LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 61

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Deal Dot,— l again take up the pen to inscribe you a few lines, but this time in protest. When I saw the photos in last week's Witness I naturally looked for my own, but couldn't find it until I saw the names. The next night, a friend who takes a lively interest in D.L.F. was looking at the pictures in the Witness, and when he came to the photos and saw mine, didn't he laugh. "Why," he said, '"anybody would think you had whiskers to look at you*; photo." "I wouldn't have known you-

h«»-6," ha continued, "exeppt for the aamaiv I suppose it was because the photo was tort light. The rest looked all r*ght, espeoiallyf Con's and Alexandraite's. - 1 hope Con will gof * through the war all right, and come sale, i A friend of mine we-ut ov^r with tho Hough Riders, but he died a few weeks ago at ±rc< ' toria from some particular disease. "When X heard the news I felt very .orry for the poo? • fellow, and more especia.-ly for his -parents^ His sister used to write to your page, Dot, an<3 . her photo was in the Christmas Annual. . li her eye should happen to catch this, I hope she will accept my sincere sympathies for her • brother's untimely decease. I also know aboufe 20 others over in the Transvaal. I have joined' • the Mounted Rifles, which I told you about before. The troop is about 70 strong now, and" gives promise of being one of the best corps m the district. The last" drill 'night I was walking , down the ranks looking for a- good place to fall in "at when somebody said,. "Here, ■ Laddie, come here." I turned round and saw 8.0.8. Then I said,' "Hulloa, 8.0.8. !'• Whai are you doing here?" "Having a bit of exerc cisc," he said. Of course, as we are all D.L,.F., I promptly fell in beside him. 1 • I asked him why he wasn't writing to the Witness . now, and he said it was too cold. I don't blame him. My hands now, are so cold I can hardly write. The first mounted parade of tha company was held yesterday afternoon, but I was not at it. I hear there was a strong mus- . ter, about 60 members being present. We have good officers for our corps, . especially- the sej- • cond lieutenant, who is the senior-lieutenant ot ' our division. 'At present I have to- ride ten. : miles to drill, and some have to ride as far ■ as 16. - This state of affairs will soon be ai- • tered .though, and I shall have to go' only five . miles then. , - . • I have a, proposal to make to you now, Dot. '• How would it do if a. certain week's page wero " reserved for all the old writers,- 8.0.8.,- Maidey, Ziska, Wullie, Harry, Alys, etc. ? You could - announce in the- Witness who • are the oldest writers, or, better, perhaps, allow "the first 15 who were highest in the voting for photos to have the separate week reserved. Would it not make the page more interesting ? I know eeveral of the old writers will not write because there is no room. I know that is the case with me. I would nob be writing now only I don't want you, dear Dot', to think I have ' forgotten you altogether. Dick, of the Critic Club, wonders why some of the little folk don't take up the wheel question, ox - any other. I have often wondered at " the same thing too. For my part I would liko to see the little folk write on a certain subject, ' and, as Dick says, "go into it propqrly, instead of touching on> everything." Perhaps, as the Critic Club seemed to have such a heated argument over the wheal questi.o.l, they will lead ' oft the argument. I put it this way : The bottom of a wheel being in contact with tho , ground ca-nnot run, therefore the.tbp must travel - at double the .speed. Another way : The wheel being a circle, all parts must move equally, by • Euclid. lam not going to say at present! which side I support. I leave that until the argument becomes general. I have just fin- ■ ished reading two books by Guy Boothby: "Ar - Maker of N-t'ions" and "In Strange Company." I also read Mrs\Henry Wood's "Elster's Folly." 1 Another book I read a short time ago was "St. Elmo," by A. J. E. Wilson. I will have to close now, but before doing so I may say I_ hope you will give my proposals .favourable' consideration, including the one about debating ,oa one, certain subject. With iiad regards to- -, all little folk, including yourself; dear Dot, sncil the editor, —Yours truly, ' ' LADDIE. \* [Thank you very niuch,-lLa3die, for' your ■proposaLwith reference' to an ojd writers'' week,' which I think a very good" idea indeed. ' The. new writers are in such appalling numbers thatthere is a very serious risk of .some of " my'oldest and best friends' being elbowed out, and" I do not feel at all pleased that there "should be any such risk.- ; -I father dread the wheel -ar- '■ gument, however. It'ha3 proved a distressinglyprolific subject in the papers, and our space is so much taken up at present that I am afraid it would be unwise to start a-ny project calculated to make further demands upon' it. Suppose we fix August 23 for Old Writers--' Week, and specially invite the following writers to contribute, their letters to reach the Witness Office not later than August 35. Each letter id" be marked "Old Writers' Week" at the begin' ning: — B 0.8. Harry Shin J^ddte JSoy 'Wullie Dicky Donovan Gillian Harry Fnrrer - , Zieka Marguerite Sybil Scrybils . Kcho Dunedinite - Maisie Tsmene Girlie I<sa Grant Aljs Devonshi c Mona Dorldoaf DumpliDg Alvera Little Lady C.C.M. Maidey 1 amb Cicely Jgssica Nat Leigh, Old Girl P;qii3 S B.M. Rutu Hoy Queechy Funshine U#ra Stella Jessie C. Fluff Rimbecco Miss Mnffelt Rita Daffodilly Giulia Punch Bstii Cuckoo Ti.o. S. Cooee . Cherry Ripe Cynthia Huckleberry Ruby Aguinaldo l<'iun ' TWousie- - Doughnut The Skipper Priscilla. I am afraid my list of old -friends js -very.. in«* complete, but I have not omitted ,any. in,t*en-' , tionally, and if omissions are -pointed .'out I shall. "take care that" J;Eey -tfpp'eaf in 'the; next old- -writers' list -if this ,- experiment -proves- a success. As there is such a -long "lisb 'itTwillC' bo necessary to limit the length- of the'letters to-~-not-more than 350 words each. