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LETTERS FROM THE LITTIE FOLK.

Motto:—We wiite for the benefit of other?, not for ourse_ves. (CNo letter to contain more than 450 words Dea. Dot,—This is my second letter to the page. I was glad to =cc my fh«t one in punt, so I ■shall write again. My two sisters and I aie away for our holidays just now. We are going; home on Satuiday. We have had fine weather most of our holidays. We have had good times plajiiig on the beach and c lmbing o\ ci rocks. A few days ago- we had a picnic round bench, and we saw a fish in a L;oolL ;00l m the locks, but the tide came in before we could catch it. We found five sea-eggs. Ihere are a lot of pietty shells about on the beach, which is quite close to here—Youis truly. NEMOPHILA. rPlea=e remember, dear, not to wiit, on both sides of the paper.—DOT] Dear Dot,—This is the first time I have written to you, and I hope it will not be the last. I spent 10 days of my holidays at St. Kilda, and went to the beach eveiy day. One day when I was on the beach I lost my hat. I had two fuends up from Invercargill to-day. It is my younger sister's birthday on Sunday, and she will be 10 years old. I am going down town to-morrow to buy her a present —Yours truly, KHANDALLAH. [I wonder what you got for her? Was it a book-" I shall be veiy glad. Khandallah, to have you for one of my little people — DOT ] Dear Dot —It is my desire that^yon <=hould ■-all me one of your Little Folk. This \ear I spent some of my holidays with one of \our writers, Madge F emmg. I think that thi3 ye>ar I have enjoyed myself far more than *nio = t years. I went to Baklutha on the second of this month, stajed a night, and went on m the ham to Woodlands, and i amved at Rakahouka about 2.30 pm. There j are many interesting things, such as emus I and laughing jackasses, to be seen at Raka- | houka. I spent 11 days there, and then I ! spent three days at Taieri Mouth, and came home on the 14th.—Yours truly, WEEIT. [I suppose the emus and laughing jackasses are in captivity, are they? They must have been brought from Australia? Do they etandi this climate quite well? I have enrolled your name, Weem, as one of my Little FoIk.—DOT.J Dear Dot,—lt is too not to go to bed early to-night, so I think I will write you a. few lines once more. I have not seen many D.li.F_ this Chiistmas. I was at the

summer show the second day. and although it was very cold and lough I enjo>ed myself immensely What a veiy dry summer we are having! I wonder what it must be like in Austiaha. The people about here were all complaining about the scarcity of water a week or two ago. but we were very lucky, as it rained just when our tank got dry. A veiy hot wind is blowing. I don't know how I am going to sleep tonight; the heat is awful. I had a beautiful time this Christmas. I was driving a 1 over the country with gome friends who keep good horses. Well, dear Dot, I have nothing more to say just now, so goodbye—Yours tiuly, TISHY. [This Christmas seems to have been an exceptionally happy one for many of my Little Folk; you, too, Ti=hy, seem to have enjoyed it very much. You won't have much more of the hot weather, dear — DOT] Dear Dot, — Since I last wrote to you we have had our examination, and I am glad to say that I have passed into the Fourth Standard. We are back it school again after six weeks' holidays. We had three weeks befoie Christmas on account of the scarlet fever. We were not away from home for our holidays this year. Nearly all the dredges are being repaired. The river is not so low as it was six months ago. With ,ove to Ihe Ivory Queen. Peggy Perkins, Dean Swift, and youiself,— Youis tiuly, ', THE NOVELIST. Dear Dot,— As Peril Point is staying with , me to-day, we thought we would write you * few lines. My mother is away m Invercargill for a holiday, and Peril Point is stopping with me, and we nave some great times. We were at the Wyndham show, and enjoyed ourselves very much. Peril Point was at the Pine Bush races, and she enjoyed j herself splendidly. I was at the' i Riverton regatta, and I met one j D.L.F. Seaward Downs school picnio : was held on December 20. It was a j lovely day, and people came from far and ( near to enjoy themselves. Some of the farmers jave begun to cut their crops, it being a very early harvest. We are having extremely hot weather here just now, and the wind is awful. We went for a good walk I last night. We will have to stop now, as my j bi other and Small Boy are coming in for their tea — Yours truly. PERIL POINT AND THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER. Dear Dot.— This is the first letter I have ■written to your page. I am nine yeais old, and am in the Second 1 Standaid. I had ft nice little pet lamb, butit got choked. I am staying at my grandnioUiei's- to spend the holidays with her. My giandmother has three nice pet ambs, and they are fed three times a day. I am going home on Monday. My mother and all the rest of the children came round to see us. I have four brothers and two sisters I was watching my uncle pulling the weeds out of the oats to-day, and I had great fun. Dear Dot. you must have a lot of letters to read This isn't a veiy nice letter to give to you, but I hope you will get it, Dot. — Yours tiulv. WINKIE. [You see, I got it quite safely, Winkie, and now you too are one of my D.L F. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is nearly four years since I last wrote to the page. What a gieat number of new writers there are; why, there must be more than four e\ery week!

BOY'S HOLIDAYS.

The key to the above sketch is not for publication, but it would be a pity to withhold on that account the leah^tic portiajal of Boy's hands and hair and boots —and the tussocky surroundings His fiiends will be glad to see how well he is employed.

These last few days the weather has been very hot and windy, so that the people that want their grass thieshed cannot get it done. On Wednesday theie was a gieat deal of smoke about heie, and I tßink it must have come from the noith. What a time the people 111 the North Island and Australia must be-having with the=e bush and grass fires! I am glad there aie none here. I don't think there can be many D L.F. about here. 01 else they do not wear badges, because I never see one What a treat O W.W. was! It was veiy nice Lo read the letteis from the retired L.F , and. Dot, what a gieat number of your band are getting married! I hope they will not foiget the O.W W.; don't you f We had a very good school concert here this year, 111 which a number of girls sang a song named ' Topsy-turvy," with appropriate actions; it w*is very funny, and made c veiy body laugh. There were a great number of prizes given this year, and most of them were veiy good books. I only managed to get one, which is one of Ethel Turner's. I am very fond of reading, and of all the writers whose woiks I have read I think I like Ethel Turner the best. Since I last wrote I see someone has taken my name. I think I had it first, so perhaps they may not mind putting Inez II I think this is all I have to sdy just now, but I will be writing again very soon —Yours truly, IXEZ. [You have been absent a long time, Inez But it is very pleasant to find that even after an absence of four years you have not forgotten us, and aie glad tc be wiitmg to the old page again. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is mv fh=t letter to the page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. I am 10 yeais old, and am in the Fomth .St.uidaid. Our holidays are over now, and we are back at school once more. We aie going to ha\e a concert about the end of this month. We lire near the sea and theie is a nice sandy beach, which I and my fuends veiy often go and pla}' on. I have a black-and-grey kitten, which is veiy playful —Yours truly, CANDLE PLANT. [Lucky little girl, to have a big sandy beach for a playground and to grow up friends with the wind and the waves' They ■will be with you all your life now, dear — DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a few lines to let you know where I went at Christmas time. I went to' the Mimihau School picnic, and enjoyed myself very well, although it rained and "blew a little. I won two races, and I got a silver brooch and a pair of top-boot; vases, which are very pretty. I did not go to the raws sn 2S*w T««r't Day; it vras co

