LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 51

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I have not written to you for a long time, -but I will send you a story named THE ELVES AND THE COBBLER. There was once a cobbler who worked very hard and was very honest ; bub still he could not earn enough to live upon, and at last all he had in the world was gone save just; lea.th.ci.' enough to make a pair of shoes. Then he cut his leather out, all ready to make up the nexb day, meaning to rise early in the morning to his work. His conscience was c.oar and bis heart light amidst all his troubles ; so he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares to heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning* after he had said his prayers, he sat himself down to work, wheD, to his great wonder, there stood the shoes, all ready made, upon the table. The good man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening. He looked at I the workmanship — there was nob one false stitch in the whole job. The eatne day s, ouatpmer came in, and the shoes suited him to well that he paid a price higher than usual for. them, and the shoemaker with the money bought enough leather to make more shoes. At night ho cut out the shoes, and nexb morning he found them made. Soon some buyers came in and paid him well. He cut out his work again, and found it done in the morning. And so it > went on, and he became rich. One evening he said to his wife; "I should like to sit up and see who does my work for me." So they hid themselves in the room, and at midnight two little dwarfs came in and made the shoes. After they had gone the wife said : " These little wights have made us rich. lam quite sorry to see them L'un about: as they do, which is not very decent, for they have nothing on to keep them 'warm. I'll make each of them a shirt, a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons, and you make each of them a pair of shoes." One* evening they laid them on the table, and the dwarfs came in and book them away, and the cobbler and his wife lived happy ever after.

Dear Dob, there is a nasty old dog living in the same place as we live, and he is always chasing mo. The other day I was sitting under. a bench reading the Witness, and then I started to writs to you, and Spring came round and worried me and took my pen and paper from me. I will stop not? as my paw is getting sfcift, but I will tell you more next time I> write. — Yours truly, Tomahawk, June 25. Tors? the Oat.

[I hope Spring will' see this letter and turn over a new leaf. A cat like Topsy, who can tell a fairy tale for the Witness little folks, should not be worried by an ol<Ldog who has as yet done nothing to show thafflie is a superior doggy. What have you to say for yourself, Spring P— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a dog, and my name is Spring. I 8m a very good rabbiter. My master and I have caught 73 rabbits in three weeks. He ha* a' ferret, and whenever I Bee him with it I know he-is going out rabbiting. There iB a black and white cat liera, named Topsy, who is -t ery lazy — too lazy, in faot, to hunt for food. 'The other day, as I was coming round the corner, I saw Topsy sitting beneath a bench looking at a piece of paper. I asked her to let me see it, and sho refused; so I bit her. She scratched me, and we had a fight, and in the end she ran away. I took her pen, which she made herself, and wrote to you. I must stop now, for my master is coming. Topsy is at present in the sulks because she can't get any more paper.— Yours truly, Spbino. [The very next letter I opened was from Spring, and a very good case he makes out. It seems that Topsy is lazy, and by no meane the immaculate cat she would make us believe she is. However, it is best not to quarrel, so I should recommend Topsy and Spring to make it up, shake paws, and remain friends for the remainder of their lives.— Dot.] . i I Dear Dot,— l was very pleased to see my I letter in the Ofcago Witness. Thank you for the nice name you gave me for my doll. It has been raining here for threa days, just as we were about to get our holidays. We are going to have a concert for the benefit of the Oam&ru Hospital, and I hope it wiii turn oui well. We have a white horse ; its name is Leon. -r- Your little friend, Alice E. Jenkins (aged 11). Maerewhenua, June 24. * [I hope the weather cleared up iv time for your concert, Alice, and that you spent a pleasant evening. Do you tide oa Leon, or is he a draught horse ?— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l am very fond of reading little folks' letters, so I thought I would like to write a letter too. I have two dolls, one of which I named Violet and the other Daisy. I got Daisy from .my father and Violet from my auntie. Both are last Christmas presents. I have eight brothers and two sisters, and we have a little baby brother, wh.o was born on mj birthday, Wq faave a dojj named Spring, tug

