Dot's Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21837, 27 December 1932, Page 13

Dot's Little Folk

THE WEEK’S POEM I -wonder it you will understand this funny, darling little poem, children, suggesting how, whan the campion flower is in bloom, the poetess's thought will not remain with her, but goes dancing off among fairies and elves, leaving her alone and with nothing to think about. Perhaps it may seem to be only nonsense to some of you ; yet I am sure you will all agree that it is very pretty and delightful nonsense. DOT. Y Y Y THE LAMP FLOWERS. The campion white Above the grass Her lamps doth light Where fairies pass. Softly they show The secret way UnfiicSerlng glow For elf and fay. My little thought Hath donned her shoe And all untaught Gone dancing too. Sadly I peer Among the grass And seem to hear The fairies pass. But where they go I cannot see, Too faintly glow The lamps for me. My thought is gone With fay and elf. We mope alone, I and myself. • —Margaret Cecilia Furse. WEAVERS OF WORDS. We now have Red Riding Hood living at Banbury Cross and ready to begin her work of changing It into Banbury Gay, children. Here is a description of her room In Woodbine Cottage, where she and her mother and Diddle Dumpty the cat took up their residence. * >. DOT. if. .y. RED RIDING HOOD’S ROOM. I can't tell you how delighted Red Riding Hood was with her own room; and she had good reason to be, for Puck himself, with advice from Santa Claus had prepared it lor her. To begin with, the ceiling had all sorts of queer corners and angles, and here and there it actually touched the floor. This celling was never a, dull, ugly white like so many ceilings, except In the daytime, when, after all, nobody wants a bedroom ceiling to bo entertaining. At sunrise it was lull of golden shapes, and at sunset it was flickering with rosy shadows, and by candlelight it was alive with shapes and shadows of every colour and size imaginable. In the morning, when Red Riding Hood was lying in bed awake before it was time to dress, golden birds and golden butterflies flitted across it, golden coins were heaped up here and there, and golden dancers bobbed and nodded and bowed to one another. At night, when Red Riding Hood was going to bed by candlelight, sometimes she was in tf beautiful ballroom surrounded by guests in rich attire, and sometimes she was in a kind of enchanted zoo, where stately griffins begged for buns, unicorns could be stroked and patted on the nose, and a purple pheenix would peck at the caraway 'seeds she had carried away from her cake at tea. But when the moon was full, the ceiling became a wonder ceiling, and Red Riding Hood’s bed turned into a boat In which she sailed over dim blue waters among the silver mermaids and friendly blackflsh that inhabited this wonder sea. Then there was the wallpaper. I don’t believe that there ever was such an interesting wallpaper. • You know how, when you take a walk in most wallpapers, you iilwaya come back to the same flowers or the same trees or the same birds? Weil, Red Riding Hood could walk for hours in her wallpaper. Yes, and what’s more, very nearly lose herself sometimes, so that she would have a difficult job to find her way back to bed. Then there were the curtains. You can Imagine what a pleasure it was to pull curtains in which all the flowers smelt even more sweetly than real flowers. • But if I were to tell you about all the Jolly things in Red Riding Hood’s bedroom I should never get on with this taie, and you would never get up to your bedroom, which, for all I know, may be Just as wonderful as Red Riding Hood’s.—Compton Mackenzie.

