LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 40

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I am a hawk. Perhaps some of the little folks that live in the town would like to hear some of my history. I build my nest in the most quiet and out-of-the-way places I can find. I have just finished rearing my family for this season, and they are all on the wing. Perhaps the little folks would like to know how I manage. First of all I get a lot of bits of stick and dead tussock to keep the nest up off the ground, then I line it all with feathers and down, so as to keep my young ones warm. Then I lay two eggs, and I have to sit on them till I hatch them. Then when those two are out I lay two more, so that the first two hatch them. When the first two fly away I lay two more, and so on till it gets to near winter. So you see lam kept busy always stealing food. One time I tried to get a young turkey, but the old gobbler caught sight of me, and so I had to leave in a great hurry, and one time I started to steal eggs. I got on at this right enough for a bit, but some cruel boys tried to trap me by placing an egg on the' trap, and I just got one of my toes caught, but I managed to get away by losing my toe. This was enough for me, so I gave up stealing eggs. I sometimes get a chicken, but that is also pretty risky, as the old farmer is always about with his gun, and so I have to look out for myself, for between traps, guns, and dogs I have a pretty lively time of it. So you see I have to fall back on dead sheep and what rabbits I can manage to catch. I think this is all this time. If I may write again I shall try and let you know a little more next time. Please excuse spelling and grammar. — Yours truly, A Hawk (aged 10 years). Hokoitui, May 5.

[Well, that is a very good age for Mrs Hawk, I should think — she is certainly no chicken. As for excusing her spelling and grammar, there is really nothing to excuse, as they are both excellent^ which shows that the hawk school (is it the Hok-onui one, I wonder ?) is under good management. I had no idea, and I am sure very few of the little folks have, that Mrs Hawk has such a busy time of it. It is very cunning of her to make her young ones do the the hatching, but she has evidently quite enough work to do without bringing out all her young* I hope she will write again, don't you, little folks ?— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — Since I last wrote to yon nothing very interesting has occurred in my poor dingey-looking attic. Do you know what my attic is like ? No ! of course you don't. How should you know what an attic is like ? Well, I shall just try to describe its dingiuess to you. It is only about 4ft high. There is a small skylight. in it, and its dimensions are 3ft x4f t, and all the corners and every ava lable place in it is covered with spiders' webs. The other day when I was lamenting my wretched fate, and just thinking how anyone, even a looking-glass, could exist in such a place where never a ray of the sun enters, whatever do you think appeared before me ? Well, it was no less than a little fairy (I can hear the little folks express their doubts about a fairy appearing to me, but it was so). The smile that was on her lovely features when she entered was bewitching. Coming up to me she put out her little wand, which she carried in her hand, and said, "Poor Looking-glass, pray do not look so dismal. Happy days may be still in store for you." Even as she spoke my little attic changed into a beautiful drawing room. In the middle of the handsome apartment was hung a large chandelier, / and underneath it sat a handsome lady. She was no longer in the bloom of youth, but her face still retained its former youthful beauty, and I could only gaze upon her with undisguised admiration. I occupied a most prominent place in this most lovely apartment. I shall not tell you any more about myself this time ; as I promised a bosom friend of mme — a humorous book — to let you know a few of its experiences. It cannot write, but it is endowed with the gift o ( . speech. It told me that many queerer things have occurred behind its silent pages than are recorded in history. It is a rather large book, and not very light, and whenever its young .mistress reads, she always contrives to get a.certain young man to help her to hold it (and you may guess the rest). This book says he has not always held such a good position as he now holds. Hoping you are quite well.— Yours truly, Looking-glass.

Otautau, May 3.

