LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

l£*tt«: — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. tf& N» letter to contain more than 450 words. Dear Dot, — I thought I would write and tell you about a sunrise I saw last year when we were camping. One morning I got up very early, when eveij^one else was fast asleep, to see the sun xiseu I wen£ outside and began, to pace about to keep myself warm. After a while I saw a streak of light suddenly shoot up behind a hill, so I sat down under «• tree. I heard a lark, then a twittering in the branches above me, and then all of a sudden there was a burst of joyous sang, which filled; the air with music to welcome the rising sun. The sun — oh, you should -have seen it! It shot up behind the hill, golden and glorious, making the 'trees stand out against it. How it dazzled my eyes after the darkness. Oh, that burst of music, rising and then going down, down to a sweet song; then lower and lower until it was almost lost. Then of a sudden it rose again, and at last I, too, joined in . the song of welcome to the light of day. It was a glorious sunrise, Dot; and I only wish you had seen it and heard the birds sing. Perhaps at the end of the year we may go to camp at WaianaJrarua again, und I will have an opportunity of hearing the song of the birds again. 1 hope It do. We have just started our holidays, and I am looking forward to many a ride on my bicycle and a good time at Port Chalmers. Well, I think I will stop now, but you will hear from me again before the holidays end. — Yours truly. SUNNY BEAM. [Yoiir little word-painting is very good, Sunny Beam. You reoall several sunrises of i extra grandeur I h*ve seen. Perhaps the birds* morning chorus is one of the triumphs of Nature. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is such a long time since I wrote to the D.L.F. Page, and I am afraid all my little chums will have forgotten me. I know Moa ha"s not , she is the only D.L.F. of my own age I know, and I have never seen her either. She always whites to Lola and me. I am so glad 1 the winter is over and spring has come. All the lovely little crocuses and violets are popping up their pretty head?. We have a few white and yellow crocuses. I think the white ones are the prettiest. I have still got my little cat Billy. He was left motherless, you remember, when he was only a few days old. He is quite a big cat now ; he does such funny tricks when he sees me laying the cloth for dinner or tea. He gets up on a chair with his hind feet on the seat, his fore paws on the back of the chair, and waits patiently for something to eat. Dear Dot, did you ever read "Alice Through the Lookingglass"? What funny things she saw in that Toom behind the looking-glass. I also read "Alice in Wonderland." Sylvia goes to school now, and she will soon be able to write you a letter herself. With love to all the D.L.F., especially Moa. Sylvia sends her love.— Yours truly, BERNECIA. [I am sure you enjoyed reading about Alice, Bemecia. Yes, I have read both the books. So Billy is getting on well, is he? — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am Sylvia. I am five years old. I go to school. You see, I can write. I went to Shiasta's to a party. I love Mr Shasta better than anyone else 'cept my daddy and mamma. I wrote this myeelf. Please put this, letter in the Witness. Goodnight, dear Dot. Love to yourself and all the other D.L.F. — Yours truly, SYLVIA ESTHER. [Five years old and a letter like that. Well done for Sylvia. And now you have begun to write to me, I hope Sylvia will be a. name long dear to Dot and Dot-dom. — DOT.] Dear Dot.— l saw that my little letter was in the page, and I was glad 1 to see it in. We had a school concert here on the 4th of August. I was there, and enjoyed myself. There are a lot of Little Folk about here. We have had bad weather this last week. The river rose up to a great height. The hills all around were white with the snow. I am collecting post-cards. I have about 20 already. I have not fax to go to school, but the road is very muddy. There are six of us pfoiner to school. With love to all the happy band,— Yours truly, FLOSSY. Dear Dot. — This i« my first letter to your page, and I hope to join your happy band. I was 10 years old on the 29th of July. I am in the Fourth Standard at school. There are about 45 children going to our school. Th&Te are two of my elder sisters writing io your page. — Yours truly. MACILLICUDDY REEKS. [And what a delightful name you have chosen l Mr Linotyper will be wondering if his machine will burst. Glad to enrol you. — DOT.] Dear Dot. — It is nearly a year since I last wrote to the page. It is a good while since the first of spring, but the snow is not all gone yet. I was going to Christchuroh at excursion time, but I was ill. The bachelors' ball was held here the other night, and it was a great success. There was about 150 people present. It was about half-past 4 before the dance broke uo. What a lot of new writers are joining the D.L.F band every week! I was going to get some autocard", but I got two dozen post-cards insterd. Everybody is busy gardening just now. I think it is nice to have a pardon. The factory will Foon be open hsre j><rai>i, and we will have to '■tart milking. I do not like milking cow?. I would sooner do any other work. I must clo c c now. with love to all the L F. and yourself — Yours truly. BLOSSOM. [Wo all have to do son-.etliing lhat we 'viuld rathe- not do Blossom ar.d if we do tha-f well and cheerfully it nvjkep us haiiDier in the end. Glad to hear from you asain.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — One of my mates is leaving | here She is a D.L.F.. and her name Clo- j rine 11. She i« g-oins r to Mataura It is j raining to-day, birt I hone it will soon f-top. a' I don't likp wet weather. I am going for a music exa-uir.ation in October. Clmme j II and I are goii>g togethei, and we hope to }->«=<! Our school examination is to be j on Wednesday The girls had a rounder jnat'-h a little rIt 1 .- a:?o with the ! oy= The , Kir Is were 23 anci the boys* 32. We d:d not have tinis ii fin:*h it I have got a bicycle | and can ride it M. niaie and I vrcnt for a ] ehnrt ride together, but it was too windy I We were very tired when vre got home Wo have over 20 lam')' n~-w. Our school concert was in July, arc! v turred out a gre-at succe" Or.- wheat i» out oif the ground. The paddock look= very preen with the wheat just comins uo. I think I will close now. With love to Silver Poplnr and Clorirve II, — Yours truly, BROWN WEKA.