TO ALL Dear Little Folk, —I hope you had a merry Christmas, and And much happiness In the coming weeks of holiday. You know that you are not to write to me any more until February 1, when you will tell me about your holidays, do you not, and that there are to be two prizes for the writers of the best letters? —one from mo and one from Quaker Literary Scholar. That is all right, then. I shall look forward to my February 1 mail. You know, too, that on January 9 there will be the long-looked-for letters of the Old Writers, people who were once Little Folk like yourselves, but who now write to Dot only once a year? After that, those letters of yours which have been " held over ” for so long owing to there being no room for them, will -appear and be used up. Then we shall begin all over again in February. Before I close I want to recommend a book to you—“ Tony on the Island ” —by a New Zealand schoolmaster called Mr H. T. Gibson. The booh is so well written, interesting, amusing, and instructive that I am sure you would all enjoy it if you had it to read. So next time you want an enjoyable book, remember Tony. I again wish you joy in the holidays, and hope that you will return to school next year full of health and brightness and vigour. Now you will want to read Bonnie English Buttercup's interesting letter, so I bid you ” Good-bye.”—Your loving DOT. TO THE OLD WRITERS. Dear Old Writers, —The closing date of receiving your letters fell on Christmas Eve, so now I have the contributions all ready for your long-expected appearance on January 9. I want to keep the number of your letters a secret until that day, so I shall not say any more about them Just now'. A happy New Year to you all, and I look forward to addressing you again on January 9/—Your friend, DOT. LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK. JUtto.—We writ* for the benefit of other*, not for ourselves. A LITTLE FOLK IN ENGLAND. Dear Dot, —This is ray second letter to your page. 1 was thinking I would not see my first letter in print, because the Otago Witness was stopped before my letter reached you, but a friend in Bannockburn cut it cut of the Otago Dally Times, and sent it to me. Sharpness, where grandad lives, is a seaport. It has been very busy for the past lew months with the timber boats. The timber was unloaded and stacked in huge Bheds, which have open sides, and the trucks have been carting it away as orders come in. Altogether the dock is a very busy place with the elevators, cranes, and coaltlps working. A few minutes’ walk will take one right into the country. It has been described as a port in the midst of grfeen fields. We are now living in Berkeley, three miles from Sharpness. Berkeley is a very historical town. There are no tramcars, but a number cf buses. There is a very old church here, and one can see in the door the holes made by bullets, recalling stirring days gone by. There arc numbers of vaults under the church, with several tombstones let in the floor. One peculiar thing about tho church }s that the tower is some distance away from the church. There Is an old legend to the effect that tho devil was carrying It away, but dropped it when he got as far as the gate. Berkeley is also noted for its castle, where Edward II was confined and murdered, ilum says that part of It used to be open for visitors at a small charge, and that the proceeds were given to a charitable Institute. Queen Elizabeth also slept there. In recent years the castle has been renovated, and Is Bow the Earl of Berkeley’s home. We have also seen the oak tree In the park where the King hid from Cromwell’s men. It is now propped up. One Saturday we went to the forest of Deen. It is a coaling district, and we were at the head of one pit. We saw the cage bring the men up from work. Tho shaft is about nine hundred feet deep. We had hoped to see Lord Biedisloe’s old homo as we passed through Lydney, but the bus connected with the train. A few weeks ago we paid a visit to Oldham, Lancashire. Oldham is in the cotton district, and has a number of cotton factories. One could stand on a rise on the outskirts of the town, and count at least 200 factory chimneys. The recent weavers’ strike did not affect Oldham so much as Manchester, as they are mostly spinning factories. Wo did not have an opportunity of going over a

iaatiiouratted July 16,1886.

u byth.e OTAGO WITNESS

Dot Invite* short letter* from her young friend* throughout tba Dominion on matters of interest to themselves. New members must enclose their name and address. These will net be published, and are for registration purposes only. Little Folk should write on one side of the paper only, and in ink, and ehould address their letters, " Dor, care of Editor, Otago Dally Times." Dot’s Little Folk’s Badge, with pin, for use as a brooch, U •btatnable on application to Dot. Price 2a 64, in stamps eg postal notes.

