LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 91

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Uotto: — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. -^^No letter to contain more than 450 words. Dear Dot, — There waa not muoh fun this 2few Year's Eve, as everybody was ill in hed with influenza., and. it is not a very nice, tiling for the start of a new year. The crop? are doing well this season; I think it ought -to be a very good harvest. We hope so, "because then it might put down the price of flour. Well, Dot, this •will be my retiring letter as I have reached; the age of 21. Besides, lam getting married next month, and I shan't time to write then. With best love to all the -Little Folk,-Yours g^y, jAw (W. Cable, Halfway Bay, Queen stown). [I am glad you wrote before your marriage, Stickjaw, so that I can give you my good wishes. We have various married D.L.F. now, haven't we? Well, I hope you have many happy years before you, and pleasant recollections of your connection, with our page.— DOT.] - j Dear Dot,— lt is ft long tim« sines I ■wrote my last letter. I am staying at my grandmother's just now, and one of her daughters writes to the page. Her N.D.P. is Love's Young Dream. She and I aie going to a picnic to-morrow, and we might meet som« D.L.F. there. When I was going to the Bluff regatta I was sitting with a DL.F., but as I had no badge on I did not speak to her. I was at a. social, and my uncle was dressed all in white, with ft flag over his shoulder, singing on the stage. My grandmothei has a beautiful rose garden. My little sister is not very strong?. I *ra living in Invercargill just now, and I go to the Tisbury School, to which many D.L.F. go.-Your 3 truly, Dear Dot,— There is a big crowd of people up here in Queenstown just now ; 160 came "last night, as it is the first of the week-end, excursions. I see Wakatipu Boy every night, also Gipsy Queen;- they both have ■badges, so I think I shall get one, Tje Queenstown sports wer_e held yesterday, anct - it -was a beautiful day. On Sunday I waa cut boating and got wet through, and Jiow I have a cdd-Youxa truly,^ Dear Dot,— l waa at the Oamarcr picnio on New Year's Day, and had * great time. As • the boat was timed to leave Dunedia «.t 8 o'clock, I intended to rise earlier than «sual, but I slept in, and had to hurry. However, I reached the wharf in good time. A l«rg« number were already on board, so i 1 mad« my way there also, and settled down to watch the people. At the stated -tizm» the gates were closed, the gangways lifted, «nd the boa-t started to get olear, but it was 8.30 n.m, before she was fairly undor way. As Dunedin was left in the distance itbe passengers settled down to enjoy them- — oma 3 to roam over the boat, and . others to music, singing, etc. Tha trip,! 1 ? ■waa delightful, and proved very enjoyable, as it -k«s a beautiful -day. As we drew near Oamaru the people stirred themselves to catch the first glimpse of the. White City. "As coon ajj the boat was fast a rush was anade for the- gangway, and I got off early ■ and strolled '"along- the wharf in search of : D.L.F.- and friends ; but, seeing none of tho ■latter, I made my way to the picnio ground. • srh«»» <t flpoufr aaftwii —»* assembled o

After lunch we got together for a group photo, and after it was taken we dispersed, some to play games and others to look at the town, I being among the latter. At 3 o'clock the people were to be seen making their way towards the wharf, as the boat was to leave at half-past. Punctual to tho hour the boat steamed off amid a crowd of waving hands and handkerchiefs. The tuii home proved as enjoyable as the passage up, and at a quarter to 9 she was fast' at the Dunedin wharf. We lost no time in getting off and going into town for our tea ; after tea I set out for home, which I reached at 11 o'clock. Then I went at once to bed, well satisfied with the clay I had spent. — Yours truly, WEE MACGREGOR. Dear Dot. — Since I last wrote to you we have had our school examination, and we had only two failures. This last mouth has been very hot; the butter and cheese are aimost liquid. A shower of rain would be -welcomed m our district. I was at the Waipimta sports, and I saw Maniototo Maiden, Eweburnite, Violet Leaf, and Rosabella 11. We have eight horses, one foal, five cows, three calves, nine hens, eight chickens, three dogs, five pups, one ie-rrpt, and three young ferrets. Ail our neighbours are either having, or have had, influenza. Our school teacher is away for his> holiday and the Rnhool is closed for six weeks. I am going to the show at Ranfur.y, which is to be held on the 16th January. The fruit will soon be ripe for the jam-making. My little sister is five years old, and she will be able to write to the page soon.— Yours truly, DOT'S SWEETHEART. Dear Dot,— Wasn't Old Writers' Week grand? I enjoyed reading the. letters very much. Was not Lolo's a nice one? I liked it very much, although it was sad. I was at a picnic on the 27th of last month, and I won two prizes. I got first in the young ladies' race, and got a writing-case. I also got a blotter for being second in the big girls' racfe. The girl that got first was about eight yards ahead of me, and at the «nd she was about a foot, so you see it took her all ncr time to race me. I went to the summer show, Dot, and I did not see a D.L.F. with a, badge. Strange, -wasn't it? The weather here has been pretty hot lately, but it -lias been raining to-day. We have a phonograph and about 63 records. There are some veTy amusing ones amongst them. Three or four of the records have been broken. It is four months since I wrote to my comrade in Scotland, and I have not got an answer yet. I sent off a post-card her yesterday; I hope she gets it. My* sister used to get lessons in painting, and she has done some lovely things. She also had lessons in piano-playing, and I think she is a fairly good player. With many wishes for a> happy New Year,— Yours truly, PRINCESS MABEL. [I am afraid it is not possible, Princess Mabel, for me to send photos to my Little Folk; they will have to be, content to know me in a slightly different way — just from •what I have to say to them. Think if I had to send a _ photo of myself to any oue of my baud who asked for it! — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my 'first letter to your page. On New Year's Day the Waikaia annual sports were held, and to finish, off the day a concert and dance were held at night. The sports were a great success, and everybody enjoyed themselves. There were a great many races; but there were more girls' races than there were boys' races. I ran in nearly every race, andi won Is 3d. There are a number of' D.L.F. up here, A Golden Buttercup being my best mate. The dredges (which have been olosed for the holidays) are again -working, and everybody is getting over the holidays at last. We are having very sultry weather, and you cannot do a bit of work. In fact, the only_ thing » which is done easily is doing nothing at all. Were you at the. Invercargill show, Dot? I attended it, and waa not very pleased) with it, as it was a wet day and there . was nothing that interested me, sar« looking for D.L.F. badges, and the Ocean Wave. Our school reopens on the first Mon.3ay in February, and I shall be quite glad when it reopens, because I am very fond of school. Thistle is leaving, and she is glad, because she does not like school a bit. The sewing mistress is leaving in June, so that that will mean a new teacher, and I do like % change sometimes. Are you very fond of reading, Dot? I -am; if once I get an interesting book you can get no good out of me till I have finished reading it. That is not exaggerated either, although you might think so. With love to A Golden Buttercup, — Yours truly SHEPHERDESS' HAIDER. Dear Dot, — I hope I may become one of your happy band. I am nine years old, and in the Third Standard at school. I am going over to Stewart Island for my school holidays. I have no sisters, but one little brother. I do not know any D.L.F. up here. I have a little canary, and H is a good einger. I have been to Riverton for a week, and enjoyed myself very much. It is lovely | in the bush this hot weather. — Yours truly, PANONI. [Certainly yon may becom* one of my D.L.F., Banoni. Have you ever had the pleasure of -watching a brood of very young canaries? A week or co c.go I saw some; they were being most carefully brought up on hard-boiled egg and breadcrumb, and ■were most interesting little things. They grow very rapidly, don't they? — DOT.] , Dear Dot, — It is quite a long time eince | I noticed any D.L.F. letters from our district. We have had our school concert and we are now enjoying our six weeks' holiday. I am glad we have our holidays, because it it is the time for thinning the turnips. The water is getting scarce, and most of tho things are perishing for want of it. I got the gold medal for being dux of our school, an-d also a second class certificate for attendance. I do not think I shall go away from home for my holidays. We had our Sunday school picnic on January 2, and I got a book called "The Doctor's Dilemma."