Dots Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23796, 1 May 1939, Page 17

Dots Little Folk

THE WEEK’S POEM

Our poem this week, children, is about an old country barn, and the poet gives us a very complete picture of it, making u> realise what a fascinating place It Is. Although It is a description of an English barn, those of you who live in the country will recognise many features it possesses in common with the barns you know. DOT. THE BARN Rain-sunken roof, grown green and thin For sparrows’ nests and starlings’ nests: Dishevelled eaves; unwieldy doors, Cracked rusty pump, and oaken floors. And idly-pencilled names and Jests Upon the posts within. The light pales at the spider’s lust, The wind tangs through the shattered pane: An empty hop-poke spreads across The gaping frame to mend the loss And keeps out sun as well as rain, Mildewed with clammy dust. The smell of apples stored in hay And homely cattle-cake is there. Use and disuse have come to terms, The walls are hollowed out by worms, But men’s feet keep the mid-floor bare And free from worse decay. All merry noise of hens astir Or sparrows squabbling on the roof Comes to the barn's broad, op eh door; You hear upon the stable floor Old hungry Dapple strike his hoof And the blue fantall’s whir. The barn is old, very old, But not a place of spectral fear. Cobwebs and dust and speckling sun Come to old buildings every one. Long since they made their dwelling here. And here you may behold Nothing but simple wane and change: Your tread will wake no ghost, your voice Will fall on silence undeterred. No phantom wailing will be heard, Only the farm's blithe cheerful noise; The barn is old, not strange. —Edmund Blunden. TO ALL Dear Little Folk,—l have had sent to me two copies of a magazine called Hope, dated respectively March and December, 1906. This magazine was issued by the Invercargill D.L.F. Literary and Debating Society, and is interesting not only on account of its matter, but also as showing what the D.L.F. of those days could accomplish. It is composed of original compositions In prose and verse on a variety of subjects. Many of the writers’ names would be unfamiliar to present-day Little Folk, but some of them, J am glad to say, still appear in the list of Old Writers that is published yearly. Both of the issues contain a foreword by Mr William Fenwick, and 1 should like to quote the concluding paragraph of what he wrote in the first one. This is as follows: I shall content myself with confiding to you as briefly as may be the desire of my heart,' for with you alone rests its realisation. It is Just that I want you, more earnestly and eagerly than ever, to make your membership as D.L.F, a synonym for honour, unselfishness. and loyalty, so that our little badge, wherever It Is seen, becomes a guarantee of noble thoughts and deeds. This message, written so many years ago by one of our founders, should Inspire us all with higher Ideals of loyalty and service.—Your loving DOT.

LETTERS FROM IT7LE FOLK

Motto: We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. FIRST LETTERS Dear Dot. —May 1 Join your band of Little Folk? I was beginning to think I might be too old for a “ Joiner,” but the other day 1 saw in an old Dot’s page someone aged 18 writing for the first time. By this time he or she will be an Old Writer, for that page was six years old. Love from PLAIN JOAN (Dunedin). [You are welcome, Plain Joan. You can Join any time up to the age of 21 yean, and you have quite a long way to go yet. I hope in your next letter that you will tell me what you are interested in, and if you have any brothers and sisters.—DOT.] BEST LETTERS JUNIOR SECTION <l4 years and under). Dear Dot,—On Easter Monday rny sister and I went up to Tawanul in the train to the sports. Soon after we had arrived there we saw two of our friends. We were over watching the clay-bird shooting for a while. When the men stopped shooting the boys would scramble in and fill their pockets with the empty cartridge cases. While we were watching the dancing there were children’s, races. A man played the bagpipes for the dances. There were races and many other things for the men. About 4.30 we went home, after an enjoyable day’s outing, 1 have a budgie, which is green is colour, and I am trying to teach him to talk. In his cage I have hung a little bell, which he likes playing with. The other day I put a little mirror in his cage, and when he looks into it he thinks it is another bird. With kind regards to all. ROSEBUD GARLAND (Otago). tl am glad you had such an enjoyable day at the sports. Rosebud Garland. Did you enter for any of the races? I hope your budgie will soon begin to talk. You will have a lot of fun with him. —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —This time I am going to tell you about the sports that were held at Oamaru. Arriving at the sports ground at 10.30, we had a look at our programme to see when the first race commenced It was a running race. Before dinner I watched the high Jump, and thought it very interesting. After we had hid lunch we heard that the basket ball competition was to be played soon. Last year we had better luck, but it's no use crying over split milk. After we had marched round the grandstand we fell in line for the drill. In the middle of it the microphone broke. When it was finished the Rev. Mr Nordmeyer presented the cups and shield. We won the Country Cup. and one of our runners came first equal with another girl for the Herbert Smith Cup. I think we were quite fortunate that day. We arrived home at 5.30, tired but happy. As that is all the news I have, I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself. MARY ANN (Kakanul). [Your team did very well at the sports, Mary Ann, and I congratulate you upon Us success. 1 am glad you had. such a happy day.—DOT.]