[I am very pleased with the " Looking-glass'" improved prospects. It must be, a great relief to get out of the dingey attic into such a nice drawing room, and with such pleasant companions, and I hope we shall hear of our friend's continued prosperity. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I am a oat now. I, was only a kitten when I last wrote to you, but that is a long time ago. I am getting on very well, and am fat and flourishing, and I am getting rather lazy in my old age — not that I am very old, either : not what you would call old — I am only about 18 months old, more or less, but I am full grown. I am glad to see that so many of my brothers and sisters are taking my example,

and writing you letters. Mine was the first letter from one of us that you ever got. At least it was the first one that ever I saw. I don't see why we should not write letters as well as those two-legged animals that call themselves children ; do you ? Dear Dot, I am going to tell you a secret. lam learning to sing ! Igoto a singing class at night. At least I used to go when the evenings were warmer, but I would rather stop inside when it is very cold. You see I know how to look after number one". When I want out I mew at the door till someone has to come and open it. But about the singing class, I am learning to sing beautifully. You should just hear me. My teacher says I have a lovely voice. Only about half a dozen come to the class just now, and we hold it on the roof of the house and sometimes underneath it. f How would you like to hold a singing class in such a place ? I caught a mouse the other day, and was having grand fun with it, only I didn't eat it. I can't gay I care for them very much, so I give them to my friends. I have three or four friends about here, and they all go to the same singing class as me. One of them is all black, another is yellow,- and another grey. I myself am grey with black stripes. Don't you think mine is a pretty name ? My .mistress says my fur is just like a muff, so nice and thick and warm* Dear Dot, may I write again? — Yours truly, Murpiß. Invercargill, May 6. [Yes, Muffle, I hope you will. Tell us how your singing class is getting on. It must be delightful for the wretched " two-leggers " in the house when you six are all practising your exercises. Do they ever get up and remonstrate with you with a bootjack or old boots ?—? — Dot.] Dear Dot, — We have just got the Witnes3, and of course made haste to read the letters. Thank you very much, dear Dot, for the name Fay. I think that it is very pretty. I have a little rabbit ; its name is Winky. It will eat anything out of my hand. I am going up to Clifton Grove for a holiday. Aunt Esther lives at Clifton Grove. It is a very pretty placej. Dear Dot, I think my letter is getting too long;, so good-night, Dottie. — Yours truly, Bessie Sutherland (aged 12 years), i Ngapu, Martinborough, April 30. Deab Dot, — I thank you very much for the name you gave me for my kitten. I like the name of Pixie very much. I have a little grey rabbit. Will you please give me a name for ity We are getting the woolshed built. It is to be a very large one. We had church to-day in the woolshed. We all walked down to it. — Yourfl truly, Helen Catherine Sutherland ; (aged 10 years). Ngapiu, Martinborough, May 1. ; [Call the rabbit Brownie, which is another kind of fairy. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a Very little boy, and this is the first letter I have ever written. lam in the First Standard. I like lessons, but I don'fc like music. Do you like music, Dot ? — Yourfe truly, Alice Sutherland (aged 8). ; [Yes, Alick, I like music very much, though I know it is very troublesome to learn. However! persevere with it, and when you are a man and can play nicely you will be very glad that you did so. — Dot.] Deab Dot, — I go to school and am in the Third Standard. I have three sisters and one brother. Their names are Kitty, Jean, Mona' f and Willie. I learn music. My teacher is Mr li'Laughlin. I like it very much. I can play a good few tunes. I have a very nice big doll; Please give me a name for it. Dear Dot, tell me what you think of my letter, and shall I write to you again ?— Yours truly, \ Ethel M'Nulty (aged 9 years). •Cromwell, May 2. [May is a nice name for a doll ; don't you think so? Of course you may write again.