Dots Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 17

Dots Little Folk

I\J Inaxidurated Uu lu 16,1886,

0 bytHe OTAGO WITNESS

Dot Invites short letters from her ,-oung friends throughout the Dominion on matters of interest to themselves. Letters are to be written under a nom de plume, which, once chosen, cannot ba changed by (he writer. New members must enclose their name and address. These will not be published, and are for registration purposes only. Little Folk should write on one side of the paper only, and In ink, and should address their letters, " Dor, care of Editor, Otago Daily Times " Dot's Little Folk's Badge, with pin, for use as a brooch, It obtainable on application to Dot. Price 2s 6d. in stamps or postal notw.

THE WEEK'S POEM,

This week, children, t am giving you -tw» poems by Walter de la Mare—- " Martha " and " Nod." The first describes a lovely girl named "Martha," who used to tell stories to a crowd of children in a gully where hazel bushes grew; the second has to do with an old fairy man called " Nod." You will perhaps know him under other names—" The Sandman," '* The Dustman," and so on. He Is that make-believe person who makes children sleepy and takes them with him right into dream-land. In this poem the children are his " lambs." DOT. # * ;■ * MARTHA. " Once ■. »'.. once upon a time. ..." Over and over again, Martha would tell us her stories In the hazel glen. Hers were those still grey eyes You watch, and the story seems Told by their beautifulness Tranquil as dreams. She'd sit with her two slim hands \ Clasped round her bended knees; While we on our elbows 1011 ed... And stared at ease. Her voice and her narrow chin, Her grave small lovely head, Seemed halt the meaning < Of the words she said. ~ " Once ... once upon a time. . . ." Like a dream you dream in the night Fairies and gnomes stole out In the leaf-green light. And'her beauty far away Would fade, as her voice ran on, Till hazel and summer sun And all were gone:— All foredone and forgot; And like clouds in the height of the sky, Our hearts stood still in the hush Of an age gone by. J ' -'"'.* ■:' ■ '* * NOD. Softly along the road of evening, In a twilight dim with rose. Wrinkled with age, and drenched with dew Old Nod, the shenherd, goes. His drowsy flock streams on before him, Their fleeces charged with gold, To where the sun's last beam leans low'. On Nod the shepherd's fold. The hedge is quick and green with briar, From their sand the conies creep; And all the birds that fly in heaven Flock singing home to sleep. His lambs outnumber a noon's roses, Yet, when night's shadows fall, His blind old sheep-dog, Slumber-soon, • Misses not. one of all. His are V e quiet steeps of dreamland, The wa ers of no-more-pain, 'His ram'r bell rings 'neath an arch of stars, "Rest, rest, and rest again." _ /WEAVERS OF WORDS, Next week we shall begin, hearing something about the doings of the Aeslr and Vanir, my Little Folk, and, now that you have read so much about them themselves, you will enjoy the stories all the more. . •■'•DOT. : * * * THE CHIEF GODS.—(Continued.) To Frey fell the special duty of ruling the rain clouds and the light-elves; theretore his palace (Elfhelm) was not In'Abgard, but was set in the sun. He rode in a chariot drawn by the hog, ' Gyllinbursti (Gold-Bristle), and owned the wonder-ship Skldbladnir, that would sail to any place desired and would fold up when not needed. He married a lovely giantess named Gerd,. and his feast was held at mid-winter, when * boar's head was served in honour of GoldBristle, and this is why we still have boar's hpad at Christmas-tide.'' Freyja, his sister, was the wife of Odr, one of the gods. About her there is much uncertainty, - as she is often mixed, up with Frlgga. It is clear,, however, that she was a Vans, and the goddess of springtime, her work being ■ to.; care for the - flowers and grasses . and.; .protect -the '■ green ; thingsV of. earth. She rode in a chariot drawn by two cats. -•.:"/, - ■;. .' -• Heimdal, most mysterious of the gods, is counted among the Vanir, although he is sometimes called a son of Odin. He had nine mothers, .the giant .daughters of the' clouds,. and was nourished by /the' strength of the earth anil the cold sea. He was made the warder of the heavenly rainbow bridge Bifrost, for. he -was ever sleepless, could see a hundred miles round-by night or; day and had' ears so keen that he could hear the . grass. grow. ; ■■; His ■ horn,. Gjollar, was hidden ':■ under . Yggdrasil'. and,\when he blew it, the sound was heard to the far ends of the earth. ■;.