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Seeing an inquiry made by Prejudice for the words of a poem entitled "Curfew Must Not Ring To-night,'' I am- only too pleased to be able to comply with the wishes of one who has, I may spy, a claim on my friendship, inasmuch as we have both been members of Dot's Little Folk. It is now over 12 years since I was numbered among your correspondents, and your page has been a source of pleasure to a great number of little folk since then ; but I am pleased to be able to say that never since Dot's' Page first started has the- number of^correspondents been so-great or the letters written by the little folk so interesting as at the present time. -,With s be3t wishes to all members of your -happy band and regards to yourself, — Yours truly, - . ' . , " .- , . . „ „ ' - - 'W. D. [I wonder if many of those who delighted in Willie D'.'s quaint letters in Dot's page — no, it was only column then — 12 years ago will have the pleasure of reading this letter. It. has given me very great pleasure, for though to 8.0.8. has rightfully been awarded the ciedit, with his Back Block letters, of giving the page the start which has made, it the sue- " cess it- is, nevertheless Willie D. was the pioneer wliose "letters were always eagerly looked ' for. If I should be -short of letters at. any time in the future I should feel inclined to reprint one just" to show present-day little iolk what some of the pioneers of the page could do. I wonder if Willie D. could be induced — man and all though he now is — to write us a short letter to our Old Writers' Week. It 'would be heartily welcome, I am sure. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— After a long absence I am about to appear among" the little folk* again' (that"is, if there is room, for youi correspondents hay« become very numerous since I last wrote, but for auld acquaintance sake try and squeeze^ mo in, Dot). It is a long time since I havo., read the Witness, for it was generally serrs'away before I got a chance to see it, bur,-] reading the Little Folk's Page- the other dayj I causht sight of the initials C. C. M,. andi

I thought, "That's Hiy °ld friend/ and de 'termined. to write, as she wished. But Ido aat see a letter from Devonshire Dumpling — where is she? Surely not, as Maisie suggests, too old to be with us? I had better Jiofc tell my age, or I might be thought too old also to be a little folk; but, never mind, t'l feel young, and I think that's everything; - idon't you, Dot ? Trooper Con must be in the fifth contingent. I have a brother and a .cousin with that one, and a cousin in the se'cbnd. It makes you very- ajisious when you "s"jftiave-> relations away, aaid it seems such a long rilme, before the 'letters .come. ' Our last letter (•was- from Durban, giving a description, of the /voyage from. Albany, and we also got a hasty ' sao'te from. Beira, saying that they were just 'unshipping the horses, but as my brother said "" she would write from, the camp, we are looking Ifor a longer letter next mail. I should like to ,tell Trooper Con -my brother's n,a:me, ,_but, of course, I would then have to telPmy~cwn.« (However, as I have found cut who he .is, I - efhall mention him in my next letter to nay" jfbrother, and also send a little parcel for him jdn the box of comforts that we are going to iuend to the Fighting Fifth. I know several 'tof the troopers both in the fourth and fifth, 'and we asked them all up one evening, and Siad a contingent night at -our place.' Wasn't 'it glorious the day they went, -poor old boys! For many reasons I shall never forget that «3ay^ In another letter I must tell you how s&' 01 us got down 0:1 the Ivloura wilbout tickets.- It- was air chance, but very funny. nWell; dear Dot, I had intended writing only a -"very few' lines, -just .enough, in fact, to introduce myself to my old friends, - and say, "How de do de" to- the new ones, for I'm afraid -that C. C. M. -will -bo- the- only one who i-'emembers me.; so good-night just now, with £ond remembrance from," — Yours truly, • A CHUM. . ;[Chura is most heartily welcomed back. She iiaa a good deal to learn about the "vrnish'ing trick" so many of our old-time correspondents .Slave performed, including Devonshire Dumpling, but I hope she will not consider it necessary to follow in their footsteps for a- long iime to come. I hope your little parcel reaches Trooper Con safely, dear. How he " will treasure it, coming not only from a sister of a "fellow in arms," but also from A Chum in Dot's page. It will indeed be twice wel- _ "come, and , will make him think of home and " all who are left behind, if anything were needed to make him do that.— DOT.] Dea Dot, — It is a long time since I last wrote to you, "but I have been waiting till you had fewer letters I was in Dunedin at Easter for .-my holidays, and I enjoyed myself very much. •I. saw three girls and one.boy wearing badges. I think I saw C. C. M. at Glenomaru, but I , don't think she noticed me I know the aanies ,ofll of your correspondents. We are having very sharp frost these mornings. Is not the Avar terrible, Dot? I have two cousins at the Avar, .one being a telegraphist. He was in the armoured train when it was put off the line, but s he escaped. The photos in the Witness .. Were, very nice. I think Harry, Shan, and „' I). O. S. looked the best. I wonder what is Hvrohg with Eimbecco? She has not written ajnice letter for a long time. Wake up, Rim"- " foecco, and don't go to sleep. I think I shall "clos'e'this epistle, with love to -Harry, Mr Editor, "and your cwri dear self, Dot. — Yours truly, * ' • . '-. '„ TOl! (aged 15 years). „ ' [Yo\i would. see after you wrot& that- Eim- ' Uecco had written us a letter, Tot, so that she ■vtos not asleep', at all. How fortunate your "cousin was to, escape unhurt, dear. • I expect ■he 'writes." yot. interesting letters about all lie _is going through.