LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 81

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto . — We write for the benefit of others, not for oui selves. Dear Dot,— l have been a constant reader of youi page a good many years and I wrote several times, but my letters never appeared in print, bo I stopped writing, but I am making a start again now. I know tcvc-rfl! L.F . mcludiii» SkLin^ln.!!, Wild Wave, Sweet Fiuwi-i and

two or three more I need not mention. Since I last wrote to you two of my sisters have been married, and are living in Alexandra. I was in the Sixth Standard when I left school, and I sh6uld have gone to the High School, only my father was seriously ill. I was staj ing with my sister for five i*#eks for my holidays, and I erjoyed myself very well indeed. A lot of .people went down to the Dunedin show from here, 30 things were prettv^quiet. I was at a nice picnic on Good Friday, and 1 was pretty tned when I got home, as I had to valk about four irules. You can guess I was ready for my tea when I reached my destination. Some of the L.F. were saying what teases their brothers are. Well, I have two, and they nearly tease the life out of me. Winter is on us again, and we shall soon bo r.ble to slide and skate. With love to Dot, the editor, and all the L.F, -Yours truly. THE BUSYBODY. [I nm sorry your father is ill, Busybody, and hnpe the improvement will be permanent. -DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have four cors to milk flight a".d morning in tho winter months, but in "uinmer time I have =ix ami sometimes seven. I do not mind milking in summer, but in winter it is rather cold on the fingers and toe 1 ?. Nearly everybody in this district sends their milk to the factory. I know scveial of the D.LF. round about here. There is a \ory r.ice schoolmastet down here, and so we all ri.ther en<ov going to school j.cv I keep puincß pigs, but I find it very haid -to get green feed for them With lo\e to all the L F., the editor, and yourself. — Yours truly, SCOTCH THISTLE 111. fHow would it do if you were to make a little garden plot 111 an odtl corner and grow suitable food foi them 9 Of course }ou coi'ld scarcely sow thistles, but jou might \i\\t in a few cabbage plaiN and mv other vegetable that they are fond of, S T Tf aou adopt my suggestion let mo knov how you get on.— DOT.] Deir Dot, — The weather has been something miserable down Leie latch', but the=e last few chys have been a little better. I do not care much for the cold frost in the mornings I like living in the town better than m the country, because you sec more life and can enjoy yourself better. I must tell you about the farm I live on. It is out 111 the country, and is quite mi->?rable. We arc milking two cows just now, but they are not worth mentioning, berause they don't give very mucTi milk. The loads are very muddy ju=t now. I always wnlk on the railway line wlkh I am going to school, and I have a long way to go. I must tell you about a picnic I was at down here; a good, miny people attended it. We were all enjoying ourselves, when one of the guls feM into a ditch and got her fretf r et wot. We had fun that day. Ido not know an\ thing irore to tell about, because this is my first letter. I must now say good-bye to you nnd the editor.— Yours truly, LA PETITE [Ah, La Petite, I don't think your courtly home is so bpcl as all Hint, even thoush the ccw= do not give so much milk at tins time of \ppr as could be wished for. Try 10 look for the silver lining to the dark c'oud, dear, r.rd y-u will find things will .soon weai a much bniihtcr look than thej seem to have for you at present. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — We are having ve>y liprd fro=;s down he-re I went to One-tree Point for a hohc 1 ty on the Punce of Walcs's Buthday. It is mi c miles from Inveioargill, and I had f-io fun riding a house, for that is what I "ikp I hnve two pet lambs, arid I want to eet rid of one. Have \ou got any 100 mon tho loof of the office for one, Dot° T go out for a ride every n ornmg on my b'ke. Wr-<-h:t'l «o'Mi hive our wmtei ho'it'ajs. and I am 201113 up to Duredin, and will tiave a 'ooi: a 1 tho office, for it is a. long time since I .saw it last. LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU. Dedicated to Dot. Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep nlone; The spd old earth must borrow its mirth, But has troubles enough ot its own. Sing, and the hills will answer, Sigh, and it's lost in. the uir , The echoes bound with a jojful =ouvd, But shrink fioiu the -\oice of cmc Rejoice, and your friends aic niiuiv, Oneve when they turn and go, For they want full measure with al' youi pleasure, But do not want jour woe. Be glad when jour friends n'e mni v. Be sad when you lose them all, For there are none to lefuse your luclar v, me, But alone you must drink life's g.iM Feast, and the halls are crowded , Fast, and the guests wi'l fly , Succeed and gi\c, and they will wt-li you to live,— No man can help you to die There is room in the halls of pleastue For a large and loidly train But one by cie they must file 011 Through the narrow halls of pain With love to all the L.F., not forgetting vouisell and the kind editor, —Yours truly, HAZELDKAN [The lines are veiy beautiful but I fancy you have- made some mistakes in copying them, Hdzeldean A pet lamb for Dot, to be kept on the roof of the office l Well, I could soon btock a small farm if the editor would only provide me with the land. I have had the offi;r of several ca'vos a, few dogs, and a cat or two, and now there is a rhar.ee to get a lnmb^ I am afraid, however, the loof is too steep, and though there are steps up to it there is only a narrow pathway round it, and the lamb would soon find its way into tho back yard, alwjut 50ft 01 60ft down, andi that would scarcely do No. I nm afraid I shall have to thank you for the offer, and oncis more regretfully decline.— DOT ] Dear Dot, — As it i» over a year Mrce 1 laht wrote to you, I think you will allow m-s a little space now My last letter was in the condensed column, but I did not caie, as it was not of much account. It 10 veiy cold here on. frosty mornings, the "round being so hard that you can scarcely walk on it, and you caji neatly skate on the ice I don't know if it is as hard in Dunedni as it is here I was in Dunedin a while ago, and I met a. lot of DL F , who spoke to me. There was one on the Dunedin station who spoke to me, and also to A. P E., who was in the same day. Since I last wrote lo you I havu had a sistei and brother married. They were both married in the West Taieri Church, about nine milen fiom our, place. There were sports hero at Eu&tor, but the\ were not much good, the only thing I liked being the mu3ic. I saw four D.L F with badges there. With love to Griseldn, Clancy, Queen Chailotte. A. P. E., Clotilda. Aileen, Pretoria, and a lot for yourself and the dear old editor lit" he does not condense this), — Youis truly, HENLEY WEST. (The frost is never so hard ou the coa ,t as it is inland, Henley Wet, but still it is cold enough.— DOT ] Dear Dot, — T live in a beautiful country district not far from Lawrence It i° u j ua!iT ,1 \crv healthy plate. I !u\c l\ o ra:k3 to ' O o