stormy here What sort of weather did you have, Dot ? I hope you had a good lime. I am milking two cows now and feeding two calves, so my troubles are starting-; but I don't mind it. for the cows axe so quiet I milk them without bail or legrope. Since last writing to you one of my guinea-pigs got out, and the cats killed it. I was s O sony, for it was the best one. Our garden is looking lovely just now, but it needs rain very badly, and I think by the look of the day that it is not far off. Mother went to Dunedin to-day, and I hope it keeps fine till she comes home again. With love to Fair Pfece and Happy Queen Bess, — Yours truly, LADY LEASK. Dear Dot, — I am staying away for my holiday. We are at our aunt's house by the seaside, and my two sisteis, my cousin, and myself go and p!<ay on the beach. I was 12 a week ago We went round the beach for a picnic, and got five sea-eggs; they are very pretty ornaments. We saw a fish in a hole, and we tried to catch it, but a big wave came up and it got away. We went and had our lunch, and found some shel's; then we went home. Next day we went for a drive with my aunt to see some little girls. We arrived at our destination early in the afternoon, and had a nice long play. It wa? «. very pretty place, on the side of a hill, with bush at the back and the sea at the bottom of it. I am going home on Saturday. — Yours truly. WHITE STOCK Deai Dot. — I went for my holidays to Dunedin We had four weeks' holidays. We arc feeding three pet lambs, four calves, and three pigs. We have a lot of carnations out m flower I was at St. Clair, and was wading on the beach. All our gooseberries are off jui- trees —Yours truly, WHITE HEATH. Dear Dot, — Dining the Christmas and New Year holidays the only fine day was Boxing Day. I went to our Sunday School picnic that day, and enjoyed myself very much. I went 111 the Young Ladies' Race, and, as it happened, I actually managed to come first, the prize being a nice crliet stand, which I was very pleated with. I weut to town on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but eveiything was so slow. The only attraction I could sec was goin^ through the shops watching my aunt, uncle, and mother buying toys for all the little children. The Pipe Band a'so marched up and down the road playing a few -tunes and trjing to cheei up the cro^d, but I don't think that made much difference. About half-past 10 the bands started to play, and that kept people on the streets till 12 o'clock or later. On New Yeai's Day sports were held, but it being a very rough day I did not go anywhere The next day was the Bluff regatta day, and that was the most enjoyable clay I spent all through the holidays. One of my sisters and three of my biothers aie D L.F., but they veiy seldom wiite to your page. I am working in town now, and think it much better than living in the bush. It is only two months now till Easter, and then I am going over to Slewait Island for a tup, as I have ne>er been theie 111 all my life. — Yours truly, EAST LYNNE Dear Dot,— This is the first letter I have wntten to jou. and I hope you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. I am away for my holidays just now, and I am having a good time. I go down to the beach pretty often to gather <-hells. I have •& sister, but she does not write to the page I have not got my prize yet, but I expect to get a nice one >at the picnic — Yours truly, LADY CLARISSA. [You have npt sent your name or address, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— lt is a long time now since I last wiote to the page. We are having very lough, wmdy weather here just now. There is a big file burning to-night quite close to our house, and it is spreading all over the naddockb, but it is beginning to ram, so I think it will be put out befoie it does any damage. We had our annual picnio heie a few weeks ago. Although the day was very hot theie were a good many theie, and I enjoyed myself veiy much. Our school is just^ opened again after a holiday of four weeks. Dear Dot, I was at the Invcrcargill show, but I did not enjoy myself at all, >as I had just been to see the doctor about my eyes, and they were sore all the time I was at the show I did not meet any L.F. there, and I was disappointed, because I was expecting to meet a lot. With love to Relics, Lady Clarissa, and yourself, — Yours tiuly, LADY SUE. De-ir Dot — I have been away for five weeks' holidays, and enjo\ed myself immensely. I was at Milton for three weeks, and a foitnight at Pukeiau. When I was away for my holidays I was at a picnic. We left home about 11 o'clock, and arrived at the ground about 1C o'clock. When we arrived theie we had some tea, and then got ready for the children's 1 aces I was in one racej and came 111 first Then I went and got some tea and went home. I collect post-cards, and I have 80. I have some very pretty ones. The flower garden 3 look very pietty lust now with all the awcet peas. We «re having very diy weather here, and it is still blowing. We had our exam, before the holidays, and I passed into the Fifth Standard I am 11 years old I shall be going back to school next Monday, and shall see all my mates again — Yours tru'y, SWEET ANGELINE. Dear Dot — This is my first letter to your page, ard I hope you will accept me as one of your happy band. We aie having our Christmas holidays now, so I thought I would wiite jou a short letter. I am going to tell you about my holidays. Our school closed on 21st December. On Christmas Day I and my sister and <ill the school children went away up the Main road for nearly four miles for" a walk. While we were going up we met our old teacher in the mail-cart, so we turned back and came home. I went to the races and sports, and erijoj-ed myself •feiy much. I will' tell you more about my holidays next time, Dot.— Yours truly, TOMTIT IT. [You also are welcome, Tomtit 11. You live a long way off, don't you? — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was very sorry not to have cent the right number of stamps, Dot, but I fOlf 01 got how many I was to send. I enclose the remainder now I was not away for my holidays, because I had a friend staying with me, she oflinc down on New Year's Eve. &he and I were at the fishing camps. It was lovely weather all the time we were tTiere. The school picnic is to be held at Wyndham, and I hope to meet some D.L.F. there. I do not like reading very much, but I always read the letters on page 84. I know a number of Dot's Little Folk. I like the O.W.W. letters very much, andi the. Special Club dumber. I will write «md tell you if I meet any D.L.F. *t "WyndJiam, and how I enjoyed myself.-Yours NEEIp]?B< Dear Dot,— The harvest -will soon be over now. I got "my Christmas and harvest holidays together, andi that made s«ven weeks. The school Igoto is getting painted. My sieter is going to school when I go back. I went +.0 Chriatchurch to stay with my grand-