— Yours truly, SILVERLEAF. Dear Dot, — My brother has a ferret which he -calls Pat. We are all frightened of Pat, and *s my brother wa3 away to-day of course Pat Bad to get out of his cage and frighten u» all. After a little while- mother i got some food and put in his dish, and he soon came back; then we shut the door so ' that h« could not get out again. I wonder what has happened to Lady Nancy. I have not seen a letter from h«r in the Witness for a long time. Have you heard; from N&noy Lee lately, Dot? I haven't. I wish, she would hurry up and Trite. I have read such a lot of books lately. I liked "St. • Elmo," "Thelma," "By Berwen Banks," and "The Master of Greylands." It 13 such a . lovely day here to-day, almost too good to ; be indoora. We live quite close to Pleasant Ri%'er, so when it is hot sometimes we go and sit in the shade of the willow trees, where it ia nice and cool. Father is shearing the sheep this week, so he won't want it to rain though we* want to get the tank 3 . full. Our school holidays last till th,e first Monday in February, and t start music on ' the second Saturday in February. I have &ot been anvwhera f£t jg£ hnJiflajui get, but [ ,

I think I am going away soon. With love to Millie, Rosy Cheeks, Nancy Lee, Swamp Hen, Lady Lilias, Monami, lona, Queenie 11, and Lady Nancy, — Yours truly, MA.DAHE PHILIDIA. Dear Dot, — This is my first letteT to your page, and I hope you will let me become a m-ember of your happy band. I am eight years old, and am m the Second Standard. My sisters were up for a holiday, and just went away on Saturday. Our school teacher is getting married this month. — Yours truly, FLEURETTE. [Yes, dear, you may become oue of my Little Folk. Tou will be having a new teacher now. I supuose; I hone you will like her.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— My sister Fleurette is also writing to you to-day. We have been having very hot weather lately, and the crops and grass are getting all burnt up. The summer holidays are on just now, and as we are not going to school we don't feel the heat so much. We are coming to Dunedin to live in about a fortnight. Our teacher is leaving and is getting married. Dear Dot, do we need to put our names on each letter? "I hope I am in time to wish you ahappy New Year. With love to Rinah, Lady Lilias, Gipsy Nell, and Inenzo. — Yours tiu'y, VIOLET SPRAY. Dear Dot, — There are a lot of sparrows about just now. When I feed the hens a number of sparrows come intending to get a feed. They must think I am calling them, don't you think so, Dot? We have eight chickens, three of which are about two months old; the other five are only half a week old, so they have to He fad about four times a day. Our sports will soon be held, and if it is a. good day I might go. What is the age when the writers are too old to ■write, Dot? We have a pet lamb, which I am very fond of. I do not leach him any nasty tricks, such as running after people and butting them over. Our cat came, inside the other day and sat down under the table; the lamb saw pussy go in, so it cam* in too, and would not go out until it had come in and smelt pussy. Wasn't that an impudent lamb?— Yours truly, ROSEBUD. [The retiring age is 20, Rosebud. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have been examined by the inspector, and I am glad to say I passed into the Fourth Standard. We are having very hot weather, and we have to carry -water. There are a good few people in Katea, but it is only a . small place-. Dear Dot, we have a cat a-nd a dog and they are great friends. I like cats and dogs; do you. Dot? I would like very much to come to Dunedin for a few days. It is a great pleasure for boys up here to rob the birds' nests, but I think it is rather cruel. I know a few D.L.F. -up here. I have a flower garden, and I take a great interest in it. It ia very gay just now; the flowers in it are blue, white pink, and yellow.— Youra truly, HEARTSEASE. Dear Dot, — I have taken a grea,t interest in your page for a long time, and. I would like to become one of your Little Folk. We. finished our shearing to-day, it was a week's work. There are 52 bales, and altogether there were about 10 men in the> shearing shed. My ilittle sister I acted the clown on the top of the bales, except when father aaw us and said, ;"Come • down from there," as he was frighterled the bales would come down behind us. ■ I -am 10 years of age, end am in the; Fifth Standard. <Our teacher says, " You've got to work like slaves after the holidays," so I don't suppose we''l>l get "fwo choices." My brother and I go to Goje on Saturdays for music. He learns the jtiia.no, and I the violin ; he has been learning for two years and I for , one. My eldest brother, who also plays the violin, has ntfit learned for five years, and goes to the Qtago Boys' High School ; and my big eistejr has learned th© piano for seven years, go my father hopes that some time in the future one "at least of us will be a musifflan. We have about 7000 trees, and about 1000 are big enough for the birds to build rtt. I have sold over 50 dozen eggs at 2d per dozen. There are sports in the village domain to-morrow; but I shall not be in goo& trim, for racing, as I have a, sore foot. — Yours truly,, EVENING STAR. [I am glad.' f hat you have joined! our band, Evemr^ Star, and hope we shall hear frora you frequently. I?hose bales of wool must have mfikde an excellent and exciting playground, I tMnk; was it there that your foot came to grifef? — DOT.] Dear Dot o—Tffis0 — Tffis is my first letter to your page, and I ho&e you will accept me as one of your L.F. Tpe have not had any rain to speak of for sofcie time, and our tank ia very low. It will b* a nice job if we have to carry it fromj the pump, won't it? Fortunately we ax 4 not far from* it. The ground is so hard 4nd dry it is no wonder the farmers are templaining, as some oats are turning quite yellow for the want of rain. Our garden ifl looking well taking it a.l'l over, 'for we nave Christmas lilies, carnations,, sweet jß^as, pansies, geraniums, and also mignonffte which has a very sweet scent. Tha faps are coming about now, and are busy, acdprding to their way of being busy. I go % St. Paul's Sunday School, but we have <Jjjree> days' holiday, bo that the teaohers can get away. We are getting a new Sunday jjchool built, and it is almost finished. It Js just adjoining the church. Mass Grant t^tches the class that I am- in, and she is ■yjtty nice -witfe us. The only pet fhat we W?« is a black-and-white oat, which ia v^y knowing. She gets her porridge every morning, and if we have any visitors she will not come ne«T the kitchen. She is very good at catching birds and mice. To-day she brought two mice and a thrush andi put thAtn at the back door for us to see how ol«er she is. I was in town on Christmas B«e. and enjoyed myself. I waited until 12 o'ctbek, and saw the old year out and the new year in. I have not been away for my {holidays yet, but I intend going to "the ifftiau in a short time for about three weeiDL The name of the farm is called Spring H3AL because there are a. number of springs *MK>ut the hills. Dea/r Dot, I shall have to ci»fje, ar my letter will be taking up too mudn ipom^ as the page is 1 always increasing. — Youra truly, ftERING- HILL. [I wonder why your c&, avoids visitors, Spring Hill? It is curious that she will not come near the kitchen w*Us any stranger is there. Write again after fiur holiday, dear, and tell us how you 4tjioyed it. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a good whild pow since I penned these- two familiar ittards, but I must write a .little oftener, as I wtve less than a year now to write as a D.L.Emj after that I shall have to take my place amwgthe Old Writers. I went to the sports in Nte^eby on New Year's* Day with my father, an^ifcnjoyed myself very much. I Eaw only tito badges, one of them being A Country ChuJK . and the other one I did not know. Mosq of the farmers have their sheep shorn, and oi few of them have just started shearing. The cropa are getting fairly ripe now, and one of the farmers has »t*rtedi to cut. The gardens w« looking dry and parched, up

