OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 45

OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

By Doa

S«t irlU M ptniU *> woelti ihort fclteri frem JarenUt wrrt•MßdeaU on any matter! of lnterert to them«elTM-ihort itortM Spit imlmsli. /ewrlptlom of their fu-ouriu toy», their p«rtte«, tnvumenti, io. Tb« letter! to be wHtten-by the eUlfetn tteaStk«4 U tU« t*i* d«roM to " OutnUe.lolW' A BRAVE YOtJNG tf NIGHT. Chapter IV. The Last Battle. Tyrants fall in-every foe 1 Liberty's in every blow I Let us do or die ! , — Robert Burns. He is dead, the beautiful youth, The heart of honour, the tongue of truth. — Longfellow. When Geoffrey reached the camp he felt the reins of his horse suddenly pulled. «• What do»t thou here ? " said a gruff voice. "I have come to fight for freedom," he answered. "Oh, very well; I will guide you to our leader." Geoffrey followed the man into t the camp, while his knights, [and retainers got off their horses. , „ In the tent which Geoffrey entered the leader was bußy writing at a table. The retainer said a few words to him and then left them. "So thou hast come to the war r he said, addressing Geoffrey. "Yes." "What is thy name?" "Geoffrey, Bon of Baron de Clifford. My father is at the wars. Hast thou any news of him?" "Yes, we got news to-day to say he was killed in battle." " Killed ! " Geoffrey felt as if he could cry like » little child ; bnt he turned to the leader and-said : " I hope to be worthy of my father, so I have come to fight." After a few more words Baron St. Clare (that was the leader's name, and he was the father of the young knight Geoffrey had given the water to) said : " Thou hadst better lie down and get Borne sleep,aß we start to-morrow at daybreak." So Geoffrey lay down and slept, but he woke up at midnight with a start. Ab first he could not remember where he was* but slowly all the adventures of the last few days came back upon him. *i I have slept long enough," he said to himgelf; so he got up and went to look after his little band ot retainers. ' It was a lovely night. The moon was shining brightly, bat every now and' then a cloud floated across its clear fafce, darkening it for &, moment, and then leaving it bright as before. " Just at daybreak they started with 8000 warriors. They passed a rained cathedral that had lately been desbroyed. One' of the side walls had completely fallen, ' revealing the interior part. The altar was .broken' and the altar cloth was lying on the floor. The gold candlesticks and other things of worth had evidently been carried off by the plunderers. The Norman arches and pillars, were broken, and over the great stone doorway were the words Te Deum Zaudamus. . Little did the monks who oarved these words think that their stately cathedral would so soon be reduced to ruins. / Near this cathedral they met another army consisting of 5000 followers. That whole day they rode, and at night lay down to rest, but sleep, came to few. Many were thinking that it might be the. last time ' they would see the sun set and the moon rise, bo it was no wonder few of them slept. Geoffrey made friends, with a young knight just the same age as. himself, but who 1 was an orphan. ' „ • "If I am killed, Godwin, and thou art not, wilt thou carry the newß to my mother ?" Baid Geoffrey to him. " . " I will," answered the knight ; "I cannot make the same bargain with thee, for I have no mother." ] ' ' . The next day they met-the King's army on a field at the foot of a hill. , The battle was short hat fierce. Knights and retainers on both sides fought fiercely. Geoffrey was blightly wounded in the left arm, but he still fought on. At last the King's army was scattered. Its leader had already been killed, and shouts of joy were heard from the triumphant-party. But yet one last fatal stroke had to be given. A retainer of the King's raised his sword and struck Geoffrey to the ground. Once more the sun get, 'but on a bloody field. The sky looked peaceful. The west was tinged with yellow and v red lights. Soft white clouds arose like palaces, and temples, and as they again disappeared and melted away into the calm blue of evening, many a weary soul sank to rest. ■ The whole country seemed to tell of victory, and enemies and comrades lay side by side in the hoar of death. But hush ! , there is a groan from one of the knights. A monk bends over him and holds & cup of water to his. lips. "I thank thee," said -the knight,, and the voice is that of Geoffrey.. The monk saw he was dying, and Godwin, who was with him, supported his head. Suddenly he breaks out triumphantly. "Look," he cried, ."l see a light. Dost thou see it, Eleanor?" Then his head fell back, and his soul went up to God. Godwin saw that he was dead. He ordered a grave to be dug on the field, and there they laid him. , A stone marks his last resting place, and on the stone are the words— " Here rests Geoffrey, son of Baron de Clifford, who died on this battlefield J' Godwin took his sword, and a lock of his hair back to his mother when the wars were over. Baron de Clifford. had, not been killed, as it was reported, bath e had been badly wounded, and lay for months in a distant farmhouse. When he came home and saw his castle in ruins, he went to the cave, where he found all except Geoffrey. Godwin became like a son to v the Baron and Baroness, and afterward! married Eleanor. Another little Geoffrey listens attentively to the story of one who died while fighting for his country, and says that he too will be brave like Uncle Geoffrey. A monument was raised, in memory of Geoffrey de Clifford, representing a knight on a horse with a sword in one hand and a cup of water in the other,' which he is giving to a wounded retainer. Many both old and' young lived to bless the name of Geoffrey. The_ castle may still be seen, thongh ib is fast falling to pieces. The black marks of the fire -remained like great scars for many years, but the ivy and grass and wallflowers have found a home amongst its ruino. The moat is dried up and filled with nettles. And the ruin looks perhaps even more beautiful than the castle before the fire. He came upon a'summer morn. He lived midst war and strife,, And for the peace which we enjoy He sparednot his life, ■ - ' j i . -