Irieaiaumted Jury 16,1886, by th.e

OTAGO WITNESS

Dot Invites letters of net more than 300 words tn length from her young friends throughout the Dominion on any matters In which they ore Interested. New members must enclose their name and address These will not be published, and tire 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, Otsgo Dally Times." Every letter must state the age of the writer for Dot’s private Information The retiring ago Is 21. after which Little Folk become Old Writers

Dot’s Little Folk's Badge, with pin. for use as a brooch, is obtainable on application to Dor. Ikies 2a 6d, In stamps or postal notes.

Dear Dot,—Some other books that 1 have read are written by Nellie M. Scanlan. My sister, Little Brown Mouse, got them for me in the Dunedin Library. Two of the four books I read are “ Winds of Heaven ” and “ Pencarrow.” These four Pencarrow books are in a series and are about the same family. They are about New Zealand farm life, and In one of the books there was something about a bush fire. The books show some of the difficulties experienced by New Zealand farmers before the war. Clearing away bush was a common job, and sometimes the men lit fires to burn the cut bush Perhaps that Is how the bush fires started. Have you read these books, Dot? I found them very Interesting myself. Miss Scanlan is a New Zealander, and I suppose that Is why she knows so much about this country. I must close now. Dot, with kind regards to all. ANOTHER BOOKWORM (Kaitangata)

[Yes, 1 have read the books you mention, Another Bookworm, and they give an Interesting account of the fortunes of a New Zealand family.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—One day we went for a drive. 1 do not know where we went, but it seemed a long way In the car. Daddv was to meet some friends to go rabbiting. We got there first, so we left the car where they could see It, and then started off up a big hill. When we were halfway up dad and my sister and brother went on to set the nets, while mummy and 1 sat on the sunny slopes and listened to the birds singing and watched the rabbits scampering past. They seemed to be Just lying In the long grass. Our friends soon Joined us, and mummy boiled the billy' and we had lunch. At 5 o’clock we went home with 41 rabbits. In my next letter may I tell you about a trip we had to Buckland’s Crossing? Love from

MISS CORONATION (North Otago). [What; a pleasant day’s outing you had, Miss Coronation, and what lots of rabbits you gotl They must be very plentiful In that district. 1 shall be very pleased to hear about your trip to "Buckland’s Crossing. It is a beautiful place.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—How are you getting on? It is a few weeks since 1 wrote to you. We have been having some lovely days, but it rained the other day. We had beautiful weather for Easter, I went to Warrington, and I had a lovely time, I stayed with some of my friends, and we used to have two swims a day. We are going to see Laurel and Hardy In " Way Out West." We will soon be having our term holidays now. There has been a lot of Influenza about, but I have not had it yet. I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk and yourself. MIGNONETTE (Waitati). [I am glad you had such an enjoyable Easter, Mignonette. The weather was beautiful, and I hope it will also be good during the term holidays.— DOT.] V V * Dear Dot,—Here 1 am again. I am going to tell you about my horse. His name In Harry, and he is a big, tall chestnut with a white stripe down his face. I can catch him anywhere. He Is very quiet, and never bustles himself. I go rabbiting with him. At first I thought Harry was a funny name for a horse, but it suits him. The willows and poplars are very pretty just now It Is hard to say which loses its leaves first, but the good old firs hardly lose a needle, and always so green and such good shelter I do not know what we would do without them in the country. Also, they do improve the look of a farm. My brother, who is a member of your band, and I chopped a big heap of wood the other day. Last winter my father hauled the wood home with a tractor. Then my uncle came with his tractor and saw-bench and cut the trees Into short lengths. Being nice and dry, It was quite easy to chop, and we have lovely fires during the cold, snowy and frosty evenings. Hoping you are quite well, and with love. K 7 (Kokonga). [What a lucky boy you are, K 7, to have such a fine horse, you must be ver proud of him. With your large supply of wood you will be able to get through the winter quite comfortably. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is a long time since l wrote to you. 1 am busy back at school just now. I am going to tell you about my brothers. The eldest of them goes to school with me. The other two are at home, but the elder one will be going to school in September. The youngesl one is 18 months old He likes to go down to see the cow being milked. With love to all the Little Folk and yourself BILLY THE RAT (Balclutha).