to school, but I ride in fine weatheT, so it does not take long to go there. What h.-.ndy things bicycles are, Dot , but I suppose motors will soon be taking their place. I have a friend, and we often take rides together. — Yours truly, MICK PONTOSS. [Motor cars will always be too expensive to displace bicycles, Mick Pontoss, though no doubt they will get much more plentiful in course of time than they are now.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — The weather here has been very frosty lately, with cold north winds ; but today a thaw set in, and all the ice is away. Skating has been the game of the day for the last week, and dozens of skateis could be seen enjoying themselves on the dams. I must tell you about our harvesting. Ws had lovely weather right through. 1 was "crow" on the stacks for three drays. I had a good time right through from start to finish, and I was ■■orry when the harvesting was finished, 'llien came Ryan's threshing mill, and I was carting water tcr the engine. lie mill 1 was here throe days and a-half, threshing and .cutting chaff. I was really sorry to see the mill going out the gate. Dear Dot, don't you think Thomas Remsiiy and John Cairns deserved the sentence they received ? I think they didn't get half enough. I only know six D.L.F., but I hope through time to know more With love to al! tho little folk, Dot, and the editor,— Yours tiuly, ZEALAXDIA. [Well, Zealandia, they ccitainly leserved the =entence they got; but, of course, the judge who heard all the evidence ancl considered the mattar carefully was moie capable of deciding v hat length of time to give the pusoners than we are.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — The weather has been very frosty up here lately, and there has been a htth? skatII j going ou diiifiig the \.eek. Theic are three Chinamen leaving heic to-monow morning en route for China. Two of them have been all round the town Faying good-bye to their friends. I suppose you would see uvo of them in the illustrations iii the Witness. With love to the editoi, not forgetting >oursolf, — Yours truly, PAT SXEEZER. [Yes, Pat, I saw the picture and thought it was very interesting, as they weie such favourites in the district. 11 suppose they were quite sorry to leave.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a ycai past now since I last wrote to you. It has been verj cold up here lately, but it is warmer to-day. We hove two cows called Eooie and Jennie, and a large black doj which is nearly 12 years old. Theie are about nine D.L.F. writn/g from this district. A school co.icert 1? going^to take place next month, and I shall write and tell yon and the L.F. about it. Bluebell, Queen of May, and Bill the Bustler me u\ the same standard at school ns I am. With love to yourself and the L.F.,— Yours truly, DORA THE HOUSEMAID [The dog is quite a patrmich, Doia, and I fancy he must be very fat, and on'y able to get about with some difficulty. — DOT.] Dcai Dot,— We aie havu g veij bad weathei aiouad heie. Them are hard fi'osto ai.cl lain. I hope wo shall not have sue .v foi a while vet. I am in tbo lli.rd Standard, aad I have \ cry hard lessons. I have thiee biothers and Iv. o sisters. The last tiuie 1 wrote to you I h..d ou'.y one =i^ttji, lul io.'. I ha- et" o. .My mother is {,l\.i.{, hJ v. n-.., , aid the i ..' V is \eiy good bli^ i> .i-lc^p nearly vii tl'i» t'me JViy sistei !.ic\>- ihc'pii b.tdh when we aiu m bed. My bro'hcrh are \ery nice, Lut they do not piny with me. I aui learning lo piay the piano, ar.d I lil-c it \eiy much. Ihrie are two othei girls learning to play too. With love to the editor and yourself, and all the little folks, — Yours tiulv, RED KOSE II [I hope you do plenty of practice between your lessons, lied Rose, for that is the on!) way to get on in learning tho piano.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— My little cousiu is staying with me at present, and we have grand fun playing together. But the worst of it 19 shs is not going to stay long, because she ha& to go back to school. lam going in to slay with her soon, so I shall not feel 10 lonc'j-. It is terrible to be lonely, isn't it, Dot I , am in the Fourth Standard at school, and am nine years old. lam very fond of 'chool, and I attend well. We have a very nice teacher. Our weather glass is going down now, so I suppose we shall be getting more wet weather. Tho mornings aie very cold now, and I do not like getting out of beci. I think the fiosty mornings are the healthiest — don't you, Dot? I have not had a slide oil the ice yet, but I mean to, though I think sliding is a dangeTous pastime. When I was 111 the infant classes at school the big boya u c ed to wheel us on the ice— l mean ray mate Vio'etta and I. With love to the little folk, Dot, and the editor,— Youis tiul), ROSETTA [Well, I suppose fiosty weathei is healthy, Rosetta, but I must admit it la a little bit trying. I think I piefei the summer, with its long, bright days.— DOT] Dear Dot,— We are having mopt exqu.site weather here — rain, frost, and snow. Ono morning I went for a skhte, without knowing how thin the ice was before I got on I toil you I didn't take long to find out. We are milking two cows Ht present, bill, we do not get much milk from them My brother was giving me a ride in the bairow to-night, and lie gave me a spiller over a ptone Do you ever have chilblains? Well, I've got one on my toe and one on my finger With much love to yourself and all 1 the D.L F., — Yours truly, PANSY" IV. [I suppose jou will be surprised to find that you me the fourth Pansy to write, dear. Possibly there ha y e been even more with the name, but I have only t''rce on my hat, so I »m calling jou No. i.