-■ His palace was Himinbjorg, among the mist-clouds there he lived and drank sweet mead. ■'• - : There were many other gods and goddesses, but they.'played, but a small part in .the life of Asgard. There were also some of the better giantesses living on the green seashores of Jotunheim, who being milder than their kinsfolk, married both and Vanir. "'. (To be continued.) THE SIX SEFTONS. . Something to Amuse the Younger Little :. .-.';,' , FOlk.' ■ CHAPTER ll.—(Continued.) At 1- o'clock they came to a place where there were .trees beside a river. So Mr Chossie stopped, and they all got down and had a picnic lunch on the grass—sandwiches and apples that Muvvie had got ready the night before and that tasted simply delicious after' they had been so long without anything. The menagerie stayed where it was: Starlie wanted to let the animals all come out and stretch their legs, but Mr Chossie would not hear of it; •■ he'd not have that responsibility on his head, he told them. But he let the children gather fresh grass and thistles from the river bed, and when they were all back on the seat again, they leaned over and fed the menagerie through the netting on their cages. , The menagerie, however, was not thankful. It looked at the three stonily and would not eat. "They've lost their faith in us," Punch decided. " We've never treated them like this before. ; But . they 11 soon -see it was for the best, won't they, you others?" (looking up at Pepin and Starlie rather goggleeyed because the jolting had begun again.) The others hoped so, Starlie in particular. She could not bear the reproachful gazes that came to her from Kissme's pink and the six fowls' yellow 'orbs. They made her feel uncomfortable.' Towards 4 o'olock they came to : a-village, where, after they had gone over the railway line and passed through a white, gate, Mr Chossie drew up and went into a shop he called "the store," saying he was going to collect the mall. So Pepin knew that this must be the country where "Apple Farm" was, and where they were going to have the holiday. His eyes grew very bright as he thought of it, and he could scarcely wait till Mr Chossie came out of the store. And sure enough it was so. This was the place. Up the hill they must go, and round the corner, and then they'd be there. " Gad-up Lass and Laddie!" Oh, dear! Can you imagine it? Can you see that long road with its trees and hedges, and then the corner round which they must turn? Can you feel them beginning to get prickles of excitement and their skins going into goose-flesh? Can you? Oh. dear! Look, a pine tree by a gate—a tall, old pine tree standing by a gate in the hedgerow. " There we are," said Mr Chossie. " That's the gate to Apple Farm." Someone was waiting for them—the Fatherman with Berry and Jacko. The gate swung.open. And they were driving through into a, green, smooth paddock, towards a green cottage covered with roses. "Hi! yiTyi!" They all shouted It together. They called it loudly and more loudly, as if their throats would burst. They fairly yelled it. The horses drew up Down they tumbled from their seats. " Hi! yi! yl!" went Punch, more fiercely than ever. " Welcome to Apple Farm, bairnies," said Muwie, trying to kiss them all at once. (To be continued.) TO ALL. Dear Little Folk.—Do you like cats' (But what a Here is something about another sort of cat, taken for you from a book : " The fiercest member of the cat fatally is the tiger, for he kills for the sheer love of killing, and without any thought of whether he wants his prey for food or not. He is well equipped for hunting, and if you watch an ordinary cat stalking a bird you will see why. He moves absolutely noiselessly, and he has strong, curved claws. His teeth are good for killing, for the canine teeth (you can find them in your own mouth —they are the sharp pointed ones at the sides) are very long and are much stronger than the rest. In one respect he has the advantage over the cat. His beautiful striped coat is exactly the same colour as brown undergrowth with dark shadows falling across it, so that when he lies still he is practically invisible. This enables him to get very close to his prey before making the final spring. The tiger 'la so •fierce that we will even attack a lion

