LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 51

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

IXb.vr Dot, — I am very fond of animals, so I »oi goiug to tell you oi a few I look after. We bave two covrfs whose name* are Polly and Sally, r.-.ii three' calves, two being called StmMa and :>u-i.-, while bho la»t one thtfc came is a little nia-e calf' whith perhaps you would give me a iiKioa for. Ho ia » floe, strong fellow, and uri>ik* hit milk, well. Susi-s is ra>hfcc dainby, arjcl is a bad dri»ker. Wa have a pretty paroquet wha^twlks very well. Ho says " Good morning" atna "A oup of tea" and "A piece of potato," and a great many more words. I have itlso eifibk du«k» — all nay ovtn. They are Ifl-ying n»w, and need mor» looking afber. I »m learning to pl*y the organ, at>d Mrs Morboa ii my tea«her. Mr S»unders has a clas* On Monii.iv night* for teecbivg the sol-fa, which I » tiend. I au getting too big to play with a doll, so I am going to dress- her nicely and put ber frway. She hat yellow hair, btomi eyes, and pink cheeks. Would you kindly give me a nauia for k«r. I am sending you 46 statmpj. — Yours truly, Emily A. Ghkrn Owak*. - (agod 12 years). [/rhaak you for your good intentions so far as the stamp* are concerned, Emily, bub used fitanops ara of no U3« far th* kindergarten.. Those acknowledged are u«o*sd stamps I think yoa had better call the stroag calt Heicn!es,< a»<3 fcha doll you could name Victoria Kegina, 'no tf&t., it' wilP-remin'd you in after years of Jubilee-year. — Dofc.j. '~#~

, Djgi.it Dot, — Ibis a considerable time'siace, l ' bavis vn-ikten to you, birt I always read the little folks' lo»t<5»». We had tWpet lambs, but lam sorry fc» sn-y th*b one of them died on Sunday moraiag. Tbe name of the de*d lamb was Lugs. We gave tbe lamb that name because it had long eats. The other lamb's name is Sao w y . Do you thick Snowy and Lugs are nice namsa for )amb« ? We have two nevrly-calved cows. Some of tk« other cows are not dry yet. Mother milhs the two newly-calved cows both night and morniag. Mother also helps to milk the partlydry e*tr#, whioh aro only milked at nigafc. Tiny, my wee dog, is still thriving, but she is a little nuisapea for going on tho flowers. We have a few white violets and different kinds of primrose*. Do you like flowers, Dot ? I do. I enclcee some stamps for the Kindergarten Fuad.— Ywrs truly, Rosetta Mart Smith (aged 12$ years). Inch-Clutha, September 13.

[Y«*, Rosette, I am very foad of flowers; and o«pfcially spring flowers such as violfcts and prioaroses. Their perfume is delicious, and thoy co«i<s at a time when flowers are so scarce and so welcome. Lugs was au appropriate nama under the circumstances, and I have no doubt Snowy was equally so. It is a pity the former died. Thank you foe the stamps. — Dot.]

Dbar Dot, — I live a good distance up country. I hare five sisters and three brothers. My sisters and myself have all flower gardens, and we have gre*fc competitions to see who can grow the b«3t flowers. We are milking sis cows, and we h-we five calves. Their names arc Waiau, ' Record, Slay, June, and July. There are a lot of lambs in the bush now. We have nine pet sheep, whose names ar« Donald, Dorry, Muffins, Diok, Gowan, Molly, Flora, Jack, and Fairy. I have no special pet of my owa, though I had a cab ; but one of my si»t*rs drowned it, so I have not any now. My titter and I Made little 'sledgee, and we yoke the calves in them and have great fan. They itmttiaits run away with sledge •nd all. We had two little kittens. They lived [in the hay, and every time my sitters

"went to milk tbe cows they would coaio to get some milk, only thoy wouldn't drinkoufcofa disb, but would stand up on their uiud legs and the girls would milk into their mouths. I hwe a doll -whose name is Ethel, aud my sister Bessie'a is called Myrtle. We bave two foals, and their names are Albiou Maid and Beeswing. Dear Dot, I will closo now, hoping I may write again ; good-bye. — Yours truly, Muriel Glbndinking.

