LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 65

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Dear Dot,— The holidaj s are over, and school has begun again after a, spell of seven weeks. I don't know how long it is since I last wrote, "but it is a good while, because I wrote my last letter before Christmas. The photos came out rery nicely, esDecially those o£ Kosher, Mona., Fatmia, 'and J. "0. Y. Dear Nosher, I ■wonder if you remember me since that day at the W. sports. I don't suppose you do— there were such "a crowd of D. L. F. there. I found your fust letter the other day. The people aoout here arc all harvesting, and the fields do not look 50 nice as when the crops were standing. The Boer 3 are still prosecuting the war, aren t they? De Wet, no doubt, thmks it grand fun pitying hide-and-go-seek with Lord Kitchener. The Indiana stopped here for 10 minutes on Monday, when a great many people assembled to see them. A number of girls got autos ironi them, and many of the people gave them a. packet of biscuits, so I don't think they would be hungry when they reached their next destination. On Wednesday an old identities' picnic was held here, and such a crowd of people assembled. The brass band was out for the first Time, and they did play grand, considering tha shoit time they had practised. A group of D. It. F- w»9 al«* -photographed. I think there were 2a altogether. E-quibel was at the picnic, and she is such a nice girl. Dear Erm-gc-Bragh, are your initials N. R., and do you live at W.? And are yours, Mildred, L. J. ? We were having fun with your brother at the pesrric— l mesn Unknown, No Good (a little folk to be), and myself were. Unknown has got about nine cousins writing to you. Isn't she well off? I am one, too. With love to Equibel, Reka, and Scrappie, not forg«ttir>g your own dear self,— Yours truly, ECOSSAIS. [That group of D. L. F. was not a success, Ecossais. The editor tells me that the photographer told him (that is round about enough, * is it not?) that "the plate was fogged, whatever that may be. At all events, the photo could not bo made mto a "'block," and so we shan't see it— DOT.] Dea-r Dot. — Although I have not written to yo.i before. I have taken great interest in your page for the last nine years. We have just been here for six months, Dot. and I don't like the South Island at all, after being \xp in the North for four years. I have been in Napier, Dannevirke. and Waneanui, and I must aay that I liked Wanganrff the best. We lned in Aramoho, a suburb of Wanganui. I have often her-n up the Wancauui River in the steamers to picnics, and I have bee'i in the open boats too. The scenery is beautiful. It ie nice on a summer night to go for a row on the rive~ — Ghe water is so calm, and not a sound save the sclash of the oa-rs and the scream of the woodhen. One night M. F. O. and I went for a row, and when the boat drifted into the bink among the willow trees she did scream. She kept tune to the woodhena. She did not go with me again for a. row. Dear Dot, I see Motoua. from Wanganui, had a letter in last week. I should like to know who she is. Anyway, Motoua. I know where you got your • norn de plume — it was from the Motoua Monument, m Market square, was it not? The little folk down south ought to go to Wanganui to see the rata.. growing ; also ferns and clematis. Dear Motoua, have you ever been up the Ka.ikope road, in Aramoho? Is it not lovery up there in the bush? Dear. Dot, lam going to get a badge soon to wear in my hat. M*. F. O. got hers all right, and 3 T ou would ■think she was the only one who had one. She nearly knocked the postman down when he gave it to her ; she was so excited with joy. She can ride a bike now, so fancy how proud she is of herself. She is always on the look-out for badges, leady to give the owners the Witness smile. — Yours tiulv. MAID OF THE MEADOWS. [Ah, now, Maid of the Meadows, I am sure M. F. O. was not quite so bad as all that.

What have you to say about it, M. F. 0. 9 Wanganui must be a delightful spot, and your description of it quite makes one wish we were all to spend the winter there instead of 131 our more rigorous south. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I am going to inflict another letter on you. My sisters went out this afternoon, end I am taking advantage of their absence. Whenever I start writing a letter, they imagine it is to you, and hurl at my head letters of the "Mary Smith" species. Since I last wrote to you I have been up country, taking a holiday, and playing the loving aunt to- a small niece and a -still smaller nephew. They told me I was becoming quite a good nurse. I was a patient one, anyway. I submitted quietly to having my hair pulled, my hair string undone, my tie unfastened, jammy fingers wiped on my collar, aud numerous other email annoyances. One day I put the baby on tb.3 sofa, barricaded him in with chairs and cushions, and, getting pen, ink, and paper, sat down to write to you. Scarcely had I begun 4/hen my niece appeared. She climbed on to the sofa beside me, and then on to a cushion, and, to steady herself, slie clutched my arm. Every now and then she lurched forwards, and sent my pen in a very different direction to that in which it was intended to go. Sometimes she leaned over, and used her fingers as blotting paper, with the result that, what with the strokes caused by her bumping and the smears made by her finger*, my letter w£s only fit foi the fire, to which I consigned it. Meanwhile the baby had slid alomg the sofa, and ,jr.-as kicking me with all his might. Dear Dot, Ik rained nearly every da; while I -pas awaj..

My sister and I had planned a fc-w excuisions, and were waiting for fine weather, when \»'ord came that I was to go home. So home I went, and it has been fine nearly every day since I came back. You would ha" c laughed to see me making a dress for my niece's doll. I was a bit out of practice, but, neveitheless, I think I managed to make a fashionable dress for dolly. It seemed strange to me, going up from near town, to see waggons drawn by teams of bullocks. Tiiere weie two teams about, and the sound I heard last at night and first 111 the morning was often the tinkle of the bullock bells. If it had been fine, my sister and I 'intended to go down to Invercaigill to see the Indian troops, but — humiliating co lfession — we both slept in. We consoled ourselves by saving that we couldn't lr.\e gone anyway, for it was pouring when the tram left I was fortunate enough to see the Impenal troops, and I don't think the Indians could be better than the Imperials. The day the Imperials were here I saw three badges — two worn by girls and one by a hUle boy — but did not speak to the wearers of them. I saw two or three of your correspondents to speak to, but we only talked ' soldiers." I saw O Mimosa San, but. not to speak to. I have found out, or lather been told, who Dum Dum is. A few months ago I saw him nearly every day, riding his bike, and armed, not with a gun, but with a strap of books. What bccime of the I. B. H. S. magazine, of which, I believe, yon were editor, artist, printer, and everything else, eh, Dtim Dum 9 Dear Dot, I took my norn do plume from a book called ''Vanity Fan-, not from the cigarette of that name, as Duin Dum seems to suppose. Yes, Princess May, I was with two other girls when I saw you 011 the 2nd January. I am sorry jou aren't staying down here, for I have looked forwaid to meeting you some time when we wouldn't both be too bashful. Wasn't it splendid at the Bluff that day 9 Dear Dot, I have been in the wars lately. One day I Knocked my head on a sharp-comcred object, and raised a great bump on my forehead. Next day (.yesterday) I was climbing a pear tree, and a branch caught me m the face, and made a deep cut over the eye. To-day a bumble bee string mo on the leg, right through my stocking. Luckily it didn't hurt much. Dear Whiffles, if you still want that red heather I piomised you, please send me your address, and I shall post it up to you. Unless it is sent direct to you I am afraid it will be dead befoie it reaches you. Dear Dot, please excuse this private talk, as this is, I think, my first offence. I hope that Rough Rider won't forget to write to tho L. F. Page if she leaves New Zealand. Her last letter wa-s splendid. My letter seems very long, but I believe I could write as much again. However, I shall close, with love to Kathermchen, Whiffles, and yourself. — Yours truly.

VANITY FAIR

[I should have liked to have seen the letter that was written under such tryirg circumstances, Vanity Fair; it must have been an amusing production. However, you have made up for it this time, as your letter is full of interest and very nicely written.— DOT.]

