LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 68

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

FOLK., Dear Dot, —l -hope lam not wilting too gooj, but 1 was wanting to tell you how i spent my Easter holidays.' I made a bc^i'^ning by going to the bush on Good Friday, and i got some nice ferns. My vioid, we had a fine time of it. Y/e got a rare old kcockisig about. I went down ao &cc tnc contingent depart, and enjoyed myself immensely. 1 went out to the Beaumont races on iio.-.clsy, and met a girl who is one of your i_unieroua correspondents, but did noi frid cut her name. How did you enjoy the races, A. B,? I saw Captain up at the Bush, but he did not know me. I was rather disappointed at not gettirg an answer to my question, D.O.S. In my last letter I jioticed a slight mistake. I inteyded to put, "Are your initials .M. F. 1., M. I. M. ?" I really think the phctos" will be nice next week. -I did not see the Christma3 Annual, but I hope to sea next week's copy. I have discovered j our identity at last, Dot, but you may depend on me not giving you away. I should so like to find out who yon are, Little Lady. You live 111 Dunedin, T laiow. Would you mind telling me 3 our'initials, and where you live hi town. When arc jou coining to Lawrence for your holidays, * D.O.S. ? Have you seen E. M. lately, D.OS.? =He:brother was up at Easter. lam &tdl wearing my badge, but it gives me away sometimes. I do not want to break the rules by writing too much, so good-bye, with love to the editor and yourself.—Yours truly, RED, WHITE, AKD BLUE. Braeshead Cottage. , [Dear me, if this goes on the exception will be not to know who Dot is, and net the rule. I wonder however it is thpt lam being discovered on all hands just at the present time? There must ba a traitor in "the camp —l mean in the Witness office, of 1 course, and I shall have to ask the editor to put a private deteptive on his track, and when he is discovered —well, I think j shall leave his punishment in the hands of my numeious 'rienda of the page —what say you, little folk? My only consolation at present is that all those - in the know are resolved "not to give me away.'' I suppose I must be thankful for this, at all events.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, — This is Sunday afternoon, and as there is no church 1 thought 1 would write to you. lam all impatie.it to see tha photos cf the D.L.F. we have voted lor. I take far more interest in the war news now, as I know a lot 01 " Our Boys" who have gone to South Africa. Dear Dot, 1 did envy those grls who lived close enough to see the contingents off. My uncle went out to the Heads to see the last of them. Fancy, Con away to ths war; he will niaka a good soldier, and 1 only wish I were going too. 1 am being found out in all directions, but I shall not chaiij c my name, for I might as well give in to the inevitable now as after. I am taller than you, Hollyhock, as lam sft 51in in my shoes. Poor 8.0.8., J do not think he is in love — I think his only thought is '' Oh, how 1 wish I were a man that I could go and fight the Boers!" Never mind, 8.0.8., your turn will come soon. Shall you and I go as stowaways with the sixth contingent? We would have to be more'careful than the girl that tii?d io go away in the Maori. Dear Hariy, lam going to csk you a favour. As I have mother's consent, I should like to have your autograph, if you will send it to aie; Dot will give you my address, won't you, Dot? Dear Dot, 1? did not think iLaidey was a boy, but -when she said so herself J thought it must be right. I wculd like to exchange autographs with you too, please Ji.iarguerite. If you will you might lell me in your next letter, and I shall send mine to Dot to fo-v.-aid to you. I, must close now, for I clc not want to go down in the editor's blrck book. With love to all the littlo folk, not forgettir.™ the Critic Club, and hoping little Daisy is r.one the worse for her ducking and to\ our Dot,— Yours truly,

MILLICEXT,

[Why, what would you do at the war, Ivhllicent? Of course we crai understand what 8.0.8. and Moses would have in view, but I am afraid a girl would be sadly out of place among the bursting of shells, the poor food and general hardships of camp life. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I see a friend of mine, Miss Kruger, is writing to you. T beiif-ve lam soon to he-sent to St. Helena, and I hope ATicy Kruger will soon follow, but I would like to pay a visit to her apple orchard befo.e T sail foi St. Helena. I saw the pho'.O3 in the Witness to-night, and I think they are all very nice. 1 know Si of your coriespondoiit 1 :, Dot I 'wonder when Mousie is going to v'rite again. She rnusi have gone to sleep. Dear Dot, what a number of letters you aie receiving now. Really, we shall have to get a paper of our own soon. With love to Shan, Miss Kruger, Usca, Silverboll, Daffodilly, and yourself,- — Yours truly,

MISS'CEONJE (Friend of Miss Ivifger.)

[We are evidently getting quits among the Boers. However, n.6 St. Helena seems to be the fate of those who aie writing, pc-haps wo do not need to c-aie. — "DOT.J

Dear Dot, — Here I am again, still in the land 01 the living. I sec the photos me 111 the "Witness this week. They came out all right, did they not, Dot? I congratulaie jou 011 their success. I think Shan and Tileho arc the nicest. Of ccurse, Ido not mean any offence to the others, for they all look veiy nice indeed. Oh, clear, no, Daffodilly, I am not too old to wiite to Dot. ] way 15 lnst Satuiday, so you sec I have five whole years to v^ritc to the Witness yet. J" got such a lovely cilk fichu sent to me from a Dunedin gnl for a present. Don't you think it was nice oi her, Dot? I wag in Gore on Good Fridpy, bvii I didn't see a siugle badge, and I was so disappointed. Daffodilly has gone away ftom here now. Tdo miss her, and the littlo chats we used to have about Dot's little folk. I wonder who Joe is. I always thought &he vas a boy, but &he turns out to be a girl alter all. Dear Dot, I have found out who you aie, bui your secret shall be safe with mo, for 1^ am

i-lmost Sure lam right. I have also found o.vi, who 'j'pffy j=. j. enpposs 301: Imou v.ho I vm, Tally? My sunt, Miss Ivruger, is writing to you. Ecally, if was a smpri=e when I read her letter, because when I asked her to writs she said she_ could not write one good enough. \Vell, Doc, 1 shall now draw in my leins and not enciodch further on your precious suace, so good-bye. Dot, >vnh love to dear old Daffodilly, Shan, Sitverbell, Moasie. Tom Thurab, 31iss Xi tiger, and yourself. — Yotus tivly,

[So Usca has found me out also. Why, deiyr me, if this goes 0:1 there will bs no use ray trying to keep my secret any longer, and I may ]uvfc as well piu in my photo at once. However, I shall do nothing in a hmvy, and after all pexhaps it is not quite no serious as I thcn°-ht at first— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have>lei\ school for the present, arid I don't think I shall be_ going to school in ISTew- Zealand any more. L^aio going to the old country (Scotland) on ths 28t'i of Awri'— nine more days in New Zealand. Ilvs is t'»~ lest letter I will be wjiting to your r>Rge ,' JNew £e.i!anci; but 1 am eoing tO'.vnte'to yoi> irom home all the same. Mv two brothers avd I went duck shooting 0.1 Ea&ter Mori day. "V7 e locle to the Waiiu Gorge,, and cios3ed one or two streams, and then discovered a lot of ducks rbottt a mile down slre^m, but when we tried to si ilk them they fie"/. We locie for about lour_ miles, and when wa came to =tou we hadn't a single duck, because t'jey were* too wild Lisar Dot, I'm taking the little folk's bidse to Scotland with me. I & h-\ll l: e &oiEg to jhreswicii Caithness, the ao-t northern county, and intend to stay with my u_;clc. I sh^ll be £,o:ng to school there ior p^ycar or so to finish my education, • and "pfteiwrods shall learn a trade. I intend to coize out to New Zealand in ilve or six years' iirae for a holiday, suid I hope to se? the kiltie Folk's Page ii the Wii-ieEa then. l>.[y niothei mid father ore going to drive 2.1s to to-.va next week some time and see me off. I must now close, with love to Dot and all the little folk,— Yours tiuiy,

WILLIS lIOWAT.

