LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 57

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear" Dot,— -I don't feel i» the humour for doing fancy work or reading this afternoon, so I. thought I- would \vrite to you again. We have been getting such cold weather lately. The ice on the water at the beginning of 5 the week must have been fully an inch thiok; so if it keeps on we shall have skat* ing soon. Last year it was 6in or Bin thick on the dams and races, but it did not last very long. Last week I went for a long ride with twe of my brothers, and when coming home the horse I was riding stumbled, and I was thrown over its head into a race. The water was terribly cold, and I had over three miles tc ride after my cold bath, and the result is that I have had a cold ever since. Dear Dot, I am not going to take the girb' part against th boys, for I myself have five brothers, and I am sure I couldn't do without any of them. lam inclined to be rather wilful, and .will seldom give in, so if we happen to differ in anything we end with saying, " All right, you have youi way and I'll have mine." I do hope it will be a fine day on the 24th, for my chum and I are going to ride (Eth on a bike and I on a horse) to a farm about 12 miles from here. If it is wet I suppose we'll have to stay at home. Nearly all the boys here are out every night ratting traps for rabbits, the price of &kins being so high. I remember one evening I went out with my brother. I had nevei set a trap, but from watching others I thought it seemed easy enough ; but I somehow managed to get my fingers caught. I have not tried to set a trap since, and I shall leave that to the boys, in- future. I have been trying to learn to ride a bike lately, but the machine always gets uppermost, so I have now given it best, and intend tc keep to horse riding, which I enjoy very much. Oh, Dot, did you ever have chilblains to keep you company? Mine are just beginning to let me know that they are still alive. X I can hardly sit still to write. I think I have tried nearly every cure I ever heard of t< get rid of them, but it's no use, for they always come back (like the old cat)j and don't go away till they are ready. Dear Dot, would you mind prescribing foi mo? I sh.all let you know the result next time I write. I have been trying to learn French •ad Latin at the same time, but I have giTen

up Latin as a bad job, for I keep mixing the two until I seem to have a language of my own. lam very fond of music, and play the violin. I tried the piano first, but did not take to it very kindly, so I started with the violin over four years ago. Whenever I have a fit of the blues I play for a little while, and it really brightens me up again. I shall have' to close now, for Leo has? just been asking me to help him to make some boomerangs and hunt for something that will do for a waddy. My brothers have got a new name for me, so I shall use that instead of my own. I am sending you one of my photos, which I don't wish to be returned. With best regards to all little folks and love to Dot, — Yours truly,

ISMENE.

Alexandra South, May 6.

[I hope you will have a fine day for your outing, Ismene, but even if it is fine you had better go in the morning and get back early in the afternoon, as the days are so short now. I don't wonder at you having chilblains when winter has set in so early with you. Try steeping your feet in hot water just before going t. - bed. Have the water as hot as you can bear it, and add more hot water as it cools down. Two or three nights of this will make a difference. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— We had the threshing mill today. They were nearly finished threshing when the rain started to pour. All the men got drenched to the skin. When they came in to their- tea they looked like a lot of halfdrowned tats. I felt sorry for the poor fellows, as they all had a long way. to go to their homes, and it was a. pitch dark night. I was at a marriage party the other night, and I enjoyed myself very much. We danced in the barn, which for- the occasion served the purpose of a hall very well. It was nicely decorated with cabbage tree foliage, ferns, and flowers. Maggie was paying in her last letter that she did not think much of that piece of poetry that Ziska composed. I thought it was very good for one of the little folk. Some of the little folk were telling how tall • they were. I got measured the other night, and I was sft 4£in, and I am Bst 121b.in weight. Excuse me^for asking you a question, Dot. Do you ever come to Brighton to spend your summer holidays? A great many Dunedin people come out to spend their holidays, as it is a very nice place in summer. There is such a lot of nice bush about, and the bea is &o close at hand. I have just finished reading 'a book called " In His Steps," by O. M. Sheldon. I thought it; was a splendid book. I see there is a lot said about it in the Outlook this week. I keep a diary to amuse myself. Every night I write down what sort of a day it h_as been. There have been 62 wet days here this year. I really don't think I have anything more t< say. So good-bye, dear Dot, with love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly,

ALYS.

