LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 57

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLKS.

Dear Dot, — To-night is a real winter's evening here, and father and mother say it reminds them of the winter's evenings in Old England. Everything is covered with soft, white snow, which makes the plain look rather picturesque. All lound us are rugged hills, which are almost covered, and the dark rocks, yellow tussocks, and matagourie scrub make a striking contrast against the pure whiteness of the snow. Did you ever play at snowballing when you were a girl, Dot? I have had one good game since this fall began, and it was real grand fun. The snow was so nice and soft. To-night the boughs of the macrocarpas are bending under the weight of the snow, and they look just like beautiful large ostrich plumes. I was very much pleased to see my last lettar in print, Dot. Do you remember tho letters I sometimes wrote to you when I was a little girl at school? I used to think then it was s grand thing to have a letter in the Witness along with other little folk. Th© boys at school always had something to say about them, but the teacher said she liked to see boys and girls take an interest in the Little Folk's Page. She asked some of the other big girls to write to you, but I never saw any of their names in. I was always very fond of both school and niy teachers, ■who were very kind to me. When I left school the lady teacher gave me such a nice big book, called. " Infelice." I think it is a grand book, and also " St. Elmo," which is written by the same authoress. What a great reader Harry must be. I liked the verses he dedicated to V. B. very much. 8.0.8. wants to know if my friends thought he was an old lady. No, 8.0.8., whatever they really thought you were, I am sure they did not think you were an old lady, but I_guess some of them thought you were a grown-up, who was kind enough to write amusing letters for the little folk, something like Compagnon used to. Wo had the paper which contained the account of the show at which you won the prize with Moses. The last time I was in Dunedin a girl and I climbed the hills above Woodhaugh and went to see the reservoir. I looked at several places up there to see if I could see R.E.G. anywhere (the letters, of course), but I was unsuccessful. I knew if they were anywhere they would be in a prominent place. What did you think of M.B.s account of rabbiting, Boy? I felt quite anxious for your feelings, but really it was not a very nice thing to write about. Perhaps M.B. was short of news. Yes, Aguinaldo, Dot is quit© right in thinking you have given yourself away, for all the little folk know where Jessie C. lives, and you say you live quite close to her. Dear Dot, I see a lot of your little folk are always complaining of chilblains, but if they would try your recipe they would soon be rid of them. Nothing I have yet tried relieves mine so much, as bathing them in very hot water. Well, dear Dot, I think I must now conclude. As you have been getting such a lot of letters lately perhaps you won't be able to find room for this one, but all the same it has given me much pleasure to write to you. I hope you are keeping quite well, Dot. Now I will say good-night, with love to yourself and all tho little folks, not forgetting poor Wullie, who, I am sure, will have the sympathy of all Dot's little folk in his trouble. I hope he will write again. — Yours truly, MAY. [Yes, dear, I remember your letters perfectly Well, and I am so glad to have you among my correspondents again. lam glad you have found the hot water relieve your chilblains. I have always found it quite effective,' and it is so simple.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — In my last letter one or two mistakes occurred. Instead of " Taranganui men and Taranganui horses " it should have been "' Tanui men and Tanui horses " : Ta Nui being the name of Mr Hume's place, and not Taranganui. Some of the girl correspondents say 8.0.8. and 1 are too hard on the girls. I don't think either 8.0.8. or I have said anything very hard about them. For niy own part, all I have said about girls was just simply in fun. I have far too much respect for girls to offend them in any way, and I hope that none of your girl correspondents have taken my remarks about them seriously. lam afraid, however, that I cannot agree with Hyacinth about Harry being conceited. I have read Harry's letters for about two years now, and I should sum him up as " a jolly brick." Pauline says she would like Priscilla to come with her and pay a surprise visit to my whare, and that they would see a lively party of boys dancing to the strains of a Jew's harp. Well, if she had paid us a visit about a couple of weeks ago she would have seen a lively party of boys fairly in it so far as music was concerned. On this particular night we were all in the manager's house just to spend a pleasant evening. During the evening we called our Wharepapa Orchestra (as we call it) into requisition. The instruments in the orchestra (save the mark!) were a violin, an accordeon, two children's buckets, and two tin lids (used' in place of cymbals), a tin whistle and an alarm clock with tho alarm going foi all it was worth. There you are now — just fancy all of us with these " going at top.' It was lively right enough. It is very lonely here, and any sort of fun like this helps to pass the night away. I may say, by the way, that the Wharepapa Orchestra is open for engagement at any time — to kick up a first-class row. Priscilla is now living at St. Clair. I used to live there years ago. My father had the old St. Clair Hotel (I believe tho name is changed now) for about four years. I often wonder how my old school mates are getting on. I wish Pnscilla was a boy, then she would be able to let me know how some of the old St. Clair boys are getting on. One of my old schoolmates, George Palmer, I believe writes poetry for the Witness now and again. I wish " Geordio " would write to the Little Folk's Page and let me know his address. ' On July 12 a pretty little wedding took place at the homestead, Waiorougomai, when Miss Maud Matthews and Mr Oscar Monrad were joined in tho holy bonds of matrimony. All the men on the station got a holiday, and were all invited to the wedding-. My mate went up from Wharepapa to the wedding, but as I could not go I put tho day in at shorthand. My mate told me when he retured that I missed the treat of my lifetime. I will not enumerate the presents that were given, it being sufficient to say that they were of an unusually choice and costly nature, and showed in unmistakable terms the high estimation in whicb the recipients were held. Just before the bride and bridegroom (they have gone to Sydney for their honeymoon) left the station three cheers were given for them, and also for Mr and Mrs Matthews. Then the happy couple drove off, amidst a perfect shower of rice, and with the best wishes of all. During the evening, in the house, songs were giv'en by different ones present, and altogether an exceedingly enjoyable time was spent. Ths kindness shown by Mr and Mrs Matthews and the other members of the family to the men will never bo forgotten and tho 12th of July will remain green in the memories of the men oi» Waiorongomai as long a3 life lasts. Well, dear Dot, thi' will be my last letter to you, for I am, like Con, getting too old to even be reckoned amongst the seniors of the Little Folk's Page. I ejn sorry, because it was a pleasure to write to you now and again, and to jojn in the iiiilo .wgumwiia between, tho

