

Carluke. Dear Cousin Kate. -I was glad to see my letter hi the “Gmptfic.” I was looking for it every week. We live six miles back in the bush. I have no playmates. 1 amuse myself helping mother. It is lovely and cool fra the bush. Then* are such pretty birds here. The ful's feathers are of a glossy green, varied with black and purple, nnd at each side «f its neck are two little tufts of white feathers, it gets up first in the morning, and goes to bed last. We have two hens sitting, and two with chick ens. J’he logs go from the bush to the sawmill. Sometimes I go and watch the hauler bring the logs iu. The answer to my other riddle, Why is the cows tail like the letter f, is Because it is the end of the beef. Here’s another riddle: Why is a penny like a policeman? With love. Cousin IRIS. (Dear Cousin Iris,—Yon seem to be fond of nature, and no one should be dull in this world if they have eyes to see. What •» lovely bird the tui must be. I have never seen cue. They are rare, are they not? 1 hope you are reading the story on the Children's Page. Please write again. Will/ love. Cousin Kate.] * * 1: Rofigokokako. Dear Cousin Kate, -I suppose you think I have been a long time writing to you again. Since I wrote to you last my sister and I have started to learn music, 'and we have a lesson every Tuesday. I went to a birthday party last night. We have been having lovely weather, but it is raining to ■night. I am going to give you a riddle, and if you cannot guess it. I will tell you the answer in the next letter: When are we nearly related to fish? All the trees and plants are looking lovely and green. We are going tn start our school holidays on the 15th of this month. I suppose you will be glad when CMHstmas comes? I will bow close, with love to all the cousins and yourself.—FYom your loving cousin, JESSIHi (Dear Cousin Jessie, —I thought you bad forgotten all about the cousins. I am glad to know 1 was wrong. Music will, of course, take up lots of your time. 1 can’t your riddle. Yes. 1 am looking forward to Christmas this year. 1 hope you have e happy one. With love.—Cousin Kate.] i i * Braehnrn. I>ear Cousin Kate, —-I am writing this letter before I have seen my other letter, because this will be my last chance of writing for a long time, as my grandma is very ill, and is not expected to live lang. We have just had our examination, and have been put on. We have lovely garden® at school. We have only a dozen cats and kittens —three cats and nine kittens. We have a lot of little chickens out. From your loving cousin. D.D. [Dear Cousin L. D.,—When next you write please sign your name. Perhaps your granny may get better. You have indeed a large family of cats. You will have to be careful or else when they grow up they will eat the chickens. With love. Cousin Kate.] £ £ £ Kati Katu Ftear Cousin Kate, —You must excuse me for not writing sooner. Last -time I wrote I made a great mistake. I’ one tetter I put love from Sarita, and the other from Margaret; but Margaret Sarita Violet is my full name. 1 am usually called Sarltr, or ‘Rita for short. There is a bazaar here on Friday. I am going in for two comped tuone —the doll dressing competition and the work bag competition. 1 must close now. So good-bye. hoping you and the cousins are all right. With love. From SARITA. (Dear Cousin Sarita. I am pleased to hear from you again. 1 wonder if you will •win any of the competitions? You must let me know if you do. Thank you, I am very well, and iooking forward to Christmas. With love. —Cousin Kate.] i i i Queenstown. Dear Cousin Kate, I think 1 am the only cousin from Queenstown. Queenstown is a pretty little place in the summer-time and in the winter, too, because all the hills are covered with snow. Mother gets “The Graphic,” and we ail look forward to its com ing, and, when we have finished with it, mother sends it to my grandfather in Invercargill. I will close my letter by giving vou a riddle: “What goes up when the rain comes down?” Dear cousin, will you send me a blue badge? —I remain your cousin, TH KI.MA. [Dear Cousin Thelma, —We are delighted to have a Queenstown cousin, and I hope you will gel some of your friends to join. Queenstown is one of the places I should love to visit. I love snow-covered mountains. Do you skate in the winter-time? Write again some day soon. With love. Cousin Kate.] £ 1 * Wai-lti. Dear Cousin Kate, —May I become one nr your cousins? I am seven years old, and In Primer IV. I have got three sisters. Dad has got a wagon and five horse®, and a nice largo hop garden, and a lot of potatoes ready to dig. Mother has a lovely flower garden. Please will you send me a red badge. I will close now, with love for you and cousins all, by wishing von all a merry Christmas. From NORTON W. (Dear Cousin Norton. I am very pleased to have a new cousin. You have lots of fun, I suppose, when the hop picking starts. J have never seen a hop garden. You most ♦write and tell me something about If. Thank you for the Christmas wishes. I hope yours will Im* a inerry one. With love. — Cousin Kate.] ♦ ♦ ♦ Wai-lti. Dear Cousin Kate, - Just « few lines thanking you for the nice badge you sent luv. We have got a 1<»1 of flowers out now.

It 1« raining over bore now. I like reading the cousins letter*. .On Wednesday we-are going to the show, if it is fine. From your loving cousin, LIZZIE. [Dear f'ousln Lizzie,— ] am glad you like the little badge. Do you help with the garden? You must write and tell us how you spent Christmas, which I hope will be a merry one for you all. With love, Cousin *ate.J 4* 4* 4* l*ahiaiua. Dear Cousin Kate, —May I become one of your cousins? I am twelve years of ago, and I go to the Convent school. Please would you kindly send mr a red b ulge. 1 ftnjoy reading the cousins’ letters very much.

1 think I will close now. With love. —Cousin QUEENIE. I Dear Cousin Queenle. — I am very pleased to accept you as a cousin and I hope yon will write me lots of nice little letters. With love.—Cousin Kate.] i i * Midhirst. Dear Cousin Kate, I- was veiy pleased that you accepted me for a cousin, and sent me.such a pretty badge. 1 keep it in my Bible as a bookmark, and thank you very much for it. My sisters ami 1 have great fun reading the letteis and the Buster Brown page. Our school concert is in three weeks, when we will have a lovely time. We are practising for it now. We

are going to have six weeks holiday at t’hrlstmas time. We have Just had lovely weather, but it was raining -to-day; Thete are some lovely st ra wlierries coming on in our garden, but we have to look out, so th X birds do not get them. I must now end up with a riddle: “What hs the left side of a plum pudding?’*—From your loving cousin, FLORENCE. — [Dear Cousin Florence.—This is a* lovely time of year for. children—holidays and Christmas to look forward to. I hope you will have a very good time. The roses have been very beautiful this year. Auckland is a wonderful place for flowers. Strawberries are everywhere. I should say there would be-no left pudding; it would be so nice it would all be eaten. With love. —Coiudn Kate.]

Morrinsville. T Dear Cousin Kate,- Did you receive my letter? As it did not. appear in-jthe phie ” I thought it must have gone astray. I wrote before Cousin Lena. Albert, and Colin, and their appeared two weeks ago 1 will write mote next time. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, with love from Cousin ETHEL.' z [Dear Cousin Ethel,-None of the Cousing you mention or yourself wrote your -full nanus when sending your first letters td me. I hope your letter has been in by this. Did you get a badge? I hope you will go in for the Christmas Competition. W’ith love, Cousin Kate. thanks for your good wishes ami Xmas card.]