and kill it. He is afraid of nothing, and his strength is so great that most of the animals in the jungle give him a wide berth, for they know that he is always' ready to kill. Although the lion is the king of the jungle, the tiger Is a very good second.* We might almost call him the prime minister if he didn't quarrel so much." How would you like a baby tiger ?—Your loving DOT. LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK. Motto.—We write for the benefit of other*, not for ourselves.^-' FIRST LETTERS. . Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to you. I would like to become one of your Little Folk. I anvil years old, and go to Mornington School. My mother used to write to the page as Linnet. Two of my cousins write to you now too. I have one sister, and she will be writing to you later on.. Love to all. LINNET THE SECOND (Kaikoral). [I am pleased to welcome you, Linnet the Second, and hope you will like being a Little Folk. Do you like school?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your band of Little Folk? I am eight years old, and I am in Standard II at the Union Street School. I like reading your page in the Times every Monday morning. I think I will close now, with love to all the Little Folk and yourself. PADDY-LADDIE (Dunedin). [Welcome to Paddy-Laddie, whose name, has had to he altered. I am glad you like the page.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—Just a few lines to ask if I may Join your band of Little Folk? I shall be 14 ! years of age on May 18. This will be my second year at the Dunedin Technical High School. I like reading your page in the paper in the Monday morning's Times. I will close now, with kind regards to you and. all the Little Folk. .U PANSY PERSON (Dunedin). [You, too, are welcome, Pansy Person, but you, too, chose another Little Folk's riom de plume. What do you do at school? —DOT.] , Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years old, and am in Standard 111. As this is my first letter, I will close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. ROYAL VISITOR (Waltaki). [I am pleased to welcome you. Royal Visitor. Will you tell me more about yourself next time?—DOT.] * * ',"■'* Dear Dot, —May,l Join your happy band?' I am seven years old. I have a cat named Billy, and lam his " grandmother." I have a cousin staying with me. Love to all. , GRANDMA WITT (Kyeburn). [I am pleased to welcome Billy's grandmother, Grandma Witt, and hope you will tell me more about so fortunate a pussy. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—Please may I join your band of Little Folk? We are haying extremely hot weather up here, and it does not look as : if it will cool again. Though very cloudy for two nights it.did not rain. I am in Standard IV at school. I will > close now, with love to all. SOOKIE (Roxburgh). [Welcome to you, Sookie. I hope your fears about the heat will prove to be wrong. Do you like Standard IV?—DOT.] BEST LETTERS. Dear Dot,— : l shall try to explain a big bush fire my father had on his property. He was waiting for a week or two for a suitable wind from the east, which he got the day before Christmas, and he set the bush-on fire in the afternoon. As the fire spread great volumes of black smoke tinted with a reddish glow ascended high into the air. I was some distance away mowing hay, and I could hear the crackling of the timber, also the roaring of the flames like a big waterfall. I felt as If I should like to rush over and watch the progress of the burning bush. My younger brother went out to watch.the fire, but.with the heat and roaring of the flames, he took fright and ran home. The poor rabbits, my father said he could hear them squealing in the fire: A few days later, when I walked over the burn, which was a good one indeed, the fire was still smouldering in places. , , DUSKY DARKY (Catlins). [lt must have been a tremendous fire, Dusky Darky, far bigger than townspeople are likely to see. No wonder your brother was afraid. I expect he was awed, too.— DOT.] . Dear Dot, —Many thanks for the lovely book you sent me. I shall keep it nice and clean. : It came as a big surprise. Mum said not to be disappointed if I did not win a prize. So you can Imagine how I felt when I saw my letter with the prize-winners. We have started school again, and it is good to think I have passed into Standard IV. So I am going to work hard to see if I can pass again this year. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. . , SOMEBODY'S JOY (Ardgqur).

[I am glad you liked the book. Somebody's Joy, and. hope you will, like your school books equally we'll, for, if you do, you will certainly pass again this year.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I am back to school again after a holiday at the seaside. I had a month in Dunedin with my grandma and aunt. Then I went up to Timaru with dad and mum and my little sister and brother, and stayed with our other grandma for a week. After I came home from Dunedin, I had numbers of dips in the water, and enjoyed them very much. How did you enjoy the Christmas holiday? We, are having very hot weather just now, and the garden and turnip fields are very dry. Love to you and the Little Folk. DIMPLING WATER (Middlemarch).