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let me be one of your happy band. I was eight years old in December last, and am in the First Standard at school. I have been aw*y from school for three days with a bad cold. My grandmother and grandfather are staying with us just now. They live in Dunedin, and like coming into the country for a holiday. It has been very bad weather since they came. I am fond of all kinds of animals, especially rabbits. I used to have two white ones, but gave them away. I know about seven L.F. writing to your page. Aa this is my first letter I have little to say, so will close. With love to all L.F, and lots to yourself, — Yours truly, SUNNY JIM. [This week, Sunny Jim, certain well-known lines of the great poet Coleridge have been brought forceably home to me. I am glad you are fond of little creatures df all kinds, and I am going to make that an excuse for quoting the lines I speak of; "He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and 1 small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all." Now I wonder how many of my Little Folk have read Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner." I should be T«ry interested to hear that this little foot-note has been the means of causing some of you to read that beautiful poem. Who will be the first?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last wrote to you. There are not many flowers out yet, as the weather has been too cold.. There are a lot of new writers since I last wrote to the page. My mate writes to the page too. My mate and I went" to a Foresters' ball in. Clyde last JPriday, and we bad a lovely time. The Otago represen-tative team was up in Clyde the night of the social. We stayed in Clyde for the football match, and I was very pleased when the Otago footballers won the mutch, as the Vincent team were so sure of winning. My mate and I are going to get our photos taken. I knew, some of ths footballers before they came' up here. I was down in town for three weeks, one week being showweek, so town was a bit lively. I did not sco many D.L.F about on show week. I am thinking about coming down to town again. My mate is writing 'to the page again. I think I will close. With best love to Little Bright Eyes ll,— Yours truly, ALEXANDRA-ITE. [Am I to have one of those photographs when they are done, ' Alexandra-ite ? I haven't any in band for a group at present, but I shall be glad to receive them from any who are anxious for another Witness group.— DOT.] Deax Dot, — I am writing this letter in Pixieland, with a primrose flower *or * writing table, and as the wind shakes my table a little you will have to excuse jumpy v.riting. There has bierv avow here lately, and while it was deep we pixies went up the mountains. We camped there for a few days, and in the daytime we ueed to have tobogganing, faliding, end suow-fights. At night we used to ligh* a fire in a cave in the rocks, and gather round it and dance and sing and tell stories till bed-time. Don't you wish you could have joined us for a while? I am sure you would "have enjoyed it. The elves of spring are busy, andi the flowers and leaves are putting in an appearance, for everything has to be touched by their w*nds before they grow. Haven't-we-had a fine winter? The manuka flowered twice, and the spring flowers are so muoh earlier. The little crocuses, snowdrops, and violets are giving the garden quite a cheerful look. The farmers round here will be burning off soon. I love watching the fires on the hills at night, the flames look so big and bright.— Yours truly, PIXIE. [I am sure, Pixie, you will enjoy the dance of the flowers- more than that in the cold mountain caves. Still, we must not let any chance of circumstances pffect the brightness of our lives.— DOT,.] Dear Dot, — This is the third time I have written to you. I am getting on all right just now. I was at school to-day, and at dinner time I took off my boots. It was very hot at school to-day. On Friday I was at school, and scmeone broke a window at dinner time, and some boys put a notice up on the school. I have been at school every day it was open Ihis year, and last year I got a first-class certificate. We are going to have a quarterly examination tomorrow. This is all I am going to write just now. — Yours truly, HOUSEMAID. Dear Dot,— You will be thinking that I am a very lazy writer. Since I last wrote I have been in Dundin, during which time I took ill. But I am quite better now, and home again. I do not know many of the D.L.F. We are not having very nice weather up here just now. The farmers are very busy getting in the crops. I collect post-'.•ard-s- and stamps. I am very fond c-f reading some of the books I have read being "The Wide. Wide WoTld," "Bessie at School," "Wha* Katie Did/ "Dorotny Arden " "In London Fields," and a number vote I think I will close. With love to Red CarnatioD and all the other L.P.,— Yours truly, PINK CARNATION. Dear Dot.— l am staying with my sister. I an in the Fifth Standard, and I am 13 years of age. I am looking forward to the warm days of summer. I read a good many booke. and these are the names of some I have read: "Mother's Little Girl," "The Story of * Baby." "The Wonder Child," "The Girl's Own Annual," "Westward Ho," "Madge Dawson," "Xiece Catherine," and many more. "Madge Dawson" is one of the best books I've read. There are A lot telling me that they are going to write, but -they haven't written to the page yet.. I won't write any more just now. because it will soon be time for bed. I wonder if' Broomsi kk likes doing all the work while I'm away? 1 was at the pictures one night, and thought them very gocd. With love to Littlo Sleeping Beauty and all the other D.L.F .—Yours truly. LADY CATHERINE. [Glad to hear from you again Don't be so long ttwey from U9 again. — DOT.] Dear Dot.— We are having very changeable weather here just now. and we had a slight fall of snow last week. The girls at our school have been playing skipping lately, but we have started rounders again, and Queen of the Flowers is captain. I received Furlite's post-card and also Seap!?g's auto., and was very pleased with them both. Hurry up, Cream Rose, and answer my advertisement. I have not had a postcard from you yet. Our school examination was held on the 7th of this month, and I hope to pass. We have started a Bible Class at our school now, and the minister coares every Thursday afternoon to teach us. Many of f"be girls ait our school have dolls to dress for the bazaar which is to be held here about the middle of next month. My two brothers are thinking about writing to ths page; but they do not know what

fto call themselves. What a large number of D-li.F. write to the page now! I noticed ' two more new names m the Witness last I week. I think I will have to close now ! With love to Furlite, L«ve Lies Bleeding, Sea-egg, and Only a Girl, not iojgetting your1 self, — Yours truly, A BUNCH OF BLUE VIOLETS. [A few letters of the alphabet end a vowel in the middle somewhere would surely supply a most original name. I shall be glad to hear from your brothers. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I take up my - pen to write you a few lines. The flower gardens are looking very pretty. I have been making* a garden tor myself, but the ground has been too wet to dig. The apple trees have already started to bud. The farmers have been very busy up this way. I am very sorry to say that I have not got any post-cards yet, and I hope I will get them very soon. I «n? going to Oamaru this week to get a tooth out. I was going on Saturday, but it was too wet. I have got a doll to dress for a lady. I have been reading books, and the names of them are. "Little Willies Journey" and the "Elephant's Story." My brother is going to write to you to-night. We have got a hen bringing out chickens on Tuesday. I think I will close now. — Yours truly, a basket of sweet apples. > [I hop© you will have better fortune with your, invitation . to exchange post-cards this j time, lassie.— DOT.] i J>ear Dot,— This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you wilt let me join your happy band. We hare been having very 1 rougn weather lately, and the creeks are all (in flood. My birthday was on the 14th of ' June, and I was 15 years old. We are • milking nine cows, but I don't have to milk • any, wnich is a good thing. We have a flaxmiil on our place, and it is going to start this week some time. I think I will stop now, as it is time I was in bed. — Yours truly, SNOWDROP. j [Perhaps you will tell the Jittie folk how j the flax is prepared next time you write, Snowdrop.— DOT.] I Dear Dot, — A good many months have passed by since 1 last wrote. The deepest ' t snow we nave had this winter was 6in. Sunday was a beautiful day. There is no frost on the ground, which is a very rare thing , here. It is about time now to start garden- { ing. The flowers are just coming out. Tha I fruit trees have started to bud, and we ara ' in hopes of having early fruit. The farmers have started to 'plough. There has been • a great deal of talk about the airship, bnt 1 it has not been seen up here. I have been reading a number of books lately. This ia all I have to so> at present. With love to all the D.L.F.,— Yours truly, BLACK JACK. Dear Dot, — It was raining, all last week, but it has been fine to-day. It is nice to I think that spring is here again, and ail the pretty flowers. Some of the books I have read are "Alice in Wonderland 1 ," "Dickie's Secret," "Dolly Dear," "Westward Ho!" and others. I like "Westward Ho!" as good as < any of them. I was 12 years of age on the 28th of August. We have not yet had our examination, but I don't expect we will have it for a while. I always like reading the L.F. letters; some of them are. very interesting. I would have liked to have seen Mount Egmont about a month ago. All the drays are put off the road because there is . nothing ' for them to cart at present. 1 know a good few D.L.F. about here. There seems to be a good few new writers to the page this year. As it i* bedtime, I must close. With love to Abben. Tresses, Climbing Fnyry, and all the L.F.— Yours truly, j THE FAIR HAIRED LASSIE. > [I aim glad to hear .that you enjoyed "Westward Ho!" . Those of my* "bigger little folk" who have not read it should make a point of doing bo whenever they get a chance-.— DOT.] ' I Dear Dot, — It is about a year since I last wrote to you, so- I think it is about time I wrote again. We have the chaffcutter in to-day, but it will be the last time for the season, and I am not sorry, although it is all right fun if they don't stay too long. , We have been having very wet weather this last- two or three days. It was a lovely day to-day, but it 'is 'aining again now. The 1 roads are very muddy. I don't suppose .we should complain, because we have had a ' very mild winter; we had a slight fall of | snow a fortnight ago. Have you ever seen a white starling, Dot? There is one -flies about here; it is. pure white, with yellow legs and beak. We have also a yellow female cat, which I think is rather uncom- , toon. I will atop now, as I am getting sleepy. With love to all, — Yours truly, i MISS MIGNONETTE. [That is most interesting: you ebouid t keep your eye on the starling, and -see how j long it stays about your vicinity.* It will ' probably prove that birds have a special J preference fur certain localities. • This we • are apt to forget, .because- we cannot telt j one bird from another. — DOT.] I Dear Dot, — It is over a ye»r since I last wrote ,to the- D.L.F. Page, but although I Ihave not written for so long I have always read the other, folk's letters. When I last wrote I was living at Portland Island Light- ' house in Hawke's Bay. Since then my father 1 has been removed to Moeraki. We have been here six months, and I think this is a very nice place. The nearest township to U3 is Hampden, which is eeven miles away, but there is a post office at the Hillgrovc Railway Station, about three miles from here. I go to the Kartigi School, and am in the Fifth Standard. Our examination ; takes place next week, so I hope I pass. ' We get a week's holiday after the examination, and I am going up to Lyttelton to , tpeqd mine with my aunt. I notice there are a number of D.L.F. write from Hampden, but I have never chanced to meet any yet. Dear Dot, there is a 'ong stretch of sandy beach between here and Shag Point, and in the summer evenings men often go out with nets and catch great numbers of { flounders and other fish. As newe is very 1 scarce, I think I will draw this letter to a close. With love to all the L.F. and j yourself, — Yours truly, LIGHTHOUSE LASSIE. I [You will perhaps not be quite bo lonely . in your new home, Lassie. Glad to hear I from you, but don't be so long before you write again. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have not seen any Hampden D.L.F. for some time, and I do not know I what they are doing in the way of finding ! a leader or getting up a picnic. I think they should hold a meeting and vote for a> leader, and also for a secretary. I should! think this the best way to prevent quarrelling. I think I shall change the subject 1 and try to tell, a story, the name of which is "Uae Your Eyes," an Arabian fable. A woodcutter once kept an ass, a horso, a wolf, and a fox. These he managed to tame when quite young, and every night they were shut up in a large shed near his house.

