LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21995, 3 July 1933, Page 17

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK

Metto.—W( write for the banefli af others, , not for ourselves. ■ *

Dear Dot,—l now endeavour to pen you bit farewell Little Folk letter, I having reached the retiring age Juat recently. I find It difficult to express In words my -.regrets at having to retire fr«m such a happy circle, as I have derived much gratification and help through being a member of your band. I have also gained many new friends, for which I can never thank the page adequately enough. My memories of Dot’s Little Folk’s page from the t time I first Joined will Indeed be cherished ones. However, there Is happiness in the thought that I am being transferred only from one circle to another —that of the Old Writers association, which, ,'to my own mind, is just as Important an honour. I had an enjoyable birthday, and received many presents, some of which were: a pair of summer fawn kid gloves, a satin dress piece (peach), a ten-sh'iling note, and a beautiful gold-framed picture of an Italian lake froth Quaker LlterarV Scholar —a gift which I value greatly. The Jubilee celebrations of the Gore School, of which f am, an ex-pupil, are to be held in June, 1936. the same year as Dot’s Little Folk’s jubilee, so if all its well, I shall be able to attend'two Jubilees ef Interest that year. Yes, I like the winter view .from my, well-loved hill just as much as the summer one; In fact It Is enjoyable all the year round. 'As I pen this, my retiring epistle, I would like to have a little talk about one of my. foremost favourites In flowdrs—the sweet pen. For sheer sweetness,, what imaginable'odour could rival a hedge I '©! sweet peas that fly tberr, ..frail garlands with so exquisite a grace and climb in trailing clouda of glory on either side of the trellis. . . ? No lovelier range of flowera could there be—'rom the fblack.es, grape-purple to the tehderest blue,, from purest carmine to clear rose and faintest blush; 'rich bronze to orange, sulphur to cream and white, i each to pale shell pink—they f all sing together like the morning star*. Seme, of course," are variously winged, whilst others are freaked and flushed and shaded In such a butterfly host of pretty dVes as might well bewilder the vision and render a-choice a mere futility. They are a profusion of flowers in which my heart delights. Well, I shall now bid you. dear Dot and all the Little Folk, au revoir until Old Writers’ Week. My best wishes I convey t 0 * U ' GOLDEN SUNBEAM (GoreK [I am very sorry indeed to say “au revoir” to you, Golden Sunbeam, for you kave been one of the favourite writers of the page. But. as you say. we shall hear from you again at Old Writers Week. And thank you for your last charming description.—DOT.) ,

Dear Dot.-—Thank you very much for welcoming me to your ever Increasing band. 1 have been ■ thinking for the one hundred and first time which season of the year I like best, and I have come to the conclusion at last that Nature in autumn brings .me the most Joy. The golden chrysanthemums appeal' to me Immensely, and even more the leaves. Oh. Dot! 'he leaves! Who can praise them half enough? In , n pale green freshness la exquisite, but iiL autumn, in their maturity, their j! ory ‘ doubled. Golden brown, some ruddy and others lemon, they are to me one of Nature s most gorgeous gifts. A leaf has a short, . aay life, I think. Commencing as sweet little pale green bud, it slowly grows to full size, all the time developing and deepening slightly in colour. Its simple frock, though buffeted by wind and rain, retains Its colour, that colour which has soothed so many tired •yes. The summer passes. The mellowing leaves slowly change, and their glowing tint*

