LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS,

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 34

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS,

Pbizb Letter Competition.

The voting concludes with tills week's letters. The whole of the leisters selected will appear in the Witness of August 5, and n fortnight will be giveu for the final voting, in order 10 give litole folks liv ' mi( at a distance time to record their votes. COUPON-No. 14. OTAGO WITNESS LITTLE FOLKS' PRIZE LETTER COMPETITION. Voting for Best Letter in Witness of July 22' The Undersigned considers the letter written by the best letter in the Little Folks Column in the Witness of July 22. Signature of voter Addresß „....,„... Cut this out. fill in the banks, and send to tho Witness Office before Friday, July 2J9. Little Folks must not write on both aides of the paper. VOTING 50R THE BEST LETTER IN" THE LITCLB FOLKS OF JULY 8. Twelve little folks ha"c voted for the best, lett-r in tile Witness of the Bth July Amelia Stewart secures a place in the competition with six votes. The voting was as follows :— Amelia Stewart, 6; L. Downes, .Nora ITlntyte, Agnes Morton, William Genge, Fred. Woodhouse, and Henry Winter, each 1. The letters selected so far have been :— Willie Dougall... April 23 14. Strang ... June *i WillieDougall... April 29 P011y... ...June 10 Martha Martin... May 6 Willie Scott ...June 17 Silvia ...May 13 Lilian Whitson... June 2i EttieLafranchi... May 20 Bessie Ryan ... July 1 George Stewart... May 27 Amelia Stewart.,, July 8 Martha Martin ... June 3 The following are the remainder of the letters ( received up to July 7, the date on which the competition closed. The letters selected for the final competition will appear In the Witness of August 5 : — ' . i ' Dear Dot, — I go to pchool every day.' I ia»i seven years old, and am in' Ihe First Standard: | I got a.drawing book on Friday. I .wentv, to church. on, Sunday. Mr Wrighb is our< minister. There was a concert in our school here a little

while ago. A large number of people attended it.-r- Yours truly, „ " Alexander. Otama, June 26. Dear, Dot, — I was nine years old yesterday, and, I had a small party. Although there was both snow and mud, we managed to have some fun. I go to school, and like it • very much. I am very fond of my teacher, I am only in the Second Standard, as I was kept, back from the last examination because I j was ill. The inspector will be here very soon, and then I hope to get into the Third Standard.— Yours truly, Annie M'Kay. Bushy Park, June 29. Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about my little pony. It is a very pretty one, and I am going to ride it to school when it is broken in. ' I have got two sisters going to the Ngapara y school and one brother. — Yours truly, I - Hugh McKay (aged 10.^ years). June 29. Dear Dot, — Once we had a little grey pony named Napper. He was so small that he could creep under a one-boarded fence. All of us cb.il- | dren used" soiaetimes to get on his back at once. He used to wait until we were all on, and then he would jump up high in the air and throw us in all directions. Once I went out with my uncle for a ride. We had to go about six or seven miles, and I was riding Napper. My uncle had to go into a blacksmith's shop to have his horse shod, and he left me outside at the gate. Directly Napper saw that my uncle had gone inside he turned round and galloped away home as quickly as he could. I thought I was going to fall off all the time because my foot was out of the stirrup. When Napper came to the gate ho bolted up against it and it flew open, and then he galloped right up to the door and stopped. He was such a mischievous little pony. He used to bite, and one day he bit me very badly. He used to get in the stable and eat the hens' eggs, and one day he came into mother's bedroom j when she was ill. She thought it was father, ! but when she found out it was Napper, she I called out to us children to come and take him out, and when we came in we found him standing admiring himself in the looking-glass. He had v long tail that used to drag on the ground, jvud he had a long mane. We used to plait his tail and tie it up with string. He used to stand upon his hind legs and try to shake hands. He used to eat bread and butter, cake, and many other things. — Yours truly, Hazel.

Dear Dot, — The Salvation Army has beeu up at Queenstown. There were three officers and two women ; their names were : Captain Patrick, Lieutenant Rattray, Cadet Wright, Mrs Crawford, and Mr? Dawson. We get the Witness every week ; mother has been taking it for 20 years. Igo to school every day, and am in the Fifth' Standard. The prizes are to bo given on Friday. My sisters are writing to you too. We were at Arrowtown on the Queen's jubilee, and saw a whole bullock roasted. We saw the tar being lighted, and then we carao home all very happy. John says he is aged 108. I fchould like to ask him how old his mamma is, as he says he asks his mamma for pennies. — Yours truly,

' . Archie Ashworth (aged 11^- years) Miller's Flat, near Queenstown, June 29.

