LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 57

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — I enjoy reading the letters from little folks. I certainly admire " J.s" nerve to be able to kill a sheep. I knoAV a girl who can skin a sheep, but Avill do anything rather than kill a fowl, and I am sure she would not like to kill a sheep. I sunnose " J." is gohig to learn to be a farmer, as she is learning to plough. Well, I think she is a strong-minded girl, and Avhy should there not be women farmers and butchers too, if they have nerves strong enough? There are Avomen doctors, laAvyors, station mastors, enginedrivers, and I think " J." is to be admired for her pluck, and 1 cannot see Avhat " Nettie- " has to be horrified at. The sheep would ha\ r e to surfer at someone else's hands if not at "J.s" What does "Nettie"' think when she is eating her plato of mutton ? Does flhe think of the poor sheep then? I suppose she will be horrified at "Devonshire Dumpling" shooting at a rabbit? A girl named Stella trained a pair of steers ; the calves were trained to perform evolutions, .with and without the yoke, to move in direct

lines or circles (either abreast), or to kneel and rise, guided only by gestures, or movements of the whip, the little trainer doing the whole without speaking a word. She is 10 years old. She exhibited thorn at an agricultural show, and got enough money to buy all her winter clothe?. She said: "Perhaps I am a tomboy, but I like nice clothes." And now, dear Dot, I must say " Good-bye." — Yours truly.

Nanny.

[" Stella " was certainly a clever girl, and deserved all the money she got. It must have required endless patience to train the calves to go through evolutions such as those

Nanny" describes. — Dot.]

I Dear Dot,— lt is very cold here at present, for we have had a lot of snow and frost. We have, however, lots of coal to burn and ! keep us warm. Dear Dot. have you ever had Denniston or Coalbrookdale coal? A lot goes down the hill, and when I was away at Wanganui last Christmas my grandma had some of it. I have a little sister, whose name is Ailie. She is three years old. I read the little folks' letters regularly, for an old gentleman brings tho paper every week. I shall be seven on tho 20th of August. Dear Dot, I 1 am pending 12 stamps for tho Kindergorton i Fund. I must f<ay '" Good night," as it is my bed lime. — Your little friend, Kathleen Ballantine. Doimiston, August 15. '' [Kathleen's birthday will have come and gone before she sees this in print, but it will not be too late to wish her many ha^'->v returns of the day. I have also to thank her for the stamps for the Kindergarten Fund.— Dot.] j Dear Dot,— l read the little folks' letters every week, so I thought I would like to write you a letter myself. I live close to the sea, and my brothers and I have grand fun playing on tho beach when the tide is low. I have a cat named Friday, and my brother has one named Cuba and a little dog named Snap. We all went up the Tautuku River one day in a boat, and the scenery was very pretty. My brother is fond of mak- ; ing boa,ts and sailing them in the water. 1 Dear Dot, I am sending you three penny stamps for the Kindergarten Fund.— Yours truly, May Dewae (aged 10 years). Tautukii, August 12. [You will be glad th^t spring has come, i May, so that you will be able to make another , trip up the Tautuku when the opportunity offers. Is there buph on each side of the river? Thank you for the stamps. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I go to a, private kindergarten pohool, - and my two little brothers go also. Last 3 r ear I got first prize. I learn hymns at school. One of the hymns is called " Little i Floweret," another is "Lord, our little band and lowly." We learn sewing also, and I liavo nearly finished mine. I send fix stamps for the Kindergarten Fund. — Yours truly, I Violet (aged seven years).

Dunedin, August 17.

[How nice to have a letter from a little girl who goes to a kindergarten, even though it is a private one, and not those that tho little folks are so familiar .with. As Violet is peven now, I have no doubt she will soon be going to the regular school, but I am sure she has learnt a lot at the kindergarten, though perhaps she herself does not know it. 1 thank her for the stamps. — Dot.]

Deai Dot, — I live in a farming district. The school I go to is called the Elderslie School. There are about 40 children attending it, and Mr M'Killop is the teacher. The weather has been bad this last three or four weeks. The train passes where we live four times a day. Tho nearest siding to us is Forest Hill. We are milking one cow, and she kicks very bad. Wo can get the mail and send it away twice a week. The church is held in the school once a month. The rabbits are getting scarce, as they have been nearly all trapped for the factory. We have started poisoning, and two of our hens got poisoned. lam in the Fourth Standard, and hope to be in the Fifth in three- weeks' time. — Yours truly, Richabd Mitchell (aged 11 years).