Dear Dot. — I h^.ve been leading Dura Duni's imaginary dialogue entitled "Visiting Dot,", and was rather surprised that you, with your limited space, had it printed. I was not very much taken with it. as I think that it would not interest many baeides those mentioned as characters. Don't you think. Dot, that we might at least keep our page from the nonsense of which most of it is composed? I did not think that little folk ought to know much rbout bsing "struck," for instance. A»am, purely Dum Dum does not think that girls' conversation consists of the senseless nothings that he gives his girl characters the credit of saying. I think I have now criticised Dum Bum's effusion sufficiently, and I must apologise to the Critic Club- for anticipating their remarks. — Yours truly, NEMO. [Here is a, severe little cr.tic' Why, Xcmo, wo must have a little fun in the page now and agein, or I am afraid we should be all caught yawning in endeavouring to read it. I thought Dum Dum's dialogue was very amusing, though I must acknowledge the iustice of your remark on being "struck."— DOT.] Dear Dot. — I know a. good few of your coirespondeats. Isn't this av.'Tul weather just now, Dot I shall not mird when lam old enough to have a. nfi-e of my own, so that I may get a deer license. Haven't you an awful lot of correspondents' I have been up the mountain once this year, and I had a grand feed of fuchsias. Gunpowder, your initials are A. X., and you Lye at C. Dot, isn't it a pity Jessie C. has left your page? The roads are in an awful mess just now, snd the cyclists will not be able to go out for a ride m the evening. With love to Dot, Mr Editor, and Coiporal Con, — Yours truly,

X. Y. Z.

[I am not quite suie that Jessie C. has left our page. X. Y. Z. We shall see what Old Writers' Week brings forth. I hope it will contain a lot of surprises, and that quite a number who are supposed to have left will be found to be still among us. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— At last I have made up my mind to write >to jou. For no less than five yeais I have been going to write, but it seems to have taken all that time for me to summon up sufficient couiage. However, I feel in the mood for writing just now, although I have been out all the evening. We have been having horrible weather here lately. Has it been any better about Duredin? I saw a letter from- Bluebell 111 last week's Witness. Do you remember the chats you and I had on the bridge a<t C Bluebell, when you were down foT a holiday 9 Have you heard from Bubbles lately? Dear Dot, I must dead for forgiveness for this private talk. Has Stella stopned writing now 9 I know who you aic, Stella. Can you ride, Dot — a horse I mean, not a bicycle 9 Ridmg and reading are my favourite amusements. T must stop now, or I shall be expelled from the D.L F. as soon as I begin, so J remain, — Youis truly,

CUPID

[Oh. I don't think there is much danger of that, Cupid, aftei it has taken you five long years to make 1 p your mind to commence writing.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — My brother has pone to the war in the seventh contingent, and before leaving he gave me his pony. I only know one of your correspondents — namely. Bookworm. What a ticuble I have had to find a name. My head was fairly sit work, but I think I have found out one without taking anyone else's. What a lot of little folk write to you i,ow. Dot. It mu3t take all your time answering them. With love to Bookworm and all the other little folk, not forgetting yourself. — Yours truly.

ALPINE PRINCESS

[Tour norn de plume is certainty novel, Alpine P., and I don't think anyone e'se will choose it.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have found out a few of the little folk since I last wrote. Ivy's initials are M. S. and Alice's are A. S. They are sisters, and Roy is their brother, and they live at' T. I think lam right, am I not, Dot 9 Dingo's initials are J. S., and he also lives at T. I was at the races at R. the other day, and met Old Girl, and had a yarn with her. She told me she had been staying with two D.L.F., and 1 think she said they were Aljs and Marguerite-— didn't you, Old Girl 9 I did not see any badges at the lsees. I met a few of the D.L F. at the M. M. R sports. They weie Ivy, Colleen. Uncle's Auntie, and I think Cuckoo and Maid of Orleans weie there. I also g&w % boj there with a. badge cm bis c&p,

but I don't think he writes. I cm anxious to find out who Dorothea is, as she sent liar love to me, and I thought she might kiiow me. We had a letter from my biother at the war, and he is not allowed to go back to the fighting since he had the enteric fever, =0 he is not mso much danger. I was talking to a girl the other day, and she told me she would write to Dot, only she didn't know how to stait a letter — 1 poor excuse, eh, Dot 9 With best love to D.L.F. and youiself, — Yours truly,

[Well, yes, V. R , that is l.ot much of an excuse. I should think the beginning is the easiest rait of writing a letter. Finding something interesting to say is certainly more puzzling.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,— Heie I am again, after thiee niOi'thb' absem c. I liked the last group of photon, especially those of Xoshor, Fatima, J. O. V., and Mona. One day a number of^ girls and myself weut up the bush for a walk. When \V3 got -a little way up, the first thing that attracted 'our notice was a number of gooseberij bushes. Of course, we all sat down and were just beginning to feel a bit comfortable when dovr came a shower of hailstones. Wo we! c a bit sheltered by the trees, but notwithstanding that we r a ot wet. As it was beginning to get vcij' cold we left for home, and as we were running clown the hill it started raining agjm. Wo went 111 beside a thick hedge, where some cattle v/ere taking shelter. When they saw us they no doubt thought that we were taking something from them, so they started to chase us, and we off for the fiist fence, which was of barb-wire. With love to Nosher, Joy, Hany, Koa, Thckla, not forgetting your own deai ce!f pnd the editor — Yours t:u!y,

SPINNIE,

[It was scarcely fair of the cows, Spinnic. They might have allowed you -to ha* c a little shelter as well rs themselves. However, as you escaped unhurt, it was all right. — DOT.]

THE SISTERLESS BOY, (Dedicated to Harry.)

The siotcrless bov — we pity him so,

With rone of those clear little joj - s, For lie hasn't got any of those sisteis so good,

That are such a help to the boy=. The sisteilcss boy — oh, pity him, girl=,

For I assure jou hard, hard is his fate; Ha hasn't a s'ster to mn at his call,

If once he should chance to be late. Ho can't ask his Eister if his collar is right,

Or say, "Sort my tie, sister, please." He has no little sister to love and caiess,

Or no big sister to tease. Oh, hard is the lifo of the sisterless boy

Fancy seeing him trying to sew On a stiay button when his mother is out,

And looking so clumsy, I know. Ho hasn't a sister to go to at night

And tell her a long-cherished plan Of what he is going to do and to be

When his teens are past and he's a man. No sister to help him if lessons are hard,

Or get him out of a fix ; No sister to sympathise with his woes,

Or share m his boyish tricks. And when in joung manhood he faces the ■world, And wonders which path is the right. He hns no loving sister in whom to confide, Or to lead him straight back to the light. -JESSICA.

Dear Dot, — Here I am again, after a spell of about four months, during which time I have discovered a good many of tho L. F., my latest one being Vmeta, an old friend of mine. I was talking to her yesterday, and phe told me she met a few of the L. F. in Dunecun recently. Where has Shan got to lately 9 He has ret written for a long time, so just hurry tip and write, Slnr, and let us know how you are getting on. Some of the L. F. talk about boys being such teases. I ha-ie a biother who is never don? teasing me. other clay, Dot, he went into my rcom to see what he could find, and the first thing he came acoss was my hat with my badge on it. He took the badge off to s?c v hat it was made of (mquisiti\eness, jou know), and broke it 111 two piece=. I told him he would have to buy me another one, but he only laughed and said. "Who would have a niece of tin stuck in the front of then hat 9" But I did not take any notice of him. Like manj- of the L. F , I am very fond of reading, and the last book I read was the "Wide, "Wide World," n. very interesting book indeed. With love to Dot, Shan, Vmeta, and the dear old editor, — Yours tiu'y, VIVACE. [Well, T think that was very mpan of him. Vivace. The least he could have do ie was to g't j - ou another badge and to expiess regret at his chimpmess instead of using bluff like that —DOT.] Dear Dot, — I live about two miles from Gore, on a plaea called VercUen. Last winter T went to Taianaki foi a holiday, and I stayed there for four months Taranaki is a very nice place, but I like Southland better. I was staj--mg in Wellington, Dunedin, nnd Lyttelton, and they are all very nice places. I g,o to school, and Ism m the Second Standard My teacher i° Mr Brown, and my sewing mistress is Miss Howes. — Yo'irs tm'v.

MAGGIE CAMPBELL

[I am glid you like the south better than the north. Magpie, for most people who live for a while in the noith come back somewhat cliscontentprl with cur more vigorous southern climate.— DOT ]

Dear Dot — I am in the Third Standard at school, and I ler^ued two puze books this year — namely, "She Loved a Sailor " and '"Madge's Mistake. ' I have three sisters and two b.others. one of whom is a great tease T7e h?d eight tmkev chickens, but three died and two wpie cpiierht m some traps, so wo have only thro=* left. I do not know any of your writers, but the ones I like best are Zinka. Harry, Dum Dum, Beit, Solomon Sow, and Echo I shall ask for some more space some other time, avd for the present remain, — Yotu» tiuly,

VIRGINIA

[Veiv well. Vngmia, you shall have more space next time you write, as you have made a very srood beginning. — DOT.]