Cheviot, Apr! l 19

JJt is a long icuicey to take all ty yourself, Willie, but I strifose you will make many irieads on boara ship, and will set on all right. I wish you succes.3 in your new Eoaae, and shall ba glad to hear from you when you feel inclined to write. lam afr?id five or <=ix 3 ears will see great changes in cur page. 1 wo.ider how many of the present cox-.-ssponfients will be writirg then, and if Dot will have chaige, or will siie have givsj a place to someone else — perhaps" one. of the piessnt correspondents. Who 'knows? — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— Ths- Wit-ess arrived yesterday, and with it the iqßg-loo&edt-foc photos. I think they are very clear,, and i am glod to see that some ox them look "about rjy own age, for it is a solemn fact that I ran 2D to-morrow. lam very EOrry to "have to s.a-y good-bye to D L.i'., but I mean to" still wear' my badge and read the page. 1 have -not forgotten about ths cot. Do you kno,w I always thought Shan wss a girl?- Doesn't 8.0.8. look a hard case in his photograph ; and dear o.d Harry looks "as if he kr.ew tho full value r of time, and must ii^ish his book without delay. I.itcle Lady iooks ready for a picnic, with her puiibonnet 011. 1 should like to find out who Eimbecco roally is. ami I expect I shall, because Catlms is not very far from here. I think Dunediuite looks very nice; but, really, Dot, they all look well, and I should just like to see your photo now. i was told again la3t week thai you* were a gentleman. Is it not terrible the vray this war continues? 1 feel very, very soriy for C.C.M. I know her sisteis, and 1 know her father. Dear Dot, I must stop now, for I have come to the foot of the poge. So with much love for yourself, the editor, and all the little folk, I remain,— You-. s liuly, QUEEN BESS.

A-uril 20.

[So Queen Be3s has gone. Well, good-bye, dear, and I wish you happiness on your ent/y into the threshold of womanhood. So Dot is getting back to the gentleman stage again! Ah, well, the real Doi can afford to smile and make all allowances for people who pretend to know fetich a lot on the flimsiest of pretences. Dot's real friends know whaS she is, end that is al! she cares about. — DOT,] '

Dear Dot, — I have never wiitten to you bifore, but your page has become so mterestir-g that I thought I should like to be among ycur correspondents. lam not a ve:y " lutle ' folk to start writirg, but better Isle than never I sui.po-se, and iam still v.nclei age. I expect you will be enjoying your Easter holic'ay now, Dot. I wa3 to disappointed to-day when 111 1 saw the photos were 1105 in. I will nave to be patient for another week. 1 do not know many of the little folk, Dot, but perhaps I shall v.hen I see the photc=.~ I know who Schoolgiil i 3. I have only seen one letter fiom her. 1 wonder who 8.0.8. is. I like hi? lettors very much I also like Harry's. Wattle Blossom said in her last letter that she tho-jgl-t Harry was too clever for a boy. Well, she could not have seen his photo in the Christmas Annual. He was only a boy there, &ure enough. [ think W. B. was a bit sarcastic in hc-r letter, and spoke her mi.id even more ireeiy than the Critic Club. Perhaps Vida M'Keiiar does no v read the Witness flow,ancl does not know how the little folk are talking about her. Well, I must not say airy more, or the littls folk will say I do rot practise what 1 preach, and criticise myself. 1 often wonder who you a.-c. Dot. I picture you as a imall, gentle, young lady with a very kind heart. V?hen J w?s in Dunedin lass^a young man in the pimling office aaked a friend of mine and myself to cGn:e to the office and he would show us all round. It was Labour Day, a:id r.fter seeing the piocscfden I pushed my way through the crowd and made for the corner where 1 was to meet my mend. &ho was not there, so I walked to"wards the office and waited thcie a good while, but she did not come. I did not like going 111 by jnysalf, so went home disappointed I learnt afterwards that' my friend "had slipped and sprained her foot the nighi befoic, so could not come. Next time Igo to Dunedin I shall hay: to have a look lotmd the office, and see if I can get a peep at Dot. I mint c^se now, with love to the little folk and your own dear self, — Yours truly, MOTHER GOOSE. April 11. [It was a pity your friend had the accident which prevented her keeping hex engagement, Mother Goose, but I hope uotlnnp, "/ill come to prevent you seeing over the office nexi time you tire in town . — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Oin- school is closed just now, ars our teacher has left. I have seen the photos in the Witness, and was vrry disappointed at no? seeing oul- Scotch fiiond, Wullie, amongst them. Bravo, Alys, for takivg Patsy's p?rt. Last time I wrote I promised to tell you how a cat saved her kittens fiom n dog. One day our old collio do^ was growl Lag at a cat's kittens. The mother wont into the kpnncl and the liiUona kepi backing away f/om the dog | towards then- nioUu-r. When they fot iu a i outside the hemu'l the mother spiang out on to the dog, and he soon turned tail and ran for dear life. I must now ring off, as the editor has limited our space to eight colrtrnn&. With love to all Dot's little folk, not forgetting youv own dear self, Dot, and the editor, —Yours truly, SHARPSIIELL. Apiil 21. [Wullic'a and Laddie's portraits both came to h,}nd too late for the iirst group, Sharpshell, but 1 am keeping them for the second one.

