LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 39

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot,— l am just nine years old today. I attend the Gordon sohool, and am in the Third Standard. About 160 children go to our Bohool. We have great fun at times, but most at sliding during frosty weather. We have two cream-ooloured horses ; one is named Gipßy and the other Nimrod ; both are very quiet and go in harnoss. We have also a Shetland pony with suoh a tioy foal, another, which is mine, called Greytail, It is black all over exoept the tail, which iB grey. Our farm is about half a mile from Gordon, and papa keeps sheep, horses, and a few cows. One of the latter is a Brittany cow with a little heifer calf. Will you please give me a name for it. As it is after my bedtime I wish you goodnight, dear Dot.— Yours truly, Isabel Maud Mao Gibbon, The Glen, June 30. [As your selection of names has an Eastern tinge, suppose you continue it and oall the heifer Sultana ?— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l live at Gatlina River at present, but my home is in Dunedin. I have about a mile to walk to school, and the roads are very muddy. The hills here are all covered with bush, and there are lota of pigeons in the bush. The Owake river runs through the valley. I was in Dunedin lately, and my father gave me a ship. Would you pleaße give me a name for her. I have a dog called Tiny. I caught a lot of rabbits with my dog and

traps, I often get a ride on horsebaok, and like it very much. I Eaw the threshing mill working here, and I helped to build the straw stack, When the stacks were near done I had great fun chasing the rats. It took 16 horses to draw the mill and engine from place to place.— Yours truly, Walter Hughes (aged 13 years).

[I think "The Pride of Owake" would be a suitable name for the ship. Would you lika it?-Doi.]

Dear Dot,— You called me a girl. I am not a girl but a boy, and my name is John. I have some more tricks to. tell you about the monkey. One day she got loose and went through a neighbour's bedroom window, wbioh was open, and threw the stopper of a bottle out of the window, and was Bitting on the dressing table looking in the looking-glass at herself, and putting her hand behind trying to catch what Bhe thought was another monkey. I had to move the guinea pigs' hutch away from her, because Bhe would not allow them to have food to-day; she got loobo and ran away. She olimbed up a willow tree and would not come down. Some boys threw stones at her and she soon came home. I don't think she will care to go away again ; I would not like to lose her.— Yours truly, J. W. Barron.

Bookyside, June SO.

[The monkey must certainly be a source of amusement to you, and I do not wonder that you should not like to lose it. I made a great mistake in calling you a girl, but how was I to know when you only put your initials. I hope the boya and girls have not been teasing you about it.— Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l live at Riverton, but at present my two sisters and I are on a visit to our aunty atj Lady Barkly. We are having fine fun; we were down seeing the men Bkating on the ice in a gravel pit, and two went through. We have a little house all to ourselves. We went for a walk with aunty, and to-morrow we are going to Winton. I have three sisters and one brother. Their names are Albert, Carrie, Toney, and May.— Youis truly, Fanny Campbell (aged 9 years). Lady Barkly, June 25.

Dear Dot,— l have not written to you for a long time, My brothers and sisters and I were at the Exhibition. We had a week of holidays, and we enjoyed ourselves very muoh. I was never in Dunedin before. I saw a great many things that I admired. We heard the whistling boy, I was on the switchback and up the Eiffel Tower, and was twice on the merry-go-round. I was only in two of the Bide shows. I had a look in the looking-glasses. I heard after I was home there were two women with only half of their bodies, and they could speak and move their hands. Dot, do you think they were alive? Mother went down South for her holidays, She enjoyed herself far better than at the Exhibition. She was 30 miles on the other side of Inveroargiil, and out by Glenham to Fortification. She says it is a very pretty oountry down that way. At Wyndham bridge the scenery is just beautiful. I may write you a longer letter- next time if you have space for it.— Yours truly, John Mum (aged 12 years),

Oakhill, June 28. [The half woman is the result of what is called an optical illusion. Mirrors are so arranged as to defleot the sight from the portions not wished to be seen, and thus it has the appearance of only, half a woman. I shall be glad to hear from you whenever you can write, —Dot.] Dbab Dot,— l am very sorry to tell you that my kitten is dead, We have a new master at school, and I like him very muoh. It is very oold up here now. I like to read the little folks' letters. lam tired now and can't tell you anything else this time, bo good-bye, Dot. — Youra truly, Maby H. NAYLOB. Matakanui, June 23. Dear Dot,— l always read the little folks' letters, and I like them very muoh. lam going to try to save all my pennies and send them to Dr Barnardo for his little children. My brother is at sea, and I think he will be back very soon. My sister has a very large doll, and will you please give me a name for it : it has got very dark eyes. Rover (that is our dog's name) killed a oat. — Yours truly, Queknie Oboss. Inveroargill, July 2. [I hope many other little girls will follow in Queenie'a footsteps, and contribute their mite towards assisting in Dr Barnardo's good work, " Olivia " would be a good name for a doll with dark eyes. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— l have a black-and-white dog. Would you kindly give me a name for it. I have five brothers and two sisters, We are milking two oowa. I walk to sobool every day by myself.— Yours truly, Alonza Willoook. [Supposing you oall him after the great explorer Stanley, whom you have heard so much about lately?— Dot.] Dear Dot,— Many thankß for the pretty name you gave me for my silver-grey kitten. I am at home to-day from school, as it is raining. There is to be a school concert and dance on the 25th of this month at Dunbaok. I think lam going to it. There are a lot of rabbits about here, and this is the poisoning season. Sometimes my brother gets some pretty skins, and we save them fer my mother to make mats. Dear Dot, did you ever see a French rabbit ? We got Bix this year,— Yourß truly, Ohables Dunoan.

Billhead Farm, Dunback, July 1.

[Yes ; they are very pretty, but if they are running wild they will soon deteriorate.— Dot]

Dkab Dot,— Our school is expected to be examined in four months, and I hope to pass. My sister has a pair of goldfinohes ; she has had them three years ; they are lovely singers. Dear Dot, have you ever heard the song called "Yesterday" ? lam learning to sing it, and I think it very pretty. 1 also sing the song called " Hearts of Oak." Dear Dot, I want to know whether eucalyptus oil or eucalypti extract is the stronger. Would you be kind enough to tell me this, and oblige ;— Yours truly, Alfbkd Ddnoan.

[I really do not know, but I should think the extract would be the stronger ; the chemiat from whom you procure it would, however, tell you.— Dot.]

LITTLE FOLKS' EIDDLES. 403. By Fanny Campbell, Eiverton :— Black I am, and much admired. I comfort) you and all mankind, But tire horse and tire men ; Tell me this riddle if you cau. 8401. By John Muir, Oakhill :— Why |is the moon like a hundredweight ? ANSWERS TO LAST WBBK'3 BIDDLES. 402. By Fannie Every, Pleasant Valley:— lf the grate be (great B) empty (M T) put coal on (:) ; if the grate be (great B) full atop (.) putting coal on o>. OOREEOT ANSWER. John Muir, Oakhill, 401. A child can wash clothes with Sunlight Soap by following directions.— [Advt.]