herald autumn. Blown by many equlnoxial gales they lose none of their splendour. What a gay life! Dancing lightly In the breeze they every day approach their freedom. Down, down, down, they alight gently among their companions, a carpet of gorgeous hue. Ah, those tawny shades! How they delight the eye! Shall we leave them there? It somehow hurts to think of them changing to dull sombre brown, and then just a skeleton, after all those splendid colours. Love to all. POLLYANNA OF THE ORANGE BLOSSOM (Dunedin). (I see that you have a real appreciation of the life of a leaf, Pollyanna of the Orange Blossom. I suppose you know several poems on the subject. Thank you for your description.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I have a baby sister called Doris, and she Is one month old. I am reading a book named “ Nelly’s Teachers." Have you read It? We have begun to learn hard lessons at school, and as the (teacher is strict we cannot play up, or we receive the strap. I shall be having dinner soon, and will go for a walk afterwards. Some stores have started here, and the things are cheaper there than at the other places. I will now close, with love to Dot. PROUD PORKY (Milton). [Doris will b« very tiny and helpless yet, I suppose. Proud Porky. I have not read that book. If you misbehave In school you will not be able to master the hard lessons. ~ DOT - 1 * * * Dear Dot,—lt has been very bad weather here lately. Daddy Is making a bridge to bring the dray over a swampy creek. i have five kittens to feed, and I catch rabbits for them. My pet rabbits got out, and the black one was caught in a trap, so she had to be killed, but the grey and white one came home again, and she stays about the door. I gave my three geese to a friend. Two men are up here hunting pigs and deer. My sister Is crocheting an Irish crochet d’oyley. and she has. made a handkerchief with medallion and edging. I am 11 years old. My brother Hughle, who is six years old, is In Primer 111 at school, and likes It. The Ashing season Is over here now, and the shooting Is on. The geese are keeping very silent, so the shooters; do not know where they 1 are, so they do not get shot very easily. The hens are laying well. X found 15 eggs the other night. ISOBEL OP AOTEA-ROA (Otago).

[Do not let any cat or dog hurt the trusting rabbit, Isobel of Aotea-roa. The geese are wise. They know that death will come to them If they cry out. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have a'slaty grey cat here called Teddy. In the summer time he goes quite wild, and we hardly ever see him, but he comes home In the?winter to be petted. When he was young he used to like sitting on the top of the parrot cage, and the parrot would pull his paws and tail. We have been poisoning rabbits here, and we got about 500. My birthday was on April 20, and I was 13. I am In Standard VII. I have knitted a cardigan for my sister and one for myself. Can you knit? Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. DREAMY HAWAII (North Otago). (Teddy knows how to be happy, Dreamy Hawaii. It must have been pretty to see the parrot playing with him. Y'es, X can knit.a little.—DOT.] ¥¥' ¥ - V Dear Dot,—l like when mum reads your letters to me. I knitted , myself a beret, and I am now knitting a scarf. We have a new bus to take us to school. It Is not as big as the old bus, and so has to take two trips. I am six years old now, and have just finished my Primer IV book. I will have my new book by the time this Is in print, I am glad when I have a new book. MOIRA (Southland). [Your mummy Is kind to read to you, Moira. How clever of you to be able to knit so well, I should like to hear you read from the new book. —DOT.] ¥ ¥ * Dear Dot, —We have a little Jersey cow, and she has a wee brown calf. Could you give me a name for the cow, please? we have a little black kitten with a white tip on his tall. One day mum took us to the pictures. It was the first time I had seen pictures, and I did like them, especially Mickey Mouse. The deer come down at nights for a feed of our turnips. Dad went up one night and saw several. One had big antlers. GREBN TREES (Southland). [Call the cow Lovesome, Green Trees. Jersey .cows are always lovesome. I can Imagine how happy you were when you saw Mickey Mouse on the screen.—DOT 1 * * * Dear Dot, —I am writing to tell you of my holidays, which extended for two weeks and a . day. The. sad part of It was that they seemed to fly away very quickly. The first week was spent Indoors owing -to■ a cold and bad weather. Even though the sun shone It was freezlngly cold, with a cold wind. The second week I let a young steer go, and I had an enjoyable time rounding him up on horseback. The few days following were spent in peace. Two days went by, then I was Invited to Pink Tulip s home. On Saturday Mr Te Arl Pltlma gave "The Changing , Maori" with his party of Maoris. Three nights of the week of his stay he gave a lantern lecture, and each Sunday he preached the church was packed to overflowing. He Is now away to Oamaru s surrounding districts. I have a huge sllkte rooster. Will you please' give me a name for him? Love to all. FAIRY SUNSHINE (Oamaru). ‘ [Despite your cold and the wet weather your holidays' seem to have been pleasant ones, Fairy Sunshine. I suppose you are a good rider. Call the rooster Sir Walter Raleigh.—DOT.] • sjt ♦ ¥. Dear Dot,—Winter is here again, and what a difference it makes to things! The days are short, but warm, and darkness comes very early. I love the solitude and nakedness of wintar. when everythin# seems quiet, and trees Hid shrubs are devoid of all their leaves, leaving Just the trunk and many bare branches. Looking out of the window on a clear frosty night, one sees a picture when the frost Is on the ground with a full moon glistening across it. Overhead in a cloudless sky are millions of twinkling stars. Sometimes the hoot of an owl may be heard from a clump of trees in the distance. The floral life at this time seems to be taking a well-earned rest: except, perhaps, for the chrysanthemums, which are still flowering. For many species of animals winter is also a time of rest, while for others It may be the most strenuous of their existence. Rabbits seem to be the most common of animals, as they are seen everywhere. Only a few birds stay here for the cold weather, the others having flown to a warmer climate. Those few which are left may be seen hopping around hoping to find something to eat. EYES OF BLUB (Georgetown).