X3n rising one morning he found the Scor open and the animals gone, and off he set in search of ' -them. After walking about four miles me met a Dervish, who said, "Are you seeking some animals — a horse, an ass, n. wolf, and a fox?" ~Yes," replied the woodcutter; "they escaped early this mornins. And now will you be gocd enough to show me where "they are?" "I'm sonry J cannot tell jon "where to look for iii-em," replied the ether, "for although I can tell you what you have lost, I never set eyes on fttm.' 'That will not do foi me," said the woodcutter ; "'you miist have stolen them. You will have to -come before the judge and prove your innocence "' The woodcutter took 'hold of him, and, with the help of a passerby, took the Dervish to the court. After hearing his complaint, the judge, turning to the Dervish, said, "Surely you have taken, ibr h&x -could you teH their zianres without ! having *een them?" "Sir," replied the I Dervish, "all my life I have, learned to make good - use of my -eyae. On setting out this morning I saw that some -animals had been rolling in the dust, and I also saw some half-eaten thistles on the side of the road. I felt sure tihat an ass had done this. I knew a horse was «mongst the lost animals because some hay was lying about, and a farmer told thWt sotae thief had been helping himself to fcis hay. Be also told ise that two -of his beet hens wese gone, and some feathers were scattered here and there, and mo. 1 put this to ihe work of * fox. On passing * field I saw some sheep were lying dead, and I fancied a wolf had done > this." After hearing -these explanations the judge praised* him for iis observatiop and ' Acquitted Jam. Thu story wfll teach us how to use iur eyes. I must now say good-bye. TTrth lov« to all D-L.F.,— Yours truly, ! AS€I#EPIAS. Decs Bat,— l noticed some very nice 'letters in the Witnesß yesterday. I -didn't read them oil, but what I did were very nice. Birthdays have keen all on the go this ananth. I was at one on the 14th, which I [ enjoyed very much. We went to it about half-past 2 in 'the afternoon, and had lunch and then games; and next we went over the bridge for a, waJk. And then I kept up my own birthday en the 19th, and asked about 10 of my schoolmates. They came over about half-past 3 and had lunch, and we went out to our big swing, which excited them very much. While we were out there it began to get dark. My cousin put one of my pinafores over his head and went to the bottom of ihe paddock to give us a fright, but he didn't frighten me, for I saw him go down there. We went inside, and had some games until about half-past 7, .then my friend* went home. I got four v«ry pretty dolls given to me. Again, on the 25th, I went to my cousins and had lunch and ' then games. I came home about half past 6. The three of us were 11. I have not seen the airship that they say has been about, but would like to. Afe news is getting very scarce now, and it is so late, I must close Hoping to .have more news next time,— Yours truiy, LITTLE ELF. {You have been having quite a gay time in Ahaura, Little EJf. You will have a large family of dolls now to keep in order. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— You will forget that there is such a person as youre truly. I iesl ashamed to write again. 'after being so long absent, but they say rt is never too late. What a number' of beginners 'there are, and a lot of good writers too. What has become of Bush Boy and Birdie? I am sure they have not reached the retiring age yet. Soil up, ye comrades of the West Coast, and put your heads together and write. What are you thinking of, Young and Ardrosean? Are you short of paper, pen, and ink? If so, the local «tores will -supply you. The stories of the Special Subject Week were very good. Why did you not send a story, Manitoto? Surely you will write again to the page and give an. account of yourself in time for the next Old Writers' Week. What do you think of this airship, Dot? I think it is only a hoax. But some people have seen it about the mountains here. I think it must have been Mars they have seen, as it had such a bright light, and a little while after it had risen it seemed to send out bright lights. It is supposed to be nearest the earth in September. We have been having nice warm showers of rain. Some of the farmers have got their crops through the ground, and looking quite gr&en. Quits a number of lambs aTe seen frisking about the green paddocks-. The butchers will be able to have fat lambs before Christmas this year. Hoping I have not exceeded the limit, I will be able to write one more letter to your page, as I will soon have reached the retiring age. — ; Yours truly, * MIRIAM. j (And your retirement is drawing near, I Miriam? Well, we must all grow old, I suppose.— DOT.] | Dear Dot,— This is the first time I have written to you, and I hope you will enlist me as one of your Little Folk. I am 11 years of age, and go to the Clinton School. There are three teachers, and I am in the Fourth Standard. My sister is a D.IaF., but she has not written to the page for a 1 while. We all went to see the buckjumpers the other night, but they were not very exciting, as there were not many local riders that cared to try the horses. We are milking four cowe just now, and there are two more to come in later on, so that means a Jot of work. But w e keep a cowboy, and we have & separator, which is very handy, as we get nearly double the cream with it. There is a lovely bush at the back of the house and some splendid ferns in it. There is a fernery at the door, and it is lovely just now, as the ferns arc al] so green and pretty. Our boss has a, stud farm here, and shows a lot of both sheep and horses, and gets the best prices. He has just got word that a horse he bred has got first at the Melbourne show, and we are all very pleased about it. I think I will stop now. With love to all the Little Folk and yourself—Yours truly, SNOOKS. [So the buckjumpers are down your way now? I passed them on the road between Rotorua and Tauranga several months ago. How pleasant to have a bush so near you! Write again soon.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have been having terribly wet weather lately, and all the rivers are in flood It is som-e time since I last saw a letter from Tisbury. We are going to be examined by the inspector on Tuesday, but our proper examination will not come off until November or December. We are going to have a concert at school on Friday night, but none of the school children aTe in it. I will be able to tell you all about it the next time I write, and I hope that won't be> long. I think this is all I have to 6ay this time. With best love to all the L.F.,— Yours truly, BLUE-EYED BESS. Dear Dot, — I again start to write to your page. We are not having very good weather just now, and the roads are dreadful. The mud on the sides of them is over your boot tops. Isn't there a number oi vessels miss- • ing just now? I hope they are not all at the bottom of the sea. There is a lot of

sickness about "here just now. ThreE young men went to the -Hospital about three weeks ago, but I think two of ffo-eru will be out again soon. I am glad that spring has come back to us again It is nice to ~see the paddocks getting green wi£h grass Again,, after they have been so bar*. Th* farmers about hers are .siartki*, to get the ground rea-dy for tbeir cro_ps_ I oori-fispond wiib a f«w D.L.F , and get Borne pretty post-cards as well. I think I shall close now. "With love to all the D L.F^, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, PIXIE n. [I thinfe you must be Pixie H, as I have another Pixie writing this week, and I had not noticed tna 4 - there were two of you until now.— DOT.