LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1952, 23 July 1891, Page 37

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Deab Dot,— l am in the Third. Standard, and I have five miles to ride to sohocl. The road is very bad in winter. I live at the end of Wyndham Valley. There is a large bnsh about here. This is a very wet part of the country. There are lots of wild pigeons, wild pigs, and wild cattle in the bush. I was out pig hunting, and we bad great sport. We caught nine pigs. I brought one little pig home for my- little Bister. It was very small, and was very wild at first, but it soon got tame. I have three sisters ; their names are Alice, Grace, and Olive. I have two pups j one is a collie pup ; please give me a name for her. I have a gun, and I am learning to shoot. There are very few rabbits in this part. I think it is too wet for them, but there are a great lot of ferrets about here.— Yours truly, - Walteb Hill. Mokoreta, July 9. [I should think tbe ferrets bave killed or driven away the rabbits, as they can stand a lot of wet when wild if they get plenty of food. How would you like Heather for the pup's name.— Dot.] ' Dear Dot,— Did you go to hear Madame Patey ? I did, and I think she has a most beautiful voice. xJo you remember I once wrote to you when I was staying- in the country for my Christmas holidays and told you in a letter that wa had a oanary down in the country ? Well, Dot, just fancy, poor Dioky is dead ; the oat killed it.— Yours truly, Dunedin,, July 14. Joyce. . [What a pity the oat got at poor Dioky. However, perhaps, you will get another tenant for the cage by and bye. Next tijne you write do notuße both sides of the paper.— Dot.] " Deab Dot, -*I have not. been at school for a week. First I cut my finger with a turnip- ] cutter, and when my finger was nearly better my siater upset the teapot of tea over my leg. My word, I did jump ! and pulled off my stocking as quiok as I could. I bad three burns — one on eaoh of my fact. One of them blistered and the other reddened (beoause there was a chilblain on it, and I never felt the chilblain again) ; but the burn on my ileg was a terror ! But now it is nearly better, and I thick I caq go ;to school to-morcow, lam t

