LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS. Saturday, September 21.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 47

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS. Saturday, September 21.

Dvar Dot,— As lam not svt school to-day I thought I would like to wrile to you and tell you about (he place I lire ia. The nome of this place is Lowburu Cretk, and the top of the creek comes from ftfoanfc Pisa, which is a very high j mountain, aud ve»y steep in some pkceß. On the top th;Td are some pretty flowers. I have not be?n ou the top inyuolf, but. my brother and uncle were up and brought home some parity flowers, bub they would not grow <m tho lowlands. On each aide of this crask aro high hills, and at tho bottom runs the Clutha river, which is very deep. Thtre is a pui tbo enabla you to cross to Quartz Reef Point-. The school is not far from cheiiver. — Yours truly, Hjalmar Wkknek (»ged 9 years). Lowburn, September 9. [Ib is a pify the mountain flowers will not grow on tli3 lowlbuJ, but perhaps you did uot select a very suitable spot for them, Hjalmar. If you had bad the sim>j kind of soil and had planted them on a terrace facing the sime way as the part of the hill from which they were taken no doubt they would live. If you got any mo c try again, aud write and vll me whether you uucceed or not. — Dor.] Dfab Dor, — I wrole to you some time ago, and I thii k you will remeaiber me as your fritnd the J»p*n^Be Doll. I h*ve. fared rather badly gincc then, but thing 8 are bil:er now, as I hear my misircis uaying that th's slow is all gone. I ha\e gofc you a new correspondent ia the shape of my fnend lh>3 Looking Glass. . Ho is very obliging, and will lot mi lojk in him to sse if my tace his grown thin ,for want ot more clothts m tbo col-A ?/<.a',hCi\ It has grown thin for another reaaon iv addition ti that, and what do you think ib is ? Well, it'B a secicl--, co you mu^t not tell anybody : I'm iv love with Victoria Mvud. Ido not kuow the way tj propose, aud I want you to give me advice on the subject. Daar Dot, I told ouo of RKudie'a litUe gosiipiog tHUiM of my regard Lv her big shber, aud as the do.s nob like me, she told a nibty Scotch Doll to hurry up and ho would do me altogether ; so I am afiaid if I dou'c get your advice soon I will be tco ltta. — Your anxious fiiend, Jap. Fairlie, September 16. [Now, however should I kuow the orthodox w*y for a Japanese doil to propose to an English dul' ? Jap cannot go down on his kme3 in the old-fashioned courtly way, nor can he flirt with hU f^u lika a Japanese notleman ; but he evidently cau write a vory nice letter, so why should he nob propose to Victoria Maud by post ? I hope he will bry that and leb us know the reault. Ib ia very kiud of hi ai to introduce bhe Looking Glasß bo u», is it nU, little folks ?— Dot ] Dbar Dot,— l am a Looking Glass. My frieud tbe Japanese Doll told m« he had written to you, so I thought I would like to write too. I«m in a youug lidy's room, and »he uatur-lly looks in me a good deal. S^ma time ago I was token to prop up a wiudovr, and there has been a braise on my back ever since. D-m't you tuink it a sname, Dot ? It would make ycu liugb. to sea tho faces some pejple nub on when they are looking in mo. If you had seen all the queer people I have you would be always grinning. Not very long ago I gob fcuch. a fright. Ib was at nig'ut, aud everyone was asleep, whea I heard such a funny noise, Bnd sony thing jumped up besido me. I was bo frightened th&b I shivered all night. Theo. Ib began to gtt daylight, and what do you thiuk I saw beside me ? It w*vs ODly a big grey cat. I think my health is ia a very bad state, and that I need a charge of air, doa'fc jou, Doi ?— Your ill-used fri.ii'i, Thi: Looiuxo Glass. Fairlip, South Canterbury, Suptembec 16. [It is all very sad I have no doubt, but my ill-used frifnd has its compensations with its troubles. It must he very smusing to watch all bhe queer faces it tells us about, and I should advUe ib to stay where it is and rest content with the friendship of the Japanese Doll.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a little riding bo«e, aud my name is Eni-na. I live close to Waikaka township, a EniUi agricultural and miuing centre, eituated near a beautiful trout stream of that name. The coantry around here ia very pretty, and the gorgo is noted for its wild scenory. My mesfcer is very kind to me. He bought me a cover for the winter lo keep me warm, but sometimes he tpk'S me out for very long rides, and then telh the people what a fine horse I am. What terrifio weallm- we had here this winter — frost, sqov, rain, and wind. I somelimeß get the Witness, and I read the Little Folks' page. I have s?en letters in it from various frieud3 of mine— the dog and the cat, and also one from a distant relative of mine, an old cow ; so I thought I would just write and tell you how severe the winter was, aud how cold I felb on