OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 34

OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

By Dot.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Dot will be pleased to receive short letters from uvenile correspondents on any matters'of interest \o themselves— short stories of pet animals, descriptions of their favourite toys, their parties, amusements, &c. The letters to be written by the children themselves and addressed "Dot, care of the Editor," and to be published in the page devoted to "Our Little tfolks. >r ' , THE FINAL SELECTION IN THE PRIZE COMPETITION. - The final voting has not, to my mind, resulted at all satisfactorily, personal considerations having apparently carried greater weight than the respective merits of the letters left in the competition. However, , as the voters have complied with the conditions imposed, it only remains for me to forward the prize to Bttie La Franchi. The voting was : — Bttie La Franohi ... 12 Bella Ro we ... 1 Willie Dougall ... 5 Hazel ... ... 1 Martha Martin > ... 3 George Stewart ... 1 Williedcotfc ... 3 Silvia ... ... ' 1 Amelia Stewart , ... 3 Polly ... ... 1 Hilda -writes: — Dear Dot, — Your plan of voting was very good, but there were some mistakes made. ,In the first place, the voting was too long, so that many children, after having filled in the first coupon or two, got tired and gave it up. In the second, you put in the letters of those who were not voting for the prize. These took up room, and made the voting longer by keeping out the letters of competitors. If these mistakes are remedied, I should think the next competition will be a successful affair. , There can be no doubt that the competition was too prolonged, but I do not see very well how any letters could have been omitted unless entries for the competition had been previously received, so that it was actually known who intended to compete. I hav^e not .quite .decided what form the next competition shall take, but will make the announcement in due course. [Dot.] LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS. Dear Dot, — I have read all the letters in the children's column since it was opened, and I like them very much. Willie Dougall's are, I think', the best. We always have a good laugh over Quarantine Tom's tricks. I would like to hear some more about him. We had a horse once very nearly as wise as Tom. Father used to call him Old Napoleon. No matter how we tied the garden gate he could open it, and there he used to go and graze. Mother used to say that, she wished Old Nap would learn to shut the gate after him, so that the cows could not get in. I will tell you some more about him next week. — Yours truly, Tom Long (aged 11 years). Lawrence, August 10. Dear. Dot,— l am going to school, and am in the First Standard. I have two brothers and cwo sisters younger than myself, and our baby is five weeks old. We have a pet lamb— such a funny little fellow. He comes into the kitchen for a piece of bread when 'ho is hungry. — Yours truly, Isabella G. Grant (aged 8 years and 9 months). Lower Shotover, August 10. Dear Dot, — I have some more pets to tell you about. The first is a little calf named Jessie. It is a pretty little thing, and I like it very much. We have also got three pigs — two little ones and a big one. Our examination took place a week ago, and my two sisters and myself passed. I passed the First Standard, and lam now in the Second Standard. One of my sisters passed the Third and another the Fifth. So we are all in higher standards now, and it will consequently be necessary for us to work harder at our lessons. I have three sisters and four brothers, and we are all getting on well at school. Just now there are four of us going to school.— Yours truly, Margaret A. Smith (aged 8 years and 10 months). Waikouaiti, August 11. Dear Dot, — We had a holiday to-day, so we went out after rabbits. I will not tell you how many we got, because we did not get so very' many. Two of my cousins were with us, and two of my brothers, and we had seven dogs hunt-, ing. There are not many rabbits. We have got 1G cows and one calf, and three horses. We have only two cats now, the two others having died. We live in a little glen which is called the Ahuriri Flat, and we have a long way to go to school. The roads are very muddy, the ruts are full of water, and some of them are very deep. The weather is very bad just now. — Yours truly, Sandy (aged 12 years). Ahuriri, August 11. Dear Dot, — We have sixpenny readings here once a month to gather money for a picnic for the school children. We had a nice picnic last Christmas Day down at Long Bay, near the Nugget lighthouse. We all went down in buggies. It was so nice driving along the smooth sands ; and as it was a fine day, we took' off our boots and stockings and waded in the sea. We had Sea and all sorts of cakes to eat on the beach, and then we had racing and other games on the sands. We had two little cousins down for their holidays from Dunedin, and they went with us to the picnic. We all enjoyed it very much, and came home quite pleased with our day at the sea heach. Dear Dot, when you get your holidays you might come to Romahapa to see us, and we will take you down to the beach. — Yours truly, Jeannie M. Hay (aged 8§ years). Romahapa, August 12. Dear Dot;— Our examination will soon come ofl. I hope I shall pass. Sometimes I have to plant potatoes on Saturday, and sometimes I go rabbit hunting with my, dog Glen. I have two cats called Tibby and Topsy. They are