[I enjoyed it well, thank you. Dimpling Water, but I doubt if I had as good a time as • you had. I am glad you went about so much.—DOT.]

Dear' Dot, —The hour is almost midnight, and the people of the city He sleeping, perhaps not all, but the majority. Suddenly, out from, the tunnel, and along the line towards the Caversham, station, tears a train. .It may. be only a goods, but from the noise it makes,, and the echoes it disturbs, it sounds important enough to be carrying even the Duke. As the train passes on to Kensington and even further, the rumble becomes less and less, and silence refgns again for a moment. This time it is broken by someone whistling' as he walks quickly homewards, or perhaps by the grinding of brakes' and the blowing of the horn of a heavily laden motor lorry as it passes citywards. Looking towards the Peninsula, over the lights of South Dunedin, one can see. the twinkling headlights of a car along the high road, but they are quickly lost to view. Now, let us go to St. Clair on a fine Saturday afternopn. Children are shrieking with delight, as a wave, larger than others, comes rolling up the beach, washing around their legs. Here are others making castles and forts in the sand, or racing and chasing over the warm sand. In the water, many people are cooling after a hard morning's work, and enjoying the cold rush of the water. Perhaps one or two canoes are out, thrilling the crowd as they breast wave after wave in safety. Here there is nothing but noise, noise which radiates happiness, and no one minds. These are just two scenes out of our everyday lives, which go to show that no scene is dull. CAVERSHAM LASS (Dunedin). [Both are scenes your readers will quickly recognise, Caversham Lass. Did you write about them at the time of their happening, or remember them and write about them afterwards ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I arrived safely from my holiday at Roxburgh. You asked me to tell you about the which wc live. The area <sf the farm is 700 acres of good land, and is grazed by a flock of 1000 ewes and lambs, and 500' head of younger sheep. We milk four cows, keep 35 hens, 20 ducks, and 26 young turkeys, which are very hard to rear. I have a pony named Trlxie, and I ride her to school every day. I also have a small vegetable garden. Love to Bonnie Briar and all the Little Folk. BUFFALO WILLIAM (Otago). [I have heard before about the difficulty of rearing young turkeys, Buffalo William. Could you tell me the best way of doing it? I should like a ride on Trixie.—DOT.] sj. $ Dear Dot, —It was so hot one day that we decided to go for a picnic up at the lake. When we arrived, we saw there were some school friends of ours there also, so we put on our bathing costumes and went into the water. After we were in the water for about half an hour, we went out in a boat for a row. My friend, who had been out in a canoe and could not go back, was nervous, but nothing happened to her nor us. When we came back from our row we went Into the water again, but not for long, because we wanted to go out for another row. By this time it was about 3.30 o'clock. We

went out in the boat, and when we came back it was time for tea. After tea we went for a walk, and then, tired and sleepy, we went home. JOLLY JOYBELLS (Central Otago). [That was a good way of making the best of a hot day, Jolly Joybells. How warm the water must have been! I am glad that nothing happened to your friend. —DOT.] # * # Dear Dot,—4 must tell you about the. wonderful holiday Little Fay and I had together in Southland. We had lots of bathes, and plenty of car rides. We also had a few thrilling rides in a gig, which I still laugh about. We were taken to three picnics, which were enjoyed by us both. One day we had a ride to -Invercargill. We stayed at five different places, and everybody was so good to us too. We were taken for many outings, and were also taken with a movie camera on a horse. I am going to high school this year. I will close now, with lots of love to you and all the Little Folk. BETTY BUTTONS (Morrison's). [" Wonderful" certainly seems to be the word for it, Betty Buttons. Have you seen the moving picture yet? You will like high school, I think. —DOT.] # #..'*.' Dear Dot, —We'have'had much rain lately, and it will do the garden good. I have not had any holidays, but I am going away in May. I am going to St. Clair one day soon. Colin was lying in his pram with a peg. in his mouth, but daddy picked him up. He has four teeth, .two in the top and two In the bottom, and his mouth is very sore. I must close now, with love to all. BLACK WATCH'S SON fOtokia). [A little clean bone to bite on might help Colin, Black Watch's Son. I hope you have a good holiday in May, and thoroughly enjoy yourself.—DOT.] # . ■•■ * #;.".• Dear Dot, —One day we went down to the beach at Port Molyneux. The water was very warm, and I had a lovely bathe. During the holidays we went to Oamaru, where we stayed four days. I have Just begun to read a book about Little Nell. In January I read "Robinson Crusoe" over and over again. I also read " Plnnocchlo," which I think Is a lovely book. We have had a fine time lately. Some children were visiting our neighbours, and we played splendid games together. Martha Mince has a grown-up family ndw, two roosters and two hens, and I should like you to give me names for them please. We now have a big packing case as a veranda for our playhouse. We need some shade for these hot days. During the holidays, I went to the pictures twice. I saw " Peter Pan" and " Mickey Mouse." I should like to know how Mickey Mouse is produced. Later on, two funny men made us. laugh. I enjoyed that best of all. LITTLE GIRL BLUE (Balclutha).

