Dot's Little Folk

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23946, 23 October 1939, Page 11

Dot's Little Folk

THE WEEK’S POEM As this iis Labour Day. children, and the picnic season is just commencing, I think .the following little poem will not be out of place. It reminds us that, even If we do not expect to see fairies, we must never forget to tidy up after a picnic and leave the countryside as beautiful as we found It. DOT. PICNICS. If you go a-plcnicklng and throw your scraps about You’ll never see the little folk go running In and out, And if you leave your orange peel all Uttered on the grass You’ll never go to Fairyland or see the fairies pass. For empty tins and tangled strings And paper bags are not the things To scatter where a linnet sings. So If you go a-plcnicklng remember you re a guest Of all the tiny people, and you’ll really find it best To leave their ballroom tidy and to clear away the mess, And perhaps you’ll see a fairy In her newest dancing dress. But paper bags and broken combs , Will really wreck the pixie homes And frighten aU the tiny gnomes. But If you go a-plcnlcking and you are elfin-wise You’ll maybe hear with fairy ears and see with goblin eyes; The little folk will welcome you, and they will open wide The hidden doors of Fairyland and you will pass inside. And maybe see a baby fay White cradled In a cherry spray Although it is Bank Holiday. ■ —B. E. Todd. TO ALL Dear Little Folk,—As to-day Is a holiday, 1 expect that a great many of you will be going for picnics or long walks or rides, cither by car or on bicycles; and I do hope that the weather will remain fine and that you will all have a very happy day out in the open. I shall interested to hear how you have spent the holiday. I would like specially to draw your attention to the letter from Kilmeny of the Pool which appears In the page today, and in which she makes an appeal for members for the concert party which has been Inaugurated in connection with the D.L.F. Social Club. The object of this party is a very laudable one, namely, to provide entertainment for the sick and aged in the various institutions in and about Dunedin. I would also point out that. In addition to giving pleasure to people who are not able to go out and seek it for. themselves, the members of the party will themselves derive considerable enjoyment from taking part In this work, and I have no doubt that the musical experience they gain will be of value to them. I would therefore urge all Little Polk who live in Dunedin, and who have musical talent, to respond to ICllmeny of the Pool’s appeal and become members of the D.L.F. concert party. , ~ . I am pieased to learn a combined DLF. Club and Old Writers Association has been formed in Invercargill. This new body is a revival of one that had been

allowed to lapse, and it Is gratifying to have this proof of the continued ftiterest of the Invercargill Old Writers and Little Folk. I extend to them my hearty congratulations on the Inauguration of this new association, and my best wishes ..or its continued success. I hope It will be the means of reviving happy memories, cementing old friendships and forming new ones. Your loving DOT CONCERT PARTY D.L.F. SOCIAL CLUB Dear Dot .—Recently the D.L.F, Social Club inaugurated an ambitious scheme through which it was hoped we would be able to provide entertainment for the Inmates of the various homes, orphanages, etc., in the city. We started off very confident that the philanthropic nature of the project would appeal to the sympathy of all Little Folk, and we felt that sufficient support would be forthcoming to enable us to form a choir of good quality, if not of large dimensions. However, our idealistic hopes are fradually being dashed, as the response as been extremely poor. ' I feel certain, Dot, that there must be a number of Little Folk and their friends who are capable of assisting us in some way Therefore I will endeavour to enlighten them regarding the concert party, its progress since its inauguration, its hopes and its ideals: and I trust this appeal of mine will bear much fruit and encourage many others to join us. ‘We are reasonably, well supplied, with lady vocalists and pianists, but desire several instrumentalists, elocutionists, dancers, and male singers, also young men willing to take part in dramatic productions. The choir has purchased some good music and hired a hall for practices, but . little work can be done without some tenors and contraltos wining to do some serious work. The sopranos and basses are progressing slowly, but they also need a little strengthening. It docs not matter if you have not had any choral experience, as we have a good leader who is willing to give helpful advice to any Interested members I feel that it Is hardly fair to these folk, who are not actual members of the club yet come every week to assist us, to be so backward in offering what talent we may have. Our choirmaster, pianist, pro'ducer, and many members of the choir have no connection with the D.L.F at all, but they are for the most part more faithful and hardworking than some of us who claim to be true D.L.F. in name and spirit. I think that we should all feel heartily Ashamed of ourselves, so in gratitude for their work let us make an effort to respond more enthusiastically to this plea for talent. The concert party hopes to visit twice monthly, taking a different home each time. We have already been to the M.C.M. Health Home at Company s Bay.

