LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 37

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I am a Box. lam very useful, for my mistress- can put clothes in me, and many other things besides. I am made of wood. Someone put a lock in me, so when I go in tlie train or steamer no one can take anything out of me but my mistress. Sometimes she sends me by train with some things for her friends, and I always reach the end of my journey in safety, Whep I 90 by steamer

I sometimes see one or two of my friends, but they never speak to me. One day a man came by, picked me up, and threw me to one side, and broke my side. This is -all I have to say to-day, as my side is not mended yet. So good-bye. — Yours truly, Or-D Box. Otakou, December 12.

[Poor Old Box with the broken ribs ! lam afraid you have fallen on evil times, and that the broken side is only the prelude to a speedy dissolution. But who knows, perhaps something very nice may be made out of the wood of you, and possibly you may once more write to say that you have been made into a nice bookshelf, or a fancy table or what not. We shall see.— Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l live at Gibbston, with a friend of my mother's. Igo to school, and am in the First Standard. Mr Walsh is our teacher, and I like him very well. I have eight sisters and three brothers. I have one sister married, and she lives at the Qibbston coalpit, and my mother lives at the Arrow Junction. The people I live with are very kind to me. Theykave seven goats and four dogs, eight cats, two pigs, and a hors^e named Tommy. Our examination is past, and all the school passed but three. We are going to get six weeks' holidays from next Friday. We are going to have sports on' New Year's Day. Dear Dot, I must now bring my letter to a close, and wish you and the little folks a Merry Christmas and a Happy New- Year.— Yours truly, Auce Bowler (aged % years). Gibbbton, December 10. [The same to you, Alice, and many of them. —Dot.]

Dear Dot, — As you will not allow the littlo folks to write on morye than one side of the paper, I cannot write you a very long letter. I have five sisters and two brothers. We have eight lambs, nine magpies, a paroquet, and a canary. My sister has got a china doll with black hair. Will you please give her a name for it ? My other sister wants a name for a.wax one with golden hair. — Yours truly, Alkie Vvner (aged 12 years). Five Rivers, Southland, December 11. [Suppose you caJl them Viola and Mollie after the heroines of the two tales which have been appearing in the Little Folks' page for a few weeks past.— Dot.]

Deab Dot,— lt is a long time since I wrote to you last, but I have seen many nice letters since then, written by dogs and cats, and such animals ; but I don't think our dogs and cats are so clever. Our examination is over, and I passed into the Sixth Standard. The scholars patsed very successfully. Mr Whyte is our teacher, and I like him very well. I have a brown and white pup. Please Dot, will you give me a name for him ? — Yours truly, F. annir Flavin.

Merton, December 12. [Call him Carlo after the little boy in "Viola's Trust."— Dot.] Deah Dot,— l have a little boy doll. Please

would you give me a name for it ?- My sister is going to write to you. I like- reading the Otago Witness very much. I am sending you a riddle and a piece of poetry that I composed myself, this is the poetry :—

JESUS LISTENS.

Hark the merry church bells Ring their evening song, Just to tell us Jesus listens , And is vexed when we do wrong. And He listens if we pray To Him for our needful food, And gives us day by "day All that for us is go d. Yours truly, '.'-.* " ' • Dorothea, C. Vyner, (aged 9 years). Five Rivers Estate, December 11. [Take the first letter. in* each word of your address and the' month and ybii' will get Fred, a name which will do very nicely for a boy doll. — Dor.] Dear Dot,-— I live in Orepuki, and I go to school. Orepuki is a very nice place. It is situated on Tewaewae Bay, and is surrounded with hills. There are two rooms in our school. Miss Harming teaches the infants, and Mr Young teaches from the Thfrd Standard upwards. I am in Mr Young's room, and the children all seem to like him, and I like him very well myself. — Yours trulj, Bessie. Orepuki, December 10. Dear Dot,— l go to the Orepuki School, and lam in Mr Young's room. I read the Little Folks' column always, and I like the two stories "A Bad Thought" and' "Viola's Trust." I I hope they won't end too soon. Some of the letters from animals and, milk jugs, &c, are very amusing. Orepuki is a very nice place in summer, but it is not so nice in winter. The gardens are all lookiug very nice just now, and roses are very plentiful. " Dear Dot, 1 have a very pretty striped torn cat. Would you please give me a name for him ?— Yours truly, Tbessy,

Orepuki, December 7. [Call the cat Tiger.— Dot.] Deab Dot, — As one of my schoolmates wrote to you sometime ago, and is writing again, I thought I would write too. Igo to school, and am in the Sixth Standard." I like school very much. I have seen many letters from animals, who seem to be very clever. We have 16 cowb milking, and I help to milk them. My sister has a pet lamb. Will you kindly give her a name for it. — Yours truly, Effie Hammond.

Merton, December 12. [Call the lamb Santa Claus.— Dot.]