little folk. To you, dear Dot, lam deeply grateful for the kind welcome you gave me to your page, and I shall look ivith pleasure on the days when I was numbered amongst " Dot's Little Folk.' To the little folk >-I convey my heartiest wishes for their happiness and success in life, and hope that for many a day they may continue to write to you. I hope I may have the pleasure of some day meeting either you, 8.0.8., Harry, Laddie, Con, Boss, Boy, Pauline, Coo-ec, Priscilla, Devonshire Dumpling, or my old friend Ziska. Well, Ziska, I trust we may meet some day and have a hearty handshake and a laugh over our little " passage-at-arms." In years to come I hope the little folk, then perhaps scattered far and wide, will still remember Dot, and the days when they xised to write to the Little Folk's Page. That the Otago Witness may long flourish as a successful newspaper, and that you, Dot, may live long and enjoy the best of health, wealth, and happiness is the sincere wish of DICKY DONOVAN. [And so with this letter we see the last of Dicky Donovan in the Little Folk's Page! I" am sorry indeed, but I suppose we cannot romain among the little folk for ever, and so I cannot quarrel with ' our friend Dicky for retiring when he thinks his time has come. His portrait will appear -in our group, so that his memory will be preserved for many a day to come. Good-bye, chum, and may your journey through life, now that you are on the threshhold of manhood, be a happy and prosperous one. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It began to snow on Friday night, but Saturday was fine. It snowed on Saturday night again, and all day on Sunday and Sunday night, and froze on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.- On Tuesday night the wind rose, and we thought there would be a change before morning, but, behold! on Wednesday morning the snow was just as thick. It is a great pity Ziska did not see 8.0.8. She could have told us what he is like, but I suppose we shall have to wait till we see his photo in the Christmas Annual. Dear Dot, isn't it nice to have a Wee Scotch Laddie writing to the Little Folk's Page? He has had a very hard time of it all right, but he seems to enjoy it. lam sure he enjoyed it when he saw his mother blowing wind into the dead hen, but perhaps if she had got the bellows she might have succeeded better. I was not so lucky as Thelma to see the eclipse of the moon, for I did net know when it was to be till the day after it had taken place. Dear Dot, do you like reading? I love it I ha"c just finished reading " Cousin Dorry," and " The Little Runaways,' 1 which are very nice books. I think, Dot, the little folk will soon have to get a paper for themselves, and then all the letters can go in. I wonder what has become of Doughnut and Devonshire Dumpling? Surely they are not going to join the missing friends. If they do not turn up soon we shall come to the conclusion that they are completely lost. Dear Dot, the next time 1 go to Dunedin I aro going to go to the Witness Office to sne if I can get a glimpse of you. I must now conclude with love to you and all the little folk. — Yours truly, MAGGIE. [All right, Maggie, but make quite sure that I am not looking very hard at you all the time without you being aware of it.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l enjoy reading the little folk's letters very much, especially 8.0.8.'5, Harry's, and Ziaka's. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. The examination is not far off now, and I hope to pass into the Fifth Standard. Were all the little folk able to read Wullie'B letter, I wonder, for it is very Scotch. Surely his mither and faither, as he calls them, should think more of. him than he says. I live near the hills, and it is very cold. There is a lot of snow, and there ara very hard frosts also. There was a very hard frost this morning, everything being frozen that was in the house. I like reading very much. — Yours truly, _ . n JEAN (aged 11). July 25. Dear Dot,— The letter of the little Scotch Laddie has induced me to write to you, for I was so much taken with it, and I hope that he will get more paper and be able to write again. My brother has a big grey and white cat ; please will you givo him a name for it. A lot of dredges are at work about here. Igo to school every day, and I am in the Second Standard, but I am at home just now owing to the hard frost and snow. I think I will close with a verso which is seasonable at present: — Cold are the frost and snow, The moon shines bright and clearly; Deep run the waters Between me and my dearie. — Yours truly, J u J y 27. ROSE. [The waters will be warmer shortly, Rose, as the frost is not quite so hard now, and the snow is fast disappearing. Call the cat Tibbie.— Dear Dot, — I was pleased to see my letter in last week's Witness, and more pleased to see that someone had noticed mo in this week's. Now that I havo made a start it is a great deal easier for me to go on, although I know my letters will never be so interesting as some others. What a lot of snow wo have had lately, but what cold mornings wo have had since. I would like to know Priscilla, and shall always bo on the lookout for what I think might be her. Tho badge plan of Maori would be a very good one, I think. I don't know what a rata leaf is, but perhaps some of the wiser little folk will explain. Pauline seems to miss Priscilla very much, but I suppose she will write often to keep up her spirits. Ido not know Alys, Love, so lam none tho wiser. Perhaps C.A.G. will give me a few hints about himself to see if I know him.- lam sorry to tell you I am not a stamp collector, but I have a brother who is. lam 4ft G}in tall, and 14 years old. Where is Miss Muffct? Has 6he retired to her tuffet and left us? I hope not, as we could not get on without her. I think it would be rather a bad plan for Dot to put her photo in the Christmas Annual, as it would be uo fun if we saw possibly just a big woman instead of a little Dot in the middle of the group. There will be no room for letters in the Christmas Annual, as there are so many photos. I have never been to a euchre party, but I have a pretty good idea of one after Rita's explanation of her sister's. I must close now with love to all and hoping to hear- something of Miss Mufiet. — Yours truly, A DUNEDINITE. Dunedin, July 28. [But possibly a Dunedinite might not see " quite a big woman," but after all only a — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have not many pets to tell you about. I have a pretty pony and a dog. My father gave me the pony when I was a very little girl, and my undo made me a present of the dog when it was a puppy. We have five or six hens, and they are beginning to lay. We are having a fortnight's holidays just now on account of the measles going round. I have not had them yet, and I hope I never shall. The roads are too muddy for me to ride just now, so I stop inside and help mother. I 'like 8.0.8.'s letters bettei than those of any of tho rest. I am wearying for the Christinas* Annual, for I will know a J ot of the little folk's photos. Our bazaar was a success. I only wish they wer6 held oftoner. We schoolgirls did a lot of sewing fot,it. I must stop now, with, beat wishes to all.— Yours truly, W£iX {aged 14 jearaU