[You read good books, Little Girl Blue. The Mickey Mouse pictures are made by thousands of little drawings placed side by side and then moved along quickly. Call the rest of the Mince family Maggie, Millie, Monty, and Morty.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It Is such a long time since 1 wrote to you that I am sure you have forgotten there was ever such a person as Lover of the Mist. I went to Dunedin for my holidays, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. During Christmas and New Year we had a friend staying at our place, and as often as was possible, we went to the beach. We discovered a pool around the rocks of Sandfly Bay, and\here it was that we spent most of our time. It was not very deep, but after the tide was out, it was warm. For three, it could have been a shade larger. On New Year's Day we set oft to Broad Bay regatta, but found It too hot for walking, and so we came home and went to the beach instead. As it is bedtime now, I shall close, wishing you and all the Little Folk a happy and prosperous New Year. LOVER OF THE MIST (Sandymount).

[When one lives near the beach, no place could be more likable, . Lover of the Mist. How your friend must have enjoyed her holiday With you all!—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Well, here I am again! I must tell you about a picnic my sister Dora and I went to. We had about five miles to go, both on our bicycles. The road was rough too. We started oft at about 12 o'clock, and arrived there In time for lunch. We had our lunch alongside the Orari River. Afterwards, when we had tidied up, there were 30 people altogther, so you can imagine the mess. We all started walking up the side of the river for a short distance, then jumped from stone to stone over the first stream. Many of them Jumped into the water or else slid in. I was lucky, however. There were two streams to cross before we reached our destination, a lovely big pool at the base of a high cliff. Then most of us went in for a swim.. The water was lovely and warm. Some stayed In nearly two hours, while the rest sat on stones on the bank and watched. After that we went for a walk through the bush tracks, and then returned for afternoon tea, . which we all welcomed. We sat and talked, and then some went back for another bathe, while others went walking. The time passed quickly, and it was soon tea time, so we all gathered together under the bush, as It was a very hot day, and had tea. Then we hunted up our own belongings, and that was a Job, and got ready for home. We enjoyed the ride home, as It was cooler and also down hill, so we did not take long. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, despite our sunburnt arms and legs. NEW ZEALAND FERN (Pee! Forest). [Of course you enjoyed yourselves, New Zealand Fern. Sunburn is all part of the fun on a jolly day spent outside at a picnic such as you describe.—DOT.] ij: * * Dear Dot, —-A truant once again picks ■ up her pen to write those two favourite words. No doubt, by this time, she will have been long forgotten. Many changes have occurred since I last wrote. From the tiiiy bud stage, tree and flowers have developed Into things of beauty. There is the contented hum of many birds, and the drone of the busy bees combined with the chirp of the grasshopper, but alas, the flowers are now beginning to fade, and the leaves are turning colour and scattering' around. Soon there will be a lull as they settle down to their, winter sleep. The finish is best described in " A Child's Question to Mother Nature." I enclose these verses, as I thought they might interest your Little Folk. "The'summer Is dying they say, Mother, In this glory of crimson and brown. Will you take all the