— ;DoT,] , i'Dear Dot, — I have found out who Puer is. Her -initials are I. E., if I am not mistaken. ■Is not-Fancy Free your sister, Puer? I suppose I shall be finding you out next, Dot — at least I hope so. The photos in the Easter aiumber were clearer than, in the 'Christinas 'Annual, I think - 1 wonder how Boy is getting on in" his Krugersdeath Camp, or has he gone . home again ? I don't suppose you ever skate, •Dot? Well, I do, or, rather, slide. We have a, pond which is frozen in the winter time. I ■was having a slide on the ice to-day, and I managed to fall and hurt myself. I kept away from it after that. How are you getting on with your list, Ziska? I shall give you. another photo to add to it. Well, Dot is a lady very lively, medium height, whose sole work is to look after the little folk. Quite enough, too, -I think. Dear 8.0.8., I saw a piece of poetry by Burns which I thought would suit jou:— 7 Oh, why the deuce should I repine, And be an ilUoreboder? I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine — I'll go and be a sodger! I don't -thinl that 8.0.8. is quite 23 yet, though. Since the last letter I wrote was printed I have been called by my, schoolmates "Ish Dot Bossible?" I shall have to be careful or I shall be found out by everyone., Piqtie is known .by nearly everybody, but only a few know me. I shall now conclude, with love to Dot and her band. — Yours truly, ■ -- „ .r _. . DAISIE. . < [So 'that is your idea of Dot, is it, Daisie? -"Well, dear, ■ I .should indeed have an easy and • pleasant time o£ It if I had- nothing to do- but look sifter ,the~ .little .folk. No dear, there is a good deal in life to attend to besides that, " Z can ; assure you. — DOT.] . -• Dear "Dot, — Here I am again writing to yoti. Do you.- know -J am always finding out some of the" little . folk ? I have found otit . who Fluff . is, and also one of the favourite writers. ' I ■used to go to school with, the latter, but I shall not give his norn de plume, as he would be found out if I did so, and he told me- not to tell anyone his norn de plume. Fancy Maisie turning .up after svich a long spell. I have not been well lately, but I am getting better now ; yesterday I could hardly sit up at all. Thank you ve"ry much, dear" Dot, for forwarding me Maidey's photo. What kind 01 weather are yon having in Dunedin, Dot ? We are having very frosty weather here. We are wishing it would iraih,"so as to 'get the "tank full. 'By tlie way, ; 'l3cho,' wbuld you please let me know if 'your 'Surname begins with L?' The people "about here '"are saying 'that wa -are going to have a "winter similar to last one — plenty of-' snow as\d 'frost.. H we- have 'snow and frost I may go "' toboggannmg. " Last winter' I weni?- with two, ladies and several gentlemen sliding on a; pond. The ground was covered with" snoV about l^ft to 2ft deep, <and the pond was very thick with •ice I iell .and kprained my wrist, so that put an end to my sliding that winter. The gentle- - men -played football and cricket on the ice, and ,it was such fun watching them. One gentle- ', man- had on a pair of roller skates, and the .others- told him to. kick the football, and with--out thinking, he. gave it such a kick, sad of - course-, landed himself on> the ice. The pond ihat we; w.ere sliding on last year is drained now, and the owner i 3 ploughing the paddock. It eeems such a shame, because it was the> best 3ponxT, and now we shall have to look out for " 'Now*.'" dear Dot, it is about tim-5 , jte'ring off,, so witli love to D.L.F. and yourself, < believe me,— Yours truly, " EVANGEL. ' • P.S. — What has become of Cooec? She hasn't ■{Written for a long time. — Ev ' [It was. a pity that the' pond had" .to be taken, , 'ISvarigel, but of course it is ,being- put to a betler use, and so the owner cannqt be blamed. ' IJaweveir, I Lope you: will find ah equally good /one to take exercise onjhis winter— if you are ', ifrell enough' -to get'about- I hope your strength -' : ~*srifr soon come lbact, deair, But of course jpu

inrfst take- care of yourself, and not" run any risks.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — We get the Witness every week, and I like reading the little folk's letters, especially Trooper Con's, Ziska's, and Harry's. Is not Harry a good poet, Dot? I think I know two or three of your correspondents here — namely, Puella and Roxburghite. Pauline, are your initals J. C. ? And do you live at Waipori ? We had fine fun on the fall of Pretoria, and are now preparing for a big time on the declaration of peace. The school children held a very successful concert about a. month ago in aid of the Indian Famine" Fund, taking about £7. I hope Pauline and Eoxburghite will be at the christening of the Gold Queen dredge, which, I hear will take place in about a month's time, as I shall be there. I have only seen two badges here yet, Dot. We have been having very severe frost here this last month, and'<of-eoursc w.e are having plenty of skating. . I thought I "should have seen Trooper ..Con's photo in this' week's Witness, but was disappointed; but I hope it will be in next time. I suppose I shall have to stop now, as the editor will be losing ail patience with so many letters. With love to Dot and all the D.L.F.,— Yours truly, TINY TIM. [Yoii will have- seen 'it before you see youx letter in print, "Tiny Tim, aaid I hope you will think it and the others quite worth waiting for. I hope you will write and tell us all abdut the christening of the Geld Queen,' whose name I trust will be found quite appropriate when she commences work. — DOT.] ' Dear Dot, — I should have- written last week, but as there is no room for the letters to be published every week, I need not.. write often. I have found out who To"by is, and I know who that nice looking girl is that I spoke about in- my- last letter. Marguerite told me." It is Toby's sister, G. D. Fancy Free has not written- for a" long time. Didn't Marguerite , make a great mistake when she thought that Olgeria was L. J.? I hope she thinks different now. I suppose we shall see in her next letter. My auntie is staying with us just now, and she is 'not going away for a long time yet. I was at Mrs H. Karitai's funeral on Saturday. When I was corning home T got on Tommy's (the horse) back and rode half-way. I must cloae now, as there are visitors here to-night, and my chilblains are worrying me. So good night, with love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly, CLEOPATEA. [I should think you found Tommy of great assistance, Cleopatra, although he would not bo quite so luxurious as the original , Cleopatra's yacht.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was quite amused to see the many different pictures of the supposed Dot, but instead of thinking you old, I think you are a nice young lady.- A good many of D.L.F. are familiar to me. I have heard a great deal about Alys, but have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet. Perhaps I may see her some day. A few of the girls I know are Pique, Ziska, Zara, Marguerite, and I think I know Vcvay. Are your initials J. D., and do you live at H.?