Dear Dot,— This is the first lime I have sent you a. letter, but as I saw in the "Witness so many .little girls writing letters I thought I would try and send one to you. 1 have two brothers and one sister. Do you like the snow and frost, dear Dot? I am not strong, so I have to stay indors, which I think very hard lines, but I have four dollies and a perambulator. I give them rides and mend their clothes, so you see I have plenty to do with such a large family. So good-bye now, Dot. — Yours truly, DOROTHY (aged 10). Opoho, July 25. [You must, indeed, Dorothy, and as you would only get your feet wet if you went out, I think you are better indoors till the fine weather comes.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is Friday, and it ia your day for a letter, Dot. We have been having a great quantity of snow here. It began to fall on Friday night, while we were in our beds, and in the morning the ground was covered. On Saturday it thawed a little, v but it snowed steadily all day Sunday, and it has been on the ground ever since, until to-day, when a heavy thaw set in. It was over 15in deep, and we did have some fun snowballing and making snow-women. It was about 20in on the hills. It was freezing very hard while the snow was on the ground. One day we had a skating party 1(l and we did have some fun skating, and the ladies took some of the young ones around the dam on a chair. The Little Scotch Laddie will, I think, be warmly welcomed by all the little folk. I think he will find true . friends in ths little folk. I hope "he will write often, and that his father will give him plenty of writing paper. Ziska is quite a general favourite; all the little folk seem to like her letters best of all the girls'. Dear Dot, it has now started to rain in torrents, and it is snowing with it, so that a flood is expected ; but I do hope the expectation will not be realised, don't you, Dot? I am glad so many have sent their photo. I congratulate you, Dot, on the success of the little folks' page. It is growing more interesting every week. Here is n riddle for the little folk to solve: " My first is an intoxicating drink, my next is a human being, my next is something we drink every day, and 'you' drink it mostly in Russia, and my whole is used for travelling." I have not any more news. With best wishes. — Yours truly, ANNIE. Mt. Hope, Coal Creek, July ,28. _ [You should have sent the answer with your riddle, Annie. The answer is so simple that I can see what it is, so that it does not much matter ; still, it might have been difficult, and then I could not have printed the riddle till you sent the answer. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — ; We are two schoolmates, and as this ia the first time we have written to you, we will not make our letter too long. We get the Otago Witness every week, and we/ are very much interested in the Little Folks' Page. We think the idea about the photos a very good one, but we could not send ours, as we have no photographer in this district. When we awoke on Sunday morning we were surprised to find the ground covered with snow, so we have had grand fun snowballing ever since. Our special favourite letters are 8.0.8.'5, Harry's, and Ziska's. We think 8.0.8. is a hard case. Dear Dot, when we come to Dunedin we will visit the Witness office. We should like to know what kind of a person you are, so we hope your photo will appear in tho Christmas Annual. Dear Dot, do not think us inquisitive. — Yours truly, " M. M. AND M. M. [Why do you think -8.0.8. a "hard case? " And what is " a hard case ? " — DOT ] Dear Dot, — It has been very cold here lately, and the barometer has been 16deg below freezing point. I have not been to school for more than a week, because the snow was 9in -thick. I ride to school during the summer, but I walk during the winter. Dear Dot, as everyone is giving their weight and height, I shall give mine also. I am sft high and 7st in weight, and lam getting heavier fast. Have Trixie and Nancy given up writing? Dear Dot, I don't know if it's very cold in Dunedin or not, but if you were up here you would be very nearly frozen. I think it is a good idea that of Maori for the little folk to wear badges on their hats, but some might have the sarno badges. Do you like reading, Dot? I am very fond of it. My favourite books are "Seven Little Australians " and its sequel, " The Family at Misrule," by Edith Turner. I think Rita was right when she said that the boys and girls had been nagging at each other too much. — Yours truly, Kurow, July 28. GERTY. [It is not quite so cold in Dunedin as at Kurow, for the latter place is much higher, Gerty, but it has been quite cold enough during the past month. However, the warm weather will soon be here now, and then we shall forget all about the winter.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As you have such a lot of little folk writing to you just now, I have decided to write too. There' is a lot of snow here just now, and the trains on the Otago Central line were not able to run. I have only been in a train once, and I have not bepn in Dunedin yet. I live in a mining district, but the gold is very scarce. There is supposed to be gold in the Taieri River, and it is likely that there will be dredges working it soon. I wonder if 8.0.8. has deserted the Little Folk's "Page, aa I have not seen any letters from, him lately, and Ido miss them so much. I thjnk 8.0.8. 'a, Ziska's, Rita's letters, and several others too numerous to mention, are really very good. Doe 8.0.8. mean "Best of Boys"? We all liked Wullie's letter, and hope that he will write again. We are having our winter holidays just now, but we are not enjoying them much, as it is so cold. I would like to le&rn to skate. I suppose you do not get much time to skate, Dot, as you have so many letters to read. I will now conclude, with love and best wishes to all the little folk and your own dear self. — Yours truly, COLLEEN, j July 31. ' [This is the first Colleen who has written to us, I think. I wonder if she is any connection of the poor Colleen Bawn? No, dear, there is no chance for skating in Dunedin, even if I had ever so much time. The ponds in the Gardens were frozen over for a day or two, but I don't think Mr M'Bean would have allowed anyone to skate on them.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I never got such a surprise in ali my days as when I saw Love's letter iii last week's Witness. I never dreamt of any of my friends writing to you. However, I'm glad I know someone who writes to you. I don't know any of your correspondents except Love, not even their names. Wasn't Tuesday morning (July 25) a freezer, Dot? The ice on the ponds here was ljin thick. My grandpa said he had never seen it freeze so hard in one night since he came here. Amaryllis seems to think sarcasm is a good thing. Now, I don't agree with her at all. I think sarcasm is a very nasty thing. For my part I think silent contempt is a far better thing thar sarcasm. Do you know, Dot, I have got the idea into my head that Con is a tall, fair boy. I wondei if I am right? Is his photo going to bo in the ■ Christmas Annual? What a splendid idea I of Maori about the badge. I was trying to , think of a suitable thing, but I could not think I of anything. I asked my uncle if he could not think of anything, and do you know what he I said, Dot? He said we should weai rings in our noses. To-day my cousin and I went to visit an old lady who, is confined to her bed. She is 89 yeare of ag*e. She is such an intelligent old lady, and we spent a very enjoyable afternoon with. her. The other mornina when

