LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 57

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — It is so long since I wrote to you that Hedgehope has greatly changed during the interval. There 'are three sawmills now in the vicinity, but only one is working as yet. There is also a store and a telephone. I was trapping this season, and had the pleasure of seeing three caves. The caves were formed out of lime rock, and long spikes of lime were hanging down from the roof; but the large black spiders which are also hanging down do not make the caves very agree- | able to new-comers. The prettiest sight was a long sheak of •water flowing through ono of these spikes into a basin, formed, by the | constant dripping of water on to the rook. I Our member, Mr M'Nab, while visiting Forest Kill, was in one of those ca\es. It will soon be time for thinking about the Christmas holidas's now. I have not settled my mind v. here I shall go ye!, but I rlon't think I shall be likely to go to Dunedin again in a hurry, as last time I was there I had the misfortune to lose myself. It happened on Christmas night, and it was not a very pleasonfc night I spent, but after having a yarn with a policeman he managed to find out where I lived. I reached homo about II o'clock a.m. Two of my brothers went up to the top of one of the highest of the Hokomiis, and saw Mataura, Edeiulale, Dacre, Woodlands, Invercargill, and Gap, the nearest of these places being about nine miles away. The wild pigs are now near the outside of the bush, and two or three have been killed. Now that the shooting season is over,.j the pigeons are rejoicuig on top of the pepper i trees, end hardly taking notice of people passing by. I shot my first three pigeons last shooting season. — Yours tiuly, Feedkrick Helm. Upper Hedgehope, August 27. [Dear me, Frederick, what an unpleasant experience you had, to be wandering about ■ tha streets all rifght ! Tt is best when you are in a strange place to get familiar vvith some striking object such as a clock tower or a church near where you are staying, and I then you can easily find your lodgings. The ' caves must be a very interesting sight. Are i the stalactites white and easily seen, or are ■ the caves too dark? — Dot.] I Dear Dot,— l have just been reading the " little folks.," admiring what an extensive correspondence you get now, and all interesting, too. Ido not know what to write about hi particular, as I have no pets, only a dog. She is a greyhound, and if you read the coursing notes a couple of years ago you might have noticed her name — La Rose. She catches a lot rabbits for me. I also had her j out with my schoolmaster this season after ; hares, and she ran very fair. lam veiy fond j of horses and dogs, but I don't like cats. I , am in the Seventh Standard, and am learn- ] ing algebra, surveying, and bookkeeping as extras. B. 0. B. and Ido not agree as to our favourite games. I do not like football at all : I would far rather play cricket. I collect j stamps, and have two of the 2Jj,d " Wakitipu " I error?. I have all the new is«ue up to Bd. I like reading the Witness very much. 1 always read the Sketcher, the Editor's Wallet, Pater's Chats, etc. If B. O. B. and i Harry were down here in the shooting season they could get any amount of ducks and swamp hens, al«o pigs and pigeons out at the bush. The fishing season will soon be on now, and this is a great place for fish, especially the river Otamete. I wonder would i B. 0. B. write so often if he had a little three-year-old youngster on his right hand wanting a bit of paper, and dipping a straw in the ink — that's my luck. I must conclude with best wishes to yourself and correspondents. — Yours truly, * A Writes. Mandeville, August 27. [Notwithstanding the drawback of the little i 1 would-be scribe, I hope A Writer will not be a stranger to the&e columns in future. He is a welcome addition to our band of correspondents. — Dot.] 1 Dear Dot, — I suppose you will think I have forgotten your little folks' page. But that is not so. I have been ill, and on that account have not been able to write to you. B. O. B. waists to know about the shooting of California. Well, I will tell him what I know about the sports of California. Deerhunting is one of the most favourite sports, ; the kinds of deer of California being buck deer, stags, moose Jeer, and many others. Bear-hunting is also one of the sports, and wolf-hunting. Mountain sheep are hunted in the Silan Valley. There are plenty of wild ducks, geese and sivanFs. The rivers abound in {rent pnd salmon. Ft-yes are also plentiful. While and blue i'o\es are not bcarce. TTni'terfe Ir.ip them, and fell thtir •■■king. 1 sra goiiis; to be a fur trader, and. got