LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1874, 21 October 1887, Page 34

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot,— As I have nothing else to say, I will just talk about the books I have been reading; "Oliver Twist" is the last. I can imagine how tremblingly Olivor must have said " Please, sir, I want some more." It is vary fauny how scientifically the Artful Dodger and his young companions were brought up to the noted profession, yet but for this class of people how many policemen would be thrown out of work and b well the dreary numbers of the unemplo) cd. Kind, benevolent people, like Mr Brownlow, seem always to be pounced on by the^e } ouug thieves. lam sure Mr Grimwig must havu h'<d a pretty good digestion if he ate his head, but it mightn't have been very thick. B sidrs this book of Dickens, I have read "The Old Curiosity Shop," " Martin Chuzzltwit," "Sketches by Boz," Christmai books, and "Nicholas Nickleby." In the last-uamud, the account of that paradise, Dotheboy's Hnll, is very ludicrous, aud the school spoon which contained the nasty medicine must have been very useful, as the medicine caused the unfortunate boys to take less food, though ifc made money to come faster into the pockets of that fraud and tyrant, Mr Squeera. Poor iSmike must receive sympathy from those happy people who have read the story. If you could think of any nice books I could road, will you pLuvj tell me the names of them, and oblige yours truly, j Hilda. Dear Dor, — I am goirg to tell you about my pet calf. Tt is red ntui white, and is named Rosy. WhuD I call it it will come to me, but it will not go to anyouu olso. We hft'l a dog named Tel>, but he went away and never ca.me back agahi, and we don't knowwhdfc happened to him. fam in the Fi>.st Rt.andavd iv ooliool, and I )ik" g«iing very well. 1 have to walkabout a milo to .-school. I liked tuo story about Queenie's doll very much, but it was 'too short. I hope there will be another started next week.— Yours truly, Amce Long (aged 8 years). October 2. Dear Dot, — I go to school every day with my sisters and brothers. I am in the Fourth Standard. We are having fine weather now, although) it is sometimes very coW, as there is a lot of snow on the mountains. I ha\e a little friend called Lillias Campbell, and I go over and play with her. It is very fold here in winter, and warm in summer. If you ever come up here you must come and see us. We have a lot of flowers in summer. I have lots of sisters and brothers, and I will tell you the names of them: — William John, Bessie, Florence, Amelia, Edwin Charles, Jessie, Martha, Ellen. ' I have six sisters and two brothers, and five of them go to school with me. We have a cow »nd calf, ducks and drakes, geese and ganders, roosters, goats, pigs, and a dog named Spring, hens and two cats — one called Daisy and the other Kitty. The cats have little kittens. lam 10 years old.— Yours truly, Beatrice Bjray. Reef ton, October 2. Dear Dot,— Our teacher told us to write a letter to you. We have three cats— two black and white and the other grey aud white. We have three ducks, and one of them has a sore leg. We are milking two cows. We have three horses. Igo to school every day, and I am going up for the First Standard, and I hope I shall pass. I have four sisters and two brothers. One of my sisters is called Dot. I am eight years old.— Yours tiuly, ESTHEK BUDD. Drybread, October 3. Dear Dot, — I go to the Matakanui school* and am in the secoud book. We are going to have the examination in November aud I hope to be able to pass. I like my master (Mr Moodie) and mistress (Miss Chappie) very well. We have only one store and hotel here in Tinkers ; they belong to Mr Sheppard. We are to have Herbert and Fitzgerald's circus here on the 11th of October. It will be nice to see Tony, the horse, driving the other two. I will tell you all about it in my next. — Yours truly, Ann Maria Ryan (aged 10 years). Matakanui, October 3. Dear Dot, — I go to the Malakanui school. I have two miles to go. I have two brothers and three sisters. Their names are Barbara, Maggie, and Esther Mary. Esther is the baby. Barbara is older than I am, but she is away with my aunt and uncle in the North Island. Dear Dot, I will not be able to write to you very often for we will soon be going out to the farm, and it is far away from any post office. I am in the second class. In our school, we have got a master and a mistress, and 1 like them very well. We scarely ever get the cane. I have not told you my brothers' names ; they are John and Frederick. I have a sister and a brother dead.