Dear Dot — I have often intended to write to jou, but h<ivo no 1 been able to summon up eno'ich coinage till now. I always read the little folk's letters, and as we have been taking the Otago Witness for nearly 10 yeais, I have noticed with pleasure the steady mipiovement that lias taken placp in the letters dun'is; the last few years Have you many correspondents from this district, Dot? I believe I know one, but that is a very small number, compared with that which some of the little folk know. I have not seen any badges here yet. but next time I write I shall send for one for myself. Dear Dot, if jou like I shall endeavour to give you a. description of the tovii I live m, but I am afrairl it will not be very interesting. Well, to begin with, it is a well-known nort on the West Coast of New Zealand nnd is built on the bank of a river, after which it is named. The land immediately on the bank of thf> river and for some distance away from it, is flat nnd low-lvmg. It is her<* that most of the oldest dwelling housps and important business r>laces are Behind this is a low hill, whjfh is itself tbo base of some other much higher hills. The whole town makes a r.n-y pretty picture from whatever standpon>& it is viewed. Aa for myself, I consider it f z prettiest when viewed from

some part of the hills in the backgiound. The buildings, of all shapes and «izes, intermingled with trees, gaidcrs, and green paddocks, 01 rather sections, look very piettj. r J he mfisls of tho boats at the wharf a/>d steamers coming up the river seem to add interest to the tcenc. Peihaps it is the calmness away fiom the usual noises of the town and the distance abc.e it that make the place look so calm and sleepy, for so it looks from the hills Awgy m the distance the sea is to be seen, and also the foam and spiaj' of the waves bieakirg agsmst the rocks of the bicakwaten I have no room to write any moie. except that if jou e - . er come to this tow.i I should l'ko to show jou all places of interest. With lo\ c to tie L. l'\, jcurself, and the editor, — Youis tiuiy.

ERMIMINIA

[Yes, Ermimima, thc;e are se\-eial conespondents in yoiu town, and I have no clcubt theie is a badge or two also. With all the di edging about io start 111 your ii' - er and its tiibutancs the town should soon become a erj important one.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — We are sitting out in the bush writing tins letter. We have a splendid uc-« before us. The dark-gieen bush jusc in fiont with golden gi.un bej'oiid, and then the occar, With the white foamy breakers, forms a \eiy pretty pictuie. It is a lovely clay, and e\ eijthmg is so peaceful. Far avay oa the 11011zon a. steamer has just disappeaied fiom \ lev;, leaving a long line of smoke. From our position on the side of a hill we can see the G codwood Church in the centie of tussocks and flax, and also Goodwood House, sunounded by clumps of trees. We have just been gathering branib.es, and our pinafoies and hands are all stained with them. Clanssa hp-d the misfortune to tumble into a biamble bush She put her hand on a stump, which g?\ c way, with the result mentioned. Dear Dot, we aie both going to get our ] hotoa trkci soon (perhaps before ohis is printed), and if they are at> all presentable (which I very much doubt) we shall send jou one for the Witness. When do jou think the next group will bo ready, Dot? We were out for a walk tho other afternoon, Rnd, coming to an empty house, we thought we would have a look through it We were jusi ope.nug the gate vhen we heard a noise, which seemed to come from the inside of the house. "Oh!" cried Alison, "it's haunted,'' and off she ran. Of course I had to go too, so we did not inspect the house When going back by a different road we heaid a loud, "Mew, mew," as we were passing a. hedge. Ah=on v/e.it to investigate, as I had her pram., and dragged forth a black-and-white kitten. She gave it to the baby, but it was 111 great danger of being choked to death, as tho baby insisted 011 holding it tightly lound the neck w.th both her handle. It then came on to rain, and as we had no capes or jackets we made our wpy as quickly as we could to Alison's hou r e. We must close new, as we arc nbout to sta,rt for home, and have ? geed way to go. — Yours truly.

CLARISSA and ALISON.

[I really do not know when theie will be ci ough photos for the next group, Clarissa and Alison. They are coming m \eiy slow'j', c o I shall be very glad to get yours if it proves a success. It rnusu be very pleasant sitting m the bush writing, but I imagine it is a Lttio bit awkward, as I suppose jou had to write on your knee, as \ou could scarce'y ha,\e a table and chair.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Th° Easter holidays will soon be here, and the easterly wind is blowirg like mad. Yesterday I went for the mail, a- distance. »f three miles. I started at five minutes to 10, arriving at tne post at half-past 11. Ihe wslk was very lonely, and I must admit that I didn't like going in face of the eas:erly wind, for it was hard work pushing against it. I had to wait an hour for the mail to come in. At half-past 12 the mail c»rt arrived, a-nd the mails were gr - en out. I got » big mail for down here, but I didn't get any letters for mjseif, though I was expecting oi:e. Coming back I had the company of another girl — a schoolmate — so the time passed much more pleasantly till we parted. Reaching home, I found my sisters beside somo apples, enjoying themselves, so I joined in with them. Dca.Dot, father is away for a fortnight, go we are alone at home, and we hs.ve lare good fun. I expect to sco a lot of 2^eople down this Easter. Last Easter there were a, good many visitors down. I think I know who Louie is. Aro i.ot jour initials M. 8. 9 Dear Hairy, jou will be wondering who C. F. is, but I made a mistake m the last letter — the initials should have been C. L. Since I last wrote to >ou. Dot, I ha\e fouad out who Excelsior, Ferry. Mauley, Piquci. Maple, Coral. Weka, Jack, Jean, etc., a t e Excelsior, I clidn't know that you weie E. S. Dear Louie, accept my sympathy 111 j our gicat loss. I know what it is to be motherless. I wonder if Brcvn Bill is a ceitain per-soii whom I know. I mi'k our cow without any le~-rope on. You ought to have been heie, Dot, tosee how I first milked tho cow without a leg-rope. Cooee said that 1 was a mile away from the cow's udder. Dear Dot, I told j-ou 111 my last that I and =omc o'heis were going down to the Roaring Bay. I unfortunately cou'dn't go after all, but my sifter went. My school days are over. Dum Dum and Ma-idey hsd nice interesting letters 111 tho last Witness. I think I know who Ziska, O Mimosa San, and Sweet Sixteen aie. Some of jour little folk said m their letters to jou thr.t they had bep-i to Port Molyneux. but did not enioy their holidaj". Why didn't they go to Wilshir Bay? That is where all tho fun is, and they could have en^oved themsehes to their hearts' content. With bet lo\ c to Cuckoo, Harry, Cooee, Dum Dura, ard to Dot, the editor, and Areta. — Yours truly. STELLA H. KAKITAP.

p_g. — Deai" Harrj', would ; on se.ad me joui autograph. I shall send mine in exchange. — S. H R.

[You forget, Stella, that ycu wrote over a norn de plume before, and vet you specie of jour last letter. I am afraid you have given yourself away.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Here I am once moie, and I tiust I am not a nuisance, if so, J>ou will foigive me this once, seeing that my letters aro few an-i far between, won't jcxi, Dot 1 * The Easter hohdaj-s will soon be hare, and I'm hop»rs to have some fun, as theie will be some ws»*.or3 down then. Just now the place is tejribly dull and theie is haidly a c oul to ) c seen 0.1 th? Point, as all the \ lsitors ha-, c gone awaj' What awful weather we are having l Oi.e never can depend on it. Hovever, to-claj; wrs simply beautiful, and was a leal autumn dry. The evenings are getting longer now, are they not? I notice tha-t the farmers are getting in their crops as fist as they can, .jnd me fill looking forward to the appearance of the threshing null. It mu'-t be a relief to them when the threshing is o\ er. A farmer is always working, for after the threshing he ploughs tho land, and then the FOwing season appears, and he 's engaged sowing, etc. Then think of the anxiety he feels over his crops and his stock. Ho is out in the field all day, but what a pleasure it is to go home for tea. and afterwards to take a chair by the huge fire and read ihedaily new?, or else converse with whoever diops in for a "j-.urn." Should you like to be a far^per, Dot 9 I shouldn't, for there is too much hard work and too much worry for my titste. The fiahir,- is still going on, though some of the fcsh hawkeis have left this wc-V and gone in for threshing. 'I hey are still somg on with the new flag, or signal station. I think when it is finished they ought to invite his Excellency the Governor to o-oen it for them. I'm sure, if pressed, his Excellency would be ocly too glad to perform the opcain^