on one of tho Kudaon Bay fur Company's forts in ' North .Ar/ierioi, ne'n,r Hudson's rJay. Father pays T can. IJ« says ifc will make a man oi me. Boys who hava read " Hudson Bay.' "Vngava."' and "Young Fur Tiyklcv " will have an idea of what a trapper is. It is a grand healthy life, always breathing the mne , air of Ihe Piocky Mountains, and away from ! the noi-y pity lif°. You gel vary fair^ pay. j unri ha\ c a fine adventurous life. Would j B. 0. R l : Le to 1)0 a hunger? The Indians j cf North Aicerin have a belief that when : ihc\» cue Cievi tht>y will go (■■> the h->vr-v hunting grounds, v, Jiere they will be free from '• the attacks; of tho i-alo faccrf. — Yours tialy, i Shasta, j Kaikonu, August 31. "j [E*ioij-ono will be porry to hear of Shasta's ; illne^F, and T hope he is quite strong again. J fancy the trapper's life would suit B. O. B. very well. — Dot.] I") oar Dot. — Thcie are about 70 children in our class. 1 am gutting on well in the Fifth j Standard, of which. Mr Coutts is master. I j don't get puaished very often— only wbp» 1

deserve it, and 1 -at altering this poetry foJ my master : Master, th.-nk ma not untrue, * I^o2ie, t think, I love like you; And tho more /our worth. I know, So my lo%'o dotii stronger grow. Caa yem think that I'd deceive you? Dtuiest mapisi-, I'll not leave you. Though jca o-.ro ibe whoie on earth, Eseijl'urK oi ) / ivc.;'!-'. Yet in" !<n-o a-iii iii'.ne more Than the wholo, though twice told o'er; Jjo not thinlt :.!:.•' I would gneve you, De.uos-t uiAo'e-, I'll not leave you. I don'r ini.eym to leave my master this year at any i,tce. i Lave to learn lessons first and Ijky aftf:i wards, like the good old philosopher. — Yoiup truly, Solohox Slow. [Sol. is certainly a most devoted pupil, and with such strong regard for his teacher he should make good progress.— Dot.] TO DOT. I think of thee by moonlight, In the still evening hour; I think of thee in sunshine, I think of thee in shower. I think of thee, Dot, ever, As the slavo thinks of his land. As tho captive Indian king Thinks of his loyal band. I think of thee, my dear one, Thou priceless jewel rote, As tender rosebud blooming, As fairest of the fair. My heart's all — all is thine, dear, And now I ask of thee, Though. I am far away, uot, Wilt thou still think of me? Bear Dot,— Will this do for a letter tonight? I got it out of the old philosopher's book, and Sol. changed tome words for me. — Yours truly, Bestwil. [Well, I suppose so. Bertwyl, but it is rather embarras&ng to be the subject of so much devotion, even if it does come becondhancl— slightly altered.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — I hope you will allow me to become one of your correspondents. Nowadays tho little folks' column has become quite popular, mainly, I think, through the letter.? ! of B. O. 8., A. D. D., Harry, etc. By the bye, j what has become of Harry lately ? I have not noticed his name of late. I hope he is not getting lazy. I am rather sorry for B. O. 8., since he has had influenza. Though I never : had it myself, still I hear enough about it ito know what it is like. I hope he will accept my sincere sympathy, and I should like him to know that 1 at least hp,vo got back my good opinion of him as regards " girls. "- Dear Dot, did you ever try to make paper flowers? "We have mi,de some daffodils, and they really do look very pretty and natural. They are very nice jiut now when there are so few flowers out. Ii m very glad peace has been declared betweor> Spain and America, are you not? It seeired such a pity that a grand nation like the Spanish were long ago should be "destroyed, which I suppose would have been the case had not tho war come to an end. Ido not think I should have cared to go as a nurse, but I don't sco why they couldn't have a female war correspondent as well as a male one. Have you been up to Roslyn lately? I was up' the other day. They seem to be getting on slowly with the ; new tram. I think it will be done by this time next year. — Yours truly, Doughnut. Dunedin, August 31. Dear Dot, — Though it is a long time since ! I wrote last, I have never lost my interest ia tb.9 little folks' letters, they are so inte1 resting. I often wonder how a rabbit, a | horse, or a cow can write to you, as none j of the animals of my acquaintance can handle j a pen. However, they are perhaps better | educated in other parts of the country than I they are about Gore. The only education 1 | know of them getting here is the rabbit learn- | ing to avoid being trapped, the horse to work, i work, work, and the cow to stand quiet and give plenty of milk. I hope some day to ! become acquainted with some of the more literary animals.