Thr.t wps a knowing cat, but I con tcil of 0n.9 oqnnlly cunning. She had a neat oiJoux kittens^ lor whoso # -safety she felt considerable misgivings. In a yard in the neighbourhood was a dog named Snpp, for he certainly has a sharp and decisive way of "going for" 'intrudes of all kinds, whether feline or Iranian^ Pus's had had many samples of this snappishness, but, nothing daunted, she removed her family to n, space immediately between the bid: of the kennel and the wall, reasoning that they would be safe there. She had to make a, high leap every time she left her lair, for Snap invariably made a spring -at her ; but she succeeded in rearing her family and ultimstely took them home in triumph. What their reception was there, however, 1 don't

know. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — May I become one of your correspondent^ lam 15, and in the Seventh Standard. "l have only one brother, named Jack, aged 17, and no sisters. "We take the Witness regularly. I always enjoy the little folk's letters, but I like wee Wullie's the best; they are so quaint. Dear Dot, last Tuesday evening my brother and 1 went to the " Birth 01 the Empire," m the drillshed. It was lovely. The interior of the building presented a quaintly picturesque appearance, being draped -with red, white, and blue, and othsr gay-coloured flags, representative of the different nations. Ihere were several side shows, raffles, etc., also (and best of all) a piogramme o'' dances, minuets, and marches. The enter--Liniment commenced with a gland march, in which the full strength of the company took part". This was veiy biiiliant, and excited much admiration and applause, snd was followed by deuces, in, which ladies and gentlemen were all dressel to represent dstfeient nations. Canada's representatives, dressed in p?Le fclvc, trimmed with swansdowja, were * much admired ; as also were India's, who wore soft, clinging white frosks, 3 r ello>' sashe?, and while and yellow turbans. I liked the Dolls' dance very much, in which the 20 little' giis taleig part looked as if they had just stepped out of Pollard'^ doll show, ''La Poupee. The entertainment concluded wth an exhibition of '"Sough-riders." In this case, the rough-riders were little girls. I made a, mistake at the door, by giving in the .wiong part of my ticket (the number side), and thus lost my chance of a prize in the art union. Jack said I was an ''absent-minded beggar. ' However, I enjoyed myself so well that I don't mind the loss of my ticket. Oh, I hod almost forgotten about the little folk's hospital cot. Are you receiving contributions for it no\v 4 . Dot? If so, I shall gladly send you a shilling a month, as I think the plan is splendid. Will stamps do, Dot? I hope Taffy, of the C. C, will not be too severe on me for this letter. If you are as sweet as youi? name, Taffy, I am sure you will be kind. On second thoughts, though, there is a suggestion of toothache about Taffy that bids me brware. As it is lay fust offence, I must ask for leniency. Now, as I am afraid this letter is getting beyond bounds, I will close with besij love to Dot and all little folk, and remain, — Yoms truly, KIMBEB, LES. Wellington, Aprii 21. [That is certainly a new way of spelling Kirnbsrley, dear, and you deserve credit fo? originality No, we have not started the children's cot yet, the understanding being that it -is to begin with the new century,- on January 1, 1903. It is very liberal of you io offer such a substantial subscription, especially as you live so far off.— -DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is about the tenth time I have started to wiite to 3-911, but I think I shall post this letter. I have ceen the photos in the Wit-iess, and I think they are very jooi. My word, doesn't Harry look innocent? Nov.-, Solomon, just tell me if Hariy always looks like that. Just fancy Con away' to the. war. I should like to know Con's real name, co that I 'could tee his photo in. a book that , we have of the Fourth and Fifth Contingent. I had a 'biother and a brother-in-law over in Africa working in the gold mines ; but when the war staiced we wrote for my brother to come home. He is sorry he came, because he wants tog o and fight, but we won't let him." He ia only 19, and he was away two years in Airica. and we were always anxious about him. He is the only brother I have, but he is enough. I will have to clo=e, as I think this is rather long. Love to all the little folk, not forgetting yourself, Dot. — Yours truly, WINTER. [Dear me, Winter, I am sure you would not F.iy that should your brother get away to Sov.ih Africa again. Then you would think there was no brother like him. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Now ths harvest is all in, and the apples and plums gathered, I have actually found time to write to a few of my correspondents. Ziska must, bs veiy good at writing letters, but I — well, the fact is, I owe nearly every one I write to a letter. I have been, busy pulling plums and apples this week. I don't mind the job of eatina- them, but it is hard lines if you have to pull them and whistle all the time. Some nippers are a plague. If ever I start writing they yell out, '• Deav Dot, my true and devoted love, ' etc. — thp cheek of them. I do pity 8.0.8.^ if he is in love. It is an awful predicament to be in. I was o.ily once there, but I never wish to be ag?in: I vas at a flower "show once, and I waa held over ears in love with some iam tarts, all because I knew I couldn't get them; but I have more sense now. or it is time I had,, for I really am getting old. Do you know, Dot, I stopped reading books because those brothers of mine tormented me and called me bookworm ; but I have broken my good resolution and am now leading Down the Mississippi." That is what I call a tip-top book. I, like most of your correspondents, have the war fever. and should like grand to go and ba a "soldier ol the Queen. ' Oh, do yon. kno-v the latest? A girl from Dunedin told me you were an old man, nearly grey, not bad looking, and always wore specs; but I hope you won't be offended, as I did not believe her. Where on esrth has the Critic Club ?one' — not to the Transvaal, I hove, or they might give the Boers as rough a time of it as they gave me, But never mine! — that's r.ast and goiie'; so here's luck to them (I hnve iust taken a drink of water). I have been thinking over what name to sign, but can't find any. so shall just sign mv nick-name. — Your? truly, FACE"

[You will have &cen eve this, Miss Face, that the Critic Club have lesumed thair criticisms, so yon had better mind your p's aud q'3, nncl avoid tempting them as much r"s uos=ible. ISTo. deir, T doii't mind a bit what the a.irl from Duvtedin told you. You will see from Zigka's list and the sketches by J. I. -M. that I have already been described as an old mm with specs. I knew none of you will believe that I am anything but what you picture me, so T can afiio--d to laugh at fanciful descriptions.— DOT.] < Dear Dot, — Here I p.m again. I was very ! tui prised that pome cjic took my i.ams; but I was going to change it, anyhow, as so many know me. 1 was down in I? cinedm a littlo whi'e a^o, and I came in from St. Clair in a car with one of your correspondents. li, isr getting very cold up here norr, and the frcst is on the ground every morning. I think Priscilla. lives at St. Ciair. I was on the : Vincent " dredge yesterday, and it made a • dreadful noise 03 the buckets went round. I saw Doreen and Schoolgirl yesterday. There is a, hawk which comes after my pigeon every ni^ht, so I have to hide it in thejy>» iu ouse. T have a

little friend staying with me, and we both ride ponies, and as my mate cannot ride well and Tramps a lot, the boys say, " What ho, she "bumps." Are they not rude? With love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly, COSMOS.

. [Well, I don't see that you have improved Miatters by changing your name, Cosmos, for you will be at once recognised by all who know you from your letter. The pigeon and the hawk will let some know, and your pony rides others.— DoT.l

Dear Dot, — The Easter number has at last arrived, and with it the long-looked-for photos. They quite come up to my expectations, the faces coming out beautifully. It is exactly like Echo and Dockleaf, but Little Lady looks rather dark. Shan is quite a handsome boy, out Rimbecco seems to be more than 20, I should say.- Now, I masb thank you for the badge, Dot, which I received safely, though you sent it to the wrong address. I am very glad that you have started an Indian Famine Itelief Fund. The unfortunate people must be suffering terribly. It gives one the horrors to read Colonel Morris's description of a starving village." Little Lady told me that 'Fhiff is in town. Perhaps I shall meet her at Echo's or Dockleaf's. In what out-of-the-way corner has Maisie hidden herself? If she does not hurry up and write, we shall have to courtmartial her for deserting. I went for a glorious bicycle ride with my brother to Mosgiel. It was that very windy Tuesday in Holy week, but with the wind with us it was lovely, especially going down hill. I came back by train next day, but "my unfortunate brother rode back, with the wind against him, and had lather a bad time. And now, little folk, it is no use grunmbling -at the editor for restricting us to eight columns. You know that other people less sensible than ourselves do nob . consider our page " the " most important in the Witness, so we must bo content with what.,3« : & can get. I must now conclude, with love to Echo, Little Lady, "Dockleaf, Maisie, and Dot. — Yours truly. Dunedin, April 23. 'NEMO.

