DOT'S Little Folk.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 65

DOT'S Little Folk.

D:L.F.

Dot imitos short letters fmm her U!o fricniß thmughout the colony on matters of interest to them'=el\*s, 111 p. dents connected *itli their net animals, ricsoiipiions of anything they aro interested in, of tho di«triotin which they lire, or their school and J.ome life, holi.iay trips, &c. yi'hc li-tters uivti boTTiitten by ihe litflo folk th«uiseKe», and addressed •' Dot, care of Editor Witness," and to be published iii the pages devQt"d to " Dot's Little Polk."

. S, long spell of frost. - There are no large ponds he^e to skate on. The river was frozen hard, but it is only a- muddy creek, very curly, and .•with a lot of sticks and fallen t v ees in it. The Takitinios have a. fresh coat of snow. How lovely 'they 100k — pure white— and they seem to touch the sky. There is also snow on the Hokosiui Hills, and the Longwood Ranges (the latter are near Orepuki). The people are all •ploughing, and I never saw such large flocks of seagulls; they are in hundieds. Our roads are very muddy "now; in fact, they are knee Beep. The daffodils are above the ground and in jbud, and it makes us think of spring, Dot; .■there are also a few lilac primroses in bloom. -Our winter cactus has a lot of buds, and it will aiot be long till the flowers are out, they are like ■a red fuchsia. The plant looks so nice — the Jong fleshy stems with the pretty red buds at the points. We are milking two cows just now — Countess and Beauty — and they are sis--.'uers." We keep them in a house every night. ijWe feed Countess with boiled turnips and bran. | I She is very fond of it, and she gives a lot of 'anilk; she has a calf, but we are hand-feeding it. Dear Dot, to-morrow is Arbour Day, and .■we are getting a holiday. Next time I write I eh.all tell you how I spent the day. lam sendj ing Ziska my autograph. I must close now, | -with love to Rimbecco, Althea, Maple, Millicent. Ziska, Petronilla ,and Dot,— Yours truly, I WATTLE BLOSSOM. fc J_So Countess should, with such good treatment, Wattle Blossom. I fancy the daffodils ■will be in bloom before your letter is in print, dear, -so that spring will- be with us in zeality. Isn-'t it -nice-to think- lye have the whole beautiful and summer before us? — DOT.] f Dear Dot,— On seeing my sister's letter in ■the J Witness,: I, thought I" -would write to youalso I know two' of your correspondents, but I must ,no'c tell, you -who they are, or suspicion -nyght be 'roused as to -my name. ,1 know a youngfellow who works in -'the Witness office,anJ when he saw me with a badge he said, • *' Hullo, dear little Dot." When getting off the •train one day I saw a boy standing in the Dunedin station with a badge in his hat. He stared at me and I stared at him, and 'then he smiled at one. I was going to speak to him, but someone called me, so I lpft him. As I was "walking up Rattray street oa Wednesday night somebody hit ins in the bblk of the neck with a snowball, and turning rot 1 -id I saw three boys with snowballc in their, hands. I ducked my head just in time to get cut of another snowball The snowball just whizzed past my ear, and hit a lady in the back. When she turned round the boys bolted. Dear Dot, I am just thinking what norn de plume I shall sign. I nvust now close, with leve to Harry, 8.0.8., and Boy, not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, SCATTERBKAIN. [I hope that boy in the Witness office will sse this and addiess you by your norn de plume next time, Scatterbrain. And yet, I don't Jmow; it may be all right to yourself " Scatterbrain," but to be called it would be a different matter; so perhaps he may as well ■keep to his .former method of addressing you." -VDOT:] , ■ ' Dear Dot, — My father and uncles have a coal mine_afc Saddle Hill, from which they wind the coal with an engine and wire rope, which is nearly 1000 ft in length. I have been down 'the mine with my father, und have seen all -through it. lam 10 years old, and Igo to the J2ast Taieri- ■schools." l 'have -a Shetland pony on which I 'ride t<r school, aztd his name- is, -Ten.my. He will "eat almost- anything, and the -children sometimes give hixa, crusts. 'I have a pair of bantams,' and' l call' them Jock and ±>eggy, and my brother Laurence has a pair? "too. He calls his' Peter and Jeannie. — Yours truly, ' " ' v -ALLAN E: CHRISTIE. , [You are a fortunate boy, Allan, to be able • to ride to scliool on your own Shetland pony. How; town boy,? would like to be able to do .that.— DOT.] ' - ° Dear- Dot, — Isn't the massacre in China a terrible thing — what do you think of it, "Dot? ■What do you think of the 16 New Zealanders "being captured ? Our examination will be held in a month. I am in the Fourth Standard, and I expect to pass. Last Wednesday was Arbour Day, and we planted a lot of trees at school. Our flag is white, with a red cross o-i it, and we think it is St. George's flag. Do you know if that is right? With love to the editor and yourself,— Yours truly, BADEN-POWELL. [Now, fancy Baden-Powell not being sure about the flag which floats above the school. Yes, 8.-P., it is the flag of St. George, and its red cross and the blue cross, from the Scottish :flag and the white one from the Irish form the cross in the Union Jack. — DOT.] Deai Dot,— The last letter I" wrote has not • been printed yet, but I hope by the time you get this it will be. The photos in the Witness the other week were very good, and I hope there will be some more before long. Dear Dot, we had a concert here m aid of the atkenseum. Twenty of the (schoolboys were dressed in /volunteer uniform, and they acted beautifully, 'and sang five'pativi'otic sonsrs. Dear Dot, our examination is coming on, but I am not going* "to it. I have^a •'dear little kitVn. but I shall not tell its name, as that -would be giving myself -away. ..-Dear -De, I shall give you a riddle, But 3: dOnVknow whether any of you know it/< Why\wKs Ladysmith during the siege like a hard-boiled' egg?. I shall send the answer next time. My, description of Dot is a "tall, ' fair-haired lady, , ro?y complexion, and a 'sweet "temper. Wattle .Blossom, is the answer to your riddle in the Witness of July 12 " A river " ? Harry, I suppdse you have read the poems of C. Bryant,- John Keats, and Walter Scott, because Grizzel and I have a book containing them between us. With love to D.L.F., not foigelfcing yourself,- Dot,— Yours truly, LADY CEOOME. [Have you not given yourself away anyhow, Lady Croozne? If no one has spoken to you yet, look over your letter again and see where j^ou made the slip. — DOT.] Dear pot, — We have had a concert here, and I -went to it and enjoyed myself very much. So, Ziska,' you -are still 'gathering descriptions o£ Dot. I" think she is a tall, dark-haired lady, good and 'sweet-tempered. I w.as going to send -you a- riddle, but Lady Croome is doing so instead. I would -like to send, you my photo, bu( I have not been taken by myself. Is not this war terrible? The Boois seem very wicked, but -we n.re told to leve our enemies — ■to bless them that curse you. I hope the war will soon be over. I only know three of youi" little folk. I want to have a read before 1 go -to bed, so good-bye. With love tc all D.L.F., the editor, and not forgetting yourself, dear Dot,— Yours truly, GEIZZEL. Tls your norn de plume Grizrel or Grizel, dear? I have put it in as you wiote'it, but I fancy it is wrong, nevertheless. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — The last time I.wroteyou must Have put' my letter aside, for I did not see it published. ' I have been "waiting till the letters would decrease in number, but am apparently waiting in vain. We are having very cold weather lately. I know the names oc raoie than six of your correspondents. I shall, be glad when the winter is over. With love to all the little folk — Yours truly, ETHEL. [Very likely the letter -wag put aside, for, 'judging by your present one, it was a very little letter, Ethel, and the little letters have , had to make way for the longer ones lately, you know.— DOT.]