-*-also- is it true 'that you have curly hair? Dear Dot, is not the war terrible to think of? I hope it will soon be ended, and that the editor will not be angry at another letter to the D.L.F. Page. With love to D.L".F. and yourself, Dot, — Yours truly, MIBABEL. ' [Not he, Mirabel ; he o»ly looks amused when 'he sees me perplexed, and I almost fancy I hear 'him .hum, "Only 'eight cohinms, only eight coltunns!" Oh, how tantalising it is! I 1 think we shall have to get tip, a monster round robin asking him to go back to the old order of things, unless he takes hi 3 share' of the worry. '—DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last wrote to you, because you have been getting such a large number of letters. I see, Zara, ■ that you have guesseo. my. nom de piume, but I do not care. I suppose you and that mate of yours will be teasing me at school. Dear Dot, I saw the imaginary pictures of you in the Witness, and I laughed at some of them. I know a few of the D.L.F., including Ziska, Marguerite, Pique, Zara, and Harry. Is not the weather in town very cold in the mornings, Dot ? We can, "see the frost lying' white from where we live. I got a prize last year, and the name of it is Dorothy Arden. I like reading very much. With love to all the D.L.F., and not forgetting yourself, — Yours truly, VEVA". [Yes, Vevay, the weather is sharp, but, then, think of the beautiful, bright sunny days — I am sure they compensate ?or the sharp mornings and cold nights. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am just going to write a few lines to you. Well, Harry, my brother's initials are A. T., but I don't think you will be able to find him out, xtnless what I'axn going to ask Solomon may be some clue to you. Now, Solomon, were you playing in that foot- . ball match on Saturday, 23rd June, against the • E School team? I told my brother to look out for you. He said he saw two of ' Dot's badges, but isn't sure whether you were _ there or not. Please tell me next .time you write. __ Dear Dot, I shall be sending my photo lin about a months. The boys about here have ' changed my name into "Loafer. ' Whenever J I go t out into the -streets it is nothing else btu j "Loafer" all the. time. I suppose they will be j giving it to me again when they read this: ;.Now, all L.F., I waut to ask you a question — are any of you going in for the examination in connection with the Sunday School Union? I am, and if any of you are going also we might meet one another. My uncle says lam getting stale, and as nobody likes stale loaves I think I had better close. So with love to all, especially Harry, whom I hope to know some day, I remain, — Yours truly,' LOAF (stale). P.S. to the Editor. — Dear Mr Editor, please don't growl at Dot any more. You know she isn't to blame. If you 'want to growl at anybody, remember it is the L.F. who pre to blame, not Dot. — L. [I am sure our Loaf is quite" fresh', i:oiwith-standing-'what Uncle Loaf says, and as f cr those teasing boys, I, think they are the "loafers" bccaiise they have not enough energy iv ; their to j write. ' "However, I suopose' it is alT'expendcd in fobtb'alLrr-DOT.] " " '- - ■ •>> ■ [Later. — I have directed the editor's attention "to your "P. 5.," dear, and I am sure you would have been amused to have seen how pleased he seemed. I really begin to believe he_ quite enjoys having a D.L.F. writing to him specially now and again, even if it is only a post- ' script.— DOT.] - I Dear Dot, — This is about the third time I have started to write- to your, but my letter has never got' as far as the 1 post office. I hope, however, this will meet with a better -fate, r I' think 'the photos, in the- Easter Witness very nice,, especially those of Shan, Little Lad-y, and Harry-. Fancy Ziska knowing SO of D.L.F.! She must have foeen industrious to find out such ( a number. I see Con has gone to? South Africa ; well, I wish ' him good luck. Dear -Dot, lake, Harry,. I am' very fond — in fact, too fond — of reading; but qf. course I cannot always, have a stock of books. Indeed, I often run short. Dear Dot, lam going to tell yon how we received tha news of tke abandonment of Pretoria. On. Monday morning people flocked into town to see the procession, which was about a mile in length. Fiags and bunting were flying from nearly every public building in town; young men dressed in fancy costumes, and fireworks and coloured lights

were seen everywhere. "VVicli love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours truly-,. ACACIA. [You must indeed have, had sr happy time of it, Acacia, and r.am sure you are looking forward eagerly to Declaration of Peace Day.,..which I hope will come soon, although there is no immediate sign ot it. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I think that was a very nice piece of poetry from Jessica. I only know two of your correspondents, so you see* I am a little Behind time. It is a long while since Wullie has written to our page. I like reading his letters very much, 'as lam Scotch myself. I think the photos' in the Witness were very nice, especially Dunedinite's. ■ We have a little black and white pup, and we call him Kruger. I must now finish this awful scribble, as there is always some of them knocking my arm. — Yours truly, TIPTOE. [I am sure it is very selfish of them, Tiptoe ; they would not like to be treated like that, and why should they make writing so troublesome to you?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I think I shall write to you, as Sunflower is writing. I think the Easter photos were very nice. -Alys, Harry, and Dockleaf came out very well — don't you think so, Dot? Maisie should not have left your page, because her letters were very nice. Daffodilly should not have left either, for I liked her letters too. I like sliding, Dot, but sometimes I have a nasty tumble, 'but it's all right when I don't hurt myself. I have seen two of your letters, Koa, since I wrote last, so I suppose yon will be looking for a letter from me. — Yours truly, HILDA. [The tumbling is really part of the fun, Hilda, and w.hen you don't hurt yourself I expect yon enjoy picking yourself ux> as much as anyone. — DOT-.] Dear Dot, — How fast the winter is passing — why, to-day is the shortest day! We have had no snow or rain .so far, but 1 suppose it will come later on. There is ice everywhere about here, and we have sonic fine slides. I think I know who you are, Casabmnca, but 1 shan't give you away. "En