mill as wo had hoped lo have. Mother went over one some years ago, and says it is very interesting. Having so many factories makes the town very dirty, and everything is very black. We could see the OldhamManchester railway from where we were staying, and a train went past every ten minutes. A number of people still wear clogs and shawls, and many of tho children wear clogs, and make quite a clatter going along the streets. Several of the streets arc still cobbled, Tho cobbles are stones about the size of bricks, and are very uneven to walk on. The majority of the buildings are in red bricks. Tt is tho same in most of the places I have been to. While we were in Oldham we paid a visit to Manchester, and it Is a very busy city. What Interested me most was tho Belle Vue Gardens. The zoo. which is supposed to he tho biggest in Europe, is there. There are amusements of all descriptions. Wo had a ride on the elephant, but not on the camel. We finished up by watching the fireworks. There were thousands of people there, and although tho trams (double-deckers) followed each other quickly, it was half an hour before we could get a Iram. We also spent a day at Blackpool, a northern seaside resort. Wo were on the sand a long time. It was fun riding on the donkeys. The town was illuminated. Just before dark, we went for a walk to one end of the promenade, ■ and when the lights were turned on we climbed on tho top of ,a tramcar, and went right down the promenade, which is five miles long. I think the prettiest of all was a group forming different pictures of nursery rhymes. It was very good. Our passage is booked back to New Zealand, and we sail on January 18. I will close now, wishing you and all the Little Folk a happy Christmas and glad New Year. BONNIE ENGLISH BUTTERCUP land).'[You are a good Little Folk to write so interestingly and Instructively, Bonnie English Buttercup, and I am proud of you. My New Zealand Little Folk liked your first letter so much ) that they will rejoice at seeing another from you.—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —I was pleased to have my last letter In. But It seems such a long time ago. We have two black kittens, and I feed them very day with milk. We are having our school concert soon, and I am In a dialogue and some songs. We have had our examination, and I think I have passed. I am making an apron at school and a pincushion at home. We shall soon be having our Christmas holidays. I think I will close now. TEA POT (Walwera South). [Give the two kittens a stroke for me, Tea Pot. I am glad to know that you have passed in your examination, —DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —The flower gardens are beautiful this summer, are they not? The roses are Just lovely now. There are all colours, and such beautiful scents. The perfume sprays all over the gardens. The crops are growing green, and all the farmers are haymaking. The grass is very long about the factory. We shall have to have it cut. The lawns grow so high I have to mow them during the week, and my brother mows them on Saturday, as he is at school all week. He sat for his matriculation the other week He sat for it last year, but he did not pass it. I hope he has some luck this time. Tho children are practising for the school concert They are having their picnic two days later. We are going, as dad is chairman of the School Committee. I will have to write and tell you all about it. Heaps of love. ATTRA (Temuka). [Yes, the gardens this year are particularly pleasing, Attra. I hope that your brother passes his matriculation and that the picnic and concert are a success.—DOT.] Y Y ¥ Dear Dot,—Our pet lamb, which we call Daisy, broke its leg one Friday while I was away at school. I am knitting a singlet for my small sister, who is three years old. My ’ father has been busy shearing for the last few weeks. My sisters and I are going to make a bathing pool in the creek nearby, and 1 shall be pleased when I can go in bathing again. Our roses and other flowers are beginning to bloom, and are making the garden very gay. The children at our school who had entered for the Young Helpers’ League were given a party for the opening of tho boxes. Love to yourself and all the Little Folk. DREAMY DIMPLES (Kurow). [I hope tho poor lamb Is better by now, Dreamy Dimples. The party would be a poliy one, I expect. Were you there?—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot—Sitting In a cosy room with the rain pouring down outside makes happy and sad thoughts run through my mind. Since my cousin has been down for her holidays we have been going to tennis at nights, and have had some enjoyable games. I am very fond of tennis, although I am not allowed to Join. I went to the Taierl Show, which was very good, and would have been better it the rain and hall had kept off. The year before last my cousin and I cycled down, but coming home it was terrible. I have read of stories where people “ reached shelter Just as the storm broke.” The storm was on ua long before wo reached shelter, and we had rain lashing on our faces all the way home. Tho Taierl Show seems to be doomed for a wet day. I saw Little Pleasure’s letter about her rabbit in the paper. Mine was kept In the bottom of a treacle tin, and is now growing quite big. He knows his name, and will sit on his hind legs and beg for food. I sincerely hope my Plucky grows to be as big as llittle Pleasure’s, Much love to the Little Folk and your own dear self. MYEERAH (Maungatua). [I hope that you had your game of tennis after all, Myeerah. I am delighted to hear of Plucky’s progress, and think he must lie a darling.