LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 45

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Deab Dot, — I am a Fern, and my colour is of a very pretty green. I live in the bush in a nice little nook, and where the earth is soft and moist. I am nofc alone, for there are mauy ferns like me, who are my companions. There are great trees of all kinds and colours, and some of them near me are covered with a lovely green moss, which looks so cool. I often see children in the bush looking for ferns, bufc I have nofc been discovered as yet. Ah, now I see some children— a little boy and a tall girl. They are looking for ferns. They see me now, and the'girl says, •• Here is a lovely fern, Wilfted. • Give me the trowel," and now I am lifted out of my nice cosy nook and pufc into a wicker basket among a lofc of other ferns. lam now going through a place I have never teen before. At last I rtach the place which is to be my future home. There is a big house standing in the middle with lawns and a lot of pretty flowers. lam now taken oufc of the basket, and put in a round white vase covered with flowers, inside of which is some moist earth. lam now put in a stand amongst some other ferns and flowers. I am not sorry that I was taken from rsy native home in the bush, because I am carefully tended by the girl and boy who found me. I must now say good-bye to you, Dot.— Yours truly, Febn. P.S. — Perhaps some other day when I meet with some more adventures I shall write and fcell you, for the world is wide and nofc all sunshine. — Fbhn. Invercargill, June 5. [Thankyou, Fern, for your interesting account of your advenfcurea. You have been fortunate so far in the manner in which you have been attended fco, and I hope your mistress will

We are afraid that the Bchool-bell will ring before we have finished the letter if we do nofc conclude at once; co good-bye, dear Dot. — Yours truly, Maggie, Fanny, Eva, and Bella. Ofcatara Bush, June 7. Deats Dot,— l like reading the little folks' letters. I have a doll ; would you please give me a name for it. I went to a play last night in the Public Hall. I go to school, and am in the Second Standard. Miss Livingston is the teacher at our school. We have got the store in Dunfcroon, and we sell a lot of Witnesses every week. We have a dog, and his name is Elf. We brought him 271 miles from Riverfcon. We have been up here three years. We have a kitten, and its name is Pippy.— Yours truly, Haeribt Ethel Mobe (aged 9 years). Duntroon, May 6. [As the dog's name is Elf, I think you might call the doll Fairy. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — This is the first time I have had the opportunity of writing to you, and I am going to tell you about. the freezing works. The works are very large. The building is made of , concrete and brick. They freeze about 300 i Bheep a day. I was in the freezing rooms and ifc was very cold in them. It is worked by a turbine wheel which makes a dreadful noise. By using the water power instead of steam they save a great deal of money a year. There are a great many workmen in the works. I shall tell you more about them the nexfc time I write. — Yours truly. James Macanbbew (aged 11 years). Schoolhouse, Mataura, June 2. Dear Dot, — Aa I have a little time to spare I was thinking of writing you a few lines. I have no pets to tell you about except a big white dog. Please would you give me a name for him. I have been calling him Punch, but Ido not like ifc. I sometimes drive two horses. Their names are Fanny and Nell.— Yours truly, G. O. (aged 12£ years). Owake, June 3. [How would Bruin do for a name? — Dot..] Dear Dot,— l am going to school, and am in the Firsfc Standard. I have a long way to go, and my brother Jim goes with me. I have six brothers and three sisters. Five of my brothers are rabbiting with my father. I have a doll ; will you please give me a name for ifc. — Yours truly, Jessie Hendehson. Roaring Meg, June 5. [Call the doll Madge.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I have a little black and white kitten ; please will you give me a name for ifc. Ifc is very cold here. My two brothers have got two pretty ponies, and their names are Bessie and Dolly.— Yours truly, Jambs Henderson. Roaring Meg, June 5. [As the kitten is either white splashed with black of black splashed with white, I think you may call ib Splash.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l read the little folks' letters every week. Igo to school, and have a long way to walk. I have three sisters, and two of them go to school with me, We have two cows,

VIII. And they shunned him every one, And they would not know him ; And their games and picture books They would never shew him ; And their tops they would not spin If they saw him near them, And they treated him with scorn, Till he learnt to fear them. IX. They all left him to himself, And he was so lonely ; But of course it was his fault, "Willies own fault only. If a boy's a wicked boy, Shy of him folks fight, then ; If it makes him dull and sad, Why, it serves him right, then. — Yours truly, Robebt Tapp. Purekireki, June 3. [A most disagreeable person was Willie, bufc surely he had some good point which fche writer has nofc shown us. Whether this was so or nofc, he certainly punished himself quite as much as he did others, and he should be an awful example to other wild little boys to turn over a new leaf. You can scarcely call the calf Willie, so how would ifc do to call it Millie ? — Dot.] LITTLE POLES' RIDDLES. 668.— 8y Maggie :— Take a^ay one letter, take away two .letters, take away all my letters, and still I remain. "What am I ? 669.— 8y Fanny :— What are a pair of boots made of ? 670.— 8y Eva :— Where did Charles I's execu- I tioner dine, and what did he take ? i 671. — By Bella :~When is a plant to bo dreaded more than a mad dog ?