InaiuOureded Jury 16,1886, ™ by th.e OTAGO WITNESS Dot Invites letters of not more than 300 words In length from her young friends throughout the Dominion on any matters In which they are Interested Now menthol's must enclose their name and address Those 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 " Dot, care of Editor, Otago Dally Times." Every letter must state the age of the writer for Dot’s private Information The retiring ago Is 21. after which Little Polk become Old Writers Dot’s Little Folk’s badge. with pin, for use ns a brooch, Is obtainable on application to Dot, Price 2s 6d. In stamps or postal notes.

where our reception was indeed enthusiastic. It is pitiful to think that we are able to go to an entertainment as often as we wish, yet these folk, who surely ! need entertaining more than we do. are visited perhaps once in six months or so—- * often not as frequently as that. It is i this state of affairs that we hope to 1 remedy, and, with the support that only i you Little Folk can give, we will overcome it, and bring about a happier state of affairs for these people who do not possess our health and strength. Do they not, with their cheerful acceptance of adverse circumstances and their gratitude for any crumb of pleasure, no matter how small, arouse a feeling of sympathy and an urge to greater things in you who have so much? Surely, friends, for their sake If for no other reason, you will sacrifice one ing weekly, and help to give them the best entertainment that we in our selfish lives can give. It is not much to ask when we realise how much we owe to these old faithfuls who built for us this grand country at the cost of then: own health, strength, and often friends If by our efforts we are able to relieve I the monotony of their lives then we i are In some measure living up to our m Wi°) all who are willing to help us please communicate with me. or come to the Trinity Methodist Church Hall, in Stuart street, on Tuesday evenings, at 7.30 sharp. KILMENY OF THE POOL (Dunedin). 1 i LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK i Motto; We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves FIRS'! LETTERS Dear Dot,—Please may I join your happy band of Little Folk? I have three sisters and two brothers, and am the , eldest of the family. I shall be nine ! years old on March *27. My brother is in bed to-day with a sore ear. He had ; no breakfast and no dinner, and only a wee bit of tea. I have got a sore eye. but I went to school to-day. With much love to your Little Folk and your own dear self, LITTLE STAR FAIRY (Paerau). ■ [I am very pleased to welcome you to our band, Little Star Fairy. I hope your brother’s ear and your eye are better. Write again and tell me more about yourself. You are well off to have brothers 1 and sisters to play with. —DOT.] | * * * ! Dear Dot—Please may I join your happy ; band of . Little Folk? I am 11 years old , and am in Standard IV. We have two I little puppies, but I have not named them ! yet. My hobby Is reading, and I like • reading your- page. Love to all the Little i Folk and yourself. 1 APPLE BLOOM (Eiffelton, Canterbury) I [Welcome to our membership, Apple Bloom. As. however, your nom de plume ! has already been taken, I have had to I alter it slightly. I am glad you enjoy the page, and now that you have Joined, 1 I hope you will be still more' interested i in it. I should like to hear about some i of the books you have been reading, i —DOT.]