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I was around at Tucker Beach helping my aunty to do the spring cleaning. One day we walked around to Tucker Beach to see the dredge, so now I will describe the walk. We left home at 2 p.m., and walked up the road, which had gorse bushes on each side, and when we reached a clump of evergreen trees we went through them and through two paddocks which had cattle in. We walked along the main road for about 100 yards, and then we started to climb a hill. When we reached tho top we looked back, and we could see below us ail the beautiful green paddocks. We also saw our neighbour’s place. Soon we passed the lagoon and started, to go down the narrow track at the other side. In about 20 minutes wo were at the dredge. We went down over the beach to the dredge. A man came off the dredge to take us on. When we were on the dredge we could not hear what was said to us. We wore walking up steps and down steps- all the time When we had seen the dredge we came off and climbed up the bank and had a rest halfway up the bank. When we were up on tho road we got a ride with a man who works on the dredge. Kindest regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. KAWARAU MAID (Queenstown). [What an interesting day, Kawarau Maid ! I have never been on a dredge, and think it would be a novel experience to see one.— DOT.] * # # Dear Dot, —Spring is now over, and we are having summer. The gardens are full of roses and clematis and many more beautiful flowers. It will soon bo Old Writers’ Week, and I shall be able to see if my aunties’ letters arc In. I do not collect birds’ eggs, but I have looked at them. One day my sister found a nest with four blue and pink eggs in it. She put it back, and I was going to watch it, but two or three days after we found the eggs and nest scattered all over the ground. The nest was lined with thistledown. One day a young bird fell out, of Its nest in the roof, and I found him lying quite stiff on the concrete. I will close now, wishing you and all tho Little Folk best wishes. MADAM MARYGOLD (South Otago), [Thank you for the dear little piece of heather, Madam Marygold. Tho parent birds destroyed tho nest because they saw that It had been tampered with.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Please may 1 become one of your Little Folk? I like to read your letters. I am nine years old; I shall be ten on September 12. I have no wee sisters or brothers, only a big brother, who is 20. ENGLISH BLUEBELL (Benhar). [Welcome to you, English Bluebell. Does your big brother ever take you out with him?—DOT.] Y- -V- !{■ Dear Dot, —Have you any room left for me? I shall be eight in l July. Two grey ducks came to live in the pond with our white ones. They made nests In the tussocks at tho creek. Love to all. FILOSELLE (South Otago). [Yes, I have room for you, Filoselle. I should like to see your family of grey and white, ducks. —DOTJ

Dear Dot, —May I Join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years old, and I shall be IX on March 24. I am n Brownie In the Roslyn Pack. We had our Brownie break-up on Saturday, December 3. I will Close now, with love to all the Little Folk and yourself. COUNTESS CARINA (Wakarl). [Certainly you may Join, Countess Carina. What did you do at the Brownie breakup?—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —May I Join your happy band of Little Folk? My mother was a Little Folk when she was a little girl, so I thought I should like to write, too. I am 12 years old, and am in Standard V at school, and hope to be sitting for proficiency next year. I shall close now, with love to all tho Little Folk and yourself. INQUISITIVE PAUL (Wakari). [You are welcome, Inquisitive Paul. I* your mother writing for Old Writers’ Week?—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —I am writing to ask you it I may be one of your members? The weather is unsettled Just now. We have three young chicks and two pet rabbits. I will close now and leave space for tho other Little Folk. RAINBOW TREASURE (Macrae's Flat). [Welcome to Rainbow Treasure, whoso name I had to alter. Are you very fond of your pets?—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —May I become a member of your happy band? I was 11 on December 13, and am in Standard V at school. We had our examination, and I gained 300 marks. I have a little Shetland pony, and hd Is very tricky. I have a dear wee kitten, and I call him Nigger. We are having excellent weather, and there is a shower of rain now and again. As this is ray first letter 1 will close, with kind regards to all tho Little Folk and your dear self. PERIWINKLE (Arrowtown). [You may join when you send your private name and address, Periwinkle. Give the pony a lump of sugar for me.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I hope you will allow me to become a member of your happy family. I have left school now, and help mother at home. I was staying with my sister, who Is very ill, but is getting on nicely now. I have two mates who drive to school every day, and their horse shied and they wore thrown out of the gig, but they were not seriously hurt. It will soon be Christmas now, and tho school children are all so busy with the concert items. I love school concerts. My mother knitted me a beautiful jumper and a pair of tennis sox for a Christmas present. I think It was very kind of her. As this is my first letter, I will stop. UNCLE JIMMIE’S NIECE (Palmerston). [You cannot Join until you send your private name and address, Uncle Jimmie’s Niece. Yes, it was very kind of mother. — DOT,] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —This la my first letter to you. 1 did not know you accepted letters from Little Folk. Wo are having a great deal of rain just now. We have raspberries almost ready to turn ripe, but we never know when there is a horrible wind in store to destroy them. We sat a hen turkey on eight eggs, and they all came out except two. We have been very busy driving sheep lately, which makes one very tired. I will write in February. Good night, Dot. SON JIMMY (Otekalke). [You cannot Join until you send your private name. Son Jimmy, whose name I have had to alter. Send It soon. —DOT.] !