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — We have never seen any letters from the little folks of Croydon Bush, 60 we thought we would write you a letter. We shall try to describe Croydon Bush. The bush is very pretty in summer," when there ar^ numerous wild flowers. We think the clematis is the prettiest.' There are also very pretty ferns. The crape fern is a thick dark green, and very pretty. There is aleo a sawmill her^ which cuts timber out of the Lately a village settlement has been formed, called the Croydon Village Settlement. The farmers about here have been very busy with their harvest, and we have just finished our harvest holidays. We had a week -extra owing to whooping cough .being about the district. About 40 children go to Croydon School ; but it is not a very large school. Our schoolmaster is Mr Overton, and we like him very well. We have ,a swing at the school] We have also a shelter shed, but we are not often in it. Dear Dot, if we are ever in Dunedin if we call at the editor's office could we see you ? Dear Dot, could you give us a remedy for a cold, for nearly all the children at the school have got one. We got prizes at the breakingup of the school for the harvest holidays. Dear Dot, we are writing this letter in the dinner time at school. We always read the little folks' column in the Witness, and we like them very much. And now we must stop, so good-bye. — Yours truly, Agnes, Margaret, Charlotte, and Mart. Croydon, April 5. [If I am at the office when you call no doubt j the editor would bring you to me, but of course lam not there always. The best thing for a cold is to put your feet in hot water, take some hot gruel, and go to a warm bed. The best means of preventing one is not to wear damp boots or get your feet wet. This is of course difficult advice to follow, but if you act up to it as well as you can you will have fewer colds. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I go to school, and am in the Third Standard. I have two miles and a-half to walk every morning. I have four brothers and three sisters. We have five cows and one calf. I have a hen and a brood of chickens of my own. My sister has a pet lamb called Mary, and when you are not looking it will run at you and knock you over. I have a cat, and my sister a kitteu. Will you please give us names for them. Dear Dot, I read the little folks' letters every week, and as I had never written before I thought I would write, too. lam sending some riddles for the little folks' column. — Your truly, Margaret (aged 10 years). Waikaia, April 28. [I think the lamb should be called Butter instead of Mary when it acts like that. . Cal the cat Trip and the kitten Frisk.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— Seacliff, where I live, is a very pretty place. There is an asylum here which has a lot of patients in it. There is also & hotel and two stores. Igo to school, and am in the Second Standard, Miss Ballantyne is my teacher, and I like her very much. We have three horses. Their names are Polly, Puck, and Lady Greeshun. We have also three cats whose names are Topsy, Tibby, and Tom. Tom is 13 years old. We are milking eight cows. Their names are Corrie, Nellie, Cherry, Tuffie, Pansy, Rosy, Strawberry, aud Minnie. I have a dog named Toss. He bit the tail off

the bull. Isn't he a terror, Dot ? I must say good-bye as it is getting late. — Yours truly, Patrick Russell. [He is indeed, and I certainly should not ] like to meet him on a lonely road on a dark night. He should be muzzled when loose. — Dot.] Deab Dot, — I go to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. We only milk one cow. Her name is Tapioca. Would you please give me a name for the calf. The weather is good. We also have a white pup with black spots on its head. Please give me a name for it also. I think the children take great pleasure in writing to you, dear Dot. — Yours truly, H. J. E. Chapman (aged 11^ years). Inch Valley. [Spot would be the best name for the dog, I think, and Sago should certainly keep Tapioca company, so that will be the name for the calf. —Dot.] Dear Dot, —l had a ferret, and it got out of the box one day and killed three chickens before .we got hold of it. I have a pony, and her name is Snider, and I can ride her well. I am nearly nine years old, and I am in the Second Standard. I milk the cow every day, and her name is Sally. My father says lam a good boy ; do you think lam Dot ? I have ft little puppy. Please give me a name for him, Dot. — Yours truly, .William E. Kinsman (aged 9 years). Hamiltons South, May 1. [Call the puppy Hero.