[I am glad that you are so fond of winter, Eyes of Blue, and see such beauty In it. The birds which remain depend upon us for their livelihood. —DOT.]

Dear Dot. —May I become a member of your happy band? I am seven, and In Standard I, 1 have a wee Persian kitten. Will you please give me a name for It. Love to all the Little Folk, Including Monty Mouse and your own dear self. APPLE SPONGE (Ranfurly). [Certainly you may Join, Apple Sponge. Do you like eating your namesake? could call your kitten Ruffles. —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—l have a cousin at Herlot, whose name Is Biddy from the Tussocks. I have a small ginger pony, whose name Is Trixie. Would you please give me a name for my calf? It Is a red and white one. I have had a bad cold, and I was away from school for two days with earache. 1 will close nofv, with love to. all the Little Folk and yourself. GOLDEN QUEEN (Central Otago). [Call the calf Apple, Golden Queen. Earache Is not very pleasant, Is it? You should put a few drops of warm glycerine in your ear.—DOT.] ¥ V Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 12 years of age, and in Standard VI at school. It Is very cold here just now, and there Is snow on the tops of the hills. We have three cats, three pigs, and three cows at home. One of the cats Is a half-Persian. Well, as letters must be short, I will close. Love to all. JUMPING JENNY (Queenstown). [Welcome to Jumping Jenny. Can you Jump over the tops of the hills? I should like to see your three tinxee three animals. — DOT.] ■ ¥ ¥ ¥

Dear Dot, —We are having very cold weather here, but It does not prevent us from going to school, as we have a good road to travel on. We play basket ball at school, and it Is a very good game for these cold frosty mornings. I have not seen any letters from Frosty’s Mate tor a long time. My correspondent, Rosemary,

Is in bed with rheumatic fever, and she has to stay away from school tor the rest of the term. My sister was home for the term holidays. She goes to the Technical School at Invercargill, and she likes It very much. I have just finished reading “ A Prize Watch.” by Emily Guillon Fuller. It is a very Interesting book. Have you read It? Sprig of the Gum and I sit together in school. My brother is very much interested in football, especially the Taierl team, because we used to live there. With kind regards to all. FROSTY’S COUSIN (Warepa).

[lt is fun running to school on a cold morning, Frosty’s Cousin. How you would enjoy having your sister home with you! I have not read that book.—DOT.)

Dear Dot, —I have just finished reading the Little Polk letters. I liked the little poem entitled “ Bare Boughs ” very much. A few nights ago there was a beautiful full moon. The sun had gone down, and it was beginning to grow dark, when the moon in all its fiery glory arose. It shone on the surrounding clouds, lining them with dazzling silver. Then it seemed to brush aside these clouds, and then hide behind a group of tall, dark willows. Then it reflected its glowing face in the rippling river below. Finally, a breeze sprang up, and I turned to go inside for my tea. I will close now, with love to you and all the Little Folk. SOUTHERN CROSS KITTEN (Otago).

[I am glad that you liked that poem. Southern Cross Kitten, I, too, saw that beautiful moon. How round and orange It was—one of the best moons I have over seen.—DOT.] !£ ¥ ¥ ’

