LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 51

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dfak Dot, — I live in a place called Dumbarton Rock. I ha.ye three brother! 1 , Herbert, Johnny, snd Gilbert, and a sister Mabel. My brother Herbert; and I go to the Roxburgh School. We have thive miles to walk. lam going to be put into the First Standard soon. Miss Sutherland is my teacher, and I like her ■very much. Dear Dot, our garden is looking pretty just now, as the trees are all out in b:o.-som. Dear Dob, you ought to come up to Roxburgh in the fruit; season. I tbink you would like it. My brother says I Lave to teli yen he has a whito aud grey cab ; would you give him a name for it. lam sending you three penny stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. I must stop now, as mamma Fays it in bedtime. — Yours truly, Olive Campbell Rosedell, September 20. (aged 7 years). [I shall try to come when the railway 5s running, Olive. I wonder when that will be ? It must lock very pretty now wiih the trees blooming, and I am sure you must feel very happy when you look at all the prefcfcy orchard*. Tell your brother lo call the cat Spring. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — We have bad another concert and dunce tince I wrote you last. I will write and tell you of our success ; but it could never come up to the spinsters' dance, and for all time to come I don't think that ib ever will happen again, unless another be given by the spinsters. Wei l , a concert and dance were held in the Huirapa Hal!, Puketeraki, on Wednesday, 15bh iuet . iv aid, I am told, of the hall funda, got up by a committee of that distcict. Tbe concert commenced at 8p m, after Ml- Thomas Prat*-, M.H R., had made a short speech to the au-jience, when Mr Thomas Pratt, jun., called cut the programme, which was carried through with every success. The couce-rt was opened with a pianoforte solo, given by Miss Emily Duff. Those wfco took part in tbo concert were: Mia^es King, Herbert, Duff (2), Mrs W. Harper, jun., Messrs King, Cumblebset, Bl&thwayte, Buckley, M'Con-noi-hie, Allen, and others. Tha principal successes were comic songs, given by Mis 3 King ("Arrah ! go on, you're only ing," which was loudly applauded) and Mr J. Allen ("Sister Mary walks like this," which was very camical), and both had to repeat their songs. An overture was giv^n by Miss Herbert (piano), Messrs Buckley (violin), and Joueß (cornet), of the Seacliff Asylum staff, who kindly gave their services. A farje by the staff, entitled "Jolly Smoke, Oh!" caused much amusenieut, and had to be repeated. This euded the concert programme ; and after Member Pratt thanking the audience and performers for their kindness in trying to make the entertainment a success, the seats were removed in readiness f^r dancing, and the little hall was quite filled when the dancing star tec!. Everything was carried on in a mosb agreeable manner, the natives trying to please everybody. The music was supplied by Mr John Ellison (violin) and Mr Thomas Pratt, jun. (piano), assisted by the Seacliff Asylum Band, comprising Miss Herbert (piano), Messrs Buckley (violin), Jones (cornet), which rendered excellent music in good time. In fact, it was more like a European dance than a native one, as there were nob so many natives as we wished to see, and besides you couldn't distinguish that night a Maori from a European, the native race looking so well. About midnight refreshments were handed round, and songs were contributed from a few during the intervals in the dance. All present enjoyed themselves — indeed they could do nothing else Towards 1 o'clock of the Seacliff Asylum staff to the number of about 10 (some remaining) left for home, and their excellent music was greatly missed. Let us hope that they will come back to the next enterlainment in the Huirapa Hall, as their company was highly appreciated, and they caused much laughter with "Jolly Smoke, Oh!" The remaining lot of ! dancers kept ou dancing and amusing themselves till day began to show its appearance, when the people thinned off by degrees, and the dancing terminated at 4.30 a.m., everybody going home well pleased with th« sociable night's entertainment. — Youn truly, Huirapa, September 21. M.W. A.C.

Deab Dot,— Since I last wrote to you wa have got another teacher. Our examination will soon be on, and I hope I shall pass. It has been very bad weather, and our teacher could nob come on Thursday. There *re very few children going to school now— only about 20,

The cat which we last caught was a wild one, Mid he had been going into the rabbit burrow, and got caught iv the trap my brother had sefc. Ouce we caught our own dog Sum, and it was a long time before we could get him out, for we were afraid he would bite us. We are milking four cow?, and have to feed them, for there is very little grass. I send you two stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. — Yours truly, George Campbeli,,

Waikawa, September 12.

[Poor Sam, he must have suffered greatly. Did his leg get all right agaiu ? Thank you for the stamps, George. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — It is Hot very long since I last wrote to you. I like reading "Lettets from the Back Block"," because they are very amusing aud interesting. Our Arbor Day is on the 24-th, while our examination is in November, and I hope to succeed in passing, having gone through every standard as yet, and being now in tbe Fifth. The railway station 13 now completed, so I hope to see the train uphere soon. Wbea I go to Dunedin I will c.me aud see the Lttle kindergartners if you will allow me. I little thought when I was reading poor Alice M'K-illar's letter or story that she was lying on her death bed. It was a very pretty story to ba written by a girl nine years of age. I hope her father is improving in health. It is very good of you to het past a page for the little folka. I think I will bring my letter to a close by a riddle, so good-night, Dot. — Youra truly,

Lizzie Law.

