LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2014, 29 September 1892, Page 41

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I am sure you have never had a letter from such a thing as a School Cart, but that is what I am, and the reason that I know about you is hearing the children who go to school in me talking about Little Folks' Letters. I belong to a family who live about five miles from the Gore Public School. There are three boys and two girls of them who go to school. The eldest son drivesthe horse. Her name is Kate. These five children are what I start with in the morning, but as I go along I pick up all those who go the same road to school, and my driver, who is a little gentleman, never passes a lady without asking her if she will have a ride. Often before we get to school I have as many as 13 or 14 boys and girls to carry ; so don't you think this is a great charge for a poor old cart to undertake ? My word, we do have fun sometimes (at least the boys and girls I carry do). I listen and hear all they say, and I have many a quiet laugh to myself with the queer things these children do and say. I have been taking them to school for four or five years now, and really I have had some queer experiences, but I think all the children like riding in me. I have them in all the Standards from the ABC right up to the Sixth. The horse they had before Kate was called Charlie, but he went away one day — I am sure I don't know where— and Kate was harnessed up to me. I like Kate' best, as Charlie used to shy at things. He liked the road to school so well that if his master tried to take him a different one he simply stood on his hind legs and would not go. My, how the girls used to squeal when he did that. Some girls are awfully frightened at very little. I didn't care a bit. Charlie could haye stood on his head if he liked for all it troubled me. But the horse I liked best of all was the first one. His name was Joe, but I don't know where he went to either. He was a grand fellow, big and strong. Charlie was a good horse too, only when he

shied there was such a commotion among the youngsters that I didn't like it. Kate is a nice horse, and goes along nice and quiet. The reason that I am such a wise cart is that I stand just near the head master's room, and the windows are often open, and I can hear everything he says (and the strap going too sometimes ; I suppose they need it or else they would not get it) ; and besides, I hear my occupants learning their lessons as they go to school in the morning. The merriest time the children have is going home from school. They do, cut capers sometimes, but' not very often, as' the driver keeps good order, and I am sure you will say that is no easy task where there are so many children. All the boys and girls are writ — My word, didn't I near let out a secret there. I would have got in for an awful row if I, had really done so. Nobody knows but those I carry, and they all say they won't tell anyone, so I suppose I musn't either. lam quite tired writing so much so I will draw to a close. JCate wishes to know if she could write to you too. She is the only one who knows that I am writing this. I don't know what my master will say I'm sure. This is Saturday, and lam off duty, and so had time to write this long letter. —Yours truly,

The School Cart.

[There's a tale for a School Cart to tell ! Between Kate and the cart I think the children who ride to school had better behave themselves, or their parents will soon hear of it. We shall see what Kate has to say in a week or two. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — We are Four Motherless Pups. Our poor mother was a valuable collie, but she was taken for a sheep worrier and shot. It is a sad loss for us and our master. Some children are trying to rear us with a baby's bottle. They say we shall not live. If we do live, we will get you to give us names. We cannot tell you what colour we are as our eyes are not yet open. We will not tell you fibs like the owl, bub own that a friend is writing this for us. If we grow up and get educated we shall write again, if we may. — Yours truly, Four Miserable Pups.

[Poor little blind puppies ! What a shame to kill your mother unless she really did worry the sheep, which would, of course, alter matters, as sheep must be protected at all hazards. I hope the children are successful in their endeavour to raise some of the pups at least. — Dot.] '

Dear Dot, — I am attending the Palmerston District High School. lam now in the Fourth Standard. I passed the Third Standard about a month ago. 1 have two sisters and four brothers. Their names and ages are — Elizabeth Ann (14 years), Margaret Josephine (12 years), John Thomas (7 years), Charles James (5 years), Joseph Herbert (3 years), and William George (the baby t 14 months). We have two cows and one calf. The cows' names are Beauty and Violet. Violet is called after me. Will you ploaso give mo a name for tho calf. It is a red-and-white one, and a great pet. Beauty i& its

grandmother, and Violet its mother. We have two pigs and a lot of fowls and turkeys ; also two horses, whose names are Jinny and Jessie. Jessie is a pony, and belongs to my sisters and I. We bought it with our money that we had in the savings bank. My sisters go out to ride on it, but I have not yet learned to ride. We have three dogs and a cat. My brother goes out hunting rabbits with the dogs. Their names are Tot, Nellie, and Spring. Spring is a greyhound. My brother John Thomas; got 4a for 27 rabbitskins last week. I have no more to tell you but will write again soon.— Yours truly. Violet Ina Gwynne

(aged 10 years 2 months). Palmerston, September 20. [The proper name for a calf whose mother's name is Violet is certainly Pansy, and I think that is a very pretty name. — Dot.]