Koute to Europe" 13 very interesting — the more so because it is true. It is very good of Tiooper Con to write to you now and again; don't you think so, Dot? We are hearing good news from the front now. I suppose the war will soon be over. The Easter photos came out very well. I hope the next group will be as good. Marguerite was asking n any of the little folk sent their names to '"Produce." Well, I sent name, but I haven't "heard anything to my advantage" yet. Everybody about hero is finding me out, though I don't think I'll change my norn de piume. What a pity Maisic and Daffodilly have left your page. Surely they have plenty of time yet to write beiore they are 20. However, what's done can't be undone, and I suppose we must all leaved some- time. Well, goodbye, girls ; I wish you every success in your fafcurp life. With love to Casabianca, Twinkling Star, and yourself, — Yours truly, SUNFLOWER. [You will have had an opportunity of judging of the success of ,our third group by this time, Sunflower, and I think you will say it is all that could be desired, and very interesting on account of some of those who appear in it. '1 anx pleased 'you are not thinking of chang-' ing your norn de plume. 'Everyone who knows •you at present would soon discover you under another one. — DOT.J Dear Dot,— lt is a long time since I la&t wrote to you, but 1 haven't foi gotten you. 1 was pleased at the kind answer .you put *at the end of my letter, but as you said you got so many letters I did not write as soon as I wanted to. My lambs Sain and Danny are big fat sheep now. I soon taught them to follow me anywhere for their oats. I can tell you they did not let mo forget the right time — they kept baa-ing away till I just had to feed them. Sam is as funny a fellow as ever. He was away with Dati after shearing in a grassy paddock, but the first time he got back. not long since, he had to have a peep at all his old places. He went into every room himself. There was a bag of apples in the silting room, and mother soon heard him crunching them. He did not want to go out at all then, for he likes apples and carrots. Danny is very big and strong, but he does not eat the things Sam does. I can give my little brother rides on his back. I did not tell yon of any of the naughty things my lambs did when they were "little. On hot days they like shady places, and one day they got through the passage into the spare room and jumped upon the beds and were all five chewing their cud there. You would think they would have stopped on the woolly mats, but they didn't, and I got blamed for their actions. Dear Dot, I read what Alpha said about pussies. We are only let to have outside cats now, and" all are good hunters. Threp or four of them, will follow us all over the place. Wheu they begin to wean their kittens we sometimes see them carrying home a bunny to the kitties. It is great fun to see the old bia'ek cat carrying home a rabbit she_has caught — she lias to hold her head so" high to get it along. When I was little I had a white dog and ' a big cat of my own. We used to have great plays in the long grass. Mj cat would balance himself on the back 01 my chair and take his bits of meat off my fork with his paw;' my little ! dog was fond of cats. She slept in their box outside at nights; if they were in first she* would dig them up rwith her nose co that they would bo on top to keep her warm, and theii I To^sy's head would bs tke only bit of hexI sticking out. My dear little dog got poisoned with rat poison, and my big cat got shot. I lead all the war news. I like reading about brave men. I know three that have gone fiom ' here- to the war — the friend that gave nae my pony is one of them. He i& a very good rider. I hope he gets back safe as well as Con. What fun it would be to see them riding up Uie street |' on the cows ! We have an old pei cow that lets , us get on her back, but she won't go — she sits . down> she only. likes getting things to eat from ' us. I laughed at the girl that told you . ! &be got bowled over the gate when riding after the cows. Many a sore bump I got when learn1 ing to ride. Now I can stick on if I have a ' bridle, whether there is a saddle on ox not, 1 galloping or cantering; Dear Dot, I must now say good-bye, to you and all the little folk. Ii this is too long, I must not write for a year again ; then I shall tell you the games, we play at We have had the book Ziska took her narno out of, and, Usca, if you are a cousin of Barbara and Annie through their father, you are the same, to me, though perhaps you won't know who I am, foi I live a long way off from them.- With best love, — -Yours truly, - . NANNIE. [I hope Nannie will not think it necessary to postpone writing for .such a terrible length of , time. Her letters are so interesting that I can promise a place for 'them as often as she likes to write, only, of course, she will have to take her torn if-there arc many in before her. DOT.] Deal- Dot, — For several months. I have been a reader of. the Little Folk's Page, and have now- made- up. my mind to become one of youx band. I have been going to- write to you ever so long, but somehow I could never muster tip enough courage to- begin, and especially since the Critic Club sta-rted. I am not a very good hand at writing letters, and I thought Taffy might be hard on me, but he will have to excuse rue this time, as- it is the first letter I base written to, 'the x^age. What a number