[I am glad the badge reached you, Nemo, although the wrong address was put on it. You did not give me your address in the letter ordering it, so I had to make a guess. I have just shown the editor your remarks, and you should have seen the way he smiled as he remarked, " Well, you have some sensible coirespondeuls, Dot, and" Nemo must certainly be classed among them. ' I could not help implying that all my correspondents were sensible, affectionate, considerate, and everything that was pleasant and nice; but at this he only smiled again without saying yes or no. — DOT.] / "

Dear Dot, — My father is making a log fire Slow, and, my two brothers are drawing logs with the bullock. It is hard work, Dot. It is a funny thing L. H. was spreading jam on a carrot. My brother is getting in the cows, of which we have 12 milking. I know Rini"becco. My age is 10 years and 11 months. "With love to all the little folk and yourself.— Yours truly, CHARLES.

[I should have thought the cairot would be sweet enough without the jam, Charles; but tastes differ, and your friend. L. H. has evidently a very sweet tooth. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have not seen any badges yet, hut I know a girl who has one. At the beginning of the war I thought the Boers would win. If the British were defeated, do you ceally think that the Russians would trouble themselves to take a small place like 2few Zealand? Someone told me they would. What colour is the Boer flag, Dot? I wonder -why we never hear (or rather read) of Jbrave. deeds on the Boer" side ? Surely some of them are brave, as well as the British"? Do you have to dock every one's letters, or is it only the long ones that you dock? I like .8.0.8.'5, Boy's, Harry's, and Con's letters 'best of the boys, and Ziska's, Marguerite's, Pique's, and Roby's,- of the girls. If you had not thonght of the Cot scheme, ■wouldn't it be nice to get up a Dot's Indian Famine Relief Fund? I feel more for those poor people starving to death than for those ■who died in the war. What sort of books do you read, Harry? Do you ever read novels, .Dot? Have 'you ever read Evelyn' Everett Green's stories? I think they are very nice? lam an awful reader ; but I don't think lam "quite so bad as Ziska. Perhaps it is because I have not time, but I read every spare moxuent. I wish Harry would write me a verse. Please don't think me cheeky, Hariy. Some of your correspondents were saying they liked -the bush. Well, so do I — sometimes — but not -•when it is raining rivers, and the cows are missing. Maidey said in one of her letters that she was a boy. I hoped this was true, as he -is such a nice writer, and there are plenty <>f girls; but I see after all she only said it 'in fun. I must conclude now, as I do not want to vex you. With love to Marguerite, ,Pique, Harry, and poor 8.0.8., whom I pity very much.— Yours trulj',

FANCY FREE

[I am surprised at your imagining for a moment, Fancy Free, that the British could close -and^the Boers piove victorious. Of course it was only to be expected that there -should be 'reverses," but that the greatest Empire the sun has~ ever shone on should be .."beaten So easily is not to be contemplated. Many instances of bravery on the part of in;<Lividual - Boers have been given in the war news, and I don't think there has been any -wish to deny that-there aie brave men among -them; but that does not make the course their leadei'3 have forced them to take any the less .-wicked. You see we are going to have a famine relief fund, dear, and- 1 hope we shall raise enough money to save some suffering at all events. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — The war in South Africa for some months past has completely overshadowed ail other things. - One matter that would have taken up considerable attention at the hands of the public in peaceful times is the famine in India. Death from starvation is much more horrible to imagine than to be shot dead by an unexpected enemj. Is not this an awful plague that is raging in Australia just now. It is to be hoped that it will not visit New Zealand. I think the people should take every possible means to keep it out. I saw in Evoline's letter that JOll was the Gaelic for John, "but it is nob so. " lan " is the Gaelic for John. The little folk's photos were very nice in the Witness. Could not a group like that appear in the paper once a month ? My paper is nearly full, so I will close, with, love to Harry, Pique, Shan, and your own precious eelf, — Yours truly,

[Jan sounds very much more like stage Dutch •than Gaelic, Puer, so we can leave it to work out _ its own explanation. I hope to bave a group occasionally, dear, but I do not think we can fix any time for them. I have two towards the next group, and I shall be pleased to receive photos of any actual writer to our column, so ithat another group can be made. To produce good results the photo must be clear and new, and it should not be glazed.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have not written to you 'for ißome time— two years, ' t think — so I suppose you have forgotten me. Our school clf)c>l because of sickness, but it opens 10-morrov. I iiave not enjoyed the holidays, pa the weather was so wet. We have a now trrck to De^mv ton, but it is hardly finished yet. I have been a little way down, and \i looks veiy pjetiy, and you can get a good view of the suiround2E£ cpuakx- There waa in Jae a jjacmc for

the children, but as it was wet it had to be put off. — Yours truly, KATHLEEN BALLANTINE (aged 8 years).

Deuniston, April 17,

[Yoii were a very small girl, Kathleen, when you wrote before. Why, you could be only about 6, so I do not wonder at your not having written again for a long time. lam sorry you did not have better weather for your holidays, but no doubt you managed to get some little enjoyment at all events. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — -We have had our Easter holidays, and rre are now back at school. We have two teachers in our school, and there are about 65 attending it. I have a mile to walk to school, and I like going in summer very much. We live near the bush, and I often go and gather wild berries and flowers. Dear Dot, I wish the war was ended, as it is costing many valuable lives. I must draw to a close now, hoping that you enjoyed your Easter holidays.—Yours truly,

MAVIS

[We all wish the war over, Mavis, but I am afraid there will have to be a despeiate final struggle before it ends, though no doubt the finish is in view now. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — The long-looked-for Easter number of tlie Witness has at last, niade its appearance. What a contrast the photos are to those in the Christmas Annual. I don't think they could have been better. I recogirised D.. O. S., Little Lady, Echo, and Docklcaf, but all the others were strangers to me. The Easter holida3 r s are over now, and we are once more back at school. X did not go anywhere • for the holidays, but at Christmas time we all went down to Akatore. it is a very pretty little-spot, about .12 miles from Milton. The coast is very rocky, but here and there is a little scrap of beach. Crystal Beach, which is two or three miles farther along, is just one long .strip, and there is only one rock there. It is called Cook Rock. The scenery is very beautiful, especially whei? the rala trees are- in bloom ; and there are some really pretty ferns in the bush, especially a very rare kind ot -maidenhair, which I have never seen in any other bush, but it is rather, deli.cate, and very hard to grow. Isow, Dot, I must not say too much about this place, but next timeL I write perhaps I shall tell you of the fun we used to have when we went cray-fishing. No, lied, White, and Blue, my initials are not M. F. 1., but 1 know who you are. Are not your initials J. V. A.? You live in Gore, do you not? Jessie M. C, I often wonder who you are. I have been to G-ore once or twice, but I don't known many girls there. Isn't the war terrible? and the British don't seem to be making much, progress at present, do they? Dear Dot, when the different characters of you are printed, will you tell us which one resembles yoa most? But perhaps none of Them are like you. Anyway, if there is, you will tell the little folk, will you not? Now, dear Dot, I musb bring this letter to a close. With love to all D. L. F., but most for Dot, — Yours tiuly

M. £H T .

Lawrence, April 22.