[You are fortunate, Billy the Rat, to have three brothers, and you will always have someone to share in your games —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l am writing again to your page. We went to Dunedin for the day on Easter Sunday to see my grandmother It was a good day for travelling. We reached Dunedin at 12.30, and left at 7.30 pm. It has been good weather for the Easter holidays. At Shag Point there was a serious accident between two cars. On Easter Monday some friends and my parents went to the Moerakl lighthouse and had a picnic. At night Poppy Betty and her mother went to the pictures with us to see " The Rose of Tralee.” Binkle Stuart was acting in it, and she was, lovely. We act charades at school. On Friday evening a dance is to be held in the school We are doing history and geography projects at school My sister s and mine are: history—about wireless and telegraphy; geography—about Australia My father is crutching Just now I will tell you something about our school. It is built of wood, with two roms, but we only use one. It Is just across the road from the sea. Shag Point Football Club starts playing on Saturday. March 22. Well, Dot. I will clone now, with love. CAMERON TARTAN (Shag Point)

[You seem to be fairly busy. Cameron Tartan, and should never feel dull. I hope you will let me know’ how you get on with the projects.—DOT.]

Dear Dot—l have been a long time in writing to you, so I have decided to write now. Though I have not written myself. I always look forward to reading Dot's page on Monday. This time I will tell you about our cats. I have a lovely cat called Sally. She is grey, with black stripes, and has a white neck. She comes and mews at the door, so I let her in. When she comes In she runs and gets up on the sofa, whore she makes herself a ’• comfy ” bed. We also have an old grey and black cat, but she does not come inside. She has two lovely little grey kittens. These little kittens come out and play with one another when the sun Is shining. Well. Dot, I have not written a very long letter, but I suppose It Is better than nothing. I hope to write again soon. Best wishes to yourself and all the Little Folk. JOLLY GOLLY (Kononl). [You have quite a large family of cats, Jolly Golly, and you will have lots of fun with them. Kittens, especially, are very fascinating. I am glad you find the page interesting.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—The time of the year has come once again when golden leaves are falling off the trees, and winter bleak is calling. Central Otago is a very cold place in the winter, and sometimes there Is no grass for lambs and sheep to eat, so the farmhands give them oats and chaff. There is a lot of good sport In winter time, such as football, hockey, skating, and lots of other things. The sports I like best are hockey and skating. All the birds have gone off to faraway countries where It Is warmer, and the only ones left are the starlings. Aren't we pleased to see all the birds back, the buds shooting on the trees, the lambs frisking, and the bulbs appearing when spring comes to us with joy and sunshine? With love. PRIMROSE POSY (Omakau).

[Although you have such cold winters, Primrose Posy, you have the advantage of being able to skate and play games on tne ice, and a great many poeple are willing to travel long distances in order to do that—DOT.l

Dear Dot, —This Is the second time I have written to your page, and I was very pleased to see my first letter In print. At home we have 30 hens, six pigeons, and six ducks, and five canaries. I have four brothers, and I am the only girl. Two of my brothers are older than I am, and the other two are younger I like sewing and knitting, also gardening. I often go down to the Municipal Baths, as I am fond of swimming. My two small brothers are ill lust now with whooping cough. We go to Kaikoral School, which I like very much, as it has all been remodelled, and we sit In class two at a desk. Well, Dot, as it is getting near my bedtime, I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self. FANTAIL (Dunedin).

[I am pleased you have written again, Fantall. You are a lucky Little Folk to have four brothers. I am sorry that the two small ones have whooping cough, and I hope that none of the others will take it.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I am going to tell you about our five cats. The cats’ names are Fluffy, who is six years old, Winkles and Tussle, who are both three years old, Tittups, who is one and a-half years old, and Guillaume (for short we call her Geome) They all follow me out to our gate when I am going to school, and when I wake up in the morning Tittups is on the windowsill mewing to be let inside. My cat. Tussle, has just had two kittens, and she must have known that we could not keep one of them, because she shifted them to where she thought we would not look for them. We are going to keep one. Please tell me a name for her. I must close now, with kind regards to the Little Folk and your own dear self DANCING FAIRY (Oamaru).