I was going out at the door a great mass of snow slid off the. roof on top of me. I was very, glad there was no one about to laugh at my, misfortune. One of my aunts thinks it is a' great piece of impertinence for the little folk" to ask you to put your photo in the Christmas Annual. Well, Dot, I will apologise for what I said about it. When I wrote it I didn'4 mean to be impertinent. I must now close, with love to all the little folk and yourself from ALYS. ~ The Country, August 1. [Well, Alys, an uncle who would say such * thing as that is capable of anything, and X should certainly class him as a cruel uncle.. Perhaps when he sees how his barbarous suggestion looks ii? cold print he will be sorry, but I think it will take a lot of forgiving, aa he will find out from what the little folk will say about him during the next few weeks. 1 i did not regard the suggestion that my portrai' should appear as impertinent, but it is very kind of your auntie to take up the cudgels on my behalf.— POT.] Dear Dot, — It is snowing to-day, and I cannot get outside, so I thought I would write to you. The roads are very muddy just now with snow and frost, so Ido not go to school. lam in the Fourth Standard at school, and my teacher is Mr Greig. Have you had any snow -down ai Dunedin ? We have had plenty up here. I live about four miles from Arrowtown, and so I have a good long way, to walk to school. What a • lot of letters there' was in last week — there .were nearly two pages'. We get the Witness every week, and I like the little folk's letters very much. I have got five bantams, one o"i which is white. I like B.O.BJ's and Ziska's letters very much. Are you fond of reading, Dot? I am. I have read a good many books. We have had a good lot of skating up here, and I think it is fine fun. With best love to your.self and all the little folk.— Yours truly, RHODA HONYCHUECH. Arrow River, August 1. • fl am sure you must have had a good time of it on the ico, Rhoda, and no doubt you kepi yourself in a fine glow while on the pond.' This winter will be remembered for a lone time I think.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l am in the Third Standard, and I hope I pass this year. Our teacher is Miss Loudon, and I like her very much. I have 13 sisters and brothers, and there are six o£ us going to school. My father has a cat, and her name is Darky, and she has a pure white kitten; please give me a name for it. — Yours truly, ELIZABETH G. HUNT. Tahatika, August 1. [Why, Snow, of course, Elizabeth, what elst could you call it? — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We had a heavy fall of snow last wek, also very sharp frosts, and I did not go to school for two days. I have a mil© and a-half to go to schoo}, and I am in the Pith Standard. Miss Loudon is my teacher, and I like her verjj much. Dear Dot, have you ever been at Tahatika? It is a very pretty, place in summer, bub the roads are very bad in winter. I have a little collie pup; would you please give me a name for it?— Yours truly, JOE. ' Takatika, Juij 81. .[No, Joe, I haven't been at Tahatika yet, but I may go some day. Call the young collie Clyde.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have finished my lessons, so I would like to write a letter to you. My father gets the Witness, and I like reading the littla folk's letters. I have no pets to tell- you about, I go to school, and am in the First Standard, and Miss Cook is my teacher. Dear Dot, I will close with love to all the little folk and yourself. — Yours truly, ' MADGE LIDDELL (aged 7 years) ' Oamaru, July 81 [There is a little letter from a little girl, whoy I have no doubt, will be very happy when sh« sees it in print. Are you not, Madge?— DOT.J. Dear Dot, — The last time I wrote to you I' was quite a! " little folk," and asked ycu for a name for a doll, I remember. lam just/ wondering if I am not too big to be one of your correspondents, for my age is — let me whisper it—* 17 years. I am glad see how the photos came in towards the 30th. I see one of my old friends has sent hers in. Her initials are E.D.K. Now, Evie, do you recognise me in this letter? And what is your norn do plumo? I , am sorry I could not send you one of my pictures, too, Dot, but I have not any suitable for reproduction, as they are on glazed cards. I notice ono littlo girl thinks our old Harry has the bump of conceit. I like Harry, for lie ia such a quiet (?), studious boy, and that is ths kind of lad who generally gets on. Not that our other stirring young friends will not succeed, fai; ■ fiom it, but Hurry, I think, will make a grand) clergyman, and that, in my opinion, is a calling worthy to bo proud of. Well, not exactly proud of either; I should say, rather, woithy ot all honour. Yes, Dot, I wonder where we shall all be ia 40 years' time, or even 20. No doubt, we shall all be looking back on these, our young days, with rubied feelings of sadness and pleasure. After all, Dot, I suppose one's youth is the happiest time in one's life, for " life is a vapour " that passeth away." Its joys, its sorrows soon, shall be gone, and wa shall be in the Great Beyond. It seems strange to think of it: "Yet a little time." Just a little time. Our lives are short, yet what troubles and sorrows we have in them ; but then, on the other hand, what jpys and pleasures we have, too! Life is a compound, is it not, dear Dot? Though some of v"3 have more of one side than others. : Well, dear Dot, I must rouse up. What a lovely winter we have been having. Flowers blooming all the time. We have had one or two light falls of snow this week, and it is an agreeable change — more like winter, you know. I often wonder what has become of our old and best correspondent — Vida M'Kellar — Dot. Perhaps that was her brother who used to write V you— l mean Shasta. I always like Vida's letters; they .were so full of adventures. Well, dear Dot, I think I shall now close. Perhaps, if you think I am not too old, you shall hear from me again. Now, dear friend, the " children's ffiend," I must close. With love to yourself and our little folk. — I am, deal Dot, yours sincerely, ZEPHYR. Dear Dot, — We are having very cold- weather just now. Since I wrote to you last time my birthday has come and *gone. I got some money. My sißter May and I are learning music. Mrs Davis is our teacher. We have six cows, their names being Daisy, Ruby, Pansy, Nancy, Brindle, and Qucenie. We have two puppies named Scot and Toss. We have three dogs, and their names are Swallow, Glen, and Barney. I was very pleased with the name you gave me for the doll. I must close with love to all the little folk.— Yours truly. SAEAH SIMPSON. Otiake, July 29. Dear Dot, — I go to the Glenkenich Schoo/, which is about a mile and a-half distant from our place. I must tell you something about the district in which we live. It is alarming district, and the chief crops are oats and turnips. The nearest town is Kelso, which is situated about three miles from here. The Pomahaka River flows through it, and it often overflows its banks and gets into people's houses. I have three sisters and three brothers. One of my brothers has bought a young chestnut colt. Would you please give me^a name foi him? I have a white cat, which is quite deaf, and does not hear a word that is said to it. Would you pleose give me a name for it also? — Yours truly. JOHN T. WILLIAMS (aged 12 years). Glenkenich, July 21. , .. [It must be very inconvenient when the Poms* haka is in flood, John, but I hope it doea>VS&