we had a cat named Nipper, bub we have not seen her for two or three dayo. We think some dog has killed her. I cannot write any more because my arm is tired, and it is my bedtime.— Yours wuly, Emily Hall (aged 11), Dunedin, June 18. [How nice to have your baby brother born on the same day as you were, Emily. It will always be a double birthday, with one cake for the two of you. Poor Nipper, I hope she may yet turn up all right.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— lt is a long time since I last wrote to you, I was staying down at my grandmother's when I last wrote, bub I have come home since then, and am very glad to ba back, during the winter at all events^- Yours truly, * Dunedin, June 25. Charlie. [Next time you write, Charlie, try to tell ub something interesting about what you are doing, or something about your cat or dog or chickens. A little letter like this is of no interest to other little folks.— Dot.] Deab Dot,— l read the little folks' letters, and I like reading them' very much, so I thought I would write to you also. I live at Heriot. I have two uncles away in Sydney. They went lasb Friday, and I felt very sorry ; but they are coming back in November, and they intend to bring me some pets. I have two Sydney birds — a Rosella parrot and a magpie. Dear Dob, I have a dear little kitten ; would you p'.eise give ms a name for it. — Yourß truly, Heriob, June 16. „ E. C. M'K. [You will have a double reason for welcoming your uncles back— for their own sakes and to see the pets they bring jou X I suppose the Rosella and the magpie are very amusing. Do they talk ? Callthe kitten Tibbie.— Dot.]"" Dear Dot,— My sister May wrote a letter, which appeared in last week'a Witness, in whioh she said that her brothers had yoked up a little calf, arid had made it pull a dobbin. We wish to say we were not cruel to ib. The calf is little beside a cow, but ib is a year old, and aa quieb and fab as possible. The fun was that the calf was so strong and the dobbin so light that he / ran away with it and bucked about the paddock with it, and made us all' laugh. We have 10 cows and 24 calves. They are all quiet, and nob afraid of us, which shows we are not unkind to them. With this explanation we hope you will not think us cruel. — Yours truly, Allan M. Martin (aged 13 years). Colin M. Martin (aged 9 years). Deborah, June 22. [I am very glad to near your explanation, Allan and Colia, &ud I am sorry it appeared as if you had been cruel when there was evidently no cruelty in the matter. It is fortunate none of you were in the dobbin when the calf ran away.— Dot.] Djjah Dot,'~l have a peb dog and a pet cat. My dog is called Boy and my cab Tom. I have bwo brothers called Johnny and Tom. We are going to have a magic lantern entertainment nexb Wednesday night, and I shall write again and tell you about it. I can play the concertina and the flute a little, and I like playing them very much.— Your little friend, Water James Hogg (aged 10 years). Hakateramsa farm, Juuß 22. [I hope you will v learn music properly, Walter, as you have a taste for ib, and nob waste your time playing by ear. I shall look for your letter about the concert— Dot.]

Dear Dot,— We have a farm, the name of which is Glasgow farm. We got a good many prizes ab the Winter Show. Were you thers ? It was very nice. I go to the East Taieri School, and am in the Second Standard, Miss Shand being my teacher. We have aboub two miles and a-half to walk. I have five brothers and one sister. Dear Dot,' I have two dolls and one cat ; please give me names for one doll and the cat. Now, good-bye, Dob. I will try and write a nicer letter next time.— Yours truly, i June 20. Mary Jane Blackie. [No wonder you enjoyed the Winter Show, Mary, when you could see so many prizs tickets attached to the products 'of your farm. It must indeed have been pleasant for you. Independent of that, however, the show was well worth seeing, and no one, I think, regretted going to see it. You should have told me the name of the doll which has a name to guide me iv selecting one for the other. Call her Violet and the cat Judo. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — Seeing some letters from children to you in the Witness, I desire to write one too. I have a pet cat called Jenaie. When any dogs come in the yard she jumps over the wire netting fence between the yard and the fowl run. She stands on the other bide looking at them, as much as to say, " Catch me now if you can." Dear Dot, can you tell me a cure for chilblains, as I suffer very much with them ?— Yours truly, Jack Barb (aged 11.) Dunedin, June 20. [Jennie is a very canning pussy, Jack, and I am sure you rauat be very fond of her. She has evidently studied the matter out, and knows whejre she is safe. *<A. good way, to check chilblains is to steep your feet or hands in very hot water and .soapsuds for five minutes every night and morning. When they are itching very badly, a little St. Jacob's Oil rubbed in will relieve the irritation for a time. — Dot.] Dear Dot, —l am sending you some riddles, and I hope the little folks will try and answer them. Could you give me a cure for moles. — Yours truly, • N. G. [Try a solution of perchloride of iron painted on the 'moles once daily.— Dot.]