Broadlands, Lochiel, August 16.

[I hope you will succeed in passing, Richard, as I have no doubt you have worked hard enough in your feudsavour to do so. It was unfortunate about your hens, and I hope you will not lose any more. — Dot.]

Dear Dot, — I wonder if you were ever in Central Otago? I stayed for a year with my uncle in the Taieri district, not far from an old mining town. Hamiltons, as it is called, is a wild barren place situated on the slope of a high hill. So wild ;»nd desolate is it that it is difficult to describe. Nearly all round this forlorn spot is bordered by barren rocky mountains with not a speck of grass or tussook as far as the eye can see. For it is not only Hamiltons township, but the whole place itself is surrounded by mountains. At times I used to hate those sterile, rugged hills ; but at others I have loved to roam at the foot of a certain range, not a great distance from the station homestead, and thence to wander into their valleys, where the mountain stream dashes itself down the barren, rocky gorges, and with the wind wailing and taoaning round I have sat down on a rock overhanging the stream, and listened to the wind and the roaring creek mingle together their tumultuous sound, while far above my head I have heard the cry of the seagull as he soars up seeking for some poor defenceless creature that lie may devour. Ib is all quiet, with no civilisation to spoil the beauty of tho scene. Another gold-mining town was Sowburn. About the same time as the Hamiltons rush, gold was also found there in large quantities. When most of the gold Aras worked out of Hamiltons the miners went thence to Sowburn, leaving HamiHons nearly desolate. After some time that was alto exhausted, and tho majority of the miners left for Naseby. But those who remained, still making a little money out of the gold that was left, planted trees and built decent houses out of cob, and also made pretty little gardens round about their cottages. After some years tho trees grew up, making a picturesque little village out of this barren mining town. Perhaps it is mor« noticeable after looking upon nothing

but baked up plain and mountains, and then to see this little place nes>tling under one of those rocky ranges, you cannot help being struck with its beaucy. Dot, I wish you would visit tho Alaniototo. I am sure you would like it. I wonder if you would think as much of Sowburn as I did? Hut do not go there in the winter, for all the trees lose their leaves making it look dreary and forlorn. So our friend Sybil Scribbles has changed her name to "Jock"! It does not suit her as well, as she generally does a certain amount of Fcribblmg. You mistook my naino Nona for Nora. 1 must now stop. — Yours truly, Augu&t 13. Nona Carkingtox. [That was a natural mistake, Nona, for your ramo is so uncommon. It is, however, very pretty, but so is Nora, don't you think so? You have written such a tempting description of the wiklnesd and grandeur of the Hamilton district that I feel quite anxious to pass a few days in it. If I do, however, it will be in summer as you advise. — Dot.] Dear Doc. — Tho assault at arms passed off most successfully and creditably to my chums who took part in .it. [ was not present owing to the postponement of the affair falling on the night when the Shakespeare Club were to give a reading from " Hamlet." I decided in favour of Shakespeare in order to accompany my dear friend to the club. I gave my ticket to one of my former schoolmates, who enjoyed himself, whilo I enjoyed myself heartily at tho club. Since writing to you last we have had the extreme pleabiire of welcoming our dearly beloved rector back from his travels. He is looking Avell, and we were delighted to see him amongst us again. I Lave been presented with a nice volume entitled "Readings of the Bible for the Home Circle." it came from Christchurch. I am so pleased with it. Wo had one great snowball fight, and I enjoyed a few snow rides down tho hill on my old sledge. There were only two youths at the "Pilgrim's Progress claso," while there were a good number of young ladies in attendance. Whatever is the matter with the young men of the district I don't know, unless they are all laid up with measles or whooping cough, but if so I hope they will be so far recovered as to be in attendance at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. All over 16 years can join the class, so rally up mated. I'm only the odd boy to hunt up the absentees, being under age. I do hope a good number turn up next Titosday night. It is discouraging to see such a small attendance of the male population. There ought to be at least two dozen. I must conclude in time to join the fireside group, as my fingers and brains aro about being frozen ; so goodbye, Dot, till next time. — Yours devotedly, Haeey.

[I have no doubt when Harry reaches the prescribed age he will be an energetic member of the youths' class, and will manage to round up quite a number of laggards. It is a good thing wo have some enthusiasts to take matters in hand. — Dot.]