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — Any boy or girl under 18 who sends six penny stamps to Miss Rachael Norton can become a member of the Young Helpers' League, and a paper called the Young Helpers League will be sent to them every quarter ; it has pictures and nice little stories in it, and one story to be continued. They are mostly about poor little children. Any one who ;is a of the Y.H.L. must do all they can to help the poor children who are crippled and sick, especially those under Dr Barnardo'B care, either by making things to sell at the bazaars or by collecting money among their friends, or sending money of their own. — Yours truly, Griffith Lewis. Takaka, April 16. Dear Dot, — As ferrets and kittens are writing to you I think I shall write too. I have a pet puppy and a tortoiseshell kitten. Would you please give me names for them. The puppy is white. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard, and I like my teacher very well. We have 20 cows milking and we send our milk to the factory. I milk two in the morning and one at night as I am just learning." I have four sisters and one brother. I have two birds— a canary and a goldfinch. They both stay in the same cage. Will you please give me names for them. — Yours truly, Lily Mat Williams (aged Ity years). Kelso, May 1. [Call the pup and kitten Spick and Span, and the birds Chit and Tit.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — We have had our Easter holidays since I wrote to you last. The. saw mill hands gave a picnic, and I was at and enjoyed myself very much. There were games of football and cricket and skipping and swinging and many other games. I ran in three races, and won 4s 6d. I went up the bush and saw the men working, and I saw the bullocks drawing logs down the big hills'. A piece of wood called the yoke goes across their necks, and two pieces of iron go around their necks,. It seems hard work for them. — Yours truly, George Thomas Bates. Dear Dot, — I am in the Second Standard at school. I have a long way to go. I wenp up the bush on Easter Monday, and saw the bullocks pulling logs. I saw the mill working: It is very pretty to see the saws cutting up the logs into boards. Yours truly, J Richard Henry Bates. J May 2. j Dear Dot, — I have two dogs to look after just now as my sister is away from home, they are her dogs and they do not obey me, so I am always losing them. I have a little friend stay r ing with me, and we have been acting all the evening. My sister Winnie and I are going to a boarding school this month, so I don't > know what our poor horses and dogs will do without us, as my little sister Tern does not like dogs and is frightened of horses. There is a dance to- j night, and some of the boys have gone to it. We are having some gravel put down on our ! paths for the winter months. My father went wrong a penny in his balance so I went in to give him a penny to make it right, but he said that would not make it right. Why should that be so ? — Yours truly L. M. L. | [I am afraid I could scarcely explain it to you so that you would understand. The penny was entered in the books as beingreceived, and it was necessary to show how it had been expended. The penny you wished to give would nave to be entered on each side of the ledger so that it ! would make no difference. — Dot. Dear Dot, — I am having a few days' holidays and I am spending them in the ' country. I have a little calf. Will you please give me a name for it. It is red and white. I have five cats. Isn't that a lot. — Yours truly Ina. Kelso, April 25. [Call the calf Rose.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I live at Oamaru, and am in the Fifth Standard. I like my teacher very much. The weather is getting cold now. I often get the Witness, and I like reading the little folks' i letters. We have four pigeons, and two young ones only hatched two days ago, tout I think they will die with the cold. What do you think, Dot ? I have nothing more to say. So good bye, dear Dot.— Yours truly, M. D. (aged 12 years). May 2. [If the pigeon house is in a warm place I think they will live.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I suppose you will think I have i forgotten you. We had a big flood here. We had fine fun wading in the creek. I have had