badge, so that I can change it from one. hat to another. How nice tne last lot of photos looked. I think Con, Mousie, and Alexardriate looked the nicest. I have pasted them in my scrapbooli also. What a shame of the' two' girls' sending the wrong photo ot Rimbecco. They must have been very jealous to do such a thing. Dear Rimbecco, are your initials M. I H ? Please say m your next letter. Dear Dot, isn't the Chinese tarable dreadful? I suppose the British soldiers will have to go there as soon as the Transvaal War is over. I think it will be far worse than the Transvaal War, for the Chinese torture the prisoners they take. I was going to send Prejudice "Curfew Shall' Not Ring To-night," only I thought by the tim 2 she got my copy she would have, got a lot of others. I thought I had discovered who Japonica is, but I have not. Dear Maidey, will you x>lease correspond with me? Dot will be able to send you my address if you will kindly write. Wich love to all the little folk and yourself, — Yours tiuly, GERTY. [I have left out your allusion to Karitane, Gert3>-, because she was not the person she professed to be, and had no right to write the letter at all. It was -very silly of her, and I hope she is sorry for doing it — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We play football at school, and the schoolmaster plays with us. We are going to have a dredge built here. I milk one ol the cows, and she gives about half a bucket of milk. I milk her twice a day. Is not the Chinese war terrible, Dot? Just think of the poor people being massacred — is it not dreadful to read about thcon, Dot? lam pleased to say we have no friends in China. Are not the Boxers terribly cruel ? lam related to Twihk'ling Star, but you have no idea who' I am. — - Yours" truly/ ' ' i THE OLD ARMCHAIR. j [Not Eliza Cook's old armchair, surely? No, I fancy this must be i{ moie modern one, though still -an Old Armchair.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l know several of 'your correspondents, including Con, Roy, Giulia, and Jean. I knew Con before his name was disclosed. I wish him a safe return from the war. I also think I know Maggie. Are your initials S. G-, Mousie, and do you live at St. B.? I guessed that 'by your photo. I agree with -Kirnber Lee as to your description. Wullie does look a real "Scotch Bairn." I see we have a Critic Club. We are having our holidays just now, and it is very cold weather. I hope the war will soon be ended, but I think the China war will be worse, as the Boxers are so cruel. ■AVith love to all the D. L. F. and yourself,— Yours" truly, ENTERIC. [Dear me, what a disagreeably suggestive signature to select. JJut living m such a healthy district as my correspondent doas, possibly its significance has not struck him so forcibly as it has me. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was so surprised when I saw my last letter. I wender if ,the printers thought jl had &aid too much aoout the little iolk changing their noms de plume, and that they would change mmc ior me. Some girls here I know, Jniew 1 had written that letter, and they also knew my norn de plume. Weil, the week it was in I Happened to be at their place, wizen they were looking to see if it was in. They read out the names oi each writer and then put down the paper and said it wasn't in. I wonder it they will guess which letter .was mine? -I sitppose it was fny bad -writing that caused- the mistake. Dear Ziska, 'I "have another- of Dot's likenesses lor yoii. I\ly falner gave 'it to ,me, but of course rt is nothing like •"tlie original.- It will just show yo/a what some people -will say.- "Hei'e's the description : "JAn old woman who wears a mutch." Don't .faint, Dot. ' I haven't got my phoio for you yet, but I" shall go over and see if it is finished befjore I post this. I wonder if Averil would exchange photos with me? Will you, please, Averil? If you will, please send it^to Dot, and she will post it to me; won't you, Dot? S.end your autograph too, please, Averil. I asked the L. F. a while a-go to send me their autographs, but I did not get many. What a lot oi L. F. are leaving our page! Daffodilly, Queen Bess, Maisie, and now Tussock have come and gone. Since writing the. above I»have seen the next Witness and read Rimbecco's letter. I think that that was a very mean trick for anyone to play on her, and I hope that she will soon be able to get her photo taken to let us see what she is really like. I think that the last group of photos was very nice. Dicky Drnovan, S. Scrybils, Doughnout, D. Dumpling, Daffodilly, Queen Bess, Tussock, and a few others who have left our page ought to send their photos now. Don't you think so, Dot? I think I know who you are, Whiffles, I must thank those" L. F. who voted for my photo (Doreen, Huia, Cuckoo, and Annie Boleyn), though I would rather they had not done so. ! Dear Mona, why have you never answered my last letter? I have a imoto for you, so hurry u_3 and write. I think Echo must have forsaken me, too. I think, Maisie, you had better give hera talking to for not writing sooner. I. hope Harry will send me his photo, instead of to "Roly." lam afraid the Critic Club will be saying there are too many names in jthis letter, so- 1 suppose I had .better stop. With love to Doreen, C. C. M., Evangel, and Dot, ,and success to Con and the New Zeaianders, — Yours truly, ROBY. P.S. — I am not so black-looking as in the photo, Dot.— R. [Well, 1 am sure, Roby, you have been writing long enough for all tho printers to ;know your name without going and putting it in,m such a form as that. I hope the same linotype operator who set it up last time will have to do it on this occasion, so that his carelessness will be impressed on him. So Dot is described by your father as an old woman with a mutch ! Well," I have sustained myself with an effort under the blow I have received, and I "only hope Wullie will not take to depicting me in that "guise. I shall be only too pleased to send on anything to you, deai. — -DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is very cold just now, isn't it? I wish the winter was over, as it is very cold going to school in the mornmgs ; but when we reach school we have a nice fi,ie waiting for us. I have two sisters and two brothers going . to school besides myself. I am writing this letter just now at my cousin's, and he has been kind enough to give me the paper, pen, and ink to write to j - ou. We are getting a dredge built on a, river close to where we live, and the place will be a little livelier then, I suppose, if it turns out a success. — Youis truly FAIRY. j [Well, Fairy, by the time your letter appears in print we shall have seen tho last of winter, and you will find it much pleasanter going to school. If it were not for the winter, wo should not enjoy the spring so much. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — The weather is very cold at present, but I suppose it will soon get warm again. I like a lot of the letters m tho little folk's page, but I like Boy's be&t. I have just cut the second group of the senior correspondents out of the Witness. With love to all,— Yours truly, ' ORMOND. [That io a very small letter from, 1 presume, a very small boy. Ormond will have, to try to tell us next time he writes comething about Wellington, where he lives. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Our scliool concert wan a great success. It was held in the Sydney Stieet Schoolroom, a3 tho Exchange Hall was otherwise engaged. Although it vas laining very -heavily, the hall whs crowded. On Saturday took part in the

concert were entertained at afternoon tea -by the teachers," and we all enjoyed ourselves imm ensely. I had my photograph taker: in the costume I wore in the concert, and I am sending you one, Dot, and hope you will like it. • Dear Dot, that little friend I told you aboijt in my last letter has aiot quits made up her mind when to write, but I expect she will write soon. There is also a girl in my class at school who is going to write to you soon. We had the "long eve " at our dancing class' a short while- [ ago, and my sister and I danced the minuet. With love to Dot and all the little folk,— Yours truly, HINDOO^ P.S. — I shall be pleased to send something towards the little folk's Hospital Cot fund, Dot. — H. [Thank-you, Hindoo, for your promise to help the cot fund. Promises of help ,come from all quarters, and I >.see plainly our cot will be quickly equipped once we get a start at it. Your photo is very nice, dear, and I shall include it in the next group. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I just know three of your correspondents. I live on a farm, and we milk a lot of cows. ' I milk night and morning. I am in the Fourth Standaid, and I learn music. I am a lover of cats, like you, Dot, and I have a pretty little Icitten which I call Toots. The bush is very pretty up' by our place in' winter as well as in summer. With love to the L. F. and yourself, Dot, — Yours truly, LADY TOWNSEND. [So, Lady Townsend.has begun to write to us. lam glad to notice, that her ladyship" sjees something to admire even in winter, for most of my little friends only think of the cold morn- " ings or the muddy roads. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I wonder if Wullie is ever going to write agam? Perhaps he has taken a lancy to "a little Maori girl. Isn't there a lot of New Zealanders getting killed in the Transvaal. I know three who went away in the fourth and fifth contingents ; and one of the nurses, ilt has been very cold and fiosty this winter here. When I was crossing the river on the ice my horse slipped and fell. A few days afterwards a waggon came across the ice with six horses and a load of chaff and did not break the ice. I know three or four of your correspondents, but they have not written for a long time. I shall end my letter by giving you a riddle • — "What foiir letters would frighten a thief?" Good-b3"e, Dot, with love to you and all the little folk, — Yours truly, BENACHIE. Dear Dot, — I was very pleased to see my letter in print, bu.t I feel it wae a poor effort when compared with some of the other letters — Boy's, for instance, though 1 don't admire his picture of yourself. 'Fancy all the little folk writing to a Maori chief. J was reminded • when I lead Boy's letter of a yarn I heard about a Chinaman who had never seen ice. One day he got a piece, and as it was melting he put it on a bench in the sun to dry. After a while he went to get it, and it was melted, upon which John went inside and gave his mate a flogging, as he thought he had eaten it. Dear Dot, I am very fond of reading, but it is not very easy to get books in these -outlandish regions. lam sure, however, you would enjoy yourself if you took a irip to the lakes, though it is intensely cold here in winter. I think, however, there is more magnificent sceneiy here- than anywhere. The snow-clad mountains, with their rugged peaks and tlieir refleotions hi the lakes on a clear day, are beautiful. L see Boy thinks Nancy is a b;oy. Don't you believe it, Boy, though she can ptit many a boy to shame at chnibij g a tree. (Don't' be offended, Nancy") Have you ever tried 1 to . swim, Dot? I was once going to teach my mate to" swim. He started awey before -pie, ' and when I came round the coiner I found he -had gone in before me also, as he had secure):! a cork belt somewhere, aud a i^'etty fi s he was in, as the belt had slipped down round hisfeet, and there he was heels up. It was laughable, but might have ended seriously. Thanking you for the pretty badge, I must conclude with love to all the little folk., not forgetting your own wee self, — Yours truly, REX. [I think 'your -letter is " all right," as they say, Rex, and you really need not compare it unfavourably with anyone's. Of course, anyone who can write a letter worth publishing has a style of his own, and it is scarcely fair to compare one with 'another. I wonder whe>c that simple, but valiant, Chinaman was born and brought up?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have just finished reading the Little Folk's Page, and I think the letters are very nice. I read Rimbecco's letter, aud saw . that, the photo was not hers. It was too bad of her two acquaintances acting in that way, but, no doubt, they have been taught a lesson which they will not forget. Fancj' Ziska ki'icwing 93 correspondents. I don't think she will ever find me out, as I live — well, I must ..lot give myself away. Only one girl knows my norn de plume, and I told her it, too. Dear Dot, I was going into town on Pretoria Day, but when the time came my brother would aot go, and I was therefore disappointed. Here is another Dot % to add to Ziska' s list, -if it has not been given before : — A nice little lady, with white blouse and blue skirt, and pretty golden hair. I hope you will enjoy your visit to Melbourne, Karitane. What an eventful year — war, plague, famine, and rebellion. Won't Mr Editor frown at this letter. One more word, Dot: the weather is worse now than when I started to write. With love to Ella, Alvera, Fancy Free, not forgetting Dot and Mr Editor, —Yours truly, DAFFODIL. [Now, I wonder if you- have not given yourself away in mentioning Karitane's name, Daffodil? I hope the weather cleared up before yoii went to the post with your letter, dear. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I really do not know how to begia a letter to you. But here goes ; I will have a try. " Nil Desperandum " is my motto. I always read the little folk's letters, and I consider they aie impioving every week. Dear Dot, I have a mate called Modesty, and I can assure you the name is misapplied, as that same old mate of mine is as lively a party as you would megi in a loiig day's walk. 'Well, to tell stome of the advei-tures of my mate and self : We had great fun this winter sliding down the snowy hills in old tin dishes. Do |not be shocked, Dot, as it is great" fun, and' as timber is scarce we could not raise a sledge. Don't you remember our adventures on the tin dishes, Modesty ? There are a great number of diedges being built up this way. Dot, have you got any shares in any of them. Once my mate and I were out for a walk, and two goats took it into their heads to follow us from their homo. Well, Dot, imagine us limniiig and hooting those animals back for the space of two or three hours on a broiling hot day, in the middle of summer. All the people along the toad were out with their telescopes watching the performance (to our hoiror). We would get them nearly home, and start congratulating each other on our good luck, when, with a sudden hop, skip, and jump, they would urn round us, and then our trouble would commence all over again. At last, weary and disheartened, we left them, and when wo got home and told our adventures mother said, "If you have brought those goats home to have fun with, I shall make the boys shoot them. I am I surprised at two big, girls like you. enticing people's goats away- from home to amuse yourselves." Well, Dot, that was the last straw, after all our exertions, to be sat on like that. At any rate, ever since then I can't look a , go,it in the face without feeling ill, though thu J last time I heard from Modesty she told mo iier aister was thiukiug of getting a goat to

milk, " and," said Modesty, "it gives me the cold shivers to think of it, but I'll bear up." Dear Dot, I hope you won't think this too long. for my first letter, and I do feel shaky as "to, what Mr Editor may say. With love to yourself and the little folk, not forgetting the editor,— Ycurs tiuly, DANDY. [I think the toboganning in tin dishes would be great fun, Dandy, and I am not at all surpiised that you enjoyed it. Well, really, I am not quite sure what " Mr Editor " will say about the goat episode, dear. I hope it does not give him '" the cold shivers TI and cause him to put his pencil through it, as he occasionally does when I direct his attention to incidents like this. I am quite puzzled to think what district it is you are writing from, as you only give your name, and not the name of the district.—DOT.] . ... Dear Dot,— l thijik ,that last group of photos was a great success. I cannot say which" I like best, but I was most interested in Con's .and Wullie's. Wullie's quite siirprisecl me, as I used to think he was a boy about. Laddie's age. I do not agree with Yolande about the Critic Club. . I am always interested in Taffy's letters, and generally read them first. I did laugh when I read that Taffy's sisters were thinking of sending the starving Indians a traycloth. What would they do with it, I wonder"? I'm afraid they wouldn't know what it was when they received it. lam very fond of reading books, especially boys'. I 'think I know who Diamond is. Are your initials M. W., Diamond ? -We have not had much snow yet "this winter. Did you ever have., a regular snowfight,' Dot? tQiie year we had a grand snow fight." All the boys, with the teacher as cap--tain, were on one side, and the girls on the other. W<s had no- school at all that day. You see, snow was such an uncommon thing thatwe knew how to enjoy it when it did come: -We • did not observe Arbour Day at school this year. Dear Wattle Blossom, is the answer to your riddle a "river"?. With love to Girlie, - Diamond, 'Ziska, and > Dot, — Yours truly - EUROPA. [Now, Europa, think of Dot engaged in a regular snow nght! .Does at seem possible/ JJon't you think my opponent would bury me completely, and gen me out of the way^ How fortunate you are to be in a district where snow" is such a rarity. I think, however, that the teacher should nave been on the girls' side, unless, indeed, they were tar more mirnerous than the boys.— DOT.J Dear Dot, — There is a dredge being put on the river, and I suppose if this one gees enough gold, there wiii be some more put o,n. We have oeen having very rough weather here lately, but it is calmer now. Dear JJot, don't you ihmk this is a terrible war, because £0 manypoor soldiers are " getting killed and wounded ; but it wiil soon be ove.L- now, as the most important Boer generals are prisoners, and the chief town is taken. 