T for want of rain, a shower oi which would, do an immense amount of good. Our school picnic is to be held here on the 30th of this month, so we are looking? forward to a good day. I have a littJe sister who is always wanting me to help her write a letter to "Dear Dot. ' Oiid Writers' Week was a great success; I liked reading the letters very much, especially those from the West Coast writers. We are milking two cows, and they are milking very well considering the dry weather we have been having. My father is away mustering just now, and ho has been at the same place for over six -sveeJsg. — Xcxura truly, DADDY'S HELPER. [I had not realised that you were drawing near the retiring age, dear; I hope to hear from you often before the day of parting comes. And you will have to help your little sister to write to me, so that she may take the place you lea-v* empty. I shall be glad to hear from her.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I wish to become a member of your happy band, and I hope I shall be as welcome as everybody else. I am having my holidays just now, and I am having a very good time. Two of my mates and I went to Kingston the other day. The lake looked beautiful. It was as calm as a mill pond. There were two steamers in — the Antrim and the Ben Lomond. I know a few D.L.F. about here. We are having very dry weather; there has not been any rain for three weeks. All the crops are getting dried up, and the turnips won't grow if we don't have rain soon. Do you like climbing hills, Dot? There are plenty about here. We climb the hill at the back of "our house every day. — Yours truly, CATHERINE OF AKRAGON. [Yes, you, too, are welcome, Catherine. It is sad to hear how this spell of dry weather is spoiling ell the farmers' prospects; 'but I hope you had that heavy shower we had a few days ago— it would at least keep things going a little. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have been intending to write for some time, and have only got started: now. On the 19th of last month, my mother, Water Lily, and I went to Greymouth. Water Lily and I went to the dentist's, of course, and were finished, about 2 o'clock. When I went out for my lunch the dentist, knowing that some of us are D.L.F., asked Water Lily about the page. He takes a great interest in the page, he said, and was tSinking of getting his eldest child, who. is eight, to write. After leaving the dentist's we went to the reading room in the Town HaH and had a look at the latest Witnesses. We spent the rest of the day at a friend's, and left Grey-mouth at 7 o'olock, this being the. night that the Otira train connects with the Reefton one to Jet the overland passengers and mails through on the one day. We had hardly got to Stillwater when we heard that the express Otira train had broken down, and would not be in till about 9 o'clock, and the Reefton train had to war]-. This we found true, bui it did not come m till much later. When the guard came in to light the lamps he said the express would be in about 10 or half-past. A friend of ours, who had some relations coming by the train, was getting anxious. About 10 the express came in, and we were glad. The train had broken down going out to Otira, and the people coming overland had: to wait a couple of hours; those who were on the outside of the coaches were about wet through, so they "must have found it very unpleasant. Yesterday morning a friend of ours and I went over to the station to send a truck away. After the train had gone we thought we would climb to the top of the ballast pit, where we could get c good view. I had never been up before, so did not know the track, and after some time climbing xip and down the gully, which we thoroughly enjoyed, wo ■arrived at the top. We got a beautiful view, and then started to come down, which we did quickly, as we hit the track. Love to all.— Yours truly, BLUE VIOLET. [Such accidents do happen, even to the best regulated trains, Blue Violet, and I suppose the West Coast has _ its share of them. But how much you ifiust appreciate being able to get through from Christciiurch to the Coast .in one day.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to the page, and' I hope I may become one of your .little band. I am 11 years of age, and am in the Third Standard at school. I have five brothers and two sisters. I have only cue pet, and that is a oat; but I am going to get sortie goldfinches later on. We are liaving our school holidays just now, but i*j will not be many weeks before the school is opened again. We have a beautiful garden of about a quarter of an acre, with 64 fruit trees, and lots of flowers and vegetables. Last year about this time I had a beautiful blackbird, but one windy Sunday afternoon it escaped from its prison and flew away.— Yours truly, CANJTONITE. [You also may join our band, Cannonite; I am glad to admit you. You will have to teach your cat to respect the goldfinches when you get them ; she will probably not understand at first that they are to be left alone.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Just a line to lei you know how I am spending my holidays. We were at Kingston on the Bth; the lake looked very pretty, but we were not there long enough to see much. We only had 25 minutes to see everything, and then we had ] to get on the train, and went back home , again. £fc Is very hilly country up Tiere m. Garaton. We have been having a nice feed of checries and gooseberries. — Yours truly, SANDSTONE. Dear Dot, — We were at Lake Wakatipu on tae Bth, and the lake looked very pretty. We left the house at 11 o'clock to walk to Fairlight, which is the nearest station, and had to wait three-quarters '6f an hour for the train. We were glad when we aaw it oorcing. We got to King&tojj at 1 o'clock, and we left at 25 minutes past 1. There were two boats at the whan, the Antrim and the Ben Lomond. We were walking along the wharf when we heard the bell ring, and we had to run to oatch the train. We were very tired when we got back. The weather ia very dry up here just now. There are hills all abojit Garaton. There is a hill at the back of the place where I , »pi staying, and we climb it every day. ■ There is » river about a mile away.— Yours truly, SOPHIA FULGARNIE. £No one else has -that name, dear; it is an uncommon one, isn't it? You must be enjoying your holiday very much, I think. . It was such a fortunate chance for you to see Lake Wakatipu.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I received a Christmas card from Plum Blossom, and I got such a »ur- j prise when I got it. We are having Jovely I weaitber do-vfrx here just now. Are you having the same? I nope so. Vivian I has ' got her two cousins staying with her now, so I suppose she will be having great times with them. She is going away to Balclutha to-day for a- fortnight, so I shan't see anyfijj&ig of her for a while She end I are grin; mates. I know who Lady Leask, Lady O'C&domo, and Brown Bess are. I used to go tk- school with Brown Bess. What nice . ; letter* {b«x& w«xe ia Qii TZaku*' Wsakl j

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I did enjoy reading them. I know a fe\? Old Writers, but not many. I went to tha school excursion to Orepuki, and while therai I met Ceres. You can't imagine boi^ pleased I was t<> meet him; I hud jus been hoping to see him. When I told hinj my nora de plume fie remembered who \ V«3. He said he saw me at tfie D.L.EV social in Dunedin last winter. Love to aA% D.L.F. friends, especially Plum Blossom, Cyclo, and Areta. — Yours truly, K. E. W. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to you* page. I am in the Second Standard, Atul I -waa three mentis in the First Standard. • There are four of us going to school j my, brothers' names are Hugh, Jack, and Yin--cent. My birthday is on January 16. — Your* truly, EtfK BOTTLE. [January 16 is the very day I am reading your letter, dear, so I am hoping that you; are having a. very Tiappy birthday. It is raining her* in Dunedin to-day, but w» are all glad of it, because the ground -was so dry and parched. Many happy returns of the day, Ink Bottle.