Dear Dot. —Wo are having very cold, frosty weather here just now, and we become very cold going to school in the mornings. I had a birthday party the other week, and had some of my schoolmates here. We bad such a good time together, but the afternoon seemed too short, as everybody* had to be home before dark. One of our teachers was 111 the other day, bo one taught the two rooms. Our hens have not been laying very well this winter. It will soon be the shortest day now, and it will be pleasant to think that winter will soon be over. I think this Is all to-night, as It Is bed time. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. j^j o qraNDB (Georgetown). [Can you not run and grow warm on your way to school, Bio Grande. That must have been a jolly party. Were you good when you had only one teacher? —DOT.] * ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —1 am pleased that 1 am a Little Folk. We have had a fog here lately. We have a new lady teacher at our school. She came from Canterbury. One Saturday we played Ranfurly school children, and beat them 33 to nil. Next Saturday we played Naseby. The frosts are becoming harder every night now. We are able to slide on the Ice now. My father and I went out shooting, and shot seven * rabbits. I wilt close, with heaps of love to all and your own dear pelf. SMITHY’S MONOPLANE (Ida Valley). . [Fog Is pretty. Is It not. Smithy's Monoplane? You must have played well against Ranfurly. Sliding on the Ice Is great fun as long as you do not fall too heavily.— DOT.] ' . „ „ if. H- ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am nine years old, and in Standard 111. I have a little rabbit. Would you please suggest a name for it f Have you read “Pretender Peggy 7. It is very interesting. I will close now, with love to the Little Folk and your own dear self. SPRING WINDS (Outram). [Certainly you may join, Spring Winds. Would you like to call the rabbit Cuddlo-up? I have not read that book. —DOT.] ¥¥ ¥ - Dear Dot, —Our school has commenced again. I went to Dunedin for a few days during the holidays, but as I had to visit a dentist, the stay there was not as enjoyable as it could have been. Still, I went to a good picture called The Flag Lieutenant.” We are now having our ? winter weather. At present it Is very cold, and some days it freezes all the time. 1 notice that one of your Little Folk comes from Raetlhi. I was born there. BILL OF BAINESSB (Central Otago). [Seeing that good picture would make up for the painful times at the dentist s, Bill of Bainesse. Winter in Central Otago Is winter Indeed. But how healthy it is I*—-* DOT - ] * * * Dear Dot, —In the school holidays I went gold digging with my brother and another little boy. I shall be 12 years old on January 17, 1934. It la a long time till 1934, but the time goes quickly enough, and next year will soon come. The mornings are very cold. I left a flower out In the frost, which almost killed it. We have not any enow on the ground yet. The ground is very damp with dew, and after half-past eight the sun is out. HAYDN OF THE HAWKDUNS (Central Otago). [Did you make a fortune on the goldfields, Haydn of the Hawkduns? Yes, January 17. 1934, will soon be here. How cold the poor flower must have felt! —UUl.l ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot. —Our baby now has four teeth through, and has had whooping cough with them. My little sister, too, has had whooping cough. I had it many years ago, so I am now very glad. We had our holi : days a little while ago, and near y every day Joan of Orleans came up to play with me. We usually play " houses." Joan was the mother, Isla was th'e baby, and I was the servant. We had such good times, for the weather was calm and warm. MARGARET DARLING (Ophir). [Poor baby! I hope that she and your little sister will soon recover from that horrid trouble, Margaret Darling. I can Imagine what tun you had playing houses. — DoT ’ ] ,* \* * * Dear Dot,— May I join your band of Little Folk? I was 11 on February 17. It was on a Friday. My mother gave me a string of beads and some handkerchiefs. I go to a school called Ophir, and we have to walk a mile every morning and night. In the mornings It is very frosty. We have two cats, one being a black one and the other a grey one with black stripes. Would you please give me names for them? VERA CRUZ (Central Otago). [You are welcome, Vera Cruz. Those were delightful presents. Call the cats Panther and Tiger.—DOT.] ,¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —As I have not written to you for a while, I am writing now; When my father went to Dunedin I had to help my brother to milk the cows. As the winter is coming on, the days are fairly cold, ana frost is frequent. A few flakes of snow appeared the other day. The trees look very bare now, as they have shed their leaves. A few weeks ago wo played a friendly football match with a neighbouring sch Sol at Omakau. It was a good game, but, as there was another match following, we did not have the full time. SCOG (Central Otago). (You would feel proud when you were helping your brother, Scog. Did you win that match? I suppose you look forward to the coming of snow.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I have not abandoned the Little Folk. One Saturday recently our school played Matakanul and Spottls Creek Schools combined. It was a very hard and very even match, and at half-time the score was 3—nil In favour of Ophir. At the end of the match we won by 6 to nil. We are going to play the Spottls Creek School soon, and we are looking forward to the match being a hard one. As this is all ray news at present, I shall conclude, with love to all VASCO DA GAMA II (Central Otago). [I am glad to hear from you again, Vasco da Gama 11. That must have been a very satisfying match. I hope the next one Is as good. —DOT.] * ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —As this Is my letter writing lesson at school, I am writing to you. May I join your band of Little Polk? My birthday was on May 28. A few weeks ago we had holidays, but I did not go far. except to help my dad at hla gold mine. It Is on the flat near the Manuherikla River. When I go home from school I chop the wood for mother. My sisters have whooping cough. THE MOON-MAN (Ophir). [Welcome to the Moon-Man, whose name I have had to alter. Did you enjoy helping at the mine? What a help you must be to mother. —DOT.] * ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—Are you keeping well? I am, but my cousins have whooping cough. I had it when I was wee. It Is not nice to hear a tiny baby with whooping cough, is it’ My big brothers play football for Matakanui. One of my cousins was married In Dunedin, and my big sister was bridesmaid I did n ot 6°« because 1 had to go to school I like school, and we do numbers of money sums. We play "house” and “ Black Peter." Mum told me to let Demure go. so I did. Love to all. PRETTY PURPLE PANSY (Central Otago).

