CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2499, 5 February 1902, Page 68

CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED.

Zelie has found out six little folk since she last wrote. "My favourite author is Annie S. Swan. I have not read ' Alice in Wonderland ' to give my opinion on it."

Unita has seen a portrait which^ she thinks is that of Dot, " and she is a very 'dark lady." [So, Dot is developing into a dark lady now; perhaps we shall have a Chinese Dot by-and-by.] " The rata is all out in flower just now, and the place looks very pretty. It is raining, as usual, as it alweys is in Catlins. I wondei why this place is called Catlins. 1 don't think there are such a lot 6f cats about."

Clotilda acknowledges Annah is right in her surmise as to her initials, but she cannot think who Annah is. "We are having very good weather here, and I think it is time too — the last month of summer, and only the last three weeks have been anything like summer weather. I shall be glad to change auto 9 with any D.L.F. who will Bend me their 9. If they would send them to the following address it would save Dot a good deal of bother : — ' Clotilda, care of Postmistress, Maungatua.' "

Lois writes : "What kind of weathei are you having in Dunedin, Dot? I hope it is fine, as Mater, Warhail, and I are going up next week. I suppose by the time this appears in print we shall have arrived in Dunedin, and I trust we shall meet many D.L.F. when we are {here. Dear Dot, what a cruel thing that wa3 thosi people did to Trooper Frankharn'd grave. No wondei Daisy Primrose was wild with, them, after all her pains to make it so nice. I noticed in one of the Witnesses, Dot, that another L.F. has taken my nom-de-plume. I shall ask you to kindly decide which of us will keep to the same one. I would not like to change mine now, Dot, as I have had the name for over two years. [You are certainly entitled to the name, Lois, and I am glad you prize it and do not wish to make a change. — Dot.]

Blackbird nas had some fine fun swiruining. "I can swim now, and I enjoy myself very much at it. I am thinning turnips just now, and I like it very well."

Petroia would like to exchange bu-tos with Priscilla, Dura Dum, Harry, Boy, Alys, and. Daisy Primrose. " I was down the town to see the troopers from Oamaru going to the war. There were a great number of people down at the station to see them off, and aB they moved ofi the Garrison Band played ' Soldiers of the King.' The books I like best are ' The Scottish Chiefs,' ' The Soldiers oi the Queen,' ' Robin Hood,' and ' Three Little Maids ' (don't blush, boys). All the little folk should read ' The Scottish Chiefs.' It ia a very nice book ('Scots wha hae wi 1 Wallace bled '). I was glad to see another letter from Sergeant Con, and t< hear that ho is better now. and I hope

he will come back safe and sound, with M V.C. That was- also a nice letter Lady Barbarity had in. What a grand little club tbs) Critic Club is. Dick makes » good chairman^ Long live the Critic Club, say I."

Night Air has been to a dance, and ha6T " such a lovely time." " I have been away staying with some friends in the country, and E. enjoyed myself very much. Dear Dot, our races arc to be very soon, and that is such a great day here for the people. They flock out ir hundreds to see a jockey break his neck."

Somebody's Lassie was at the Clutha show, where she saw a great number of badges, and spoke to the wearers ot some of them. " DearDot, I have a. great many pets, including a. lamb, two cows, two cats and a kitten, a clucking hen, and about a dozen chickens. What with all these pets and a tease of a brother I can tell you I have a lively time of it. I often tell my brother that he is a nuisance, but I couldn't do without him for all that."

Happy promises, the next time he writes, to? describe the placo in which he lives. " The weather up here is very changeable — sunshine and wind or rain. I have read a good, few* books, including ' Bond and Free, 1 ' Mrs Caudle's Lectures,' ' Chatterbox/ ' Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and several others."

Sweet Ivy is trying to find out who Dot is, but she complains that her sister will not tell her. "We are busy picking fruit just now. Isn't it a hard job, Dot? "

Tantwha has not been to Dunedin yet, but* she hopes to go there with hei father at Easter, 9-zid see the sea. ** 1 have jusfc one brother, aiic* he is always teasing mo and trying to find out my norn de plume. I have a quiet moment to write this letter, Doi. as my sister is sewing. I was at the W. spoits and' won a race. It ia very quiet down here on Sundays."