mother for two weeks, and enjoyed myself immensely. I went to the racecourse, Wainoui Park, and West's Pictures; they were «1J very nice. My mother and father and sister went to Christchurch this afternoon ; they are staying all night, and are coming home to-morrow night. I might go to Sumner on Thursday, and when I write again I will tell you how I enjoyed myEelf. We did not get manj ducks this year. We set 28 ducks' eggs, but only eight were hatched, and there are only four young ones living. — Yours truly, POKE BONNET Dear Dot,— l am in the Fifth Standard now. We are having very hot weather. Some, of the farmers are sowing their turnips. I was at a picnic on Christmas Day. There are two girls coming to our place for * holiday. Are you going away for a holiday? With love to Scribbler ancl Nancy, — Yours truly, CORONATION IL Dear Dot, — I am getting my sister to write this letter for me, as I cannot write yet. I am mother's little maiden, and I shall be five years old on December 12. I hope you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. I go to school, and I like going. We have some pretty roses out in our garden We have some dear wee ferrets. I hope my letter will not be condensed. — Yours truly, A BUNCH OF ROSES. [Well, little one, this letter of yours has a- history. To begin with, I see you wrote it on the 9th of December, but did not post it till the 6th of February. Then do you know what happened to it? It was addressed to " The Editor, Post Office, Dunedin," so it oarue to the hands of the Chief Postmaster himself, who opened it, and then finding it began " Dear Dot ' veiy courteously sent it over to me, with a little note of explanation. So here it is 'at last in th* Witness, after all this time! Now you will have to write again, and see if the next let'er comes straight to me as soon as you wr te it —DOT.] Dear Dot. — The wind has blowD a lot of our apples off; it has also blown my flowers about, and the garden does not look very nice. I have one sister and tbres brothers. My brother has a phonograph and some very amusing records. — Yours truly, QUEEN OF FLOWERS. Dear Dot.— l want to give you an account of how I spent my holidays. My sister and I stayed in Dunedin for three weeks with my .aunt, but now we are home again >to begin work once more. We enjoyed ourselves very much while we weTa in town. We went to the Museum, the Ait Gallery, and the Botanical Gardent; we thought them very nice, as we don't se© anything like that up here. It was the firsfc time I had been in the train, so the journey, seemed a long way. I went out to St. KildiL and St. Clair. Our examination is over, andi I am glad to say I passed the Sixth Standard. Only two boys failed. I have left school now. We had a school picnic on the 241bJanuary, and a great crowd attended it. My father has finished shearing. We have 1209 sheep and over 403 lambs. The place about here is very dry ; we have not had rain for such a long time. Everybody is waiting patiently for rain. The heat is dreadful, i am minding a baby for a lady who keeps a fruit farm and has plenty of work to do. All the races are over now. I did not go to any, but my father went to them all, and my mother went to two. I was asked by a D.L.F. to go to c club meeting with her when I was in town, but i did not caTe- lo go. I saw a lot of L.F. in town, but I did' not speak to any, although I wore my badga eveiywhere I went. Dear Cupid, did you receive the auto. I sent you? If you did, please send yoiors back to me. My «unt has a little baby boy. Silver Sand is spending her holidays in Christchurch. Two of mj sisters' birthdays were last week, and my, youngest brother's is on the sth February. I saw Gundfigai's long and interesting lett<r2in the Witness. Our school reopened on the 27th January. I wish I could have come to see you, dear Dot. If I hed known where to go I would have come with the greatest pleasure. With love to Silver Sand, Kale of Belmaghie, Rebe, La^ca, and Dulcie,— Yours truly, PAPAKURA. Dear Dot, — Four long years have elapsed since I last penned these two words, and what numerous changes have taken place! Christmas and New Year passed off very quietly heie, as fhi» is a small country place. With li I tie scope for amusement, except for a ramble over the hills, or a rest in some secluded spot among the trees with a nice book. There is a great deal of sickness about here just now. almost every house having a patient I think it is owing to the hot. dry, sultry weather. The plums and apples (of which everyone seemed io have a great numbei) are withering on the trees, and nuners have all stopped work on account of the lack of water. I spent my holidays very quiet'y at home this year, but am looking foiward to a very enjoyable holiday at Easter, whsn I intend visiting Dunedin and Mosgiel. O.W.W. was a great success, wa<? it not. Dot? I thoroughly enjoyed reading Uie letters. I saw by the Witness that the picnic held at Oaruaru on New Year's Day was a very enjoyable one to all the L.F. piesent. I had the pleasure of going to the one two years ago, and had a. very good time, 111 spite of the seasickness. I wonder what has become of Indian Chief latelj ? I haven't seen a letter to the page from him for ages. Hurry up and write, I. C. ! The Cambrian athletic sports are to be held here on the 28th February. As sti rule they hold them on the Ist March, but the date is on a Sunday, so they hay« decided to have them an the former date, and we all hope to have a good time. Thera was great excitement caused here a few weeks back: the mountains surrounding this district were on fire as far round as wo could see, and for a considerable distance at the back of the ranges. The place was almost black with smoke. A body of eight men left here at half-past 8 one evening with the intention of putting out the fire, and after a hard night's battle with the flames they arrived home at 6 the next morning, with the fires still raging. Then twica the number went, taking ample provisions with them, to see them through the night, and arrived home the following day, victorious. No one seemed to know how the fire originated, but as the ground was so dry and so much bush about, it didn'6 take much to set it going. I noticed, in ths page a little, while ago that some D.L.F, has taken my norn de plume, but when sha sees that I wrote under the name first she) will, I suppose, be quite willing to change, as I think she said she had on]y writtea one letter.— Yours truly, JUANITA. [That is a long silence, Juanita; it 19 n<x wonder when it is so long since we have, heard your name that someone else should have come and olaimed it. You will not lefl so long an interval elapse before your nextf letter, will you?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — J was afraid some of the L.T?, would be thinking I had forgotten to write, so hero I am again. Fair Hair is upcountry, Kirwee Orphan is in Dunedin, and I ami in Naseby. "When I was down. *t Patearoa faux ?irls promised to write to