1 know lour persons who have gone to the Transvaal, and 1 hope they will come back safe. With love to "all the L. F., not forgetting -yoursslf, — ifours truly, J. I. M. [I hope the dredge will piove a success, J. I. M., and that it will be the precursor of a whole fleet. The more the better, becarjse each one which proves payable hehas to increase our piosperity.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l Ive in Ihs Wairio township; and •Igo to the school the-re. lam 10 yeais old, ana, J. am in the Third Standard. A-fioirt 1 60 go to the Wairio School, and we have two teacners. ' I live near the railway station, and I go to see the tram come in evciy night. ' I have a white kitten which I think 1 shall call Snow. With 'love' to the little- folk, and not forgetting ,yoixrself, — Yours truly, '• ' -BILLY-TRUE BLUE. [Well, that is a name— B. T. 8., Ido not think anyone will tiy to take it from you. — DOT.] " ' , - Dear Dot, — I live in Nightcaps, and I 'go to Nightcaps School, and when I don't go 1 stay at home. lam in the Seventh Standaid. Dear Vol, 1 am going to tell you about Nightcaps township. It is a very pietty place, and" there are a lot of coal mines, of wmch the company's is the largest one. The tram takes a lot of trucks of coal away to several places. They ar«i lengthening the railway line at present. With love to the little folk, not forgetting yourseli, — Youis truly, P. L. [I am glad you stay at home when you don't go to school, P/L. lam sure it is much better than going birdnesting or rabbiting, but if you are in the Seventh Standard, I don't think you can have stayed away fiom school very much. I fancy, however, your letter was written to* take it out" of a schoolfellow, and if so, I think the changes I have made in it will defeat that object. If not, the changes will not matter.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Fancy the .plague being in Auck-, land! I think the person or persons who sent that supposed photo of Rimbecco ought to be ashamed of themselves. My. birthday was on the 19th oi July, and I was 14 yeais of age, so that leaves me six years ."till to correspond. M. F. T.,' is your teacher's name Miss G. ? Would you mind telling, me next time you write? Paddy from Ophir - is too busy rabbiting to find time to write. I think Mcusie, Con, and Laddie look the best m the second group. There is a boy here who reminds me very much of Scotch Wullie. lam very sorrj that Maisie^ has left oit writing. I think you must be in love, B. 'O. 8., when you aie neglecting the little folk's page so much. You looked awfully bashful m your photo -m the Easter group. Dear Dot, are not the Chinamen terrible savages? The Boers were thought to-be bad, because they did not recognise the white flag; but they are gentlemen compared with the Chinamen. I think I shalljiow say god-bye;— Yours truly, SABINA. [The Chinese have certainly 0 done some terrible deeds, Sabma, but it is scarcely fair to compare them- with any race which has had the advantage of Westarn civilisation for "centuries. We must remember that the poorer Chinese are always ( on ,th"e vcige of starvation, and that their prejudices are easily worked on ~by desigining agitators. Of course it ,is necessary to punish them severely and speedily for the atrocities they have committed, 'and it is to be hoped that the. government of the country 'will be put on a 1 different footing.— DOT.] ' - • Dear Dot,— l saw in one of Watte Blossom's Ictteis that she always keeps ten or a dozen cats. I don't know what she can do with such a regiment of them — she ought to tram them. I think one cat would be enough for me. I would sooner have pet lambs or calves. I have three or four lambs, but-*hey arc getting pretty big now. J know three or four of the little folk. I used to go to -school with Mousie, Daffodilly, and Phccbe. The roads are pretty muddy .here just now. We have been having j very changeable weather for a while, and the roads no sooner get a bit dry than it starts to rain again. I have two cows to' milk, but T only milk one of them twice a day. When will the 'next lot of L. F. photos be m the Witness. Dot? I think the last gioup was very nice. 1 like Solomon Slow's, Rmibeocc's, Wattle Blossom's, Dunedinite's. and B. O. B.^j letters best. Wullie also .writes inteicsting Tetters. Dear Dot, do you like flowers ? I like them very much. We have fcome pretty flowers in our garden, but the frost spoiled most of them that were out this winter. I keep ti little flower garden myself, but I have not had time to take the weeds out of it yet. I know who you are, Larrikin. Have you ever tried walking on stilts again? I li9,^e.yqu hp^veji't frightened any more

cows with* them, or was it the cow that frightened you that you yelled so? I tried to walk on them once, but it was a failure, and I fell! off into the mud, so I didn't try again. I 'like riding very much, and I go for a ride everytime I can get a, horse. I' have only fallen oft! " twice, but I didn't get hurt much. I had a, stiff neck for a few days after I fell off the first time, and a black eye the next time; but !• did not fall off quite so gracefully, as I heard: .Daffodilly did. Dear Dot, we had snowfar earlier this winter than last- It has been, terribly wihtry for the last.±wo or three days, and it is very cold at nights. We get the Witness every week, and I like reading the little folk s letters very much. The illustrated pictures are very nice. I like to see those about the war. I like Con's letters. I thinfc they are very ,;. interesting. With love to books best, and Famiie Eden's. With love to Wattle Blossom, Rimbecco, Dunedinite, and! all the other little' folk, not forgetting yourself. Dot, — Yours truly,- ' - ' % LILAC BLOSSOM. [Lambs are certainly very interesting pets, Lilac Blossom, but they have the disadvantage of growing into sheep very quickly, and then, we have to part with them. Twelve cats does seem a large number to keep, and I should also be interested to learn what Wattle Blossom keeps so many for. — DOT.] ' ' Dear Dot, — I tried to wait till the number of letters decreased before writing to you, but it seems they never will, so I thought I would like to write just occasionally," and count, my-, self a little folk. It's a great honour nowadays, -D,ot,-for some .of ,your correspondents are quite famed — their noms de r jplume, anyway. Howmany write to ( you, 'Dot, ■or have you . lost CGitnt ? It's_ quite puzzling to find a name to' write under;' I hunted up^a Girl's Own tp*undone. I -wonder if you are. anything -like * what you are pictured to.-be-? - Of course, -you jare a. ycung lady, not "very old anyway j" and you. are .handsome, with dark. hair, grey eyes, andi nice firm mouth and chin, and you walk well. That's just what I always think -you.-are;, and yon must be something like "it. .The D.L.F. that I know welLare Desdemona, Euterpe, Lady Clare, Whiffles, and Aline. We'go toihe same school, and don't have much time to write letters, because we "grind" so hard. Harry>,seems to be a great student. His letters are. always interesting, and I-looli out for his and a great •many others' too numerous to write down. Whisome's, I noticed, are nice letters;' I wishI knew her. I also thought that only the best letters were printed, Dot, but I see that's not the way. But I wouldn't" mind much if my ■letter wasn't printed; I only wanted 1 to . write to you. Are you a Miss C, Dot?' I, was told you were. "With love to you and the little folk 1 will stop, — Yours truly, KATHERINCHEN. [I .have quite lost count of the total number? of co-respondents who write, Katherinchen, but I have a list of names and addresses containing some hundreds, and if anyone Jell 3me the list has reached 700 now I shall not be in. the least surprised. If I 'selected only the best letteis to print, dear, our page would scarcely serve ils purpose— thai is,' 'to indues my little friends' to practice letter-writing; and 1 thus improve themselves. At the' sa"me -time -there are a good many letters which f think are too poor to print, and, of course, ,these do not find a place. You have made an^interesting selection of a norn de plume, dear. — • pot.]- r __ _ ,;.'*> Dear Dot,— l am writing' you Howl rh'y"farewell , letter. I have reached the -",iage' "'agreed upon by the JiCile- folk,' so if would ojot be fair or me to trespass on your pre j cio,us/-page any longer". . I see Jiaisie.hsis , also saicT goodbye. Con had a x very good letter in lasl' week. Tha second group o_l photos \yas very good. Wo have been Having very' bad weather hero this last week — plenty of rain and snow. " " Clouds soon o'ercast our sunshine, ' So beautiful, so bright ; And while we still admire it, It darkens into night! One sky alone is cloudless, Where darkness enters 'not:' 'Tis found alone with Jesus, And Jesus changeth not." So Dot, I say good-bye to you and all the little folk.— Yours truly, OCEAN MAT. [I had no idea Ocean May had reached tha age necessary for her to retire, and I am very sorry that such is the case. I wish you success in your career, dear, and hope that though you are leaving us, you will still continue to taker an interest in our page-. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I think it was very kind of Coa to write to us while he was on board the .ship. I saw his- photo in. the Witness not very long ago. Dear Dot, is not this war terrible? I shall be glad" when peace is declared, .because war seems to be breaking oiyt in every country. The German measles is going about just now. and -there are not many " going to school. I have only seen two of your badges this year. With love to all the little" folk and yourself,— Yours' truly, " ORPHAN. [I hope the measles has disappeared before this, Orphan, and that your school roll is full once more. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Here I am again. I have not written to you for a long time. Dear Dot, I