— DOT] Dear Dot, — I am setting a gco.l many traps just now, nnd last night I caught v black ard v. lute rabbit. I have a nice little fox-ternei The weasels and ferrets have taken a good many of our chickens this year A concert was held at Middlemarch, but J did l.ot go to it. I have 11 brother at home who >s always playing with fire, and I wish you would give me a cure for him. With love to all D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, BLUE GUM. [I am afraid he will only bs cured when he <>eU severely burnt, Blue Gum. It is certainly a \ery serious form of amusement — DOT.] Dear Dot, — We have got out school holidajs juat now, but they aie only foi 11 fortnight. It has been veiy cold for some time. It wa.s iieezing for übout a week, and was i.unirg last night, which spoiled, all the ice. We hvd seme fun while there was ice, but nearly every time I went for a shde I got wet, as I had not very good boots on. 1 have got very bad chilblains, and i took off mv boots the other day and slid about 01? the ice with my bare feet The mountain" look very pretty at the pieeer.t time, as they an co'-ered unli snow moie than half-wnv dovn I went foi a ii(Uon horseback this mornina lor tho cows, luit ii was not very nic-e, as it «a' pretiv cold, and was raining. Thei" hasn't been an> snow o:i the ground this \oar e\crp! a little about ns thick as fro=t, bat pie ,tv op ibc mauntairs With lo\c to all the halo '" k ai.d vcur.-cU,— IRIS V. Lit .0 i.O l to be uoji'.a'icd tjat you ha\e

* chilblains, Iris, under the circumstances. How^ ever could you sKde en the ice in your bare feet? How >onr feet must have nipped! — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We are having terribly rough weather here to-day. I hope it does not continue like this till show day, or it will 3top my day's outing, and interfere with the success of the show. I«»eee some of the D.li.F. girls are talking about their brothers beiSg teases. I don't think it is right of them to say that; what do you think, Dot? If they would speak to them kindly and treat them in a proper manner, I think they would net differently. lam leaving- this district eocn, and going up to the Nort! Island. lam very sorry we art leaving, as it is a very pretty place for. picnickers in tho summer time. Wo live 11 miles from town, five miles ficm Woodlands, and four miles from Mabel. 1 know a good many D L.F., but I think I am '.he only one writing ftom here. We have lost our magpie, and have not seen her for a fortnight ' now, so I am afraid she will not turn up again. 1 I think somebody must have shot her. She was an Australian bird, and a most beautiful 1 whistler, and we are so sorry about her. V T e ' once had & magpie a long time ago, but one day when a strong east wind vns blowing we \ heard her give a screech and then fly away I over the bush. That was the last time wo saw of her. We inquired ;vbout her all over the place, but nobody - seemed to know where sTie was. We just found out the other day where - she had been for two ycivs — she was di owned in a water-barrel. Just fancy, Dot, yesterday was the shortest day. j With love to all the L.F.. Dot, and Mr Editor, if he does not put this letter iv the condensed column, — Yours truly. I ' G A VENA. [You ere unfortunate with your mpgnies, CTcvenn. 1 should think someone h&3 the second one, as it is ;i beautiful whistler. It would bs better that than that she should Jt)e lost in the mish this cold weather.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— lt is just a year since I Inn w-ioto 1 to you, and I suppose you and the L.F. have I forgotten nil about mo. Oh, wo aie having I terrible weather here just now. We had the j thieshing mill here for a fortnight on uciount lof the ra.u. Tluee L.F. have left iirrc lately '—namely, E R W.. Evening Dewciron, and j Gin. I was in town a month ago, and 1 \voro ' my badge all the time l , but I did not n.eefc ono L.F. 1 was r.way in Chfistchuich at Christmas time for nearly three weeks, and only saw oue L.F. I was very imicb disappointed, because I expected to meet iv great many during my stay there. I shall gne you a .=hort account, of my fust experience 0:1 a hci-e. Well, it wns a lilile tune a.^o, but I have not forgotten it. 1 was to go 11 n'essage .10 a neighbour's about a mile from our place. I had ne\(."> ridden before, and I thought I w.is going to be very smuit. So I got 0.1 tho , horse with s> man's saddle. I hnd not gone far when I had to^eross a ford. When jiut iv the, middle tuo hoe-e went walking lti'.o n Uce r.t the side. I kevtt pulling the II ■ - icr'u ps the wrong one in mv excitement, — '.ir. >1, a mil ute I was over the hois.. 1 - tail, .-.l'Mii 1!!!';1 !!!'; ri '113- feet in the water. Well, you m.<v mi, gr c th.-t I did net stay tlu-ic lo<-<<, for the water was wet a"d cold. " My hci <• 1.111 uv.-ay, with its late ridei after it, un'.il I caught ie .uid 'td it to the fence and gnt on :vain t" ;-o ci my way. When I pol home they silked me what I wns doing 111 the creek. Well, 1 w:m bowled out at one*, when I thought they v. ovid no! know. Wo are milking 17 cows in the mor.iing and 24 at night, and the factory is sti'l working, and is going to do so all w. uter. I only wish I was where the D.L.F. nre having their fine picnics. We L.F. away out here pie few and far between. Angkr has been busy writing to you. We had .1 =ehool conceit here about two months ago, n.ul there wc-re seven L.F. present— more thnu I have seen here yet The 'ast time I was dovn afc the township (which is 13 mites from here) I was standing at the Owaka station la'icmg to Tiooper A. D., when a woman came up to us and suid, "You are both D.L.F.?" and v. c anMyercd "Yes. She said her girl wrote under the N.D.P. of fshe then told us). One dr.y a3 Anglei wps going for the cors his horse ran away with him, and he fell off, and the horse stood on his head, making two open wounds. He suffered a long time. H> is better now, and nothing is to be se«n but a deep hollow behind his ear, but it never troubles linn. The ground is white with snow at present, it having been snowing since we came from milking. With best love to dear Rum, Wavey, Trcoper A. D., Gin, Angler, not forgetting Dot and kind Mr Editor,— Yours truly, LADY DUNDAS. [What a narrow escape Angler had. Lady Dundas. He is to be congratulated on escaping without any serious permanent injury. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We are having dreadful weather down here just now. Our examination is to take place shortly. lam 111 the Seventh. Standard, po it does not maka ary diffeicnce to me The threshing miH 1= working down here just row. A bachelors' bn'l was held hero the other night. I should have like 2 ! to have gone to the winter show, but I did not get. While some fnencos and I were on. driving the other night, wo ran into another trap Fortunately none of us wen hurt. With love to pll the L.F., Dot, and the editor,- -Yours tiuly, ROSE MERVYN. [You were indeed fortunate, Rose M., and it is to be hoped it will be a lesson to both driver b to be more cautious in driving in fiiture.