— Youis truly, | Bessie Simpson. I East Gore, August 28. [I am rathei inclined to think that the education the Gore animals get is of more I value to them, and the two latter of more ! to us also, than the acqujfcpont of literary tastes, Bessie. However, JjHiope you will be j successful in your quest s&me day, and will send a letter for tho clever cow or hor&e. — - Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am jusfc going to write you a short letter, for I am but a little girl five : years old, and my father is helping me to write this. I am going- to school very soon now, and I hope to be able to write you without, my father's assistance before very long, and I shall then tell you how I am getting on I with my A B C's. — Yoiirs truly, Nellie Siirrsox. . East Gore, August 28. [Very well, Nellie, dear. You have made a good start, and I am sure when you can write without assi&tanco you will have something interesting to tell us. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I live in the pretty place called Riverlon, not far from the sea. Three of us go to Fchool, two sisters named Mary and , Fanny and myself. Mary is only seven, and she is in the First Standard, while Fanny , is in the High Primer, and I am in the Fourth 1 Standard. I have a pretty little kitten. She is marked with four colours— yellow, white, grey, and black ; will you please give me a i name for her. — Yours truly, Nellie M'Ferban (aged 11 years). Riverton, August 27. [The kitten must be a little beauty with such a combination of colours ; then why not ! call her Beauty, Nellie? — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am a little girl nine years of age. I live in Tapanui, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. I have one mile to walk to school every day, and it is very pleasant in summer time, but cold in winter. I keep a great many pets, amongst them being a monkey, a 'possum, which scratches me sometimes, and a couple of goats that draw the baby in a small car. I have pome birds which help to amuse me in the wet weather, when I can't get to school. I also have a beautiful white Persian cat ; will you please give me a name for him ? — Yours truly, Mat G-bace (aged 9 years). Tapanui, August 27. [I think Royal would be a good name for a handscme cat like that, May. A monkey and an opossum are unusual pets, but I suppose they are very interesting. — Dot.] Dear Dot.— It is a long time since I wrote to you, hut I still take great interest in your page of the Witness. Our exam, is just over, and lam so pleased that 1 passed. lam now in the Fourth Standard. lam glad the wintor is over, and that spring is here. There is a lot of bush around here whore I live, and -when all the wild flowers are out in it, it looks so pretty. And in the warm summer daj's I like to go away for a walk in the k&th a»d pick ferns and flowers 3 as it

Is so nice- and cool. Good-bye, dear JDot. — your truly, Alice Ogilvie. Mabel Bush, August 29. [I am sure it must be, clear, and I have no doubt you will have many happy days before next" winter. — Dot.] De-iv Dot, — I have half a mile to go to school, and I am in the Sixth Standard. I havo only one mate at school, and his name is Alick. It hap been very rough this winter, bub it is clearing up now. We had two snowstorms, and it Avas grand fun snowballing each other. I live about five miles from a township, but I often ride doAvn. Twenty-one go ■io this school, and wo all passed at the examination. I think rabbiting is grand sport, and after school I set a dozen traps. Dear Dot, have you ever lived in the country? I don't know hoAV I could Ha' 6in the town, with no fishing, riding, or bird-nesting ; but I suppose there is no place like home. — Yours tuuy, Kit. South Wyndham, August 30. [Yes, Kid, that is the explanation of it. Horns makes ony place endurable. Then, you knoAV, town has its pleasures, even if it has no shooting, riding, or fishing.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— Wo are having very bad weather down. here. We have gravelled all round the house and stable. My brother has a clog called Gnat. He is a good rabbiter. We have a cow and a calf ; please give me names for them. I hope to pass into the Fourth Standard in a fortnight; and my brother hopes to pass into the Fifth at the same time. We haA'e a trap Avhich will carry fotir.— Yours Edith Mitchell (aged 9£ years). Broadland, Lochiel P. 0.. August 21. [Call the cow and calf Hose and Daisy, Edith.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— Our teacher, Miss Harland, gave us last quarter tAVO prizes, one of them for spelling and the other for arithmetic. I got the one for arithmetic, and the name_of the book Avas " The Child's Companion. ' \V c get the Witness every week, and I like reacting the little folks' letters. lam sending six stamps for the Kindergarten fund.