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Seeing that I have only six months more to write to the page, -which is always uppermost in my thoughts, it behoves me to make the best use of the remaining period ere this 1 privilege is taken away. Since I have contributed to the column I havo made many friends through; •the medium of the D.L.F. Page, and I sincerely trust that I shall make' many! more before I join * -the great^ majority (oa minority)? It is only lately "that I hnv« realised the advantages of being* an L.F. andS the aid it gives you, in making friends wherii you are in a strange -town. Kb you will see^ , I have shifted from my old) surroundings,' and now ~ I am down at Kaitangata for M short period. jKaitangata, la a pretty littla town situated near the "Clutha' River, ami about 65 mile 3 from Dunedin. As I have not the time to describe the town to-day, I hope you will excuse me, _ as it is. hard! work trying 1 to write a description of a place) co as to make it interesting. It is probable that I may do so later on, and include a visit to the Wangaloa coast and to that-. Kaitangata coal mine. Lately I was in Invercargill, and I Had the pleasure of being c visitor to the Southern Club. Through* the courtesy of the InvercargiLl agent of tn« Otago Witness I wbb supplied _with name* and addreses of several Invercargill L.F.« and before long I soon became acquainted with most of them. I introduced: myself first to Zealia, and then went on to se*f Willowbrook at the Corporation Chambers^ When I arrived at the offices he* was busy* but by some good luck he managed t« obtain a quarter of an hour's leave in orde^t to show me over the Council Chambers, Municipal Theatre, and Fire Brigade Sta* tion. If Invercargill can boast of any 4 thing, it can do so with an easy conscience about the completeness of its up-to-date corn poration offices and brigade station. At tu4 latter place everything is in readiness for^ an emergency, no matter a<r what hour Wei Alarm 13 given. As my friend Willowbrook' is a member of the brigade, he explained! everything used in connection with thoj working of the hydrants, etc., andi signals^ From the second storey of the building; the ground floor may be reached by » large round pale to save time. When ws came to this I was prevailed to slide down? this pole to the room below. Having never, slid down a pole before, I was a "bit! skeeTed," as the Scotsman would say; butf valour coming to my aid', I afc last mader" the attempt, and landed on the ground),, intact. That night I went to the club rneet-^ ing and had « real good time. Through th# courtesy of Smoking Flax I wrs shown totthe room, and after being duly introduced) to the early members I at last found •» seait near the door. During the time before th< commencement of the business for the even* ing Homa was trying to initiate me intfl^ the mysteries of the game of draughts. Presently the President announced that th«^ business of the evening was a debate oni "Is the Worfd Growing Better?" Judgip^ by the number who spoke in favour of tW affirmative side the negative ride, led b^ Smoking Flax, had a very hard try to gain! a victory. As it is always my misfortune to be "in the know," I was prevailed tqf state my views on the question, which t did not do very forcibly. As far as I re* member, the affirmative, led by Shasta^ Luceda, Lola, and Jessica, had things swimmingly for their side, while Smokingt Flax, Sweetheart, and Casino had a veryf hard struggle for the negative- Everything! 1 from the time of Adam down through the. dim' Middle Ages and right up to the* present century, everything possible waa thought of to benefit one side or the other 1 . 1 : As I started this letter before O.W;W., an* as I could not get it finished in time, E thought it would be best to put it off tilB; after the holidays. Although I am a comparatively new writer, yet it gave me greatf pleasure to see such a large number of real Old Writers once more writing to thef i page, as it shows that in spite of increasing yeara and responsibilities their interesnjj , never flags. While I am in Kaitangata Jjj 1 hope to meet as many L.F. as I possibly I can, as we must all remember that life irf; short, and opportunities once lost are neveß* ' regained. With best wishes to all L.F., and! the compliments of the season,— Yours truly* HAPPY WAG-. [I alfl very glad, Happy Wag, to hear ths* ! you think you will like your new home. I i hope you make the acquaintance of Thrf Gramaphone while you are there; youwoula probably find you had some interests irj, common.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l am away from home for holiday, and am enjoying myself very much* I am going to be away for about tw<* months. When I leave Waitahuna I an* going to Dunedin and Oamaru. I hope toi meet some D.L.F. girls there. Waitahunaf is « nice quiet place for a holiday, ancf very much like the place where I live., The people up here are very good to me*; and are doing all that fEey can to maka my visit an enjoyable one. On Boxing JJayj Einah and I cycled out to the Wendonsidet picnic. We did not enjoy ourselves 1 , as thej people were not sociable. On New Year's Day I went to the Waikaia aport3. Herd I enjoyed myself, and would have enjoyed! myself more had the weather not been; disagreeable. I did not run in any of th< races, but I watched my mates running* I have only run a race once. Dot. and % am now 14 past. Verbena, Little Mischief* and Lily of 'the Valley have left our districf now, Dot, and are Jiving in Miller's Flat.-*.-Yours truly, . THISTLE. Dear Dot, — Again I put in my appearance after an absence of many months. How the page is increasing! If it keeps on we shaU soon want a Witness of our own. Since 1 wrote to you last I have been away for * holiday to Queenstown. I had a lovely tiin^ up there. I was over at Arrowtown threi times; it ia a very small town compared i-i Queenstbwn. They had a- very miserable day for the show. When I was going up irj the train I met Gipsy Queen's brother; t wanted to know his name, but he wouldn't tell me. While_ I was up there I stayed! with my cousins She is a D.L.F. ; her name ia Marie Njarelle. I hope that AW«

v

fee* lias- q-uite recovered, from l»r recent . Wbosb. 'il' intended- "to> go- and see Gipsy Queen before I came- borne, but I had ao- , •time. My- cousin know»- her very well. I j enjoyed the-- journey across tie;* lake very xaacb; it waa so. Itovely and calm. Egho-uli Save lified to go np» to th« top- of* Bert OEtomond, but somehow or other I did not go. Therth ia a large oitmiber of' DJLF. inArrowtown, but I did not speak to any o£' them, as I forgot to put on my-^badge- I ] sec by the /paper that LoJljr Fop- got tt first priae for "riding at the shctw. Well. Dot, ~L~ ■will tell you how I spent the Christmas (holidays. I went to Stewart Island ob (Boxing Day and I «naoyed ; myself very much though I got terribly eunbumt. •"With love to Lady Ailsfcury and. Marie JKarelle,— Yours truly, BILLY BUREEv ; Dear Dot,— We' have Bad three weeks of j oui holidays; Our ' school bad six weeks, but ' •I have passed an examination, -which_ was held not long ago, got a proficiency- ticket, so I shall h*.ve seven weeks, as I em. going lo the Tinraru Girls' High School, which takes up a weefe' later than: ours. I read "Repentance" in this week's Witness, and I think it seems Kke a story, although -wry gad. My school teacher has married my ex-school teacher.^- I "asked for antos. from Go Hon,' An African Daisy, Dove 11, and The Last Rose of Summer about six months agp, but only received The Last Eose of Summer's. ' My sister, "who was once a D.L.1?., is now staying in Dunedin with tome of nrv relations. — Yours truly. A HUMBUG. Dear Dot, — Here I am again^ as I told jpo-a before, 1 always turning up like a bjid paxrny when you least expect me. After leadiag all .the O.W. letters, I thought perhaps you . would -be thinking I had strayed - from /the fold. I always look forward to O.W.W. .because I seem to l kaow r- great -number, of tile Old Writers, just ■iliroTigh reading their 'very interesting letters. Most of these letters were written. « good many 'years "ago, and I used to sit sad read' them through and thrGugh, never 'dreaming that I would be accepted as •r.ne cl Dot's Little Folk. You cannot imagine fcaw - pleased -I was to see letters from 3>loadel, Boadicea. Brenda, Laddie, Texas ,7^ck, Jessica, Daisy Primrose, Harry. Doughnut. Black Watch, and Darky. I wippoee I Ehall be -numbered among tte Old Writers (bafore the end 1 of this yea*. •Melbourne is _ the same old plyce, but the weather is awful. I am sure the thermometer .must he up -to boiling point ct .the present moment. , I don't tlynk" there will foe much of me left if it k--*eps up at this ipte. Mr Hunt has promised us a cool change, but it is " not showing any signs, except "that the v dust is blowing in clouds. Our beaches are just simply crowded when, ■we- have weather Hfee this. Men and, wcTien ■bang- on to ike sides of the trains so that they will not have to welk home. Melbourne is just brhnming over with amusements at present. Our people are all music mad, especially over singing. We have had -sp many noted sißger3 here within, six nuir.tlis. I have been, to hear them all, so I suppose .1 am a lucky girl. Singing is my favourite' study «.nd I took ;rreat interest? in Hadam Cllxa 'Butt. I have iv contralto voice, .39 it is only, Natural "that 1' ebould like, her best. 1 karat a gTeat &>al by going- to hear the- great singer. 1 am going to Warburfam for tbrse> weeks' holiday, so' I ' wilP write you aiid tell you all about ii Vnen I come home Ugitin.' I inquired about that post" office older, but I feud I cannot sand one unless I bave your full name and address. I am going to try and get some Iffew" Zealand stamps down at the G.P.O. As I have not time just now I si all have to leave- it until I write you ngaiii. Well, pot, it is % too hot to writs macb, bat if you will forgive roe this time .1 ?«>"■ '•»» W "~><cit» ft mcj« interesting I*^'«r