many nights when my master was at a dance, and I was tied to the fence, waiting to take him home. Don'fc you think ib was very hard, Dot, to have to stand outtide sometimes for the whole night in the snow ? Tho dancing is fortunately over now, however, and the weabher is getting line, so I shall have good times for the future. I enclose four penny itampß, which is all I possess in the world (except my cover), for the Kindergarten Fuud. I shall now say good-bye, aud rcmaiD, — Yours truly, Little Riding Horse (aged 4 years). Waikaka, September 16. [I am sure if the Little RidiDg Horse's master sees this he will be more considerate next winber, and will organise a movement to have a stable built for bho horses that have to I wait all night while people are enjoying themselves. Such a kind-hearted horse deserves some consideration, and I am sure we all hope j things will bo better for him next winter.— ! Dot.] ] Dear Dot, —Lately the days have been fine, but at nights ib either freezes or rains. The gardens round about are looking very pretty, the violets, daisies, and primroses being iv full bloom. Dear Dot, do you like flowers ? We hwo four geese, and they are all laying. I sea you have handed another pound towards the Kindergarten Fund. Dear Dot, do you thiuk the little kindergarten children would like a few toys ? I have come, and if you think they would like them I would send them if you would tell me where to send them to, as I would like to do lomething for the little children. Dear Dot, this ia nob a very long letter, but I will write again soon —Yours truly, Dais*. Waitahuna Gully, September 18. fl tbiuk »o, 4ear. The address would be MTho Matroo, Kinaerg»t)e.n g$M W*K«

street," but perhaps it would be bttfc.r for you to write first and tell ber what you are thinking of 8( n'Hng. Will you do so ? I suppose you will be hiving quite a number of little goslings with a cross old gander by-and-by<\ Yea, Daisy, of course I like flowers, aud I do not think there are any nicer than those you name. —Dot.] Dkar Dot, — We bave moved to Waikouaiti, and arc living quite near tbe railway stutiou, so that we can see all tho trains. lam going to tell you about the beach. It in about four miles long, one end being at the Metallic Heads, and the other at the mouth of the Waikou\iti river. It is perfectly eafa for bathing even when stormy, Rnd no one has ever been known to have been drowned there. We have a large school with over 300 children in it. There is a great fishing rock arouud which there is a red sand beacb. Around by this beach there is a peculiar place called the ltoaring Bui), where a large pressure of ah' coaies up and brings stones and othor thingd with it. The Roaring Bull is a sort of a Cive, aud the waves wash into ib. Waikouaiti is a great agricultural district. — Youri truly, John E. Wai^u (aged 11 years). Waikouaibi, September 14-. [B-tween the river and the beach Waikouaiti musfc indeed be a del'gtifcful place to live in. I suppo;c you are nob old euough to go troufc-fUh-ing in the rivtr yet, bub bulbing in the breakers in fcumrGcr must be very nice. — Dot.] Dkak Dor, — I have two dolfs; would you please give me name? for them. I have also two sistera and two brothers. I pased my examination ou July 31. We had two weeln' [ holiday!", but it was very bad weather. Wo bad snow on the ground nearly *11 tho time. — Yours truly, Bella Eaoes Edeudalo, September 1. (aged 10 years). [Call the dol's D.my and Violet. It was unfortunate you hid tho worst of the weither duriDg your holidays. — Dot ] Dkvr Dot, — I was very pleased to see my kfcter in the paper. We get the Wibnts* evory we- k. The Goro School (-xvmnatiou is over, and there wws ft fair ropjrb. I havo a black rabbit ; pleaie, Dot, will you give mo a atvme for ib. The cocky I was speaking about is away to Balfuur to see if she can be taught to talk. Our friends there havo a cocUy that speaks wtll. Wo have been having very bad weather again, with b/gb. winds. I must sop now.— Your3 truly, John Fohbes. Gore, September 19. [CaU the rabbit Gipsy. I hopi ccc'ny will pick up somolhing from h's BaU'ouv friend, for a cockatoo is not much good unless he cau talk. —Dot.] Dear Dot, — I read your letter lo the little folks a few we-ks ago. In it you said you would like to kuow tha history of th=) pennies you get for your Kiudergacten Fuod. I enclose 12 (stamps for your fuud. If you were to hear the history of this 19 I think it would make you laugh, but as your page for sonv} tiuio back has beeu full to overflowiag, I will not trouble you with a long yarn. I heard a friead say he often wonders how Dot can find nsimes for all her little folks' pets. He sayß that should the women in New Zealand (like the women in America.) want to make the Bible to suit themselves, tbe worda ia tbe 2nd chapter of Genesis will jusb hav<* to be altered to read, " Whatsoever Dot called every living creature that will be the name thereof." Perhaps you do not care about me telling you what I hour from othor peoplr, bub do uob priub ib uuloss you thiuk fih.