flowers away, Mother, And send every leaf fluttering down? " The leaves are now rich, red, and golden, Were they only made radiant to fall? Does this beautiful brightness enfolden But the end and decay of them all? " ' Yes, they fall, child,' sweet Nature confesses, ' Yet their, life work goes on you will find; Each soft tinted leaflet expresses The love of an infinite mind.' "' In my brown lap they He softly sleeping,' Shelt'ring tender young seedlings from harm. When the gentle spring flowers are peeping The dead leaves have decked them with charm." Love to all the Little Folk. LORD TONY'S WIFE (Ranfurly). [I do not like you to fill your letter with quotations, Lord Tony's Wife, but for once I shall accept your verses. Try not to be a truant again.—DOT'.] * * >',i Dear Dot, —Have you ever seen a swarm of bees? When I was in Invercargill I saw one. One evening aunty called me out Into the garden and took me over to a currant bush, and one branch was covered with bees. I She rang up a man to come and take them away. I thought at first it was a foxglove, for it was very like one. Two days after, we were walking round the garden, and we saw some more bees on the sarfle branch; only not so many. Aunty said the man could not have got the queen. Love to all. BONNIE BRIAR (Roxburgh). [Yes, I have seen a swarm, Bonnie Briar. How interested you would be in it. I wonder- whether that was the reason for the other bees being there.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —Have you been enjoying the hot days lately? Although it is hot in Dunedin, I am sure it is much more so in Roxburgh. But everything has its compensations ; for although we have greater heat, o*r water supplies are not as low as those of the city. In the meantime, while this hot weather remains, the children of the district have turned into water babies! The public baths and all the swimming ponds that exist are decorated with brightly coloured objects, which bob up and down, and glide to and fro, even venturing to imitate aeroplanes taking nose-dives from spring-boards and platforms Into the shimmering depths of the water. These coloured objects, as you may have guessed, are bathers revelling in the refreshing coolness of the water. But apart from swimming and all the pleasure it affords, it is really a tragedy to see the picture of burntup lawns, shrivelled paddocks, and parched earth. Some poplar trees, which I can see quite well from our home, are very slightly beginning to change colour, and in places the leaves are quite golden! I am sure this is due to the excessive heat and lack of water. Although deep rolls of thunder, rumbling in the distance, have been heard, no rain has arrived yet; and I have been thinking that it will be a novelty to see and hear the rain pattering down in real earnest once more. PERSIAN PUSSY (Roxburgh). [By the time this is in print you will probably have had the rain you need, Persian Pussy. I hope so, at any rate. I like your description of the water babies. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Antonio Rossini was the laziest composer anybody could wish for, and a few fatits are enough to convince us of this. He wrote numerous operas, but only two are remembered to-day. " The Barber of Seville" and "William Tell." The former is still a favourite and the overture to the latter is the one overture by an Italian composer to gain Worldwide fame. There are numerous events relative to the conception and first production of " The Barber of Seville," which make an interesting story. The original overture to this piece was lost (if Indeed Rossini ever wrote one), and so the lazy Rossini simply substituted an earlier one of his own which, fortunately, is quite appro-