BEST LEXTERS (UNXOR SECTION (14 years and under» Dear Dot,—lt is some time since I wrote to you, and now I am going to tell you about my new pet. He Is a little fox terrier puppy, and he Is a darling little thing. He is only eight weeks old. but. he runs and plays with me and the lamb. Dad could not find his hat, and we looked everywhere for it, and at last we found it out in the garden. The puppy runs .away with everything. I take him on a chain when I go for the milk. He is all white with a black head and two brown spots over his eyes, and his name is Tim. Well, that is all just now, so_l shall close, with love to you and ali the Little Folk. BETTY JOE (Shannon, N.L). [You will be delighted with your new pet, Betty Joe, and you will have lots of fun with him. Puppies are very fascinating:, but they are also very mischievous, and you will have to be careful to keep anything you value out of Tim’s reach.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—l have not written to you for a long time. It is lovely to have spring here, isn’t it? There are a lot of birds' nests about. At school the girls have sewing every Friday aftenv on. I am making a supper cloth. I have a brother who works in a coal mine In the North Island The hydro electric works we live close to supplies nearly all the South Island with electricity. My dancing teacher is ill. so I cannot have my lessons until she comes, which I hope will be before very long. We have a big Russian retriever at home, and his name Is Mac. Will you please send me a badge, for which I am enclosing the two and sixpence in postal notes? At our school we planted some flower seeds. I save cigarette cards of flowers, as they are very interesting. Have you jead Jj 16 book called “Gem of the Flat? I like the serial story on your page. I shall j close now with kind regards to all not forgetting yourself. RAMBLING GIPSY (Hakataramea). (You are evidently fond of flowers. Rambling Gipsy. Have you a garden of your own? No. I have not read the book you mention. Is it interesting? Your badge has been posted to you, and X hope you have received it.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —When listening to some military music over the wireless recently, I noticed how cheerful and bright It always Is This is because the soldiers, who r.ing when they march, often need cheering up, and these tunes brighten , them considerably. The well-known song j Tipperary" was sun § b - v the soldiers 1 in the last war, and no doubt the Little Folk will agree that tt certainly has a rollicking, cheery tune. ” Boomps a Daisy ” one of the latest dance numbers, is a song that is sung in the army camps and it is certainly as merry and

bright as “Tipperary.” The more beautiful but sadder melodies would make the soldiers morose, and these tunes are probably composed to keep them cheerful. Another song sung in the last war was " Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile, which is often heard and is still popular. Well, Dot, I must close now, with kind regards tO ANOTHER BOOKWORM (Kaltangata). [As you have noticed, Another Bookworm, the music played by military bands is, as a general rule, bright and cheerful, and the soldiers themselves love gay, rollicking songs which help them to forget for the time being the grim reality of war.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—lt is some time since X wrote to you, so while I had nothing to do 1 thought I would send you a letter. We are having lovely weather just now. and since I wrote you last we have started cricket again. I am sending you a poem about spring. „ SPRING Crocuses and daffodils are up, So are the golden buttercups: The birds sing In the trees, Everywhere is the buzzing of bees. With love to all the Little Folk. PRINCESS FLORINDA (Sawyers’ Bay). [Thank you for the little poem, Princess Florinda. I think it is the first you have sent me, and I hope you will see if you can write another one. —DOT.] •¥ h- * Dear Dot.—lt seems weeks since I last wrote to you. but I am here again. We have two kittens— nearly half-grown cats—

that one of our neighbours gave us. One is called Tiddly Winks and the other Sparks. Tlddles, as we call him for short, is half Persian and Sparks is just plain, like most cats. Tiddles is grey striped in colour, and Sparks is brown, black, and white. They are both very playful, and are nearly always playing with a cotton reel at teatime. I think this is all about the kittens, so I shall tell you about our examinations. We have had comprehension, composition, and drawing, and we shall soon be having English; We are having our main subjects first, as our headmaster is going away soon. This is all just now. so I shall close, with love to all. PUSSY WILLOW BOUGH (Roxburgh). [Kittens are fascinating little creatures, Pussy Willow Bough, and it is interesting to watch them at play. Thank you for the photo, which I am very pleased to have. You all look very nice.—DOT.l ¥ ¥ # Dear Dot,—This week I am going to tell you about school. I am in Standard IV at the Oamaru North School, and there are 48 children In the class. Double Daffodil sits in front of me. and we have fun at playtime. Willow Blossom’s Sister sits three seats at the back of me. Most of the children in our class are joining your page, and they are trying to keep up writing every week. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. DANCING FAIRY (Oamaru). [T am very pleased to hear, Dancing Fairy, that most of the children In your class at school are interested in the page, and I look forward to receiving letters from them. —DOT.I ¥ ¥ -VDear Dot,—This time 1 thought I would write to you about the Friday night that we went to the Ratanui Women's Di tsicn concert. When we arrived at the hall there were no people there, so we had a competition. We had to find dried peas hidden around the hall. My brother and another boy tied for the prize with about 300 each, and they divided a sixpenny bar of chocolate between them. By the time the competition was over quite a number of people had arrived, and they soon started the concert. It was quite good, and during it they had another competition They had a blackboard full of writing, with clashes here and there, and the people had to Fill in the spaces with suitable names to complete the paragraph. After the concert we had supper, and then they started-the dance, which I enjoyed watching very much. When it was half over my father said It was time to go home so home we came, very tired, after our most enjoyable evening Well. Dot, I shall close now. with kindest regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self WHITE SOAPSUDS (Gatlins). [1 am glad you enjoyed the concert and dance so much, White Soapsuds You must have had great fun.—DOT.l