pccur often. Call the pony Brownie and the cat Bino.— DOT.] \ Dear Dot, — The weather has been, very cold up Here, owing to the snow and frost, which has j 'Bet in so severely of late. The Upper Waipori , tlredge accidentally sank last week somehow, un- , Jniown to the workmen, who had been idle dur- • ing the bad weather. The letters in. the little folk's page are gradually increasing, niuch to the delight of those who are interested in readJng them. As there are no photographers about •here who take photos to suit reproducing, you ■mil have to excuse me for not seeing my face on paper in amongst the other photos. "What Jias become of Master Dicky Donovan ? I wonder that he has had no letters in print in the [Witness of late. In one of Pauline's letters I Baw something she had said about a boy from ; .Queensland. I was speaking to that same boy J » few days after, who said he was about to .write to you, and say how mean it was of her .to speak so of him. Some time ago my brother and I went out rabbiting in the snow, but we found it was harder work walking knee-deep in the snow than we thought at first, so we soon j ■leturned, making the beautiful catch of three \ Avhole rabbits. Well, Dot, I think I shall have ' jto conclude now, as the paper will hold no j more, but the next time I write I shall have to get a great slab of brown paper or a sheet of ioolscap.— Yours truly, SAMBO. [If so, Sambo, please leave it over for a couple 'of months till there are fewer letters in than is ihe case at present. You will see from Dicky Donovan's letter above that we are to say goodbye to him. I am sure you will be sorry.— pOT.] Dear Dot, — I have long wished to see a letter Df mine in print, but I have never screwed iip enough courage to write to you until now. jEo-night it started to snow, and the snow ia beginning to lie very quickly. Poor Wullie! I feel quite sorry for him, as he does not seem to. have much comfort at home witlrhis parents. He -has a poor opinion of them, has he not, (Dot? But I suppose he just has to take pot luck. I take much interest in the little folk's and every week look forward for the Witness to come. lam sure the Christmas Annual ,will be worth looking at this year, as the little folk's photos and the wrecks of the colony will >be in it. Dear Dot, would you believe that my parents have taken the Witness for these last 20 years, and they have never missed a week. 3?hat was not a bad suggestion of Ziska, and Km sure she will be pleased at Christmas to see , ithat she had succeeded in her suggestion. Dear ( 3Dot, as this is my first attempt to write to you, t you will not expect a very long letter from me, I bo I will now bid you adieu. Oh, just a few j lines for the close— Excuse the writing, blame , the pen, miss the words you dinna ken.— Yours ; •■truly, DUMPY DOLLY. [No occasion for the footnote, Dolly. Your ( writing is very good, indeed, and I don't think . you had a bad pen at all. Twenty years is a ! long time to take a paper without missing a eingle week.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was down at Dunedin during .Winter show week with my mother and brother. |We went to the Times and Witness Office, but \L did not go up. My brother and I had to ,tvait at the bottom of the stairs while my mother '.•went up to do some business. I asked her if ehe saw you, but she said she only saw a clerk. € did not half like staying down there, as i (would like to -have seen" you. I see by your little folks' letters that other boys and girls j have been allowed to see the printing done, so j 2 will get mother to take me in next time we j igo'to Dunedin. Some of the letters are very j Interesting, especially 8.0.8.'5. It will he very nice to havo all the little.folk's photos in the Christmas Annual, and I hope you will be in the centre with a Jjig ring round you. I would have sent you anine only it is in a group, and besides it is mot ready. Would it have been destroyed when frou took out mine? Mother was afraid it would Ihave been.— Yours truly, - { July 29. F. L. O. j [No, dear, it would not have been damaged ft all, and you would have got it back all right, t is a pity it was not done in time. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I now avail myself of the hitherto Neglected privilege of writing to you. Once, indeed, I did write a letter (about two years ro), in which I described the district in which live; but I never posted it, and now, as I iflo not wish my name to be known, I will not it again. For a long time I took no interest in the little folk's letters, they were jjo so-so, but now, since some of the older ones write, they are very interesting, and I long «agerly for the Witness. C.A.G. thinks that JB.O>B. ia the reigning monarch, but I think that he himself, with Priscilla as queen, if he Sleeps on writing, will soon usurp 8.0.8.'s place as the reigning monarch. There has jbeen a great fall of snow here, and on Sunday •when we were returning from Sunday school jthe boys snowballed us unmercifully. 1 had tt. little white dog (Rover) for eleven years, but Jie was hurt and had to be drowned, and now SL have a grey cat, with black stripes on him Hike a tiger. My brothers have two white rabfcrts. What like is Dunedin now? It used * jto be my ambition to live in a- town, but now I often wish I was back to the hillß. Goodbye, with love to all. — Yours truly, JEALOUSY. '[Dear me, there is a signature to select! I/Lnd yet I don't see any display of jealousy in |6he letter.— DOT.] -Dear Dot, — We are having very bad weather Slew, and last week the ground was white with snow, so we had grand fun pelting each other with snow. Dear Dot, did you ever have chilblains? I have, and I wish you would give ane a cure for them. We have eight cows and five calves, and in summer I have my share of the milking. I read the AYitness every week j and the part I like best is the letters from little folk. Dot, do you ever make toffee? 3. always do when I can get the chance, and the ikind I prefer is sugar candy. I never hear [much about Jessie C. now, and I rather like ber letters. 8.0.8.'s and Harry's letters are becoming more interesting now, I think. Goodibye, Dot, with love to yourself and all the little folk. — Yours truly, PRIMROSE. [Primrose must tell us next time she writes •bow she makes the sugar candy, for I am sure a lot of little folk would like to know. Are the chilblains on the hands or the feet? Whichever it iB, steep them in very hot water night and morning, and you will soon get rid of them.— DOT.] Deal Dot,— We get the -Otago Witness every ■week, and I like reading the little folk's letters very much. I have two sisters and four brothers, and I have two cats. One of the cats has a kitten.; will you please give me a name ior it. You say that if you put your photo in you will put it in without a name, but never anind, I am sure all of us will be able to pick you out. I have been in bed since February, and lam not better yet. I would like to have Jiad my photo taken, but I was ill. I think £s all I have got to say, so good-bye.— Yours iiuly> ALFRED HADGE. Oamaru, July 30. [I am so sorry you have had such a bad time tof it, Alfred, and trust you may soon be up and about again. Call the kitten Gus.— DOT.] [Not a day toe old, Zephyr. We shall only be too pleased to hear from you. I am sorry you did not send the photo, dear, as we sould havo had the glaze removed if necessary. There have been several inquiries about "Vida M'Kellar latelyj and I hope she may have seen tivun

and will reply in due time. No, Shasta was no relative of Vida, so far as I am aware. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is- the first time I have writtten to you, but I hope you have no objection to another correspondent. When we get the Witness I always rush for the Little Folk's Page, and then look for Ziska's letter. I would like to know her, as she seems so nice. Judging from her letters, I think she is about the same age as myself. I have three brothers and five sisters. Some of your girl correspondents do not like brothers, but I don't think I could get on at all without my brothers; they are so kind to us girls, especially the eldest, -who gets . s out of many scrapes. Dear Dot, I will tell you about a very narrow escape I had once from being drowned. Two girl friends of mine ; were down at the sea beach with me, and we i took our boots off and were paddling, when ! three boys came along. They got an old boat, and were pushing it along the shore. They had no oars, -only a stick, and a stone for an anchor. They got us to get in witli them, ■ and they got braver, and pushed out a little further, but my two mates got frightened and jumped out before the water got too deep. The tide was going out, and the boys let the boat go too far, and we did not know how to get back, as it was drifting with the tide. They threw the anchor down, but the