J-cu, but I have not seen their letters yet. Since- I wrote to you I have had a brother m*rried, but he is in 4 he North Island. My Eistei has been very iU, and in the Christchurch Hospital ; she is out now, and in a tolace in Dunedin, but she is uot veTy well fei. Dear Dot, I wish I could get to Duutedin, so that I could go and see the office. I would like very much to go to Purekireln to see all the D.L.F. that I knew when J •was there. . . Dear Dot, it is a long time, since I wrote this first piece, and we heve all moved again. It is over 1€ months since 1 wrote to the page. I wili tell you about », part> I was at yesterday. We left home about "l, and arrived home agam at 8, and we had a most enjoyabk time First we all gave the young girl a birthday present, "hen we went out and had a game of rounders, and when we got tired of that we played "Nuts in May." I suppose you know kow to plaj that game. Dot. I go ,to near'y a'l the dances about here, Out never find any D.L.F. I do.it thmk t-srre pan be any here. I fame been nere five Wonths now, and have only found one-Miss t) • I don't know her norn de plume .My lldest sister is in the Hospital in Dunedin ; be used to write under tne name of Jiirwce Jrphan, but she has retired I shall be Retiring, too, in September. I have not long '*o write now, have I? So can you spare a little corner in the D.L.F. Page for this letter? Dear Dot, have- you nice gardens in Dunedin? There is a lovely big garden m Drybread; it is worth coming to see lou ought to come up and go and see it , i am sure you would be pleased with the journey. 6»ve yon ever been up at Drybread, Dot? tt is a nice quiet place. Do yd ever feed palves? I feed one and milk one cow We hit such a deai little lamb, but it died ,the night it was biou 3 ht in and we were ec soriy for the poor little thing. I was at Patearoa the last time I wrote to the page. I wonder if Pride of the Market ever goes tc see you? She is working in Dunedin. Hie first time I go to Dunediu I will call and 6ee you. I have never been in Dunedin yet, and I sha'l be 20 on September 9. I orten ; wonder where all the Purekireki D.L 1 . are; } I never hear from any of them It was very s quiet up here at holiday time. I wen, to the races the day aite New Year, and , enjoyed .myself not badly. It was 'o wind? and dusty that two of us took off our hats *nd left them with the Chinaman The sun ' TOls scorching hot, and .ye got all sunburnt. t would like if N. E. J or any of her Sisters would write to me My address is "The Black Girl, care of Mrs T. Mmeharn, t>rybread Hotel, via Omakau."-Yours .truly, THE BLACK GiRL. Dear Dot,— As this is my first letter tc th« D.I.F. Page, I hope that you will accept me as one of your happy band- This is the fourth letter that I have started to write ko you to-day. I posted three of them m *h« range. I have beeu stajiflg heie at Woodlands for about two weeks. Storeboy »nd Tiger are staying here also, and between khe two of them I get a. lively time of it. We have bsen having fine weather lately, but »cry windy. Our tank here is dry, so we iave had to carry water from the spring — Sours iruly, &■ A - F - El have inscribed your name in my book *s a new membei, M. A. F You are welcome to our band. — DOT.] De&r Dot,— l was at a picnic on Saturday about four miles from our district, and enjoyed myself immensely. I left 10.80 a.m., and got a ride up to WaJiola •with the baker. Waihola. was the place where the picnic was held. When J. got there I went down to the lake, end thinking I would like a ride on the trolley, I pushed the trolley light up to the top oi the line. 'After I had got it to the top I got on, and Jiad a mc*> ride to the end of the jetty. When S tjm coming off the wharf my hat blew ail tne lake, .md I d.d tat Jcbo 1 " >vhat to

do. At last I discovered it wa« coming slowly ashore, so I sa down and vaited patiently. Scon afterwards I got my hat safe and scund After a while I went tc the picnic grounds. As soon as I got in I wept in for a. race. Fortunately I came in first, and the prize I got was a silver-mounted photo, frame. The next time I went out of the grounds I saw my sister (Sweet Sixteen) standing at the gate, and after talking for a while we went into the hotel and had afternoon tea. After that the time soon slipped by, and at 6 o'clock I started for home I got there about 7 o clock. I am glad to say when I came home my brother Maori Leap, had the cows milked At halfpast 9 o'clock I went to bed, and felt very tired after my day's outing. I received b. letter from R. E. W , and I hope she will see my letter, so that she will see I got it safely. I wonder how Queen Charlotte is getting on, I hove not seen her for a long time. I got Forget-me-not' 3 auto, the other day, and I \v.=-h to thank her foi sending it. With lo\e to X E. W . Sophia, A'lan-a-da'e, Queen Charlotte, and £ orget-me-not,—Yours truly, PLUM BLOSSOM. Dear Dot — VTe have had a few days' lovely weather, bat to-day it looks very mucli like rain Yesterday a few of oui friend 9 gathered together, and we all went down to the bench for a picnic- After having dinner some of us went along the beach to gather shells. After getting some nice ones we went back to the ethers and had a lest. About 4 o'clock we had tea and then went homo aftei having had a most e»i.pyable time and getting sunburnt. Love to Clock Winder. — Youis truly, E. E. C. Dear Dot,— This is the first time that I have written to your page and I hope you will accept roe as one of your D L.F. I have three sisters and a brother writing to your page, and I thought that I would like to write too. My brother and I are spending our holidays at our grandmcthsr's. We have been here six weeks and weie to go home to-day, only it «a? pour.ng wm We have been having lovely weather up till to-day I was at the spoits ant 1 a picnic heie, and I enjoyed myself very much at both The harvest is very neariy finished now m this pait of the district I have read a great number of books, but I think that ■" Valentine Vox. " ' liranhoe," and " Tom Brown's Schooldays " are thf best My une'e has some ferret's and while I have been here I have been catching lalb.ts for them. I know a number of i) L F and hope to know more now that I have started to write myse'f. My uncle is manager of a dredge on the Molyneux River He has over thr<»e miles to go to work He rides a bicycle in the fine weather and a hoise in the winter. I have passed into the Sixth Standard. There is a dredge working ju=st at the back of oui place M> brother is sitting warming his toes and eflting peaches One of my mates is on the Amokura training ship I must close now, dear Dot, as it is getting' time to have dinner Hoping you wiP accept me as one of voui band — Yours truly LITTLE JOHX [Indeed I will Little John- I am gad that you aie not afiaid to write quite a long | and interesting letter for your fiist attempt, j and hope that we shall heal often horn you — DOl ] Dear Dot, — I have reac 1 some of the letters in your column in the Witness, and I thought I would like to be a member too Maj I? I know one or two of the D L.F., and would like to know more of youi band. Ouj holidays are nearly over now, for which I am exceedingly sorry, as I am not at all fond of school. Mj sister and I have a governess who stays with us. so we have a schoolroom all to ourselves I am very fond oi riding, and we (rm sifter and I) have a dear little pony, which is called Tommy He is black with shaggy mane | and taiL and. >in fortune. tali , » tenioai I