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— We live in a very wild place. We have no store nearer than six miles, and uo baker or butcher either. We had one of my biothers homo lo see us, after an absence of 18 months. I have six brothers and four pisters, but there are only six of us at home. Could any of the little folk oblige me with the woids of "Somebody's Darling"? Address — "Away the Trip, PO. Hamiltor.s South." I had three nice books given to me as a present. How far is Berwick from Dunedin, Dot I With love to all D.L.F.,— Yours truly, AWAY THE TRIP. I [Berwick is 35 miles from Duucdin, A. T. T.-DOT.] Deai Dot, — It is very cold up here just now. I was al a funeral yesterday. I have two sisteis 111 Dunedin, one of them being a D.L.F. She wrote up to my brother last week, and said hhe saw my letter in tho paper, and asked him "could I snare it ? " Was not that too bad, Dot 7 1 ha\c not seen one of h-ers since sho left Blacks, and I think it is better to write httle than none at «U, like her I milk two rows cveiy morning before I go to school, and i h.ue to go over twe miles, so I have to be up cirly. With best wishes to all D.L.F.,— Yours truly, BOXNY JOE. [Your sister evidently thought she was \cry ftiidij. Bonny Joe. However, you can laugh with hei and let hei laugh at you.— DOT.] Deal Dot, — We have had excecdiug'y br 1 wchtliM down here sine? jou »cceived mv lapt Ic'ter, but I suppose v* h*»e lo tak« vX*>

'•Behcvo Me, if all Tho6C Endearing Young Cuorma" which I gizo on so fondly to-day w("<- disappear air;, tlio Century L'uilcrj v, Ot»;'l eft'eetmly La* I ** tl«>~n to tlav.

we get, and be thankful for small mercies. We arc milking 17 cows in the morning and 23 at night; but there will be some more going dry aoon. We have just received two more h«fers coming to the calving, which my father bought at a sale I know several D.L.F. about here, including Rum, Gin, N. E. 1., Trooper A. D v Evening Dewdrop, E. R. W., Wavey, Alexandrine, Laura J., and Lady Dundas, wTio ds living in the same house as I am, and has just come to try to look over my letter. She wants to know my norn de plume, as she is always reading letters from L.F. I just came -tome from my grandfather's about four hours ago, and Lady Dundas said I had to write a letter to you, so lam doing so. With love to you and* the editor. — Yours truly, ANGLER. [If Lady Dundas did not know your norn cb plume before, Bhe will do so now, Angler; tut from her letter I should say the secret was no secret to her before you wrote. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am going to tell you of a nice walk I had on Sunday. When I got up in the morning the sun was shining brightly, and I ran over to tell my mates to get ready, and wo would go for a walk. Then I went back and had a wash, combed my hair, and had breakfast. When we were all ready we walked for about two miles before turning to come back again. — Yours truly, YOUNG FELLOW. [Weil, Young Fellow, you have not told us much about your walk. Surely you saw something of interest on the way worthy of remark, w did you keep your eyes on the muddy road ill the tame?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — You aro an awfu' lassie, aootifi.' my drawin' by sayin 1 it wisna true tae lature. I'm doonncht effended. Wellwisher , c comin' tae the Witness office wi' his bulldog. i four much-hurt wee boy, WULLIE. i [My dear Wullie, unfortunately the engravers ! »Te very busy at present with the corning Christmas Annual, or I think I could have persuaded the editor to get your drawing reproduced, and then the L.F. wouldi have been able to judge for themselves. However, I need only say that d-og is almost as tall as yourself, is as broad as Wellwisher and yourself combined, although you are just half as broad as you are brief, and that the. bulldog has apparently only two legs, with decidedly platypus feet. lam afraid the dog would find it impossible to get through th-e door, so Well- , •wisher will have to leave him outside when he comes.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — My congratulations :>n O.W.W. It has passed, off like a beautiful dream, and I now make my appearance as a young writer, as I shan't be a four-years' writer till September. It is just as wall I was debarred from contributing to 0.W.W., as my letter would have seemed poor among all the other splendid ones. 1 think it is time for me to reSign, aa I am unable to write a decent letter nowadays. My pen has lost all its cunning (if it ever posBessed any). Perhaps I chewed it rather much. What a number of us seem to be Bighing for the days that shall never return. "Backward, turn backward, O Time, in thy flight" seems to be our cry. And yet we look forward to and long for what the- future has in store for us. Then when we realise and go ■through the experiences to" which we looked forward, we take but little heed of them ; we look fstil'l further ahead.. Oh, life is a mystenouß mystery, and I suppose we won't properly know we are living till we are "aged and gray." Then we shall be able to reflect on our mistakes and follies. Now I must tell you about a nice little trip Nut and I had a short time ago, to a wedding party at Port Molyneux. The first discovery was that all our watches and clock* ■were either fast or slow. We thought we were in plenty of time for the train, but I left a few minutes before Nut, and took a short cut through a neighbour's paddock. Nut followed suit, and I had almost reached the gate leading on to the road, when what should come towards me but a fierce-looking bullock. I stopped, but it still advanced, bo I — oh, shame 1 — I retreated, and was soon by Nut's side. So we passed all right. We had gone some little distance along the load, when we met our neighbour, who must have witnessed the whole performance, for he smiled a wonderful smile and said to me, "Oh, you are a warrior." I smiled too. He went on, "Oh, frightened of a bullock! You'll never mak.? a farmer's wife!" Whereupon I assured him that 1 did not think I should ever wish to. We tramped on, and nothing startling happened till we heard the whistle of the tram quite neai What a shock l We took to our heels aid ran — ran as if for life, and managed to jump on before it mo\cd off. Anyway, we reached Romahapa all right, about 12.30, with a wait of two hours beforo tis. He went and had dinner, then put in the time reading. And as we expected