Dear Dot,— l am a Bridge, and I am about seven years old. I run across the Bendigo creek, and I was put up by the Vincent County Council. lam made of wood, with railing on both sides of me, but there is not much of my railing left. I was much put about when I found my props and nearly all my railing gone. lam of great use for people crossing me. But now I am so weak that they are frightened I Bhall fall with them when they cross me. Dear Dot, don't you think someone should look after me, so that I can be of use to the public a little longer.— Yours truly, An Unfortunate Bridge. Bendigo, September 21. Dear Dot, — We went for a sail to-day in our boat the Blue Bell. We went up the lake nine miles to a place called South-west Bay. We then went ashore to have lunch, and while the water was boiling for tea Miss Cameron, my teacher, sketched the "Devil's Staircase," which is on the opposite side. After lunch we sailed across to the Staircase, went ashore again, and walked up to the top of the Staircase. It is very steep on both sides, and the track is very narrow. At the top there is a fence to keep cattle or horses from falling over the precipice. After carving our names on a rail we went back to the boat, had tea, and sailed for home. The trip took eight hours. There were eight of us and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. — Yours

truly, Albert Thomas. Kingston, Lake Wakatipu, September 18.

Dear Dot, — I go to the Winton School, and we are getting such a lot of lessons just now, and- 1 am getting tired of them. I like reading the little folks' letters. They, are very amusing, especially those about rats and mice &c. The last time I wrote to you I told you I had a pet cat, but I am sorry to say this time that she is dead. The spring is round again and will soon be over. We have a few flowers out. Dear Dot, are you fond of flowers ? I am. The weather down here has been very good considering the time of year. I have never been at Dunedin, but I should like very much to go. I see a good few children have been writing to you lately. I need not ask if I may write again for I know you would not object to

it. I think you musb have a book of names, as you can give every child a name for its pet. Good-bye, Dot, till next time.— Yours truly, A School Girl,

Winton, September 19.

Dear Dot, — I am a little boy 10 years old. I go to school and. study history, geography, spelling, reading and many other things. I have two sisters and two brothers My eldest brother and I go "bird-nesting sometimes, and find plenty of eggs. Sometimes we go rabbitting or ferretting. We intend to go for a chase after hares some day soon, so if you would like to go please let me know. — Yours truly, Thomas Ryan.

Otakou, September 17.

[Fancy Dot chasing after hares ! I thought it was only boys who did that kind of thing. — Dor.] Dear Dot, — We live at the Taieri, and I think it is a very pretty place in summer. I have four sisters and one brother. Three of us go to the Outram School, and come back in the train. We get the Witness, and we like reading the little folks' letters very much. The farmers about here are all sowiDg their crops, and those that are above the ground look very pretty. We are making a garden at the back of the house. We are going to plant vegetables and flowers. There are a lot of rabbits about here, and in holiday time a number of men come out shooting, but they do not get many, as the rabbits are too quick for them. We have four dogs, three of their names being Don, Tiny, and Flossy. Would you please give me a name for the other if you have any to spare. — Yours truly, Maggie M'Ewan.

Gladfield, September 23. [Call the other one Gladdie, from the name of your place. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I live at the Taieri, and go to the Outram School. lam in the Fourth Standard. I have a sister and brother going to school also. Mr Grant is our teacher, and I like him very much. We hare two and a-half miles to go, but we can go in the train. I have four sisters and one brother. Their names are Maggie, Annie, Katie, Ruby, and Charlie. There are a lot of farmers about here. Would you please give Ruby a name for a little doll. — Yours truly, Bella M'Ewan (aged 11 years). Gladfield, September 23.

[Call the doll Gladys.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I live at Nugget.Bay, a short distance from the Nugget Point Lighthouse. We often see ships and steamers passing. We frequently see ,the Napier. We saw a threemasted ship passing this morning. The Hinemoa couies here every three months with oil and provisions for the lighthouse. The last time she was in the captain took myself and some others on board of her. I go to the Naoive school. There are more Europeans than natives at ifc. There are 15 when all the children aro there. I always read the little folks' totters. Ido not like the letters written

by Scones, Cracked Plates, Mugs, &c, so well aa the others, because it is impossible for such things to write. We have two Shetland ponies. One is my own, and its name is Victoria, and the other is January. They are very knowing little creatures. We have to ride to Port Molyneux for our mail, and I often go for it. .When I am getting ready to go if no one holds Vie. she walks into the kitchen. — Yours truly, George H, Ottawa*.