[lt must be amusing, Dancing Fairy, to see the five cats following you to the gate when you set off for school. Do they ever try to go all the way with you? Call the kitten Bonza. —DOT.I

Dear Dot,—lt is a long time since I wrote to your page, but time passes now that we are back at school. Since writing to you. our teacher has gone to England as exchange teacher for 15 months, and we have another one relieving. We have quite a lot more subjects than we used to have. At present we are learning to do woodwork with the fietsaw. I like It very much, but have had my hands cut twice, but as I get more practice I shall surely not do that any more. We are fast approaching the winter season. The days are shortening and getting cold. The farmers have nearly all finished harvesting, and are now dipping their sheep There is a lot of ■sickness in our district Just now, but so far we ha e not had it yet My brother and I are looking forward to the term holidays, as we have planned to do many things. X will close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. QUEEN OF FLOWERS (Herlot). [X am sorry you cut your hands, Queen of Flowers, but, as you say, with more practice you should avoid doing this. When your teacher comes back from England what a lot of interesting things you will hear about! —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—X am going to tell you about our cat and kittens. In colour the cat is smoke-grey, with white legs and white under her breast. Her chief game is hunting. She catches birds, rabbits, and mice. The kitten was Jet-biack, and was Just growing lovely. It used to sit on the picket gate, and when it was opened the kitten would hold on to it. But one day we could not find the little jet-black ball of fur. After looking everywhere we thought that it must be lost, and we have never seen it since. I shail close, with kind regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self, PINK LARKSPUR (Palmerston). [You would be sorry. Pink Larkspur, when your kitten disappeared. It must have been a dear little thing. Perhaps it will come back again.—DOT.] V Dear Dot, —1 begin this letter by wishing all the Little Folk a Jolly time. I am 12 years of age, and I am in Form 11. I enjoy going to school, but if you were to ask me which I would rather have, home or school, I think I would say home, as I have great fun. especially when all my 10 brothers and sisters are there. I have three brothers and sistersout of work. The youngest in the family is a little girl of 13 years of age. The eldest in the family is also a girl, of 174 years of age. We all have great fun together. We all have nicknames of some sort, which our brothers and sisters gave us. I daresay you would laugh If you heard some of them. So I think It Is as well not to tell you what they are. I shall now write a little poem, which I hope you will like.

I am r.s happy as a girl could be, Because a little bird sat upon my tree; A little tree I grew myself Just from one tiny seed.

I put it In the ground one year ago, No bigger than a tiny bead; It was days before I saw the first speck of green Pushing itself out of the earth To see what could be seen. Cheerio! INKY FINGERS (Windsor). [What a Jolly family you must be, Inky Fingers. I do not wonder you are so happy at home, but I am glad you like school, too. Thank you for the poem. It is a good attempt, but could be improved upon, and I hope you will try again.—DOT. 1 Dear Dot,—Here is a piece of poetry I made up: BIRDIES AND CRUMBS A birdie comes each morning, Just as day is dawning. The birdie comes To get the crumbs, But not if puss is yawning.

The crumbs are off my plate. But not if we have breakfast late. If we have breakfast late I have to hurry off to school, Or go to swimming lesson in a pool

That is all of the poem. I am staying at a lady's place while mummy is ill. They have got a darling wee canary here. His name is Sweety. Well. Dot, I don’t think I have any more news, so I shall close now. Love from FAIRY BERRY (Dunedin).

[Thank you for the poem, Fairy Berry, I like it very much. What kind of birdie is it that comes for the crumbs? He must be a very wise little fellow. I hope your mother will soon be better. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I am going to tell you about my summer holidays. We went to Coal Creek, and camped there for two weeks. We made a pool at the back of the camp and bathed in it. We went fruit picking too. The fruit was ripe when we left to go home. The water was very cold, because it came from snow off the mountains. We have our house papered and painted, and it is very nice now. The wind blew a lot of trees down in the plantation. I have taught my black cat a lot of tricks. It catches a number of little rabbits Love to all and your own dear self. BROWN BORONIA BUSH (Halfway Bush)

[What a splendid holiday you had, Brown Boronla Bush. You would be sorry when it was over, especially as the fruit was ripe. Your cat must be very clever.—DOT.]

