LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 34

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — Our examination will soon be on, but I do not know whether I shall pass or not. A skating rink was opened here a week or two ago, .but I do not go, as it is three miles away from our place. The neighbourhood in which we live is called the Waimea Plain, and it is a very dreary place, with no trees except at the Waimea House and the Wautwood homestead, which are about 12 miles apart. Waimea Plain would be a very poor place indeed if it was not for the Waimea line of railway, which runs from Gore to Lumsden. I£iam very fond of reading, and we have a good number of books. My sister h* s six, John thaa six, Louis has three, Willie has two, and I have four. — Yours truly, Minnie Hbenan. Deab Dot,— l am going to tell about A MAGIC LANTERN

shown here last week. Emily and I were tt fa Edmund was going, but he was taken ill and could not go. Mr Don delivered a lecture od Chinese habits and customs, The first pictorf

shown was that of Hongkong. Among others was a street picture of Canton. It showed two Chinamen carrying a man in a sedan chair, and a lady dressed in bright colours standing at a shop window with her little boy. The Chinese are very fond of bright colours. Mr Don told us that a little boy came to church dressed in clothes of the brighbesb hues, every article Laving a different colour, and his cap three or four colours. Several pictures of pagodas and temples I had seen before in my " History of the World " — a beautiful big book papa gave me long ago. Mr Don told us about

THE PORCELAIN PAOODA.

It was tho largest and mosb beautiful pagoda iv fchn world. The outside was entirely covered by beautiful variously tinted porcelaiu, with 300 silver bells. The pagoda was destroyed by foes. Pagoda 3 are erected to keep away evil spirits. One was erected over a mudhole, where mudboys, or crocodiles, camo out and ate nil the little boys about.

Making roads and bridges is considered very great work iv China. Paper is very sacred there, as the Chinese say their characters are handed down from time immemorial. When Mr Don ■was in Riverton he was once helping a Chinese teacher to pack up who was going back to Ohina. He placed a box containing books on a stool, and Mr Don having occasion to move the stool put tbe box on the floor. "No, no," said the man, coming forward, " that won't do." •' Why, what is tho matter," asked Mr Don. " Why, writing is so sacred ifc must not be pub on so low a place as the floor," was the reply. Thero. were several pictures of mandarins. Oue was thab of a mandarin ab a dinner parby, in official dress, and drinking tea ia a garden with his wife. 'The Chinese are great tea drinkers. They will never drink cold water if they can help it. They have a wine as clear aa water, and a friend of Mr Don's seeing a Chinaman drinking this, and mistaking iC for water, said to him : " What, drinking water?" — "Do you bake me for an ox ?" asked bhe disgusbed Chinaman. In telling this tale, Mr Don told us the story of a Scotchman who was invited to dine at an English lord's house. On being asked to have some lettuce, he asked : " Do you take me for a coo ?" [Oh, fie, Mr Don !"— Dot.] On the first day of spring the Emperor, his sons, and bhe officials go to a field adjoining the town, where they each, plough a furrow, — this being termed welcoming the spring. The chief

PUNISHMENTS IN CHINA are beating with big bamboo canes 31b weight and with a smaller bamboo 21b weight, imprisonment, and banishment. When a man is caught red-handed stealing, he is taken to the nearest wafcehhouse and beaten with a bamboo. Thore is a watchhouse at every 100 yds, and at night they are locked. Men are usually carried in sedan chairs. When two chairs meet in a doorway the carriers push till one pushes the. other away. The occupants are often hurt in these struggles. All the time Mr Don was in Canton, 16 months, he only saw one drunken Chinaman. Two old prisoners who were levying blackmail on another were thrashed with a bamboo, and their ankles broken with a hammer. Please^ Dot, what does blackmail mean ? The bamboo is a shrub which grows everywhere in Chiua. When chopped down ifc grows up again, nnd is as high as ever in a year. A simple Chinaman sold a bamboo to another, and a year afterwards the bamboo, growing up again, he wrote to the man to come and take it away, as it had grown up again. The rest of the pictures consisted chiefly of public processions and temples. The Chinese think that missionaries can see 4ft into the earth. The last picture was of the Great Wall of China. It is now going to ruin, but the best parb of it was shown to us. The other day a friend of ours was nearly shot by her brother. She was sibbing at tho lire when her brother came in. Taking down his gun he loaded it to go oub after rabbits. It slipped from his hand and went off, the charge entering the roof just above her. Speaking to her afterwards about it, she told me she heard a terrible noise behind her, and turning round saw nothing but smoke and sparks. The roof was black just above her where the shot entered. This letter should have been written three weeks ago, but I caught cold coming homo from the magic lantern entertainment, and was ill for a week. Little May and Arbie got ill too, and have just got better, but I think they are going to be ill again, as they were cross all day and wanted to go to bed early. They have such bad colds.— Yours truly, Bessie Ryan (aged 12 years).