• next time. I asm afraid my Ifew Zealand tidy is to T»e put off, because my grandpa is , not. tec strong- and ibis -weather affects him, ; so it is not ■ safe to go fai away in case of being called hem« again at a minute's notice. Now, dear Dot, I-^nust conclude, or I- aball be too late for the mail. I wish you one and all a very bright and pros- i perous ~ New Yea*. — YoTiri* truly, 1 . LA MASCOTTE. I [I v snppoae the heat that we grumble about over here is. nothing to what you hxve to put up with, La Mascotie. Do you live on the hope of .one lemon squash, iill yon have- had it, and then begin to build life ov-er again on. th € c hope of the next? That is one of my most vivid recollections of tropical heat, and your ~ mention oi cool I drinks brought it all back -to me— DOT.] ! Dear Dot,— We were very glad to see the rain to-day, because everything waa beginning- to look very dry and burnt up. Lex baa been staying with us for a fortnight, but he is going home to-morrow, and I shall miss him very much. Sinwitch was up the other day, and he, Lex, and I had some | grand fun. How did you enjo,y the holi-J days? I enjoyed them very much. I went to the Waitati show, but I did not meet any D.L.P. I know. — Yours truly, MAT. , Dear Dot,— l was pleased to see my first i letter in print. "What a lot of new writers there are every weekf Swamp Hen and Rosy Cheeks were past here yesterday. Swamp Hen is collecting for the school picnic. Lex has -been staying with us fot his holidays, but he went home to-day. It rained yesterday, and (everything seems much greener. I did net go away anywhere for the holidays, but I believe I enjoyed them 'as much as if I had. It is a long time since Swamp Hen and Queenie II wrote to the poge. Scarlet Runner had a letter in this week's 'WitEress. I do not know her to speak to, but- I know who she is.— Yours truly, PANSY BLOSSOM. ( Bear Dct, — It- is three months since I last wrote to you. I get the badge aU ' right, and was " well pleased vith it, and I have got to knew three or four Little Folk through it that % did not knovv- be£oie. We sue having lovely weather just now, acd the j crops are coming on sp endld'y, though foma of the turnips are pretty far back. "We ore getting a hall built down here. When it is finished it will b2b 2 very handy to bold Sunday school in. I was veiy sorry I could not get to the D.L.F. picnic at Waihola, but as I knew one D.L F. that iv*s at it I heard a.l about :t.: t. I ako saw their photos in the Witness. I do not know very I many Little Folk as yet, but I hope to meet some at tho Milton Woollen Factory picnic, which is to bs a few miles past Dunedin. It is t<r be on the 25th of January. I think there will be c lot there if 'it is a fin© day.— Yours Iru, y. iIAID OF IHE INN. Dear Dot. — I am going to tell you about a picnic we had at the beach on Boxing Day. We all proposed to get up— early and have at g-^od day e.t the beach, and take our luach and boil the billy. We.'l. I was up firsv, and I hurried round and got my work doae and got my little brother and myself ready -and we set off, leaving the others behind. They scon overtook ,us, and we a!,: went on -together. We arri-ed at the place of rest abcut 11.30 a.m., and the boys mads - a fire and boiled the billy while the girls got I'ae lunch ready and we sat down and : bad a good feed. Then ive aTia T i' went to the :~ bs'.-T^ and paddled, and we played roundcis; thea v:e were all very lirsd, so we looked ; , at the time and found it was nearly time to go home, so we had some more lunch and a billy of cold waier. and lsft to go : home at 10 minutes past 3. We %Qt hgsftjre : at *30 p.m., and had a cup of tea aijtt. 9 !?-«t. JV« -were glad **«•* v« had a g^od

day, and we are going again soon. — Yours truly, - NIGHTINGALE. Dear Dot, — -This is my first letter to you, and I hope 'you will let me join your I column. I am only 14; my birthday was i last month. I am 10 or 12 miles from home j and am very lonely. My two mates are away ] just now, and I take this chance to write j to you. I ami turnip-thinning just now, and am getting £1 a week. I was picking Tip first this y^ar,, and then I was harrowing with four horses, and have been thinning turnips ever since. At home we havo \ two cows, five calves, a lamb, a dog, two pigs, and a big hack, I ha,ve two sisters who write to your page, but I will not say what their names are. I have found another D.L.F. since I came oveT here, and I wasn't going Jo write but for her. Her name is j Tongala. I have started to write to "you twice, but the letters found their way to : 'lie ashpan. All our tanks are nearly dry, ! but we had a shower to-clay, -which freshened things up a little. We have had such strong winds lately that it blew the top off the si-able to-day. — Yours- truly, BUGLER BOY. Dear Dot, — We are having very dry weather up here just now, and everything is parched with the hot sun. and everybody seems to be wanting rain — even the shearers, for some of them have farms, and their crops and turnips are very poor on account of there halving been no rain. I wiLl giv-e you an account of the journey from Ida Valley sheep station to Kyeburn station, where we all are at present busy shearing. Three of my fellow-employees and I left Ida Valley for Omakau on Fridur night, December 27; two of our party were fast walkers, and 1 they very soon left us two behind. We two walked at a fair pace, as we. had} sonic very rough ground to walk over. We arrived at Ophir at about 9 o'clock at night, two hours after starting. My mate lived at Ophir, so I had' to walk on to Omakau alone. It was over two miles round the read, so I decided to cross the river. It "was very dark. But I got across* safaly, and went to the hotel and stayed there for the night. Next morning I was up at 8 o'clock, and I was on the train for Kokonga at 10.30 a.m. I saw all the shearers at Ida Valley railway station; the lot of vts' ir«-trelle<l tog-etk-tr, »ua we bad a. lively time. At last, after three hours on the train, we arrived at Rokonga, and when we all got our few belongings, we boa-rded the station wagon for Kyeburn. We arrived at the station at 5 o'clock «iter a. good day's journey. I was in the shed" for a week, and I was promoted ,to a better billet outside ; it is on,Ty till the shearing; ia over, and then I shall be coming home with the rest of the shearers. I hav-e- been ear-markmfir and dipping sheep all t"Eis week, and I think it is a grand job; it is nice fun to plunge the sheep into the dip and make them swim out aeain; most of them swim out themselves. 1 We shall be finisned here same time this week. — Yours truly, NED DE VINE. Dear Dot,— Christmas has come and gone once more, and I must say I siad the best time \ I have ever had. We had a lot of people here, and that made things lively. Wo had a concert almost every night, and on Boxing Night we had a dance. It wassuch fun! One night a friend s-ang a, parody on "Sweet Marie," "-and now those nasty boys call me by that na>ine. Have you ever beard the parody, Dot? 'If you have you will 1 see what a comipliiMexit ( ?) they pay me. On »N6w Year's Day a, crowd of us went^ to Greymoutb to see tw races. There waa a big crowd there. For a little while I used to get such frights when tbe racesstarted. We had «. grand v time, and there was such a rush for the Iraib when it oame out from town to the coutse. Now that work has begun, it is very quiet here. All. my brothers have gone back to work, and we are beginning to behave ourselves, because- the boys make us so rowßy when they are at home. I don't think I mind much, though. We must have some, 'inn to keep ourselves alive-, mustn't we, Dot? I hope you spent a. merry Christmas and had » good time. I would have sent yftu a card only I was ill before Christma-s, and after , that I did not have time, so I ' hope you will excuse me. Have you ever Seen yel'ow mistletoe, Dot? There is a tree here with two big bunches of red and yellow mistletoe | on it. No one about here baa ever seen any before. Now I must close. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.— Yours- truly, BRAMBLE. [I have not seen the y«llow mistletoe, ' Bi amble, and think it must be a curious sight to see the two sorts together.— DOT.] | Dear Dot,— lt has long boen my intention to become a member of your happy , band of D.L.F., and through, my coming in ! contact so frequently with such distin- ■ guished members as Texas Jacic and Scotch Grey I could resist the teimptstion no longer. Texas Jack. 'Scotch Gi»ey. and myself all work for the same Erin, and arc often together in the country » The three of us, along with six others, *tre at present camped at Romanapa, workin® at ibe new school. Last night four of us journeyed to a stream about four miles (Estant for a dip, threo of the company hrtd bikes, but the fourth, baiag ycur humb o servant, was carried hither and thither ott> the back of Texas Jack. On reaching tlu> stream we were '&con 3plashmg about having a good swim, but after about 20 njmutes or so the water began to feel a bi wet. so we made for the bank and dresscts Texas Jack then proposed pome eel-fishing; -with a rabbjl which Scotch Grey had shot on the way over, and we tried to beguile sittne unwary eel to sample it, but whether tbft menu was rot to the eels' taste, or wEnether the fishermen were not skilled in tho gent'e art of ee'-catching, we were unsuccqrful. When the ardour of the fishermen haljt waned we /set out for our camp. We r.«t\ched home \about half-past ?, to find tjue camp in ] peaceful slumbers. I think I will cPose ! now, with kindest regards to. Texas Jack and Scotch Grey.— Yours tpuly. BED WING. rl was beginning to -wsjnaei if Texas Jack <?ti.',: existed; it is w long since I hiave heard anything of hiw. But I recognise the Texas Jack of yoMr letter for the tnelJknowa niembel of *mr page, if only by bis pwnxiral to go e^r-fishing. You will be abe to keep us postefll up in the doings of your camp, and I 4/kall be glad to hear from ycu.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — -Ibis if my first letter to yoiw p?ge-: X ho-i«< you -will have me for one of your Littia" Fo!k. X am 12 years of a^e, iti^d'l anwn- the Second Standard Ycu I will Ibink 1 em backward for niv age. bufc I it is cnJ/r during the last two years I hava I>-en nMe i° £O to school, as we were 'ivin^ fen at Southtxirt, and there was no =chr-S' there. So I have only been going sittßC I came to Invercargili. T only know o-^ 'L.F., and that is N.Z. Railway; but I hope to know more scon.— Yours truly. PADLOCK. [Perhaps yen will find, Padlock, that you will m*ke more rapid progress thrc-ugh not having been to school too early; you may «rea be »bl« *» mi»» * standard TL^sp on

writing- to the page, and perhaps that will help you a little.— DOT.J Dear Dot, — All the slie6p are shorn about here, but the grass-harvesting is in full swing, and all the farmers are busy. Ponmhaka and 1 weTe out last night for a ride. It was very nice Tiding because it was so calm, and it was quite a treat after the wind. I see, Dot, you have quite a number of new writing from, this part. Christmas 1 Day was very quiet with me. I iva.B working all day, and I 'bad a very bad cold. On New Year's Day Pomahaka and I intended to go to Clinton sports, but we did not go. It was a very rough afternoon, and it rained most; of the night. I greatly enjoyed 0.W.W. ; there waa a. large numher writing. The Pomahaka Eiver is ■very low just now, and large numbers of fishermen are seen along the banks enjoying a few days' sport. This place is very quiet on a Sunday; there is only church once a montli. Hurry up, Fopotunoa, and write again ; you are very qtii*t jusi now. With love to Pomahaka, Lauiine, Popotuncaj Ten O'Clock, and B. I. L.— Yours truly, SUNFLOWER 11. Dear Dot, — We have read a good few of the Little Folk's letters, and see" that you always give them a hearty welcome to your band. You have such a latge band of Little i Folk. Please, have you a spare corner for ■ us? We live on a hilly part of the land. The ground here is very poor, and most ' farmers keep sheep. father keeps sheepand cattle, and he also has horses, cows, I hens, and pigs. We each have a pet calf. Our sisters have a great many other, pets. We like the lamb 3 best, for they are so playful and nice. We have two this year. ! Our house is built down beside the bush. 1 and it is very hot these scorching days. i We have each a little vegetable garden containing peas, cabbages, curly greens, and turnips. They are growing nicely just now. We are writing this letter together, but w« i may write separately afterwards. We shall not bo able to write very often, as we have very little news from here. — Yours truly, HAWTHORN BELL. HONEY BLOSSOM. [Yes, children, I have a little corner of my kingdom that was made expressly for 1 you two to come and fill, so you may be >' very sxtre you are -welcome. And you aretwins, I see! That makes it all the more interesting. 'I hope you will often be able to find some little bit of news or some incident that will do to make a letter to 1 the. page.— DOT.J I Dear Dot, — I hope, you were not disappointed in not seeing ~my name amongst those who went in for the native birds' comj petition. I was sorry I was not able to do . it. Before- I go further I must thank you, Moira, for telling me the nanio of that little bird. I think it is most probably the hedge sparrow. I am forming • small museum of my own. I »m collecting a great many things for it, including birds' nests and eggs, ferns-, and different kinds of native woods. I have a. good number of nests, 1 including tuis', thrushes', wax-eyes', linnets', goldfinches', and hedge-sparrows'. We havefound over a dozen tuts.' nests, all old ones 1 with the exception of three. They wore all built in tfie fuchsia tree but one, which was in a tangle of lawyers. It was, a new one with three eggs in it,, and a thrush was sitting on them when my sister found it. It was a tui's nest and eggs. My sister mistook it for a thrush's nest when sbe s»w the thrush on it, so she took it home. The other two new tuis' rfiests were also taken by mistake I was told that tui3 built their nests very roughly, and on the topmost branches of one of the highest trees, in the bush. They must have been different tuis, for the nesta we found are very neatly built and were all on the very outskirts of the bush. One was built hardly a yard from the 'ground in the fork of a small solitary fuchsia tree. I have no bellbirds' nests »» yet in my collection, but I found one witn e^s in it on December 28. I have seen the belJbird sitting on the nest. Its head is stained an orange colour, which I Relieve must be from the flowers- of the flax, ahe nest is not so large or so neatly built as a tui's. The eggs are white, with brown spots • on them. I always thought a- bellbird s e<*gs were blue. Perhaps I may write again and tell yo» more about the birds and nests if you wish i*-*-» E t-£ EB LASSIE . [I am always delighted to get a letter like this, Heather Lassie, showing such careful observation of the habits of our native birds. Have you. heard before of a thrush occupying another bird's nest and sitting , on it. elgs? This is the fit«t case I have ! heard of. It is taking *%${ out of the cuckoo's book, isn't it?— DOJ.J , Dear Dot,-I hope to make this lett_er interesting to some of the tmy Little Folk 1 if not to you. I am going to tell you * little about some of our pets. You must not laush at tho names we give our pets, for leeways try to give them suitable name-. Besi&», the animals get to know their names quite well. They will often look up a,id come to us or answer us when we call thorn by name. A name is better than a description, for it is shorter, and you know about whom ws are speaking. I *»" you about our calves first, as they are our biggest pets. We have eight calves and tbfj are very much petted. Bob the eloest, L quite white. He is very quiet and slow MaS is nest. He w a red-a^d-white, and is very greedy. . He is always wanting more mUk. "and sometimes gets his head into another bucket, and no amount of pulling at his ears or hitting wit M s SLI^ w f *$ theni^come^next. Although 'they are the same size they are not exactly .twins. Violet is black and white, and is the eldest. Dolly is of a reddish colour, mey nTe the greatest of chums, .and drink out of the same dish. They are rarely ever seen apart and arc both frightened to let u« touch them. Max and Violet, when young were rfto «en at dusk fighting as hard as they could. Having no horns their I heads often slipped off each otter s and bumped against their Moulders. Violet was the fiercest, and did not care where, sfc* knocked Max upon. Blanch* is wane, ana few* chie-f pet. She will follow us about SteT sl« has bid her milk, jn the hope of getting more. She is also ou-te •quief. -Bob Max and Blanche like cut potatoes, and sometocs we cut tome for them Harry is a nice quiet, black-and-white calf.