string broke. After a little difficulty we got on to an old steamer that was anchored in the bay, and a passing boat took us to land, but my mother was angry with me when I told her what had happened. She said we might have- been capsized. Don't you think we might," Dot? — Yours truly, EUGENIE. [Yes, dear, I am sure you might, and I don't wonder at your mother being angry. However, all's well that ends well, and you are wiser now. —DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have had a lot of snow and rain down here lately, but the weather is a- bit better now, and I am very glad, as I have a I long way to go to school. I like the snow bet- , ter than the rain, a* we can then have snowballing. We made a great big sno-.v-nian at school. It was so tall that our teacher could hardly reach to the top of it. Some of the boys "had to stand on big balls of snow to put his head on. I see 8.0.8. has been giving a description of Moses; so, little folk, if you see a bay horse with a bobtail, a very bright eye (I don't know whether they are both bright . or not), and a coat, that you can see your face in, you will know that it is Moses. I see you have got a good few photos now. I am sure all the little folk will ba looking forward with great pleasure for the Christmas Annual. I know I am just burning with curiosity to see what 8.0.8., Harry, and Ziska, and all the rest of the little folk are like. We milk about 26 cows here in the summer time, but we are only milking three now. There i 3 a dairy factory about half a mile from our place, to which we send our milk. I suppose some of the little folk have never seen cheese being made. I think I shall draw this letter to a close now with love to yourself and all the little folk. — Yours truly, LOUIE. Bridge Farm, Riverton, August 1. [It is a pity you could not have had your great snow-man photographed, Louie. That would have been very good, with all the children near him. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have been reading the little , folk's letters, and I thought I would like to ! write one too. It is very cold in the mornings | going to school just now. lam in the Second j Standard, and Miss H'owat, our "teacher, is a I very' nice teacher. I live on a farm, and it is I four miles from the Tapanui School. We go in a cart to school every morning. We have j gat two little filly foals ; would you please give [ me names for them. With love to yourself and ! the little folk,— Yours truly, j CLARA M'KAY (aged 10). I Bushside, Pomahaka, August 1. i [I should think you will require to be well | covered up in the cart this weather, Clara. i How would you like Bess and Jess as names for your foals?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I read the little folk's letters with great interest, and would like to become one of your correspondents. Igo to school, and am in the Fourth Standard. On Saturdays I go out ferrreting, but I have not been able to get for a while on account of the snow. We have had a good deal of snow lately, and had fine fun snowballing. Dear Dot, do you like fishing? I do. When it was the fishing season, I used to go with father, and we had some grand sport. We used to go out eeling at night, and we caught a good many. We stayed for about a week, and came home thoroughly well pleased with ourselves. — Yours truly, July 31. C. R. G. [C. R. G. will no doubt look forward eagerly to the opening of the fishing season once more. I hope he will get more nice trips and again come back thoroughly pleased. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— l don't agree with R. J. C. that the girls 'have had all their own way lately. Indeed, I think that they have had to keep fairly quiet. General, also, is making a determined stand for his rights, and I think that what he says is quite correct. One of my sisters was giving me .a pretty, good compound of verbs, adjectives, nouns,, pronouns, etc., for carrying nails and staples in my pockets, and as they had made some holes, I had given her tha " job " of sewing them up ; hence the grammar lesson. In revenge, on the first onportunity I went through one of her pockets. I thrust my hand in, but brought it out a good deal quicker, for I had " run against a snag," and a mighty sharp one at that, for it proved to be a needle. The second attempt was more successful, and by a good deal of squeezing, I managed to get to the bottom, and then pulled I the contents to the floor. What a heap! I , examined it very carefully (because of the I needle), and found at least a dozen various j articles of all shapes and sizes, beginning with j the needle (she must have known my intentions | and left it there on purpose) and ending .with a small pair of scissors, which were hardly to be recognised, for the quantity of ribbon and string that was wound about them. But enough of this subject. C. C. M. has been picturing a very dull future for me— the very opposite of boys'. Of course, tastes will differ, more especially a boy's from a girl's. I fancy I can see C. C. M. sitting in an old armchair, with a pair of spectacles on her nose, looking grim and severe, trying to write a love Jetter to some absent lover. If an S and an I and O and a U "~ With an X at the end spoil SU, And an E and a V and an E spell I, Pray, what is a speller to do?* Then if, also, an S and an I and a G And H E D spell cide, There's nothing much left for a speller to do But to go and commit Siouxeyesighed. —Yours truly, AGUINALDO. [A very good object lessen in crooked spelling, Ag. It really is a pity spelling reform is not taken in hand conjointly by England and America, with a determination to see the matter through. I wonder what they would do with such a word as sighed, however. I suppose they would have to make it sied, and no doubt v.-c should soon get used to it, but then how aboiit sighing? I suppose it would have to be sying. There are certainly difficulties in the wav, are there not?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — What a number of letters you must be receiving when you have to hold over a pile for the next issue every week. What sort of weather are you having in Dunedin ? It is cold enough up here to freeze a brass doorknob. We have had five falls of snow this winter. There was an awful snowstorm yes-

| terday. The snow is 9in thick now. I never j saw so much in my life before. Of course it i looks pretty, but it does not feel very comfort- j able. I think Maggie must be a very disagreeable sort of a girl, judging from what she says ' about Ziska's poetry and 8.0.8.'s letters. I wonder what sort of a page the little folk's would be by this time if it had not been for 8.0.8.'s letters when he was at the High School. I suppose Maggie is excusable under the circumstances, as sore knees and chilblains do not help to improve a person's temper. Aguinaldo says he never did believe in girls, and never shall. I do hope he will write and tell us when he is the happiest man alive because he is engaged to be married to the prettiest girl in the island. I have been away from school nearly two years, and I am not sorry. I used to get the strap every day. One day I got 18 cuts between half-past 2 and half-past : 3, but I suppose I deserved it. However, it did i not do me much good, as there is any amount of i room for improvement yet. One of my sisters j who is going to school now has not had the strap once for nearly a year. I thought I was awfully lucky if I escaped without getting it for a week. Six cuts on each hand was not the pleasantest thing imaginable in the middle of winter. I reckon boys are a terrible nuisance, j Did you ever see a boy; Dot, who was not 1 good at teasing? I never did, and never ex- j pect to. Most of them are better at that than at their work or lessons. My brothers used to ' get me on the job, when they were cutting j chaff, to drive one of the horses, and they used to laugh at the way I held the reins and ; called out at the horse; but I didn't care — I ! just thought I would live after I was laughed at. It is no use taking any notice of them, for the more notice you take the worse they get. R. J. C. says Harry always manages to keep in with the girls. That shows his good sense. He does not want their wrath to descend j like a thousand of bricks on his head. I think ! I had better stop now, or I will be taking up too much of your precious paper. So good sight, Dot. — Yours truly, j LORNA. July 24.. [I think Lorna must have been very fond of ! talking in school, or however could she have ' got so much strap ? I don't wonder at her not ' regretting being away from school. — DOT.] I Dear Dot, — I go to the East Taieri School, ' and am in the Second Standard. Our teacher is J Miss Shand. I have three brothers and one < 3ister. 