{■ Y Y Dear Dot, —May I Join your, happy band of Little Folk? I am six years old, and am in P 3 at school. We have a hen which hatched out 11 little ducklings. I have a new doll. Would you please give me a name for it? We drive to school, which is about four miles away. As it is late now, I will close. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. AORERB TOPS (Kakanui). [Welcome to Aorere Tops. Call the doll Olympia, after the famous doll in “ Tales of Hoffmann.—DOT.] Y ¥ Y Dear Dot, —There was a children’s fancy dress ball here on October 28. My brother and I went to it in fancy costumes and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My costume was “ Old English Lady," and his was “ Robin Hood.” One Sunday some of my girl friends and myself went for a walk up Bush Creek, which is a very nice walk In the summer time. I went for a long ride one Thursday into the country, which is looking fresh and green Just now. It was very hard trying to cycle, as the roads are all covered with shingle. I have had two interesting letters from Rhodeslana. I am looking forward to Old Writers’ Week. I hope it is a great success. I will now close. LADY ALICE (Arrowtown). [How pretty your fancy costume must have looked. Lady Alice. I am pleased to know that you correspond with Rhodesiana. —DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to your page. Heather Fairy and I went in a car for a drive round the beach, and went in for a swim. I like swimming. Do you, Dot? When we were walking around the beach we saw some fish jumping about in the sea. As soon as they heard us talking they went farther into the sea. I will , close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. BUTTERCUP FAIRY (North Otago). [That must have been a delightful drive, Buttercup Fairy. Yes, I am very fond of swimming. Did the flsli jump high?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I wrote to your page. We were away for a week to Kia-Ora. We have a number of flowers out just now. Some of them are roses, pansies, wallflowers, daisies, and dustymillers. We have eight baby chickens, and five baby turkeys. • Our two black rabbits have gone a light brown colour. We have had two bathes this year, one on a Friday, and the other on a Sunday afternoon. I must close now with love to your Little Folk and your dear self. HEATHER FAIRY (North Otago). [Do the chickens and turkeys try to scratch up the flowers, Heather Fairy? How you would enjoy your bathes! Can you swim.—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —This is my second letter to you, and I want to thank you for Norgesjenta’s address and for my nom de plume. Wo have now shitted from one end of the city to the other. Our new house has a bigger garden, and I have already picked three gardens for myself. One Saturday night I went with one of my sisters and one of my brothers to see " The Spider.” I enjoyed it very much, but it was very creepy, and the only parts that I could remember in bed were the creepy parts. I have found another hobby to amuse myself with. It is cutting out any photographs of babies and small children, and pasting them in a book and giving them names. It is very silly, but I find it amusing. Weli, Dot, I do not think that I have any more news, except that I think my little sister is going to write to you if you will have her. CHRISTMAS CARD (Dunedin). [How delightful for you to have such a beautiful garden, Christmas Card. I do not like creepy pictures or books. Your hobby sounds charming.—DOT.] Y- Y Y Dear Dot, —Now that the proficiency examinations are over, I must write again to your page. One day some friends and I went for a bicycle ride, and had a very enjoyable time. We went up the narrow winding river road, and saw some very beautiful spots. The broom in its golden glory, and the green of the willows, made a very pleasant contrast. After we had gone a distance, we left our bicycles to go down to tho shingly beach of the the river, where, to our excitement, we discovered a kind of rook cave. But you can imagine our disgust when we discovered evidences of its having been occupied before as an old camp. So our discovery was not much after all! I will close now with love to yourself and all the Little Folk. CRIMSON RATA FLOWER (Mataura). [I should like to have been with you on that ride, Crimson Rata Flower, and help you to discover the cave which had already been discovered. —DOT.] Y- Y- Y Dear Dot, —Once again I take up my pen to write a few lines to you. We had a halfholiday from school one day, as tho Wyndham Show was being held. It was not a very nice day for it, as it was very wet. I was disappointed, because I would like to have gone, but I preferred being at home seeing it was wot. Christmas will bo here soon, but it docs not seem like Christmas. Our holidays are here now. and we broke up last Friday, f had a letter from Gipsy's Pride the other night. Our garden docs not look very pretty just now, as tho wind has knocked it about, Invercargill Show was on recently. DADDY’S EARLY RISER (Tltlroa). [Thank you for tho Christmas card, Daddy's Early Riser. I arp sorry that the wind has spoilt your garden. Are you going away for Christmas?—DOT,] Y Y- Y Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first loiter In print. The weather has been very dry and windy, but for all the dry weather. I have managed to get five acres of turnips sown, and it did take a lot of work, discing, barrowing, and clod-crushing to get tho ground into a fine state. I have eight more acres to sow yet. Tho oats are growing nicely. We are milking nine cows, and feeding five calves. My brother has nine wee ferrets. They are five weeks old, and are only now getting their eyes open. Wo often go spearing eels, and it is great sport. I will close now, witli kind regards to all tho Little Folk and your own dear seif. CHERRY STARCHY (Balclutha). [You must be n valiant farmer, Cherry Starchy. I have never seen baby ferrets. Are they very tiny animals?—DOT.]