— Yours truly, Caroline Plew. (aged 9 years and 4 mouths). Tinkers, October 3. Dear Dot, — I live "about a quarter of a mile from Tinkers, and have to go about a mile to school. I am in the second class. There are about 50 children attending the school. We havetwo teachers — a master and a mistress. We had a concert on the 23rd of September. — Youra truly, Catherine Slattery, (aged 12 years). Tinkers, October 3. Dear Dot,— l go to school every day, and I am in the First Standard. I have one mile to walk. We have two teachers — Miss Chappie aud Mr Moodie, I like them very well. I have six brothers and three sisters. lam called Dot, but my real name is Marion. I had a doll, and I broke the head off it.— Yours truly, Marion Nicolsou (aged 9 years.) Tinkers, October 3. Dear Dot,— l live at Matakanui, and I go to school every day. I have three sisters going too. lam in the First Standard. We have got two school teachers, and I like them very well. I have no pets. I will write you a longer letter uext time. — Yours truly, Margaret Gruesdale (aged 9 years). Tinkers, October 1887. Dear Dot, — I have not got any pets of my own, because my brothers and little sister claim them. We have four cats and one dog. The cats' names are Little, Fairy, Dolly, and Kitty. Dolly is a funny little, cat, she comes and begs when we are at our meals. The flowers in the garden are coming out in blossom. The cowslips are very large this year. I am in the Third Standard. — Yours truly, Annie (aged 11 years). Charlton, October 3. Dear Dot,— l live at Tapanui, and I think it a very pretty place. I have got a playmate op

here who lives not fur from us. We have only to run across the street to her place. We have got a cow and a little calf, and the cow loves the | calf very mucb. Dear Dot, lam afraid you are • not a girl. I think you're just " Dot " with the pen. — Yours truly, Jane Crawkobd (aged 9 years). * Tapanui, October 4. Dear DoT,~My cousin is staying with us. She wauted a ride, so mamma said she could have one on my brother's pony. She is not used to riding, so mamma let her ride in the paddock. The pony is not very big but is so strong that , my brother can hardly manage her sometimes. Her name is Browney. There was some water in the paddock aud the pony went to get a drink, My cousin came over its head into the water' nnd she called out to me and I went to her. She did not hurt herself, fortunately. She is laugh, ing about it now. Her clothes were very wet and muddy. Sue said she wculd not ride the pony again for £100, but when uext day came she, wanted another ride, but mamma was afraid she would fall off again. I have got a pony too, so Fred and I can go for a short ride sometimes.— Yours truly, Laura. M. Daivykes. Hostile. Awatea, October 3. PS — Mamma has written a story for the Httlo folk.-. Deah 1)ot,-~1 will write toyou and tell you all about (.'l>)u\ 1 1 is a very healthy and pleasant placi- io hvf iv. We have got a nice garden and plenty uf pretty Howerrf. I have live sisters and tour lirutuct-h. I have not btieu very well lately but I hope that 1 will be butcer soon. We are going to hvive a circus b^re ou Wednesday week, and a concert shortly afterwards. The examinauun will soon be held, and I hope to pasb.—Yoms truly, Florence Fache (ayed 12 years and 11 months). Clyde, Octoler b". Dear Dot,— A singing class has been started here. Air Thomas is tho teacher, aud I think his pupils are malting very good progress. lam going to tell you about our little lambs. It is a pretty sight on a fine day to see them skipping about. I used to have a pet lamb every year, but I have none this year. A lot of political meetings have been held in our schoolhouse lately. I attended them all, aud will be glad when there ;u c some more, although I suppose it will not be ag.iin for thrre yeais. There were ladies pi'i'Mjnt at all tue meetings, who seemed to b< quite interested in politics. I liked best when the time for the questions came. Some of them were very funny.