Nugget Bay, September 22.

Dear Dot, — I live at Catlin's river. It is a very pretty place. There are many nice flowers here in summer when they are in bloom. There are also wild pigs and cattle and many native birds. The birds sing very sweetly. I am digging a piece of ground for a garden, and I am going to get some seeds to sow in it. I have not been at school for a long time. — Yours truly, Matthew Miller. Catlin's river, September 20. Dear Dot, — Perhaps you have never heard of the little place where I live, although it is a very pretty busy little spot. I live on a very old farm, which is quite near to a beautiful bush called the Longwood. Don't you think the spring is very early this year, Dot ? The vineß and brambles aro in bloom already. We have had a very mild winter here this year, and all the farmers seem to have got on with their ploughing, as there was very little frost to hinder them. I wonder you never get tired of answering so many questions and giving so many names to the little folks for their pets. My sisters and I have a good number of pets, but I think they all have names. Of all animals I like the horse the best, and when I have holidays I often have long rides. With best wishes to you and the little folks,— l remain, Dot, your little Southlander, Fairfax, September 22. Mab. [There is a model letter for the little folks. Mab need have had no scruple about signing her full name, as her letter is well written, grammatically correct, and . indeed faultless in every respect. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you about a cantata called " The White Garland," given by the school children on Saturday last. All the I girls that took part in it were dressed in white. My sister Bella was Queen, and one of my brothers was the Quarrelsome. Scholar, and another the Tardy Scholar. Mr Mason, our teacher, took a lot of trouble to teach all the children their parts. The money that was taken is, for .school prizes. They took nearly L 5. Dont you think that will get us a nice lot of prizes, Dot P — Yours truly,

Eva Willson.

Lowburn, September 22. [It should indeed. The result is, creditable to scholars and teachers alike.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I go to Groper's Bush School, and am in the Third Standard. My teacher is Mr Featherstone, and I like him very much. I have three brothers and three sisters. We have three cows and a calf. The cow's names

are Jennie, Strawberry, and Sunsee. Please will you give me a name for the calf. — Yours truly, Andrew S. Suthbrland. Fairfax, September 22. [Call the calf Cherry.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — It is raining to-day, so I could not go to school. It has been very wet weather up here lately. lam going to tell you about Maxwelltown, where I go to school. It, is about 18 miles from Wanganui and three miles off the main line between Wanganui and Hawera. It is only a small place with one store, two churches, a public hall, and one school, but no hotel. Dear Dot, Wanganui is a very pretty place. It is situate on the Wanganui river, which is a very pretty one. I have not many pets to tell you about— only one cat called Tom. He is U years o,ld. We have also three dogs called Tweed, Sharpe and Jack. We have a few pet lambs. I have a pony called Roney. My brother came np last week. He brought Chrissie, Julia, and myself a new doll each. He brought my youngest sister a jumping jack, but she broke jt all up, so I gave her my old doll. I have a nice flower garden with such lots of violets. They have been in bloom all the winter. — Yours truly, Margaret Jane. Okehu, September 20. Dear Dot, — I am a little boy of nine years of age, and I am in the Third Standard, and I get a card every week for reading from the teacher. I read all the little folks' letters in the Witness, and I enjoy them very much. We have a friend in America and a brother in Melbourne. Mamma always sends them the paper, and I would like them to have the pleasure of reading one of my letters. I expect my brother home at Christmas on a visit. It will give us great pleasure to see him after an absence of three years. He has got a little girl, and her name is Alice Maud. He says she is just like me. I have no pets to write about, but one dog named Dash. We used to have a little dog named Victor. We sent him to Middlemarch, as mamma was afraid he would bite the children, he was so vicious.— Yours truly, Alfred Seymour Thosias. Mornington, September 19.

Dear Dot,— l go to the Mornington School sfcill, and I am in the Third Standard. Our teacher is a very kind young lady, and we love her very much. My Sunday school teacher is very nice too. I have three chickens, and my brother Alwyn has the same number. Bertwyl aud Ernest have two each. We have an old dog named Dash. He is nearly twice my age, and is lame, deaf, aud almost blind, and he has very few teeth. He has been a kind and faithful dog, and he is so affectionate. We value him more than all the other pets on account of his age, and he is the care of us all. We have some .pretty primroses in a box. I have some uncles in Victoria, and a grandmamma and two grandfathers and five aunts. Our cab's name is Jessie. Alwyn'u cat died, its name was Maori. — Yours truly, Henry Skymoub Cbawford. Mornington, September 19.