LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 34

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Deab Dot,— Since I wrote to you last I have been on a visit in town. I went to the regatta last Wednesday. It was a lovely day, and I think everybody enjoyed themselves. Out little dog Sniggy goea away every Monday morning, stays away all the week, and comes home every Friday night and taps at the door for us to let him in, because he knows Saturday ia the day he gets bathed. Dot, don't you think he ia a very naughty little dog to coma borne and get nice and olean, and then to run away and get all dirty again ? We have fonr young canaries, almost ready to fly out of the nest, and I thing they are the prettiest little things I have ever seen. The mother is yellow and green, and the father is all yellow. There are three like the father and one like the mother. I think it ia time to go to bed, bo good- bye, Dot.— Youra truly, Edith Geoffs. Richmond Grove, Invercargill, Maroh 14. [I think he ia a very knowing little dog, Edith. But where doea he live and what does he do all the rest of the week ? Surely he must have a country home as well as a town one like the wealthy people in London, The canariea must be very pretty.— Dot,] Deab Dot, — I live in Melbourne, bnt I used to live in' Dunedin. My big brother George sends us- the Witness every week. I have five sisters and seven brothers ; seven of us go to school. lam nine yeara old. I got first priza at Christmas for lessons. I must olose now for it is time for me to get ready for school. — Yours truly, Jacob Hindle. South Yarra, Maroh 10. Dear Dot,— l have a little ship with twe Bails. My brother has a little stable and three little horses in it. My sister haa two dolls. The harvest is all over now, and it ia very hot weather at present. My father ia away for sheep now. — Youra truly, Joh^ M'Naie (aged 8 years). Duntroon, March 15.

Dear Dot I.—l1 .— I have a doll with fair hair and blue eyes. Will you please give me a name for her. It ia very hot just now, I got a prize at Sunday school for attendance ; it is called "The Story ot Benvenue to Cellina," and is a nioe little book. — Yours truly, Maegabkt D. M'Nair (aged 7 yearß). Duntroon, Maroh 15. [I think Fairy would ba a nice name for tbe doll.— Dot ]

Deab Dot,— l go to the Duntroon school, and am in the Seoand Standard. .We have six cows, five of which are milking. Their names are Daisy, Sukoy, Rosa, Cherry, Nannie, and Jeanie. My brother Harry has a little dog called Fanny. She is very good for rabbits, and has a little pup. Will you please give me a name for her. T got firat priza at Sunday school. It is a story about two miner boya, and is a very nice book. It is very hot weather op here just now. All the fields look nice and green. The harvest is nearly all over, and tbe men are carting the grain, I have four brothers and one sistor ; their names are Fraucia Henry, John William, Agnes, George, and Walter. Wo have four big pigs ; they are very fat. We go out on our holidays and catch lota of rabbits ; they are very tbiok here. —Yours truly, Watson Stbinger (aged 9£ yoars), Duntroon, March 15. [Nallie would be a good name for tho pup.— « Dot.]

Deab Dot,— l ro to oohool, and am in tbe Firafc Standard. Wa oatcb lotß of rabbits when we are after the cowb,— Youra truly, Jons William Stbikgbb Duntroon, March 15. (aged 7| years).

Dear Dot,— l send you the story I promised i" A Brave Child "). I hope it will please you. ', also send you two feathers out of our peacock's tail. He is a beautiful bird. May I write you another story for the little folks ?—? — Yours truly, Geoboe Orosland. [He must be, indeed, if the feathers you send are fair specimens. They have every appearance ot having been carefully lifted from the ground by the bird when be walked. Thank you very much for them. The story will, lam sure, be liked by the little folks, and I shall be glad to reoeive another one. — Dot.] Deab Dot,— l Bee little folks' letters in the Witness from all parts of New Zealand, but very few from Hampden. Hampden is a very pretty plaoe : it has a beautiful beach, also a nice bush. We live five minutes walk from the beach, bo we often go down bathing. We have a nioe new school 'put up in Hampden. It has three large rooms, and pretty gardens round it. We have a pet lamb, and would be very pleased if you would give us a name for it.— Youra truly, A. Familton (aged 13 years). [Pet haps you do not know who your little town was called after, and if not I will tell you. It is called after John Hampden, a cousin of Oliver Cromwell, and a patriot who died in resisting the continued attempts to impose on the English people made by their king, Oharlea I, in the middle of the seventeenth century. Hampden was a distinguished member of Parliament, and did good service in resisting the power of the sovereign. He was twice imprisoned for refusing to pay illegal rotes imposed by the king, and was ultimately wounded in an action with Prince Rupert, who had attacked a parliamentary force under him >t Chalgrove Field, dying six days afterwards. So there, yon now know a little about Hampden, which will perhaps induce you to find out a good deal more. Suppose you call the lamb after Hampden's cousin, Cromwell ?— Dot] Deab Dot,— l live at the foot of Mount Pisa Range near Wanaka road. I was at a picnic at Lowburn got up by the ladies for the sohool children, and I enjoyed myself very muoh. There wbb plenty of nioa fruit cakea and tet\ and a lot of games and races. I won a race, and I send yen the money (Is 6d)in stamps for Dr Barnardo's Home. Igo to school, and I am in the First Standard.— Yours truly, Agnks Olabk (aged 8 years). Wanaka Road, March 14. Deab Dot,— l am in the First Standard, and I like learning my lessons very muoh. My sister Nellie is in the Fourth Standard. My brother has • a parrot, and it can say " Pretty cocky 1 " It can whistle a little too. Dear ©ot, my fingers are very tired now so I mußt Btop.— Yours traly, Peabl. Deab Dot,— My sister and I have got six weeks holidays and have been staying a week with our aunts at Gladstone. We were up on the water-tower at Inyercargill, and we could see a great many miles round about. We were down at the jetty and saw the boat races, and we were at Cleave'a Nursery at the Bay road. It is very pretty. So our week in town passed away very quickly, and we are at home again doing up our flower garden and helping mamma to gather in the appleß. They are not so plentiful this year as they were last. I have pot another little sister since I wrote to you last. I have six brothers and two sisters, and five of us go to sohool. We are milking six cows, and my sister and I help to milk. Oar oows are very quiet. My father bought a little piebald pony for us to bring in the cows with, but it always stuck us up and would not go. The cowboy went on its baok one night, but it threw him off and ran home. The pony is for sale now. — Yours truly, HbiißN Hay Thomson. Winton Plain, March 20. ANSWER TO OOEBBSPONDBHT. X- E. M. Received. Pleaße forward the whole, and it shall appear.