LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 51

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot,— "When I was quite a little kitten I often heard my mother speak of yon, so I made up my mind to make your acquaintance as soon as I was able to write. I have grown very much, and at present I am wriling with a piece of coal on a scrap of paper I found in the ash-tin. My name is Filz, aud I have a grey and white striped skin. Ever since' my mother died I have nob had much company. Do not think I lead a lonely life, as I have, strange to say, found a true friend and pleasant playmate in a pup, and we are very fond of each other. However, two or three days ago I saw a large black cat with brown spots on its skin. It Always used to stay at the stacks or at the chaffboase, bub haa now made so bold as to come to the house. As yet we have not had much to do with each other, as I must confess that I am slightly afraid of so large a. oat. I hope by-and-bye we may become better friends, a* I khould like very much to have another playmate. Aa I am very fond of catching mice, which occupies the greater part of the day, I have not many chance* to mftke myself acquainted with the strange cat. G-ood-bye, v dear Dut, hoping I have not tired you with this letter. — Yours truly, Fitz. [Not at all, Fitz ; but how you could write so beautifully with a piece of coal is a mystery to me. You certainly are a very clever cat, as well as a very good one, for how bettsr could your time be employed than by catching mice the greater part of the day ? — Dot.] Dear Dot,— We take the Witness every week, and I like reading the letters from the little folks very much. I should think that the Kindergarten Fund is getting a great many stamps. lam iv the Third' Standard. I went to the sands on the Queen's Birthday with father. We rode up, and down and enjoyed ourselves v*ry much. I have no pets to tell you about, Dot. We did have a'canary, but it died a long time ago, and we got it Btuffed bcc»U3e it was such a pat to us. The man who stuffed it said it died of moulting. lam sending 12 penny stamps for the Kindergarten Fund.— Yours truly, Eixa M. V. Fbassek Nelsou, June 1. (aged 9). - I Thank* you very mush, Ella — I fehall soon have another pound to send to the kindergarten from the little folks, as I have quite a large numbsr of stamps on hand once more. Wbat » pity youc little cansry died ; I am sure you must have missed it very much, even though yeu had it stuffed. - Dot.] Dear Dot, — One day I saw a piece of p*per lying on the floor, and I looked at it to gee what ib was. I found that it was a lot of letters from little folks to Dot, so I thought that I would write too. I have a lot of friendf, but my dearest one is Saneho, my sister. Sanchoand I play lots of trirk? on ono another. My mother is a black and white cut, whom they call Maori. There are two other cats in tha hoiiße besides Saneho, my mother, and myself, whose names are Scobie and Smiicr. I*m a grey kitten with black »t»ipes down my back, and I am considered very pretty. My mistress called me Geos6ie because I was so playful. lam about eight months old, and I c»n catch a good few mice. I also have & friend in a little brown and vvhite terrier pup, whose name is Spot. Spot is very playful, and will play with me almost as well as Kaucho will. My mistress had a present of a. black kitten which she called Leo, but it died. We were all very sorry for Leo, and we mourned over her for some time. Dear Dot, Spot wishes me to askyou if you would accept a letter from her, for she would like to write to you. I think I will bring my letter to a close 88 my paw is geting tired. — Yours truly, Gemsie. P«lmerston South, June 2. [Certainly, Gemne, I shall be only too glad to hear from Spot. The death of Leo was very sad, but as there are so many of you I hare no doubt you have quite got over ib by this time. — Dot.l Dear Dot, — The winter has come, and it is very cold. Last time I wrote to you I did not know my sister* name* as she was only three weeks old. Her name is Mary Matilda. My brother haa a black kitten ; would you please give him a name for it.— Yours truly, Millburn, May 3. Nellie Hare. [And what do you call her, Nellie— Mary or Matilda or Tillie, or just Baby ? Whatever it may be I am sure she is the sweetest little thing that ever was; isn't she? Call the kitten Turk, and I only hope he won't be so cruel to the mica as the real Turks are to the Armenians. —Dot.] Dear Dot,— We.have a dear little grey and black kitten called Mick, and also a white and black cat called Kate. They are very loving and affectionate with each other, and Kate dresses Mick when they wake up in the morning. They are not mother and child, because we only gob Miok on the the 2nd of May. They have such amuaing sham fights. They both eat out of one saucer, and the milkman gives the i kitten a drink of milk. Before breakfast, they

go all over the house fighting and scratching each other just in fun. We are going to be examined next week by the inspector, and so I shall have to work hard. lam in the Second Standard. We have a horse called Norman, who is out for the winter just now, and is coming back in spring. I have learut to ride since- the last time I wrote to you ; and I can tide a long way without anybody going with me. My little brother Davy has been learning to ride lately.— Yours truly, Fbank. Dunedin, May 30. [That is a very nice letter, Frank, and I shall be glad to hear from you again. It would be very amusing to watch Mick and Kate's antics, and I fancy you will be quite sorry when Mick grows into a sedate old cat, without any fun iv ! him, aud there are no more mock fights with ! his foster mother. — Dot.] Dear Dot,-— I am very fond of reading the little folks' letters. I have a little dolly ; please give me a name for ib. I want a boy's name, 'oause ib aint a girl. Please give me a name for a wee foal. Please, Dot, can you give me a cure for toothache, I hope you will put in my letter, and also the poetry. — Yours truly, Palmerston S., June X. Winnie. (Aged 6i years ) LIITLE KITTY. Once there was a little kitty Whiter than snow ; In a barn she used to play Loag time ago. Two eyes had little kitty, Eye 3 soft as dough, And they spied tho little mousie, Long time ago. [I think there mrfst be more or '• Little Kitty," but this is all that came, so it cannot be priuted unless Winnie sends it later on. Poor little Winuie ; I hope her toothache is better now. If it isn't, I think the best thing is to tie a nice new piece of red flannel all round the face — or have the tooth taken out, and of course that is very sors. How would you like Prince Eddy for a name for the dolly that " ain't a girl," and Dake for the foal.— Dot.] Dbar Dot,— l used to live at a place called Bullendale, but we live at Arrowtown now, and I like it much better. I have three brothers and one sister. We had a kinderspiel at our school, and it was very nice. There are eight scholars in my standard (the second). We are having very cold weather at present, but of course as it is winter we must not complain. — Yours truly, FtOREiE Jones (aged seven years). Arrowtown, May* 31.