to see the bride anel bridegroom off in the next train, 'we must need* be prepared, so I sallied foTth, nnd bought some rice. Shortly after, the buggy containing the brida' paity (the be^t man and bridesmaid and the happy couple) arrived. The guilty pair can.c in to shake the rice off, and the bottom of the trap wns covered with rice, sago, tapioca, bar'ey, aiisl split peas. What a mixture' After a little wr all went iio.vn to the statior to rice them off A young fel'ow wps unloading groceries, ard cam noon a bag of nee. <-o shcuted for all hands Naughty irnn ' May he be fed on rice every dnv till he repent*- The train stofirn.vl in, and the brid.il p-air stepped out of the stat'on. and "then the music started. Rice seemed to come from all sides— there were showers of it. 1 stood as if dumb, watching the performance, and inwardly vowing I would never do such a foolish thing as get married, and really feeling sorry for the pair, for the rice stung sorely. Then — oh, fickleness of human nature' — when everybody's rice seenvd to run out. I deliberately followed them till they reached the carriage, pelting them all the time. One youth, who evidently Wished them a great deal of luck, tied an old shoe to the

carnage. Then we started on our cold drive to the beach, passing old boots, etc , on the way. We spent an enjoyable evening — dancing, songs, and games being kept up till 3 o'clock, when the people had to go before the tide came in, thereby proving the truth of the old proverb . "Time and tide wait for no man It was 1 before we got to bed. We arrived home the next evening, quite tired out, and I'm sure I need not assuie you that we retired earlier that night. A few nights after I slept with a piece of brick's cake beneath my pillow. You are supposed to dream of your future husband, but I d^n't believe in such nonsense, do you, Dot? Anyway I was having a pleasant dream, and someone seemed to be calling me, but it was only my brother giving his "morning call, and I awoke to monotonous life once more, and to the stern reality that it was a cold, frosty morning, and time to get up. So I gave a few regretful yawns and sighs, bestowed several longing glances on the blankets, then said good-bye to them till the next time. Can I have a few private words, Dot? Marcia, E. D. N. A., and Nobody Knows, I am so sorry, but have not time to correspond with you. Shall aend> you my photo soon, but I have lost yours. You have not sent me yours, Marcia. Did 1 send you one, Tessa? Thank you, Civis, for the poems you quoted for my benefit. They were very amusing. I hope you will not hesitate to criticise my poetry, etc., in future, as I don't mind it a bit. It is all in a D.L.F. career. The song that seems to be all the rage in this corner is, "When the haivest days are over, ' but that time is still in the dim and misty future, as one farmer out here hasn't finished cutting yet. I hope soon to sec letters from my chums Ophir and Reta. The latter is at homo now, so, as we anticipate seeing a good deal of each other, we shall have some great larks to tell you of, for Reta always has a good time when she gets with,— Yours truly, JESSICA. [Do I believe in sleeping with a piece of wedding cake under my pillow, Jessica? Well, yes, I think it is rather a nice custom, and even if the end aimed at is not attained, no harm can be done, as if you dream at all the dream is likely to be pleasant. Perhaps we do not believe so much in old sayings as our grandmothers did, but most of us would be soiry, nevertheless, to see them drop into disuetude altogether. lam quite delighted to think that a country girl can be afraid of a bullock: there is some excuse for a town girl being afraid of a dairy cow after that.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l am home just now getting up my strength after an attack of the plague— l mean scarlet fever, of course, but it's just about as bad. I had been out in the wilds at Dunback for about six weeks along with three other chaps, repairing the schoolliouse theie, and as per usual, just as I was beginning to like the place, I had to depart. Dunback is a lovely place, and anyone who likes rabbit shooting could not go to a better place. I got eight rabbits in one gully just by sitting down and Fhooting round me One Monday night my throat got very sore, and next day I felt wretched, and on Wednesday I felt so bad that I told the boss I was going to Palmerßton to see the doctor there, and if it was anything senous I should go on to Dunedin, and he up for a few days. On arriving at P. the doctor told me I had scarlet fever, and I at once thought of lying in a clean white bed with a white-aproned nurse taking my temperature, laying her cool hand on my fevered brow, etc. ; but the doctor told me I couldn't travel in a train, and in fact I could go in no public place. Therefore he consulted with tho town clerk, and they procured a stretchc-r, blankets, and pillow and put me in the old county buildings. My meals were sent to the door every day, and I got up and took them m. There was no nice nurse and no fevered brow, and for the most part I was sitting as close to the fireplace as possible. The doctor saw me twice a day, and now and then someone would knock at the door and ask me how I was. Luckily the weather was warm, and after a week or so I could get out for a short time with a great coat on, and put m time shooting birds with my rifle. Clarissa came up and had a yarn one Sunday evening, and a minister came one morning, but they were all the visitors I had. At night I was desperately lonely, especially as I was not allow eel to write to anyone, not even home. You have no notion how glad I was when the doctor pronounced me fit to travel and I boarded the train for Dunedin. For the short time I was ill it pulled me down an awful lot, and even yet a short walk will tire me out. Was not the O W.W. splendid' I liked the letters very much, especially old favourites hko Boy, Nut, etc. Imi sending you a photo for Ihie next group If the engraver refuses to tackle it, }ou can use it to poison rats with, if yon have raN. No, I don't mean that — I \w«-h 1o infer that it will be instantly fatal to rodents when they see it I be'ieve that a good maiiv L F were asking for in} auto thiough the page, but as I wsn ill I could not send them, any, and I forget who were a'-king for th'm Will Fokcn 'llic'ma and M> ra Clitai.a pk'a=e exelm <;<:■ auto- M a'kl,r,-i ,*. 'Tr\as Jack, cau- of Mrs Biowlc, 63 Voik place, Dunedin." With lo\e to all tin. LF, \our-t!f, and the edi'.or, — Yours truly, TEXAS JACK. [What an experience for mind Texa<- Jack' If we had only known, what al^i-ht ,\mpathy you would have had, T J K\cn now I am sure all the L F. wi'l foe-1 quite sorry when they picture you ill and miserable, sitting by that lonely fireside, with no oi c to comfort vii. —DOT.] Dear Dot, — Here T am atjain, and, to u«e Boy's much-detested expression, "popping up like a bad penny. Well, Boy, New Chum diel find a bad permy — or rather, what she thought would suffice as a bad penny, anel intended sending it to you, but always put it off tnl too late. It is 11 months since I 1m wote, or rathei since my last-- letter ap-