Fernbank, Waitahuna, July 25,

[I am sure all the little folks will join me in thanking Bessie very much for her interesting letter. Little folks as a rule are rather given to copying the style of other letters, but Bessie never writes without telling something of interest to anyone. The term

" ULACKMAIL " originated in the the Highlauds of Scotland, aud was the name given to a tax levied on the people 100 years ago by bands of men, who iv return for its paymeut uudertook to prevent others from committing outrages and robbery. Owing to political and social circumstances theft and robbery were not then regarded in the Highlands of they are now : to carry off the cattle of a neighbour was perhaps only wreaking out an old family quarrel or clan dispute or making reprisals for some severity of persons in power. Rob Roy, Coll McDonell, and other well known characters were among those who levied this tax. When one of the ptiyers oC blackmail was robbed the colectors undertook to have the stolen goods or cattle returned, and if he failed he was expected to pay for them himself. As used at the present ! ,day the word means one person extorting money from another under threat of exposing something that tho victim has done which he should uot have done. —Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I have read a great many of the little folks' letters, but none of them seom to have described

A HUNT.

We are invited to one at Heddon Busb, and ate to have a holiday for the occasion ; but as no oue seems inclined to drive us" because the roads are so bad, I am afraid we shall not be able to go unless some of my elder sisters ride. We all went to the Heddon Bush hunt last year, and enjoyed ourselves very much. I will now tell you about it. We arrived there about half-past 12, 'and the kind host asked us to come in aud have some lunch. The hounds threw off at 1 o'clock. The red coats looked very gay, and I think it would have been still nicer if all present had worn them. One of the horses in our buggy was very excited, and our cousin Helen was frightened and got out and was nearly run over by a hunting gentleman who had had rather a bother in getting his horse over a fence. It was great fun watching the horses jumping. Some of them did it so nicely. — Yours truly, Molly (aged 11 years).

Avondale, July 22.

[Thank you for your description of the bunt. I trust you will tell us how you get with the coming one. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I have gotja pouy, and lam very fond of her. Her name is Minnie, and I used to tide nine miles on her to school every day, but Hre have a school quite close to us now, \ like

the teacher very much, but the road is very bad. Two Chinamen went down the road one day with a horse and cart and made a sad mistake, for they bogged the horse, and the cart was in the swamp for a week. — Yours truly, Effib H. Smith.

Waikaka Valley, July 24,

Dear Dot, — I live in Otiake. It is surrounded by hills, and there is a great deal of snow on the hills just bow. I have a nice big doll. Please give me a name for it. We have some goldfish in a pond. They are very pretty when the sun shines on them. We have four dogs ; their names are Charlie, Don, Maud, and Wasp. Wo have four cows, and their narae3 are Darkie, Pansj, Roßie, and Cipsy. — Yours truly, Mabel Gray (aged 9 years).

Otiake, July 24.

[Call the doll Dora.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — Our school was burnfc down about nine weeks ago, and I was very sorry. Since then our teacher, Mr Hyde, ha 3 had to keep school in his own house. — Yours truly, Maggie Finlay (aged 9 years).

Dunrnbin.