BEST LETTERS SENIOR SECTION (14 and under 21 years) Dear Dot.—Are not spring flowers beautlful? There are the small delicate snowdrops, sensitive, sweet-scented violets (the bigger scentless kind), cheeky-faced pansies - primroses, small and white; polyanthus, from dots to half-a-crown in size; auriculas unusually shaded, anemones many Detailed, all sizes and types of daffodils, and the fruit tree blossoms, besides grape hyacinths, wallflower, sweet-scented daphne, cyclamen, freesias, and many more People have been very, very kind to me, and brought and sent me many flowers. I can assure you I appreciate them very very much, as I am fond of flowers. It was Interesting to compare the usual Dunedin daphne, brought by a girl friend, and the other kind, sent by my Aunty “ Darkle ” from Nelson with spring flowers. The daphne from there has big green leaves, after which the flowers appear. The latter are of a pink and white shading, there being only a few to each stalk of leaves. The Dunedin daphne has a more wooden stalk, entirely covered with pinky-purplish flowers; when these are dropping more delicate green leaves take their place. Last week three Technical College pupils brought me a lovely big bouquet of many different flowers. There I saw the first pheasanteye daffodils of the season. The centre of them is white with tiny dark red edging. This also was the first time I had seen wallflower. I like the big yellow primroses, and also the coloured ones, as when they come out In water each takes on a paler shade. A pretty one from Ravensbourne is purply-red with a white

top coating. My sister-in-law has very dark red big ones. Also from Southland I received from a girl friend tiny violets and snowdrops, as fresh as if they had just been picked, owing to their having been packed in a tin. I have a Sreen wall-pocket, and in it for a while I had the biggest and brightest grape hyacinths I have yet seen. The mother and father of a girl brought them to me from her grave. 1 was very touched by their kindness, for I did not know them very well, yet they thought I would like to have them. Well. Dot, I must close, with love to all. Including Friend of the Fairies and yourself. LAUGH YOUR TROUBLES AWAY (Otago). [Yes, the spring flowers are very lovely. Laugh-Your Troubles Away, and the fact that they bloom for such a short time makes them all the more precious. Your room must have looked like a fairy bower with all the flowers that were sent to you. Thank you for your personal letter. 1 am delighted to hear you are getting on so well. It is splendid. —DOT.I ¥ ¥ * Dear Dot,—We are now in the midst of | spring. All round we see the world getting i greener every day. It seems no time since the trees in our parks and gardens were bleak looking and bare; now they are all covered with leaves once more. Some of them are covered with blossoms, and they make a very pretty sight. The gardens are all brightened up with flowers once again. Out in the country the fields are green, and the crops are coming on very nicely The lambs are frisking about, and everything is looking fresh. Spring is a wonderful season I think. Everything is lying dormant through the winter, and then all of a sudden it comes to life and blossoms out nice and green. This world would be very dull without our flowers and trees. Nature is a wonderful thing, and I think spring is the most wonderful season of the year, Kind regards to the page and yourself. THE PRIME MINISTER (Dunedin). [Each season has its own particular beauty. The Prime Minister, but spring, coming as it does after a period when flowers are scarce and growth is at a standstill, makes a very special appeal to us all.—DOT.l ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot,—What changes we see as years pass by! The gold diggings are closed, and where were once ramshackle cottages are now rolling hills and valleys of glorious green grass. Prosperous farms are here now. and instead of the many houses we see well-to-do homes. Schools and churches, houses and shops make a town some miles away, this being surrounded by snow-capped hills. At the foot of these hills is a living forest of the green pines. Our parents are now what is known as wealthy landowners, but despite the fact that we have everything