1 have a doll; will you please give me j a name for it. My brother has two guinea-pigs ; ! will you please give him names for them. — Yours truly, JANE R. FALCONER (aged 9J years). Mosgiel, August 1. j [Call the doll Augusta and the guineas Creep ' and Grip, Jane. — DOT.] I Dear Dot, — I have been reading the Olago ' Witness lately, and I thought I would like to become one of your correspondents. We have ' had very rough weather this week. The snow . has been lying on the ground since Monday. I The domain waters have been blocked with ice, r and on Wednesday night the brass band was J playing while the people were dancing or skat- ' ing on the ice. I go to school, and am in the ; Sixth Standard. Our examination will be very ! soon, and I shall be glad when it is over, and ! I shall write and let you know if I pass. My , birthday will be on the 15th of next month, , and I shall then be 13 years old. I have been j down at Dunedin once, but I do not remember ' anything about it, as I was only two years old. If I pass the Sixth Standard next exam. ! I shall be down at Christinas. With love to \ you, — Yours truly, : NELLIE B. GOURDIE (aged 12 years). Ashburton. July 28. [What a capital idea to have the band playing ; for dancing and skating on the ice. If it. was only moonlight it must have been very enjoyable, Nellie.— DOT.] i Dear Dot, — On getting nip on Friday, July 22, I found, upon looking out of the window, < that the ground was cefvered with snow, and the cold wind which we had been having on the previous days was gone. Then, of course, came the snow-balling, and each girl, as she passed up the path from the gate to the school door, was attacked right and left by boys. But none of them heeded till wraps and cloaks were off. They then were ready, and the boys were also ready, for they had each made as many ' snowballs as they could carry. The girls were, j of course, attacked again, but they could this time take revenge, and it was a queer sight to see the boys lun up to the girls and polt them as hard as they could, but all the pay they j got was a chasing and a rubbing in the face. The girls will be surprised to learn that they had an unknown observer on their side. The teacher of the school also got a pelting. I quite agree with Rita in her wish for peace j between us two enemies, and we must really choose something to keep us merry till Christmas comes. * . And now, oh, boys, keep Rita's wish, And do not more deprive it, And if you want to tease us, Pray do not advertise it. I must now say adieu, with love to all. — Yours truly, RUTH. [Ruth and her fellow pupils were evidently able to hold their own against the boys, and I hope the little scrimmage was taken in good part, and no temper displayed on either side. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — My mother gets the Otago Witness, and I like her to read the little folk's letters. We have a dog with four pups, and I have a little sister named Lilian Alice, and a littlo brother named Harold John. We have just finished our winter holidays. I have only been going to school 12 months, and this is the first letter I have written. I will write a longer one next time. Now I will say good-night. — Yours truly, DICK SMITH (aged 7 years). New Plymouth, July 28. [That is a very good letter foi so small a boy as Dick is. When he has been at school - for a year or two he will write} very nice letters. —DOT.] Dear Dot,— l was very pleased to see that you put my kfet letter in the Witness. We had plenty of snow here last week, and, of course, as all boys like, plenty of snow-balling too. Now, Dot, as I have no pet animals to tell you about, I will tell you about a visit I paid in my holidays to my cousins. They live away up over the Maungatua Hills. I arrived there at 11 o'clock in the morning, and my cousins were very glad to see me. The first thing I thought about was to have a good day's rabbiting the next day. So the next day came lound, and I got a lead of my cousin' 3 dog, and went off rabbiting in the afternoon. I caught 12 rabbits, and, feeling tired, I set off for home -again. I got there all right, and my cousin was surprised to find me with so many rabbits. I helped him to skin them, and hang up the skins to dry. — Yours truly. WILLIAM HASTIE. Allanton, Taieri, August 1. * [You did very well, Will, and I am sure both you and the dog must have been kept busy during the afternoon. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — We get the Otago Witness every week, and I like reading the little folk's letters. I live in Waipahi South, and I have four sisters and four brothers. I am in the Third Standard at school. Four of us are going to school. We have seven miles to go. We attend the Kuriwao Gorge School, and there are 18 pupils going to it. Miss M'Dougall is our teacher, and we all like her very much. We have three milking coirs, Polly, Cherrj. and'

May. My sister Mary milks them. "We have had a lot of snow. It^is about 6in deep, and" it is very cold. It is fine for skating now.' We have a little heifer calf and a draught filly foal ; please will you give me nice names for them. — Yours truly, LIZZIE WILSON (aged 11 years). Waipahi South, July 28. [That i 3 a long way to go to school, Lizzie, but I suppose you drive and do not walk. Call the calf Pansy and the foal Blossom.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Is there anything so sweet, so hopeful, as an early spring morning, without cold wind or spite in the air, only a gentle awakening to sunshine and cheerful sounds? It is delightful to wake up in the early spring mornings and hear the birds singing on the branches of a tree outside your window. Have you ever heard a thrush or a tui singing on the trees on early mornings? I have; many's the time I've listened to the birds singing while lying in bed. Any one would think a bird has the easiest time out. Still, birds undergo bitter trials like a human being. A man has to find his own living; so have the birds. Every living creature has trials of its own. I was out riding to-day, and I enjoyed it immensely. It is not often I get such a treat. The horse belongs to one of my brothers. He wasn't home to-day, so I took the horse and went off to a place three miles off. It is only foui months for Christmas! Oh, dear! oh, dear! how the days do fly! Dear Dot, is the Christmas Annual to come out a month before Christmas? And will they be sent out to the country people then? I'm just longing to see the little folk's pictures in the Christmas Annual. I want to sea that " back block, ' trumpery boy/ " 8.0.8., also Ha-rry's one. I'm not " racking " my brains to find out 8.0.8.'s and Harry's names. (I'm sure they — his parents — did not christen him 8.0.8. And Harry must have been christened in another name — at least