priate to the sparkling opera. When the composer was 37, he heard an opera by a ] rival French composer, declared he could , never write anything as good, and promptly ; ceased composing! He lived, to be a good old man, but abruptly closed his professional career at that early age. Now the sourc . from which Rossini derived his "Barber, was a series of three comedies by one Beaumarchls, which centred around a very jovial character called Figaro, a court barber. These comedies were " The Barber of Seville, "The Marriage of Figaro," and "La Mere Coupable." Years beWre Mozart had used the second tale for his famous "Figaro opera. Rossini took the first, The composer was in Rome at the time, and, unfortunately for him a composer named Paisiello had set the' " Barber" to music some years previously. Learning that Rossini was about to launch an opera on the subject used by Paisiello, Romans began to talk in the cafes about what they referred to a& Rossini s underhand action. However, on February 5, 1816, just over 119 years ago, " The Barber of Seville" made its appearance at Rome, and was a terrific failure. But the details concerning this fiasco must wait until next week. Love to all. CHARLES DICKENS (Dunedin). [We shall all be pleased to hear about them, Charles Dlckenß. I like the interest you take in opera and all matters pertaining to the stage.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —Once again I pen a few lines to your page. The days are still very hot. There was a thunderstorm here the other night. The water was running everywhere like creeks, and the dry paddocks soon became wet. The cattle all turned their backs and shivered. There were many fences washed down and carried away with the force of the water. The men that were driving lambs were drenched. The next morning it was foggy, and looked as though it might rain again. I do not like walking to school in the hot morning, but it is worse coming home at nights. We have sold some of our lambs now. I do not like seeing them going away, as they travel very slowly in the heat. We have three cats and two kittens. There are two tortoiseshell catß, one grey cat, a black kitten and a yellow and white kitten. I will close now, with love to your Little Folk and your own dear self. , „ SCALY LIZARD (Oturehua). [What a storm, Scaly Lizard. I know how the poor cattle must have been feeling. I suppose the lambs do not like the journey either. —DOT.] * #.■'."♦ Dear Dot, —As we have been away for a holiday, I have been unable to write, We had,a lovely time at the beach bathing. And I also went flounder-spearing with my father, who speared about 30 one evening. We also saw and heard the Grenadier Guards Band, and it was lovely. [Who Is this little letter from, I wonder — with no name and no address on it? Whoever wrote it ha 3 had a jolly holiday,— DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I feel that I must apologise for not writing for such a long time, but we have been away for our holidays, and have not had time to write to you, and before the holidays, we were studying our work for the examination at school. I have had a fine time In my holidays. We saw the Duke of Gloucester In Dunedin, and saw him at the civic reception, and at the concert given in hiß honour at the Town Hall. We also saw the Duke at the Drill Hall, where a display by the children of Dunedin and suburbs and some country schools was given. We saw, too, the beautiful wreath, which was made of red wax poppies, laid on the cenotaph by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, and guarded by two legionaries of the New Zealand Legion. We have once more settled down at school, and I am in Form 11, so we shall be able to write more frequently to you. Did have a good holiday at Christmas? CRIMSON DOMINO (Roxburgh). [When one is having a happy holiday, one does not want to write, Crimson Domino. I am glad you enjoyed the Duke's visit so. Yes, thank you, I had a perfect holiday.— DOT.) Dear Dot, —It Is a long while since 1 last wrote to you, but I have by no means forgotten you. In this letter I shall try to describe the thunderstorm we had last Sunday. The day had been beautiful, but In the afternoon black clouds began to appear. Soon the still silence was broken by the far-away peals of thunder. Gradually It came nearer and nearer until the rain came down In one steady sheet. Not far from here a cloud had burst. At tea time we happened to glance out of the window, and there to our amazement the river had changed Into an angry swirling mass, whereas, before. It had been low and still. In a mater of a few minutes it had risen a few feet, and waß really a sight to behold. The road up further In some parts was completely washed away. The reef from the top of the hill right to the river had been washed bare. Later the storm subsided, and the river went down as quickly as it, had risen. Love to you and all the Little Folk. A GOLD-DIGGER'S DAUGHTER (Arrowtown). [lt must have been a very exciting storm, A Gold-Digger's Daughter. What a surprise it must have given you I ' Was much damage done?—DOT.] ._.....