- think you are a nice young lady, with blue eyes and yellow hair. I have found out who - you are,'Roxburghite; your initials are C. B. i I am going to change my name, as you have -- another Schoolgirl on your list. The wax will soon be over now. There is to be a procession and all sorts of fireworks when peace is declared. - E\erybody you see up here has some pa- • triotic badge on. Excuse this, as my cousin - is here bothering the life out of me. The photos in the Witness were very nice. With love to you and all the little folk, — Yours truly, SWEETBRIAR. " [Well, Sweetbriar, I am afraid you have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, for I feel sure we have a Sweetbriar still amongst us. However, we shall see. We are having some nice descriptions of Dot now. I wonder if Ziska is still keeping her list. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I live in the country. It is a beautiful place in the summer, but very cold in wintei. I have four miles to walk to school, but I have a very good rond. My brothers and I had grand fun skating on the frosty mornings whilst going to school. Dear Dot; isn't the war in South Africa dreadful? and the one in China is worse. I wish it was all over; don't you. Dot? What has become of Jealousy? I haven't seen a letter from him since the one he wrote wishing he had a fairy yacht, so tlrat he could sail away with Dot. Perhaps ne has" sailed away to the Transvaal. If so^ I hope he i will come.- back safe to 'New Zealand again. I think the last group of photos in the Witness was very good. So, little folk, we have got our hearts' ..desire, and have seen Wullie's photo -at last. I think" he looks quite as nice as we " expected ; what Aoyou think, little folk ? Dear Dot, the little folk all seem very anxious to find out who you are, but I 'hone they will - not succeed, as I think we should lose all interest in the Little -Folk's Page if we knew who you were. I live on the Waimea Plains. I have • only seen one letter from here — that was from Baden-Powell. I fancy I know who you are, 8.-P. ; are your initials' W. A.? I don't know any of you other little folk. My sister and 'l have a little heifer calf each, and we are thinking of calling them Ladysmith and Pretoria. I must stop now, as my letter will be getting too long, and then the editor will be angry and not print it. With love to all the little folk, and .not forgetting yourself. — Yours "truly, LILAC. [That is a good distance to walk, Lilac, if you have to walk home also, and I should think you will be glad the winter is over, notwithstanding the fun you had sliding during the frosty weather. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I expect by the time this is printed Silvei Bell wil have received my letter. It was very kind of -j ou, Dot, to forward the poem ; but 1 have had a veiy bad cold, and a touch of influenza, and was unable to go to the concert. Oh, Boy, when I received your letter I could not make out where it had come from. Well, I opened -it, and out fell your photo. I was greeted with loars of laughter irom all directions, and they were all wanting to know if I _was corresponding with someone on the sly. But of course, when 1 produced the poem, it was all made clear. Now, Bo} 7 , you wil have to feel highly flattered, because 1 nave placed your photo in a very conspicuous place, I am the possessor of a ladies' companion with a glass front, and there youi photo takes its stand. You think it is a god thing, , Boy, that there is no curfew bell nowadays; well, so do I. Whatever will you think, Dot? You- will be saying my letter is to Boy instead of to yourself. .But fkst I nrust thank Pine Tree tor troubling herself so much 1 know yoti Pine Tree. We are having winter weather iri Catlins with a vengeance, just now ; it has done nothing bntr rain for ever go long. What sort, of weather are you having in Dunedin, Uot? You have one consolation, anyway, and that is, good roads (or streets, I should say), which is a luxury^we only enjoy in the summertime here. I will "send you my autograph, Ziska, on condition that you give me yours m return. That is fair, is it not, Dot? 1 wonder who could be so mean as to send you a photo, Dot, and say it was Rimbecco's? I thought when 1 saw it in the Witness it was not very like her. Thank you very much, Dot, for writing the poem out. I was very well pleased with it, and though I did not go to this concert, it will be very useful again. I have four different copies of it, which I am going to keep in memory of those who wrot3 them. I think Boy is nothing more or less than a " hard case," judging -by his -postscript. I think it must have been an afterthought, as the rest of the letter seemed so solemn. I asked him before if his initials were D. M., but I received no answer. His photo is very like some one I know. \\ ell, I suppose Mr Editor will be looking a bit sour if he sees a very long letter, but if he says anything to you, Dot, just send him to me. He will have no desire to come, and it will be all right. I know about 26 of your correspondents now, but for all that I can't come up to Ziska, or even Echo and Little Lady. I will have to stop now, as I have run down (I suppose'iyou •will say, "about time"); so with health and wealth to all~the D. L. F. and Dot, — Yours truly, PREJUDICE. P.S. — I got my norn de plume out of the dictionary. I have read the story from which you got yours, Echo. I will send you one of my photos, Boy, the next time I get taken. — P. [I do not think you are ever likely to be in ,_want of the poem again,' Prejudice,, as having four copies,, you will be able to- lay you*- hands 'on it 'at any time. lam afraid I- could scarcely s;iid the editor to you, dear, but how would it do if I sent you a railway iicket to come and talk to hum?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I wish to inform the editor that he has made a mistake in the printing of my Gaelic word. 1 put "lan, ' and it was published "Jan." The little folk would be thinking me silly putting "Jan," but we will forgive the editor for once. It is freezing hard to-night. We had snow here about three weeks ago- — 3in or 4in of it, too. Rather early for snow, was it not? The Easter photos were very nice indeed. And so, Harry, you. could not get your photo taken without reading. You must -be very fond of it. I don't care for reading very much, only adventures. Have you ever read " Quicksilver " ? It is a grand book. Dear Dot, I am going to give you-a description of the sa.vmill. It is worked by stearn^ and round the fly-wheel of the engine is a large belt which, when the steam is tip, drives the saw. There is a large bench on to which the logs are placed before the circular saw to be sawn. Dear Dot, it is pretty hard "lines ; we have been living on rabbits and potatoes for a fortnight now, Imt uncle is going to kill a .beast to-morrow. ""And then we shan't be long." I have not caught uncle reading our letters yet, and he is now calmly sitting before the fire enjoying his smoke, laughing at me. My brother was up staying with' us a while before he goes to Port Chalmers to "learn to be' an engineer. The friend,, that is m Gisborne that Firefly mentions is an -old schoolmate of mine. Wo left together after both being nine years -at school. i had such 'a lovely collection of ferns 'and three mountain lilies, and I sent a lot of them Home. Dear Dot, I must now conclude, with love to Ziska, Dunedinite, D. O. S., and Maidey, not forgetting our mysterious Dot' and the rest of the little folk, — Yours truly, EVOLINE. P, S. —^l hope I have not written too much. I ■will have to be like Wullic (coont the lines) next time 1 write. — E. [I went to the editor quite elated, Evoline, expecting to see him perfectly limp when ho saw your remarks about the miss-pelling of the aipio "Ian" ; instead of which lie pvi, .on that