very good hunters, and sometimes catch rabbits nearly as large as themselves. They also catch lots of birds I have a brother who got a present of a little toy watch, and he thinks himself a little man.— Yours truly, ' Archibald (aged 12 years).

Flag Swamp, Hawksbury, August 12.

Deati Dot,— l am going to tell you about our other little pony. He is not so biif as Tiny, and not so quiet. His namo is Prince. He bucks sometimes when I get on his back. The inspector was at our school last week, and I passed the First Standard. My sister Agnes -passed the Fifth and Annie the Fourth Standard. Tommy is in the First Standard now.— Yours truly,

Robert Law (aged 9 years). Bast Taieri, August 13. Dear Dot. — I am going to tell you about a young colt of ours. We missed him from the paddock one day, and my father went out *o look for him, and found him in a gully, staked. We had him brought home a,nd pnfc in the stable, and the wound was washed every day, and ointment rubbed on it. It is taking a long ■ time to get well, and it is not better yet. I hflpe \t will get well, because: my father says

when he gets better he" is goifig to' have him broken in for us girls to ride. I have never ridden a horse. — Yours truly, Madge (aged 13 years). Lawrence, August 14. Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about my cat. Her name was Topsy. Ono Sunday evening as we came from Sunday school Topsy was playing with Sultan, our horse, when he pu,t his foot on her head. She jumped up in the air and- then dropped dead. We were all very sorry. lam in the Third Standard. — Yours truly, . M. Lamb (aged 11 years). Waikaka, August .14. Dear Dot. — We had a big flood on Sunday and Monday, father and two men killed 170 rabbits. We have been at home from school two days this week because there has been so much snow, hail, and rainjand our road to school is very bad. We have a footbridge to take us over the river. We have three little lambs about three weeks old, and we have also three little pure black kittens. My two little sisters Parker and Martha have taught Tommy, the cat, to sit up and beg. I read all the little folks' letters, and I like them very well. — Yours truly, Jessie Fleming (aged 10 years). Waikaka, August 15. Dear Dot, — I go to school every day, and have a long way to go. The roads are very muddy in winter, but they are better iv summer. Ido not go on wet days. lam in the Third Standard. We live near the beach, and lam often down at it. I have got' a pretty kitten and a dog. I have also got a nice china d6ll.* — Yours truly, * Mary Simson (aged 9 years). Kaitangata. Dear Dot, — I laughed so much while out riding the other day, and gob so excited that my poor old horse gob such a fright that he almost jumped out of his cover. Must not I be a terror to laugh, Dot ? I must tell you about a narrow escape I had the other day. I was riding old Peter along through the township when something frightened him, and he ran away and very nearly broke my neck. He went faster than he ever did before. — Yours truly, • J. B. (aged 11 years). Dear Dot,— l live in Dunedin, bufc as I was not well my auntie sent for me to come and stay with her iv the country for a change of air. I .have got ever so many cousius, and we have great fun. They make toffy, and lam awfully fond of it? The way they make it is this : Butter, sugar, and water boiled together, and poured into a buttered plate. — Yours truly, Flossie (aged 9 years).

August 15. Dear Dot, — It was very wet on Friday, and there were not many at school. I was at Sunday school yesterday. — Yours truly, Bertha Hitchcox.

The Glen, August 15.

