LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 47

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Saturday,, September 7. Dear Dot,— l live at Waipapapa lighthouse, three miles from Ottr*. I suppose you are aware it was on the Otara reef that the Tarawa was wrecked. The coast from here up to where the Waipapapa dredge was working is very ranch like the Ocean Beach. Thece ia a range of sandhills just the same, only the headlands are not quite so high, and the land at tbe back is very much like the flat at South Dunedin, and some parts are very swampy. Lake Brunton is about a mile and a-hilf from here, and close to it h the Tararua Cemetery, which is now in good older, but my little sister was quite disappointed fco find no flowers growing on the graves. *I tbiuk it would be a good plan nexb Arbor Day for the children at tbe Obara School to plant some flowtrs, as I think flowers would look much nicer than the cutty grass over the graves at present. — Yours truly, Agn*3 Cunningham. Waipapapa Lighthouse, August 24. I/Ycu are quito right, Agnes; but why wait till nexb Arbor Day ? Mention tho matter to your teacher, and probably he would arrange for you all to bring spadea and hoes and rakes, and tome afternoon take you all to the cemetery and show you how to put the graves in order. It would be a very nice thing to do, and when tho relatives heard of it they would be very pleased indeed. Your letter is a very interesting one, and I hops you will soon be able to write and tell us how the graves havo been fixed up. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— Aa lam an old friend of Torn, who wrote about a year ago, I thought I would wribe to tell you his fate. One night when he was out on a prowl (he went nearly every Sunday night) he got caught in a trap, the owner of which killed him, aud I havo never seen him since. Don't you think that it was very cruel ; for we cats like a bit of rabbit just as well as our masters do. Now, I am going to tell you something about myself. I am a black cat irith jellow eyes. Did you ever see a cat like me before, Dot ? I catch a lot of rabbits. There was a nest of seven young rabbits near where I live, and I have killed every one of them. Dear Dot, I am very happy where I live, and I have heard my toiitress say that she would not part with me oven if the Queea wanted me. I enclose 12 btanipa for tho Kiudergarten Fund, and I hope it will succeed, for I feel sorry for the poor little children, and they mußt feel cold at night. I must cso:e now, as my paw is getting tired. Good-bye, Dot ; I am going to bed now. — Youra truly,

[Dinah with the yellow eyes is certainly a very kind cat, and I am sure the little kindergarteu people will think so when they are told fcboow her. Poor old Tom ! What a sad fate

to meet— all night with his paw in a trap, and to be killed in the morning. I hope Dinah won't take to strolling on Sunday nights far fear she may meet with a similar fate, and then what would her mistress say ? — Dot.J Deak Dot,— l live at Lawrence. I read the little folks' letters every week, and I thought I should like to write to you also. The weather has been very severe here, but it is better now. My sister has two dolls ; will you please give me nice names for them. lam sending you sir stamps for the Kindergarten Fund,— Yours truly, gcnooLOiai-. Lawrence, September 3. [How would you like Angelina and Seraphina &s names for the dolls ? Thank you for the stamps.— Dot.] Dear Dor,— l am a turkey, and my name is Patsy. I live in a farmyard with the other fowls. I used to feel very lonely sometimes, for I had no brother or sister like other turkeys ; bufc my mistress went away one day and brought me two companions, bat when I saw them I did not know what they were, as I had never seen a turkey before. I soon felt quite sath fied with •my old friends. My mistress thought I would take them for a walk, as they were strange and did not know their way about the farm. I was reared with some little ducks, and my mistress was very fond of me. She used to feed me with porridge, but now I am grown up and won't eat it for her. Dear Dot, could you give me names for my two companions — one is a black one and the other is a givy. — Yours truly, Patsy. Ida Valley, September 2. [Nowh and Biddy will go well with Patsy ; how will they suit ?— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l have nofc many pets to tell you about. I have a cab, and I call her Ferret. We have one cow. My aunt gßre her to mother when she was a calf, aud we brought her up acd she is such a pet. She is so quiet we milk her out of the bail. We call her Daley. She has a little cilf. It is black, with a white spot on its forehead and its hiud foot ; please will you give me a name for ifc. Wa have had a lot lof sr.ow and frost up hero this wiuter. Wo had some grand slides. Our teacher is very nice, and ho dors nob use the cine at all to the girls. He is going away, and we are all sorry. We sew twice a week. Sir Everiss is our teacher and Mrs Drake is our sowing mialivfis. I have sent four stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. , My sister Kale got a doll on her birthday, aud ! she would like you to give her a name for it,— Yours truly, Auce (aged 11 years), j Pattaroa, September 4-. [C4II the calf Lone Star, Alice. I suppose ym will make ifc aa great a pet as its mother. Tell Kate to call the doll Primrose. Thank you for the stamps.— Dot ] Dear Dot,— l am glad to write to you again. I am so fond of hearing the little folks' letters read and like to be able to send a little to the Kindergarten Fund. My uncle Tom alwajs gets j the Witness. Hours subscribed to ib for years, so we have always read the little folks' toilers since .they were printed. Uncle and I rode out a dayor two ago to bring in some sheep for killing. I cleared the road for him comirjg home. We killed a pig when wo were out. There are a lot of lambs.now, and I am glad they are having j such warm weather, dear little things. Dtar Doh, I am sending six stamps to the fund. — Yours truly, Joiinny Cokkili,. Ardlus»a station, August 18. ! [Thank you very much, Johnny, both for the I stamps and for the goal wishes.— Dot.] \ : Dear Dot,— l have three brothers aud one sister. My brothers and sister have left Echool, but Igo still. I got two prizes last year, and I hope I shall get more this year. ! Dear Dot, I have a pretty doll dressed in a 1 sailor suit* don't you think ifc is nice, Dot ? I ! have only three pets to tell you about — a kitten named Maty, a dog named Fly, end a dear old brown hen named Biddy. Biddy takes anything out of my hand. My sister is trying to teach me crewel work, and she cays I am terribly stupid, but I think she hag got no patience. I have scon a lot about the little kindergarten children, so I have taken 12 fctimps out of my money-box for them.— Yours truly, Florence Frances Hewett. Cromwell, August 23. [I wonder if your pet brown hen lays many eggs, Florence. You must ba very gentla with her when she is so tame. Thank 50U for the stamps. — Dor.] Dear Dot,— l live at a place called Anqujlla Valley. I am going to try and pass the First Standard at school this year. lam making a patchwork tea-cosy as a Christmas box for my mother. My grandmother brought me a nice silver brooch from Melbourne, and I also had a present o£ a nice big doll given me. It has real teeth, and real shoes and stockings on. It has nice fair hair and a striped blue Bilk dress ; please give me a nice name for it. — Yours truly, Mary Kkrr (aged 6$ yeirs). Edgerhurst, Dunrobin, August 31. [What a beautiful doll to have given you, Mary. It is certainly worthy of a nice name. How would you like to call it Rosalind Ruby ? —Dot.] Dear Dot, —l am at home from school today, aud I thought I would write (o you. I got a doll from my father for going to Bchonl, and I would like a nice name for it. Dear Dot, I would like to see my letter in the Witne3B. My mother is to send it to grandmother in Scotland. I am seven years old on November 8. I am sending six stamps to the Kindergarten Fund. I am tired, bo good-bye. —Yours truly, Mauv Scoti-. Gimmerburn, August 27. [Call the doll Mabel Frances, Mary. I wonder if your grandmother will like that name for a doll. Thank you for the etamps.— Dor.] Dear Dot,— We have three horses, and their names are Dick, Polly, and Top. Top can jump over all the ditche3 aud fe/ices. I 'am not afraid to ride him. We have a dog, and his name is Don, and he briDgs the cows in himself and takes them back himself. I have a little black pup ; please would you give me a name with three letters for him. There is a pump here that pumps all the water off the paddocks in Henley. It is a great big wheel with paddles, and it is driven by a 14 horsepower engine. My father drives it. I am sending three penny stamps towards the Kindergarten Fund.— Yours truly, , James M'Call (aged 9 years), Henley, August 31. [Jet should do very nicely for your htble black pup, James. Top must be » good hunter to jump all the fences, but it must be very difficult to keep him in the paddock. Thank you for the stamps.— Dot.] De*r Dot, — I livo in Wairuna, and it is a nice place in tbe summer fcimo. Wo have had rough weather nil winter, but ifc is nice tow. Our examination will be held in November, and I hope I shall pass. Dear Do*, I have four dolls ; please will you give me names for them. Three of them have fair hair and blue eyes, and the other has dark hair and darkeyee, and two of them go to sleep.— Yours truly, Isa Brown Wairuna, August 31. (aged 10 yeara). [Names for four dolls— oh dear, oh dear, where are they to come from ?— well, Patience, Penelope, Phoebe, and Phyllis ; there you are, little one, all among the p's.—Dqt.]