#. * * Dear Dot,—This letter is .being written on February 15. To-morrow the Little Folk will, be opening their eyes and yawning, and air of a sudden they will have a feeling that something extra nice Is going to happen. They will spring out of bed, run to the window, and lean out to see if it is going to be fine. If it is a dull day, they will very likely groan, but in the end make up their minds to make the best of it. But If It is fine, they will smile and pick out , their very lightest frock and shadiest hat. Oh, Dot, what a wonderful lot of shining, smiling faces you are going to be able to look upon, and what happy childish laughter will fill the air! I am sure • if they all go with the resolve to enjoy themselves, the picnic will be a great success. As it is growing late, I shall close, hoping you have a good time and do not get too sunburnt. Love to all the Little Folk and your dear self. A MERRY MADCAP (Evans Flat). [You will know by now whether your prophecies were correct or not, A Merry Madcap. Picnics are all great fun, but Old Writer picnics most of all.—DOT.] * * - * . Dear Dot,—l am very sorry I have not written to you sooner. I am up all day now, I have been so for six months. I went home for a holiday at Christmas, and had a good time. I had a few rides on my bicycle. There is a shortage of water here just now. We are allowed to have only little baths. It has not rained up here for a long time. There' was a lot of wild-fire here the other night. We lay awake after lights out and watched it. I shall close now, with love to all. RED SHADOW (Waipiata). [I thought you were getting better when 1 did not hear from you. Red Shadow. Good boy to be up all day. Soon you will" be home always, and not only for a holiday. I should like to have seen that wild-fire, too. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am back to school again, and "have passed into Standard IV, and like it very much. I waß down at the Milburn Lime and Cement Company's picnic sports at Burnside, and had a good day. One Wednesday we went to the Oamaru Gardens for our school picnic. I will close now, with love to all the Little Folk' and your own dear self. YOUNG CRICKETER (Dunback). [I thought you would like that Standard, Young Cricketer. Was the picnic a good one?—DOT.] $ *£ 'fi Dear Dot, —Here is my first letter this year. It is about two months since I last wrote to your happy page of Little Folk. We went for many a picnic during the Christmas holidays, and had a fine day for them all. Most of them were spent at the river. In my next letter I shall tell you about one picnic we had. Love to your happy band. , HEATHER FAIRY (North Oamaru). [I shall look forward to hearing about the picnic, Heather Fairy, especially as it was spent in such fine weather.—DOT.] DOT'S REPLIES. Could you tell me more about wanting to be a nurse, Inky? If you did, that would, make a Best Letter.—DOT. * * * And could you tell me more about the picnic, Buttercup Fairy? I should like to print a Best Letter about it.—DOT. * # * There were rather too many subjects In your letter for a Best Letter, Woolymooly. Write me an interesting long one about that special picnic.—DOT. *. # . * Could you tell me more about Auntie Joan's little cat's kitten, Yellow Dog Dingo? I should very much like to hear about It.. —DOT. V * ¥ Now that would be a Best Letter if you could tell me about finding ldwt of gold, Silver Dust. The others would like to hear about it, too. —DOT. OLD WRITERS' ASSOCIATION. At a meeting of the committee of the Old Writers' Association on December 19, 1933, it was decided to hold a reunion during Winter Show Week in June, 1936, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Dot's Little Folk page. It was further decided that there should be a nominal fee of one shilling for membership, and that anyone, whether an Old Writer or not, desirous of making a donation could do so, all- subscriptions and donations, accompanied by name, address, and nom de plume, to be acknowledged In the Little Folk's page fortnightly after being received by the secretary at her address. 24 Jackson street, St. Kilda, Dunedin. OLD WRITERS* NOTES. Indian Chief, president of tbe'Old Writers' Association (Mr Jas. T. Ramsay, 24 Netdpath road, Mornington Dunedin) ; and Morning Star, honorary secretary (Mrs J Hines. 24 Jackson street, St. Kilda, Dunedin), are endeavouring to complete a register of past and present Old Writers In connection with the jubilee in 1936. Either would be pleased to hear from any willing to supply names, addresses, and noma de plume, and, where possible, year of first

writing to Dot. Acknowledgments will be made periodically In this column. * * * Dunira (Mrs W. Barnes, Morrison street, Mosgiel) wishes to hear from any Old Writers willing, and also would like to hear '.oin School Girl's Mate and Dirty "ace, again. 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 : Linnet the Second, Pansy Person, PaddyLaddie, Royal Visitor, Grandma Witt, Sookie. MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to--Blue-Eyed Pat, who was 14 last Monday. Queen Viola, who was 14 last Monday. Brown Bunny Boy, who was 14 on Wednesday. Chromium Button, who was eight on Wednesday. Gold Nugget Seeker, who was 10 on Thursday. Mistress' Mary, who will be 12 to-morrow. Silver Dust, who will be 10 to-morrow. Daddy's Doughboy, who was 10' on Thursday. LITTLE FOLK'S LETTER BOX. As the Little Folk Inserting th» 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 £ :,': * Buttercup Fairy (Jean Anderson, Herbort) wishes to correspond with any Little Folk between the ages of 15 and 16.