f of correspondents you have now, and still there are new members nearly every week. I know i a few of youx writers, among them being C. C. M., .Millicent, Cooee, Queechy, Fifi, and Target. What a nice letter there is from Trooper Con in the last Witness. He does not forget Dot and her little folk, although he is away to the war. I hope the war will soon be over, and that our brave New Zealanders (including Con) will come back again safe and sound to dear old Maoriland. Ido not think the war will last long after they capture Kruger and Stayn, as they are the head men of the Boer forces. What a rejoicing there will be when tlie" Boers are thoroughly defeated and the British flag is once more flying in the Transvaal. I shall now draw my letter to a close, hoping you will accept me as a D.L.F., and with fond love to C. C. M., Millicent, and yourself, — Yours truly, ■ • ' . ,CIS. [We are all in hope of a sjpeedy termination of the war, Cis r btit at present there is no sign of such a happy consummation. However, we never know what may happen, and perhaps before this appears in print some important development may have taken place.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— What nice letters "The Girl en Route to Europe" writes. What a splendid trip she -is having; it must be lovely. I am' going io cut her letters out'alid keep them. It must be so nice to travel. What a nice long letter there is from Con. I did not think there would be one for weeks yet ; but I don't suppose there will be another for a long time, as he will be near the front now. I think the war will soon be over, and v;e shall then have him back again. And so Ma'isie has left us ! Well, I wish her good luck, for she and Maidey were ipy favourite writers. I never thought Little .bady and Maisie were sisters, but that Dockleaf and L. L. were sisters., Dear Dot, what kind of weather have you been having in Dunedin? We have been having very hard frosts, but this last week is not so bad. There wa3 such a big circle round the sun yesterday. My father predicted a change of weather, and my brothers were hoping it was snow; but it has not come yet. I have cut the photos out of the Easter Number and put them in my scrnp book. When are there'goiii£ to be some more, Dot? I want for a short ride the- other day. but it was very cold. I am very glad the shortest day is past, for the Slimmer seems to come quicker then. I must close now, with love to all the little folk, not forgetting yourself. — Yours -truly, GEETY. [You will have seen the next group by this time, Gerty, and I think you will consider them worthy of a place in your sernp book also. It really doss not do to predict a change of weather just now, for it seems to have settled to fine, foir, and frosty for the whole winter. And yet, who knows? — perhaps long ere you read this in print the change will have come and the roads have been turned into quagmires. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have been a reader- of your page for two years now, and enjoy reading the letters very much. So I now screw up enough coinage to write to you, which I have never done before. What a gieat number of correspondents you have, and I think they are getting more numerous every week. I know a few of the numbei— namely, those who write under the 1101ns de plume ot Cooee, C. C. M., Queechy, Fifi, R. S. H., J. O. Y.,-Targe"t, Milliceut, _Caroola, end last, but not least, Rollo. Well, Eollo, you are very cunning ; so you say you are not very fond of your sisters ! Aha ! I knew 'betler than Ihat. I'm sure' you make as much of your sister C. as all the other boys do Now, don't you? Now, Master Rollo, you niust not. bs wild at me, for when speaking to Fifi the other day my tongue slipped, and ' cut came your name, but she promised not to let on. Oh, Cooee, I was speaking to a friend of yours from P. M., and he mentioned to me that you told him you were writing- to Dot under anothei\nom de plume. Oh, Cooee, Cooee! is this really true, or were you just ? Cuckoo, are your initials G. M., and do you reside at W. ? If so, I have found you out. Fancy Maisie, Dockleaf, Echo, and Little Lady all being sisters. What a shame Maisie has left our page. I wonder what has berome of Lamb. I thought by hei letters that she would never leave Dob's page till the retiring age. 1 wonder if she is at the boarding school she talked about. Ido wish she would write again. That was a nice letter from Trooper Con in last week's Witress. I can't get into the way of calling him '"Trooper Rayne." I noticed in to-day's papei that two more of the New Zealanders were dead. Oh, Dot, will this war ever come to an end? Isn't it terrible to think what a lot of brave soldiers on both sides lose their lives fighting for their country. Now, DoL, as my letter is lengthening, I shall close with best love to the C. C, the smiling editor, and your own dear self, — Yours truly EXCELSIOR. [I wonder ii any reader is keeping a list of those who leave our page from time to time 0 It would iuu into quite a J laige number now, would it nob? I still hope Lamb will get a glance at the Witness some day, and send us another letter, evea if it is hear last. — DOT.] Dear Dol, — We getjthe Witness every week, and^ the first Jhing I look for is Dot's little folk's letters. VVe axe not having very fine weather just now. Isn't the war a terrible thing? The British have nearly^won, but the "end has' not come yet. Our examination will ,be Qn soon, and I hope I shall pass. If so I shall be ia the Fifth Standard. I have orie sister and three brothers. — Yours truly TIBBIE. [I trust you- will succeed in passing, Tibbie, and that you will soon be able to write and tell us you are m the Fifth Standard.— DOT.] Dear Dol,— l have another dog, a Skye terrier. He is so small, just like a lump "ot butter. Do you know what my cockatoo did the other day? He went down to the tomato beds and ate most of them, and came back to his cage for something more to eat. I saw him go in, and he was feasting on oats and wheat with his beak covered. with tomato juice and pips. ' When, he saw me he gave me a look as much as to say, "What right have you coming and locking s?t me when 1 ani'having something to eat?" I-ain staying with Skylark in Dmaedin, at present. I must say good-bye, — Yours truly, ■ BRENDA. [Cocky is evidently not in the habit of being scolded, Brenda, or he would not have been so independent when he must have knowrj he had done wrong. 1 should not have thought he wo aid have cared about tomatoes, but he has evidenfclv acotured a taste for them. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I read Con's letter this week, and don't you think it is good of him to remember the little folk, Dot ? We get the Witness every week, and I run to get it fijrst to see the. letters in it. I think I know Isniene; are your initials D. K.? "If they are, I know yoti well,- you had tea with 'me one night. Tell me in your next letter if are. " I think I know you, S. G. ; are your initials V. N., and do yon" live at Clyde ? Hurry up and write again- and tell me if lam right. I liked the Easter photos very much. I see,. Dune'dinite, you have had a lot ot compliments paid you. about your photo. I also like it veiy much. See that yo.u don't get your head turned. X have a good many years to write to you yet, Dot,, I am pleased to ' say. We have a calf, and w& have grand fun witli it. It doesn't like girls, and whenever lit sees them, it runs after them. One night Q2& eisfcei" *ad gui- frie«4 wete.^oiu^ fox a walk,