j pcared in print, lor alas 1 the one I wiote 'ocUvoen this — if it ever gats finished — and the last met with a sudden end. It happened tins way. Now Chum happened to be near while I was reading over my letter before sending it away to be minced--er — er— condensed, and of course she had to see all about it. For p while all was silent, when to my surprise the letter was no longer in my possession, and on turnn g lound to bee what was the cause of the outburst, I beheld my sister crumpling up my poor letter and angrily demanding what I was using her name for. That was the last I saw of it. However, I must try to guard this one better, and so ensure its e c cape from. New Chum's cruel fingeis and the conden=er, though I have no gieat horror of the latter. "Within the last 11 months mother and baby have had bronchitis. Mother took it first, and at the end of three weeks she began to go about a little, and caught a chill, and she had to be under careful treatment again for a fortnight. Baby was very bad for a week, and then recovered quickly. Of course, my sister and I were cooks again. Nothing -north writing about happened, however, except the. time that my brother nearly drowned me with milk, but I shan't 3!>.y anything about that, as I have forgiven him. I feel as if I could write a lot, but I don't wish to make this letter a long one; so before closing I shall try to tell you how E. C. and I went out and d.id a bit of stooking. Well, we thought we were getting fat for the want of exercise, so determined to ask dad for a job. He didn't quite believe in it, and said it was too hea\y a job for us, and indeed it wa3 a hca\y crop, threshing about 'ill bushels to the acre ; but we managed to get round him, and made a start. Now, if any of the L.F. have evei had the experience they will know what it is. to be stooking big, heavy sheaves, some of which were full of thistles, and in some places so thickly strewn that you couldn't get room to walk for falling over the big monsters; and to make matters worse, it was a. very hot day. Once we became very thirsty, and my mate sent me off for the bally, which I was a long time in bringing, a3 I preferred the top of the hill, where there was a slight breeze blowing. However, thus refreshed, we started again, and neither of us would give in that we were "played out." Once or twice my mate would be saying she had all the ones to tie, or if we came to a patch of thistles, "they wouldn't stand much squeezing. But mother was not well enough to enable her to do all the work herself, so we had to be content with two afternoons' exercise. We had a Chines© working for us this year, and he wasn't suoh a bad sort, though he was pretty cheeky. Once he came m early for dinner, and seeing baby creeping on the floor he wanted to nuiae him. New Chum was very indignant, 01 pretended to be, but he was not to be put off, so I had to give him the baby. N. C. was in terror lest he would kis3 baby, but I soon got him back again. My word, D.L.F Civis, I keep out of your reach, as I shouldn't like you to ha,ve me by the wool. I think you'll find Jessica a pretty slippery one if you go meddling with her letters. I see a lot of the girl D.L.F., or D.L.F. girls, are good riders. Well, I have a great fancy for riding, and have been doing a good bit lately. Before closing, I must mention that I saw a letter in the condensed column from another Laura, and as she stated it was her first letter I suppose the title No. 1 is due to me, as I wrote my first letter four years ago. Now, dear Dot, will you allow me a few lines of private talk? Yes, Nobody Knows and Calder, I shall be pleased to exchange autos with you, and I must beg you to forgive me for not letting you know sooner, but I have had httlo time for writing 1 lately. Yes, dear Reta, I shall be glad to exchange autos with you. I have youis and I thought you had mine, but as This is not the. case, I shall send it first time New Chum writes to Ophir. I saw by this week's paper a letter from R Crusoe, who, by the bye-, is an old schoolmate of mine, and I see «he thinks li'falenna would like the position of number ol the Critic Club, but if I were asked my opinion on the matter, I should say it is R. Crusoe herself who v. ishes to take o\er the job, and put Taffy in the shade. And as for Infanella scalding herself— well, I must say I heartily -sympathise with Infanella, and I fail to see how R. Cmsoe can rejoice mit 1 also see she intends giving a picnic for all the D.LF. who attend stnct'y to his or her own business. Now, It. C, don't take offence, but I can't resist the temptation of saying that I am afraid you will have to stay away, and I don't think it will be much of a. picnic without a hostess. Now I've done it l I shan't get an invitation, but, R. C., wouldn't it be a selfish world if e\erjone attended strictly to his own business, and never offered to lend a helping hand to a pool friend, who had more than he could manage? Now, dear Cot, I shall wind up this rubbish with love to all the- L.F. and the editor, and last, but not least, 30m own deal self, — Yours truly, LAURA I. fl suppose you would be as blown as beiries aid wuh the ino^t \igorous of appetites after Hir two da\ s' <?tookins?, Laura You would ct.rt.ui. v fe< I the brnifit of thp change when jou returned to jour hou-o work —DOT ] Dear Dot, — I wps at both picnics of thp D L F , but I likiel the Mopicl oi c the better ol tho two, as there v.cro mcc at it. I did not tl Mik anything about it till a quarter past 7 that moi nn g, and as I hael nowhere to go, I thought I would go out there fo/ tho day. When I got to the station I could see nobody there, until I felt someone tapping my shoulder, ar.d when I looked round, whe was it but Siowdiop l When I had got our tickets, I had si look round for a peat, and who did I come upon but E O. A., M. M., and F ; and when we all got <-Undmg room on the tram it was just moving off When -we ><ot to tho pace where we were to spenei the clay, wo (ufter a dreary walk of about six mile-*) boiled the billy and had lunch. After Ihnt went for a walk, And met fcorue I'd)*-, and 1 quite