The Country, May 8

[Sixty- two wet days — or rather, I suppose you mean, days on wTiich rain has fallen, Alys; well, that is rather too much out of 128, isn't it? If it would only rain at nights and be fine in the day it would be all right, but the afternoon seems to be the favourite time to rain, just when we want to get out. It is very provoking, I must say. -Yes, Alys, Brighton is $ nice place for a few days' holi"day, and if there was only a branch railway to it what lots of. people would go there on holidays and in tha long summer evenings. — DOT.]

_ Dear Dot, — We are having very bad weather here at present. We have two cows milking, theiv names being Minnie and Daisy. I have a canary, but he never -sings now. We get the Witness, and I like to read the little Folks' Page. I like 8.0.8.'s and Harry's letters very much. I have four brothers and one taster. Boys are terrors for teasiiig — are they not? Wt have a very pretty piebald pony, and her name is Jean. I have a pretty little heifei calf ; please will you give me a name for her. My brother has a pretty white puppy : please will you give him a name for him. — Yours truly. MAYFLOWER (aged 14. years).

Waitahuna, May 9.

[The canary will start singing again in a couple of months from now. They sing very little between" summer and the approach of spring. Call the ealLMav Bloom and the dog Pakeha.-DOT.| ** *

Dear Dot. — As my brother and sister are writing to you, I would like to bo one of your little folks too. lam in tho Third Standard at school. When 1 come home from school I help mother. Some of the boys who write to you think the girls hard on them, but we like them when they are good. I have a pet lamb. A dog worried it, and it has a crooked neck. Like Reta, I think boye tease too much. I have fivo brothers. — Yours truly, ANNIE TEMPLETON.

Thornbury,

[Weil, I suppose they do, Annie, but I don't think they mean to be cruel, do you? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I always read the Little Folks' Page, and enjoy all the letters, especially Harry's and 8.0.8. *5. The harvest is all over about here; and some people nave threshed, and the crops are fairly good. We have milked 15 cows this "summer for the dairy factory. I can milk six oi seven of them. We have to get up very early, as we have three miles to drive the milk. I don't suppose any of tho town boys have to get up so early. In fine weather we enjoy it very much, getting s ride on the horses. Wo have a nice pony, and I ride round to my grandfather's at Oraki. It is on the sea coast, and is a very nice place. I have a pe.t lamb, which my uncle John gave me, and her name is Sylvia. — Yours truly.

MUIR C. TEMPLETON.

Thornbury, May 5

[No, Muir, T think town boys ac a rule think 7 o'clock quite early enough to get up, unlen-i they are going for a holiday. But then they haven't any 1 or?es to ride, which makes a difference, doesn't it? — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Will you ha.\e me lor one of your little folks? Wo all enjoy reading the letters. You must be busy reading them all, and it is so kind answering them in the way you do. I have a pet calf, but I have not much time for petting it, as I nurse tho baby for mother. Please give me a name for the calf. lam S^ years old, and my snster and I are in the Third Standard. I will be glad to see my letter in print. — Yours truly, AGNES TEMPLETON.

Thombury, May 5,

[Of course, Agne3, I am glad to get you among our little folkb. How would you like to cull the calf Chris"' — you know tho chrysanthemum is almost the only flower out now. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— l like the idea of having the little folks' photos in the Christmas Number. 1 am '^oing to send mine. I am "' sorry that Con is letiring from the lit % folks' page, because he writes nice lettcit. I am sure the litlc folks' will miss his letters. One of our teacliera has left us and gone

to the Gore School, where he will be first assistant teacher. When he ■was going away he was presented with a nice silver inkstand and also with a gold chain and gold sleevo links. In every week's Witness somebody is objecting to Jessie C. killing a sheep. Why, that is nothing. I have heard of plenty of girls kiling sheep, and have seen them, too. I think if a boy can kill a sheep so can a girl. Our examination at school will be held about August, and if I pass I shall be in the Seventh Standard. Dear Dot, once I had a bantam hen with five chickens, but one morning when going to feed them I found the hen and three chickens gone, and the other two lying in a corner half dead. I took them and wrapped them in a warm flannel and put them beside" the fire. In a day ,or two they came round, so I put them in a box where they stayed all day. As they got bigger I used to let them _out and mind them for a while. They are grown up bantams now, one of them being quite tame, the other not so much. I will now conclude with love to Dot and all the little folks. — Yours truly,

J. ERNEST SYMON.

Oamaru, May 8.