Waiau, September 13,

[Of course you may, Muriel. It was very unfair of your sister to drown your cat, but perhaps it was not a very nice one. It must be fun watching the kittens getting their milk. — Dot.] ■

Dbar Dot, — You would ba sorry to sea the notice of Alice M'Kellar's death in the same paper as her story appeared. She was my only little girl cousin, aad I will miss her dreadfully. Here favourite hymns were "There's a home for little children " and "Jewels." I have two brothers and one sUber, and we always go to Ofcekaike for our holidays. We live up ths Haktteramea Valley, and we hava two ponies, their names being Poeka and Twopeuce. lam sending four stamps for the Kiadergaten Fund. — Yours truly, W. Ltle Mitchell.

Hakateramea, September 10.

[Y«s, Lyle, we were all sorry to hear of poor little Alice's dea f h. It was very sad, aud I am sure many little folks will have kept har talc, which gave so much promise of future good work. Thank you foe the stumps. — Dot.] '

Dear Dot, — I noticed by the Witness that a turkey had written to you, and I thought I might write as well as a bird surely. I will try, anyhow. I am not very old; lam a Greyhound Pup, and I am learning every day. I had a good many brothers and sisbt-r-t, but I am sorry to say that three of our number have died. I sometimes see my sister May. She tells me her master treats her very kindly. My brother Major and I never leave our mother only for a long run as far as the river. We like to play in the sand aloug the river side. We are not allowed to chase the sheep, and we would not think of tormenting the lamb 3. We sleep in a little hou?e with a pet lamb whose mother left it when just a day old. Tbo lamb is getting quite big and fat. Its name is Billy, and a girl teeds it from a bottle, wish the nice new milk was for me: I heard my master say that Major and I will go out coursing when we are old enough. We often see our father coming home very tired. It will be splendid fun to follow the' hare. If my master will allow me I will send you the first h*rel catch. My paw is getting tired, because

I am I'd quite in the way of writing lebbars yet. My mother send* her love to you. Her name is Lady. I hear my brother barkiDg ; he -wants me to come to bed. lam afraid you will be wearied by this from ycur true friend Middlemarcb, September 12. GiPdr.

[Not at alt, Gip*y ; it is quite pleasant to hear of such a happy and_ contented family as your*. I am su<-e you"" must all bo great favourites with your master and mistress. Youc mother must be very handtome to hive been given such a nice name. — Dot.] Dbar Dot, — 'Tis years since last I wrota, May I not write again ? .T"»v I've struggled to forget, Yet my struggles are iv vain. . I dare not abuse t»y poetical powers any more,

for I've only a. limited quantity at my command,

and I hope the songster vrill forgive me for converting thesoDg to my owalne. lam going to "ask yon 'what you think' of a fellow who despises cricked and football, and prefers a Dice story book or a Latin or French exercise instead ? I lik» running or wMking racr-s, exploring, &c. I cun content my«*lf with admiring beautiful scenery ; bur, alack ! I can't find a. congenial mafca with tastes like myself, tioleas I can get one made to order. lam wrifciDg to yon in the forlorn hope of getting another forlorn fellow to sympathise wil-b. — Youra trnlv. H

larky C,

[I am glad yon have not quite forgotten Dot and her lifctla folks, Harry. "Three or four years in » boy's lifetime is a big gap to bridge over, and I suppose you are feet taller thaa when you lost wrote. A boy who prefer* % book to'crieket or football ne':d nob be ashamed of fche bent of his inclination. I jti*t read tb» other day that Mr Labouchere, M.P., is proud of the fact that he ba* never indulged in athletic exercises of any kind, and that he eveu w»lks aa little as possible ; aud yet uo one cm accuie him of lack of vigour either meotally or bodily. I hope you will fintl a chum with similar tastes to your own. — Dot.]

Dbas. Dot, — It is a long time since I wrote

to you. I have fire brothers, their names being Henry, Ernest, Charles, Bort, aud b*by Viocant Gray, who is a euaninfj weß dixiger. of 10 crK-nths. lam in th« Fourth Standard, and ara 10 years on the 6^h of next mouth. My birthday i» only a fortnight distant, l'va got a garden with a few fl'»wer6, a few cftbb»g«and peat), aad, radishes. I bave no pet» yefc, but would like a- bird or a kitten, and ex^ec); one eith«r on my birthday or' frota old Sank* C'iius when h» corned tumbling dovm the chimneys at Christmas time. I expect to hive a bunch of-nice sweet flowers for his Jordship, if he .is not too heavily laden to accept Miena. Can I write ag»in soon to tell you whether I win: a priz», as I am trying for one ?—Yourstruly, , . Ai/wyn.

[Certainly, Alwyn ; you are as welcome back

as Harry is. I hope your offoiing to old Biuta will not b*s in vain, bub thab you will find a canary and cage waiting for you on Christmas morning.— Dot. 1