[You will find the different characters in this issue, M. I. N., but do you think it is fair to ask me to say which one resembles me most? To tell you the truth, dear, Ido not think any one of them is a striking likeness; bxit 1 shall be pleased to hear whatever friends have to say about it. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I saw the photos of some of the little folk in the Witness, and I thought they were very nice. I only knew D. O. S., Little Lady, Dockleaf, Mid Echo. I also know Captain and Butterfly, but I suppose.l shall get to know more after a while. Dear Dot, have you evei spent any holidays up here? I don't live veiy far from the station. I suppose Dunedin was ciowded the day the contingent went away. I did not go down, but father, and my brother went down, and came home the same day. I saw one of your little folk go away in the train on Saturday afternoon, but I did not know her. It is very seldom we meet any of the little folk here. With heaps of love for yourself, and not forgetting D. O. S., Little Lad}', Dockleaf, and Echo, — Yours truly, IDEN. Tl have no doubt you will soon 'make friends, Iden, and find out who many of our, correspondents are. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Here I» am again, still in the land of the living, after a good long absence. Your writers are getting more numerous every week. I have been waiting patiently a long while for the little folk's photos to appear in the Witness," and I waa delighted to see them this week. I think they have all come out splendidly. What a hard case 8.0.8. looks, and what a nice face Shan has got. lam sure that some of the girls would fall in love with him at first sight — don't you think so, Dot? I won't pass any remarks about the girls, for fear it will make them too vain. Dear Dot, since my last letter to you, I have been away for my holidays, and I had a grand time of it. While I was on my travels I called at a party's house, and the lady showed me a» moa bird's egg. I suppose you have seen one, Dot. So Puella thinks she knows who. I am. but I have a good idea who she is. I would tell you your initials, Puella, only I am afraid it would give you away in a small place like this. We had plenty of picnics up here at Easter time, and they made things go a bit lively for a while. There is a pretty bit of bush here, and I remember one Easter we went up there for a picnic, and we had allright fun. Dear Dot, wasn't that a sad accident we had up here on Monday night with the coach, and so sad. for Mr Neill to be killed. It is a good thing it was not any worse, and I hope it won't scare you, Dot, from coming to Roxburgh. That was a great old cure for love Boy gave 8.0.8., was it not, Dot?. I j have cut it out, and have stowed it away for future reference. Dear Dot, all the boys up here are busy trapping for the factory, and it is all right camping out over the hills, and some -of them do well at it. I think it a splendid idea about the D. L. F. cot, and I for one will do my best to help. Well, Dot, I think I have exhausted my stock of news, so I will conclude with love to 8.0.8., Marguerite, Dunedinite, Shan, and Harry, and best love to the editor and yourself. — Yours truly ROXBURGHITE.

[So poor 8.0.8. looks a hard case, Roxy. I know a good deal about 8.0.8. , and I really do not think he is what I fancy a "hard case" is, but, then, we never qtute got at the meaning of the term, so I may- be mistaken. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Just fancy, a girl sending a letter 11 om ilio for north of bonny Scotland! I -think DoL must, be heard and read of all over the world. I like inaiiy of your little folk's letters, especially Wulhe'&, Taffy's (secretary of Critic Club), Ziska's, Beta's, 8.0.8.5, I. M. P.'s, Dunedmifce's, and a lot more. J was in Dunedin seeing the fourth contingent go awa}', and when I was going home I saw two girls with their badges on, but I was rather too bashful to speak to them. Isn't it nice, Con having gone to the war ? "Won't it be fine if he writes fiom the Transvaal? I have found out who he is now. Will his photo bo in the "Witness next week? I know 29 of your correspondents, Dot, and I have an idea" who a good few moie are. I arncsending you Is for a badge, and 6d for the great Indian famine Vr'hich is raging. Doii\ you think wp should get up a subscription for the plasjuc also? lam svu c everyone would be willing to give something towards it 100. With love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly, THE LITLE PIttWCESS.

[There is no occasion to subscribe to aid the plague victims' relatives yet, Princess, "and I hope there will not be. Indeed, I think the little folk are doing more than can be reasonably expected of them as it is, without coming on them, for anything else.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have lately been to the dredging fields about Clyde, and as none of your little folk have, to my knowledge, written anything about the construction of a dredge, I shall now do so. First, a suitable place is chosen" on ■which to build the pontoons. Each dredge has two pontoons, which are nothing but two enormous oblong water-tight boxes. These pontoons aie joined together, but a space of six or eight feet is left between them. The hull, as it may be called, is now floated or launched, and a number of men, under the charge of an experienced engineer, proceed to place the machinery On board A number of buckets (30 to 34) are fitted up so as to form a linmge ring, and these revolve in the opening mentioned before, and by doing so, the scoop up from the river-bed the mud and gravel which contains the gold. Most of the dredges are moved about the claim by five stiong wire ropes, which are fastened to the banks on either side of the dredge. The ropes are arranged two on each side of the dredge, and one pt the bow, called the headline. Now, if the two lines on the left side of the dredge are loosened, and then those on the right side aie tightened, the dredgs will move to the right, and vice versa. The lines are wound on winches, which look like great iron cotton reels, and by the use of levers the winches are made to loosen or to wind lip the lines. All the machinery (including the winches) is worked by a powerful engine. I must now close my letter, and if it is favourably received, I shall on some future occasion describe how the gold is separated from the "pay dirt. ' Hoping all your little folk are well, — -Youis truly,

Dunedin, April 14.

[Zola has given us a most interesting description of a dredge and the method of working it, and we shall all look forward to her account of the method of saving the gold. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I did not intend to write so soon again, but when I saw you had more badges, I thought I would send for pne; will you send one, please, Dot. I ha.ye seen the little folk's photos in this week's Witness, and I think they are much better than those in the Annual. Redstart says she is an auntie to three. Well, Redstart, I can beat you — I am an aunt to seven. I see the editor has leduced our space to eight columns. Now, MiEditor, why did you not give us 10 columns? But I shan't grumble, as there has been an extra half column in the last two or three Witnesses. I sin going to tell' you something, Dot, that happened at school. One day, when we were getting our reading lesson, my mate said to me and another girl, "See who can tie ilieir tongues the tightest." Mate No. 2 and I did not care to tie our tongues, so w& let the proposer tie hers. It soon came to hei: turn to read. She stood up, but not a word did she utter: her tongue was tied. It was a bit cruel of us girls to laugh, Dot, but we could not help J.t. The teacher asked us what was the matter, and we told her her tongue was tied, so she had to get the teacher to cut the string. She did not tie her tongue again in a hurry. Do you' remember that, A? T must stop now, or Dot and the editor will be frowning at this long letter. With love to the little folk, the editor, and yourself, — Yours truly,

MALEEN.