} Dear Dot. — What a lot of new writers you have! I was. at a bachelor's ball last Friday, evening, and I enjoyed myeelf immensely. I saw four DJL.F. there. I got home about -quarter-past 4. I h&ve changed my residence since I last wrote to you. I thought the SJ3.W. a success this year. I enjoyed the stories very much. .Most of the farmers about here shave a, lot of ploughing done, and I don't think they would be very pleased if a. flood came after their hard work ploughing the ground. Dear Dot, could you tell xoe a cure for toothache? I have it very severely sometiniea, and I don't kaow what to do with myself. We have five little pups, and they axe such dear little things. You should ccc them, Dot. If you go near them they will bark at you, and they will fasten their claws into your legs. We can easily tell Uie spring ias -come, for some of ihe flowers ar« out, such as primroeee, violets, and a great many 'more. I liaye not many post-cards; but " I hope I -will receive more later on. I take & great mii terest in the DXJ., and every week I I read the letters over carefully. There *re a great number -of blue gume in. this disJ trict. It -seems to be the chief Jdnd of I wood here, and it is very n ; oe for firewood. . Kowhai -and I rode our bicycles home last ! Saturday night, and as my bicycle was not very good K-owhai -and I had to walk about half-way home. We had to walk about three miles. We were very tired when we reached our destination, and we were glad to get to bed I have not much news to tell you, so I will conclude. Witih love to Erin-go-Bragh and Curly, — Yours truly. 4 COUNTESS OKUMA. i [If you cannot have your teeth stopped and filled, -Countess, or if they are too far gone, why not a good pull at the doctor's and say good-bye to the offender forever. — DOT.} Dear Dot, — Have you forgotten me, and thought that I was not going to write any more? I am now in the Second Standard. My garden at school is growing very well. We have one cow milking, and I am learning to -milk. Our cow gives two quarts of milk morning and evening. I w-ent into the bush on Sunday and got -a lot of supplejacks, and they are just hean+iful for the table. The lawyers and vines are in bud, and the violet bed is just beautiful. It will soon be the inspector's examinations. We have a nice flowering currant tree, trad the bell- , birds come and suck the honey out of the I flowers. Their song is like the tolling of a 1 bell, only far sweeter. With love to all the LJ?.,— Yours truly, DOROTHY i [I wonder if you hava any Teowhai trees .in "blcom where you live, Dorothy. Up Leith Valley last week I saw the tuis sucking the honey from the 'kowhai -flowers. I think the kowhai in full bloom, is one of the finest sights we have.— DOTJ Dear Dot, — I have not written to you for some time. Some Dofs Little TTolk I know have left school now I know another of your L.F. Her N.D.P. is Longwood Lassie. She told me her name on Saturday night. Dear Dot, I *ni not a very good writer. My big sister is a Dot's Little Folk. Her N.D.P. is Diamond. I must close now. with love to the Little Folk. Wake up, Bound Hill D.L.F.— Yours truly. LITTLE PEARL. i 1 Dear Dot, — As I was reading your D.L.F. letters I thought I would like to be one ' of your band too. I am 13 years of age. ! My father is a schoolmaster, and my mother \ teaches the schoolgirls sewing. We keep no animals. Horses are the only animals I • like much. We have * toboggan, which my brothers made. They made it like a tramway line, -only it runs down a. high hill and away along the ground. We slide down it ! on * sort of sledge, and it is great fun. We also have a small house on top of a high tree: something like the one the i "Swiss Family Robitscn" boys built. We can see for miles around. I go up there, i especially on & clear day, for I look through j our telescope and see the flagstaff on Bluff j Hill and Riverton quite plainly. I also see steamers sailing along the ocean. It is very nice to see the white-tipped waves come--dashing into the shore. Sometimes we go across the river Oreti and go over there. We search about, looking to see what we j can find. My mcther found a ruler lying ! on the beach. It had been warhed over from Colac Bay. I hope that this letter I to you will interest all your DIL.F. and ' yourself, — Yours truly, ] MERMAID 11. ! [Those houses on the tops of trees ape delightful are they not. Mermaid II? Did ■you ever use a stave of a barrel tor tobogg aning? You will have received my note by now.— DOT.] j Dear Dot, — As lam not at school to-day, I I thought I would once more write to the i page. I was very sorry to see that Chips ! was ill, and I hope he will soon g-et better. i I suppose that is why he has not written ; to me. We are having very unsettled weather i just now — one day it will be raining and ! the next day H will be blowing. I hope we will soon have better weather. 1 am very \ fond of reading, and I have read a good many books, some of which I will name . "Erling the Bold," "In Cupid's Chains," "Mary Garth," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Fortunes of Claude," "Saved from the Sea," "Shore and Sea," and a good many others We are thinking about having a D.L.F. picnic, do you thmh. nine D L.F. and some friends would be enough to compose one? , There has ben a gieat deal of rain here, i and the river is in flood Yesterday, while crossing the river, ths grocer got stuck, and only by a stroke of fortune he succeaded in i gaining the opposite bank. I have no more | news at present, so I will conclude with j love to Chips. English Myrtle, .New Zealand Fern, E. L. M.. not forgetting yourself and all the other D.LJF.,— Yours truly, THE STAR OF BRUNSWICK [You should be able to have quite a pleasant picnic with that number, Star of Brunswick.—DOT.] | Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to the i page, and I hope you will accept me as one !of your Little Folk. We have had very rough weather this week, and last week we had a fall of snow. I ani fond of reading, and have read r great number of books, som-e ol the most interesting being "The Three Graces," ''Littie Minnie." and "Oliver Twist." I have read Jaany, but I did not ■ like "The Mill on the Floss." ily sister

has a .big retriever dog, and she calls him Lex. He will sit On the see-saw and carry a hat. I do not know any L.F down here, but where we were before I knew one. I think I will close now. With love to all ths L.F., — Yours truly, MYRA'S MATE. [I have added you to my large family, Myra's Ma±e. So you didn't like *'Th« Mill en tie Floss"? Well, perhaps it is wrong of me to let you know, but I don't, blame you. Perhaps you will like i' later on in your life. -DOT.] Dear Dot, — What a. time it seems Finoe I last wrote to the page; you will be thinking I have forgotten you. We have had a good winter, but this last few weeks we have had terrible weather, aaid everything looks horrible. There are a lot of D.L.F. round about here writing. The factory will soon be open here, and we will have to begin milking cows again. I do no' like milking cows. We have been milking three or four cows all the winter. There is going to be an annual ball fa the hall here shortly. I was at the bachelor ball a week .»r two ago, and I enjoyed myself immensely. It was all right tharf night, but it was not so nice next day, when I had to get up. I did not so for any holidays at Easter. I have started a lot of books, but never finished them. I have not seen the airship, but I might have a chance of seeing it if it cones around again. I think it is only a bright -star, though. The farmers have nearly *U the ploughing finished up here. The mornings are very -cold, and it is ztot too nioe having to get out of bed very early in the morning. Ther*. was a lot of good stories in S.fi.W. Hurry up, Gringersnap, and write to the page soon again. I think 1 will, close" now. With fondest love to Gingersnap, DeUce of Diamonds, Longwood Blossom, and Lonely "Lassie, — Tours truly, FLOWER GIRL. [If we didn't have in pay a little for our pleasures, don't you think. Flower Girl, that we would be making life nothing but a round of pleasures ?