— Yours Loppt Riddbll (aged 8 years). Kelso, August 22. [That was a nice prize to get, dear. Thank you for the stamps. — Dot.] Dear Dot,— l live at Heriot, and I am six years old. Agnes is going to school after the concert, which is to take place on September 2. I am going to it, and they are going to sing on the stage. I have a black pup ; please give me a name for it. Goklie is dead, and I have no Goldie now. He died under the house, and lam very sorry. I was at Dalvey for a week once. I send you three stamps for the Kindergarten Fund.— Yours truly, Mat Otteet. Heriot, August J22. [Was Goldie arc Log, May? You do not say, And of course we don't knoAV. Thank yoii lor the stamps, dear.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — Our examination will take place in October, and I hope Aye shall all pass. I dm top of the class in the Third Standard, and my teacher, Miss White, gave me tAvo prizes for keeping top. Dear Dot, Aye had some grand fun when the snow was here, and it was very nice at school playing snoAv"balls. I have a little sister called Elva, and she has a nice little kitten; please, Dot, will you give her a name for it. — Yours truly, Daisy Cowan (aged 8 years). [Call the kitten Toots, Daisy.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — Our teacher is going to leave ■us, and I am very sorry. She is going to get married, and we all wish her every happiness. I have a good many sisters and brothers. I haA-e a cat and a doll ; please, Dot, giA-e me names for them. Our examination will take place about the^ end of October, and I hope 1 shall pass. We haA'e three cows and three calves. The cows are Daisy, Nancy, and Strawberry ; please, Dot, give me names for our calves. There is a dredge Avorking not far from where I liA'e, and I go on board of it every Saturday. My birthday is 'on the 11th of May, and I shall then be 11 years old. — Yours truly, Evans Flat, August 22. Hannah Teeact. [Why, Hannah, you are only 10 past, and here you .axa^ooking fonvarcl to being 11. Call the caTsK Primrose, Hose, and Lily, the doll Prisofla, and the cat Tjbbie. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — I am going to tell yoti about our farm. There is a great big house Avith 11 large rooms in it. We have a lot (of different musical instruments i— a piano, three accor deons, two fiddles, two tin whistles, and a piccolo, Dot, which is the easiest to learn? We are milking eight coavs just hoav, and we have 276 foAvls. I have a pet lamb ; please giA'e me a name for it. I do a lot of stockriding, and sometimes go out shooting. We have 17 pigeons, and there are four different kinds among them. We haA-e lavo sheep dogs, and good dogs they are, too. "We have a young horse, and it is going to be broken in soon, and aa'B haA-e not yet got a name for it ; please give us one. "\Ve have a cockatoo, and it says, " I am red, Avhite, and blue," and " I am not such a lie as you.'* It always sleeps with its head under a hen's wing. Don't you think it is cuaning? Wei have a black-and-Avhite hteifar with yellow stripes on it, and a Avhile spot shaped like a diamond on its forehead ; please giA r e us a name for it. We have got blade cats, white cats, and kittens to be cats. Goodbye, Dot, and I shall write again soon. — Yours truly, Beach Creek, Aug. 29. Willie 3.l'Esttosh. [All music is difficult to learn properly, Willie, but of course the accorcleon is easily learnt in a Avay if the learner has a good ear for music. You ask for &o many named thai I almost forget Avhafc they are. Let me see, first of all there is the pet lamb, Avhich no doubt came in the &noAvy time, so it may be called SnoAV. Then there is the young horse, .which might be called True Blue, as the cockatoo seems fond of colours ; while the heifer might be called White Star. — Dot.] Bella. — Try again, clear, and next time tell us something else besides stating that this is the firpt ti*ne you have Avrilten and that you are in ihe Fourth Standard. That has been told no olten that Aye are all tired of hearing it. Tom and Dave. — You have not sent your names v/ilh your letter, and it therefore cannot appear. Children should always send their proper name as well as the name they wish to appear. Annie.— Seo answer to Bella. All little girls go to fehool, and are in one standard or another, but that is not of sufficient interest to' make a letter. Write again, but try "to tell us pomething neAv. Johnnie J. — See replies to Bella anrl Annie. Six Schoolmates. — Surely among six of you rou could haA'e written a more interesting letter. See replies to Bella and Annie.

— When Success speaks, Ambition listens )bA Failure weeps*