Dedicated to Seddie with love. Ah! what avail the largest gifts of haaven

When drooping health, and spirits go amiss? How tafteless then whatever can be given ;

Health is tho vital principle of bliss. Oh ! who can speak the joys of vigorous health —

Unclogged tho bedy, inobscurod the mind? The morning rises gay with pleasing stealth; The temperate evening falls serene and kind. Hatiry.

Dear Dot, — We had a splendid snowfall this year. It lay on the ground a long time, and we had some snowballing. lam getting along well in the Fifth Standard, and our master is grand. I like him very much, and if we only do our duty and work well we get out early and enjoy ourselves. The Old Philosopher is getting on famously. He is always getting books which make him smilo. lam going to try for a prize for lessons. As it will be the fir3t time I have got one, I should onjoy it. Ernest is in the First Standard, and likes it well. 1 planted some cabbage plants the clay before the snow fell, and I hope they will grow. I also put in some pansies and sowed some seeds in the garden. The spring is here now, and I have feome seed potatoes to plant, for 1 like to see something growing. Our new place is like a wilderness yet; with no trees or flowers growing except gorse and broom. The Old Phil, was going to write a description of the view and the lovely " native " broom and gorso. If I had my way I would light fires and burn them up. They are a nuisance. — Yours truly, Solomon' Slow.

[Sol. is evidently not quite so slow as he wishes us to believe. He has evidently a taste for gardening, and I hope he will be very successful with both his vegetables and his flowers. I don't quite agree with him about the gorse and broom, though if they are not attended to of course they become a nuisance, as does every other free seeding plant. That is the cultivator's fault, however, not the plant's. — Dot.] Dear David, — I was determined to 'surprise you by a letter to you through the medium of the Witness. I have not yet concluded that parody on your name. I would much rather translate " Cassar " oi " Waterloo" than compose one verse of English poetry, as the poetical genius does not run in my veins, although I am fond of poetry. I hope you will like these verses. Ah! be kind, Daye — life hath no secret For our happiness like this. Kindly hearts are seldom sad ones; Blessing ever bringeth. bliss. Lend a helping hand to others, Smile tho' all the form should frownBlack or white or red or brown. A boy's a boy thro' all gradations, Little leeks it where he stands; Boys aro boys in every climate.

Scattered over many lands; Boys are boys by form and feature, Boys by vice and virtue too. Boys in all, our common nature Speaks and binds us brothers true. j Dear David, — I have just got as far as j You are in your form a bright, beaming star ; With firm, heavy tread, in your hand a graini mar. A Latin grammar I mean, David ; but it won't do, so I give up the attempt. — Yours truly, H. S. Coloues. Dear Dot,— Your page is getting exceedingly lively and interesting nowadays, and I like reading the letters of " B.O.B." and the other chums very much. Many of your new correspondents li\e in the town, but I live in the country, Dot, and "B.O.B." and his mates would have some fine fun if they were up here. "B.O.B." was telling us that he lost two days with the influenza, but I lost a week with the measles. It was miserable lying in bed 1 , with nothing to do, but I managed to read " East Lynne " and " Tho World of Ice." Have you ever read those two books, Dot? I have read a few books on travel, and I feel that I would liko to travel round the world, but it has been my fate to bo cast in. this small country district. New Zealand is not my birthplace. I was born in England. Are you fond of nyupic, Dot? I am. Our house is blessed with a piano, an organ, two fiddles, a cornet, and there is a tin whistle lying about somewhere. Quito an oroho§lra on a small

seals, is it not? I have only one pet, and that is a big, fat, lazy, good-for-nothinsf black and white cat, Avhose name is Blackamoor, and AYhom everybody threatens to drown. Poor pu&ay ! what hord lines ! Last night Blackamoor and &omo other cats had a regular concert underneath the house, and when the dog chimed in it was realiy lovely.— Yours truly, A Neav and Inexperienced Chum.

Herbert, August 20,

[With po much music in the house I should have thought this New Chum would not have found her enforced confinement irksome. I Avondcr the gun Avas not brought into vise to break up the cat's concert.— Dot.l

Dear Ois, — When you have got over your little " pet," write me a nice letter, and it shall go in. — Dot. Pickwick.— Perhaps so, but I dont care about having anything more to do Avvth the matter. — Dot.