Dear Dot, — I live in Waikaka Valley, abou t six miles from Gore. We have very bad roads hwre, and often get our feet wefc going to school. There are about 26 scholar attend ing just now. I have three sisters and one brother. — Yours

Alice Johnston.

Waikaka Valley, July 23.

Dear Dot, — We have had a (great fall of snow, and I have nob been able to "go to school for a fornight. I must also tell you that my brother's dog killed the little kibten that you gave me the name for; but I have anotter pct — it is a white calf with red ears I wish you would please give me a name for ifc. — Yours

Jeatrice

Keybum Diggings, July 21.

[I hope your brother made the dog understand thab he head done wrong, in order that he may not repeat the offence. Call the calf Taura. The scientific name of cattle is Bos Taurus, and Taura is a contraction of it. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — My sisters and I have four dolls between us, and on rainy days when we can't go to school, we have fine fun dressing them. Ma gives us bits of print aud muslin. I like our teacher, Miss Johnstone very much. I have three brothers, and three sisters. Five of us go to school. We used to live at the busb, -which is a prettier place than where we ure living now, but we have not so far to go to school now, and it only takes us half an hour. I forgot to say that two of our dolls are 10 years old. They have no legs, arms, or hair, but we like them fine. Dear Dot. ma and my big sister wish that Jane B. Lockett would write again, as her letters were very nice. — Yours truly, Maggie Blackie (aged 8 years).

Kaibangata.

Dear Dot, — We have been having very rough weather, and I have not been able to go to school. I have a doll, and its name is Lottie. It has a muslin dress and green silk bows. I have a pet cat- named Jenny. We have also a |cow named Spot. We had a calf, but we found it dead in a gully one night. I am learning music, and like it very much. — Yours truly, Katie Blackie.

Dear Dot, — I have four miles to go to school at Riverton, two of which I have to walk. The road is very muddy. The other two I go in the train. I got a prize last year for passing without a mistake. My brother Tom, who is in the same class as I am (the Second Standard), was dux of the boys. I have a large wax doll with fair hair and black eyes. Will you please give me a name for it? — Yours truly, Jennie Frew.

Seaview, Otaitai Bush, July 22.

[How would you like Lizette ? I think it is pivtty; or Phoebe, which means pure, radiant ? —Dot.]

Dear Dot,— The weather has been very bad ami the roads are muddy, but I am still going to school. We are only milking four or five cows just now. My birthday will be in two months. I send you a piecs of poetry called

SICK DOLLY. Please otep softly, Dolly's sleeping After such a night of pain. Neither Maud, nor T, nor Alice Thought she'd ever wake again. Yes, we sent for Mr Doctor, And he gave her heaps of pilb, Big blaok draughts, and pale magnesia, Khubarb red, and oil. and squills. Said she had a dangerous fever. Thought she might have caught a cold, Or perhaps had got the jaundice. For she looked like yellow gold. Shook his head, then sighed a little, As he took an ample fee ; Then remarked that after dinner We should see "what we should see. —Yours truly, Mary (agedjjll years).

Stirling, July 20, 1888.

Dear Dot, — I have four sisters and one brother. Two of my sisters are in Dunedin. The winter is now on, and the mornings are very cold. We are having some graud sliding on the ice. lam saving money in the post office savings bank to buy a Shetland pony. I had a little dog named Tiny, but I gave him away, — Yours truly, Bertie (aged 7 years and 9 months).

St. Bathans, July 15.

Dear Dot, — Thrre are a great many rocks about our house, and a few caves. There are also a few big broadleaf trees. I send you a piece of poetry, entitled

THE ARTIST'S SON.

(He is looking at a picture his father had painted.)

Oh , how they do gallop, both horses and men ! Hearing and plunging again and again ! Now is it not funny to see such a row, I wonder which captain is gaining juat now ? There's a man on the ground ! poor fellow, I know

Ke must have received a most terrible blow. When I am a. man a brave soldier I'll be. And none shall be able to overcome me. I'll fight with the French, for I hate them each one; To cub ofE their heads would bo capital fun. But the horses I never would hurt them, I.know, For my own little Doblin, I do love him so 1 ■ik James Jessep.