— Yours truly, Nklly. September 20. [I have no objection whatover, Nelly, especially when it on<tblcs you to writo such a nice letter. lam oorry you did not tell us the history of tbe stamps, as I should have be-m ouly too happy to find room for ib. is it too late now ? Ido nob thiuk so, and lam sure many little folk 3 will look forward with iatoto»t to its appearance in due course. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I have two sisters and one brother married, bub there are 11 of us al'ogebher. lam studying at my brother's place just now. I have gob a red aud white calf ; will you please give im a n»me for ib. I am sending six stamps for the K>cdergarteu Fund. — Yourß bruly, Johanna Georgh. [Thank you for the sb-unps, Jobauna. Call the calf Primrose. — Dor.] Dear Dot, — I am an old Grey Gooie, with vi ry few feathers on my back. lam going to tell you how I nearly lost my life. I and 19 ofcher gee6e left home one afbernoou for a sail down the river Otapiri, and we were enjoying it so well that we quite forgot the distance we h%d gone. Suddenly we heard the sound of men speaking, aud on looking up we fouud that we were at the Hokanui coal mine, and that two men were standing on tho baok with guns ia their hand*, ready to take aim at our flock. One miner fired, then another, aud another, and I darted uuder a ftax bash and watched the cruel men killing all my compa-iiona. One &hofc ne*rly ended me, taking all the feaiheis out of my back and neck ; bub I kept quite sfcilJ, and when all were away with their booty I quietly came out from my hiding-place and made for home, bub home I nfcvsr found, so I am now HviDg as a wild goose, frightened of these crael Hokooui miners. Somttime3 I «cc girls psssiu? f bub they never see me. Shall I write again, dear Dot, if those me a do not kill me ? — Yourg truly, A Ghky Goosk (aged 5 year*). Hokonui, September 14. [Poor old Grey (400f.c ! you had indeed & narrow escape. How you must mis 3 all your compauione ! Fancy 18 killed in tho space of a few minutes ! That is realty slaughter, nofc sporfc, and the men who did the deed have little ti be iroud of. I hope jou will find some other companions, and be able to write a happier letter next time.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l see a lot of Alices writing to you, and so I thought I would join in and make another ope. Alice of Patearoa is a school mate of mine, and I join her ia saying we are all sorry to lose our preient teacher, Mr Everiss ; also Mrs Drake. Dear Dot, have you many brothers and sisters ? I have a lob — three sisters and three brothers away from home, six of us going to ochool, and two brothers and one sister too youug for school. Baby's name is Violet Elsie ; do you like that name, Dot ? I send 12 sbamps for the Kindergarten Fund. — Yours truly, Alice (aged 9 years). Fatearoa, September 16. [Ib is a very pretty name, indeid, Alice. With so many brothers and sisters your parents must bave had some difficulty In finding pretty names for all, bub then I suppose you all helped in selecting the names for baby. Thank you for the stamps.— Dot.] Dear Dot, —l go to the Convent School. I am very fond of the nun who teaches me. I am learning music, and like it very much. My brother Tom is learning tha violin. My little sister Gwen every morning after breakfast feeds the fowls. I was seven years old lasts July. I euolose six penny stamps for the Kindergartea Fund.— Yours truly, Minnie Meredith. Jnveroargill, September 19, tU will ba very nice when you ace ft Httle

bigger for Tom and yon to play duets on the violin aud piauo, Minnie, won't il ? You musfc try to keep pace with each othor, so that you will play well together. Thank you for the stamps.— Dor.] Deau Dot, — I live ah Seaward Downs, which ia situated ou the banks of the Malanra river, aud also at the edge of Seaward Bush. It is a pretty place in summer. I have throe sisters and three brothers, and two sisters go to fchool j with me, I shall be 12 years old on Iho 23rd j of this mouth. This ia a very late spriDg. La'-t year on my birthday the cberty trcea were in blos-som, and this year thry are nob in bloom yeb. I have uo pets to teH yen of at present. — Yours truly, llki.i'n Rocikssox. Seaward Downs, September 19. Dear Dot, — We live a little over a mile from tho school, but there is a good road all the way. On Arbor Day each of the scholars planted a tree. — Yours truly, May Campbell. Seaward Downs, September 19. Eva.— Try again, dear ; there i<J scarcely enough in your letter to publwh. Yen see, all little girls go to school, and are in fomo Btandard and have a teacher. Could you not tell us about something you learn at school or something you see on tho road, or anything that you do not think any other little girl has j written about b.foro ? — Dot. '