[So it does not always do to tie your tongue, Maleen, Imt it is certainly advisable to keep some restraint on the unruly member notwithstanding. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I liked the photos in last week's Witness very much. lam going to cut out all the photos of Dot's little folk, and have them pa&ted in a book, which I shall call Dot's Album. ' What a nasty trick to be played on Butterfly. 8.0.8. writes very nice letters, and so does Wullie. I wonder if IJauhne is ever going to write again. We are having grand weather now, although winter is not far off. I hope Trooper Con will come back again when the war is over, crowned with laurels. We arc quite proud of the fact that one of Dot's little folk is serving his r Queen and country. I suppose 8.0.8. is quite jealous of Con because he is off to the war, while poor 8.0.8. has to stay at home with Moses. Did the editor accept your invitation, B.O.B.? • Tarn anxious to see Wullie' s photo, and I hope Miss Kruger's will appear also. Fancy a young Boer lady writing to Doi saying that she enjoyed herself on the send-off day, when " oui boys ' sailed to fight against '" her own nation." With love to all, — Yours truly, fPoor Con, I expect lie will have some hard times before he gets back to his own land again, Europa. I wish he had sent us his photo before he went away, so that we could have had some idea as to what he is like. - I suppose it would be no use asking it any of his friends have a photo of him which they could lend to have it reprodxiced in the Witness'? — DOT.]

ETJROPA.

Dear Dot, — I wonder if we are ever going to hear from C. A. C. again? It is such a long time since he has written to you. He hasn't resigned has he, Dot? If not, I hope he will favour us with another letter. No, C. C. M., I was not wearing a badge. If I had been I almost believe 1 should have spoken to you. However,if I come across you again, I shall most certainly make myself known. What a nice letter we had from Wattle Blossom this week. She must enjoy looking after the flowers when they havesxich a splendid collection. We haven't much of a flower garden, as most of oui ground is planted in fruit trees — plums, apples, and apricots being the principal ones. We also have grapes and tomatoes, but they grow in the hothouse, the outside heat not being sufficient to rear them. The war is giving place to the Indian famine just now, and in my opinion the latter is as much deserving of attention as the former. There is to be a great concert here in aid of the famine fund, and it is to be hoped the luvercargill ppople will do their utmost to help the fund. What a splendid batch of photos we have, this time — not one indistinct face in the whole group. I really couldn't say which is the best. Fancy, 387 correspondents! It is, indeed, wonderful how you find room for all the letters. I must close now. with love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly, DADO.

Invercargill, April 23,

[It is a great number of writers, Dado, anci there are visually a large number of letters waiting their turn now" 1 that we are restricted to eight columns. However, my little friends are very patient, and they all know I do my best to get their letters in, though I don'l always succeed. I hope the famine fund concert will bo a great success, dear, as ii is foi tuch a good object. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — As you are receiving so many letters, I thought I would wait awhile, but as they _clo not seem to be decreasing I cannot wait any longer/ I was in Dunedin for the dpy on the 9th of Februaiy, and I saw a girl with a badge on at Warrington. She got into the same train as I was in, but not the same carriage, so I did not get a chance to speak to her. She wag a fair girl, who wore a red dre&s, black cape, and a white sailor hat with a black braid. I wonder if she was a coiiespoiidral oi a reader? I think 1 knov/ who May, Ella, and JBrcnda are. I ohof Id like to go to Palmerston South, and look lax

badges, as it is not maiy miles from where I live. Wattle Blossom must be extremely fond of cats, when she keeps 11. I think they are such horrid creatures. I .reckon I would run a mile if a cat were to chase me. Dear Ella, did you like reading " Belle " ? I did not like it as well as "Wild Kitty," which" is by the same writer. Dear Dot, a few weeks ago one of your correspondents said she had just finished reading " Infelice," and just after I had read her letter I went to the Athengeuin to get a book and the first book I looked at happened to be "Infelice," so I took it home to read, and I liked it very much. I was very glad to hear that that report about Maidey being ill was not true. Dear Dot, it is ver ykind of you to act as treasurer of the money sent you from the little folk to hel]} the people in India. What a nice piece of poetry "Kharki" composed in last week's "Witness? I was so surprised when I saw a letter in your page all the way from Orkney. I think the Witness must travel nearly all over the World. What nice looking girls and boys most of them are in this week's group of senior writers. Did you get your name out of a book, Carmen Sylva? because I remember reading in a book about a lady with that name, but I can't think what the name of it is. Dear Dot, I think I have written too much; but you must excuse me, as I have not written for a long time. With love to May, Echo, Dunedinite, and not forgetting yourself, — Yours truly,

YVONNE.

[No doubt Carmen Sylva took her norn de plume from the Queen of Koumania's pen name. She is an authoress, 3 r ou know, and uses that norn de plume when she writes. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have just been looking at the photos, and I think they are splendid, and very much better than the Christmas ones. I am going to cut them out and put them in a scrapbook. Dunedinite, I am sure you are one of the girls I saw wearing a badge when I was in Dunedui. I showed 8.0.8.s photo to a girl who used to live in his township, and asked her if she knew who it was. She did not hesitate m answering, so I suppose it must be like him. Shan looks grown up. When is the next batch to appear, Dot? What a '"have" that Nellie Hunt gave us. lam very glad her report is not true. Won't it be nice to have a war correspondent all to ourselves? I only hope he comes back all sare and sovuk"! aricl woai-ns a V.C. What a number of correspondents Echo and Little Lady know! I don't think they will find me out veiy easily.. Sol's account of the oJd Phil's christening was very .amusing. Some" of my friends call me the budding philosopher (I the little folk will think they must be rather silly), but I don't think there was much ceremony about my christening. Don't you think you might write us a letter, Monica ? It is ages since you wrote. The Witness evidently travels to all parts of the globe, for a few weeks ago we had a letter from a little German, and this week we have one from a Scotch lassie. It's nice to get letters from these faraway lands, and I hope these two will continue to write. I think nearly everyone who takes lhe Witness sends it away to relations or friends. What a dear little girl Daisy, of the Critic Club, is. It's a good thing she got nothing worse than a wetting when she fell into the creek. I really thought the club had deserted us; but I see they are back. I'm glad Dicky Donovan hasn't forgotten us. Love to all Dot's little folk, and yourself,— Yours truly, April 19. - KOA.