Dear Dot.— l go to school, and I am in the Fourth Standard. Our examination took place not very long ago, and I passed in all the subjects. I have about a mile to go to school. We have had a very good winter ; indeed, it only started to be bad yesterday. I was in Dunedin about two years ago, and I liked it very much, although I was only two days in it. Our farm is called Sunnydale Farm. Last winter there was a big pond on our road to school, and we used to stay and slide and pull each other over the ice. Dear Dot, it was so big that it covered a fence which we could slide right over. This winter there is no ice, because a man made a big ditch, and if there was any water it would run away. I went to the jubilee celebration at Arrowtown. Mr Scoles gave a bullock, and it was roastod whole ; but I was not welL There were a lot of children's races, and I went in for one. I live at Miller's Flat, about half-way between Qneenstown and Arrowtoivn. — Yours truly, Clara Ashworth (aged 9 years).

Deae Dot.— l go to the Ngapara school. I have to walk fivo miles morning and evening, and feel so tired when I come home that I have no heart to learn my lessons. I wish you would get the Education Board to put a school near us here, with a female teacher, then I would be so happy. — Yours truly, Mary Ann M'Kay (aged 9 years). Crossford, Ngapara, June 29. ,

[You have indeed a long walk, and it must be very trying. It is to be hoped the population in the distirct will increase rapidly, so that a school may be established. — Dot.]

Deae Dot,— l was born at Livingstone. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. I like my teacher very well. His name is Mr Fergusson. I often go to Oamaru with my mother. My father is postmaster. I should like to join the Children's Society, and you will always find me kind to dumb animals.-— Youra truly,

Minnie Kennedy (aged 13J years). Livingstone, June 30.

Dear Dot,— We have three cats and two dogs. The dogs named are Jenny and Mac, and the cats' Shot, Jumbo, and Rose. We have also two cows and one horse and a lot of hens. One of the hens never lays her eggs in a nest, but always down the garden near the cows' byre. Will you please give me a name for a new doll I have got. She has such pretty hair, all little yellow curls in front. Igo to school, and am in the Fifth Standard. — Yours truly, Dora (aged 10 years).

Stirling, June 30.

Deae Dot, — I am going to tell you about the trip I had at Easter. It was very tiresome in the train, and I was glad when we got to luveroargill. We stayed thi're all night, and went on to Riverton the next morning. I was at a concert that night. It wafe mostly the school chil dreu that performed. Three boys sang two songs in character. I was also at ' the regatta held on Easter Monday. Unfortunately the day ' was very wet, but stillthere were a great many people there There is a very pretty beach there, and it is so pleasant walking along it. On j my way home I stayed another nighb at Invercargjll, two at Balclutha, and two afc Kaitangata, and I enjoyed my holiday very much. I I was in Dunedin at the jubilee, and I saw some j " very pretty sights. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. Our lady teacher leftto-day» but we are getting another one' on Monday.— Yours truly, ' ' '■ E. Findlay. North Tftieri, July 1. ■ Dear Dot, — I attend the Convent school and am in the Fifth Standard. My brother found a black cat. It' is such a beauty, its name is Fanny. ' It is so black that even its eyes are black. ' It is such" a funny little thing, D^ Dot. The little girls of Invercargill are wondering whether you are a woman or a girl. I woo^ like very much to see you. — Yomrs truly, . ; Ellen KaN*< , Invercargill, July l t ■' Dear Dot,— l always read the letters in the .Witness, and find them very interesting. '