agree with E. O. A.'s -lelea that they were liornd. The> invested us like a horde of mice round a bit of cheese, of which all wanted to get a nibble, all the afternoon. I was pretty veil tired out when I got home that night. I wish I could correspond with Yen Lillias, and a, few others, who are willing. If addressed to 53 Moray, place, Dunec^in, letters will find me. I will close now, with love to all. — Yours tiuly, WHITE HEATHER. [Those boys seemed to have behaveel in a very objectionable manner, White Heather. I hope they read E. O. A.'s strictures on their conduct, and that they feel heartily ashamed of themselves. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have not wntten to you for about three months, so I think I shall make amends for my remissness. We had our exam, three weeks ago, and I got on all right. Last time I wrote I told you about a trip 1 had to Manly. This time I shall tell you about the gardens. They are reached by going through the Domain. As you go through the big gates you see statues and trees, flowers, etc., and further down is a fountain and a big tree covered with flying foxes hanging from the blanches. Further still are little pools, where ducks anel swans aro swimming, and lower down is the harbour. It is nice to watch the boats sailing up and down. — Youis truly, GREENGAGE. [There must be a good deal to interest a New Zealander m Sydney, Greengage, things are so different there to what we are accustomed to here.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about a tup I had to Moke Creek. It is about seven miles from here. I left home about 10 o'clock in the morning with a packhorse to fetch down a few things. I passed the Prince Arthur diedge about ha,lf-past 10, and saw that she was ice-bound, and was unable to work. Then I kept on going, and reached my destination about 12 o'clock. I had home dinner with my father's mate, and stayed with him for about an hour, and then got my pack-load ready and put it on the horse, and left for home about half-past 3. We have had some very good weather up here lately, the only drawback being that it is a bit cold in the mornings, but it looks very much like snow now. All the harvesting and threshing is finished up this way, and they had some very gooel weather for it With !ove to yourself and the editor, — Yours truly, PRINCE ALBERT. [No wonder the elredge sank, Prince Albert, after she had been stuck in the ice in that niannei. What a cold journey you must ha\o had , but I suppose )ou had to walk alongside the packhorse, so you would not feel it so much. -DOT.] Dear Dot,— We are having very wet weather here just now. The place is, quite miserable with the ram and the mist all round the hills. It is very quiet here at present, as there have been no dances lately. I was in Dunedin for two weeks at holiday time. lam going to start to weed my flower garden soon, as it is overgrown with weeds; but as it is not a very big one it will not take me long to do it. Tho flowers I have in it are geraniums, pansies, violets, primroses, carnations, and many other kinds. The flowers in bloom just now are dahliaa and chrysanthemums. I have been gathering ferns to-day, and I am pretty tired to-night. There are some lovely ferns heie, and when you want any I should advise you to come out here. With love to all the L.F., ■the editor, and yourself,— Yours truly, _ AIRDALE. [What a sheltered place your garden must be in, Airdale, for dahlias to be flowering so late m the winter. Why, they have been all cut down by the frost in mo 0 t places for some tune.— DOT.J Dear Dot,— lt i? such a long time since I v.rote to jou that I hardly know how to begin. We are having terrible weather, and to-day the si,ow is nearly half a foot deep. In my last letter I mentioned that it was snowing then. Deai Dot, I shall try to describe a picnic we lad at the bush. We left about half-past 10, and got there about 1 o'clock. Some parts of tho roael were pretty roupli, but we diel not nimd that. When we got there, we gathered some dry sticks to boil the billy with. While it was boiling, some of us went to look for feihs, but wo were not long away when we heard that the billy was boiling. After we hni 1 had some lunch, we all went down to the river. On the way down we found some very prptty ferns, which we took home. When wo went back we had some more tea, and then we \ukcd up the horse and departed for home, which we- reached at half-past 7. We were all very tired when we got home, so we went fo bed early that night. With love to Lady Ps>che, Viola, Girlie, Glen Iris, and all the other D.L F., including Dot and the editor, — Yours, truly, STAR OF THE SOUTH. [There is nothing like an outing for inducing sleep, Star of the South, so I expect you found the inght ail too ■jhort after your picnic. - DOT ] Dear Dot, — It is nearly threo taomhs s.nce I last wiot' io >e/u, -o I think it is time I started to unto again Ihe settlers about l(re ha\e all threshed their crops now. AVc had the- null a week, and I can ai'-uie \cu I was glad when it went awa\, for there a r e always 12 men with it, and eight of ours.'fvea n.udc 20 — such a lot to cook foi, and with my eldest sister being m Dunedin, of course I hail my !-ha,re oi it. Jutt fancy peeling po*a*o;9 fo- 2U, and getting up in tho mornings, scnietin:c^ at 5 o'clock, to get breakfast ready by G o'clock! Onl>, fortunately, I did not havethat cv my piogramme. Then, when you call out to the men for breakfast, -"ou will sep how thpy come m one by one. One may ccn'e gliding m, nnd after having a look at all round, settles Ins e\e« on ln« plate, and then v.litu tlic} aie scattd, the convcridtioii tlms,