Eweburn, September 18

[Yes, Lizzie, they will be glad to see you at the kindergarten when you coma down. Poor Aliea's death was very sad.— Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I like reading the little folks' letters. I have a cab and a pup. My little brother has a cat and a pup also. The colours of the c its are yellow aud grey and white ; the pups brown ai d white. The pups are ho dogs and the cats are sheß ; would you please give me names for them. My father had a little pin in his leg for a long time, and as he has gut ib out now he is keeping it for a ker-psake. — Yours truly,

B'vtibum, September 18,

Madge Law,

[Faii'y having a pin buried in your leg ! It is quite painful enough. Madge, to have one go in a iittle way, isn't ie ? Call the dogs Nettle and S ing and the cats Venom and Vixen. — Dot.]

De\r Dot, — We have been getting the Witnets (or 16 yearw, and I like reading the little folks' letters. I have a sore finger, as I got it jam bed iv a. door ; bub I hope to write better mxt time. Igo to the Fairfax School, and I am in the Third Standard. Sir Mahoney is my teacher. I will be 10 j ears old on Thursday. I hive two miles to walk to school, as I live at Mouut Steep farm ; that is the name or our place My father has been sowing wheat. It is all in, and some of it is above the ground, and is looking very well. Ha has some oats sown, but the weather is very unsettled at present, and has kept him back a lot. I hope we shall get some fine weatoer soon, na I like the nice warm days ; dou't you, Dot ? I have a little black kitten with a whits breast, and it is very proud of its< If ; would >ou please give ma a name for it. She plays with our dog Toss, and is not afraid of him. — Yours truly.

Andrew L. Hood.

Mouut Steep, Tokomairuo, September 20.

[Yts, Audiew, I like the bright sunshine, but the rain is wanted also, or the wheat would nob Lave come up so well. As the dog's name is Toss, call the kibten Tot. — Dot."]

Dear Dot, —I am a cow. The other day I found pfcro ot the Witness, aud, I read some of the letters from little folks and animals, so I thought I would write myself. I live at a place called Upper 'Moonlight. It is a very rough place, and I have bard work to find enough food in the winter. If ib was not for my kind owners I think I should have been dead long ago. I have a nice little calf, but I never see it, as it is kept shut up all day. My name is Pansy. Do you thiuk that is a, nice name ? I must finish my letter now, as I have no more ink. — Your truly, Pansy.

Upper Moonlight, September 9.

[A very nice name, indeed, Mrs Cow. It is very sad to be separated from your calf, but, of course, it ghes you more time to fossick about for food. — Dor.]

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to you. I thought I would write and tell you about my pets. I have a little grey kitben with a white breast ; will you please give mo a nams for it. I have a little black hen called Jebty. — Your little friend,

Mary Anderson (aged 10 years).

[I hope Jetty lays eggs for gentlemen, like the black h"-n that your mother tells you about, Mary. Call the kitten Tip.— Dot ]

Dear Dot, — My sister told you that father had a hor<se called Judy, but we only call her Judy (o tease father. Her real nams is Lady Agnes. She is a vary nice horse, and father is very proud of her. Banmore is a lovely place, and ttiere are about 80,000 sheep on it. lather has thtee sheep dogs, called Rover, Spark, and Glen. We have two cafs, called Skittles aud Rouggy. We want raia very badly here just now, aud the oats are very dry. The trees are nice and 'green now, and the buds are getting' big. My sister Alice has eet three hens ou 11 eggs each, and I hops they will all hatch. I must stop now, as it is ne&r bedbime. — Yours truly, Tawi Middleton (aged 11 years). Benmore, September 20. [It is a change from Lady Agne3 to Judy, Tawi, and as the owner of the name ia such a favourite, I do not wonder at your father not liking "Judy." What a tremendous number of sheep ! I am afraid we town people cannot form any idea of what such a vast number of live animals is like. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — When I last wrote (o you it was winter, and this place is very dreary at; that time of the year ; but now it is spring, and it is very pretty. The flowers are coming into bloom, aud the birds are singing merrily. We go to school in a boat, and in winter time it is very cold and sometimes rough, but now that the weather i 3 warm we like the journey very much. Miss Street is our teacher, and we were examined by Inspector Braik last Thursday. All the pupils pa3Ecd except one. I was in the Fourth Standard, and will now go into the Fifth. Dear Dot, don'fc you think our teacher must ba very good when only one failed?— Yours truly, John K. Cabb.

W&ikfcwa, September 21,

[Yes, John, I should say she takes very great p&ins with you, and I am glad to think you do her credit in return. It is quite a novel way of going to school lo use a boat. Do you cross the bay or go down a river ? — Dot.]

Deab Dot, — Our school was examined last month, and I passed the First Standard. The new headmaster's Dame is Mr Wallace, and he used to be in the Caversbam School. lam in his room now, and I like him very much. I am ridiDg my pony to school now. Her name is Sally. My big brother has just gone back to the High School in Dunedin. He says he likes Fairlie better than Dunedin. I have 9, ewo lamb called Tim, We bare two new

calves, a heifer and a bull, both red and white ; please tell me good names for them. My father says I ought to call them Jack aud Jill. I get up early to got my pony in, and to pick up the ducks' eggs and feed the lamb. — Yours truly, Alfred Ernest Gillinghasi.

Fairlie, September 22.

[I suppose you are nob satisfied with the plebeiau Jack and Jill, Alfred, or you would not ask me to give you names for the calves. Suppose ycu make a Duke and a Duchess of them ; that ought to make them aristocrats, shouldn'o it ? What do you do with Sally when you have got her to school ? She can scarcely follow you in like Mary's little lamb followed its mistress. I suppose you put her in a paddock. — Dot.]

Dolly, One- Tree Point. — You have nob sent your name with your letter, so that ib cannot appear. Besides this, the account of the dance at Rimu has already appeared in the Ladios' Page, the proper place. If you really are a little girl with a lit/tie girl's letter, send your name, and the letter bhall appear. Thank you for the stamps.