lire three miles from Dunedin. I go to the Linden school, and am in the Fourth Standard. I like my teacher'very much ; he takes a great interest in us. Our examination is to take place in three weeks. We have three cows, their names being Brownie, Sucky, and Beauty. Brownie is the favourite, as Bhe stands in the paddock to be milked. — Yours truly, Lucy Cabkodus (aged 13 years). Brockville, July 3. Dear Dot, — I Jalways read the little folk's letters, and like them very much. I have two such big dolls. One I got at Christmas and the other as a present. The first I call Vera, but I cannot find a nice name for the other. Would you please tell me one. I must tell you about our cab. Her name was Puma. We were so fond of it, because she was such a dear little thing, but she unfortunately died. — Yours truly, Grace Cmjlee (aged 11 years). Lees street, Dunedin. Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about our partot. We call ifc Polly. My eldest brother caught it on our trees five years and a-half ago, and put ifc in a cage. Ifc is green, red, and yellow, and has a long tail. Ifc is very fond of sugar and cherries. One of my brothers caught a morepork a week or two ago. It killed our YoU ng pigeons, though ifc is not as big as a pigeon itself. It had great big eyes. We kept it a few days, but ifc would not eat anything, so we let it go. I have not been at school for some time, because I have got the whooping cough. I got three prizes at the examination. — Yours truly, Agnes Anderson (aged 8^ years). LovelFs Flat, July 4. Dkar. Dot, — I like to read about dear Dot. Are you a little girl ? I would like to see you. I have a book called " Cheep and Chatter." I have a brother. His name is George, and he Las white hair like me. I hope we have more snow Boon,— Yours truly, Fannie Clui.ee (aged 7 years). Lees street, Dunedin. Dkar' Dot, — I have a black and white cat. She is very fond of me. She sits on my shoulder and she likes to sleep in bed. — Yours truly, Little Henry (aged 9 years). Dear Dot, — I like the letters from little folks very much. Some of them are very good. It has been a fine day, and I have enjoyed myself. We get picture papers called the Graphic. The pictures are like likenesses. Dear Dot, have you ever seen them ? I have a little kitten, and her name is Tot. She has a tabby's tail.— Yours truly, 1 Eva Randle (aged 7g years). Moeraki. Dear Dot,— l was staying at my sister's for a week or two. We have a school mistress (Miss Henderson), and I like her very much. I have a brother going to school. We have got pno cow, and her name is Patience. lam not sure if it is spelt right [Yes, ifc is. — Dot.] and she has got a heifer calf, and her name ia Tulip. The roads are very dirty. I have a pretty cat. It is turtoiseshell. Can you give me a name for it ? A little friend of mine asked me to enclose her letter, as she had no pennies to buy a stamp. I made a coupon myself, as I could not cut ifc out of the paper. — Yours truly, Helen M'lntyre. Owake, Catlin's River, July 4. Dear Dot,— l am in the First Standard. My sister Lottie is going to write to you, so I thought I would like to write also. We are having very cold weather up here. Dear Dot, I have only one pefc, and fchat is a black cat called Typo.— Yours truly, Lena Caudwell (aged 7 years). Waipori, July 4. Dear Dot, — We have had very cold weather lately, but it is not quite so cold now. My sister Lizzie has a violin. We had a concert up here on Friday night, and there was a farce played which was very amusing. Dear Dot, my little sister Lena has been wishing for suce a long time to write to you, and she has now done so. —Yours truly, Lottie Caudwell (aged 11 years). Devb Dot, — I live at Otama. Perhaps you don't know where Ofcama is ? It is 10 miles up the Mataura river from Gore. Tne Hokonui hills are close to where I live, in the south ; to tho west;, far away, the Taliifcimos are to be seen; to the north the Remarkable Gap is always visible ; to the east lies the Blue Mountains, where snow is often seen in winter. — Yours truly, Helen (aged 12 years). Ofcama, July 4. Dear Dot,— l think you are very kind to Jet us little folks write to you. We can see the ships and steamers pass up and down the harbour from our door. We have three cows and four calves, but only one of the cows is milking jusfc now. I have a calf called Daisy, which my sister gave to me. I hope, dear Dot, that you have not got any chilblains. I have had my feet covered with them, but they are better now. — Yours truly, Annie Solomon. Lower Harbour. Dear Dot,— The Annual ploughing match took place here to-day, the weather has been very wet all day. There were a lot of prizes given, including two silver cups, a large and a small one, the largest for the champion prize. In the morning three horses ran away and damaged a plough. We could see the ploughing match from our verandah. The ground was very wet where it was held, and we could see pools of water lying in the field, but though the weather was so bad some ladies ventured out. A jubilee medal was given fco the best looking ploughman, and a roeefcte to the best looking junior. There were about 12 teams on the ground at once, but if the weather had been fine there would have been more. The school here had a fortnight's holiday in honour of the Queen's Jubilee, on June 21. There were sports, a boy's football match, and a children's . treat, with fireworks in tho evening. A debating society has been started here with our teacher aa president, also a draughts club, with 31 members. Some of the little folk's' letters have been written by very old boys and girls— three in the Witness of July 1, especially. Mamma thinks Willie Dougall writes very good letters, and wonders if he gets assistance. I have a little pocket money, and would be glad to subscribe to the lifeboat when it is fairly started.— Yours * ru ly. Isabel (aged 11 years). Bowmore, Mafcaura, July 5. . Dear Dot,— At the examination I passed into the First Standard. We came to Port Chalmers two weeks ago, it is our own house we are living in now. We are going back again to Dunedin in a few months. There was a big fall of snow on Sunday week, and on Monday my mother and brother made a big snow man on the platform. They put small bits of coal for eyes and for buttons, a twig for the stem and a lump of snow for the bowl of the pipe which , they stuck in his mouth. He looked very funny, bat much funnier when my brother and sister began to pelt him with snow balls. First his Pipe was knocked off, then his arm and buttons. ' It was fun. I read the little folks' letters myself now. Some are so nice, I don't know which I like best. Aunty came to see us on Saturday, ' and on Sunday father took us to see a very large Steamer. We went all over hen' She was so