very pleasant place for a picnic on, a fine day. We live beside the railway station, and it is very nice to watch the trains pass by. There are some very pretty waterfalls about two miles above the station, and there is a sawmill up in the bush about three -miles away. We have a good view of the ocean from our house. There is plenty of bush with some nice ferns in it, the maiden-hair fern among them.' Our school has ; been closed for three weeks through measles. I had them, and I do not think they are a very nice complaint.— Yoiirs truly, Waitati, July 3. " Maby Morris. Deah Dot,— l go to school, and am in the Second Standard. I have two sisters and tw.o. brothers,' Their names are Mary, Rose, Ted, . and Richard. We have a black cat whose name is Nigger. He goes every night and morning to milk with his mistreßS. He caught a bird on , Friday. We have a parakeet. My sister Mary has had the measles, but she is getting better now, and I hope we will be able to go back to school soon. I have a doll; will you please give me a name for it.— Yours truly, Waitati, July 3. Thirza Morkjs. , [Call the doll Julia.— Dot. ] Deab Dot,— l have a little grey and white and black kitten; please will you give me a name for it. The place where I live is called Waitati, and there is a sawmill. I go to school, and am in tne Third Standard. The school is three miles from where I live. I have six brothers and one sister. My brobhers' names are Harry, Tom, Walter, Charlie, Alfred, and George. The snow was very heavy up here, and we had a good game at snowballing, Waitati is a very pretty place in summer, but in winter it is not so pretty with the wet and frost. Now I will ask a riddle : Round and sound and about a pound, and yet it don't weigh two ounces. — Yours truly, Mary Dillon (aged 12yeats). Waitati, June 30. [How will Spotty do as a name for the kitten P You should have sent the answer with the riddle.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a Sheep, and I live in a place where there is very little grass to eat. I have a lob of mates, and we frisk about all the day long on the hills. I have a nice warm coat on my back for the winter. Ib will soon be taken off to make warm clothes for both rich and poor people. When lam fat enough I suppose the butcher will kill me for food. That is not a very pleasant prospect, is it, Dot ?—? — Yours truly, A Sheep. Cromwell, July 3. Dear Dot, — I am a pet Parrot, and I heard my mistress reading letters out of the Witness, so I thought I wonld write one to you. I have a very kind mistress and a comfortable home, and I have my freedom, and I go all over the house in the morning. Igoup to mother's bedroom door, for I always call her mother, and I stand at the door and whistle and call mother, ma, ma ! Then they let me in and I kiss her, and she calls me a dear boy. I say " Billy is a dear boy," and "Billy is a pretty boy," sod I

the Taieri getting a beating. I am very sorry they are so weak this season, but I hope they will do better next year. I must stop now, as it is getting late —Yours truly, Schoolboy. Mosgiel, July 3. Deab Dot,— l live at Waipahi, and I often see children that I know writing to you. I have a little kitten and a calf ; will you please give me nice names for them. I have not been to school for three weeks because I had the measles ; but I am all right now, and am going to school next week. lam in the Third Standard. We have a new master, Mr Patterson. The other master, Mr Strang, went away. We used to live ab Outram, and I like Outram much' better than Waipahi. I have three brothers and one sister.' — Yours truly, William B. M'Kay (aged 9 years). Waipahi, July 2. [Call the kitten Spark and the doll Gipsy.— Dot,] Dear DoT,—The last time I wrote to you I had been to Riverton for my holidays. This time I have just recovered from an attack of the meailes. I was very bad, and I hope you have not had them. I have several pets — a parrot, a kitten, and a doll; will you please give me names for the kitten and the doll. I have an awful tease of a brother. He comes home from work and teases us all; could you ' give me a cure for him ? Dear Dot, I have a story to send in four chapters ; may I send a chapter every week ?— Yours truly, Invercargill, July 2. Jessie. [Call the kitten Spider and the doll Flossie. Laugh at your brother when he is teasing you and don't get angry t for the angrier you get the more he will tease. ' I would rather you would send the whole of the story ab once. You can, of course, send it weekly if you like, but ib oannob be commenced bill the whole of ib has been received. You must only write on one side of the paper. — Dot.] Deab Dot,— l go to school, and am in the First Class. I have two sisters and one wee brother. Their names are Annie, Maggie, and Jimmie. Our school is closed just now. We have a kitten ; please give mo a name for it. — Yours truly, Lizzie Falconer (aged 6 years). ' Enweod, South Invercargilj, July 3. [Call the kitten Mops.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l can't go to school just now because I have had the measles. I have two white cats and a black one, and a grey kitten. The white cats are both deaf.— Youra truly, Elsie Allan. Rosemount, Merton, July 7. Deab Dot,— We have had very bad weather where lam living just now. Jt go to school, and am in the Fifth Standard. Mr Gray is our teacher, and I like him very much I have four sisters. Their names are Annie, Sarah, Henrietta, and Alice. Henrietta and Alice go to school along with me. There is a creek not far from our house, and when there is a lob of rain ib rises very high in the summer time. There are a lot of pretty trout to be seen in the