— Yours truiy, Ferncliff, Ngapara, July 20.

[I wonder whatever the poor French had done to make the artist's son long fer their gore. I think he was a very uncauny young fellow. — Dot.]

Deae Dot, — I am a native of Dunechn, but I live in Wellington oow, and I like it pretty well. I was up at Newfcown Park this afternoon, and saw the football matches. There was a good attendance. My brother's teacher took some of the schoolboys' up to Porirua last Saturday week, aud I went with them. We all enjoyed ourselves very much, but I was not very well. My mother gets the Otago Witness every week. — Yours truly,

D. Parton (aged 11^'years).

Wellington, July 21.

Dear Dot,— l was at Purakanui on Sunday. It is a very pretty place, and lots of people go to it iv summer. I have four cats ; will you please give ma a name for one of them. Three of them are called Topsy, Charley, and Torty. Our examination took place a tittle while ago.

I passed! and am going into the First Standard on Thursday. — Yours truly, Annie Robertson (aged 8 years 2 months). Port Chalmers Road, Purakanui. [Call bhe other cat Felis, which is the scientific name of the animal. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — We used to have a cab, but ib died la3t Sunday night. Its name was Scobie, and we used to pet and love ib very much. Ib belonged to my sister Jane. I havo a pretty roosber of a brighb golden colour. 1 named him Prince, but we call him Boy for shorb. — Yours truly,

Alison M. Wright (aged 8 years). Mechanic street, North-East Valley, July 19.

Dear Dot, — I have three dolls, and one of them goes to sleep. Mj brother Alfred has got a pony named Cruiser. We have two goldfinches, one called Dicky and the obher Joey. We hav.e got a large flower garden, bub bhere are nob many flowers oub at present. — Yours truly,

Clara Alcock.

Dear Dot, — I have a nice cat, which we call Tom. It can jump very high. I have also a canary, which my father gave me. It is learning to sing. Please give me a name for ib. I have four sisters, and I am the only boy. — Yours truly, Davie.

Oamaru, July 20.

[Canaries are natives of two places— the Canary Islands and the Cape de Verd Islands. I think you could utilise the second name, and call it Verdi. It may interest you to learn that in its wild state the plumage of the canary is greenish or greenish yellow, sometimes tinged with brown, and that it exhibits lass variety and beauty than in domestication. It frequents the neighbourhood of human habitations ; builds its nest of moss, hair, feathers, &c, iv thick, bushy, high shrubs or trees ; and produces four, five, or even six broods in a season . The song of the bird in its wild state surpasses in loudness and clearness that of those in capMvity, and consequently they are sometimes caught ?.nd sent to England, where they sell for very high prices. In captivity the bird sometimes liven 15 or 16 years. It can bo taught various tricks and airs, and some even iearn to articulate words. — Dot.l

Dear. Dot, — My youngest brother was down at Dunedin a short time ago, and he got a present of a pair of bantams. They are pretty pets. I was only once in Dunedin, but I would like to go back to see it again, for uay brother tells me such a lot about it, and T think it must be a nice place to stay in. — Youva truly, Northbaulr. July 16

ILLIE.

[Then why nob tell bhe litble folks all about whab your brother saw. I am sure you could write an interesting letber about it if you tried. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — Since I wrote you last I have been getting on fine. " I have read " Robinson Crusoe," "Gulliver's Travels," and the "Arabian Nights." Robinson Orusoe is a fine fellow. Siubad, the sailor, was stealing things iD the grave. He musb have been a greedy fellow. I like stories of tho sea best, and sea songs such as —

How once on watch at midnight We heaid the mermaid sing, Though there be many learned folks Who say there's no such thing. Last week a big flood took away the bridge on our road bo school, and I have to walk round a long way.— Yours truly, John Macgregor. Enfield. Dear Dot, — We now live in Johnsonville. It is much nicer bhan town. Oar house is the largest in Johnsonville ; bhere are two acres of land, and a stream at the bottom of the grounds. Last washing day a lob of the clobhe3 were blown down the sbreain. The lasb time "f. wrote we lived in town, but I like the country best. I have two nice gardens, and have charge of another garden too. There are not any flowers oub now, but there will be some violets out soon. We have also a tennis ground. — Yours

Lily and Elsie Willis.