love books and anything in the way of reading, and literature is my favourite subject at school. Do you not think it an interesting part of school work, Dot' I have read books by Dickens, Scott, aiid Geoige Eliot, besides others. I must stop, as I have no more time now — Yours tiulj. JKXXY. [I suppose you have read about Maggie and lorn Tullwer in the •' Mill on the Flost- " ha\e you, Jenny' That is one of the most mteicting of George Eliot's books., 1 think Which of Scott's do you like 9 I rtgiee With you that literature is a most mteieating subject I shall be delighted to j count jou one of my Little Folk, dear. — DOT] Dear Dot —May I be one of the D L.F. > I am nine yeaia old, and 1 am in the i aurth Standard I have a pet dog called Joe and « cat and a kitten. The cat's name is Little Eyes, but the kitten has not got a name yet I have a canarj , it is such a pretty little thing — Yours tru y, A MOUNTAIN LILY. [You, too, dear, are welcome as a new membei ot my band How did your cat come to get the unusual name of Little JJycs, dear .'•—DOT.] Dear Dot, — Now that all the holidays are o\er I thought I would write a few more lines to the page Both Christmas and New I'ear vvere pretty dull with me as I stayed at home, tor I did not feel inclined for holidays. Scone time ago I went to luvercargill show. The day being very wet I thought I would meet none of my friends, but when I boarded the train there they were m numbers, and I spent a good time with them. When I came to Invercargill station I jumped out of the carriage, and not thinking that my friends would go and leave me, 1 had a chat with my old comrade. When I went tc look for them I found they had gone and left me, so I had to make my way to the show «lone. As I had not been in Invercargill for a few years, I had forgotten all about the place. When I came to the gate I found that it was a D.L.F. I had to get my ticket from. I had a chat with him, and he told me about the mock banquet, but as the train went back at a qiiarter to 6 I could not wait for it. When I had had a look round the cattle and pigs I went over to the ring where the horses were. All at once I heard someone say . " Where did she get to '■* " So I looked round, and found that mj fuends were just coming out to the show. None of them being DL F. I thought I would leave them and have a stioll round on my own I met a good many Southland D L.F at the show, all of them being \ cry nice. When I had seen everything 1 went bacV to town, as I thought it would be bettei there than standing in the rain. As we were a, little too soon for tea, we went for a stroll round the shops. I foigot to say I was up the water tower. What a nice view you get from it! After tea we went to the station and boarded our train for Heriot. I came across one of my best friends this time — the one I had been looking for all clay, — and we got a carriage to oui selves and sat down, for I was beginning to feel tiled. By the time the train started our carriage was full. When we got to Waipahi it began to get very close in the carriage, and as I was getting sick my friend and I went out on the platform. It was pouring rain, but as I had my umbrella up I did not mind. When we came to Kelso my friend bade me good-bye, and then I was on my own to Heriot. I thought the journey seemed longer from Kelso to Heriot than lrom Invercargill to Kelso. We arrived home at 12 o'clock, well content with our day's outing. — Youis truly, CRUCIFORM. Dear Dot, — We are having our harvest holidays now, but unfortunately they are nearly finished. Since New Year we have had several visitors fiom Dunedin, who all went home tired of the country. Since I last wrote we had some ram, which was very much welcomed here — Yours tiuly. SILVERY WAVES. Dear Dot, — This will be my first letter to you, and I hope I shall be a welcome membei of your happy band. I know several DL F about here, Catherine of Arragon being a great friend of mine I am having a holiday et present, and a very enjoyable one it is I went up the bush with some of my friends on Tuesday. "We went up in a trolley whioh is used for carrying logs, and although, it was not as comfortable as a railway carriage we enjoyed ourselves more on it than in a train When we got there we roamed about until we found some bush plants which took our fancy. We gathered plants for some time ; then as it was getting late and we were very hungry, we returned home, there to enjoy a good meal. I must now close, as it is getting* late. — Yours truly, BELC-RAVE. [No, that norn de plume has not been taken, Belgrave You are welcome to our band.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have to go back to school on Monday We have had the mill and chaficutter already. We had two lovely crops this year — one wheat and one oats. We have had some ram this year, which made the turnips and rape look nice. Our cat brought home a young rabbit the other morning. Mj biother has a wee pup that catches hold oi your clothes and runs alter you 1 got a book called "Barneis Burned Avay " for a prize this year at school My sister got two first prizes — one for the Navy League and another for being dux — Yours truly. CHERRY 11. Dear Dot,— ln the footnote to my first letter you asked me to write about birds, and not having rmich else to write about I will do as you requested. The bird-nesting season will soon be over, aheady many young ones have left the nests to seek their own living, while otners will soon do the same. Goldfinches, starlings, sparrows, thrushes, linnets, and othei birds that sometimes build in garden trees nest in the hedges surioundmg our garden Goldfinches make small, neat nests of gras=, thistledown ban, and ■wool, and sometime!, other tilings are added to make their unnotice.ible , the ege;s aie light-blue in colour The homes starlings n/ake for thcr young aie Ihi-rc, and are of glass and featheis, their eggs ore of a darker bue than goldfinches' are. Like staihngs, =parrc-.\s make large nests I think their coos aie spotted giey and brown Thrushes' ne~U sue made up of gra = s and mud Linrets' nests tire «niall, and aie built up oi glass inlaid wit'i feathers. I ha\e found a few ground-larks' nests; tlaej aie generally in a small tussock or behind a stoi<e, and the eggs are so like the giound m colour that the nests are haid to find. Sea-gulls have rookeries on the Wairaki River benches, and. being the same colour as the stones among which thej he, their eggs, like those of ground-larks, aie almost unnoticeable. As some people have not seen paradise ducks, I will describe their plumage They ere about the size of domesticated ducks . The drake is Vack, and has a little white and green on it~ wing= , near its tail are patches of biowmsh-red, and on some ports of the body there is grey and brown The ducV is much like the -irake, but aixa. b^ a white