- i±e is caltef" after D.L.F. Harry. Blanche and Harry are mates, but are not so chummy as Violet and Dolly. Jimmy is a hlUe red-and-wbite "caUle-, but is very -timid, lie is our best calf, for 'he is never greedy so feLl trouble the other calves about their milk. Kaikoura is the baby, and is almost the same colour as H-arry. He Rlways tushes a«°r us wLen he finishes' his mi.k. Jimmy and Kaikcurft a-re also mates, and «xc about the same size. Perhaps I may tell you about our dog. pet pigs, end pet lambs next time I write if you think it- would be ! interring to the Little Folk. I will now clo«.e, with love to Daddy's Milkmaid Titik.k* and Howdy Enc^-You^tj-ul^ [How you have grown to understand the ' ways of the deferent calves, Viola I I

suppose one could hardly feed them daily •without coming to know something about ' their different little ways; they are very like human beings sometimes, aren't they? Do write' again, dear. — DOT.] Dear- Dot, — I am going to tell you about a picnic I was at on Christmas Day -with some friends. We- started away from here for Elephant Hill about 10 o'clock, and arrived there at 12 o'clock. When we ar- | rived there we had tea, and"' started pad- | dliug in the creek, and shortly afterwards , | one of the friends fell down, and, of course, we started laughing *rt her. She had hardly got up when I fell down in a deeper place -than she, and didn't I get laughed at! When ■we came back from paddling we had tea, and started for home, and arrived at 6 o'clock after a good day's fun. De»r~ Dot, we brok« up for a montt'a holiday to-day. j We have a- little pony, which carries fiv« i to school every day. — Toms truly, SILVEHy WAVES. J Dear Dot, — As I have laken great interest in your columns of late I now take the pleasure of writing these few tinea to you for the first time, not doubting, dear Dot, i that you- wil.l make me welcome. I go, tothe Lawrence District High "School; I ant in the Third Standard. We" are having- our annual six weeks' holidays at present, smcl ! am enjoying them very mucß. I have an elder sister -who has already joined the page. The weather is very dry up this way, ; and unless we have some rain soon things will look very serious, both lor the- miners and the farmers. To-day w<T have some pi our Dunedin friends staying with. us,f »ndl I have been busy showing them around flower garden, which, I "think, will soo'n r 'be dried up for want of water. .With love to all the Lawrence Ir.P., — -Yours truly, A TUAPEKA MAIDEN. Dear Dot,— This is- the firs* time I have written to you. I have -one sister and three brother^. I am 12 year's of age, and am in the Fifth Standard.. I hay© five miles tajrai to school, so X newly' always drive. ' * Wg go to the Papakaio School. W« have six weeks' holidays, and we do not go back until the 3rd of February. I have a young , hawk and a lamb for pets, and' X like- their 1 very much. I" thought I -would Hfeo to he ' a member of the OJ>,IT. Band. I hope, very much to see my letter in print next week if it is good enough. — Yours truly. CHERRY 11. Dear Dot, — After six . months' absence I again take up my pen to write to the page. I am at home juat now for my holidays, 1 and am enjoying myself immensely/ E went in for the matriculate? examination last December, but do not Know yet how I fared. I went dawn to se« Barney O'Sho* the other week, and he persuaded, or,' rather, compelled, me to stay a few days: We had a, splendid time together, and went fishing And hare hunting The hunting of the hares was about as far a» w« got, as the dog we had was » little bit slower than they were. Nevertheless, we were quite con-, tent to watch his fruitless exertions .and totsee the hares play hide-and-go-seek with, him. I have been suray at school in Dunedin for the last year, .and you may be surer I am glad to be back home again. Never-, theless, changed as are my . surroundings, X. still fancy I hear the rumble of the electri© car as it flies past; I usually awake from my delusion to find it is the harmless milkGait setting off" for the factory (time. 6.30 .p.m.) We have * lake, or rather a semiftike, up here, where I often i asrase ox ex-; haust myself by pulling a heavy 16f;t boat, through its weed-strevm waters; in fact, X have developed quit© a. large set of muscles: since I came home. At other times X amuse myself in th« garden^ I think thisk form of amusement the best and most " beneficial to the body, especially when all the- fruit is "ripe. Dear Dot^ as writing ia not one of my holiday amusements I wilt draw this exhausting letter to a close, with the beat wishes" to all that they may have as good a holiday aa I am having. — Tour* , truly, OI*AT?. i Dear Dot, — It is quite a long time sine* I last wrote to the page, but I have not forgotten it altogether. We ere having very, hot weather up here. We badly need a. shower of rain. I am staying with my. J aunt while my uncle is away at Middle- ! march. Chrisfeinaa and New Yew were very quiet up here. My birthday was on Now Year's Eve, and I wa» 14. I had a gold* chain end pendant given to me. All the flower gardens are parched , about here for want of water.. I collect post-cards, and I have about 129 now. My aunt and uncle and my cousin spent «heir holidays in Dun«din, and they enjoyed themselves very much. I was at a picnic on Boxing day. — ■ Yours truly, ALEXANDRAITE. Dear Dot,— l »m not very well; I have a 6Oie throat, and I am going to the Bluff to the doctor- It is such «. long time since I I last wrote to you. I wrote one tetter, | before Chiifffcnuas, and I was surprised not to see my letter in print. I suppose that/ it was lost, so I did, not mind. I spent a happy Christmas. There were plenty of people at our place for Christmas. We had! some people from Colao Bay. Thai* and his mother and father were at our 'p.acs. Kaka is now better. She waa at school on Tuesday. Thaia's aunt is very ill. Hinarau has gone- away for a trip. We are nothaving very pleasant weather. We have-, eight young duckling? and five young chickens, but, sad to say, they are all dyiug off. We had at first ?1 ducklings i w4 15 chickens.— Yours truty, KAE.UI. Dear Dot,— Some time has elapsed «inco I tost wrote to you, but during that cime very little of any importance has occurred. We are now enjoying our school holidays, ! but I wish we were back at school again, i for I like going to school. Some boys and t eirls do not like school, and are very glad I when they reach the age of 14 or have 1 passed the Fjith Standard, for then they can leave But^l don't suppose they know they have barely built &c foundation of their education. They all know that a house ■ requires a good, strong foundation; but in the same way a good education requires a , eood foundation. This foundation is easily Icquired" if the bey or girl attends school 1 regularly until he or she has received' cproficiency certificate for p»s3ing the Sixth. Standard. "Now, I wish »H I».F. and ot&er readers of the page who have passed l he Fifth Standard this year and intend leaving school after the holidays to continue schoo--i ing for at the very least one more year,' ' swid they will* then find in after life thatwhat I have euid' is true. I* know-sewswil-young men and women who oou'.d hay« been.-' earning good money to-day if they hadlistened to their parents and remained.* at ' school longer. But, then, sometimes their 1 parents are too poor to -send them to school, and 'they have ' to go out cow--spanking or. . other similar hard work! Hoping you en--1 joyed your Chris tarns, and wishing .you a happy and prosperous New Year, — Yours > truly, • '-LOUD ROBERTS 11.- . [YoU are quite right about tins inestimable value of a good, sound education; Lord Itoberte. Wiee patents do not leave the choice of having or toot having a good edttcatfon to ib« children -themselvao, wk/»