II am very well, thank you, Pretty Purple Pansy and hope that your cousins will soon be well, too. Demure would be glad to go free. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —In an answer recently you were telling me that you did not think you could knit a hat. It Is very easy Indeed, as a matter of fact. I did not think I could do so but when I tried It was very simple. I can do many things: I am crocheting a strip of lace to go around the edge of a niece of linen for a supper cloth, and it looks very pretty. The only fault I have to find about crochet Is that It takes such a long time. You were asking me what colour the jersey was 1 knitted. It was blue and I am going to begin a brown and orange one now. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. MY LADY DIVINE (Port Chalmers).

(It it is so easy to knit a hat, I must try to see if I can knit one myself, My Lady Divine. I am glad to know that you are so fond of knitting and crochet. Y'our jersey must be charming.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l have just finished my homework, and thought I would write a few lines to you. At school I am knitting an orange and fawn scarf with a green stripe in it. I am knitting it in moss stitch, as I think it is a very pretty stitch. Do you? When we went for our walk .to Waltatl we saw some beautiful scenery. The hills are beginning to look Jiare now, and the trees have lost their leaves. Here is a small verse of poetry I made up. I call it “My Brook ”:

"Oh ! my dreamy little brook, How you sing as .you pass my nook. I wonder that you are not tired. As you travel all day unhired.” MY LADY DAINTY (Port Chalmers)

[Your scarf should be very smart, My Lady Dainty. Yes, I like that stitch. Thank you for the verse. Have you made up verses before?—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—This will be my first letter in the Otago Dally Times. Heather Sprig has been away for a holiday, and I have been busy poisoning rabbits with dad. It kept one busy when there were the cows to milk, and we all had bad colds, which made one feel miserable. I have the knitting craze, like most others. At present I am knitting a pair of slippers for myself in purple and cream. I have a supper-cloth to work, but I have not begun it yet. I also love to pass away the long evenings by playing cards. We are not playing hockey here this year, as most of the girls will not play, but the men have started again with their football. It is grand to sit beside a nice warm fire and listen to the relay of football, races, or community sings over the air. We have our physical culture lectures every Wednesday morning. I hope New Zealand Rose sees this letter and it gives her a ready start to take up her pen. Love to all your little comrades and yonr own dear self. DOLENA (Southland). [1 am pleased to see your name at the foot of a letter again. Dolena. You seem to spend your time profitably. Are you fond of physical culture? —DOT.] # -V * Dear Dot, —I like school now. 1 went to the pictures one day and saw Mickey Mouse. My whooping cough is better now. Our hens are beginning to lay again. We have a wee black cow, and she was out of her paddock the other day. Would you please give me a name for her? I will stop now, as I am going to do my lessons. THOMAS (Green Island).