head, and more biown on the body than he has. These buds build nests in rabbit burrows, flax bushes, or in any places affording good positions for nests. Sometimes they e\en build m tiees, this being a place where few other ducks, if any, make nests The eggs are white, and larger than common clucks' eggs, they take six weeks to hatch When hist out of their shells the young birds aie all striped giev> and blick, but they giadualiy lose their down, and in the course of a few months have the coveung of tull-grown paiad;se ducks If anyone comes near the nest of a pair of paradise ducks one of the old birds (usually the drake) affects lameness, and goes sjowly along in the opposite direction fiom the nest, and if the pel son is one who does not know their cunning he will follow, naturally thinking the duck is going to the nest. Having led the intruder some distance away, the bird flies back to the nest, leaving the person both astonished and disappointed. While in Christchuich to see the Exhibition I noticed a number of birds in the Public Gardens. The household school I go to opens on Mondaj after the midsummer holidays. The time during which it was cosed passed by quickly The weather has been very dry for a good while, and manj of the small streams have no water in them, and even the bigger creeks have little water in their beds. If one goes past the beaches of a creek that I joins the Wairaki River one can notice that I m some paits all the water runs beneath the ! stones. Although there was rain a few days ago, it was not enough to do much good. — Yours truly, HARVEST BELL. [You have already found out one great truth about animal and bird life, Harvest Bell — the great expedience of being indistinguishable from one's surroundings. Have you heard of stick insects and leaf insects? These take their names from the twigs and leaves, to which they beai so extraordinary a resemblance That resemblance has developed through ages, and has now become one of the strongest weapons of defence possessed by any animal or bird. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have been making up my mind to write to you for at least four years, and to-night, as I was in a, writing mood, I thought " Well, I will mite to Dot " Gravel has been wanting me to write, and told me I should have wntten to you long ago, so. Dot, as I have seen you and my cuuosity as to what Dot was like has been satisfied I have started First of ell I must ask you if you will admit me into your little, or rather big, band of Little Folk. We are still having nice weather up here, and the lake looks very pretty and inviting. My little mate — you know. Dot, the little girl that slept all day while you were vp — and I went in for a bathe, and it was lovely. We went out fishing that night just after you left, and got 40 perch, and we had just got home when Boy returned 1 lom«. Boy and my mate and I cycled into .church this morning, and it was very warm, so when we reached home my mate lay down to sleep. Dear Dot, Boy is here telling me all sorts of rubbish to write, so do you wonder at my scribble? Boy says he is going to giye me c norm de plume, so do not be surprised if it is a silly one. Are you fond of reading, Dot? I am; I like Mrs Henry Wood's books and Marie Corelli's. I know a few D.L.F. — Little Bright Eyes, Boy, Gravel, and a few more. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting our — I suppose I may say " our " now — Queen Dot. —Yours truly, 'GOOSEBERRY PIE. [And so Boy chose " Gooseberry Pie " for you, did he ? Was that because we ate gooseberries together on the day of our first acquaintance 9 I am so pleased you have written and joined us, and hope you will wnte again.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to the page. I am. having holidays from school now, but lam going back on Monday. I am. in the Fourth Standard, and I am 11 yeais of age. Our picnic was on Friday, but it was not a very nice day. We are milking 17 cows now, and I milk four night and morning, and go to the factory soraetimes I am staying at Mat's place, and I was at the Waikouaiti Dairy Factory. If you will accept me as one of your Little Folk I will write a longer letter next time. With best regai ds to yourself and all the Little Folk,— Yours truly, LITTLE MACK. [I shall be very glad if #ou will wiite again, Mack You are one of my family now.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I think my last letter must have reached you in Old Writers' Week. We have had our school examination since I wiote last, and I passed into the Fifth Standaid We went to Se-itown for our Christmas holidays. We had a lovely time while we were down there, bathing three times a day generally. One day we had a big giabs fiie, coming very near some of the houses Ihe plurna and apples are all ripe. But there is not much fruit, because of the dry season. We go back to school very soon now I am learning music now. read a lovely book called " The Children of the New Forest ' last week. Hflve you ever been to Seatown, Dot ' We have another little P"PPy > such a dear little thing. They have got a 'Wonderland" at Miramar, near Wellington I went to it twice. The waterchute was a better one than they had at Christchurch. The fires Lave been terrible late'y. Most likely we shall have our Sunday school pionic in Feb.uary. — Yours truly, KIT-LARKS. Deai Dot,— Again, and foi the last time, I write a few lines to you Oh, Dot, I always did dread retiring age, but never thought fate would cast its shadow over me so soon I shj'l be 20 before this epi=tle appears in punt. But, Dot, I phan't be missed much in the D L F circle, as I wrote — well, not very often, but often enough for both Dot and my L.F comrades. Now the hand of Time is pointing to 20 for me, so, to obey Cupid, I must write my farewell letter to our dear old page— to the page I owe much, as all LF. do. Many a happy hour I spent reading the dear old page some se\eu or eight years ago. Yes, just fancy, it is seven years since I first wrote to Dot. My first letter was condensed. Oh, how my poor heart sank within me when Eulalie opened the page arul told me my letter was "In Buef." I told her, with tears in my eyes, I would not write again, but I did, write aid wh-at courage our dear editor gaie v« r Oh, to think of the bygone happy days, when oui dear editor was one of vs 1 h f} changes ha\e taken place since then' V\ei\ Dot to-day I can't think what to s^y, as 1 feel' bo sad at parting I can never wrue again, saxe in OW W. and S.S W It is inevitable, though, and we can't keep time back <=o I must bid you farewell. Crood luck and prosperity to Dot, the editor, and all my L.F. comrades. With love to Juaora Scobie, Bolivar, Dominion, Princess, and A 'Ned,— Yours truly, LILIAN II (Kitty Hayes, Stai and Garter Hotel, Oamaiu). [I am sorry the time has come for you to lea\e the page, Lilian 11, but that need not sever all connection between us lou must make a point of being present at any of our tocial gatherings when you canal übs picnics, and socials,— and also jean us