— Yours truly, Duncan Ross. October 8. Dear Dot, — I saw in the Witness that you thought we were gettin lazy, so I thought I would write. Our examination took pluce on Thursday, 6th October, and my sister Frances and I bo^h passed the Fifth Standard. It was a very hot day yesterday, but to day it is raining. I liked the last story in the Witness- very much, and w»s sorry when it ended. I think it is so nice to see all the fruit trees looking green again, and the flowers in the garden. I was at some water falls lately, and I saw a great many trees growing beside the water. I have a garden of my own, and have v great many flowers in it. I planted some plants aud seeds in it this morning. I *end you a card, hoping you will accept of it. — Yours truly, Janet Eliza Bishop (aged 12 years). Hillend. [Thank you for the card. — Dm I .] Dkar Dot, — We have got a nice little baby girl, and we are going to call her Agnes. I went to see auntie yesterday, and I saw a lot of pretty little lambs. — Yours truly, Joanna M'Lean (aged 8-£ years). Milton, October 8. Dear Dot, — I will tell you some more about old Napoleon. I told you how he used to go in the garden. Well, there he would stay, and neither my sister nor I could put him out, no matter how we tried. The moment he saw us coming he would kick up his heels and actually waltz around the garden, now and then stopping and shaking his head. My sister used to say he was bowing to us, a<s much as to say " Come, put me out if you can." After running and chasing for about an hour, I think we used to enjoy the game as well as old Nap. The old horse would gain the victory, for, instead of putting him out, he could always put us out, and then fancy, Dot, after all that when father went to put him out there he would stand as quiet as a lamb. You would never think he was the same .horse that was kicking up his heels and prancing about a little while before. Now, was he not a wise old horse, Dot? — Yours truly, Tom lono (agnl 13 years). Beaumont Road, Lawrence, October 8. Dear Dot, — The rain is falling here to-day, and I think it says : " Wiite to Dot ! write to Dot !" so I will obey the command. I will tell you about my pets. I have two cats and two ferrets. I like my cat Tops;/ the best, for I have had her the longest. My sisters have a. very nice pet lamb, which they call Gladys. A few days ago we had some uico book* given us. AuiODg them is "Harry at School," ami I like reading it very much. I read all about the Fur Country and Queo.nie's doll, and I hope we will soon have another nice story. I like your poetry about the rain, and I hope you will boon have some more for us. It is very kind of you to go to so much trouble for us little folks.— Your» truly, Jack (aged 11 years). Croydon, October 8. Deab Dot,— -I have got another little sister. She was born on the 9th of September. She is the seventh sister, and we are very fond of her. My father has bought me a little cow, and I am going to learn to milk her. She in very quiet, and her name is Gladys. The weather has not been very fine up here lately, but I hope it will soon clear up. We have got a good orchard, and the fruit trees are all out in. blossom. I think we will hava a lot of fruit this year. Dear Dot, I like reading the little folk's kitten, very much. — Your-* truly, Eonn Wallace (aged 11 years). Orepuki, October 10. Dear Dor,— lt is a long time since I wrote to you, so I will now send you a lew venes, the tiblo ct' wiiicii is, I h.VV.' A SlUl> A-S.UMVtf. I i.v.v -i --hip -i-'-ivVniy. , A- iiilmjf on ti c on ; AliA. oil ! it \>n» all kuii-ii With pretty tilings for I In c. Time »u*ip ronifil-* in e<l»n, And uppl-s in tl.e hoiii ; Tl.e aaii > v ejv m i-It: v! oil l . Abd the iiv.uts sv<iie made of &M. The, fouv-aiid-twcnty sailors That stood between the decks Were four-and-twenty white mica. With chains about their necks. The captain was a duck. With a packet on his back ; And when the ship began to move The captain said : '• Quack, quack ! Yours truly, Henbt Skkqus. South Riverton, October 10. Dear Dot,— We have a half holiday to-day on account of its being wet, and I am writing to you, but, as I have to go to my mustc practice, you must excuse this short note. I have neve f written to you before, but my sister Lulu sent you a letter some weeks ago. lam the eldesc Cf oar family, and there, are nine oftM—nw