and when they were nearing the gate I gave tha '' calf a lash with my whip to make it turn round and see them. .As soon as it saw them it ran after them, and "they ran for the gate. My sister stayed on the gate, being up to the game before; but our friend thought she meant "to jump over, so before my sister had tim& to hold her back she was clean over the high, gate, and skinned her hand. I did laugh at them. . They are supposed to be very proper, with long dresses on and their hair up, but they were not proper that time. I think I must end now, as I have go£ enough in my first letter. — Yours truly^,. -•"" - . TUSSOCK. [Well, now r Tussock, I think it was cruel frightening your sister and her friend like that. Besides, don't you think the calf should be taught to stop chasing girls, for when it is fully grown serious consequences may ensue. I hope you will continue to write now you have .'begun.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I wrote to you. I have got my badge; thanks so much. I have just got my winter holidays, and have my little cousin Brenda staying with me. We are going to "The Geisha" on Saturday. We were going tc a party, but we thought we would sooner go to the theatre instead. Brenda and I went down on the beach this morning, and caught a very small 'fish that looked very like a crayfish. We put it back in the water. It had blue eyes 'and a red body. Brenda and I have very nice dolls. Brenda's doll is dressed in blue silk, and mine is dressed in pink silk. We often take them into town with us. X have two pats, one of which' is-very playful. One day it caught a bird, and came and knocked at the door till I came, to let it in. — -Yours truly, SKYLARK. [That is certainly a knowing cat," Skylark, when he could knock to get" in.- I -hope it was* not a skylark he caught, but only a sparrow. It would be nice if Brenda 'and yoxi could have your portraits taken with the dolls in your arms, so as to send me one for the next group. 1 fancy Brenda's father could rna.nage it if you were both to ask him very prettily. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I wish to become one of your correspondents. I know "you havis a, myriad of D.L.F., and it is undoubtedly the time I am not wanted — that I am sure to put in my head (or raflier hand). Every time I read your letters I become more interested in them. No mistake you have some excellent writers, but X pie3ume some of them are pretty mature. I see all the D.L.F. are fitting a vord in about Daffodilly I ; but perhaps I shoiiid not pass any remark, as lam only a novice. I have a good hearty laugh over some of the letters ; for instance, Yvonne forgetting to eat her dinner. Well, it would not have been I, as I am very careful of myself in that respect. I am sure the little folk must be pleased to get a letter from Con. lam sorry to say that I don't know many of the little, folk, but I will try my utmost to find some- out. I know Harry, and I have a good idea of Beka. Are your initials R. H., and do you live in „H. ? You write very nice letters. Pat also writes very amusing letters. Would that I knew you, Koa. I have taken quite a fancy to your letters. I would like to see your photo, but I would not ask you to seed it, as it must be annoying to you, when it is impossible at present. It is well nigh time for me to con- • elude now, as xny tea, is more tempting' than ' writing' letters-. Good- bye,; with- love to all- the • D.L.F. and you, Dot. — Yours truly, ERIN-GO-BEAGH. ' [I hope Erin-go-Bragli enjoyed hex tea very much on that' particular occasion. '.No- doubt the knowledge that she had made' a dash into ' our ra'nk3 would give" her a feeling of selfsatisfaction and content which would help to juaka tea even more enjoyable than usual. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I hope you are not laying me on the shelf in my old age. I have not seen my last letter in print yet, and the little folk are awaiting answers to their queries. Dear Robina, the Bible belonged to my. Aunt Ruby, . and the photo- was taken when I was a two-year-old chicken.. Aye, I was a bonny, bairn, but I'm far altered noo. I have a clue to your Aunt Mary, but the name of the master who identified me is yet an unsolved problem. Dear Soby, I was on the point of asking the boss for leave to sit in the glass case in the window, as a real pretty boy would be a distinct novelty. My mate, who is a real judge of looks, said to me after he read your letter: "Excuse me, oldrnan, but I have seen many a better-looking fellow than you are hanged for being tigly-" Complimentary, wasn't it? Anyhow, I console myself with Abraham Lincoln's remark, ''God loved ugly folk, because He made so many of them." lam sorry, Little Lady, that I cannot as yet find time to pay that promised visit. lam sorry that the immense parcel prevented me from seeing you. Another opportunity lost, that's all! Dear Maisie, I'm afraid I shall have tc- follow your example, for Dot -is putting me on the shelf alreadyDear Millicent, did I send my autograph with the note? Dear Queen Bess, I intended sending you those lines privately, but, being an absent-minded beggar, I blundered. Dear Doreen, that pathetic appeal was first made by" ' me in school and the fellows in my class chafradl me for years afterwards. " -I was promised-. ' sisters by. the score, but years hava elapsed," and their promises have ended" in smoke". - Dear. 'Yvonne, I hope the L.F. will ask to see thequiet boy dressed in a calico suit who works 'in the Witness Office. That quiet boy will bo delighted to see your Now, H.S. Boys, I . haven't seen your magazine since I left. I, hope it is '"alive-oh." Perhaps you thought it didn't interest the little swat, but you aremistaken. Why, mates, I used to "fancy myself a gi-3at old cricketer when I conned its pages. I used to send it abroad to an old cricketer and footballer belonging to the Royal , Horse Guards in England. .1 think. I had - better send a most pathetic appeal to the editor of the v. sigazine, but it is a case of "out of sight, out of mind." Many thanks for your autograph, Ziska. Dear Wattle Blossom, I have not had enough of masters yet, for- I attend 1 a night class twice weekly," although" I'm. 1 a .ittle old man. Dear- M. Q H., !