[Whatever became of the missing hen and three chickens, Ernest? Were they stolen, or had a ferret been at them. You must have taken great care of the two you brought up.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I read the Little Folks' Page every week, and I like it very much. Igo to school every day, and am in the Fourth Standard. My teacher is Mr Stewart. " 1 have two cats ; pleaye give me names for them. As it is near my bed time I must stop; but I will write you a longer letter next time." So-good-bye. — Yours truly.

AGGIE FINLAYSON (aged 11 years). Clinton, May S.

[Call tho cats Tib and Tab, Aggie.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I agree with Boy and Cooee who object to " Jessie C." killing a sheep. It is not right for girls to do such work as that. In one of Pauline's letters she said sho was sft 7£in ; I cannot beat her, but I can beat Ziska. I am sft 4^in. Can you guess, Dol, whether lam a boy or a girl? I am sorry I cannot send you one of" my photos, as I have not one of myself. It is a pity that any of the writers of Our Little Folks should' want to fall off when the page is getting so interesting. I must stop now, with love to the little folks and yourself.—Yours truly, LINDSAY.

[I feel pretty certain you are a girl, Lindsay, not only because your writing is more like a girl's than a boy's, but also from the wording of it.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I am afraid T shall not be able to send you my photo a-s we are not blesseS with a photographer in our insignificant little township, and I would not have time to get it taken elsewhere. I'm looking- forward to seeing yours in. Dot, and I hope I shall not be disappointed. And so Maggie "did not think much of" Ziska*s poem. T wonder if she could compose one as well herself? For my part, I think it was vary good from one oi Dot's little folks. Never mind, Ziska, do not take any notice of the " cold water douches," and write us some more poems. One of the little folks ,was saying that it would look queer to- see girls playing football. Our schoolgirls used to play cricket, and fine fun we had, too. We used to pick side 3, and get two battered old tins for* wickets. Then two girls would take the bats (generally two boards) and play away. Dear me ! what quarrels we had getting efficient bowlers. Every one wanted to be bowler. When one of the ones that were in struck the ball, the others all made a rush for it, and the girl who reached it fir»t was next bowler, and so on. Rather a queer way of playing cricket, was it not? Oh! I nearly forgot to tell you the most interesting part of all. One day the boys challenged us to play a match, and not wishing to be called cowards we accepted. Two or three days afterwards the match came off, being played at intervals. We decided beforehand that the side who scored most runs would* be winner, and then play began with our master as umpire. I'm sure his was an unenviable position just then, for I verily believe that such chattering and shouting were nevei heard before. At least, at our school.) His voice was quite drowned amid the noise and clatter. Oh, dear! Dot one never knows how rough boys are until one plays with them and how they try to cheat too. Now, that does not apply to all boys, for, judging from their letters, I don't think Dicky Donovan and Harry can be classed with that "push." Well, before the match was terminated the sides quarrelled, and we did not play any more. But the girls werp the winners when the game was abandoned. The boys said that it was not at all fair, for the match was not finished and neither side won. T daresay they would not have Paid that if they had been in the majority when the game broke up. The sequel was that the girls never again played any game whatever with the boys. I do not go to school now, dear Dot, having ended my pchool career last Christmas. I was iust 13 years of age when I had passed all the standards. However. I attended school for two years after passing the Sixth Standard, when I learned extras. My old classmate and I u-ed to have some fun over the French and Euclid. Is that not true, Lottie? Do you (W. F. and R. X.) remember the day we had a hearty laugh over "pour elle " ? Only the two Intter-mentioupcl and myself were in the " know " that day. You there not there, Lottie; but, de.ir L., T have a suspicion that our master had an inkling of. the secret, for ho could scarcely suppress a smile himself. Tt was liovt to impossible to check our flow of spirit?. Recollections of my schooldays always make me wish to go back to school again, although I've only been away a few months.

One day, having nothing else to do, I thought I would go and have a prospect for gold. Seeing there are six dredge-) on the river and two more being built, I thought I might have a chanre of securing mine of the precious metal. So. shouldering a shovel and dish like a typical prospector (only on a small scale) I set off to some tailings, as they are called, a short distance in front of the house. Luckily there was^a stream of water near at hand in which I eofcild wash the gravel. Filling the dish with gravel I made every preparation to wash it, but on lifting the receptacle I found it was much too heavy to phako about in the water. I tjy-reforo laid it aside and had to be satisfied with washing a shovelful at a time. I found a few specks of gold, and wrapping them carefully in a scrap of paper I gathered up my sho\el and dish, and took my departure from the scene of my hour's labour. I knew I had the tiny specks safely stowed in my pockot, but I could not rosist the temptation to have iust another ueop at

them lo make quite sure of their safety. | I opened out the paper very carefully again, and was about to have the desired peep, when, to my mortification, up bounced" the gold and fell to the ground, where, of cours-o, I could not find it again. Was not that annoying, Dot, after all my trouble in getting it? Adieu, dear Dot, and .When the crimson sun is sinking, And your mind's from care set free, And of distant friends you're thinking, Will you sometimes think of me?