Leila wishes to exchange autos -with ,Alyg. and Elaine. " I suppose you have forgotten, me, but that is not the way with me. I will tell you about my Christmas holidays. -W« , went to the Caledonian sports, and saw several D.L.F. One came and spoke to me, and an-* other one said ' Halloa, D.L.F. !' Then I went to the school picnic, and won several prizes.' 1 We have just finished the shearing. It hau been very bad weather np here." , - Broadleap writes: "Dear Dofc, we had four weeks' holidays, but 1 ' not ' go anywhere; '.The tw^rfirst weeks were wet, bo I did no* enjoy myself very much."

Iris writes : "I am staying in' Dunedin just now, and am having a fine time On New " Year's Day I was at Tomahawk, and I was at * picnic at St. Leonards on Saturday; "while I am going to hava a row on Lake Logan tcnight if it does not rain. I have to meet my aunt at the Octagon, but before doing so E have to pull a basketful of cherries and gooseberries and to pick a bunch of flowers. My, home is in the country, and I live on a farm. I like town better than the country. I shall not tell you where I live or I shall be found out too- soon." Queen Mab is having her holidays, but she ia not enjoying them very much. " I have been going to a good ninny picnics lately, and at one of them a number of children and myself climbed to the top of a large haystack, and / sang patriotic songs till w» were hoarse. It was great old fun."

Donarosa has enjoyed her holidays. "On Christmas Day I wen* up the mountain- for a, picnic, and had such a good time. To-day I had a large basket of gooseberries given to me, and Night Air an<* I had a good feed." The Blacksmith's Daughter has been away for her holidays, and has enjoyed herself capi-. tally. " I was at the Oamaru sports, and, I saw one D-L.F., but did not know her name, and. not having any badge, I did not like to speak to her."

Unknown I draws attention to the appearance of Unknown II in our page. As she haa written three times over the signature she* naturally thinks she has a prior claim, to it. "Oh, Dot, I must tell you about an adventure I had a short time ago. A few D.L.F. friends and I were coming down past Queen of the Forest's place, when someone euggested a rider on the pony. The pony was caught and saddled, and I, feeling very brave, got on first. It was rather windy at the time, and my pinafore was blowing out. This alarmed the pony, and it took fright, and didn't it gallop 1 E was up in the air most of the time. I really* didn't know where I was until it came to a full stop at a gate, and I nearly jumped ov*er its head."

Blossom Writes : " The little -wild: ducks £ . mentioned in my last letter aI T died, except- on a that got away. I am fattening a white cat for , the show. She has nice dark eyes ; sometimes, they look grey and sometimes green. Although; ' we are nearly four miles out of town, this ia not a dull place, as there are two sawmills and a creamery close by, as well as neighbours."

Jacky Tae has not been away for her holidays this year. " s We were having grand funi to-day on a raft on a -stream."

Zella lives where a poor little boy was drowned a short time ago, and she is very sorry about the sad occurrence. " The mistletoe is out plentifully. Our baby is very rowdy* He pulls our hair and smacks us."

An Ocean Cuild did not go anywhere for her holidays this year " Dear Dot, it haa been raining hard all the day, and we have t^ sit quiet inside, as we can't go out to play."

Oliver Twist says that throughout the holidays he was always wishing he was at school, "It is very wet weather up here just now. Sometimes it is wet one day and sunny art* other."

Nuggety Bob spent her holidays in Greymouth and Ahaura. " I only know one L.F., but I do not know her norn de plume. She lives in Greymouth. I wear the badge everywhere I so. It has been raining all day. au<3

the creeks are very deep. I hate to see floods in the creeks." Gabden Walk writes : " Such a lot 9t Ne\y .Zealand boys want to go and fight foe the King. I think it shows that they have-some courage in them. I am. reading a very inter.easting, book called ' Dandy Blue.' It is about two LoDdon boys. One of whom was a 'cjjapple, and tht other a strong, healthy boy of 11. The woman they stayed with was a drunkard, and any money she got from them was .. spent in gratifying her craving. Often— very •often — they had to go without any food for two and three days at a time." [We should all like to know what becams of the boys. Garden Walk, after you have finished reading the book. —Dot.] Moonlight would like to exchange autos ■with any D.L.F. " I sometimes ride a pony, as I have three miles to go to school. Some L.F. do not like the condensed column, but I suppose that is where this will he put."