are not able to discern its value. But to aueh young people as are left to choose for themselves I would give th» advice you have given: Take too much education rather th&n too little, and you will never regret it.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I read most of the letters in 0.W.W., and think it was a success. We iicve six weeks' holiday from school, and I am enjoying them very much. I have not been away for a holiday anywhere yet, and do not think I shall go. There is a bush about six miles away from our place, and my sister, cousin, two brothers, and myself all- went there one day. "We went away "through it, and as it had been burnt a few j weeks before we were all black. I had a white dress on, and when I came out it was snore like a black one; but vrith it all we imd a grand day. We then boiled .the kettle «nd had tea, and started for home, tired tut happy. There are about 20 children going to our school. Lately we have been Having a good many slight showers, hut not enough to do much good. The people about here have most of their grass cut and stooked. A few .are leading-in. The wheat crops are beginning to show signs of ripeness. On Kew Year's Day I went to the Dipton sports, and enjoyed myself. I ran in \a race and came in first, but only got one shilling. My sister and I sometimes go in a creek for a bathe, but the water is too shallow now. . "We- ihave a lot of fruit -this year, but have made all our currant and gooseberry jam. W©- h-ave 25 little ducks, which are a, great trouble to look after, there is a creek close to our place, and^th-ey- go lihere find the hawks ta,ke them. Our flower garden is looking rather nice with all the lilies out. — Tours truly, LILAC, j !"Dear Dot, — It is some months sine© I •wrote my last letter, but I may just tell you that I've- often thought^ of writing to you but came to the conclusion that I had nothing to write about. I haven't managed •to think of much news since I last -wrote, but you know I must keep up my correspondence with the page for old times' sake. Summer will soon he over once more, and then the beautiful bush, (as it is now) will begin to lose its leaves-. The 'farmers about h«ie .have been, kept pretty busy lately amongst their hay and turnips-. W« wer« ixusy"" stacking thia morning when the rain ■began, so we- have to postpone oui day's ■work until it is fine again. Not doubt the sain was badly needed,, as the oats, grass, etc., were beginning to" prove a failure. We all went to the Fort Chalmers regatta on Boxing Day, and we enjoyed outsells immensely. There was a large crowd of people there, and - the day proved all that could be desired. We stopped to see the explosion, and I think it was the prettiest sight of all. On New Year's Eve my mother, myself, two other young ladies tha'l were staying with us, and my youngest brother walked to my eldest sister's place — a. distance of «bout three and -a-half miles from here. We stopped to hear the Old Year rung out and the new rung in, and then we hurried and got to bed, where we 6>'ept for about seven Ibburs, or rather lay awake, as we couldn't sleep, for we were packed like sardines in a herring tin. Was not O.W.W. & treat? I enjoyed reading the letters very much. The L..F. Debating Clubs are also an interesting' part of the page. I suppose we shall hay© an. account of the Oamaru L.F. picnio in this week's Witness. I have never had ■the. pleasure of attending a- D.L.F. picnic yet. but I hope to some day. I was in Dunedin for three days' holiday, but I didn't* come across any D.L.F.: maybe I'll B«ve better' luck next time. There was a school concert held here on the 19th December, and to get more money. to, paint the inside of ~ the school they had it over again on the' 37th. I wasn't there, but people &aid it was grand. Many songs, exercises, xeaitations, etc.. were performed by the children in a skilful manner, which pleased "^he ' audience to perfection. — Yours tru.'v. DOVE 11. £1 have not yet received an account of the Oamaru picnic, Dove 11. If it come in, I intend to keep it for Special -Club Number on February 5; you may look out for it then— DOT.] LETTERS CONDENSED. Lilt of the Valley writes saying that she got a second class certificate for attendonce at school, and that she had a very enjoyable time at^ her brother's wedding, dancing till -4 o'clock in the morning. AUTOS AND POST-CARDS. Oleef, H. E. Moynihan, Middlemarch, ■would like io exchange autos with R-et«, Wuggety Bob, Ooldspur, and Somebody's Darling. Kahui, care G-. Newton, Ruapuke Island, via, Bluff, would like to exchange eutos with. Mystery Island, Briar Rose, Awkward Ned. Bluebell 11, Little Brighteyes, Sweet Seventeen, and any others willing. Lilac, care Mr J. Hayward, Dipton, South- *" lan-d. would like Lady Olive to write to her. Dove 11. care Mrs Lott, 'Mihi-waka. wishes to exchange autos with Ki* Ora'a Mate and any D.L.F. willing. -English A%rtie, -York Housei, Orepuki, wishes to exchange post-cards with I Beg Your Pardon, and would like I Beg Your P«.rdon to sign his (or her) name. Also with Audrie Maude. Prompt replies will be given. La Mascotte, Annie I'Ansan, 391 Cardigan street, Melbourne, would like to exchange ptjst-cards with any L.F. willing. Nightingale, Sabina Barnes, Warrington. to exchange post-cards and autos any D.L.F. willing. Bramble, Atarau P. 0., via^Miaura, Greymouth, West Coast, would like to exchange post-cards with any L.F. willing. Floral card's only. Sunflower 11, care Mra Alex. Gray, Popo•hinoa, Clinton, would like to exchange autos with Popotunoa. Ten O'Clock, B. I. C, and Any other D.L.F. willing. A Tuapeka. Maiden, care Mrs Jye-. Lawrence, would like to exchange autos with *ny Maniototo, Taieri, or Stratih-Taieri D L.F. willing. Hild* Bell, care Love's Young Dream, Niagara P. 0., would like to exchange autos mitit Fishy Elbo-w3, La<3y Hopper, Indian Queen, Little" Brighteyes. Aunty Kate's Boy, Queen, of the- West, and any other D.L.F. Dot's Sweetheart, care Mrs Kennedy, Ffctearoa, would like to exchange autos with Violet ; Leaf. Cotton. Chatterbox, Water Lily, and any others willing. Violet Spray, care Mr Hartley, Xokarahi, vrotfld like to exchange autos with Rinah. Rosebud, Post Office, Tokonui. would like to exchange autos with Happy Queen Bess, Diamond, I Beg Your Pardon, Chatterbox, and »ny other D.L.F. willing. Tbi*fcle, care Mrs Moffit, Waitahuna Gully, •would like to exchange post-cards with any P.L.F. willing. Shepherdess's Maiden, care Post Office, tWftikaia, would like to exchange post-cards vith fim»kin(? Flax. Eulalie, Maidie M., itoaeleaf, .Mother's Help, Black-eyed Sus&u. Jack Frost. Somebody's Soldier Boy, and taj other D.L.F. willing.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Dove II. — I can procure an autograph album for you, as I have done for several D.L.F., from one of the. booksellers in town. You can get them at any price from 3s upwards, and postage is generally about 3d or 4d. Venetia Corona.— l have x>assed your stamps for the post-cards pn to Harry in the hope that he may know where to obtain them for you, as I do not. He will probably send them on shortly. I thought your letter most interesting., and am glad to get «, glimpse of your enjoyment and enthusiasm in your -work. I hope to write shortly. T. C, Annfield.— The photo had not been forgotten. You may have noticed that no group, except picnic groups, has been published since; ihe reason is that so few photos have been received. A group will iv all probability appear during the next two or three weeks. Camellia I.— Many thanks for the wedding cake you sent me; I wished you much happiness as I ate it, and thought of you. R. E. W. — I was very glad to hear how you help that poor blind mother by taking her children to Sunday school. I am sure it must make her glad sometimes -when she thinks you are taking care of them. And I am glad also to hear that you are interested in St. Mary's Orphanage. I saw the little children from it the other day being taken for a treat, and all looking so happy, dear little souls! Sotjthhrn Cross. — I Have forwarded the letter you enclosed. Glad to heai you got back safely, and had such a pleas«nt trip. Please let me know about your examination when you get your results. I hope you have got through. Someone left some beautiful pink «nd yellow roses on my table on Wednesday afternoon. I do not know who it was, but hope that my warm, thanks for the beautiful gift will reach them through this. CARDS. ' Dot -wishes to acknowledge curdss from Kia Oia, Sparro-whawk, Rosebud, Ang«ls»a(, and D. O. D., and thank these D.L.F. for their kindly thoughts of her. d.l,f. badges. Badges sent to Nightingale, Ursula.