nice inside. Father is going to get us a goat if he can, and I will tell you all about it in my next letter. We have a kitten all white, and we call it Snowflake. — Yours truly, Ada Neat, (aged*B years). Carey'e Bay, Port Chalmers. Deah Dot, — I am going to tell you about the grubs at the back of our house. They live in the banks, in which there are holes.- They feed on flies and other things. In the summer they peep their heads out of the top of the bank, and as soon as they see a fly near to their hole they put their heads out a little bit more and catch ifc. They are very funny little things, and they dig their holes so deep down that when you try to get oue of them you hay« to dig a long time before you can get at it. — Yours truly, • Fbances. Enfield, July 6. Deae Dot, — I live at Heriot. Igo to school every day, and am in the Second Standard. My grandmother came from Christchurch to see us. She brought with her a little dog called Flo. It had a little pup— such a pretty little thing, so she had to leave them with us, but^she is coming back in six months to tak« Flo away. She was very sorry to leave her. Grandmother made me a present of a nice doll, and my mamma dressed it for me, and I have it standing on the sideboard. Will you please tell me what name to call it. — Yours truly, Emily O'Haea (aged 9 years.) Heriot. Dear Dot,— l was very much interested in George's letter, in which he told us about having a pony. lam very fond of ponies, and I should like my papa to buy me one. I was away with aiy mother on a visit to my grandma, five miles south of Duuedin, and they have seven horses and one pony, and 15 cats, but none of the cats is like the one I left at home in Oamaru. Our torn cat has four white feet, and he comes in every morning, and shakes hands with my mamma. — Yours truly, Amelia (aged 10 years.) July 7. Dear Dot,— We have got one dog, six- ducks, four big cats and two kittens, some hens and chickens, and one cow. My sister and brother and I milk the cow. We all like milking very well. We have also two black rabbits, I do not go to school. — Yours truly, Henry Horuell (aged 11 years). Ofcama, Mandeville. Dear Dot,— l have a little kitten, and I don't know what name fco give ifc, and I would like you very much to tell me a nice name to call it. We had a concert and ball here a fortnight or three weeks ago, and a good few of our school children sang at it ; I enjoyed myself very much. Our schoolmaster (Mr Chisholm) is a splendid singer. I like going to schwol very well. A good few go to school. We have had a fine winter, and have not had much snow yet. We have had a few frosty nights, and the mornings are very cold. — Yours truly, Bessie M'Eachern (aged 12 years). Otama, July 4. Dear Dot, — Last Sunday my little brother was chopping wood when the axe slipped and cut his hand. He was taken inside, but as soon as we brought him in he fainted, and the next morning when I was washing his hand he fainted again. When I see blood I generally faint, and Ido so if I cut my finger. We are going to have our entertainment on the Bth of this month, and after it is over I will tell you how I get on. We have six cows in milk at present, and I made 101b of butter yesterday. I make it sometimes. Dear Dot, I could not finish the above last week because we were busy with the entertainment which has now been held. A little girl sang two songs with me — " The Bridge of Sighs" and "My Heart I'll keep for you." I sang one named " Old Mother Gum." I expect you have heard it, as it is an old song. The play we were acting was very nice, the stage being very pretty indeed. I was sorry it was wet on the 1 day we had it, because in consequence of this we did not have many to come to it. Indeed there were ouly nine strangers present. — Yours truly, Jane Lockett. Mara Mara, Totara, July 3. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Ettie. — Of course you have not. One of your letters has been selected for the competition already, and that is the simple reason. So many letters have come to hand during the past few weeks that it has been impossible to find room for letters from anyone who has already secured a place. Several others are also held over for the same reason.