he has two other names besides '* Harry." I wonder if they were christened; for some parents don't christen their children.) Well, Harry and 8.0.8. , you would like to know how I found out. By using my eyes "and reading the paper thorough. How I knew 8.0.8.'5, was that some girls — friends of 8.0.8. (ahem!) — told me. He (B.O.B.) used to attend the same school as these girls did. Where and when I'll not enlighten you, old boy. So ever since I became interested in 8.0.8.'s letters. I've never thought 8.0.8. was a girl. The thought never crossed my mind for a second. I saw C. C. M. a few weeks ago, and I saw C. C. M.'s sister last week. It was with great interest that I read Wullie's letter. It's a pity that he never obeys "his parents. No wonder he couldn't, when they say he has a turnip head, and all such rubbish. What do they expect from the boy if .they are uncivil -to him ? Wullie evidently paid them back with their own coin. But I advise Wullie to have more respect for his ano faither and mither; and, as one of Dot's ane correspondents, I give him a hearty quid welcome to our page. And I offer him my friendship, which I hope he is not too proud to accept. I hope he will write something about the " Highlands of auld Scotia. Have Tiixie and Sybil sent in their photos, Dot? Shasta hasn't wiitten yet. When is Hullo going to write again? I hope she will write iind tell us more about " the End of the Earth," for" it would be very interesting. I had some great fun sliding or skating last week. One boy was boasting he could skate the best, and while he was speaking he was skating at the same time, and just as he finished his sentence he fell face downwards. And my! he did cry! My brother said he made " the a.wfullest face out." I I think it ia time that the boys and girls came to terms. Or are they going to do no 7 thing else but "peck" at each other? Growling, grumbling, and pecking at each other should be left to the old people — it's not for the young to be always giowling, is it, Dot? How are you keeping, Beth? I read in yesterday's paper that there was rather a lively meeting held in Kaitangata. Were you at it, Beth? When are you going to write again? Some people were criticising some of the letters that appeared in your page some time ago. I would like to see them writing a letter — see if they could do any better. I don't believe they could. There must have been some mistake with my last letter, Dot. I didn't send in. my measure. It is sft 7£in. I was sft Jin | last summer. The last letter that appeared in ' your page from Cooee, Dot, sent in by by mistake. Whoever posted it I don't know. I'm in the habit of writing letters to you and never posting them. But still, I've an idea who did it. The person who posted it thought she did it for the best. _J must close with love to Beth, M. W., Snooks, and all the little folk, not forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, COOEE. [The date for the issue of the annual has not yet been fixed, Cooee, but it will be before the time you mention. It is being printed now, but there is a great deal of work in it, and it takes a very long time to complete it. I quite agree with Cooee that it is time little bickermistake. Whoever posted it I don't know, ings between the boys and girls ceased. It was very strange how your letter reached me, dear, but it came to hand all right, and I did not see anything wrong with jt. In. answer to your private query, Yes, of course. — DOT.] FOUND OUT. Dear Dot, — I am writing to ask if you would kindly send me the letter that was signed in ' my name and dated 17th July, if you have it. I i did not write that letter, and I would like to I get it, tc see the handwriting and postmark. j The writers certainly showed a great want of • common sense, and I did not like to see my j name signed to such a letter ; but if they think my tender feelings are hurt, they have not thatr 1 satisfaction, as 1 am not in the least put out, seeing I can easily rectify the few mistakes that were purposely made as a take-off. As the writers seem so interested in our piano, I will make them welcome if they will pay us a visit, and I have no doubt that our music teacher, Miss Ferguson, will also give them a tune, so they can then test the tone of the "beautiful piano," and' if they think they have got at me by taking off my two eldest sisters, they have come far off ' their intentions, for neither my sisters nor any ' of our family, I am proud to say, are ashamed ' to earn an. honest living, and can even find time in the "long winter nights," when we all meet together, to make a ioyful noise which some may take for singing. Hoping the writers have now fully relieved their feelings, and that they will find courage to sign their own names in future, '■ instead of using such a small girl's name as ' mine,— l remain, yours truly, ISA GRANT. [In reply to this request, the MS. was sent to Miss Grant, and I am pleased to learn that she has been able to trace the cowardly writer, wno really does not deserve the clemency extended to him, as shown in the following lettci : — Dear Dot,— l have found out the names of the persons who, from envy and jealousy, signed my name to their letter. But, in consideration of thoir ignorance, and also for the sake of their friends, who live in the district. I refrain from making their names a public example. But, i dear Dot, will you kindly print my last letter along with this, if not too late. Hoping that 1^ have not caused you trouble, and thanking you^l for sending the letter, — I remain, yours truly, ISA GRANT. j Berwick, August 5. Alys. — Yes, dear, it is the rule that the proper i name should accompany every letter, and many a letter is not inserted because this rule is not complied with.

Toss. — Of course, I believe you, dear, and I agree with &l\ you.say. lam .only too pleased j v to know that I defeated the contemptibl* trick by sending hack the letter for verification. Loba has not sent her proper name, and as T do not feel very sure about the genuineness gf her letter, I do not insert it. AT THE SAVEY WINDOW. •- " (For "Dot's" Little Folk.) I stood by the sayey window, The night was bitter cold ; j I'd rather have stopped -by the cosy fire, [ But a fellow must do" what he's told;. So I stood by the savey window, - * Watching the passers-by, When two little ragged newsboys Brushed past me — bold, yet shy. ,• For a moment they eyed the window ' Where saveys were steaming fine, Then entered — the shopmen were busy— tWith saveys and paper and twine. They waited the shopman's pleasure, The order of each was ONE, Which they started to eat in the gaslight— r I stood there, watching the fun. ( I never saw happier schoolboys! I stood quite happy with them, Tho' a tear was nearly born. I Oh, were I the King of the Fairies, This is a thing I would do: I'd build me a great savey window, With rich, flavoured steam coming throngEy Then I'd make everybody a" newsboy — * •Yes, even- my dearest friend — And when the sleet waspeltingI'd give each cc penny to spend. And each should be hungry and happy—* Their boots, should have laughing toes, And they should be kings of the first degree* So far as a Baveloy goe». They'd learn when the north wind waa biitet How little could gladden ; and then To firesides as cosy as I had left I'd send them back again. A fairy would warm their slippers; As fairies' their sleep would be, And then I'd become a newsboy, And they should be. kind to me. And there should be no forgetting How keenly the wind can blow, Nor ever a bosom remain untouched In the great wide world below. Thus I stood by the savey window, When the steam was coming through ;" But I wasn't the King of the Fairies, • So what could a fellow do? J. M [A number of letters are again' held over.— * Dot.]