Dear Dot. —This time I am going to tell you how we spent Easter Sunday, Well, we went to Black Gully. Early in the morning, about half-past 8, we left in our motor car. While we were travelling along the country roads we saw many different sights and different kinds of scenery. We arrived at Black

Gully at 11.45, and after having a good turn on the swings and roundabout we had our lunch After lunch we went along a - beaten track in the bush to a swing, which was erected so that it swung out over a guily. At 2 p.m. vve left Black Gully and made our wayon towards Ettrick to see my sister, who works in an apple orchard up that wdy, but when we arrived there we found to our disappointment that she was not at home. As we had a long w-ay 19 go, we did not wait to see her. We arrived home at 7.30 p.m., tired but pleased with our day’s outing. We did 200 miles in the car that day. WHITE SOAPSUDS (Gatlins). fYou would see a great deal of the country in one day, White Soapsuds The scenery round about Ettrick is very different from that at Gatlins, is it not? Your sister would be disappointed, too, at missing you.—DOT.] V * Dear Dot, —My pen is tired of lying im the desk, so I thought I would write to you. Now we have a bulldog, and her names is Bell. She is brown and white. Our budgie can talk now, and it says “ Pretty Boy.” We also have two puppies. One of them is black and brown, and the other is black, white, and brow-n. GRANNY’S SUNBONNET (Tarras) [Now that your budgie has begun to talk, Granny’s Sunbonnet, you will be able to teach it to say lots of things, if you have patience. Are the puppies very mischievous? Remember next time to write on one side of the paper only. —DOT.I * •¥ * Dear Dot, —1 have not written to you for a long time. X am having a good time at school, and have only missed one day My brother in in the hospital with sore ears again. X hope he will soon be better. QUEEN OF HAPPY HEARTS (Oamaru). [I am glad. Queen of Happy Hearts, that you are enjoying being at school and attend so regularly. I am sorry to hear that your brother had had to go into hospital, and hope he will soon bo better.—-DOT.] BEST LETTERS SENIOR SECTION (14 and under 21 years) Dear Dot, —Drawing, we all agree, is very interesting. It is interesting to the spectator when the result is good and to the artist whatever the result is. Perhaps I should say, would-be artist. Colour drawing is probably the best of all. In blackboard drawing we are told to work evenly with the chalks, but to apply them boldly, with regard for the pupil at the back of the room. Quite often a sea may not look like a sea. or a sky like a sky, but sometimes the drawing is better. If just the right shade and pressure is not used the whole effect is spoilt. But one learns this with practice. Pencil drawing or freehand is not so interesting, as the first thing to learn is the geometrical side of it, and.

most important of all, to draw a straight line. This is what I find one of the hardest things to do, as the line will persist in getting the most annoying kinks and bends in it. Can you imagine a whole class with noses screwed up, one eye shut and the other blinking with the effect, trying to measure proportion? The effect is so incongruous that one laughs and has to start all over again with the screwing up process. Indian ink drawing produces quite a pleasing effect—the black and white has such a clean appearance, and the edges are so clean-cut. I often think that an artist can, by doing his work well, produce much pleasure for other people. Cheerio. DECEMBER ROSES (Taierl). [All who aspire to be artists, December Roses, must undergo a long and sometimes tedious training, but if they have the true artistic spirit they will persevere. and the result will amply repay them. Beautiful pictures are a source of never ending enjoyment, and the world owes much to those who create them, r—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—The picture we went to was " The Prisoner of Zenda.” I am back here again. For the last four days I have been knitting a cardigan for my little cousin. I have just finished it to-night, and she is pleased with it, and has put it on. I take her up the street nearly every day just to pass the hours away I have nothing to write about, but when I go home I will tell you how I spent my holiday, i won’t be home for another week or so. I send love to all at home, and to all the Little Folk, also to you Dot. YODELLING COWBOY (Mosgiel).