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I .have enjoyed reading ihe D.L.F. Column, so I felt I would like to write too. I like to pick up the WitneES and iead the Young Folk's letters. We have just had a quarterly examination, and I got third in it. I have a pair of Australian love-birds. A g-entleman gave them to me as a present. They are so pretty, I am proud of them. Oh, well, as this is my first letter to the page, I think I will stop. Love to all the other D.L.F., the editor, and yourself, — Yours truly, MISTLETOE. [What beautiful birds the little love-birds are! I am -afraid we shall have to call you Mistletoe 111, unless you would like to adop'j anothsr raine. — DOT.]Dear Dot, — As my mate is a writer to your page I thought I would write too — that is, if you will accept me as a correspondent. I t"ke a great interest in reaSin gthe letters, and have made two or three attempts to write, but the} hav-e always reached the fire. Mollie is my mate, anfl we hay« good times together We were out at a dance in the country last v week, and enjoyed ourselves very much. We are thinking of going to a ball ia town here at the end of the month, and are looking forward to a good time. I know a number "cf ' DJL.F., among them being Mermaid, Mimosa, Rhodo, Lilian 11, Lilian ll'b Mate. Curly Pow, ' Corporal- 11, and Mcrljie. Did you get- back to Christchurch all right, Mermaid? I was sorry I did not go down to the express to see you go through, but I was not sure which day you went. I have not seen 'a letter from you for a long time. You should hurry up and write. Are you still in the back-blocks, Lilian H's Mate. I have not eeen you for about a y-ear. I think I have said enough, seeing this is my first letter. By the way. Deerfoot, did yoti reach the back-blocks all right after the dance. With love to all the D.L.F., not forget-ting yourself, — Yours truly, TESSA. [Your first letter is welcome, Tessa. You evidei-tly have already had a good introduction to Dot-doin — DOT.] Dear Dot, — We were both very pleased to see our very, very small letter in print. It did look so tinv^ and when we wrote it it seemed fairly long. I think Tiny Tean and I will have to write separate letters, for we live a good distance apart, and I do not attend the school now, so I see very little of Tiny. I was at a Dunedin school fo* a few months, but I had to give it up. I do not care very much for Dunedin. I would rather live in the country; it seems fresher and freer. I have a few D.L.F. friends, but not vp.ry many. My reason for not writing for so long was that we had stopped getting the Witness, but my sister brought one home the other day, and I read the D.L.F. Page, and was seized with a longing to write pgftin. There are many ver>- interesting letters appearing, but I liked the old-time ones better; we younger on.es don't seem to have aa much life in us as they had. I must close now. With best wieheß to all D.L.F. and Dot.— Yours truly, RATTY MAT. [Still we must try to show the old writers that we can write letters equall> as interesting as theirs were. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I thing it is nearly time that I dropped a lin« for the page. It will be the last, as I have ijeco»ne of age, but I will always take an interest in the page. Since laet I wrote the page has thrived to a great exteiit; every week there are always a number of new writers. I wonder what has become of some' of the old "has beens" ? A lot of them are not of the retiring age yet. I should like to see a letter from soms of them. I suppose they have got too lazy or too conceited. What has become of St. Monica. Hurry up, chum ! Let's hear a word from you; it seems ages since yon last wrote to the page. What a lovely letter the last one was you wrote! Just another to set some of the others going. I hod a trip to Dnnediv a whil-e back. It was • juct lovely. All tht. time 1 was there I only met one D.L.F., a verj nice girl. too. The gardens were just what one cou'd detire . they see>ned sc lovely with all the nretty flowers and tre»s The gcoeeberry bu?hes are all out in bloom and the trees in bud. I will have to stop now. As it will be my la=t letter. I shall be very glad to write* 1 to the Old Writers" Week. So goodbye, Dot, and all the L.F —Yours truly, L. O L. (Tim Ryan, Cecil Peak, Lake Wakatipu). [I am sorry you are going to leave us, L.0.L., still it is no use waxing sad over it. We shall hear from you occasionally. The best of good luck to you, and a life full o-f the things that are best for you.— DOT] Dear Dot, — I hope you will let me join your band. I ha\-e often been going to write, but I feel too shy because I do not know any LittJ-e Folk. I should like to make acquaintance with Love Lies Bleeding. I am going to tell you about a trip we had across the Kaiwarra River last Sunday. We started away at 11 o'clock. There were four of us. The first experience we had was to ,

' cross in the punt. The m«n that looked after the punt lived the other side of the river, so we had to 000-ee to him to fetch - the punt across. He- took about a quarter of an hour to come across the river. I thought he would never get across. It is worked by a chnin going round on a drum. "When he did get across we soon got on and took the buggy and horse on board. I-t took us about «■ quarter of »n houx to get back again. Ycu could hardly tell the punt was going, it moved so slowly. When we got across we all got into the buggy and started off again, telling- him we would! be back about 4 o'clock. Wben we got along tike road a bit we came to the residence of an old man, whoir we stopped and! talked to for a few minutes. We had about 20 gates to open, because it was all one man's property. The next place we came to the men's houses who worked {or the landlord. Two of them were breaking in a horse; they had it in a hreaking-in gig. The next place we came to was the end of our journey. It was the jetty and woolshed, and a big place for the shearers to sleep. Th«re were about 50 bunks- in the shearers' room, where they slept. We went' all through the woolshed*. They h&tt it full of grain »t one end. Wb weighed ourselves, and then we looked at our watches mad found it was 1 o'clock, so we thought we had better have our lunch. After lunch we went a little way up the hill -and got.some green twigs of every different tree, and then we came down and started for home. We stopped several, times .-op the road. A-t last my brother said it w*b getting late, so" "we did xtat 'stop any more, and arrived home as the clock was striking s.— Yours truly, . BED WINC. [When last I crossed in a punt the Cluth* Baver it was merely a matter of * ininute or two. The punt .was Arvnm. acrois 3>y 4heforce of the stream. The punt you apeak of must have been worfced Glad. to. enrol you, Bed Wing.— DOT.g Dear Dot, — We aTe going to have «, week's . holiday, beginning on Monday. My friend Pearl of ihe Sea has written to your page, and is very interested in it. Tke mysterious airship has not b«en' seen about here yet. I suppose this i 3 too fair for it to come. I read in the Witness that some of the LittleFolk have seen it I w»s out driving with my father to-day, but it was very cold. I often drive him. I learn dancing mow, and I like it very much. We had our school examination list Mcnday. I have not much news thie time. — Yours truly, WATEB-OF-I/EITH. Dear Dot, — I once again take up my peto write to you. Our examination is over now, and I am pleased to say I passed into the Third Standard. There are 100 children going to our school and four teachers teaching. One of my sisters writes to bhe page, end likes writing very well. Since I last wrote to. you I have read a few books named "A Sailor's Darling," by Miss Bouetwood; "Teddy's Button," by Amy lie Feuvre; and "The Brother's Return," by A.L.O.E. The weR-ther is very rough out here just now, but is clearing up nicely now. I do not like getting out of Blanket Bay these cold mornings. It won't be very long before Christinas is round again I.'1 .' I think I will close new. With love to all the L.F. »cd yourself, — Yours truly, , A BUNCH OS 1 VIOLETS. [Congratulations on. passing into the next standard. On looking *t my roll I find I have three Little Folk with the same name — A Bunch of Violets. I shall have to add to the others' names II and III.— DOT.J Dear Dot,— l haven't had much time to write, »b I have been out on the hills all winter rabbiting with my father. Rabbiting. is far from- tfi-e best of jobs, but it is the. only work a boy of my age can get Tip this way. We" get £1 for the slrias in winter and 14s in the summer, and I think we work for our money, as they have to go through a good many processes before the station gets -(hem. I think it will be an early spring this year, as the grass about the hillsides is looking very green. It has been a very sloppy winter up h«re, And the roads have been in an *-wful state, but we oannct grumble, as the ground might" have been severed with snow. Dear Dot, you asked me in last letter to tell you about any birds up this way. Well, I think the quail is the prettiest of the whole lot. It is of a greyish colour and about the «ize of a pigeon. The cock bird has a velvety tuft of feathers sticking up from th» top of its head. The quail lays from 10 to 14 eggs, and when the young oner are hatched it is only a day or two until they are running about the rocks and bushes with their ' mother. The young quail (sre very conning, and. when frightened; will hide in a very small space whera you cannot find them. Last year there was * quail that built ills nest under a sweetbriar bush -close to , our fence, and when mother would food the hens it would come and sit on the gatepost. I think I will have to close now, $» it is getting late.