a trip to Oamaru with my father in the dray, through Ngapara and Weston. We stayed all night at a farmhouse at Weston. We sold the horses, and came home in the train. I liked it j very much. — Yours truly, Robert G. M'Nair (aged 7 years). Duntroon, May 1. Dear Dot, — I have not written to you for some time. We did not get a holiday for the races this year. My brother and I • got out of school early as it was the girls' sewing day, and we went to the racecourse and saw a few races at the end. There were a number of people there, a lot of whom came from Oainaru by the special train. We had holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday. We hsve sold all our horßes but six. We got no prizes at Sunday school or the day school either. We had a splendid picnic on Christmas Day. The rabbits are beginning to get plentiful now. We had a fall of snow on the hills, and it is getting very cold up here in the mornings. — Yours truly, John M'Nair (aged 9£ years). Duntroon, May 1. Dear Dot, — We had nearly six weeks holidays at Christmas. I did not go anywhere, I as the influenza was so bad everywhere then. None of us had it. We had a big flood here three months ago. It did a great deal of ; damage to all the country about here, and spoiled a number of the crops. Even the stacks had to be pulled down, and the sheaves dried. We are only milking three cows just now. We have three nice little pigs, all white, We have a little grey-and-white kitteu. Its name is Tab. We have three collie dogs just now. Their nameß are Stumpy, Storm, and Sweep. We have a number of nice tumbler pigeons. We had races here nearly a fortnight ago. As we did not get a holiday from school, I did not go, but my two brothers went for a little while. We had an aunty staying with us for three weeks. We were all sorry when she went away. She is married now. She sent us a piece of cake by post. The weather is cold up here. The frosts are coming at night.— Yours truly, Maggie M'Nair (aged 8 years). > Duntroon, May 1. Dear Dot, — First I must thank you for the note at the end of our letters, for it gave us all great pleasure ; and then I must tell you about an affair I was at on Tuesday night. It was a tea party and dance, held in the Rununga Hall, and as everyone attended it, the building was crowded. It was given by Mr and Mrs Pratt and others. Now for a description of the costumes. Miss B. Pratt (belle) wore a rose pink dress trimmed with cream lace, flowers in her hair, cream sash to match ; among other nicely dressed young ladies I noticed Miss F. Pratt, dressed in crtam muslin, maroon ribbons and sash, with white flowers in her hair, gloves to match ; Miss A. Ellison, in a black gossamer trimmed with black ribbons, having cloth shoes to match ; Mrs G. Taiaioa, dressed in black trimmed with black velvet, shoes and gloves to match; Miss J. Antoni, a brown dress with

pink ribbons; Miss H. Sutherland, a white muslin dress with a peacock green sash ; Miss K. Sutherland, a white muslin dress with brown water-waved silk sash ; and Mrs Apes, wearing a pale blue dress, having shoes and gloves to match. A number of ladies and gentlemen sang different songs between the dances. Tbe dance ended very successfully at half-past I 6 in the morning. I must conclude my letter by wishing you good-bye. — With kindest wishes, yours affectionately, Martha Pratt. i Karitane, May 5. [A very nice description of the dance, Martha, and one which I am sure even " Alice " would not object to have in her page. —Dot.] Dear Dot, — The Waikouaiti river has been flooded since I last wrote to you. The flood was a very large one, doing great damage to farmers who had their crops on low-lying country near the river. But since then the fishing-boats are able to go out with greater regularity than they formerly did. Lectures on physiognomy have been given in Waikouaiti lately by Mr Hugo, and though very instructive, they afforded great amusement. Threshing is almost finished in the Kaika. Before ! the threshing mill leaves to work elsewhere, the workmen are to give a dance in the Karitane Hall. The Rev. Mr Lucas, the clergyman from Waikouaiti, came down and held service in the Kaika Church on Sunday last. There j was a very large congregation. Some visitors are staying at Mr Weldon's sea-side residence. They arrived on Tuesday last. I hope they will have good weather. Oh, dear Dot, wouldn't we like to see you here some time. This place is such a pretty place — such a nice broad river for boating too. You would enjoy yourself, lam sure. The one sensation of the week at this place has been a wedding feast with dance, but I need not say anything about it, for I am sure most of my schoolmates are writing to you about that, and I shall only be wearying you. With kindest wishes, believe me, dear Dot, yours very sincerely, Lizzie Muir. Native School, Karitane, May 5. [Thank you, Lizzie, for your exceedingly interesting letter, and also for your consideration in not dealing with a subject which you knew your schoolfellows were writing upon.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— The mill is now threshing at Mr Mathew's. There are a lot of men working at it. There was a tea party and dance on Tuesday night at the Karitane Hall. It started at half -past 6 o'clock, and ended very successfully. The guests sat clown to tea at half-past 6 o'clock. When the tables were taken away the dancing commenced. There were two j fiddlers— namely, Mr J. Park and Master D. O'Connell ; they played very well. The dance was kept up till half -past 6 o'clock in the morning, and at different times during the night some of the young ladies and school children contributed songs. Miss Bessie Pratt was the belle of the ball, and she looked very nice in a