ceiemony. The Minister foi T*ailv<.<js would bo present also. Their visit v, r aid s..o\v \ktzn the necessity for a lailway dou'i 1 ere foi the benefit of the residents a:.d also the touns'.". I am cure, Dot, if theie v-ia v :auwaj down here, this would become a floun-h.ng district. I siw the principal hg'ithou c kecpei sometime af,o. Do you know, Dot, when I go to th? lighthouse lie always a~,ks iiie to write down "Cooee" in the \is;tor=' boo!:. Dad is a,-?y at pre=eit, also my two biotheif, and I am the eldest at home now I am =uppo°ed to be "boso," bat my little brother e\.dently tbiaka li" ca-ht to bo ir.=iead, and he tr.es to lo=s v-, icund But, of ccdi- a n. I c.v "I alloy that. A '%I'id fuciid sent us seme apple*, pear^, ai,d gn-igp-e*, a .d ye did enjoy thorn, I cat tel 301, 'J'h- oMier e/eni"g, af ( er I had riilkrd tiic ccv, ai.cl vas taking eff the Icg-iope, sho ir. f\, .'nd kicked me on mv little finger. of a'l i,!acc« .-5 a^imhlo It has been %e'^ painful, a^ci 1 can't hod the pea pro-or'y evei' jet When :r!;,tnir to ]>i;> o ny "marvellous advcnir-.e (?) she buist into a. h«?ity jauph— the moa:i thing— ind latei on I heard hci to ling condone, 'The coy, kicked Cooee oi the htt'e tf-igcr, and knocked otu her T™' nS 'i Ho.v quickly tlm tme flies. \. liy, Caristi'-'ao i& begirmng to look not so iai oft r.cw, tiiough it is eti'l eight months away Oh, how eagerly I am looking forwaid to it! Sunbeam v.i'l be back again for six weeks if airs well. Just lujg.p.e Ihc glorious time well ha\e dining those six w.-e'rs' In tho meantime I nu:-- co , La.it irjsr f w.th her lette:s, v.hich leiL.'t's me sho ha? -rot wnttci foi qu:.e a Ijj'g t.:.ic. However she will be down :,t Eastoi, w'ler I sha'l ex s ect Iki- to give an accir.it of herself Oh, Dot, we had such i"n at Dcr.ise'3 c.-pe.ise the o lur day. Her b oUiei^ uuu-i.ed from leW!, ?rd asked hei ~. what "ext!r"t \o ) cv mopnt. one quickly replied, but her answer was w.de of the mark, and wo ioi.red at her. Her ! .other told hethe meaning, md =he tin red fiway, saying, "Oh, jou're always making tin 1 of me." 1 sawa letter m fjom B. 0-/11 Bill I iU pt him not long ago, and I teamed h n> .->bcv r it. I wonder if he has got ovc-i it Derr Teiry, I v as: plad to see jo"r letter, ard I hope it won't be long ere I see aro'her Lo.-> \ou. Is it not sacT about Louie losing her raothei 9 Accept m> deepest symoathv, Louie fd T kno v what it 13 to be without <i mother's love. What would I 1 ot give to possess a. mot net, for I feel the loss of n-y mother \ cry keenly. How often I hive m«i fully watched a friend of m:ne with her childicn, and how cften 1 turn away with an aching heart whea I hear of ho\r somo girls talk about their mother. It is no 1 , until too late fiat they realise her alue. If mine had oniy lived, how different it would b?. How beautiful and quiet the night is! No 1 ci sound, save the roaring of the breakers : and no-"/ and pgam I can hear the v/end cry of the owl mounding at n distpnee. Before closing I have a word for Coral. I have foundyou out -the torkuseshell kitties and the picnic betrayed jou I really don't k.:ow who jou aie. O Mimosa San and Sweet Sixteen. Will you scad me your suto , Dado 9 Excelsior iui your initials E. 5. 9 Shan, are yours J. 1J. 9 \Vill any L. F. cxchar£>e autographs with me' And now, with love to Zislta Dum Dum, and Jack, and the same for yourself - Yours tru'y,

COOEF.

[How hopeful Cooee is. Fancy looking letward to this coming Christmas, though only fou* months have gone since the last one, and we -have all the dreary winter and short day* before us jet. However, it is better to loo'< on the b:ight side of everything than meet troubles hilf way.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,— Do jou ever go for a waJk in the countiy? A walk in the early summer morning is delicious. To smell the sweet* odour of the sweetbriar which, grows by tht. waj-, to irrhale the invigorating morning air snd to admire Nature at dawn is worth risingeaiiv for. in sunnier I lovo to get up m the ear.y mornings and ta'ce a walk through the HSids, passing amor.g tho joung lambs, frisking and playing about their mothers. How timid they are, and should I go up to caress them they jump and frisk away as if they thought I would harm them. Who could evei think o: Inrmmg such innocent little creatures? In the evenings, as tre windows gather faio, I hear them blcatir.g loudly, and it touches a tendec spot m my heait. "To me it seems fo s?d, so mournful, so pitiful, as if tney realised the fate m °tore for them. I 1-no.v a good meny of your L. F., Dot. Among fiem are C. C M., Fifi, Cis, J. O. V., Denise Cuckoo, Ziska, Maidey, Alys. Shan, Dicky Dorian, Areta, and Cooee. My list numbers 30. Don't you think that a good number for a, new chum 9 1 £aw Jessica at the show in B. orce. Do joy not think, Dot, there should be =oiue restuc'ion on the words "fancy, "leallj," etc 9 It is tiresome to listen to tha way seme qir's express themselves m this respect I have oftjn wished that no such words were ki.o-. a m ths English language. If ycu ment.ol anylhi ig remarkable to some gir)s they aie <-u.e to say, "Fa^cy l " -'Really!" V.'hat a pit; ' Is jt not a silly habit to get ,nto 9 The Loys are juso as bad. Their fa\ounte wo:ds are 'By Jove'"' By jingo'" "Oh, lor'" "By f.eorge'"' "By the Loid rlsny'" ard a lot o' ; other "by's. 1 But their expicssirv.b are nm so annoyiisg as the giil»'- "Fancy '" 'Really'" "What a. pitj '" aad "Rats'" Jessi-a. how are jou getting on ? [ know jou well, but I won't let out where . :d v.kon I met jou. Admoj-n, a.-o your mum!* A J) •> Hollyhock, aie yours D. L. l > Roia, a:o jouis L. "ft. ? Will" Boy send me hi 3 ruicgiaph > And now hpr C comes my sister diesscd for going out, and I must 1)3 gong also I ho )e my letter 13 act too long a.d unni [electing. With lo\ c to Cuckct and lots of lo\o to Dot,— Youis tr.ilv.

AUNT LOU

_[Au:it Lou's icn.aii.s on the too fiequent U3e cf n.,i:io exprffs'.o i« ?u worth thinking over siid I hope bo", b, ■< s and ;;irls w:l' see how silly the reivaiLs thtv make 'ippeai vhen seer m cold nnvi —DOT j

Dear Dot, — Th.s 1- a lovely daj — ~o calm ancl bright, aid bcruti.nl. I spent inj holidajs at Wilslnr 8.,y, «M:d it 13 a lovely spot. Deai Rua. did ;ou =cc mo "/in ie I was the'e 9 I d.du't see jou I saw Hprd Cas^ aad Cooee. Ihere v. ere a grrat manj- ramps down till" jear at the Kecreat.Cii g-.ourd. At lvdsummei Wilsh': Baj 1, a scene of cxriteme. t , bat of ccuis? if 3on fo <j <1 hvo at the b.vck blocki of W. J3. it will lie found pietU slow Yon r.innot imagine how i"terest'iig i* is to spe::ci a week m Wilsh'T Baj\ It is lo\elv 'coking at the wave? a. thej r 1 oil 111 vron the beach, or to tako .„ walk up the Kororo Creek road, bettei kiio-.\n as Leans' Wa.k, and ramble ii the bush gathenng ferns You ecu hc-ai the 1 oaring of the sea miles and miles away inland. With lov-e to Cooee, Dum Dutn, mid rot forgetting Dot ar.d Air Editor, — Yours tiu'y,