— Yours truly, FAIRDEOOY. [That is a » ice little sketch of the quail, Fairdecoy. You must tell us something more about the habits of the birds you notice. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— l was glad to see my l«et letter in the Witness. I am just going to write a short letter this time, as it is getting late. Our examination is on the 7£h of September, and I hope I shall pa«s. I have had one post-card and one auto., now, but I ?_m expecting more -every day. I know a good number of L.F. about here now. I seem to find a new one every day. It har been raining for ihxe* days here now. I do not like the rain, because I cannot go out and play or go tr. school. I have still <»ot my two cats. When we put the fern» out in the rim and they blow about the cats jump at them and would break them if someone did not stop Iliem. Do you like ferns, Dot? I think I shall stop now. With love to Sceptre, Queen of the Flowers, Scribbler, ar.d youis.'lf.— Yours 'ruly, UNE POJOIE BOSEE. [I am afraid gathering ferns from the several bushes npar Dunedin is one of the little crimes 1 am often guilty of. — Dot.J Dear Dot, — This is my second letter to your page. It has been raining hard, and I cannot get about. I have been away from home, going to school, and I have just come boms' fcr my holidays. We have had our examination, and we have a week's holiday. I received my badg safely, and 1 always wear it. We have a nice lot of spring flowers out. but the wet is spoiling them. My beautiful collie dog is dead, and we have a retriever puppy. We have two pet cats. I am in the Third Standard-, and I am 11 years old. I like reading the L.P letters. My teacher's name is Miss M'Callum. With love to all the L.F.,— Yours truly, STBAWBEBEY LEAF Dear Dot, — I was very glad to see my letter in print. You said that you wanted me to write to you often, but I will when I have some news only. The weather has been very wet, and the roads are nothing but a swamp. But as I write this th* weather has cleared up and the sky is fr.ee

of clouds. I entered for the competitions down here, which were a great success. I entered for the drawing competecion fox Jftaiors under 16. Although I had eight to compete agiuwt, I was gla-1 I won. For first prize there was a certificate and 10s 6d. I saw Waihopafs letter, and he said he had * friend writing whose N.D.P. waa Tart. That was me, Dot, but at the last moment I I changed my N.D.P. I like going to see Fullers. 1 moving pictures; they look real sometimes, and I forget that I am looking at pictures Some cf them sre very funny indeed. I must close now, Dot. With love to ..alt the D.L.F. and Waihopai, not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, WAHSZPO. [Congratulations for winning that prize, "Wahszpo, and thereby upholding the honour of D.L.F.-dom.-DOT:] Dear Dot,-"-Here I am again, \mting to your page, but I think it is time I made another start, don't you, Dot? We had a concert down here en August 27, and there ■was a big crowd th%re. First of all there was jb. <i^et plajncd Ly two of fJje school children. After that all the school children sang "Stay in your own backyard." Next a song was sung by a little boy and girl — namely, Cook Robin and Jenny Wren. There -were a few comic songs sung, but not many There were a lot more songs, but I will not name them ju&« now. I have riot lost my^ badge yet, Dot, bat I often wear it. I have not got many post-cards since I wrote to< you last. My mother and I went -to church yesterday morning. We had a tetrribls lot of rain here last week. The rain r started the night of the corteer*,- and didn't j clear up till Mtrday night. -Tben vre had ; a good day on Tuesday, and on Tuesday night it started to rain again. It cleaied up again on Thursday night, and we have had good weather ever since. Our examination will soon be coming round again, and I hope I pass into the Fourth Standard. The days are getting nice and long now. It is i not so cold in the mcinings going to school j now. Well, Dot, I think I will have to | close, — V ours ti uly , WAITAKI FAIRY. Dear Dot,— l have my term holidays now, and am away for a holiday up to Hakataramea. We have be»i having very bad weather i here lately, raining the whole day and even j snowing sometimes; but the snow did not lie on the lower parts. Upon the mountains at the beck it is lying white yet. Yesterday the weather cleared up, leaving plenty of mud after toe wet. Last night my cousin and I went to a school concert down at ■Sandhurst. It was very good indeed for a children's concert. There were two tiny wee tots about feu. years old singing together. They sang beautifully too for ones so young. A gin there danoed the Highland fling very nicely, but she was not dressed in the Highland costume. I think kilts make a great' difference. There was a very amusing dialogue, where five little tots were dressed as cats, and when they trovted on to the stage they looked so very comical. Uncle has just had the telephone put en to the house, so that is a great amusement just now. I can talk to my other cousins fuither uj. ihe- valley whenever I want to talk and don't want *o walk up. It will bo very handy, though, because the house is so far fro^n ihe nearest telephone, or' .what used to be -the nearest. Dear Dot, I will have to stop now, as I can hardly write ' from listening to uncle playing the bagpipes. — Yours truly, ■ GARRY OWEN, [A telephone is a great joy for a time, Garry, but we sometimes get to saying hard things about it when it rings too often.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my iist letter to you, and I hope you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. One of my mates and I ar« learning to rid«, and we have gTand fun. We had two pet lambs this year, but they both died; but we have another, and I hope we rear it. I seldom reed, but my sister would read all day. We have had a week's holiday, and I enjoyed it very much. As it is bed-time, I must close. Love to Ivory Queen, Peggy Purkins, Crimaon Butterfly, and your^eM, — Yours truly, EUNONYHABEEISrYHA. [Well, now, you have set the patient linotype operator a task with a name like that. "W« will have to ask him to eet it very carefully, or «ise he will burst the meehine. You mvst tell me how you get on with your pet lamb.— DOT.] Dear Dot. — May I become one of your band? I am 10 year* old, and have five eisters. I am the olds»t. My sister Ethel is also writing to you. We bave two dogs, but one of thep U only a pup. When we lived in Dunedin I uaed to go to Quarantine Island and stay there sometimes for a week or two. I liked staying there very much. There are freezing works here, at which my fathsr works. It is very cold in ths freezing chamber. I think I will stop now.— Yours truly, WORK BASKET. £Peib*ps you could tell the Little Folk something about the freezing works next time you write. Pleased to wel-qome you, Work Basket.— DOT.] Dear Dot;— Wl'l you allow me to write to your page? I read the D.L.F. letter*, and like them very much. I am nine years of age, and I go to school. I was born at Portobello, and used to lh-e in Dunedin before we came to Ashburton. My father works in the r rc«»zing chambers at the works here. I have five sisters. <sne of them is going to write to you. Ab this is my first letter, I think I will close now.— Yours truly. WORKBOX. [You won't find A«hburton quite such a pretty place as Dunedin or Portobello, Workbox Let me hear from you again soon. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— My sister is writing my letter for me, as I am not a very good writer. I am in the First Standard, and will be eidit in October. I was at a concert last night, and enjoyed mvelf very much. I am going to town next Saturday with niv aunt, and none to have a good time. If I help mum well with her garden this year I will get one of my own next year. I like petting up early in the nroi-ning. We live c!o=e to the Taieri River, hut we ar« not allowed to play near it. Honing you will let nr? join your htppy band, with love to all the D L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, SMILER. [I hope it won't be long before yoa will be able to write to me in your own handwriting, Smiler. Tben you will be able to tell me what you ii.tend to grow in your garden next year. — DOT.] Deur Dot, — It is a good while since I le?t wroie to you. There was a school concert lust night (September 3). and my sister and I were singing, and we had a good time. I a.tri getting music lcFfons now, and I get them on Saturdays. I have had seven lessons. T was in town i.ot veiy long ago, nnd 1 got three testh out without gas, but they didn t hurt. We have a few flowers out in our warden, but m mine tbev were only in bud I know a few D.L.F. about here I 1.-— ,^ "TV* Three Little Maids," "The