1 Dear Dot, —This la the second time I ! have written to you. I was pleased to see 'my first letter In the paper. We have Just discovered two kittens. One Is a pure white one and the other Is a grey one. Could you please give me names for them? Our teacher said that she thought all Standard II would go Into Standard 111 next year. We have 30 chickens hatched out, and wo have four hens sitting. The other day our old horse kicked a hen that had five chickens and he broke the hen’s leg. Wo think she will die. A hen hatched out nine chickens the other day, and one of them was lost In the grass, and when my brother John was giving It back to the hen, the hen flow at him. Love to all. i DADDYS LITTLE NUISANCE (Clydevale). [Call the white kitten Sunbeam, and the grey one Twilight, Daddy’s Little Nuisance. How splendid about Standard II 1 The poor hen.—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —Mother Is at present In the Dunedin Hospital. We started shearing on November 21. and finished on November 24 about 3 p.tn. There were nine men besides ourselves. We have been having showery weather up here lately. What sort of weather have you been having? Best wishes | to the Little Folk and your own dear self. WAITAKI HYDRO PRINCESS (Wdltakl). [I hope that by the time this Is in print your mother will be home again, Waltaki ■ Hydro Princess. Our weather has been very good, thank you.—DOT.] Y V Y Dear Dot, —May 1 join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years* old, and In Standard 111 at school. We have two dogs, and one kitten. What should I call It? It is a wee black one. We have been practising for the break-up, as our examinations are over. As space is scarce I will close with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. MARY VIRGINIA (Becks). [Certainly you may join, Mary Virginia. Call the kitten Rascal. —DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —I have had my examinations and am hoping to go into Standard IV next year. My sister sat for her proficiency and received it. The gardens are looking very pretty with all the flowers out. We have two wee white chickens. We had a hen sitting on twelve eggs, but she sat on them for one day only, and then left them. My little brother is walking now. and he does such funny things. I read a good book at school, called “ The Island Continent." Have you read it? We are practising for our concert, and I am a fairy. We have a dog with five puppies? I have not much to say. so I will close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. DAD’S GINGER POP (Cromwell). [1 hope you pass. Dad’s Ginger Pop. How naughty of the hen! I have not read that book, and I am very fond of puppies.— DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —May 1 Join your happy band? I am 11 years old. and am In Standard IV. 1 go to the Miller’s Flat School. 1 have a sister and brother. The weather Is very hot Just now. I will stop. SUNSHINE DAISY (Miller’s Flat). [You too have omitted to send your private name, Sunshine Daisy. Send It. and I shall bo delighted to enrol you.—DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —I am going to tell you about my little niece whose name came over the wireless In the birthday list. She was five on December 4. We are enjoying our Christmas holidays, which we had given to us on December 16. The weather Just now Is very cold with the wind blowing. GOLDIE GAY (Roxburgh). [I suppose your niece was excited when she heard her name called, Goldie Gay. Did you receive a prize at the break-up?— DOT.] Y Y Y Dear Dot, —May I Join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 12 years of age. I like reading your happy Litttlo Folk’s letters. I will close now', with best wishes to the Little Folk and your dear self. PRINCESS OF SHEBA (Pine Hill). [No Little Folk can Join unless he or she sends her private name and address, Princess of Sheba. Do that and I shall be delighted to enrol you as a Little Polk.—DOT]

Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see my first letter in print. Fluffy Bobtail is one of my mates at school. I hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday. Dot. I am going to Dunedin for mine. We have had a nice rain, and everything looks fresh and green. We will have new potatoes for Christmas. They are delicious eaten with cream. THE MERRY CLOWN (Waikaka Valley). [I think everybody enjoys Christmas holidays, The Merry Clown. New potatoes eaten with cream are indeed delicious.— DOT.] •Y * Dear Dot, —I will toll you about a walk 1 took with my aunt, to my father’s bush farm. I left home early, and called at my aunt’s home for her. From there we walked across a neighbour’s farm, as the crow flies, towards the Forest Hills, where “ Erchless View ” is situated. The old trail was lovely. On either side of It were daisies (lowering. It Just looked like a winding trail with snow on either side, and when wo stepped off the trail to walk in the daisies, it was like walking on a white and green carpet, mostly white. Our feet sank ankle deep into the daisies, and made me think of the song “ 1 am Knee Deep in Daisies.” On arrival, we deposited our lunch cases in the white and blue hut, and took the billy and filled it at the spring. When the billy was boiled, wo made the tea, and took our lunch in the green bush. I wish you could have seen those trees, ferns, shrubs, and creepers. We collected a good many specimens of leaves of native trees, shrubs, etc., which I am sending to a pen friend whose sister is a teacher in Canada We next climbed up to the highest point, and from there we had a good view of Invercargill, Bluff. Stewart Island, Makarewa, WMnton, and other places. We thought it beautiful. We finally decided it was time for home, and started off, arriving home in time for a very welcome tea. We thought it was almost as good as a mystery train. Love to the Little Polk and your own dear self. ROSE ROUGE (Springhllls). [That was a delightful walk, Rose Rouge, and one I should have liked to take with you. Thank you for the pretty Christmas card.—DOT.] * * -YDear Dot, —Thank you for printing my first letter. I am seven now, and have passed lilto Standard If. I won first prize. Wo had a lovely concert at the break-up, and every child in the school received a prize. I must tell you about a little sparrow which pulled at a raggety bag to get string to make a nest. He flew backwards and forwards till at last he got a big piece. I think it is cruel to rob the nests when the birds go to so much trouble building them. 1 love birds and flowers. 1 APPLE PIE (Olurehua). [How clever of the bird to pull the string out. Apple Pie! You are a good Little Polk to like flowers and birds.—DOT.] '

Dear Dot, —May I become a member of your Increasing band? I am ten years of age, and am in Standard IV. We have two kittens at home, and they are very playful. Would you please give me names for them? We have a Seven Sisters rose bush out in bloom. We live near the river, and when it is low I play on the beach. PRINCESS MAY (South Otago). [Welcome to you, Princess May. Call the kittens Piero and Leander, and give them a stroke for me.—DOT.] V V Dear Dot, —We are having a lovely time up here just now. I had a birthday on December 4. Do you go to the pictures much? 1 do not. We have friends staying with us just now, and we have often been going to the beach. As space is scarce, I will close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. SWEET PEA BUTTERFLY (Oamaru). [I go very seldom to pictures, Sweet Pea Butterfly. The bench is a good place for fun.—DOT.] OLD WRITERS’ NOTES. ivanhoe (Mr M. It Ramsay, 114 Earn street, Invercargill) Is endeavouring to compile a register of past and present Old Writers in connection with the jubilee In 1936 He would be pleased to hear from those willing to supply names, addresses and noms de plume, and, where possible, year of first writing to Dot, Acknowledgments will be made periodically In this column. Kirabcr Lee.-—1 have forwarded a letter which was addressed to you to the G.P.0., Auckland. DOT. OUR NEW MEMBERS. Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week : One Little Nigger Boy, Princess May. MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to — Sweet Pea Butterfly, who had a birthday on December 4. Queen Avalon, who was 13 on December 21. Kristin, who will be 14 on Thursday. Star Roses, who will be 16 on Thursday. NOTES 1 wish to thank the following Little Folk for their delightful Christmas cards;— Ooldon Sunbeam, Water Wings, Pretty Polly Flinders, Byes of Blue, Master Snowy, and The Young Woodcutter. DOT.