JOCK OF TII3-: ROCKIES

[Wilshir Bay is e\ idently tho beauty spot of tho Coast, and if ever a bianch hi.c of lailway is iu:i down to it what numbers 01 people will pour into it during the hohcUjs My coire sponder.ts at Poit Molyneux aie refer tiled of singing its praises, ard this is l.ot to bo v ordered at.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Here I am again. Dot, with my pen and beginning to wnte to jcu. I lv c ni the country, and I ha\e to milk a rich ,;nd morning I go. to ccnool, and I :mi"ii, tlie Sexcuth StaucUul I spill b? 14 oa tho las-, day of ilaieh, so I am ne?r!y an April foa . W« live next door to the post office. My, mate and I have fiae times iiuing the bicycle'

at niebt or on Saturday afternoons. I think, however, I should rather have a horss than a fcicvcle. We ore having very changeable weather here just now, Dot. It rams one day, and then it is fine the next. When the badge "cached mo my brothers were very anxious to see what was in the envelope so I had to let them *cc everything. With love to yourself .^d all the httle folk, XI think most people -would rather ride a, Wae than a bicycle, Ladysrmth, but you know nwwyone cannot keep a horse, and especially an towns. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— The interest and enthusiasm which were displayed when the Indian troops •were here having somewhat abated, the only interesting topics of conversation to boutn£S at present -are the crops and that veiy .common and never-failing topic, the weather. '(For the past week the weather has been lovely, *nd harvesting operations have been, and are ~? £ full Bering. Several of the oat crops U MS ss tr4hVr=f« KiTS? rse^to-Ssft c£ Winter is not far off. The Invercargill Cycling Cub held bicycle sports here last Wednesday week, the 13th March. There were several well- ' Si riders competing, including Sutherland, A T^Barker, R. Connell, and A Ralston beof him to pive- me the badge, was it not Dot? The St. Patrick's sports were held yesterday 4 th* Queen's Park. There was a large atand there were numbers of country wople in. I kept a sharp look-out for badges, lut I only saw one, and the owner was Dado. I went J and spoke to her and I asked her i The was Dado. She said she was, so she and I had a long talk about Dot and the LI. She *aia she had seen one badge on tk grounds, and the owner spoke to her. I think fne e«d it was Curio. Dado told me she is Tbic -ill. Dado and I would very much like to know who Wattle Blossom is, because she evidently lives in or near Invercargil . 1 thought W. B. s description of Invercargill was meriect. I don't believe I could have described S> tetter myself. I met Dum Dum when I -was down town this afternoon. He said he was eoiu" to get the Witness, and I told him 1 *«a on the same errand. Shortly afterwards I 'saw him on the tram with the Witness, reading, 3. presume, the L. F. letters. He is a poet, Dot isn't he? What a good parody he wrote <m the "Absent-minded Beggar. It is a • very good appeal to all the L. F., and I should Bay all big folk and the public generally, for subscriptions to the Cot fund. I se S Eimibecco has one of her very interesting letters 'in this week's Witness, and she actually talks of jeai^nin", when she has 18 months to write vet Why, we have just recovered from the 'iblow 8.0.8. gave us when he intimated his intention of resigning, and now Rimb*ecco, my " iavourite girl writer, says she is going to bid •us farewell. Think seriously over it again, Bimbecco, and write to the L. F. Page for the •remaining 18 months, and then do what I "«n thinking of doing when I reach the retiring a ge ioin Emmeline. I meaii the Ladies' Page ■nd the C. C. C. lam beginning to think that our iwnous Critic Club has lost all its criticising" powers,, because of late it has been criticising itself— at least, the members have .-.■ been criticising themselves. Several of the D. L. F. write to Uncle Phil in the Mataura Ensign, and every Thursday there is a page act apart for letters to him. They have a C. C, who style themselves "Les Critiques. Eather French like, is it not, Dot? (It reminds me to a certain extent of the French we learned at the H. S.) This Critic Club do criticise, and very strongly, too. I thmk they could give the L. F. C. C. a few wrinkles in criticising. Jessie C, if I am not mistaken, writes to the M. E. under the norn de plume of Starlight. I have often read her letters, and they are -very good. By the way, Jessie C, you have not written to the L. F. Page for b. long time. Hurry up and write, for your Letters are always interesting. I see Watte Blossom says m her letter that she saw two girls get out of the train at Lind's Bridge. From W. B.s description of the girls, I tlimk they would be Vanity Fair and her sister. "With much love to all D. L. F., including Dum Dnm, Shrapnel, Seline, Lady Belle, Little Nell, Dado, Dot, and the courteous and generous editor, — Yoars truly,

O MIMOSA SAN.

The following is a piece of poetry I copied out—of an old Windsor Magazine. It is entitled "English as She is Pronounced " : — The wind was rough, And cold and blough, She kept her hands within her mough. -It chill'd her through, Her nose grough blough, And still the squall the faster flough. And yet although There was nough snousrh, The weather was a cruel fough. It made her cough — Pray do not scough ! She cough'd until her hat blew ough. Ah, you may laugh, You silly caujrh' I'd like to beat you with my staugh. J^r hat she caught And saught and faught To put it on and tie it taught. 1 Try as she might I To fix it tight, Again it flew off like a kight. Away up high Into the skigh *ahe poor girl sat her down to crigh. (She cried till eight P.m. so leight, Then home she went at a greight reight. poetry was composed by J. H. Walton. — O. M. S. [Very good advice, indeed, O Mimosa San, and I hope Rimbecco will consider it well and decide to adopt it. The lines are very amusing, and show the necessity for a revision of our spelling. I suppose there will be a grand conference of English speaking people some day, when American goaheadness, tempered by British conservatism, should do good service m rubbing off some of the angles which fct present adorn iur written language. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a very long time since I last wrote to yoa ; but I hope I shan't prove .an encumbrance to you and your happy- band. My elder sister has given up your page. So I shall tell you about a nariow escape she had. One day she was walking along the shore, and

in crossing oVer from one lock to another her foot slipped on the seaweed, and she tumbled into the sc-a. Sha tiled to stiike out, but the seaweed prevented her front doing so, and she "called out for help. A young fellow had noticed her disappearing all at once, so ran to -lier assistance, and just as she called for help ha was standing on the rocks above. He dived m, and swam out to her, catching her just as sh^ was sinking, o-nd swam with her to the shore, 50 yards off. When he brought her out she was unconscious. He did not thmk of himself i but gave pideja 14 puck a conmiand-

mg, decided, but quiet tone, that eve: > one believed he was a psison. When niy sistci came to her senses she was lying m bpd and vnaioped in steaming blankets. When she opened her eyes she said, "How long have I been m this deplorable condition 9" We told her she had been unconscious for three dais She them said, "I remember tumbling into the sea, and then the face of a stranger on. the rocks above; but all else is a blank. Who saved me fiom the white caps?" We told her it was a gentleman, but as to who he was we did not know. In a couple of weeks she was quite better, and able to take her usual ride on Flossie. The first day she mounted Flossie after her shock I accompanied her. She rode over a paddock, and then on to a by-road. Very few inhabit that road, as it is so very rough. She was leading, and I was a good way behind. We had gone only about half a mile when I saw my sister come to a sudden halt, rein, in Flossie, pull her foot from the stimp, and spring to the ground. She threw the rem over Flossie's neck, beckoned to me with her whip, and then she ran. I wondered what had gone wrong, so used my whip on the sides of pool old Daisy, and was soon alongside Flossie But what did I see? My sister was kneeling on the ground, and seemed to be bathing the face and forehead of a man lying prostrate on the ground. I felt like turning to flee; but thought again* and was soon beside my sister. She put her hand into the young fellow's pocket, a.nd procured a box of matches. We som had a good fire on, and the warmth caused him to move. My sister then rubbed his hands, and told me to keep putting on. scrub and sticks. When I had put on ei:ougk I went to assist my sister. She said, "My pet, he is a stranger to me; but perhaps you may have met him." I looked at him, then I almost dropped to the ground, as I recognised the face of the stranger who had saved my sister from being drowned. I told her so, and then she sent me off home for help to get him into a bed, as the sky was getting cloudy. By 5 p.m. the strong, active, young fellow of three weeks previous was lying m bed, all covered with mustard, cloths, etc. When he sot better he told us that he was thrown liom a horse, and that the horse had returned to where it came from. He couldn't thank us enough for saving his life, and rr.y sister told ijim that it was nothing to what he had gone through to rescue her. He then introduced himself, and we found that he is a farmer, and lives about five miles from us. Isn t it strange how some events happen, Dot? 1 know a f«w of your writers— namely, Lilac (B. W.), Nightingale (J. W.), Mistletoe (I. B.), Ribbonwood (M. W.), Denise (S. H. ML. , Cooee (A. L.\ Ziska (T. G.), Maidey C. T. , Phyllis (M. D.), Rimbecco (M. H.), Tot (L._lt.), Fancy Free (L. J.). I must now close. With fond love- to you, Dot, and all my Mends of thS D - FboU^F bOU^ Y S 0 S U OF^iTHSDALE.