■ am awaiting your photo. Now, Trooper Rayne, I would ■ like to see yqu again after blinding me for so many years. What a- warm reception you will get when you- return. I think, little^'fblk, Struan should send a long letter to atone for past silence. Dear Loaf, I donned the badge last Thursday, and succeeded only in catching the master's eye viewing it closely. Thank j-ou, R a, for the nice verse you dedicated to me. I detected a faint mew-mew between the lines that found you out. Am I right, R a? Now, L.F., -I had an xmexpected pleasure of being introduced to Dot. The Dots have changed since. I first began to scrawl. Dear Rimbecco, I enjoy reading your letters very much. lam glad you don't take any notice of some of the D.L.F. criticisms. Tm a little old man, and can freely express my opinions. lam on the gui vive, Maisie., It is hard work looking out foi an -Unseen friend. The pater's home, and-1 h^'e-to- wield the pen among the crowd, and such a nice crowd too. Dear Alys, I shall be on the Igokont for my 42nd cousin. Now, I must coaclude, with, love and good wishes to you all. — Yours truly, „ HARRY. [Really, Harry, I am quite ashamed when I see letters appearing several weeks after they have been handed in to the editor. We only have the eight columns, but enough letters come in to, fill 16, I verily believe, so what am I to. da? Everybody/ a turn comes scenei Q£

later, but the: letters are certainly not improved with "age. - And yet -what am Ito do?. There Ys that abominable eight-column rulei and there seems to be jio means of getting over that, does there?— DOT.] \ ' To Patsy. - ".I'm dramin' of a Red Bird, Pat, " . " To -ramble by - your " side, ' On Ihose keen and frosty niornin's, Whatever may betide. • And I shall be with you, Pat, Wherever you 'may go — Can you luk me in the face, Pat, And say that same yoti know? The frost is on the ground, Pat, The birds sing clear and high; A smile lights up your face, Pat, — ■ There's mischief in your eye. - So lave oilld Din alone, Pat, Your pet baste and your pride, And we'll scorch along the road, Pat, Like brothers, side by side. Dear Patsy,— lf you are the boy that I Lhink you are, kindly mention it next letter. The brogue, like the measles, has infected me. I do not possess a bike yet, but you see I am dreaming of one. I hope my dreams avill come true shortly.— Your luvin' friend, Dear Dot, — 1 live away in a bu3h settlement, 97 miles from Dunedm. The people who live in this coiintryside are all farmers. The cowboys about here are having jolly times, as they have no cows to milk just now. It is raining very hard here, Dot. Those photos in last week's Witness came out very nice and plain. I know who you are, Tot, and Rinibecco. Dear Dot, I saw in last week's Witness that Regina wanted to know if it was not Rimbeceo's photo, and if not, whose is it? Well, no, Regina, it is not Rimbecco's photo, .but that of a Miss M., the centre photo of a group of three. Dear Dot, it is a wonder that Rimbecc& did not say it- was not her photo, so as -to "stop all ±he little folk inquiring about it. Dear Dot",- 1 have* much pleasure in forAyarding one- shilling in stamps in aid of the Children's Cot fund.' With love to all the little folk and "Dot, — Yours truly, , ' v TEC (aged 13). "• [Rimbecco did Avrite a month ago, Tec, and her letter -was duly' handed in, but unfortu- i nately I had not marked it to go in immediately, | and the editor simply sent it to the printer in its turn, and hence it did not appear till last week. However, better late than never, and everyone knows all about it now. — DOT.] j Dear Dot,— We are so sorry for playing such a. trick on Rimbecco. Dear L.F., we wish you •to understand that the photo that came out m i the Witness at Eastei isn't Rimbecco's at all. We sent the photo. We felt a little bit angry because you all seemed to think so much of her letters, so. when we saw that her photo was wanted we thought it a bit of good luck, and sent a photo of a friend 'as Kimbecco. This v friend got 'taken by Mahan, Oaniaru, along with another young lady and Rimbecco's sister, now married. Rimbecco seems to have been worrying over that photo a great deal. She hunted us up, and we cannot tell how mtich astonished we were when we found she had the letters that were sent to you, Dot, by us in her possession. Dear L.F., belieA'e us when we say we are very, very sorry. We didn't know Rimbecco would carry it on so far, finding out the ins and outs of the photo racket. Dear Dot, you will be wondering how we caught the photo" coming back. Well, it was like this : "When we sent the photo we also sent a letter, -telling you to address it to M. H., Kaihaikui, Rataraiui. When it came to the post the postmaster asked if any Miss M. H. lived .here about. No, there Avas no Miss H. lived so he put it down again, and as soon as we saw 'his back turned we slipped it into our mail bag. -It is- jtist-f or ■ our own use, the bag. Then we asked for our mail, got it, . and went home as - .pleased as Punch-. Dear Dot, you will see ,that our post Kaihailnii, and the post at Rimbecco's Kahuika, are almost the same. Some- j 'times ours is spelt Kaihaiku, and Rataraiui 'near' the stream is almost the same as Rataimi. -We- don't live a score of miles fiom Hunt's road. Dear Rimbecco, we hope you will accept our apology. We are truly very sorry; we didn't know it was any harm at first, but fools must learn by experience, you know. Any way, Rimbecco, and Dot, as Avell as all the L.F., Aye hope our apologies will be accepted by all, and we shall be forgiven or looked over this once. ■ We promise never to act so again. We hope one and all will forgive us as we feel very wretched, wicked, and nii&e.rable. ' BelieA'e all we say, as father is reading every word. He gave us a beating when he heard about the photo. He told us to sit and write at once, as he said Rim.becco had done us no harm. We lemain, your penitent and sorrowful little folk, E. and A. [This letter was signed by the full names and addresses, but I think E. and A. have been sufficiently punished for their thoughtless con,duct, so I ra&rely put in their initials. I think - Rimbecco *will fully concur in this being done. I hope this will be a lesson to other little fobs; tempted to play tricks on then friends, and I have to thank E. and A.'s parents for the action they have taken in the matter. — DOT.]