wc want, we still regard those first days in New Zealand as the best we ever had. Many years pass quickly by, and now children are crowding round granny and grandpa to hear stories of early New Zealand. These little ones do not believe some of these stories, but when Hemi and Rewa, two very true Maori friends, say they are true, they wonder why all is so peaceful. Well, Dot, we leave our friends in the midst of prosperity and happiness. Other trials may come, but all turns out for the best, so we say good-bye to our pioneers. FLOWER OF ROSLYN (Falrlie). [I am very glad, Flower of Roslyn, that your story of the pioneers has ended so happily. It has been very interesting, and I hope that you will write another one. —DOT.I ■•{• -vDear Dot,—Here is a poem that I wrote recently: SUMMER IDYLL. When the sapphire stream is flowing Out to the sapphire sea, And summer sunshine glowing. And north winds fresh and free, While noon’s warm magic passes I lie among the grasses. The soft wind's lazy blowing Brings in a song to me; A skylark upward going To heaven, blue and glowing. Above me seems to hover In drifts of melody; Is she singing to her lover That Winter’s chill is over? Around the turquoise sky her music rings: I listen to her singing. The crystal notes a-winging— It seems to me that this sweet song she sings: " When summer winds are sighing. And wheeling seabirds flying, With plaintive, ceaseless crying. And circling out to sea, A sun-kissed world before me. There, in the noon’s high glory, We'll tell love’s old sweet story. My own true love and me. *’ When long green grass is growing, Gay, sparkling sunbeams glowing, And whispering water flowing Far down towards the sea. There will we be together, In scented summer weather Among the honeyed heather. My own true love and me. “ A love nest in the meadows Beside the dancing river. Glittering in the smiling summer sun: When evening sends long shadows And rushes sigh and shiver. There will we be at peace when day is done.” As twilight slowly darkened On meadow, stream, and sea. I wonder if he hearkened ' To her melody? Her exquisite sweet singing. The silver echoes ringing— I wonder if it brought him The toy it brought to me? Love to all. GREY-EYED BLONDE (Hillgrove). [Your poems have become quite a feature of the page, Grey-eyed Blonde, and I very much appreciate the help you give by sending in , such regular contributions. —DOT.] NEW MEMBER? Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week:— Little Star Fairy. Apple Bloom. OLD WRITERS’ WEEK Letters for Old Writers’ Week will be printed this year on December 30. Old Writers are Invited to send in their contributions —plainly marked “ Old Writers’ Week ” —between now and December. No letters will be accepted after December 12. This year, owing to the fact that space is limited, it is imperative that letters should be short, and they must not exceed 300 words in length. It is hoped that there will be a generous response, and that the eighth appearance of the Old Writers’ letters in the Otago Dally Times will be of interest and benefit to all. DOT. OLD WRITERS’ NOTES The president (Maid of Killeena) reports that the social held on the 16 inst. was much enjoyed by all—so much so that a request for another one to be held on November 13 was agreed to. During the evening Audrey Wheeler (present-day writer) gave a solo tap dance and Miriam Wilde a Hungarian dciricc The' monthly meeting will be held on Monday, November 6, when I hope to be able to attend. I wish to thank many kind friends for their kind messages and good wishes in my recent illness. CLARA, Hon. Secretary. 128 Union street, Dunedin, N.l D.L.F. SOCIAL CLUB There will be a committee meeting on Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m. sharp, to discuss some important business which has arisen. All committee members are asked to make a special effort to 'be present. The meeting will be held at 2 Forth street. KILMENY OF THE POOL, President. CREAMY’S DAUGHTER, Secretary.