Johnsonville, July 18.

Dkar Dot, — The winter is nearly over, and I am not sorry. There is a curling darn up here, and also a fishing dam. I did nob go to school last week, as I had a bad cold. The playmabes I like best at school are Hannah O'Hara and Mary Garty. Thank you, dear Dob for the nice name you gave me for my doll. — Yours bruly,

Lizzie Alpin (aged 12 years).

St. Bathans, July 20.

Dear Dot, — I am staying with my sister just now, and atbend bhe school here. I have not got far to go — just 20 minubes' walk. Mr Bix is our beacher. I used bo go to the Waiwera school, and bad four miles to walk. Miss Ross was my teacher, and I liked her very much. My sister has two children, Jem" and Greta. Jem is four years and Greta is two and a-half. lam making clothes for her doll. It was a present from her grandmother, and is such a beauty, with blue eyes and fair curly hair. I have no pets to tell you about, but I am very fond of crochebting and knibting. lam busy making a shawl just now. I have five sisters and two brobhers. — Yours truly, E. A, G. Scott.

Crookston, July 17.

Dear Dot, — I have a black cat. Will you please give me a name for it? I have fuor sisters, but no brothers. My sisters' names are Alice Mary, Florence, Evelyn Norman, and Ida. Alice, Florence, and myself go to the Mandeville school. We have two miles to walk. Mr Nisbet is our teacher. I like him very much. My uncle came down last week from the Wakatipu, and brought us all a new dress. Baby is a very quiet little thing, and we all love her very much. She has blue eyes and auburn hair. — Yours truly, Agnus Richardson (aged 10 years). Wantwood, Mandeville, July 19.

[Call bhe cab Gip, shorb for Gipsy. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I am writing to tell you about my little cousin, Jack Cook, who had been staying with us for some time, and he met with an accident last week. While he was riding the pony along the beach, going to look for frostfish, a dog frightened the pouy, and k it ran away. Poor little Jack was thrown off, and dragged, with his foob in the stirrup, through a swamp, and over a lob of stones and rails. His leg is broken and his head is badly hurt. Dr Cunningham came down, and he was taken home to Port Chalmers on the night of the accident. I am glad to be able to tell you that he is getting better now, and the doctor bhinks that he is out of danger. We are all very sorry about him, and so were all the people down here, for he was well liked. — Yours truly, Ruby P. Stephens.

North Head, July 26.

TO THE LITTLE FOLKS.

I have had so many little folks' letters during the past few weeks that, like the old woman who lived in the shoe, I have not known what to do. If 1 put them all in they would take up almost two pages, and of course that would never do. So I have picked out the best, and only put them in. A great many are similar to others that have already appeared, and I should be pleased if my little correspondents would try to ' write in a different style to that of anyone else. , Tell U8 all about the district in which you live, oc anything special about your pets or brothers

and sisters — do not merely say you have so many brothers and so many sisters, so many cats and so many dogs — and then your letters will be sure to appear. — Dot. Elizabeth has a pet dog called Carlo, and a very fair doll, for which she wants a name. Blanche is a nice name for such a doll, or Lily if you prefer it. — Dot.

Maggie Mackenzie, Windsor, has a cat, " &triped all over with black and grey stripes like a tiger. Please will you give me a name for him ? We have a beautiful big rooster. He is nearly as big as a goose ; we call him Jock." — Call the cat Chati, and I will tell you why. The chabi is just such a cat as you describe. Its Latin name is Felis Mitis, aud it is a native of South America. It is rather more than 2ft in length, exclusive of the tail." The colour is yellowish grey, with dark patches, those on the back forming longitudinal stripes. The chati prowls about at night, and often carries away poultry from their roosting places. — Dot. E. M. H. writes a letter which I should like to have verified by her father before it -appears. She states than she has 55 first cousins. This is, of course, quite possible, but it is certainly a remarkably large number, and unless I am certain that the letter .was written by the little girl whose name is attached to it, I should not like to have it printed. — Dot.