please give me a name' for it. It has a cradle wibh rockers and a hood on it. Our school has not been closed for the measles yet, and I don't think there are many who have got them. I am learning to knit a garter just now. After I have done ib, I shall knit a stocking.— Yours truly, I. Teresa Leslie. ■ Milton, July 6. [As your sister's doll is called Violet I think Rosie would be the best name for yours.— Dot.] " * ( Deab Dot, — I have been at home from school two days, because it has been too wet to go. I have a doll and a cradle the very same as my sister's, and we call them the twins. I have called mine Violet. It has a blue dress. Our cousin Isa gave them to us. We have been having yery hard frost lately. It makes the roads nice and clean on the morning to walk down to school. My little brother has two pullets laying now. We are not 'going to get our winter holidays till after the examination. —Yours truly, ~ Anne S. Leslie. , Milton, July 6. ; Deab Dot,— l can't go to school -just now because my little sister has had the measles.' I have a little dog. Her name is Flossie, and I got her from my cousin at. the Kaikorai. When I got her she was frightened of the rabbits, bnt she is not frightened of them now. She is a good rat dog. Please will you give me names for two black foals— Yours truly, Robert Allan. Rosemount, Merton, July 7. [You must write in ink next time, Robert. Call the foals Sultan and Rajah,— Dot.] Dear Dot, — As I have seen a good few letters from Owake, I thought I would like to write one too. I have {got no pets to tell you about except a big black dog. His nsme is George. I leb him loese on Sundays, and he always follows me to church. I do not like him coming, because he makes such a noiso. As this is the first time I have written, you must excuse me writing such a few lines. — Yours truly, J- F. Owake, July 7. Dear Dot,— l am a little girl 8 years old. I am in the Second Standard. I have a'cat. He is all white ; will you please give me a name for him. My little sister and I both go to school together, but the roads are very bad just now. The school has b«en closed a week on account of the measles. — Yours truly, Martha Jane Spowart. Lochifl, July 7. [What name would suit an all-white cat so well as Snow ?— Dot.] Deab Dot, — I have six miles to ride to school, and lam in the Fourth Standard. My father is working on a dredge in the Six-mile. I have a pet lamb called Iris. My little sister .has a pet lamb called Milly, and a heifer calf ; would you pleaie give her a name for it. I have two brothers and a sißter going to school with me. There is an electrio light on the

dredge, and if you stand under ib you look quite white.— Yours truly, Denis O'Brien. Six-mile Beach, June 28. [Call the calf Lily.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am going to tell yon about my pets. I have three pups. Their names are Tiny, Frisk, and Prince. We are having our midwinter holidays just now, bnt it has been raining all day yesterday and to-day, so I can't get out very much. I am learning to play the piano. This is my second quarter, and I like it very much. I will be 8 years old on the 17th of this month.— Yours truly, Awamoko, July 7. Ethel Ross. LITTLE FOLKS' RIDDLES. 681.— 8y Elizabeth Shore, East Taieri :— What is nothing ? ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S RIDDLES. 676.— 8y Florence J. B. Shearer, Drummond :— Buy it from the butcher. 677.— 8y Janet E. Thomson ;— A pair of firetongs. 678.— 8y Annie Bowden, Miller's MatsDozens, dozen. 679.— 8y Peggy, Kingston :— (1) Because there are three scruples to a drachm. (2) Because visitors prefer Co wes to Ryde. (3) Because a miss is as gcod as a mile. 680.— 8y Taby, Otara :-(l) Because it is in the middle of water. (2) When it is a greyhound. Correct answer to 676 from Katherino Geerin, Dunedin. , -