[The old saying that truth is stranger than fiction was indeed exemplified in the two incidents in your sister's life, which you so interestingly describe, Countess. If we read of the double occurrence m a book we should simply dismiss it with a shrug of the shoulders, and here it happens in real life, and is na-rated to us by one of ourselves. Well, I sincerely hope it will be the last narrow escape your sister and her friend will have.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,— When I wrote my last letter to you I bad no intention of obtruding upon your precious space again so soon, but seeing by th" Witness a few weeks ago that you mvited opinions held by the L. P. on a certain subject then under discussion, and m which 1 was ereatly interested, I have come to the fore once more. The question was "Do parent birds poison their young when the latter arc held in captivity?" I thought I should like to give you my opinion on the matter ere it is too late, and before- all interest manifested m it has died away. Now, Dot, I profess to be a. lover of nature, and studying the various habit 3 of birds and animals has always been one of my pet hobbies, from which I have derived great enjoyment, and I think I may safely sdd, great benefit. The opinion held by you, Dot, 13 precisely the sarn-e as that held by rue— viz., that the parent birds do aot poison their captive young. I myself have had birds of various kinds brought up m captivity, ard fed by the parent birds until fully grown on ocverol occasions, ajid I know of scores of cases exactly similar, so I think the correspondent ■who said that the birds were poisoned must have been mistaken. My opinion is that m cases where the young birds die it is due to exposure, or, as I have sometimes known, the old birds, on finding their young imprisoned, absolutely refuse to feed them; but I have never known of a- case in which the birds were proved to have been poisoned. I should like to hear the opinions of some of the other L. 1 . on this subject, as I am greatly interested m it Since last writing to you, Dot, I«»have had the pleasure of meeting two favourite writers— namely, C. C. M. and Fifi. I met them m Dunedui on the evening of March 16, and had a short conversation with them. They appeared to be very nice girls. I can assure you, C C. M. and Fiii, that I was more than plsased to see you, and shall always have pleasant recollections of our meeting. I should like very much to have your autographs. I shall be glad to send you mine, if 3 on are willing to exchange. I should also like to have Alys's autograph. I've made a discovery, A}ya — I've found out that your father and mine are intimate mends. I have seen your father times without number, and have spoken to him on several occasions. Or the evening of my meet mg with C. C. M. and Fin. I saw a boy wearing a badge. He wa3 standing at the corner of Princes street and iloray place. Ho had a parcel 111 his hand, and voie his badge on the fiont of his cap If that boy remembers the occa-ion, wi'l he please tell me his noni de plume 1 ' 1 know that there is too much puvate talk in this lettar. Dot, but I do ltot, as a rule, lndulgo 111 it to any gioat extent, so I hope yen will for^'vo mo this time. Har\est 13 rlmost over heie. I suppose my services will bo dispensed with then, and vjooi ell B. W. will, metaphorically speaking, have to ohoulder his "bluay," and seek fresh fields and pastures new. "With love to all,— Yours tru'v,

BLACK WATCH.

[Fancy a D. L. F. "shouldeung lus blucy," and goinpr off m search of employment. If someone would only take a snapshot of him we might induce the editor to have it printed m the illustrated pages.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I have just finished iracling this v. eek's Witness (March 20), and 1 see that seveial of j - our correspondents have given descriptions of tho-Imperial and Indian tioops' visits to Invercargill. I alro intended saving something about our distinguished visitors, but, seeing that Wattle Blossom and O Mimosa Sai described them fully, theic is nothing left fo" me to say about them. Wattle Blos-om, in her letter, says that shr- saw a girl with a badge, wearing a blue-striped blouse, and a white skirt. I thmk it must have been I, W, 8., as that was the dress I had on when the troop 3 were here. I also noticed the girl wearing the blue jacket. I thmk she lives out at Makarcwa, as she was accompanied by a girl who lives at that place. Howeyei, I hope she will write scon and let us know who she is. I had a long talk with O Mimo«a San this afternoon. She is an all-right poit, Dot, and I quite enjoyed my chat with her. We discussed many different subjects, but I thmk that D L. F. predominated. We piomised each other to writ" to Dot as soon as possible. Slwifcix. aiiei I leXt h<&, I caw kei

compa.iy with Diun Dim. I do.it thmk he w no weaang bib badge. I didn't notice it, cnyw'.tj- I v.as at the athletic spoits yesierdaj', and I met Cnno, fiom Foiho-,e. She sremed to be a vdy nice g rl. I sec ye ha\C a letter from Mite this week. I k"ow who you are, Mite I was thp £ml you siw at the Sundaj school picnic. You were quite right m supposing that I didn't notice your badgp. Had I done so, I most certainly shoulc l have spoken to you You seem to be greatly troubled with conespondents not sending their leal names when they write you. Dot. All writers suiely know by this time that the proper name and address have to pccompa'iy eveiy letter. Peihaps those individuals who have neglected this important rule dining the past will pay attention to your repeated reminders, and not be sa careless again. This letter is lengthening out, so I shall close v. Ah love to O Mimosa San, Curio, and yourself. — ■Yoius tiuly,

[Thank you, Dado, for your timely reminder to careless coriespondents, for it is only carelessness as a rule. There has been a decided improvement in this resprct lately.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I am spending my holidays at Wrcy's Bush. Nearly everjone has finished haivest here. I like to read Corporal Con's letters best, then Rimbecco's, Shan's, Vanity Fair's, and Harry's. Isn't it a pity that 8.0.8. has left the L. F. Page? When lam at home, after school, I mind and feed the ducks, geese, and turkeys, and therefore I get tho name of poultry shepherd. I am getting sleepy, as it is bed time, fo I shall conclude with love to all the little folk, not forgetting yourself and the editor, — Yoms truly, POULTRY SHEPHERD.

[I have heard of goosegul, but this is the first time a "Poultry Shepherd" has been brought under my notice. However, if she attends to her duties properly she is deserving of the title.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Although it is now about three and a-half years since I started to write to you, I have only written about hall a. dozen letters during that time. I noticed that one of your correspondents had found out that yoii htfVe conducted the L. P. Page for 14 years. Well, the other day I came acioss an old Witness dated Decsmber 26, 1880, but in it the L. P. Pago was " The Children's Corner," and the mysterious Dot's predecessor had no name. Dear Dot, your correspondents should see the difference between that old page, which contained six letters and two short stories, I think, and the grand O. W. W. of December 26, 1900. How proud— and justly so, toe— you must feel, Dot, when you look tack and see how our page has progressed during 20 years, and how your labour has been rewarded. Was it not kind of Fa,bian Bell to take the trouble of going to see the children's ward and of describing her visit so nicely for our benefit' I think all we L. F. should join m thanking her heartily for doing so. I hope we shall soon have enough for the cot. Enclosed find Is for the Cot fund. I am going to ser.d something for the fund whenever lam able. Dear Mr Editor, how kind and obliging you are in acting as treasurer. Why, I thought you were a regular ogre, and would as soon give up the Witness smile as oblige us. However, I have misjudged you, so you will have to let me of! as lightly as possible this time. I sea one of the L. F. is going to Dunedin at Easter. I am glad to say that is st pleasure that waits me then, tco. I wonder if we shall see anything of each other either going oi when we get there. I hope- Boy enjoyed the week in camp. I didn't get to sco the sports his corps held, but I heard they were first class. Are you among the members pf the corps who are going to the Easter encampment near Dunedin, Boy? If so, I may see you in camp then. Dear Dot, I hope Boy wasn't called on to cook, especially if it was rice. I see Dunedmite is thinking of resigning because she is going to put her hair up. I hope she changes her mind, or we shall have =ome boy L. F. resigning- because his moustache is starting to grow. What a pity it is that the L. F. resign before the time is up. But I suppose it can't be helped in some ca=es. With heaps of love to all the L. F. and yourself,— Yours tiuly,