Dear Dot, — I go to school, and have about three miles to ,walk. We have had three weeks' winter holidays. There was another fall of suow last night, and I could not go to school today. There have been very hard frosts lately, and a great deal of snow on the hills. A man perished in the snow last week ; and two men came over the hills to-day quite knocked up, bnt they soon recovered after they got some dinner and had a good warm. — Yours truly, Annie Elxiot (aged 9 years). Nevis, August 15.

Dear Dot, — I have a cat.' Ido not know what name to give ib. Would you, please, give it a naino for me ? Igo to school, and am in. the Second Class. We have a nice master and mistress, and I' like them very much. The mistress teaches us singing. >I have a little brother who comes to school also ; he is in the> Infant Reader. I have three sisters snd two brothers. We have a littledog name Rover. If we tell him to speak to anybody ho will bark. We have a lot of hens and chickens, and I have a doll ; would you, please, give me a name for it ? We have a garden. Our cat is a very nice little one. It is black and white. The dog is black and tan. — Yours truly,

Katie (aged 9 years)..

Lawrence, August 15.

Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you atout my little pet pup. It is such a little j.>et. It is very fond of milk. I had a pretfcy little kitten, but it died. I was very sorry when it died. We have two cows and a calf, and one horse and two dogs. I have a little flower garden. I hope the weather will clear up soon so that the garden can be done up. I go to school every day, and am in the Second Standavd. — Yours truly, Annif, M'Piikh (aged 9 years).. Tapanui, August 15.

Deah Dot, — I have a little black an 3 tan dog named Tiny. He will run after anybody that comes in the door, and bark at them. He comes up to my bedroom every moraing, and soratches and barks till I let him in ov send him away. I go to music and to school. lam in the Fourth Class at. school. — Yours truly, May Simmonds (aged 10 years and 9 months), Tapanui, August 15.

Dear Dot, — My mamma gave me a big doll. It is, a beauty, and is dressed like alady. It has big blue eyes, and its name is Princess Beatrice. I go to school, and am in the Second Standard. Our geese are laying now. One of them has. layed four eggs. — Yours truly, Lizzie (aged 9 years). Tuapeka West. Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about our five dogs. Their names are Darkey, Dingo, Bess, Don, and Sprightly. Darkey is the sheep dog ; Dingo, Bess, and Sprightly are the rabbitdogs. Don is a young sheep dog. We bad another dog named Pepper. One day my brother was killing rats, and Pepper was a grand dog to help him. At first tho rats used to bite him, bufc lie knows too much for them now. Yours truly, Frances (aged S years). Tuapeka West. Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about my calf. She is a very nice little thing. We call her Nelly. She was nnmed after her mother. She was only one day old when her mother died. Her colour is red and white, and she j* very quiet indeed, and will eat almost anything — even lollies,' apples, oranges, biscuits, and buns. Igo to music every second day. 1 am in the Fourth Standard at school.—Yourstruly, Mary Keir (aged 11 years and 4 n&onths). Tapanui, August 16. Dear Dot,— l am staying up at my auaty's to-night. My aunty has got sach a nice garden. My father is building a smoke house and is going to make a jetty, and I think it will be a big ono. Ido like Stewart Island ; it is such a pretty place. There are lots of ferns over here. We have a dog nanied Fleet. She used to come into the house and crawl u>der the oven, bat she is too fat to do that now. Our baby's name m Emily Philips. I think it is a nice name ; do you? Aunty's opossum haa got away into the bush, and we cannot fin.<J it, — Yours truly, Lizzie. Thomson (aged 8 years). Half moon Bay, August 1,6. Dear Dot,.— l am very lonely- :: now ; I wilft tell ypu the reason why. Mother had a girl and two. boys from the Industrial School who. wer*

here nearly two years, and we were very happy, but they have gone back to the Industrial School and I miss them very much. — Yours truly, ' M. P. August 18. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. T., Moeraki. — A child of 8J years is too young to commence dabbling in politics ; and . I really could not think of encouraging you to pursue the course you are desirous of entering on. Dot M. G.~ Do so, and you will be directed where to come to. „ Francis Tipping. — I received the lovely ferns, for which I thank you very much. . They are most uncommon. It was exceedingly kind of you to send them to me, and I should have acknowledge! them earlier, but there hfeve been go many letters.