LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 41

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I am very fond of reading the little folks' letters, and amongst others I saw one from Priscilla and Lizzie. Mamma says they are her cousin's children. We have Lizzie's photo when she was a little girl, but we have never seen any of them. lam in the Fourth Standard at school. The examination will be held soon, and I hope I shall pass. I I have three brothers and two sisters. I have been to the Arrow several times. I have two uncles aud aunties living there, and four cousins. The last fcime I went with my dear grandma and uncle. It was late in the afternoon when we left Cromwell, and we did not get into Arrowtown till 1 o'clock in the morning. I was very sleepy, and my uncle threatened me he would throw me out of the buggy if I wont to sleep, so that kept me awake. I had great fun with my cousins Leslie, Mary, and Connie. On our return grandma drove the buggy and pointed out and explained

all about the interesting parts of tke road — the Gibbstown coal mine and school, and the natural bridge near the Roaring Meg, where the rocks seem to meet over the Kawarau, so that one could fancy that they could step across it. I spent my holidays one year at Grandview (near the Hawea Flat) with my cousins. We crossed the Lowbum pant on the road up, and drove through the Lindis river. We called on some of my cousins at the Tarras, and had tea there. "While I stayed at Grandview I had several nice drives to Mount Iron, near Pembroke, to see the races, and over the Luggate punt to see some friends. I have been for a very long walk to-day, and I found a few goai flowers. They are not quite in full bloom 'yet. Good-night, dear Dob. — Yours truly, Florence L. Tizard (aged 10 years). Cromwell, August 15. [Thank you, Florence, for your very nice letter. You are evidently very observant, and I hope we shall hear from you again. — Dot,] Dear Dot, — I am a Little Kitten. I have a lot of mates, but they don't like me. " They spit at me and they don't like me a bit. My mother^ lives a long way from me. There is a little girl here, and she gives me meat, and you know I like that. I like rats too, and I like rabbits, but I like meat best.— Yours truly, A Little Kitten. Otautau, August 14. Dear Dot,— l had a pot lamb, but it is dead now. lam going to school. Mr Nicboljohn is my teacher, and I like him very well. We have two cows, and their names are Dolly and Jeannie. — Yours truly, Eastern Bush, August 15. Henry Davis Dear Dot, — My sister's birthday wa* on tho 11th, aud she was 12 years old. My birthday was on the 4th, and I was 10 years old. We have two cats. Will you please give me names for them. We have a calf. Will you please give me a name for him too. I am learning to knit at school, and mother say 3 she is going to give me a present if I can knit well. We had two little lambs, but one died. We had a holiday at school last Thursday to plant trees. Dear Dot, I read the letters every week, and I like those from rats, cats, hens, monkeys, and other animals. My brother is writing a letter for the first time, so I hope you will not laugh. This is &\l I have to say. — Yours truly, Bessie Johnston. Bodsbeck, August 12. [I did not laugh, because really there is nothing to laugh at. Your brother's letter is very good for a little boy not yet eight years old. Call the cats Tot and Tit, and the calf Snowdrop. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— We play at football at school. We bought the ball ourselves. We have a fine road to go to school. We have a greyhound. She is a fine rabbiter, and her name is Fanny. We have also another dog whose name is Lad, He is a sheep and cattle dog. He catches the cows by the tails when they goto the oat stack. Dear Dot, I am 7 years and 8 months old.— Yours truly, Robebt Johnston, Bodsbeok, August 11,