Andrew. — Call the calf Norba, a contraction of the name of the place in which you live (Northbank). — Dot. Amanda Michelle might also adopt this plan, and call her's Rabo, for Roxburgh. — Dot. Di, Orepuki, tells me about her pets. She'has pet lamb and three wekas. I should like her to write and tell me all about the wekas. I am sure there must be lots to tell about them if Di would only try. — Dot.

LITTLE FOLKS' RIDDLES.

(Answers must be sent with all riddles. Answers

will appear in Witness of August 10..)

57. By Minnie Heenan, Waimea:— What [ib that which, burns to keep a secret.

68. By Bessie Eyan, Waitahuna :— My first is a colour, my second -nothing could like without, my whole a river in Ireland.

59. By Di, Orepuki :— When isa lady's dress likea chair ?

60. By Agnes Eichardson :— What, ii it that is black and white and read all over ?

61. By Nellie Leslie:— Wood and glass, iron and brass, always going and always standing still. 62. By Lily Willis :— There was a man who had no eyes, and he went to view the skies ; he saw a tree with apples on ; he took no apples off, and left no apples on.

63. By Rosa Worley, Teaneraki :— Whafc 4 two bears ought there to be in one house?'

64. By Willie:— Who loses a bit of her tail at every step she takes ?

65. By Harry Mouat, Dunedin :-r If you throw a stone in the water what does it become before it reßches the bottom ?

66. By A. A. : — What is harder than earning money ?

67. By D. Parton: —Supposing a pig wanted to build a habitation what would it do ?

HB. By Ethel Heenan :— Why isa dog's tail like the heart of a tree ?

69. By Maggie Fohey, Evam' Flat :— My first is in umbrella but not in cane; my second is in window but not in pane ; my third is in mischief but not in harm ; my fourth is in wrist but not in arm ; my fifth is in England but not in France; ray sixth is in polka but not iv dance; myse\'Gnth is in June but not in May ; my whole is something that's made every day. 70. By Alice Beatrice Archer, Kyburn Diggings : —Why ia a pig in a parlour like a house on fire ? 71. By Maggie Mackenzie, Windsor:— What ia it that water won't melt and fire won't dry ? 72. By Jane Wilson: -Sixteen white horses 'on a red hill, here they go, there they go, jet they stand still.

ANSWEES TO LITTLE FOLKS'^RIDDLES Published July 13. Eosa Woiley:— lo. That. ' Mary Ann Menzies :— ll. Because time beats all men and a drummer boats time. la. Because it makes better butter. 12. Because it once had a Solon (sole on). 14. Because the children of men multiply upon the face of it. Isa: — 15. What does yes spell? C. J. K.:~16. An egg." Isabella M'Laren:— l7. A rush. G-. M., Invercargill : — 18. An egg. 19. A ring. Nellie: — 20. A coffin. 21. One fars his ropes, and the other pitches his tent. 22. An icicle.

Mary, Hapny Valley:— 23, An. orange. 24. The hog, for he has a hogs head lull. 25 The door jamb.

Elizabeth Wilson, Owake:— 2H. Two o's, two n's an L and a d is London. 27. The oldest piece of furniture in the world is the multiplication table. Peter M'Lay, Glenonwru:— 2B. The other half. 29. Because it flies over the hams.

Cobkbct Answebs.— Annie Jilliot, 16, 26, 28. Arthur, 10. 16, 23, 26. D. Dumps, South Dunedin, 20,26. Daisy, Fairfax, 16, 19,20. JeannieM. Hay, 28. Lily Pascoe, 16, 26. Isabella Cunningham, 18. J., Ngapara, 10, 16, 18, 22, 28. Minnie Cain, 16. Agnes Richardson, 10,16, 23, 28. Elsie Willis, 10. Andrew. Northbank, 10, 14, 16. Katie Blackie, 16, 18. 26, 27.