1 Bbaar Kingdom," "Only a Little Fault," ', "Aunt Martha's Corner Oupbgard." My little sister's birthday is next Sunday, and she will be four. I am pleased the winter is over and the warm days are coming. I • was up at my aunt's place for my winter , holidays, and went to sea Tiny Tean As I have no more news, with love to Tiny Tean and all the D.L.F.,— Yours truly, WINKS. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, so I hope I can become one of your happy band. I read the L.F. letters every week, and there axe some very interesting ones. I am 12 years oJd and in the Fifth p Standard. The spring flowers are all coming out now, and we have strawberries out in flower. It has been raining since last | Tuesday, and I think we will have -mew ! before long. Our school concert was three weeks ago, and the infant roonr and the upper room sang most of their songs first, so trat we could hear the grown-up people sieging. In one of the songs we sang th-e boys had their faces b'.aekened so as to look like nc«3cs ~ome of the o!dsr girls did pietty wand exercises. I must now close, as it is near bedtime. With love to all the L.F.,— Yours truly, SNOWDROP 11. fit is only a. week Jgo since I entered another Snowdrop m my book, so that I must call you Snowdrop 11. We will have to invent some new names. I suppc&a yoxi will be having some beautiful ripe strawberries in a few months. Write again soon. —DOT.] Daar Dofr,— We have been h*ving fairly ! wet weather lately. The primroses and i rioleta and all the. other &pnng flowers are . ! coining out just now. I like reading booka, and I have read a. good many different booka. Some of my favourite authors are Louisa. M. Alcott, Annie Swan, and '"The Pansy Series." We are milking two cows. I was up in the bush yesterday, and got a bunch >f beautiful red supplejack berries. They are very pretty to put in the vases. There are j very pretty ferns growing on the hillsides I up in the bash. V> c have two cai&, ar.J o.io of them is a great nuisance. I have three I ducks, and they follow me when they can. ' With love to .Liongwood JiLo^oii.. i^ A. U. , and Candle Prant.-You^uly^ I Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your wage. I am nine years old, and in the I Second Standard. I have two cats, and one got caught in a trap and hurt her leg I very badly, but it is getting better now. ! We live near the bush, and there are very ! pretty ferns in it. The sea is in front of 1 our house With love to you,— Yours truly, i SCABIA. | [It must be very nice having the bush and i s«a always with you, Scabia. Write again ; soon and tell me more about yourself. — DOT] j Dear Dot, — We are having lovely weather I just now. To-day was just like summer 1 The violets and primros-es and snowdrops. 1 aTe all in bloom now. The daffodils aie J coming out. We have about a dozen little i lambs. One of ou. geese is sitting, and the other two are '■ayina. The hens and I ducks are also laying. The Special Subject I Week was very good. We are going to have I a school "concert on the Ist of Octobeov I like reading the L.F. letters. I have started i to read a Chatterbox, and in it i= a very good story about a little dog. Some of the L.F. have read a good many books. I am writing to a girl in Cornwall. I am in the F.ifth Standard. I have not had the luck to se» the airship, but 1 might see it yet. I must closa now. With lovo to. Garstonite and Mountain Maid — Yours tru'y, HOLLYBUSH i [The address you require is Miss Margaret I Yardley. " Wai Marie," Takapau, Hawke's j Bay.— DOT.] j Dear Dot, — We have all out wheat sown I now, and some of it is nearly through the j ground. We have about 5f lambs and a lot mo-re of the sheep aie lambing. We have two cats and three dogs. One of the dogs is a retriever, and the others are sheep ! dogs. The retriever is very good for finding traps and bringing nabbits. Our violets, primroses, cowslips and daffodils aie now out in flower. Our vegetables are now above the ground, but the birds are pulling them out of the ground. — Youra truly, JOHNKiT FROM TiiE SHOTOVER. [I am pleased with the riddle you send me, Johnny from the Sbotover, and shall 1 use it as soon as possible. — DOT.] j Dear Dot, — I enjoyed my holiday very I well, and arrived home safely. At present I ■ am staying with my aunt. I came up on a I Friday night, and I -am going tc school in i the morning. Since I last to your i page one of my cousins cued with con- | vulsions and inflammation of the lungs. He was only one year and seven morith« when he died. We have two school teachers, a mistress and 8 master. Our master has baen nere a long tim« now, and I like him very well. But the mistress (Mies Herlihy) his not been 12 months yet ; but she is a very nice teacher, and I would not like her to go away. I am going to school in the morning with Mountain Maid. She lives not I very far from my aunt's. I think I will ' close now, as my uncle is teasing me. Wishing to be remembered to Mountain Maid, Primrose 11, Holly Bush, Lansdowne Lassy, Ice Creams, Little Bare Feet. Old Joe, Hobnailed Boots, and Garston Ladd. — Yours truly, GARSTONITE ! D«ar Dot. — I am writing to tell you about ' a trip I had to Queenstown some time ago. i I left home about 1 o'clock, and arr-ved in I Queenstown at half-past 3. The roads were very dusty, and there was a strong wind blowing, bait as my hor>c was lovely to ride I enjoyed it very much ur.dei the circumstances. Seeing that my florse was comfortable. I went to the hotel wid had some supper. I then had a walk round the town, and was at the wharf in time to e«c the steamer coming in. I enjoyed seeing the light of the steamer coming down the 'ake until it came to the wharf. It was a beautij ful moonlight night, and the lake looked lovely. There wore about 30 passengers, and j these, with the people who were on the I wharf, made Queenstown look quite busy. I I pat on a r«at by the edee of the lake and I enjoyed the fresh breeze that came from the j lake. Next d-ay I went to see the park, | which was veiy nice. There were a number I of tourists there, foid« playing bowls, others I vatchircg the ducks ar.d fi«h in th-e r>ond, v.hich is in the centre of the park. Others ! were playing tennis. There is a fountain spraying in the centre of the pond. There j were some lovely flowers out. and I enjoyed jmy morning in the par! 1 very much In the afternoon I went to visit some friends. • I got home next evening about S o'clock i thorouehly satisfied with my outing, and J charmed with Queenstown. Now I shall j tell you some books I have read- "The i Lamplighter." "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Iron and Golden Chain," " A Rough Road," , " Barriers Burned' Away, ' and some others. Tlie book I have jnst finished reading is called " Three People," and is by Pansr. The story is about three boys born on th© same day — namely. Pilny Hastings, Ben Phillips, and Toad Mall. They are each ', one year old, and we- will have a look at thei . birthday of each. Pliny Hastings is robed in the- daintiest of baby toilets, and a hunI dred eyes are on his handsome face, and

VANITY.