glad of this, because I have too muoh work to do when I etay at home all day. -Youtß truly, Gerald Ryan. Fernbank, July 13. [You were unfortunate, Gerald, but now that you are going baok to school I hope you will try to make up for lost time by extra diligence and attention. — Dot.] Deab Dot,— My little brother wants me to write to ask you how to make bird lime to oatoh some of the birds that pick the buds off the fruit trees, if you can tell me. He is only s a little boy and cannot write for himself. Igo to school and am in the Fourth Standard. I like going to Bohool rightenougb, for our master is very gcod to us. I "Have seven sisters and one brother. Two Bisters and myself go to school, My twoaeisters' names are Bella' and Jessie, and my only brother's name is John,— Yours truly, - Mabt. Chatton, July 11. ! [The best bird lime is made from the inner bark of the holly tree, but a very good substitute is made by simmering linseed oil in an earthen vessel at the side of the fire for some hours. When it is sticky enough add about an eighth of Stockholm tar to it.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l go to school, and am in the Second Standard. I like going to school, because our teacher is very good to us. There are five in my olass— four girls and one boy, Tbe four girls' names are Georgina, Parker, Catherine, and Jessie, and the boy's name is Johnnie —Yours truly, Ohatton, July 8. Jessie Robertson. [It is a very small olass, and you should all get on well when there are bo few for the teacher to attend to.— Dot.] * Dbab Dot,— l have four sisters and three brothers. Two of my brothers have a little pony eaah, and laßt year the ponies had a nice little foal each. We have 14 pure white turkeys. We had two pet lambs last year, and their names were Topsy and Granny. They would come to you whenever you called them. They were very fond of oatcakes, apples, , potatoes, and a piece of bread with butter and sugar. Igo to school and am in the Second Standard.— Youra truly, Eliza Parkeb Fleming (aged 9| years). Glen-iti, Goie, July 12. Dea* Dot,— Seaoliff is a very nice place. There is an asylum here. Igo to school, and am in the Sixth Standard. Our teaoher is Mr Williamson. I have six Bisters. Their names are Maria, Agnes, Jane, Lily, Annie, and Amelia. My Bißter Amelia iB writing to you. I am learning to dance. I have a monkey named Jack. My sister Lily has a doll. Please give me a name for it.— Yours truly, * Adelaide Henderson. Seaoliff, July 15. [As your name is Adelaide, you might call the doll Victoria.— Dot.] Deab Dot,— l have six sisters. My sister Adelaide has told you our.names. My sister Annie has a cat ; please gfl/e me a name for it. Diar Dot, Ido not like going to school. It is very dry weather here.— Yonrs trnly, Amelia Hendebson. [Call the cat Tibbie. Next time only write on one Bide of the paper.— Dot.] DeS&r Dot, — We are having our winter holidays. I have a pretty black pup ; pleasje would you give me a name for it.' My sister has a pretty canary, but it does not sing much, and my brother has a parrot. I have a oalf. I was down at Dunedin a while ago. Papa has a lot of sheep. lam learning how to oross-stitoh.— Yours truly, Ntndia. [The oanary will commence to sing properly in a few weeks how. They sing very little in winter. Call the pupTurk.— Dot,] Deab Dot,— We are having very fine weather for our holidays just now. There was a sharp frost this morning, and the melted ice has made the paths very dirty. Your column in the Witness is in want of riddles and puzzles, bo lam sending one. Our baby has been named Frederick Basil. He is the thirteenth child. This is a very short letter, but I have not time for any more.— Yours truly, - Alioe Willis. Johnsonville, July 13. [See Riddle column— Dot,] Deab Dot,— Dolly is a cow. She is stuffed in a bail, and she will never come out again till she is fattened, and then she will die. Soon a a spear will hit her just behind the hornß, and then she will fall dead on the ground. She was very wild before we got her. Onoe the baby was standing in herjway, and [she could not pass. Instead of rushing him, Bhe took him on her horns and " shucked " him over, then she walked over him without touching him, and went into the yard to her feed. She wasn't wild then. She would always let fly a kick if yoa went too near her. I'm glad Bhe is going to die, because she opens gates on ua.— Yours truly, Bertie Ryan. Fernbank, July 14. [Poor Dolly ! As she was bo thoughtful for baby's welfare I don't think you should rejoice at her coming end. She was evidently not wholly bad even though she did "open gates." This rather showed her intelligence. — Dot.] Deab Dot,— l go to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. We are having our winter holidays now. The weather is very cold. One of my brothers and some other boys went pig-hunting and caught two wild pigs. They came home late .at night. I must tell you about my little brother Charlie. He is always in mischief. One evening he Bpat on the lampglass, and when mother asked him what he did it for he said to see if it would " pop." It did " pop," and he got a great fright. May I write again to you ? My Bister bought a doll for me ; will you please give me a name for it. It has fair bair and blue eyes and rosy cheeks. ' — Yours truly, Maby Ann Howes (aged 10i years). Livingstone, July 17. [Call the doll Julie from the month jvc are in now. Yob, write again. — Dot.] Deab Dot,— Mother said I could write a letter to you. I live up at Livingstone. I have two sisters and four brothers. One of my brothers has a little brown puppy. We have a black cat, and she scratches the pup's face and makes it howl. I shall be eight years old Boon. Igo to school. My sisters' names are Rosa and Mary Ann. My brothers' names are Johp, Willy, Charlie, and George —Yours truly, Alfbed Howe, Livingstone, July 17. Dear Dot,— l have two little brothers ; their names are James and John Robert. James has a little pup. Would you be kind enough to give Jaim a name for it. Igo to school, and am in the Third Standard. We have had a week of midwinter holidays — Yours truly, Violet Sheddan (aged 9 years). Waiwera, July 17. <ss [Rover is I think a good name for a dog.— Dot.] Margaret.— Did you see the reply to yonr i question last week? j

LITTLE FOLKS' KIDDLES. 514. By Adelaide Henderion, Seaoliff :- tbe difference between an angry lover ar maldf 515. By Amelia Henderson, SeacUff :— ' call a railway train " ehe." ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S F 511. By J. A. D. : A blaokimlth. 613. By Ivy : -Smoke. , 613. By B, M. D. : — A kettle. » ■ ■ 11 «■