|T » m going to ,try a different plan with the next group of photos, Koa, as you will no doubt have seen from my answer to a similar question given above. I shall be glad to get your photo, dear, if you have a suitable one — clear and distinct, as new as possible, and not glazed. -DOT.] ■ ° Dear Little Folk, — Thinking you might like to hear about our— Fluff, Little Lady, and myself — visit to the Witness office, I will tell you j Avhat happened. First of all we arranged to go •at 11 o'clock, and reaching the office, we went into the editor's room, where we introduced ourselves, and then we were taken through the building. We saw the Witness being printed, and of course looked at the letters, and also saw great reels of "paper which we were j told were four miles long. Then we went into j a room where all the ordinary typing is done; we saw how the photos were reproduced, and various other things. What interested us mo3t was, of course, the linotype, which is almost too wonderful to explain. The operator was typing some of the notes of " Table Talk." We also got our names on metal slabs, which were quite hot when given to us. We then went to whac I think is called the stereotyping 100 m, where copies are taken off the type after it has been screwed up in pages, and we also saw some funny pictures which appeared in the "Editor's Wallet." Then we went across the bridge to a building on the othei side, to the part oi the office occupied by the photographer and engraver. We went into a large room, where we j saw Wullie's photo, and litre is a warning to j othei little folk who may be as lucky as we were : If you go into the photographer's room you will see a large camera in the room, so take particular care that you go behind it, not in front — as I did — for if you do you- will- do whit I did — -namely, spoil a iihoto ; and perhaps the photographer will barricade the door I of his room. We saw lots of other things, which space will not allow me to explain, as we have not veiy much room for our letters now ; but the editor must have had good reason to limit our page, and you need have no fear of I his getting cross with Dot ovei our letters as our unanimous verdict was he couldn't look cross. Oh, I almost forgot'to tell you about the 'Witness smile, which the Little Lady exactly expressed when she described it to mother as a

" broad grin." We looked out for Harry, and the office boy the pink of perfection with the Witness smile; but were not lucky enough to see either. When we said good-bye to the editor, he said "he was sorry that " Dot" was not in, and so we could not be introduced ; but somehow we were not so disappointed on hearing this. I think it must have been because the editoi was so exceedingly nice. One thing more before I stop. I would like to tell 8.0.8. thnt I am not a very dreadful personage, and that he need not be frightened. If you don't understand, I will explain in my next letter; and now, with love to all, I lemain — Yours truly, ECHO.

Dunedin, April 24.

fl am indeed soriy I ras not in when you visited the Witness office. Echo, as I should have likpd to see if I could recognise any of you from your photos. However, as the editor was in an amiable mood that day — he has, of course, no reason to be otherwise now that our space is limited — and did all he could to make your visit interesting, it was all right. I think I shall have to ask him to skip a certain part of your letter, deal, or he may increase the size of his collars and show more shirt cuffs — indeed, put on frills — with such nice things being said about him ; and you know we do not want him to do that, do we?— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — There was an excursion down here last Wednesday, and about 237 people were on board the boat. The Maoris always come down in the excursions to have a good day's fishing. There was one little Maori boy, standing on a rock trying to get mussels, when a large wave washed "him off the lock, but his father got him out safe and sound. " The poor little fellow ran "to his mother, but all the sympathy he got was a good whipping for going so near the rocks. Dear Dot, the war is terrible, is it not, and I, wish it was all over. I have just finished reading the Little Folk's Page, and I see a letter from Con. So you have gone to South Africa, Con? Well, I wish you &oqcl luck A and. a speedj return.. W«

are now naving our Faster holidays, and tnfj sister and I wtie k-iiig to-day to spend a few days with a friend, bill it Vas raining sq hard that we could not go. . Dear Dot, my sis-i-ter says she was only teasing when she said! you were -the editor. .With love to the deag old editor and yourself, — Yours truly, HEIRESS.

Auckland, April 20. [What a narrow escape the little Maori bojj had, Heiress. His mother must be very se-« vere, but perhaps she did not mean to be un- 1 ' kind. I should not be surprised if a good/ many other besides your sister are only teasing] when they say Dot is something that she coulcj not possibly be, deal-. — DOT.] '

Dear Dot, — I know such a lot of little folK* who write to you. also one whom I hava just lately found out. She lives in Milburn, 1 and her noni de plume is Maybird. I also, know you, Peach and Pear. Dear Dot, I> think it a very good idea about the cot. Do you like apples, Dot? There is a great lot where I live. I know you, M. F. S.. Have you got a badge? I have. Fancy Con going to the war. I think it is too bad of him to leave our page; what do you think, Dot? ~I wonder what is the matter with 8.0.8. 1 niis3 his letters very much. Can you ride a bike, Dot? I can. I must stop now, or the eflitoi? will be off to the war in desperation. Heap* of love to all the little folk, from PEETTY JOE.

April 22. [Con had left us before he went to the war, Joe, so the war has brought him closer to usv I hope we shall hear from him from the fronfl some day. — DOT.] .Dear Dot,— lt is a very good idea, about thecot, and I am sure each one will give something towards helping it. I see Doreen and also Mother Hiibbard have come to the" conclusion that' Boxburghite's initials are L. S., but I can assure them they are mistaken, ior ii, is a boy that writes under that aom de plume. Now, Roxbuvghite, tell me, are your initials C. B.? If lam correct, please tell me in your next letter. What a curious dream Marguerite had. Yes,* indeed, Dot, I am certain we all wish Con health, wealth, and, dearest of all, "a safe return. ' Your cherished letters will tie read with great interest, Con, so write by all means, and let us know if you are in the land of the living. rlher lhe photos are so distinct and nice, far plainei than the ones at Christmas. Dunedinite is nice looking, and so also is Alys. In fact, they are a good type of colonials. I was disappointed at not seeing them in last week," but when I saw the reason it was all right. It is much better to wait a week and have satisfaction with them than to put them in at the stated time and be displeased; don't you think so, Dot? There are a lot of correspondents taking a long' holiday. There ia Nancy for one. She hasn't written for. somo time now. " Please take a hint, N., and write o long letter to make up for lost time. But, oh! I shall be. in the editor's black booksright away, telling you to write a long one. Well, you will have to a&k him to excuse you for once. I think I have written a long enough letter, so with my best love .to Marguerite, Doreen, Mother Hubbard, Maidey, and all the others, not forgetting our dear, patient Dot, I«inust say au revoir, but not good-bye. — Yours truly,

LUCILLE.

The Country, April 22.

[les, Lucille, I think it was better to waifc a week • and . have good results rather than run any risk.— DOT.]

-DEDICATED TO M. C. H,

Oh, let me roam near "fragrant . bowers, t Or o'er the fields and shady grove, Where I can see my fav'rite flowers^The ones I dearly love — , j Forget-me-riot. Those chainiing flowers of heavenly blue, In simple beauty seem to say : "Remember one who wrote to you, A D.L.F. not far away— Forget-me-not, forget-me-not!"