for the two weeks when you may writ* — 0 W.W. and S.S.W. All good wishes to you —DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am spending the third section of my holidays at Tawri Beach, so I think it is time I was writing about the second section, which was spent at Pounawea We wont up the Catlin's River in the launch, and spent a very enjoyable day. Another day we rowed to the mouth of the river, and there we weie shown pait of the Suiat, a vessel wiecked 30 or 40 years ago. She was one of the early pioneer vessels, and mistook the heads at the mouth of the river for Otago Heads One day we went to the. Blowhole In the bush there is an opening like a cave that has fallen in. The sea. rushes through an underground channel into this hole It is a terrible depth. It is impossible to get into the Blowhole, though they say some people have attempted it — Yours truly, LORD RYAN. Dear Dot, — What soit of weather are you having m Dunedin '> It seems hot enough, to roast up here. I hope you enjoyed yourself at Christmas, Dot. I had a, good time. 1 went to the sports on Boxing Day, and' also on New Year's Day I hope to go to a school picnic too. t aaw a L.F. with, badge on ; he came up and spoke to me, and told me his norn de plum© is Brisk. I have also seen two others, who smiled as they passed me. Manaa Nita is going home soon, but she says she would rather 6tay here, because she does not like Dunedin. She will not be able to gallop about on horseback «s she does here. But our pony has a foal just now, so we cannot ride her. We have another pony, but she both bucks and shies, a^ you see she is not safe for us to ride. My brother has been, busy cutting grass. We shall have the- threshing mill soon, and I shall have two miles to take the men's meals ; but I do not mind, because I shall drive. As my niece is writing you a note, I think I will stop, because I must not take up too much room. With love to ManiaNita, Red Bangle, Royal Victor, end Brisk, — Yours truly, MALTA VITA. Dear Dot,— This is my first letter lo you. I have an auntie writing to your page, and I thought I would like to become & L.F. too. Did you go anywhere for your holidays, Dot? I am spending my holidays with my grandmother in the country. lam going hom< next week. I live in Lawrence, but I like Heriot much better; so you may guess I am sorry my holidays are ended. I go to school, and I am in the Third Standard. Dear Dot, do you like running after bulls? My uncles were chasing one to put a chain on hiß nose because he would not stay ir the paddock. With love to Malta Vita and Manza Nita, — Yours truly, RED BANGLE. [Fortunately I have never had to run after — or before — bulls, Red Bangle, but I don't think I particularly covet the experience. Write again after your holiday, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, — Our school opened again today after having six weeks' holidays. I like school very much, but of course I am glad of a holiday sometimes. The prizes were distributed on the evening of December 20, and I got a book which pleased me very much. We have a garden at school, and some of the flowers and vegetables wer* exhibited at the annual show. Who is your favourite author, Dot? I -think Hesba Stretton is very good. I am so fond of reading 1 , Dot. I really don't know how many books I have read. With love to yourself and Periwinkle, — Yours truly, PEARL HONEYDEW. Dear Dot, — Now the holidays are over I will try to tell you how I spent them. I went to Dunedin, and had a delightful time. We took the car to the G-ardens, and I think they are a perfect picture; the fernery was also lovely. Anothei day we went to Roslyn, and called on my cousin; his norn de plume is Marble. The following day we went to Brighton, and stayed ft few days. It is a love'y be*ch jot bat King. We then drove back to B-ornside. and while I was staying there I mci another of Dot's Little Folk named Fau-.sil. 1 fully intended t< give you a call, but could not find time. The annual school excursion was held at Riverton. We left home at 7 o'clock, «nd arrived there at 11. It was a lovely day, and we all enjoyed ourselves. After having lunch we went down to the beach, and had a sail in one of the motor launches, and I enjoyed it very much. We then had tea. and returned home by train at 4 o'clock —Yours truly. SALLY. Dear Dot.— We started school again last Monday, and I was not glad to start. I was at Ruatttpu for r»j holidays, and enjoyed myself very much. A party of us came into Hokitikia on New Year's Eve, and after the fireworks we walked back. It was 5 o clock when we arrived there, and after having some breakfast we went for a ride along the line on a trolley. When we got back we just bad time to catch the tram going to Hokitika. We intended going to the Hokitika, sports, but instead of getUrg out at the Hokitika station we went on to Greymouth, and went to the races. We all enjoyed ourse\es very much there, but I think if wo had not been 6 o sleepj we would have enjoyed ourselves much better. It was 10 o'clock that night when we got home and IZTZS? :uVo 'the LVowin- in the lake, but we were not alfo ed lo pull them. There were also man, wild ducks shags, black swans end many other birds swimming on the lake. I am Komß in for the Civil Service examination at fhe !nd of this year Well, Dot I will now close. With to you and all the Li - Yours truly, THISBiL. Dear Dot,— lt is now a long time since I last wrote to you. I was veiy pleased to see my first letter in print, so I thought I would make another attemnl. I wae at the Te Tua picnic the other day, and enjoyed it \erv much We went down to watch the " monkey " driving in the piles for a bridge across the creek; we =at on some piles and watched it workinjr We have a little dog ! called Winkie. We threw him into the creek the othei night, and when he came out he went and had « roll in .he dust. I ! have started school again, and have got i ab"ut four mileE to walk pverv mpht and ! morning —Yours truly, HOLLYBURN. Dear Dot.— This is my first letter lo your page, and I hope you will accept me as one of "your happy band. It is too late to wish. you a happy New Year, but I hope you have had one Oui holidays are not over yet. My mother has been away, and has brought home a dear little baby with her. His name is Thomas. Don't you think that was a very good Christmas box?— Youra truly, BONNIE JEAN. [It was a charming gift; how pleased yen all must be'— DOT] Dear Dot, — I hope you enjoyed the Christmas holidays as I did. Our school excursion was to the Bluff, and I had • lovely tim*

I was out on the tug, and it went out as far as Dog Island. Have ycu ever been at the Bluff, Dot? Our school opened on the 27th of January, and our school picnic was on the 29th. 1 ran in two races, and I was M?cond in both of them. I got a brooch the first time I ran, and the second time I lan I <r O t a shell-box, which is \ery pietlty. Ilie weather has bean very dr> here, nearK all the grass is drjmg up, and the turnips aie not growing. 1 was down at Edward's Beach on ttie 15th of January, and I had an enjoyable time. It is a beautiful beach, and^ a lot of people go out to it every Wednesday and Sunday. My birthday was on the Sth ot this month. 1 am now 12. 1 can't think of much more to tell you to-night, Dot, so I will close. With love to Jonquil. Foi, Golden Buttercup, Gowne, Queen Victoria, Sweet Bell Mahone, Glenfalloch, Clayboy, nd Ardleigh,— Yours truly, i NORANSIDE. Dear Dot.— We have had five weeks' holiday from school. I was very sorry I did not get to the D.L.F. picnic on Boxing Day, but I hope to get to the next one. We have shifted from Riverton to Wild Bush since I last wrote, and I like living there f*.- better than at Riverton. We ha\e one dog and three pups. With love to Sweetheart and Johnny's Sister,— Yours truly, SWEETHEART'S COMPANION. Dear Dot, — I spent my holidays this year thn ning turnips. I have left school now I was in the Fifth Standard when I left. My brother is driving a fruit cart for Mr Bennet, at Coal Creek, and he is at Edievale very regularly vith iirut. He bungs fruit home sometimes. We have a phonograph now, and about 60 or 70 records. \\ c are milking one cow, but she does not give much.— Yours truly, CURNCY JIM. Dear Dot,— May I become one of your Little Folk My two sisters are ako writing to the page; one of them, has been writing for about 10 years, and the other has just started. I always read Dot's Page, and I enjoy re?dmg the Little Folk's letters very much. I am nine years old, and I am in the Second Standard. We have a new school, which has not been opened quite a year yet. There are onlj 16 going to it, but there will soon be a few more. Before we got a new school we used to have to walk four miles to school. We have a very good teacher, and I like her very much. Oui school excursion was to Riverton. \\ c all enjoyed it very much, and I went for a sail on a little oil launch, and enjoyed U \\e are having very dry weather just now Some of the farmers about here are busy harvesang. We have such a nice guinea-pig, its colour is black and white. We used to have a lot, but they got cut of their house, and the cats took them all awa> but one. As this is my first letter. I won't write any more just now.— Yours truly. LITTLE BOY BLUE.