PAULINE,

May 11.

[I shall indeed, Pauline, and ' I hope next time you go prospecting you will have more luck with your gold, even though it is only a few specs. What a glorious cricket match' that must have been ! lam sure 8.0.8.'s mouth will water when he reads of it, and how he will wish he had been "bossing the show."— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — My name has been a long time absent from your list of correspondents, but I hope to write more frequently now. I am very sorry to- say that I cannot send my portrait to be printed in the' Christm.is Annual, as I live in'tho country, and there are no photographers here. When I went back to school after the first letter I wrote to you, I was greeted with "'Hallo-, Miss Muffet." I wonder what has become <pf Trixie, Cecily, Chum, and Devonshire Dumpling? Ziska writes very interesting letters, don't you think so, Dot? Dear Dot, do you like sliding 'on the ice? I do, but when I fall it is not very pleasant, it makes me see too many stars for my fancy. My dear doll Rosalind has her head cracked now, so what with a broken head, 'a^toeless foot, and hair, dishevelled, the podr dear looks quite hideous. " Yet for old sake's sake she is still, dears, the prettiest doll in the world." One day I went for a long r^de on one of our horses. I cannot ride at a canter, but I can post, and as the horse trotted quickly, and the day was fine, I can assure you it was a very pleasant ride. One of my books is called "The Children's Friend." .The stories I like best in it are, " Roy's Sister," " Lost in the Backwoods," and " The Horrid Boy." I will now conclude with love to all the little folks and yourself. — Yours truly, MISS MUFFET.

[Poor Rosalind of the Moated Grange, she has indeed come to grief, but I- have no doubt sh-3 has full consolation in all her troubles in thejcnowledge that she has been to Miss Muffet an endless source of pleasure. How did your schoolfellows recognise you as Miss Muffet, dear? You must surely have told them. lam so sorry you cannot send us your photo. If this goes on how am I to fill a page with Witness Little Folks?— DOT.]"

Dear Dot, — We have a relieving teacher at school just now, and we all like him very much. I have three dolls called Marjorie, Doris, and Florrie. We are going to have a soiree at the church, and if I go I shall write again and toll you all about it. — Yours truly-, VENIE HAMMOND.

Merton, May 13

Dear Dot, — I see Solomon Slow has again appeared in our page. -It will -be fine- fun when. the snow (if there is any) comes.. Did you like snowballing when you were, young? At school the girls play boys' games but the boys do not play/ girls' games. The girls spin tops and play marbles and soldier?. If we girls could only get the boys to play some of our games it would be fun. Yam in the Sixth Standard, and I .wish -I was oifly in the First with the" rest to go through,- as I like school, very much. I have only about a year more to go through, and I am sure I shall never regret the days I spent at school. My height is 4ft llin. I was just thinking that as 8.0.8. was getting taken on a horse I might be taken while milking a cow. There is a photographer in our district just now, and perhaps he is Harry's friend. He is staying about a mile from here. I must stop now. — Yours truly,

[I shall be very glad to get your portrait milking a cow, Zara.' Pick the prettiest cow you have,- and send the portrait as soon as possible, as the time is getting on now. —

Dear Dot, — Have you had the measles yet? We have all had them. I was reading a piece in a book about a lot of boys — what they are going to do when they are men, so I thought I would tell you what I am going to be when lam a man. lam going to be a carpenter if I can. Dear Dot, I have another black and while kitten ; pleaae will you give.it a name., I think we are going lo have an early winter. 1 have a fow carpenter's tools, and I have, been making use of them. I have made a rockinghorse for my little brother, and a writingdesk for myself, on which I wrote this letter, and I made a toy horse. — Yours truly

THORNTON HARRIS (aged 9 years)

Riverton, May 11.

[I think you should be a cabinetmaker instead of a carpenter, Thornton, but' of course you can learn cabinet-making as well a* carpentering. Call the kitten Chip?.— DOT.]