TANGLES

[Tangles will piobably have seen before this that there i-. to be no Easter encampment at Dtmedm this'year, as we are sll reserving our energies for the coming visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. I hope, notwithstanding this, that she- will enjoy her \isit.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Every time I begin to write a letter lam sure to make some mistake. I wrote one the other day, but mother said it was written too badly to send to you, and I put it away, and when I went to get it to writs it over again I could not find it. But it does not matter I am going to write to you again. The quarter is nearly up now, Dot, and we shall be getting examined for our reports. It seems no time since we started back to school. O Mmio'j San, how did you find out who I was 9 1 thought it was L. that told you. but she said she did not. Dot, I did laugh when I saw Vmeta said I had a nice letter in the Witness a few weeks ago. What a lot of books >ou have read, Vmeta, but you have not mentioned mother's favourite authors — Dickens, Thackeray, .and Mrs Henry Woods She says they are beautiful , you ought to lead them I have not read very much. My norn de plume is taken front one of Dickens's works. Dear Dot. I was quit? interested in Corporal Con's last letter. I thmk his letters are the best Of course, he has more cubiects to write about than the general tun of little folk. Dot, was it not very good and thoughtful of the nurses to send that mcp piece of poetry to the sick soldiers at Christmas time? It must have chcpced them vp — A is so nice to be remenibered at home and abroad. We have got a holiday to-day for the sports. I i. -d not ro, =o I am occupying my i'me m writing to \on. Before c'osin£ I must ask Ruth aie her initials R. W., and does she live at I. nea' the S. school' If so, I know her. With kind love to Dot and all the little folk. — Yours tiu'v,

LITTLE NELL

[Poor Littie Nell' Hers was a sad life, and ■yet I pupnosp she was hanpv m a way. So great v;as Dickcns's power that we nevcr^hmk of his charpctsrs as not being real live flesh and blood, and I thmk Little Nell is to all who have read her bnef histoiy as much of a reahtv ss was even our late lamented Queen. — DOT.]

Def- Dot,— Jt is 7oiuir<-f vp-v haul to-dny down here, and mj big Fisrrr is bu-y °cv. ire. I did not come into Dun^clm to scp the ImTJfiiiil tioons because I had no ouc to so with. !Iv bis; bicii.h"i 1-pops thiep dots a id our fciret, and he has Hist sone^av-ay ipbbitms I go to school, ond jm in the Fifth Standard and I am 12 yeai^ old. We ere nepilv finished 1-nncstmg, and J vhn 1 ! not be 'ci.y when it is ovp 1 Aren't the clays cicennvj in, Dot° Wo shall soon Ti"ve wintei upon u= ppaii" l . TTith lovp to all the D. L. F. and youiself,— - Yoius truly,

CREEPING JINNY.

[Ye,, C J., tho long c-.cii'ngs sup upon U3 now, arc! vp itui = l make up nui mn (is to rrirpl the wmtei =bort'v Howevo' , it v. ill =oor> t;'iclp over and the bright cLiys come c.ice moie — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I rcmeral)"* when my pranclmothcr used to read the D L F. letters to me when I used to fatay with hei seven years ago. Since then I have taken great interest m youi page. and always intended writing, bat ■what T did w it" vent In tho (i.e. We have had fine v.i'alhci sni'e tlie holidays ended but (lining tiiem we k.vd the usual wet days that c\cr\-

bod;, eico had, and of course they spoil f all oi;r pio L io^ccl picnics Oui Sunday sc'icol p.cnic v ill coon come oT, a n id I hope to bo at it I did not get ay. Ny for r'y holiday, as I was too busy at homo. Ih^ c =ix biothcis and two Ristc'% 10 there is a pood bit to do, especially when theic is a baby amons; tli^m. I milk tliree cows, and one night my little sister milked a cupful, ancl was roijij? to set it for cream for her porridge next moniiiiE! On her way ms'de baby spied it, and cried till he got it, and of course drank it all. "We do not get the Witness every week, so I missed the last group of photos, but I have seen all tho others. I know only one of 3'our write: =, and that is Magsrie, my cousin. I am 14 years old, 4ft lliu in height, and Bat in weight. I'll add that I am a girl, so don't mistake me, little folk. I must stop now, with love to all. — Yours truly.

EJARAH

[It is perhaps as well Ejarah told us she is a girl, although I fancy we should have found that out by her letter. I can quite believe she has a busy time of it at home with all those brothers, not to mention the two sisters, and I hope =he will enjoy hciself at the picnic as some little reward.— DOT]

Dear Dot, — Early one morning, before King Sol was up, I had to catch a hack and go round the sheep. I didn't get a, very good ride, because I think I went faster than the hack. There was a social here the other night to welcome Trooper Stewart on his return from South Africa. He was presented with a- gold albert, a maltese cross, and a stt of gold studs. I thmk by the look of him he was taken unawares. My stookmg mate stayed with me for tea one night, and it got very dark, and when ho was going home he fell over an embankment on the road. The next day he was showing me the way he went over the bank, and didn't I laugh. He is going to start a poultry farm after harvest, and may go in with him. What are the best kind of fowls, Dot? I thmk I have found you out; Gunpowder. Are your initials A. R., and is Enid your sister. With love to all the little folk, not forgetting yourself, — Yours truly, CROW (late STOOKER).

[How would a crow do in a fowl yard, I wonder' I am afraid the eggs would disappear mysteriously. I wonder if Mr Crow is m earnest about that fowl yard? I do not feel quite sure, but if he is, "Terror" will give him good advice if he write 3to him. Meanwhile, I may reply for eggs Mmorcas, Andalusians, or Leghorns ; for table or export, a cross between Indian game and Dorking or Langshan hens. Theic is a market for good table birds now that the Government have taken the export business m hand. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I see your correspondents are increasing every week. You must have a good army of them now. The Imperial troops were up here three weeks ago, and I had to turn out with the other school cadets. We get a good view of them, as we had to keep a road for them as they went from the train to the racecourse. The scene at the racecourse was very pretty. The lawn, which is the most picturesque in New Zealand, was covered with one mass of colour. The dresses of the ladies and the b^ght uniforms looked very pretty. I don't know any of your correspondents. Dum Dum seems to write interesting letters. His cricket match description is funny m places, but the idea :s not original by any means. I thmk the D. L. F. Pages form very inteiesting reading. I won't take up any more room, of which the demand seems to exceed the supply by a good deal, so I shall close with best wishes from

KHAKI,

[You did not enclose your name, Khaki, which is against the rule. The proper name and address must accompany each letter. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — It is three weeks now since I wrote to you, but I suppose you do not care how lo:ig we are in writing. When I started ■ writing to you I thought I was the only one round about this district, but I now know a lot who write, and some friends of mine (four or five girls) are going to write too, if you will accept them. I expect by the time my letter is m print they will have written to you. There is one D. L. F. living near me We went to school together, but I don't know her norn de plume. I went for an 18-mile drive on Saturday night I left home (with five friends) at 6 o'clock, and drove to Otauto-u. We were caught in one big shower, but that was nothing. We left for home at 10 o'clock, and arrived at half-past 12. Two of my friends stayed with me all night, as it was too far for them to go home. Instead cf going to sleep we started playing in bed, and did not go to sleep till nearly 3 o'clock. One friend is coming to live m Dunedin shortly. I want to ask you how much essence of lemon half a drachm is. With love to the editor, L. F., and yourself, — Yours truly, BLEEDING HEART. [Half a, drachm is 45 drops, but it is -better to have a little measuimg glass than to trust to being able to drop it accurately. — DOT.]

PARODY ON " FAR AWAY."

Where are all those merry children

Who wrote to Dot in days gone Ly, Telling tales of happy schooldays, And of times when spoit was high' Now, alas' they've drifted from us;

We do not have their letters to-day, For they've all grown up and wandered. Far away, far away. (Repeat last two lines ) Where are all those splendid wiitcrs —

Sybil, Scubbles. Dicky D.. Devonshire Dumpling, Doughnut, Trixie,

Joe, Struan, and 8.0.8. - 1 Now, alas' they've gore and left us, They are not of our bard to-day, For they've all resigned and d'n'ted Far away, far away. (Repeat last two lines.) Some — all l yes — still write to cheer vs —

Nancy, Hauy. Solomon Slow — And wo know that Dot's ien embercd

By Con, who's gone to brave the foe. We often thmk of you, old writers,

We hope that you'll return one clay. For you've all dispensed and wardered Far away, far away. (Repeat last two lines.) —JESSICA.