[You must be glad to have the new school and be saved that walk of four miles mowing and evening. It must give you much more time to yourselves. Certainly you may join our band. Write again some day, wont you —DOT.] Dear Dot,— lt is over a year since I last wrote to you, and I suppose you will have quite forgotten me. I got my little sister to write to you, and she thinks it fine fun. I had hard work finding a .iom de plume for her and we must have proposed quite a ■lozen before we finally decided on one 1 was in Dunedin for my holiday, and 1 had a fine time. I have only been home two or three days from Dunedin, an<? therefore, as everything is quite hesh m my mind, I will tell "you all about it now. I only stayed a week in town, but during that time I went to many places. My cousin ?r.ho is about the same age as I) and my sister weie stavin" at my aunt's while I was there, and ,« "three had fine fun. One morning we had to go up to the Caversham Ir.dusti.al School and the superintendent (Mies Lavender) showed us all over the building. t%erjthing was verj clean, and we saw some of the girls. One day we went for a picmc to St Clafr, and we children had a good time paddling in the sea There was =uch a crowd «t St. Clair that day, and we saw some grown-up lache* paddling «» the sea just like chiidien. We boiled our billy round on the second beach, and then bed something to eat. I went through the Dunedin Gardens, and I saw the two emus and all the swans. We also went for a picnw to the reservoir, and my sister and I got big m South Dunedin, and we had a good time there swinging on their big high sving. i think Dunedin far superior to I™ Ow "but. on the whole, I prefer the latter Our school starts on Monday, and I am g-ad. because I don't like slaying, at home leij much. It will be my ta«t >e«r at school as Ij* now in the *«\*£»?™&}g" Dear Dot,-It is a long time sn-ce I last wrote to you. We are having .our C nstmas holidays now. We broke up on ll c 20th iXn te exercises, and a song C Bonnie Doon") I amused myself very much When fh? concert was finished we had a dance come soon it will be a poor l«kou. ■« th farmers. Our tanks are nearly dry . o 1 don't know what we are to do. I «uppo=e we shall have to cait all the water hem a spring I haven't been away for my holidays yet. I think I will go up Otago Cenliter leaving Oamaru I came to Dunecbn. and had a lovely time in the tiani" I a'-o was at the theatre two nights and erjojeo it very much. Some of the actir-g was^eiy amusing-indeed, I could hardly keep fiom laughing at times. After spending three dajs in Dunldin I lelt for hon.e. having .pent a very enjoyable holiday. Christmas and >ew Teir were very quiet here There wa- a dance on New Year's Night. My sister and I went, and had a good fly round- It was 5 o'clock next morning before we got home We don't keep very good hours, do we' it isn't very often there is a. dance, so we always make the most of it whe# there i? ono on. It -was my birtlrSay on Saturday, and I was 19, so I haven't got much longer to write to the page, have I? The fruitgrowers are busy getting their fruit picked to send away to Dunedin. Ihe fruit oarta are running every day. The farmer* are busy

getting their harvesting done ; we are going to lead some of ours m to-day The crops are \eiy short up here this year for the want of lam. As for the tuimps, they aTe just withering up with the heat Theie was a ciowd of visitors here yesterday, and in the afternoon we ail went for a drive, which we enjoyed very much. With love la Teneiiffe j (who is my" cousin) and to all tne lest of theDL.F.,-Yourstiu:y, cARRiERDovE Dear Dot —l am on my hol-diy Uip now. ai.d lam enjoying it very much It i« blowing veiy hard to-day, and the gardens are looking rathei knocked about "S\ c are feed- ! ing two pet cahes. and the bigge&t is about «ijc months old, the oilier is thiee months Our hou=e m up on a lull, and we can see the ca\es. They are about 10 minutes' walk from us. and although we lne so close I ha\e only been through them once On Christmas Day v.c went to Te Tua for a picnic, and several others came too, which helped to make the picnic moie enjojaOie. It is about 20 miles from our house, and we had to get across the mer on a punt My cousin, who hves in Imercargill. got first prize m the Navy League essay competition. The subject was ' Admiral Drake He also seemed nrst m the InvercargiU Competitions Society for a composition on the "Town Clock" We are milking two cows their names are DaiUey and 1 eggie Darkey is a black poly cow and will -et you milk her anywheie. I like pet lambs, but we have only one this, year, and he has a bent neck. He does look queer going about with his bent neck almost touching the ground. We call him " Bendy, and he always conies lecu'arly twice a day tor his milk," which he gets out of a sauce bott.e. My old schoolmates are waiting lor me to go fern-hunting with them, so I think I will have to close. With fondest love to you, -Youis truly, SPRING HILL [Please remember next time Spring Hill, to write on one side of the paper only. It makes more trouble for the printers when you write on both sides. — DOT.J Dear Dot,— We weie dipping sheep on Thursday. I went to South Hillend foi my holidays, and stayed three weeks. I enjoyed rnvoelf very much, but enjoyed mjself sail more at home. It vas raining heie on Thursday evening and Fnday. I know several of your writers now— Cowboy 11, Gabriel, Grub, Evangeline, and Aorangi . \\ c live three miles from the Hedgehope station, and get the mail every day. Our school opened last Monday We had «« weeks holidays, and I am glad to go back to school again and play with my old friends. There oie men giavelhng the road near our place, and I ha\e fine fun with them --}s£yEll

Dear Dot.— Christmas has come and gone, and we have enteied upon anotheV jear May it be a prosperous and happy one for a«l' I will tiy and describe a trip I made to my grandmother's by coach some two yearn ago. In the coach there were two ladies, my mother, myself, and a prize rooster, the property of one of the ladie* There were besides, four passengers .in hont. Ihe ITawarau River rolled along some 30ft or 40ft below us. while on either sice rose steer, and rugged mountains, with here and lere htt!e fkfts and valleys With love to ?otrtru^ lhdia alld w LS^SSr

AUTOS AND POST-CARDS. Fairy Glen, care Mrs J. Forrester , wou'd to very grateful if some r D L.F. would send h Lat W G^d°oi;;? Ue ca? & ell M W Nolan, :s d b d jft!°wTßx£r^ K La?y ra Nancy. care Mrs C Martin, Arrowtown would like to exchange post-cards with West Coaster, Nancy Lee, Gip«y Queen, and Alni"uSnA In i "uSng a thf Auto not.c from the letters I have in two cases this week omitted to add the noms de plume. The result is that I have two notices that I cannot P" l^The addresses given aie-(l) Care Mr A Morton! Puerua ; (2) Sophie Simp.onTicto.ia High School, Hokitika I must apologi-e to these two writers for not making their insertons, but Eope they will send me fiesh notices next time they write.— Dot ]

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS^ A W D F —Gipsy Queen, seeing your inquiry W the meanings of certain floweis. has very kindly sent a long list of flowers and their meanings which she thinks you might like to have Shall I send them on to you? as I do not think they would be of enough general interest to readers of the page to warrant my publishing them. Gipsy Queen —I don't know whether you meant the list for publication, dear, but. you will see from the above why I am not inserting it. In any case, it was veiy kind of \ou indeed to write out that long list, and I am sine A. W. D F will be very

glad to ha\e it Lady Gwendoline —You did not mention your former norn de plume when writing "o that I was unable to make the collection

desired Southebj. Cross— Smcerest congratulations to you on ha\ing passed your examination, especially as you had not expected to get through. I looked for your name in the list but could not find it; possibly only the names of Dunedm candidates were published here.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19080219.2.304.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 83

Word count
Tapeke kupu
12,042

LETTERS FROM THE LITTIE FOLK. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTIE FOLK. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 83

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