Dear Dot, — My brother Tom, who goes to school with me, is in the Sixth Standard, and so am I. Two of ray school fellows have written to you, so I thought I would write also. I am pleased to see the little folks have sent so many stamps to tho kindergarten. lam also sending six, which I hope will help. — Yours truly, Maggie Bdhgess (aged 11£ years). Dipfcon, September 2. [Thank you for the stamps, Maggie.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am an old Stove Kettle, but I have not sat on or seen a stove for about 10 years, so I hardly remember what one is like. I have a mate, but have not seen him for two or threa weeks. The last time I Raw him it was on one of the fireplace hobs, aud I was on the other one. Some time after this my mistress took me and threw me away, saying I was no good, for I had holes in me. So lam lying on the ground beside an old wcod fence. Now I must tell you how I came to write to you. One day a girl was passing me, and she dropped a piece of paper. On it I saw letters from girls, boyi, animals, and even a teapot, so I thought I might write too, bo here is my lettor. Goodbye, Dot.— Yours truly, Kettle. Gleaomaru, August 27. [Poor old Kettle, worn out and worthies?, throwa out to be eaten up with rust, and perhaps — who knows? — some day tied by a bad boy to a dog's tail. — Dot.] . Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about the Salvaoion Army Guards Band. They were in Milton on Tuesday evening. The hall was nearly full. I thought it very nice. There were 20 men playing on different instruments. One man played on a bluegum leaf and another on a pop gun. lam sending a twopenny stamp for your Kindergarten Fund. Have the children no fathers or mothers ? I don't romornbcr reading your letter last summer.— You ra truly, A ScHOOi-anu» [Thank you for tho stamp, Bessie. Some of them have no fathers or mother?, aud the parents of others are very poor. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— Wo have eight horses, eight cow* , and three clogs. I like the horses besfc, because lam allowed to ride them. Please Dob, is my writing awfully bad ? — Yours truly, Schoolboy (aged 7 years). [It is indeed, Schoolboy, and I think it; would be as well to wait a year or two before writing again. — Dot.] Deak Dot,— >\Ve have four dogs, whose names are Help, Boss, Sprirjg, and Fly. I olten go out rabbiting, and we catch lots of rabbits. In the beginning of winter they are very thick, but they are not nearly so plentiful now. I have six brothers, bub only five of us go to school. Our examiu&tion will coon be held, and I hope I shall pas?. I enclose three stamps for the Kindargarton Fund.— Yours truly, John Patterson. Springhills, August 29. [Thauk you for the stamps, John —Dot.] Dkau Dot,— We have three cows, two calves, aud a horse and a blaok and white cab ; please give me a name for the cat. Our teacher, Miss Morgan, is leaving school. I like her very much. lam sending three stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. — Yours truly, Aones Smail (aged 8 years). East Gore, September 2. [You will bs sorry y« ur teacher is leaving, Ague", aa she has been kind to you. Call the cat Tibbie. Thank you for the stamps.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l have two sisters— Nora and Mary. Nora goes to school with me. I have a lamb called Bessie, aud Nora has a bUck one named Daisy. I have also a doll ; will you please give me a nice name for it. We have a long way to walk to school. Daar Dot, I have no stamps to send for tbe Kindergarten Fund, but I siiali send some next time I write. — Yours truly, Lucy Fiiolli (aged 9 jeaw). Orwell Creek, September 2. [Violet is a nice namo for a doll, Lucy. I never heard of a black daisy before, did you ?— Dor.] Dkar Dot,— Wo have been having fine weather here lately, but notwithstanding this a good number of our neighbours have had bad colds. Dear Dot, we are having our house removed and repaired. I have a white calf ; please would you give mo a name for her. Thank you very much for the name you gave mo for my brother's pup. I promised to tell you about our birds, but I am sorry to say that they have all died since I wrote to you last.— Yours truly, Jessie I. M'Leod. Awamoko East, September 5. [That is a sad calamity, Jessie. Was it the cold that killed the poor birds ? It has really bewi cold enough to kill them this winter. Call the calf Lily.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l live at South Waipahi. I have three brothers and four Bisters, and five of us go to the Slopedown Schcol. It is only a halftime school, and we have not been much ta school thJB winter, as we have a long way to go. We h»ve eight horse?, three cows, three calves, and three pigs ; pleasa give me names for the pigs. 1 shall write to you a^ain when lam further advanced at schoil. This U tho fitsfc time I have tried writing with ink, and I havo not written it very well. I send sis fct*mps for the Kindergarten Fund. — Yours truly, Aibert Wilson (aged 9 years). Waipahi, September 5. [For a first attempt I Jbhink you have done very well, Albett, and I have no doubt it will come easier to you next time you write. Call the pigs Grunt, Squeeze, and Squeal. Thank you for the Btamps.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I have never written to yeu before, but lof ten read the little folks' letters in thoWifcnces. On Arbor Day all the children brought a tree each, and we had a half-holiday in the afternoon to plant our trees. We milked 43 cows last year. My sister Sarah milks two winter cows. Dear Dot, I bye three sisters and ono brother. Two of us go to school. At school on Thureday one of the scholars burnt a large piece of ground, and we had some work to put the fire out. I am nine years old, and I am in the Fourth Standard. We have about 70 fowls and 15 ducks. I have no pets »t all. My father has ninehorße3. — Yours truly, Mary Wilson. Seaward Downs, Septs tnber 2. [It was very wrong of the bay to light a fire, nob knowing what damage ib might cause. However, it was fortuuate you were able to put it out. — Dot.]