TT7n^ four boys. Six of as were born in ft! and Sree in Oamaru. We have been "'ft Zealand five years, and I like the place ,cry muc • beeQ there ever gince c fi gong to school, and I am in the Fifth started boh b & mile from the gchool S Trome home for our dinner at 12 o'clock, Bnd t4t we walk four miles a day. I have an 50 V? in America, and he has two little girls, fi k now their ages, but I have written 1 vmv aunty. Their names are Agatha I think them both pretty n D ames.--Your 8 truly,^^ Oamaru, October 10. npl . DoT _i go to school, and like going D « much 1 had a doll, but my little sister '^hold oi it and broke it. I will write you a Liter let?er the next time.-Yours truly, better mw M Beattie ( age( i g years). Mataura, October 10. np . B Dot,- We have a garden. Our cat has a hlack and white kittens. I have four sVVers5 V Vers and one sister. The boys' names are limes David, William, nd George, and my •EX name is Theresa. Our examination SlUoon be bere. I hope I will pass. Some oi fertly^^ Waikaka.'October 10. n^RDoT.-I read the Witness every Friday , n rnimr The other day I saw that you thought Kittle folks were getting very lazy, so I Sought I would write to you Our school was Sined on September B,and I passed the Third Hard. We have a school picnic every year. 5 concert and dance was heldm the school on L sth, in aid of the prizes, and for gravelling the school ground. Our next picnic will be hPld in December.- Yours truly, mau James Taylor. Windsor, October 10. Dear Dot,— l was 10 years old last Friday. I have been away from school for a while. I have Sck cat named Tommy. He plays with us, Junning up and down the floor. I have a little S named {Jeannie She is such a nice little thine We have one pig ; we only got it to-day. We have also two little goldfinches, and Jeannie would like to get them to play wrth.-Yours July, Lizzie Beat he (aged 10 years). Mataura, October 10. Dfmj Dor,— I live in Kyeburn Diggings, in the Mount Ida district. It is very cold here in winter, but the cold weather is over for this year. I see'no little folks writing from here, so I will »?ive you more news next time.— Yours truly, Mary Ann Thomas (aged 10£ years). Kyeburn Diggings, October 10. Deaia Dor,— We have got a lob of lambs this year, and there are a lot of pairs. We have got two pet lambs. Igo to school every day. lam in the Third Standard. I read " Queeme's Doll " and I liked it very well. We are milking three cows just now. One of them calved a day or two .igo I have got a doll dressed in blue satin, trimmed with lace. It has two earrings and has long hair.— Yours truly, Jessie Fleming (aged 10 years), Waikaka, October 10. Deak Dot,— lt is raining very heavily, aud the river is rising quickly. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. We have a cow and three calves —Yours truly, Ida (aged 11 years). Kakanui, October 10 f Dfae Dot,— l am going to tell you about my dolh I have got six. I call the oldest one Jessie; she is 15 years old— just a little more than twice my own age. Don'b you think she ig very old? She belonged to my eldest sidter. The next is Frauce, then Edith, Maggie, May, and Mary. I got Way the l^t time I was in town. I rolled her in a shawl at night and laid her on a box. When I got up in the morning aud went to look at May, Mary was lying beside her. Mother said the doctor must have b&n there and left her. Do you > think so, Dot? She is such a tiny little thing. She has a blue dress with gold trimmings. I have two pet calves. Their names are Jane and Victor. They are very quiet, and I like them very much. Jdo not go to school, as it is too far away, but mother teaches me at home. Dear Dot, may I write again ?— Yours truly, Lad ha (aged 7 years and 3 months). Forest Hill, October 10. Deah Dor,— We caught a little, or rather big, blackbird this morning. We heard some fluttering in the chimney and put up our hands and waggled them backwards and forwards in the hope of catching it, but it, being frightened of such big things as hands, kept quite still and did not flutter any more, so that we could not tell where it was. We knew that it must have stuck in the chimney, and if we looked to see where it wab the soot would come down in our eyes, so wo went away in the hope that it might either fly up or tumble down from the place where it was sticking. About half an hour afterwards we were called upstairs by my sister, and we saw the bird flying wildly about the room. At last it came to the window, where we caught it. We kept it in a cage for about half an hour, and then we thought it might be able to fly, so <ye took it out aud opened the cage door, and were very glad to see it fly very quickly up in the air, a free bird. Our dog and cats were very much disappointed to see a good dinner flying away, and went up to the empty cage, but were again disappointed on finding tho bird was