rose pink dress with a cream -Liberty silk sash and cream gloves, with shoes to match. She" wore flowers in her hair. Miss Fanny Pratt wore a white muslin dress, a dark red sash, and she had a maroon ribbon round her neck. Miss E. Sutherland wore a white muslin dress having a peacock-green vest and a sash of the same material. Miss R Parker wore a white muslin dress and a black sash. — Yours truly, Amy Russell. Native School, Karitane, May 5. DeAr Dot, — On Tuesday night a tea party was held in the Karitane Hall. It was given by Mr Ru, Mr Pratt, and others. A great many people attended it. The tea party started at 6 o'clock and concluded at 8 o'clock. There were two fiddlers— namely, Master D. O'Connell and ' Mr J. Park. Dancing wasjkept up till half-past 6 in the morning. I went to the affair and enjoyed myself very much. . . . During the last two weeks the weather has been very changeable and not quite satisfactory to farmers who are getting their grain threshed. In concluding I would Mke to say I was greatly pleased to seethe kind note you placed under our last letters, and I hope you will be pleased with these ones. And now, dear Dot, our time table says " Stop ! " — Yours truly, Lydia Hoggie. [Yes, Lydia, I cannot help being pleased with year letters, for really they are both well written and interesting. You will see that I have left out a few particulars about the dresses worn at the dance, as one or two of your schoolmates have said quite enough about it. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — The mill is now threshing for Mr Mathew. It has been raining here lately, and the roads are very dirty. A tea party and dance was held in the Karitane Hall at oalf-past 6 o'clock, and it ended successfully. It was given by Mr Thomas Pratt and others. A j great many were people there. Refreshments were partaken of at midnight. . . . Those who sang were Miss F. Pratt, Miss Bessie Pratt, Miss Sutherland, Miss Parker, Mr H. Parker, Mr Anfconi, Mr Maclean, and my father, Mr John Pratt. The danco lasted till halfpast 6 o'clock in the morning. — Youra truly. John Pratt. Native School, Karitane, May 5. [I have also omitted the description of the dresses from your letter, John, as they are given in full by your sister. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — In my last letter I told you where I spent my holidays, and now I shall give you a description of the place and of the Rock and Pillar. My brother and I started away from our father's place at 9 o'clock in the morning. We had to walk about two miles to get to the foot of the Rock and Pillar, At the top there was a lagoon, in which were a lot of seagulls swimming about. It was very cold and windy at the top. All over the top of the Rock and Pillar there is a plant growing like sweetwilliam. It is grey on the under side and dark green on the upper side. Dear Dot, do you think you could tell me the name of it ? It was 6 o'clock before we got back. The Rock

and Pillar is 3000ft'high. Next day we weqt up to the 52-mile 'peg. It is five miles from Hyde and 52 miles from Wingatui.— Yours truly, George Robertson. Taioma, May 6. [You must have been very tired, George, when you got home, but to an observant boy, which you evidently are, your walk must have been very interesting. I could not tell you what the sweetwilliam-like plant is from your description, but if ever you go up again get a piece of it, in flower if possible, and send it to me and I shall endeavour to, find out for you. —Dot.] Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about such a nice holiday I had a Avhile ago. My brother and I spent our harvest holidays at Otara, a few miles out of Fortrose. We enjoyed ourselves very much. We used to go to the beach nearly every day and gather shells, and once I went out for a ride, and it was so nice. The next day we all went to see the Waipapa lighthouse. Dear Dot, I have a kitten, and its colour is black. Will you please give me a name for it. — Yours truly, A. M'Kinnon. Edendale, May 2. • [Call it Pasha.— Dot.]