odious cynical smile, and calmly remarked that " the fault lay with our only cockney linotype operator, .who is of course more at homeY in stage Dutch than in Highland names." Personally, I think the fault lay with him in allowing the cockney operator to have anything to do with our letters if he is so stupid as all that. However, perhaps the cockney will know better next time. I don't wonder at your getting tired of rabbits, after such a lengthy spell of tLem, dear; I am sure you would find the" beef a treat.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— My father gets the Witness every week, and I like reading the little folk's letters. Dear Dot, I have a young mare* and her name is Kate, and I have a cow and her name is Daisy. I have a little black kitten, and I think I shall call it Turk. 1 was playing with my mates the other night, and I fell and hurt my back; but it is all right now. Dear Dot, I like B. O. B.s letters very much, and also Wullie's When I am a big boy, Dot, I am going to the war. Oh, how I would like to be Baden-Powell. Dear Dot, we are trying to make up an acting troop. I am chief actor. My act I perform with a tin. It is getting late' now, so I must close, with love to Wullie, B. O. 8., and Ziska, not forgetting jourself and the editor, — Yours truly, JOHN ROSS. [Well, John, I don't wonder that yoii would like to be Baden-Po,well ; who wouldn't, though he has had a pretty hard time of it in South Africa. I wonder what 'war there win be^for you to go to then It is to be hoped people will bs beginning to exercise a little more forbearance with each other then, and that consequently war will- not take place 'so often 1 . — oJOT.] Dear Dot,— As my father does not 'get the Witness very regularly, 1 did 'not s=ee my last letter. I saw by the Witness of July 12 that the boys of the Critic Club wanted me to write about the Maoris, but the girls wished to know of the springs and fails Well, not having seen the springs, i should not have much to write about, so i shall give you an account of the Maoris. Their houses, or rather huts, are made of ra'upo, and when they want a fire they make a, hole m the ground floor, and the smoke has to get out the best way it can. They have about one big meal a day, and sleep, smoke, or work m the fields all the rest of the day. Their lood consists almost entirely of vegetables and fish. They obtain money by selling fish, eggs, vegetables, grain, poultry, or anything they can lay their hands on. In the shearing season the men get money -by shearing. They have a very fiere'e wai dance, called the "haka, and wahines (women) do a very pretty dance called the '"poi." 'X'heir settlements or villages are called pas, and they are only a group of whares (huts). In each pa there is one big house called a wharepuna, and there they nold church with a Maori minister. There are a great many Mormons nvnono' the Maoris. Their boats are canoes cut out of -one long tree. At the head of each pa i-li-ivs ib a cine., 'lhe fiont of a wharenuna is decorated with carvings which, though cleverly "done, an, very ugly. These are meant to keep a vay the evil spirits, though whether they do or not, I am sure 1 do not know. The women make splendid summer hats, woven out of flax, and they also make very beautiful mats and kits out of dyed flax. The Maori girls are exceedingly graceful dancers, and they are very fond of dancing. About once a year they hold a hui (feast) before oi after Christmas, ' sometimes iri th<2 middle of November, or January. They have songs in the Maori language, and they are always sung in a minor chord. When anyone dies they hold a tangi (cry) over him, and thfj whare he c>ies in is always burned down, and thus some very beautiful whares are cften destroyed The reason of this is to chase tne. departed one's spirit away from the pa. Now, dear Dot, I think I must close my letter, with love to all the little folk and your own dear self.— Y jars truly, RANGI MOKI. [1 am sorry you did not see your last letter, dear, and I hope this one will be seen by you at all events. Your description of the noi»thern Maoris is most interesting, and I am sure we shall all look forward to another letter from you by-and-bye. The southern Maoris are so few in number that they have been bettei attended to, and consequently they are better educated and more Europeanised in their customs than their northern cousins. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— The letters from the Duuedin girl who is paying a visit to Europe are veiy interesting. Dear Dot, is it not terrible to have another war declared before the other one is over? We have had a lot of frost and snow this winter, but 1 think it is all over now, as "to-day is so hot that I can hardly hold the pen for perspiration. Dear Dot, the other day at school Wild Wave had her badge on, and a boy asked us (Wild Wave and I) if- we wrote to Dot. I said we did, and he said he would look out for oui letters. I told him that 1 was going to write that week. He asked me what was my norn de plume, but I would not tell him. With love to all the little folk, not foigetting yourself,— Yours truly, SHARPSHELL. [Well, if he sees your letter, Sharpshell, he will know your norn de plume now.— DOT.] Deal Dot,— lt is ;„ long time since I wrote to you, as I had made up my mind not :o write again for some time, but I could not keej.) from, it any longer, so I am v/riting this ;o ease my mind in a sort of a kind of a way. I see Daffodilly has stopped writing, and several more of your good corresuondents. It must je some infectious disease "which has caused this retiring. I think I know you, M.I.N • I your initials are M. T., and you live at the K. o>. m L., or it may be your sister who lives JHii -i° writes to Dot - !do K°t read the little iolk's letter often now, as I have-not much time to spare. This is my last letter to die Little Folk's Page, as they all say that I am too old, but I may write- again some time in the dim future, just to see if the Little Folk's Page is any smaller. — Yours truly METHUEK. Why do you try to stamp in vain iciu sad romance upon my heart. I cannoL feel your mimic pain, Although you sing with graceful art. The tale you tell of hopes deceived, Of love despised, and wished-for death, " 'Is surely hard to be believed From iips that draw such easy breath. Yet no one may e'er voice aright The grief which has not felt the sting, And they whose thoughts are dark as night And who have suffered cannol, sing. — METHUEN. [I hope you will not desert us altogether, Methuen, but that we shall hear from you occasionally. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— l saw a letter from Mousie in an old Witness, dated May 31, and I could not resist the temptation to write also. Wouldn't you like to know who J am, Mousie? I know you,d|hough I have never seen you, as I have heard a lot about you. Are not your initials E. D., and- do you live at R., not 30 miles from here? I know a lot of people that you know, and,^ indeed, sonic Saturday I may drop in and see you, but I do not think you will know me. I have seen your mother and your sister, Daffodilly. The weather has been veiy stormy here lately, and we had a slight fall of snow, but not enough for snowballing. I wonder will my mate, Flora C, know who I am. Will yon, Sissy? With love to Mousie, Daffodilly, and yourself, — Yours truly, . .., „... , , .; CLYDEVALE,, U don't see veyy wefl, Cly'devalo. how J "your *3

mate " w can possibly fail to penetrate your norn de plume after getting such a plain hint. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Sometimes I get hold of the Witness first, and when 1 do I always look at the Little Folk's Page a!, once. The letters are getting more inteiesting every week. My brother has a parakeet, and it is a splendid speaker. My little sister, Winnie, always sits down on the doorstep with a paper in her hand, and tries to lead the little folk's letters. The loads in Orepaki are very muddy; sometimes you cannot go a step without getting your boots dirty with mud. Orepuki has become much larger and livelier since I wrote to you la3t. There have been all kinds of buildings going up lately. Mr Dunlop has fenced up all the shale works, g,nd if you want to go and look about you have to go round the fence and peep through the cracks. He sends away an awhil lob of coal. Yesterday the engine went down with three or four trucks, and just now she went down with two. They are starting the railway to the Waiau now. I hope it will not be long before it is finished, because I have never been up there yet, and I would rather go in the train than in the coach. I can play the piano well now. I have been learning nearly two years. The recent photos in the Witness were very good. I cannot say which one of them looked the' prettiest, fo>- they are all good-looking. I am going to write more regularly now. I must stop now, for if I "say any "more Dot will be getting- tired 'of reading this old thing 'and "will be throwing it' into the fire, tEoiigh I have just as much morj to write about — iToiii's truly, GEORGINA GRIFFITH., [Dear me, Georgma, Dot must be very easily ■ wearied to think of doing any such thing. I fancy,- however, you will ere this' have got tired of waiting to see youi letter in 'print. iSlever mind, here it is at last, so your patience wi'i be rewarded.