LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 51

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — We are two old hens, and cur mistress calls us Eva and Francie We each had 12 chickens about eighiK months ago. I (Eva) had six rcosters and six pullets. I (Frimcie) had seven -roosters and five pullets. We have an idea that cur end is pretty near, as Easter is earning cn f Oae of onr mates waa killed this moruing for our master's next Sunday's dinner. It was not quick enough to get away from the boy who wasafter if; but if that is our fate, we hope to be pretty tough subjects to those who tackle m and will be the cause of giving them indigestion. One day a big dog named Jop, belonging to our master's son, came and chased us ; but one of the family, a. big rooster, gave him a peck which sent him away howlin?, so I don't think he will tackle ua again in a hurry. We get fed twice a day on wheat, and generally get all the scraps. We hear onr mistress complaining that, with all the 'food we get, we don'c lay enough eggs to keep the house eoing in cakes, puddings. &o. We go to roost very e»rly every night, and get up an soon as the first roosfcer crows ia the morning. There was a meeting of all the old hens the other night, and between •ur all we collected fix pennies, which we are forwarding to you in stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. We are getting tired of writing now, so we will stop. May we write again, Dot ? — Yours truly, Two Vkrit Todgh Old Hens.

Roxburgh, April 15.

[I don't see why you should aik permission to write again when the danger of the pot is so imminent. You cannot write afber giving indigestion to those who dine off you, -you know. Thank you for the stamps. It is doubly kind of you to think of the Kindergarten Fund when your end is so near.— Dot.]

Deae Dot, — I would like very much to become oue of your little folks. I read the letters from little folks every week, and I find them very interesting indeed. I lire near the bush, and often go gathering ferns when I come home from school in the eveniDg. I have quite "a fernery now. I also have a flower garden, but there are only a- few winter flowers out now, most of them being chrysanthemums. I hava one brother, who gave rabbiting almost every evening, and generally comes home late for tea. My birthday and my brother's both fall on the same day, although he is three years older than I am. We had a little birthday patty last month, and my brother gave me a beautiful doll ; will you please give mo a name

for it. Mj cousin was staying witb us for a montb, but he went away yesterday, and brother mint* went witb him, so I am lonely to-day, as I Lave no one to tease. — Yours truly, Abjitha Melton.

Agatha Farm, Orepuki, April 11.

[How nice to have birthdays on tbe same day, Abetha. I- am sure your mother will never allow it to pass over without some little celebration. I hope your brother will turn over a new leaf when he comes back and come to his tea in proper time always. As the birthdays fall in March I think you had better call the doll Lady March. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — The nams of our house is " The Ark," and, being built on a hill, we say, "The Ark has rested on Mount Ararat." It sounds arrange, doesut it, Dot? It is only six months sgo since we got the ark built, aud living up here seems pretty lonely to what it was down in the township. We have a very fair view from our place. We can see the beach and township, the saleyards, and a good many houses besides. Winter will soon be with us again. It is awfully cold now, and it is dark at half-pasfc 6iu the mornings. Last time I wrote to you I told you about the cotton plant. I am glad to tell you I managed to^row ib all right. I am sending you a leaf that you may judge it yourteif, as it is said to be a very beautiful plant. — Yours truly, Victor Viccount. Orepuki, April 11. [" The Ark " is qnite a novel name, Victor, and I am sure you mu&t have plenty ot amusertejfc with your neighbours over itand Mount Ararat. I suppose the house is not built boat fashion, iv it ? lam glad you succeeded with the cotton plant, as it will no doubt induce you to try other experiments in plant-growing. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— l am in the Fifth Standard, and wi 1 boou be 12 years of »ge. Mr Young, , our school teacher, get* up school concerts and excursions for us, and is very kind to bis pupils. Wo had a trip to Mataura lasb time, ; and we had a trip to luverc&rgill the time bjfore. Orepuki is a very nice place. It is ' .surrounded by the Long wood Ranges and ,' Taewaewae Bay. There is a dairy taccory and also a big hall. I have a little brown and white guinea-pig, and my brother has a little calf. The calf is a heifer, and ia red and ! white ; will ycu please give me a name for it.— Yours truly, B. Sharp. Orepuki, Aprii 3. [It is very pleasant to look forward to an annual trip such as those Mr Young has taken i you, and I hope you endeavour to repay his i kindness by working hard all the year. I think • D*is>y i 3 a suitable name for such a calf. — j Dot.] 1 Dkar Dot,^— l was readiug tho Little Folks' . letters in the Witness the obher day, so I ; thought I would writ« one, too. I am gettiDy my harvest holidays just now, and all the men aro busy harvesting. I a:n iv t.he Sixth Sla-ndard at school. We are inilk;ogfour CO9"», • aud I milk one or them. I have four siatera and ' thiee brothers, aad fchrea of us are going to sch'.o!. I have a ?)ig <Ioli ; please give noe «. i name for it. I unclose one penny sfcunp ior the .' fund. — Yoars truiy, Nbi/he (.aged 12 years.) ■ March 18. 1 [I do n&ii know where your letter has been ah thia time, Nfllie, but it has just arrived I a month after it wad v?ri!teu. Call the doll • Kuby. Thank yon fox she stamp. — Dot.] Dear Dor, — I musfc tell you that oar school is a very small oue. Ther« are 15 going to it i ju*t now. Our teacher is Mr Thomas. I havn la. fl ;wr garden, ami it is very pretty. My ' sister has a black and wjiito c&fc called Daisy, ! which is so tame and quiet. Dear Dot, we ; have a poor old cow called Rose. She is 1.6£ jears old, »nd alie has such a. pretty little ealr. , —Yours truly, Olive Joine3. j Porter's Pass, April 9. [Though » &mail school, probably you will leuru all the more, Olive, because Mr Thomas , will have plenty of time to devote to each one :iu the class. Ka«e is getting old certainly, but; she appears to be uselu! still. — Dot.] Dfar Dot, — I always read the LitHe Folks' letters in the Witness, which we get irvery week. I have four sisters and three brothers not married. Three! of us go to school. Wo have a black and white kitten ; please give me a. name for it. I will say good-night now, Dear Dot, I nead six stamps tor the kindergarten fund. — Yours Iruy, , ; Maggie Barclay (aged 10 years). j Kaitangata, April 12. c j [Call the kifcleu Skittles^ Maggie. Thank : you for the stamp?. — Dot.] ! Dkar Dot, — I always read the Little Folks' \ letters, aud like them very much, bo I thought • I would write, too. The weather here has ! been very changeable. My sister has a doil; 1 would you mind giving- her a name for it. I ' am sending six stamps for the Kindergarten, a piece of poetry, aud also some riddles. I must . conclude, as ib is getting late. The poetry is ,' entitled 1 THE MOTHERLESS H.BIB. ( The mother dead? The sheep that should have I been ' This baby's friend has died ; There's none to suckle, none to love it now, And none to guard and guide. Yet see how for that helpless thing it's shepherd does A spsnial place provide ! Up to his saddle he has lifted it, With him to have a rifle. Ihe happy rest he leaves to do their best Upon the inountaia wide ; 1 This orphaned little one he carries home To Bhare his snug iireside. j — Yours truiy, Violet, j Lawrcuee, April 13. ! [Call the kitten Sprite. Thank you for the ' stamps, Violet. — Dot.]