Dear Dot, — There is one bone I must pick v/ith some of the D.L.F. I cannot claim being clever. It is an undeserved honour to me. It may possibly belong to Harry Farrer, or to Henry, or, stay, it might be my old schoolmate. Is it you, Struan? lam almost sure you are the Harry the little folk are alluding to. Now, M. C. H., if you get proud like me, Eagamuffin's lady will give you a rub. 1 could not find the author's name, Viola. Your guess at my initials 1 was almost correct, Stella. Tease away_, Ita, 1 have Boy's valuable remedy at hand. I have no sister at all,- Jessica. Some mis.apprehension, Heka. Like the majority of boys, I am out of the .foad when wanted. lam sorry I missed seeing you. . I must visit Mr Parlane, Little Lady. Is Echo in the same class? X have been too busy for stitching, L. L. (ahem!). 8.0.8., I never before saw you wear such, a lamb-like .expression in my schooldays. You've become decidedly serious and grave. Dot, I don't think he is the real Simon Pure, for the 8.0.8. of my old school days couldn't keep still long enough for his photo to be taken. There was more of the lion than lamb in you, 8.0.8. ' I say, 8.0.8., do you remember me? You ought to feel quite conceited having your photo placed between three young 'ladies. . I, being sisterless, shared the same fate. Some of my mates want to know why' l pm looking down. I feel I have reason to. Shan is separating me from — I mean yout photo separates. Shan, you spoilt your ideal, , for most of the D.L.E. thought you were a girl. Now, ■* Wullie, welcome, my middle-aged brother Scotsman, to our D.L.F. While you are pictured aj middle-aged writer, I get the credit of being a very old one. And I don't deny it! . Ah, Jenny, my tormentorswould spoil their beauty crying if they could manage to demolish me by chafi. Have you got over the shock Df being thought a boy, Maidey? I remember the time I was thought a girl. I was nearly going to sign "Harriet" to please them. Still, there is little difference, as lam Harry yet. "Things are not always what they seem. 1 ' Just fancy Joe being a-girl! I was nearly going to ask him — I mean her — to correspond with me. So you would have had to refuse two of us, Joe. But we will try to survive it. lam studying now with might and main, so I shall conclude, with sj-mpathy to C. C. M., and with love to all,— Yours truly,

HAREY.

[I think, after Harry's remarks, 8.0.8. will, require to tell us some of his recent experiences on Moses, or we shall all think he is degene* rating.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Our picnic didn't come off aftei all. Jiist wait till you see Sol imitating th« Old Phil — it's about as like the O.P. as a tame turkey is like a wild swan. I got taken with Sol, and he's mean enough to say I spoil him. He burst one of his vest buttons off, but he says it didn't matter, as the photographer could x 3a i n * a button on all right. He_ gave me a lively time of ie dodging up and down trying to not lose sight of him. Ha can't pass a shop without standing an hour at the window, and — well, it takes the Old Phil to get hire past a blacksmith's shop at anything like a rate. We went after breakfast, but we got up at tea time. Poor old Slow and Sure, I'll get a nib for this, so i$ doesn't matter to — Yours truly,

BERT. P. S.— Excuse the Old Phil's shorthand oa thi3 letter, Dot. Love to all. — B. [As 1 cannot read shorthand, Bert, the QlsS

Phil's remarks are lost on me. If there is anything important in them you can let m& know next time you wjrite. Poor old Sol, I am sure he is not half so slow as you tiy to anake out.— DOT.]

©ear Dot, — We've got our photos taken at Bast. I would have come out "purty" well, §mt the Old Phil's fag was taken with me. Sou see, nearly everybody takes that young 'un jto be my twin brother, because he has the Vcheek to grow when he shouldn't. I had to 'check him when we were having a quiet game jbf horses, for he suddenly bolted into Jubilee '(Park, and we enjoyed a 101 lon the grass. .iWell, it's cooling when you've galloped over a mile of stony ground. You may guess the Sun we had when we left home after breakfast and returned at tea. time. We were as tired and hungry as we could be, I can tell you. .3 hope it's the last time I gel taken, for fOT felt as if I were getting all my teeth pulled [tout. I wish I could" get taken without knowing it. I suppose old Bounce will blame me lan his letter. I crossed my legs like the Old !»j?hil, and sat reading. I foigot to take a ijbook, however, so I borrowed one aroin the photogiapher. "3Tow, I must tell what book it was in case some l of the little folk get brain fever }fcryir% to guess its name. Well, lam reading a blank page of a note book. I wish Con had asked me to go with him. He might have 'hidden me in his overcoat pocket. I'd have •looked aftsr his tucker, and eaten it too. Perhaps B=O.B. might take me as bugler. Moses •Jould easily carry two of. us. Don'b forget mo if you go, mate. — Yours truly, SOLOMON SLOW.

[So Sol is also smitten with a desire to serve liis country in the Transvaal. 'Why, we could get ub quite a respectable company of Dot's Fighting Boys.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have just seen the photos, and I think they are splendid. Mamma says if Dunediaite's photo is anything like the original she is a little beauty. Last .week this place was alive with people shooting, and now it seems awfully quiet after they are all gone. I think "Wattle Blossom is making a mistake about Black Wednesday. I think it was on the 2nd of February, 1898. What a nice piece of poetry Southlander Bad in the D.L.F. Page last week. .1 am enclosing Is in stamps for the famine relief. What a nice piece of postry 'Althea has in our page this week, and how well it describes the famine, and 1 am sure all the little folk who read it will want to give their mite. Fancy a letter from Scotland. 'What has become of I'ifi.? I have not seen a letter from her for such a long time. Please, Sot, T should like to know if ths badges the D.L.F. got their photos taken with are to be bought anywhere? I must close now, with love to- all the little folk, including the _ Critic Club and our 'Dot, and my best respects to the editor — Yours truly, MILLICENT. [No, Millicent, I am afraid artist J. I. M., who arranged the- photos, and put in the little floral decoration, drew on his imagination when lie attached the badge to each member of the group. Do you like it better than our own, badge, dear?— DOT.] - Dear Little Folk, — We have reached the end of our space, with two^uid a-quarter columns of. tale into .the bargain, and I have such a batch <of letters over for next week. Etowever, the ( editor has been, very good this week to give 1 us extra space for the tale, so we must not complain. — DOT.] Laddie. — The photp has come to hand at last, .and will .be keptifor the nest group. Alts. — You will find the answer to your questions in "Notes and Queries," as I had' to call in the editor's assistance in getting the reply. 'A Littxe Folk. — Is that a fair question, dear? The writing was certainly not 'Dot's, however. Dick. — The letter came to Eand just as the ' Page was finished, and all I could do was to get in the acknowledgment of the club's handsome contribution to the Indian Famine Fund and this note. You have sent a most interesting account of the club's meeting, and my only regret is that it cannot find a place in this issue. I hope Taffy will enjoy his holiday. X>OT J S LITTLE FOLK'S INDIAN FAMINE FUND. (To close on May 31.) , _ S- d. , s. d. ODot .„ „ .. 10' OM. and A. C. .. 7 6 Old Boy .. .. 10 0 Millicent .. ..10 Solomon Slow .. 0 6 W. A. -Johnston 2 0 Loaf .. .... 3 0 Equibel .. .. 2 0 Little Princess 0 6 Tafiy and the - Bubbles .. .. 1 0 Critic Club, Nemo .. .. '.. 0 6 per Dick.. ..7 0 Three Middlemarch Children 5 0