Dear Dot, — I should very much like to become one of your correspondent's. I have for a long time taken a pmt mteiest in j'cur page — or, rather, pa<?e= I should have said. What a s pi mid id idea, that is a-hout the little 'ink's cot. It is pome'h id woith spvwcr up for. What a c.imtal piece of poet'y that is tint Dian Dum h.-s m th s v-cek' •> Witness al out the Cot fii' d ATlei the appeal cootaircd m the poem, I thin 1 * you sl-cu'ti be able to cot the .£SO m no time, as the little folk's hearts (ird pockets a'-o) wi'l ro doubt be moved to do something foi the children Last Tue'dny week the iraunidu of the seventh contmneit left hei^ I knov a good many of them this timo, so of couise went down to see them off Onr> of the ii aftetwa r ds got thiown from a horse in Wellington, and is now m the hospital, but his iidients ha^e had no paitirulais about the accident jet 1 know a few of youi coi respondents personally — namely, Khaki, Ivis, Miss Bobby, pi'd Dado 1 aKo know O Mnnos.i Stu a •>& Dum Dum l>y sicht, but not having a bad«e I haven't been able to speak to thorn Wlnt a splendid letter A Chum had m this wrek ahnut the Imperial tioops I enloved their \isit to In\crcaia;ill very much. What CTancl-lookms; men some of them were. Tho Indian tronns, I tb'nk,"were the best. Emi'icci-o also had a capital letter in, and I sej it is hrr fairwell 'otter I foi o.ic am 'ouv tli it =h^ is lc.ivmg u= , fo- T h;>\e always eujo^ed. iiox lettsfa v.ei'v uotviij «Wj-d I .vii siuc

all the othns 1 aye, tco i-K at ycu thn.k so. Dot > Wit'i lo\e to Fiiin'jccco and jcar ov n self, — Ycui3 tiuly, BniA. [Ye?, dear, I am sine we aie all cxcccdi] £!y souy Hn ib~cro lias found it necessarj to .ctire. We s! all .ilvva\s icnicn b_r her c pital d3jcrioti\e letters v.ith plcatuip, m d I hope she ukij spo her way to join Emmehno's Co-y Comer Club, as she canuot continue w .th us.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I am writing again, as I promised I should do so in a short while when last I wiote, ard, if I lemenibcr aught, I thmk I said my letter would constitute a description, of Cool^ardie. Not having seen my pievious letteis jot m print, I caurot be sure vheiher you approve of my system of wilting or not; but I "am chancing that now, and have determined to pen jet another missive, in which I am going to do my Lest to describe cleaiiy a.icl accurately Coolgardie. To begin with, I shall tell you, Dot, tkat what I descube now is Coolgardie aa it wai m its young dajs, and not aa it is now, for since I have left that pa it lto has grown both m population ar.d buildn g, and is, I may state, quite as large a town as the capital, Peith. It was m the evening at 11.30 that we amved i_i the goldfield centre, find that evening we did not see much of the town, save the lighted street we drove through in. a cab and the boarding house we put up at. Ifc was the best boarding house in Coolgardie then, and when I have described it you will have a better idea of what a great place the much-spokeii-of township was. The hotels wue of canvas, and in some cases galvanised no'i, with bogwood counters. In laot, every place there was of ltide pole framing, covered with, either caavas, hsssian, or in a, few cases galvanised iron. The boarding house we put up at was a hessian building, too, the rooms for ledgers being partitioned off with cretonne, and you csn imagine what a fine night's lest wo had listening to the conveisation going on in the next room and some loud snoring in another. Very pleasant, wasn't it? But nothing to what is to come. In the momn g when we arose a jug containing about a, gallon of water was brought into our room, so that we might wash, and we weTe told to be careful with it. as water was scarce, and 2s 6d a gallon was its price. Do you wonder how our eyes opened? "What! buying water?" we said to each other. What sort of place is this? Well, I need not say our faces weie very little cleaner after our wash than before it, and after breakfast we were just as hungry as before ws sat down. The fare given us was a cup of coffee, none too warm, either, which the milk had smiled upon and then passed by, and the sugar had done little more. Bread and butter— butter, did I say ' Well, no ; not quite butter; only an apology for it, as it ran from its tin like oil — and a piece of steak about 2m wide and 4m thick comprised the whoie, and the latter was like a piece of hide. It was the best that could be obtained though, and one could not complain. After this great meal we took a walk up "Canvas Town," to h^n c a look around, and we were rather surprised to find quite a number of drapeiy and produce stores, as well as boot and shoe shops, the goods being exposed to the dust and burning sun on. casts at the doors of the canvas buildings. The railway had only been opened up about a week, and of course there being only the coaches to bring goods, (I Lad almost forgotten to include the waggons), it could not; be -expected to be a, large flourishing town. A few days before our arrival there a heavy fall of ram had fnv oured the inhabitants, and it amused us' to sec men, women, and children digging up the dark chocolate soil, as well as the horrid red dust, in search of gold. You will be surprised when I tell you it was not a fruitless search, for m most cases the "fossickers" were successful in discovering small grains of fine gold. In New Zealand, prior to our departure, we had laughed when we had heard that gold could bo picked up m the streets, but we did not laugh when that veryday we started "'prospecting" m the back yard, and found quite a number of tiny pieces of gold. This is truth, Dot, though you may imagine it is not. The gTea-t goldmine, Bayley'a Reward, was iust at the end of the mam street (Bayley street), and not far from where we were staying. On the bare hills around we could see miners' camps all over, distinct on the dark hills, with their clusters of white tents Not a. tree or a blade of grass couia W found, though there was plenty of red dus f , 'which, when once it gets into your clothes, sticks there, and all the soap and water in. cieation cannot remove it. You see by thisthat people from the goldfields can easily be picked out, for they carry this "brand. In addition, it is swarming with ants, and, oh ! you are airuply covered with these little pests if you take a walk out for a few hours, to say nothing of the siwuke3 and scorpions, which are found in vast numbers there. The first day we landed .we were naturally knocked up in a few moments with the heat, which, is enough to roast one. In fact. I have seen a dish of water hot enough to wash dishes with after being left out m the sun a few minutes. It heats it quicker than a fire, jou see. That day we went into a fruit and cool drink shop to get a dunk of water, and you can understand how things were bought and sod there when I tell you we had to pay one shilling for two glasses of water. Very cheap, was it not 9 But then you see we were m Coolgardi°. I will continue this description m my next letter, ajid for the present I shall close by visliing you success with the Cot fund, to which I shall coitnbute -omethmg i ext time I write. With love to all and jorrsclf, Dot, — Yours truly,

DAISY PRIMROSE

[I cannot understand how 3-011 have not seen your previous letters in pni't, Daisy Primic-e ; they have ceitamly appeared, vvd as they wee so long they could not be easily missed. Yon must have m.°scd seeing the pa^cis m which they appealed. Hoy.- g!,?d •n ou wouldbe to see the last of Coolgarche' Fai.cy paj1115 for a gla°s of watc.-, and half-a-crovm for enough to wash one's face pnel hands in' It is to be ho led the} 7 hare a water supply before this, isn't it?— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — The weather up here is very cold ju^L iio\v, and there is ice oa the watc in the racrnmgs. It is a very cold place up here anyway. Bullendale is situated at the no.th of Queerstown. 89 miles fiom that town. All the things are packed up here 011 horses, and the roads arc very rough, especially in v inter, when there is ice on the ground. A creek flows tluci'kh Bullendale, and there are hills up rach Mdc of the creek. The houses are built on thp s.dcs of ihe hills, and there is a lot of trees amongst tho houses. There is a f,olel mine heic tec. ai.d ii is situated at the foot/ of the hill dow.i by the cieek. Things are vciy dear up here on accou it of the way they have to be brought up. Dear Dot, I h.-tve found out a lot of the little- folk. I found out Ahs, among others. My mother knows her well We votOd have ne^er found yon out, Al\" ) only we saw your photo 111 the Witness, and mother said it was you. Mother says that mv sister and I can go to JDvnedm to see the Duke of York, and I hope to see you, Dot, and <=omp of the little folk tco. I suppo=« vott will bo down, Alys? I shall have to stop now, as it is, getting bed time. With heaps of los - o to Dot and the little folk-, — Yours truly.

WILD WEST

[It will be a long journey for jou, Wild West, but I am sure it will bo an interesting one. I hope you succeed 111 serins: some D. L. F. when 3ou aie m town and also on tho lor.d down.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Seveial times I have been going" to jom y_oiu l>.-uid 01 little folkj but ©a&k Us3A