Dear Dot, — I am a Little Bantam Rooster. I have a pretty little wife who will soon lay eggs for my little master's breakfast. I ara a plucky little cbap. A little boy hit me with a stick, but I chased him around the house and gave him a good peck and made him cry. I crow ia the morning to awaken my master, but I am afraid be is rather lazy these cold mornings ; but he poor fellow has a sore finger and skinned nose, caused by falling over a steep bank on Arbor Day. Good-night. — Yours truly, Bantam. Dear Dot, — I go to school and my two brothers, and my sister goes with me. The roads down her© are very muddy just now. I used to live at the Maori Kaik, but I am now living at Hooper's Inlet. My sister has a pup, and its name is Tweed. I was planting trce3 on Arbor Day, and so were my brothers and sister. We have six cows, and their names are Rosy, Fanny, Cherry, Darky, Daisy, and Spot. Do you think they are nice names. My sister Blary has a doll. Will you please givo me a name for it. I have got a cow and a calf. Will you please give me a name for the calf. — Yours truly, Maggie Forsyth (aged 10 years). Hooper's Inlet, August 15. [Yes, they are very nice namoa. Call tho doll Violet and the calf Hyacinth. — Dot.] Dear Dor, — I live at South Hillend. My brother has a pot lamb. Will you please givo me a name for it. Wo are having fine weather here jusfc now, and the roads are getting dry. Dear Dot, there is a lot of nice little lambs about here just now, and they look very pretty running about in the grass. Our examination \rill take place very soon now, and I hope I shall pass. We had a lot of nice trees planted at the school on Arbor Day. — Yours truly, Margaret Kellv (aged 11 yoavs). South Hillend, August 12. [Call the lamb Spring. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am an Old Racehorse. My name is Bushman. I ran in a good few race 3, and I came very near winning one time, but my jockey fell off and caused me to loose the race, fcio then I was taken and run in the mail coach, but my legs would not stand it, so I was turned out on the hill. My legs have got pretty well now, and my master says he will race me again. He says I am worth L6O, so I must have been worth a lot of money when I was young. — Yours truly, Old Racehorse (aged 16). Lake County, August 18. Deir Dot, — We are back to school again after our holidays. We had a fortnight. My aunt has been very bad with rheumatic fever, but she is better again. My little cousins are staying with grandma up at Saddle Hill. My heifer calved to-day. It is a nice little heifer calf — all black. Please would you give me a nice name for it. Dear Dot, I think that you must be tired of giving so many names. We have some of the seed in. Jimmy is ploughboy. He has two horses of his own. He bought one the other day from a rabbiter. He

i is very thin. The two horses that plough are Betty and Donald, and the spriug-cart horse is called Lion. He is a smart horse. — Yours i truly, Mary Jane Sjiail. Saddle Hill, August 19. [Call tho calf Jess.— Dot.] Deak Dot, — I live in a place called New Chum. There are lots of gold diggers working near here. I often go down to see them wash up their gold. One day I got a little nugget to myself from one of the men, and I am going to , get it mado into a ring. I have to pass a big ! shaft every night when Igo for the cows, and I am very frightened. I have a little calf that follows me everywhere. I call it Ruby. I have a little pet lamb. Will you please give me a name for it ? — Yours truly, Minkie Chalmers (aged 13£ years). Lake County, August 18. [As the caU's name is Ruby, call the lamb Pearl. — Dot.J Dear Dot, — I am very fond of reading the ■ little folks' page, and as it is raining just now, I thought I would write you a letter. I attend , school every day, and hope I shall pass at the next examination. I have a pretty little black and white pup. Will you please give me a name for him. My sister wants to know how much liquid a large Clements' tonic bottle holds. Will you be kind enough to tell her ?—? — Yours truly, E'ihei, (aged 13 years). Gore, August 16. [I have never seen a large Clements' tonic bottle, so I cannot say. A teacup holds about half a pint, so that she can easily get an idea from that. Call tho pup Clem. — Dot.] ! Dkati Dot, — Since I wrote to you last our examination has taken place, and my sister and lam in the Third Standard. We like going to , the Taieri bettor than to the Saddle Hill | School, for we have such a lot of nice playmates. We have had a fortnight's holidays. Father is digging the garden. We have put in a lot of fruit trees, and we are going to put in potatoes too. We are still taking our milk to the factory. We will have 22 cows milking this summer. Father has got a now horse. His name is Lion. — Yours truly, Saddle Hill, August 19. Maggie Shail. Dear Dot, — Saucy Sultan has died since I wrote you last. lam very sorry it died. Our blue-and-white calf also died. My brother Jim caught a starling 1 , and we put it in a box. We feed it on worms. Please would you give me a name for it. I am making a chemise for the baby, and she is so proud about it. My doll has long hair down to her waist and dark eyes. — Yours truly, Lizzie Smail, Saddle Hill, August 19. [Call the Starling Tim.— Dot.] HTTIE POLKS' KIDDLE 3. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S RIDDLES. 624. By Teddy Vernon, Wbitecombe Creek :— (I) Christen him White. (3) The man in the moon.

625. By Bessie, Island Block :— One I was and tho other I wear.

620. By Goblin :— Your nose. G27. By Fairy :— Because the cattle (cat'll) cat it.

(>2B. By Kathleen Geerin, Dunedin :— (1) Because they are both dear little things. (2) Go to the butcher 8 and buy it. 629. By Lizzie Hnzlett :— (1) Because the tail can t wag the dog. (2) Watt was the captain's name.

Great Eastern Pin Problem. ~ 143.360.000,000 pins.

CORRECT ANSWERS. Kathleen Geerin, Dunedin, 626, 629.