Ije is showered with all the good withes that fall on the heir and only son of a wealthy merchant. Ben PhiHips's mother, who has moderate means, reminds her husband that Ben is one year oid to-day, and also of the great party the Hastings aie giving for Pliny. Her husband gives Ben a kiss and declines any further fuss. Toad Mall's mother's friend tells her that her baby is one year old to-d&y, ar.d she ought to make some celebration. ' Humpn," said his mother with a darkening fa/iA "his father would get drunk, and if he don't pitch Toad over those stones into that gutter in honour of his birthday I'll be thankiul.' The lives of the three boys are given, and it is moat interesting. Ben Phillips dies in a drunken stupor, and Toad Mall, whose mother dies when he is nine years old, sets out into the. world and has a most successful life, as well as a useful one. He saves Pliny from a drunken life, and befriends many. — Yours truly, MARTHA. Dear Dot, — I was glad to see my letter in th« Witness. I have a sister and a brother writing to youi page. We are having roTigfh -weather. We are milking two cottb and feeding two caU-es. I am not a very good milker, but I am going to learn properly this summer. We have two pigs. W-e had two holidays on acoount of a wedding. I go to Sunday Schsoi nearly every Sunday. We are learning a new song at pehool. We have -a vegetable garden ai:d a flower garden at school. I have tftree brothers and five sisterr. There are six of us going to school. Th-e teacher got u^ two draughts boards, and we play draughts in school on wet days. Now I will stop, as it is bedtime. "With. leve to all the L.F., — Yours truly, VANITY. Dear Dot, — I was pleased to see my first letter published. The roads about here are very muddy jupt now. We have been having a good bit of rain lately. We will aoon be starting the factory again, and we ar» going to milk ebout 25 cows this time. Most of the farmers around here are putting in wheat, but they have been kept back with the last rain. With kind regards to all the D.L.F.,— Yours truly. DEUCE OF DIAMONDS. Dear Dot, — We are having very rough weather up here just now. Coming home from school last week I had to wade through a flood. There is a lot of mud about the building lately. Summer is coming again. The picnics will soon begin now. I will close now. With love to all Uie JJ.L.F .—Yours truly, GINGER SNAP. Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page. lam eight - years old and am # in the Third Standard. My sister writes to the page, and her N.D.P. is Scribbler. 0-ur teacher went away some time ago, ai:d we gave her a present of a photo, album and a brooch. I have read a great many books. Some of them are "The Corai Island" and "Little Women," and I am half-way through '•The Bad Boy and His Pa." Igo to Is-land Cliff School, where some of the children write to the page. I know a good many L F., and have often thought I would like to be one of them. I have written one letter to you, but it did not even get as far as the Post Office. My sister exchanges post-cards with some of the D.L.F. It will soon be time to go to bad, so I will stop. — Yours truly, CAPTAIN SWING. [I have entered your name in' my bcok. Are you a blood-thirsty pirate, Captain by, ing?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have just had a week's holiday from school, and I am now top of my class. I see thai Crean? Puff has been telling you about our Chinese baby, but it has not gof a wobbly head; in fact, I think it is a very pretty baby. There is another Chinese lady staying in Feilding, and she has a baby too, and it can walk. Neither of the ladies has small feet. When I make mistakes in my writing dad says I am a Chinaman. My birthday is next month, and I am sending stamps for a badge for my birthday. That is funny, is it not. giving myself ? present? With love to all the D.L.F. and Dot, — Yours truly, BABY. [M*ny happy returns of the day, Baby. Cream Puff has not told me what a wobbiy Jiead is yet.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Spring has come, and the gorse bushes are flowering. I have seen a few hon«y bees buzzing about the flowers. The daffodils, primroses, and violets are coming out now, and the hawthorns and sweetbnars are budding. Tne ice has been thick enough for sliding upon three or four times A little above our place there is a big dam. I went sliding cm a-fternoon, but 1 didn't have a good slide, for the ice was thawing a little. One afternoon, after I came home frcm school, I went up to the dam to have a slide. When I got up to it I saw about half a dozen people skating on it. One man made an g on the ice. He w-ent round the top part of it on one foot, and then round the bottom part on the oiher foot. One day I went sliding with two or three other boys. As we were sliding along one after th» other the one behind me slipped and tripped me. I fell, hitting my head oil the ice. I had a headache for a while afterwards. Our hens are laying now. We play marbles at school now, and I have about 40. The inspector visited our school about a fortnight ago, and gave a favourable report. I am fond of reading, and I have read many books. It would make my letter too long to mention all cuf them, but here are the names of some • "Robinson Crusoe." "The Swiss Family Robinson," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "The Three Midshipmen," "The Three Lieutenants," "Ths Three Musketeers." "The Last of the Mohicans," and a few of Ellis's books. I know G. S T., and I go to the same school as Orion and Alwich. We are trying to get more writers. At present there aro not many writers up here, but when the onas who have promised to write become D.L.F. there vwll be about a dozen. I think my letter is long enough, so I will close now. — Yours truly, ELIIACH. [You will have quite a little colony of Little Folk if you procure in all a dozen. I shall be gad to hear freir any of your friends, EJmach.— DOT.] Dear Dot. — In my last letter I promised to tell you about our school concert. It was a grpiid night, and the hall was packed. The first iten> on the programme was an instrumental du&t by two ladies. Action songs were sung by the upper and lower rooms. The infants sang and acted very well. An interesting duet was sung by two pupils, which was well received. A young man sang a Scotch sons.' in Highland costume which brought down the house Another instrumental duet was played by two «x-pupils of the school. Songs were suug by several ladies and gentlemen, and a step-dance was given by a young girl A dialogue, entitled "Bashful John's Blunders," was given by three ladies and two gentlemen, and a recitation by a gentleman, entitled "In the Choir," brought the programme tc a close. One of the conga sung by the upper room was about the negroes of Jamaica, cultivating sugar-canes. Seven or eight boya, dressed as negroes, acted- on the stage, and the girls did wand ,

exercises with the same song. The hall was cleared for da*cmg, which was kept up till 3 o'clock. The -.noney collected was counted, and amounted to nearly £6. I will close now with love to all the L.F. — Yours truly, ORIO2?.