(Knitting is a very useful accomplishment, Yodelling Cowboy Have you done much of it? I shall be pleased to hear from you, when you go home, as to how you spent your holiday.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—l attended a State primary school, then had secondary education through the State correspondence school, and now I am receiving a third education. A teacher from the Art School of the Technical School, Dunedin, is teaching mo, along with three other girls here, to do a new (to us) type of needlecraft. We are thus pupils of the Art School older than the average pupil, perhaps, but none the less enthusiastic—more, so, perhaps, as we have had time to realise that one has to do something in life, and to take the chance of learning when one has it. I have only just started. That is, this piece of work is my first. The material is a fairly coarse linen, its threads being of, as near as possible, the same thickness. On it in the centre, stamped and overdrawn with green ink (which, incidentally, washes out), are two dragons with plenty of scales, a long fat tail rolled in a hoop, several teeth, and a tongue. Eyes finish the fierce expression. Firstly, they are stitched evenly round in our case w’ith green stranded cotton of three strands. Next, about one inch from the edge of the material an oblong of Italian hemstitching is done. This is much more effective and easier than English hemstitching Then the dragons are encased in a smaller oblong, in a stitch not unlike miniature honeycombing, only orettier and taking longer to do. For the latter a creamy fawn cotton is used, forcing the dragons out A charming traycloth is the result, when the edges are doubled under. So far this is the most fascinating work I have done, especially as the result makes one think of foreign faneywork. Two of the others are also on runners and a tea-wagon cover in crossstitch, which has an Indian look about it. Well, Dot. hero come the visitors. Love from LAUGH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY (Otago)

[I am very glad, Laugh Your Troubles Away, that you have found such an interesting occupation. Needlecraft is very fascinating, and the particular kind you are doing is most effective.—DOT 1

Dear Dot.—l have picked up my pen once again to write to you. I am sending you a piece of poetry about autumn. Gold, russet, brown. The leaves float down; Down through the clear, cool air; The west wind blows, The carpet grows. The trees stand gaunt and bare; But the leaves sweep round. And bless the ground, With a covering warm and fair.

I shall close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. LADY CANTERBURY BELL (Dunedin). [Thank vou for your poem, Lady Canterbury Bell. I like it very much, and it gives a charming picture of falling leaves, Your badge has been posted to you. —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—lt is a little while since I wrote, but I always read what the others write about. The other day I noticed that the history of our page was published. I thought it was very interesting, and 1 enjoyed reading it. It is so nice to think that someone once thought of us and gave us such a lovely opportunity to tell one another what is going on around us and what lovely times we have. I know quite a lot who love to read our letters. Well, Dot, this is all the news just now, I shall close, with a big cheerio to all the Little Folk and yourself. EX-NURSE GIRL (Kaitangata). (I am very glad, Ex-Nurse Girl, that you enjoyed reading the history of our cage, and that you appreciate what we owe to those who founded it.—DOT. I * V HDear Dot.—Here are two more poems on different aspects of autumn. AUTUMN MOODS In the chilly autumn days. When grey rain-spears fill the sky, Autumn is a dragon fierce Sweeping wildly by. But on the golden misty days. In the bright woods by yourself. You may catch the laughter gay Of autumn—then a merry elf. AUTUMN MOON The autumn moon was full last night, of all misty, golden red, On the horizon, clear and bright, her pale gold light she shed. Above the dew-wet, dreaming world: the soft voice of the sea ' Was murmuring below the town: the night wind cool and free, Was almost stilled. The rustling branches of the sycamore Outside my window seemed to cease their song and sigh no more. Deep silence reigned. Soft cloudlets passed across the moon's bright face, Her magic painted shadows dim in every secret place. The quiet, moon-washed garden held across each drowsy bed Of blossoms, every one asleep, their every lovely head Drooped on its stalk: and thus I shared the secret of each bloom. And thus I drank the beauty of the golden autumn moon. Love to all. GREY-EYED BLONDE (Hillgrove). [These two poems about autumn are also very charming. Grey-eyed Blonde, and this particular season has evidently been a source of inspiration to you. —DOT.] OVERSEAS CORRESPONDENCE Little Folk wishing to correspond with residents overseas should write to Miss M. A. Vernon, c/o Dot, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin, enclosing stamped addressed envelope for reply, and slating age, hobbies, and requirements, and also In which country correspondents are desired, NEW MEMBERS Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week;— Plain Joan. OLD WRITERS’ NOTES A meeting will.be held to-night, Monday, May 1, in the library of the Otago Daily Times, at 8 o’clock. Business Includes arrangements for June reunion. A euchre party will be held in the Foresters’ Hall, Albany street, on May 9. Admission Is. The next social will be held on Mav 22 in Wilson Hall. Annual subscriptions are due. CLARA. Hon. Secretary. 128 Union street, Dunedin, N.l.