gone. — Yours truly, Campbell M'Adabi (aged 9 years). Dear Dot,— l like to read the letters from little folks. I go to the South School, and ana }n the. Second Standard. I got a prize the first year I was at school ; it is a nice book, called • The Children's Friend." I had a little dog which used to follow me everywhere I went, but lost it. It came back again, but did not 'stay o»g tjll I lost it agajn. I was very sorry to one it,— Yours truly, Jank (aged 8 years). Qamaru, .October 11. Dear Dot, — i.s I have not written to you for a long time, I thought that I would tell you about ray birthday party. There were about 40 of my schoolmates present, and I think they all ; enjoyed themselves. I was 10 yearsoldon Sunday, I Mid I held ray birthday party on Friday. We played at lota of nice games outside, and when it became dark we went inside and had singing »nd other games.— Yours truly, Chhistina Loudon (aged 10 years). Walton Park, October 11. Dkae Dot,— Here is a short story for your little folks about some little girls who came to Hawke's Bay in the very early days. There *we two little girla, Lina and Addie, and they used to roam about near their home on the hills. They were afraid to go too far away, W there were wild pigs on Scinde Island, in those days. 1 Qne day, when' their mamma's BQat had, wandered too far away from their noqe, a pig ran after the kids, and tried get one, but could not catch it then; bQ t the cruel pig came down into the v *lley in the night time, and carried off RS of tbe Poor little goats, and the £ tv « girls were so sorry. One day the ™o tattle girls were walking along the beach, ptong U p shells, and all at once they looked.

up and saw a black man— not a Maori, but a J negro ; and oh ! how frightened they were of ' him ; and they ran screaming away, but j he called to them, and spoke kiudly to them, I and then he gave them some shells. And when they saw how kindly he spoke to them, they got over their fright and never ran away from him again, but had many a laugh with him and his wife and little ones afterwards. He was really a kinc hearted man. Ido not remember what beca ie of Pompey.—Yours truly, Sarah. JP.S. — I can give you some more short stories about Lina and Addie, if your little folks would care to read It. — S. — [I am sure the little folks would like to hear more about them. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — As you said we were getting lazy, I thought I would write to you to-night, I am going to tell you about the large box of toys my little sister Ruby had given to her. They are very pretty cups and saucers and plates and jug and sugar basin and teapot. We are going to have our tea out of them some day. — Yours truly, Florence Violet Loddon (aged 8 years). Walton Park, October 11. Dear Dot,— l was at the Mataura three years ago. My brothers and sisters are waiting for Christmas, as we are going again this year. I hope it will be fine weather, as we have no lambs here, and we get fine fun with the lambs at Mataura.— Yours truly, : Mary F. (aged 12 years and 4 months). Saddle Hill, October 12. Dhar Dot,— l had a pretty pigeon, and was very fond of it. Every fine day I took it out for a walk. I fed it on wheat and water. Once I let it out for a walk and lost it. I searched all round the house, and did not see it, so I went to look in its box, but it was not there. I then looked in the garden, but could not see it there; so I went back to the box, and there it was ! It stayed here for several months, and was building a nest, when another pigeon came and took it away to a new home, and I have never seen ifc since, and am very sorry.— Yours truly, R. F. (aged 10 years and 4 months). Saddle Hill, October 12. p.S.—Can we post a letter to you folded like this without an envelope ?— [Yes, so long as it is properly addressed. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— l am going to write about my pets. I have six cats and one pretty little chicken, and a red calf called beauty. The cats names are Tigerette, Toby, Tommy, Centaur, Bo Peep, and Spotty. Bo Peep and Spotty have not got their eyes open yet. I had a story half written to send to you, bub when I went to finish it to-night I could not find it ; so I had to do without it. 1 am not going to school now but my sister and brother are. There is to be a school concert in three weeks, but I don'fc know whether I shall get or not.— Yours truly, Bessie Rtan. Waitahuna, October 13.