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — The letters are increasing weekly, but I hope you will have room to print this. The story in last week's Witness, composed by Ziska, was very good. lam sorry" that 8.0.8. has resigned, ior I liked his letters very much. li, is a wonder that B.O.B.'sbrothcrs did not split on him, as they useii to write. J know Carmen Sylva, Ella, Harry, Alys, Beit, Sol, and some others, -but I do not know half as many as Ziska does. Is not the war terrible in China, Dot?, The Boer war is getting second-hand now, because we do not hear so much about it. Not long ago I asked our Chinaman why his people massacred the Christians in China. "Oh!" he said, "it is not us, but the lallikin (larrikin) Chinamen." The piece of poetry by Dicky Donovan about 8.0.8. is very nice. We are getting quite a number of poets in oiir page now— Ziska, Harry, Jessica, and a few more. Wasn't it mean of A. and E. to play the photo trick on Rimbecco? I- am glad that you are going to have an Old Writers' Week, because we fdiall then have the pleasure of reading the old favourites' letters. The second batch of photos was very nice, and the ones I liked best were Alexandraile's and Con's. I will not write a long letter this time, because I have my lessons to finish, and this is my first attempt at writing to you. So I will now conclude, wilh love to everyone, and chiefly to yourself and to the old editor who. will not give us enough of space,— Yours truly, ATJCHENDRAYNE. [You did not send your proper name and ad--dress, Auchendrayne ;. please do so next time yoa write— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l have read (he •little folk's letters with much interest, and I thought I would like to write to you, too. I am 13. years old, and am in the Seventh Standard. I will soon be eavmg school, and I regret it very much, as I have some very nice companions there. I have, three brothers and no sisters, but my cousin Nell is almost like a sister to me. I know one of the little folk writing to you. Her initials are K. C, but, as yet I do not know her norn ds plume. Tell Mmii I can play draught* and if you send his address I will play him a game by correspondence. Dear Dot, I think "• J .^ lll J 1 ] 0W close my lett er, with love to the little folk and yourself. — Yours tiuly PUELLA. [Fancy a second.Puella coming into our band r. a T, af £ aid Puella No - 1 will object, and ask ?r i £ 0- 2to fmd anotllel- norn de plume We shall see.— DOT.] _ Dear Dot,— l saw the last group of little folk, but I liked the Easter one better, as the photos in it were plainer. I was a bit puzzled at seeing Marie's name at my own photo, but, as you explained, it is all right -Now, Rat t y, it did not take me long to find oit some friend a hundred miles away. Are your initials A. W.? If nQI,n Q I, lamat a loss to think who you ore. I am quite afraid of yoa, Ratty. What a surprise Maisic would get wnen she saw her name in the photos. Dear JiiCho, arc your initials E. F. ? If so I know who you are. You have been to our house more than once. Dear Dot, I had the -misfortune to spoil my badge; I broke a loop off whilst iransferring it to another hat. What a nice lot of badges were got last week. What a mean trick was played on Eimbecco, but those who ail it are evidently sorry now that they realise what they did. Phoebe might have finished up our picnic' wroperly, and said that we told each other the most horrible stones imaginable, and when we parted I did not like coming home by myself in the dark. Winter is almost gone, and never so much as a coat of snow has the ground seen here. The dafrodils are very early in Sydney. I had Russian violets in bloom all the winter and they look beautiful just now. Dear Dot dont you think you could coax the editor to give us an extra page for stories. Ziska will write them, and they can be illustrated by Wulhe. Do you think you could coax him. Dot? ■Put pleuty of sugar in his tea, and thus ?T! coe o Jl\ im> Havre yOll ever seeil a liv e shark, -Dot.'' When I was at the port I saw one. It was washed up by the tide and left on the beach, and we tied kelp to its gills and dragged it from the water. It was not a very big one I saw a ship's boiler, the remains of a wreck. It was studded with shells and stones, an -1 could be seen at low tide. With love to Ratty Sunshine, Echo, Usca, Bubbles, and Dimples,— Yours truly, MOUSIE. [I wonder if Mousie means that I should make afternoon tea, and take a cup to the editor! Who knows, it might work wonders, but then, again, he might say I must have very little to do wasting my time making tea, and that would be a dreadful rebuff, wouldn't 4.1 • r ' I ani afr .aid we cannot expect anything but our regulation eight columns, and that is not much among seven or eight hundred writers, is it? However did you get the kelp inl,c the shark's gills, Mousie?'— ugh!— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I go to school as regularly as I can, for I am trying for the attendance prize. I have only been absent two days since Christmas. I got a prize for good attendance last year. I am in the Third Standard. It. has been very hard frost this whiter, hasn't it, Dot? and we have had a good deal of sliding. With love to Dot and all the little folk,— Yours truly, EXCELSIOR. LYes, Excelsior, the fiost was pretty hard during the winter, but here wo are right into spring once more, with winter past and gone. Isn't it nice to think we have all tbe gopcl time of the year before us? I hope you will g^t a prize again this year. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Just a short note this time to .thank you ,for my badge, which I received safe. Dear Ziak'ar'tlip Tnlin^;-;^ j.r'w.rf'.a^^iAtw'-.M -

Dot: A nice yoimg lady, of medium height, with fair, curly "hair and light" brown eyes. What a nice letter that was Tussock wrote! It is a- pity she has reached the age limit. I would like very much to correspond with Althea and Jessica. Will you correspond with me, gu-ls? Please say if you will in your next letters. Dot will forward the addresses — will you not, dear Dot? Best love to you, dear Dot, and all the little folk.— Yours truly, REGINA. [Of course I will, Regina, but I wish you all to lem ember that 1 think it necessary tor you to always get your mother's permission to start corresponding with any of our little band. Your parents may consider you have quite eiiGUgh to do without starting a private correspondence, and of this they are, of course, the best judges.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l suppose you know that I have two baby sisters (twins). Don't you wish they were ycur sisters, Harry? But I think you would soon want to get rid of them, if you had to mind them. When 1 was. last in Dunedin I saw three badges, and I gave their wearers each a broad Witness smile. Dear Carmen Sylva, I suppose your sister told you who I am. If not, I told her to. Did you or Ella ever play in any lcunder matches? If so, do you remember the last? I hope we shall meet on better terms the next time. I had no say in it that time, but I think our side was most to blame, but as I was not captain I could do nothing. ,1 have left- school,. now,- but- when "onr 1 school plays another match /with .you T shall try. and come up, and -perhaps I may see you. Well, Harry, I have got my wish at -last. I would have liked to Kave - 'sv>oken ta you on Thtirsday nigh*,, but I am troubled -with a complaint called shyness. So. if-, you arc- not. troubled the same way, perhaps you might - come 'and speak" to me. I am generally at theschobl'by half-past six. ' Do you remember the first r.ignt, Harry ? and the teasing you got about your boots. I am sending you my own and my brother's photos, Dot, and if it i& not too much trouble would you mind sending them back. If the Clitic Club read this letter they will say it is full of Harry, so I hovso they won't notice it. Don't you think, Dot as my P.S. seemed to please the editor so much' that I might write a few lines to him now and again? I might be able to persuade Jiirn m give us a few more columns. I hope you won t take .Laddie'B advice, and >|ake one subject, as I don't think tlfat would be half as interesting. When is the next group of photos going to be reproduced? I have a number of cousins in Wellington, and some of them write to you. They have all found me out, although I don't know how they managed it. With love To Harry, Carmea Sylva, Ella, and yourself,— Fours truly, * LOAF. P.S. — I forget to send some love to the ediior, so I'll send him a double quantity next time. — la. [I*am afraid the editor is pioof against all our blandishments, Loaf. You see "even the necessity for stopping all letters for a month in order to work off the accumulation did not have any effect on him, so 1 am afraid he is quite a hopeless case. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— As this is the first time I hae gotten a chance tae write tae ye I shall juist tak' the opportunity. Weel, I'm thinkin' the wee folk will put this down for ane o' Wullie's sisters writin' tae ye (that, is tae say, if he has ony). But, juist mind, little folk, if ye think that ye' re far wrang, for, I'm nane o' W T ullie's sisters at a. Dear Dot, I hae foond o'ot ' a fe.v o' yer wee folk — namely, .Redstart, Maybud, Mcusie, Jessica, Hazel -Stick, and Scotch Heather. The ither nicht I wis telling my sister that I had a thocht o' writin' tae" Dot, but a,' the answer I got wis, " Toots, awa wi' yer havers.- A' ye could pit wud be: '-I hae a bit cat, and it's name is Pussy,' or something tae that effect." Of coorse, like ony sinsible bit Scotch lassie I took nae heed o'~ her nonsense, but went on wi' my wark. Dear Dot, like mony ither o" yer correspondents, "I am very fond o' lidin' horses, and I and a mate aften gae oot for a ride thegither. But, for-, bye that, ye ken I ride ony movin' four-legged animal aboot oor fairm. That'll juist let ye ken my tendency for ridin', Dot. Noo, Critic Club, dinna be hard on me, as this is my first letter under this norn de plume. By the way, Dot, hae ye got ony badges left? If sac yo niicht forward me ane, an' I'll me muckle obliged tae ye. I maim slop noo with love tae Dot and a' the wee Dotties.— Frae, PRINCESS MAY. [Why, surely there is a mistake here — Princess May v/riting in broad Doric! I- should have thought Princess Margaret or Elspeth or Agnes or Jeannie would have been a more suitable norn de plume; however, my little royal correspondent from ayont the Tweed .thinks otherwise apparently, so I suppose we must be satisfied. Yes, dear, I have plenty of badges now.— DOT.] DeaT Dot, — In 'the part of the country where I live we are having very rough weather just now, but we cannot complain, as it has been a good wintei. My father is a farmer, and we keep cows, sheep, and horses, and I must not forget to mention we have a good supply of mud. Dear Dot, I have a good way tc* walk in going' to school. We are busy getting ready for the examination. A mate of mine is -going to write to you over the norn de~ plume of Nola Kosmo. I like reading the little folk's letters, especially Wullie's and 8.0.8.'5. Dear Dot, I think you are a nice little lady, with fair hair and bright bhie eyes. I don't know «f anyone else who writes from here except Nola. With love" to you and the little folk,— Ypurs truly, ANNIE -LYLE. [The mud will be drying up now, no doubt, Ai me, and you will not mind your long walk to school so much. It is. no doubt, very trying in winter, but how pleasant it must be on a fine spring or summei day. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We have had very fine weather rere for the last three or foui days, and I have had some very nice bike lides. Dear Dot, I don't think many of the D. L. F. ride bicycles, as we so rarely, if ever, hear them mentioned in the letters. I suppose, Dot, that only very few live in districts where the roads are suitable for cycling. Will you please tell me, Dot, if any more D. L. P. are writing from this district. If so, you need only tell me yes or no, and if there are, say how many, and I shall try to find them out. With love to Harry and Boy, and not forgetting yourself, Dot, — Yours truly, XYLONITE. [Yes, Xylonite, I fancy there are two others writing from your district, but I cannot be quite sure that there are not more. I shall remember in returning the photo. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Thank you for sending the badge, which I think is very pretty. I for one will welcome Mona back to the L. F. page. Although Ziska knows so many of Dot's correspondents, I don't think she knows who I am./ There is to be a bazaar here on the Bth and 9th August, and I anrgoing to play the violin. Are your initials A. C, Boy, and do you live at C. ? If so, it is by your photo I found. you out. I think the last group of D. L. P. came out very well, Con's photo being ..the best. I was very pleased when I saw that Wullie's photo was not like the previous one. I have not seen the Witness for a fortnight, as I have been away for a holiday; but I shall read it when I get home. Isn't it cruel of the Chinamen killing all those people? I hope they get China taken from them. Deal Dot, we did not teach the magpies to talk, as I Ihink they know enough already. I, too, think highly of the cat, as I like cats very much. With love to Dot, the editor, and all the -little folk,— Yours truly, ' SCOTCH THISTLE.

matter to take Chinafrom the Chinese, ScotcS Thistle, for " four hundred million i3eople* aro really more than we can imagine. If the -Euro-J pean nations can compel the Government to/ act in accordance with^European notions, that is really all that can be expected.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — Have we not had a pleasant win* ter, but now it is making up for lost time btf snowing. lam afraid I agree with Boy'si friend about snow — it is too cold. -I live in the? country and like it very well. All the farmer* about here grow oats and turnips. This district is chiefly famqus for mud. I think wa shall have to get a mud sledge soon. The town, where we get our stores floods very badly when; the rivers are high I take a great interest in the little folk's letters. B. O. B. and 1 Marguerite are my favourites. Dear "Marguerite, have you a sister who used to live in Invercargill? If so, I have seen her. A mate of mine ia writing to you, Dot. What a pity Lamb has stopped writing. The war is still going on roj South Africa, but I think the China war is more serious than the Boer war With love toi all the L. F.,— Yours truly, NOLA KOSMO. ' [Never mind, Nola, the spring is now on us, and the roads will soon dry up, however muddy they may be at present. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I think I only know one of yout correspondents, and that one is Portia; but I hope to know .more soon. A girl who goes to the same school as myself wears one of youibadges, but Ido not know hef . I should like ■ ?*? °* y°ur ; badges very-much if you, have 'any ? r-i Wc ,« ldllot -S et the Witness every week until lately-,' so Pdo not know if you, have any left,, but. if you have,, I should be -.very pleated • rr you would, let me 'know how to" olkai'n'one' Isn'tnhe "weather" delightful? Tt is > just "lil-e -summer. Fhope the war will soon be .overjiow. I. see one of your correspondents has gone to it I wish him a safe return. With my best love, to you, dear Dot, and all yoxu- correspondents (whom I should like to know;,— Yours truly BEATRIX:.' [If you send a shilling's wrath of penny cc halfpenny stamps a badge will be sent to you Beatrix. I hope jou will soon get to know ' plenty of % the little folk. You should always send your full name and address as well ps you'noni de plume, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— Since I-uast. wrote to you I have oeen to a dance at Flaxbourne, 14 miles from Blind River. It was a nice night, arid I enjoyed myself very much. So Con has gone to the war. I was very pleased to see his photo m ilie Witness. Well, I wish him a safe reuim home. Dear Dot, I see by the Witness tnal another girl has taken my norn cle plume: will you please ask her to change it. With -love to all the little folk, r.ot forgetting your own dear self,— Yours truly, . ' . IOLANTHE. [Certainly, lolanthe, you have the prior c ™» an d 1 hope the second one of the .name will find some other norn de plume. — DOT.] Shan makes a suggestion which I feel very much inclined to carry out, though tlvere-are great difficulties in the way. It is to Have an Old Writers' Week once every month He.ftitther says:— "l think, dear Dot, thai! you might add Pauline and Old Boy to you" next list of old writers, as they are two old friends who have" kept much in the'background of late, and you might mention to the U.U.V. that anything addressed, ' Shan, G.P.0., Box 70, Wellington,' will reach' me m^due .course. This -will- save you the trouble of forwarding on." 1 certainly think Panline and Old Boy should. have been included in the list," and they will* be welcomed -next Old Writers'' Week. We might- fix the date * for the second Old Writers' Week at October 11, all letters to be in by October 2. Winsome.— You would probably see' afterwards that your surmise was correct. Names fob Noms de Plume. — Winsome writes : "Some of the little folk seem" to find it hard to gei, names. I will put in a few if you care to put them in the paver— Hilary, Isla, Jessamy, Patty, Susie, Heart, Vivian, Doattie, An Irish Blossom, "Varna, Wynne, Bee, Thora, Bethany, Huldah, Possie, Dido, Prue, Di, Flipps, Marianne, Felicity, Eunice, Margot, Rena, Refna, Lovelace, and Annis." ' Tuli. — I could not give you the girl's norn de plume unless she wished me to do so, and aa she has not told you herself it is evident she dees not wish you to know. ANSWERS TO "RIDDLES. By Major Robin . — 1, a drum ; 2, the broom. By Cash : — A cat is like a teapot when you're teas-in-it.

" No, thank you, there's nothing the matter, But I don't want my eyes to get tired, so X keep one tied up all the time. It's unkind tokeep them both hard at work all day, don't you think? "