[Mickey Mouse Is a funny little figure Is he not, Thomas? lam glad that you like school now. Call the cow Roamer. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —What a large family you have now. Thera are new writers every week. I am working a trayoloth at school just now, and will soon have It finished. Mum was away for a holiday and brought me home some presents. We have hfid wet weather lately, hut it Is winter time, and we must expect the wet and cold. I came first in my class at the term examinations. I did not go away for my holidays, but had a good time housekeeping for my father and little brother while my mother 'was away. Our teacher gave a homework prize for the most marks for the term, and I won It. It was a sot of set-squares and compass. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. A MERRY LITTLE SUNBEAM (South Otago). [You are progressing very well at school, A Merry Little Sunbeam, and I am proud of you. How splendid that mother was able to go away and leave you In charge.—DOT.] ¥ -Y * Dear Dot, —My puppy, Glen, has just been lanced to cure a nasty bump on his head. He has had a lump on the front of his head, and he looked funny when it rose, but it will soon be better. I like high school, even though sometimes we have difficult lessons. We enjoy ourselves on wet days by dancing to piano music. I also like coming home on the Kaltangata train, which I described to you previously. We slug all the way home, sometimes, or In tue morning we read, knit, or learn lessons. 1 know Little Brown Mouse, as her mother often visits us. I will close now. with kind regards to yourself and all other Little lolk ’ BLUE BETTIKINS (Kaltangata). [I hope that by now poor little Glen Is quite better, Blue Bettikins. I am glad that you like high school. Dancing on wet days is great fun, is it not? —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—lt is such a long time since I wrote to you that I hope you have not forgotten me. My mother has Just been to the Institute birthday party, and had an enjoyable time. My little brother was there, too, and had a good time also. ' As that is all, I will close, with love to all your Little Folk and your own dear self. A SILENT COMRADE (Totro). [What happened at the party, A Silent Comrade? I suppose you wish that you bad been there, too. —DOT.] old writer? 1 notes. Ivanhoe (Mr M. H. Ramsay, 114 Barn 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. 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 Farmer’s Boy. The Highway Robber, Almond Toffee. Little John Bottlejohn, River Bank Lass, The Racehorse, Daddy’s Handy Help, Silver Rose, Wlnooka, Marie Antoinette, The Thistledown Fairy, Dr Dollttlo, Chee-Chee, Fresh Apple Sauce, and Pqnney Rose. MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to— Daisy Chain, who will be 11 this month. Filoselle, who will bo 8 this month. June Dear, who Is having a birthday to-day. Farmer's Boy, who will be 10 on Wednesday. Silver Birch Bough, who will be 10 on Sunday. LITTLE FOLK’S LETTER BOX As the Little Folk Inserting the following requests do not know the addresses of the companions with whom they wish to correspond, it Is necessary that those companions should send the first letter. —DOT. H- •?• '?■ \ Golden Sunbeam (Huina Black, “Willowbend,’’ Railway Esplanade, East Gore) would be greatly pleased to correspond with Little Eskimo, Tangle Pate, and Roaming in the Gloaming, if they are willing; also any Little Folk and Old Writers of either sexranging in ages from 20 to 24. She will answer all letters, as she is fond of writing. * * * Another Highland Dancer (Lois Ross, 8 Hull street, Oamaru) wishes to correspond with Grey Dove. Ida the Princess (Janie Reid, c/o- Post Office. Ida Valley, Central Otago) wishes to correspond with any Little Folk between 13 and 15 years of age. * H- -YBright Central Star (Nancy Wragge, Moa Creek, R.D. Oturehua) wishes to correspond with Christmas Card and any other Little Folk between the ages of 11 and 14 years. * H- * Master Jock o’ Hazeldeen (Jack Tyson, Whare Flat, Mosglel Post Office) wishes to correspond with John Peter and any other Little Folk between the ages of 12 and 10. * * * The Smiling Lieutenant (Willis Perriara. Herlot) would like to correspond with any Little Folk between the ages of 11 and 14. * V * Early Geranium (Olive Cook, Toiro, via Balclutha) would like Blue Bettikins and any other Little Folk from 14 to 16 years of age to write to her.

Neta Lyall (Lily Moffatt, c/o Mr F. Hyde, Tarras, Central Otago) wishes all her correspondents to write again, please. She also wishes to correspond with Roaming in the Gloaming and Little Eskimo.

Golden Fairy (M. M'lntoah, 59 Robertson street, West Gore) would like to correspond with any Little Folk between the ages o£ 11 and 13.