sometimes on one thing and then on anotlier. "Yes, sir," one says, "did you ever eat a young whnle? I have, and it is all right, I enn assure you." Another one says, "Yes, the horses in Queensland are fed on black treacle —yes, my boy, and get fat on it." One man once saw plums as large as a. sugar bowl, but the next man thinks they must have been svedish turnips. Then another man says, "Yes-, eels are all right eating. You just catch an eel, take out the backbone, salt it, smoke it, dry it, anel it is splendid." Thus the meal passes over, and then at night time or on wet days, you will hear some music playing. Wa christeneel our mill hands "Ihe Glee Club," for they hael all sorts of music, even to a tin whistle, and one man played it so well. Tho last letter I wrote I gave it to a friend to post, and when he saw it was addressed to you, "Why," he said, "Dot is jus* the editor." But I do not believe him. And one of my brothers said, "Dot is just a bald-headed, kindly-faced, smiling old man — married, of course — not a bachelor. It has been horribly cold weather up hero lately. Between snow anel frost, one would nearly freeze. 'J-here are no flowers up this way now; they are elead with the frost. We have a clock that plays "Daisy Bell," and it is so nice. It is supposed to be the alarm, but if you are lying in bed listening to it playing, it will send you to sleep again. I should like to exchange autos with. Emu, Lil, and Sweet Maree. Aeldress to "Nellie Haugh, Dunrobin." With love to The Shepherdess's Fairy, Florodora, anel Anthea, not forgetting yourself and the patient old editor, — Yours truly, PEAEL QUEEN. ' [Poor Dot— l cannot help pitying myself •when I hear of the dreadful pictures those cynical brothers and theii friends paint me. The bald-headed, kindly-faced old man ia, of course, all right in his place — and so, no doubt, is the editor — but fancy eithei of them sitting iv Dot's chair looking over D.L.F. letters! Tho mill hands must be an amusing lot, Pearl Queen. Fancy getting a meal off a young whale! It would be necessary to live at the South Pole to be able to enjoy that, I think. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— We have had terrible, weather here lately, blowing and hailing all day long. There is an awful lot of sickness about here at present, and whooping cough is very bad. I have got a dear little pup, which I call Floss 1 . It is a black-and-white fox terrier. Most of your good writers have left your page, Dot; but I hope they still take an interest in it. My two cousins used to write to you, but I have not seen their letters in tho paper for a. long time. There was a ball here Jast Saturday night, and I went to it, and enjoyed myself very much. I don't think there aro many abnut here who write to you. I see by thf Witness that a. lot of your writers say their brothers are teases. I have two brothers, and when they were at home I used to think they were teases, but now they are away it ia very lonely at home, and I sometimes think that I could put up with their teasing if they were home again. Since I last wrote to you I have got a little niece to look after. She 13 my sister's little girl, and her name, is Ruby Ellen. With love to Dot, and all her little folk, — Yours truly, LADY GRACE. [Ah, I fancy that would be the case with many other L.F., Lady Grace — if their brothers were away from home they would gladly put up with their teasing to get them back. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — About a week ago we had a fe-w nights' hard frost, causing even running water to freeze. Not far from where I live is a good wide creek, called the Sutton, over which is built the railway bridge. This creek was frozen over completely, and I had a grand timo skating. It was frozen for about five chains up the creek. This was my first skate this year, and I was delighted. I ran down and began walking about on the ice to see if it wou'.d bear me. Finding it all safe, I took a run on it. I got good "way" on, I can assurt you. It was all right till my paca was slow, and when I stopped I was going to take another run, by my way of it. I waa somewhat surpiised when I found I had taken a sitting posture on the ice. That was enough for me, and in half an hour I was home, feeling a little sore and stiff.— Yours truly, DERBY. [It waa a ver/ good beginning, but you must have a. try with skates when you get the chance-, and let us know how you get on.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— We saw by Boadicea s letter that she rode the beautiful horse Ladysmith at the Taieri show, and also that she claims that ho mjs the br»ht horse in the West Taieri Mounted Rifles. We also saw that this claim, was contested, as Minnie Clyde said she rode the best t hcrse. So, Dear "Dot, there is a wide difference, of opinion somev.-here, as all the Outram people think Lndysmith it the best. There is a very pretty horse about here named Cocky, and two of us have had the pleasuro of riding him along the road. Dear Dot, do you ever have surprise parties in town? They ha\e been very common out here for a while past Wo were at two lately, and we enjoyeel orrselves very well considering there was such. a lot of people a', both, and that we were so eri.fchcd. Ping-pong has started here, but if; ha>- not been -\ery successful yc-t, as tho weather has been =o unfavourable, and the people aj o -afraid of taking cold. With love to B. L. and B. F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY. [Surprise parties are by r>o means unknown ai town, P., H., and C, but of course they are more suited to country district", as town people ha\e- so many things to amuse themselves with. -DOT.] Dear Do*,— lt is xbout a year "ince I wrote to your page, and since then several other D.L F ha\c taker my noni de plume. I have seen Queenie Xo ] and No 11, so I think, r?ther than gne up mv old N D P., I will iu if.' a from jour p*jjc. 1 L.nc written under

the noun de plume of Queenie foz about three years. I have toothache to-night, and I think it must be the damp weather, although to-day is just like spring. We have a cousin staying with us at present, and I am just beginning to know boys a little now. He and I have had a quiet little row over a trifling bit of a. thing. He haa taken himself off to see another fellow, bo I suppose he is tired of us girls, me especially. Where have Mimosa and all the other writers gone to? I suppose they are, something like myself — can't be bothered, ify eldest sister is trying to do some fancy work for a tea-cosy. My mother has been away to town a fortndght, but as it was wet nearly all the time, she found it pretty miserable. If it had been me I would have enjoyed myself, in Bpite of rain or anything else. The factory is still running here, but I fancy it will coon close ; then it will ba a bit quieter. The roads here are lovely ait present. They only take one up .over the boot-tops. You can't open ct shut a gate without getting bogged. Mother is giving the dogs a great name for entering her fowl run. Here is a sentence I overheard thiß minute: "Our old dog is as good as ten dead one 3 yet." Poor old thing, if you skw the wretched animal you would say it was a living object that should be dead. Any D.L.P. sending autos, send by post, and I will send mm« in return. With love to Dot, and her L.F.,— Yours truly, QT7EENIE I. [This Queenie is certainly Queenie I, so the others must follow after in rotation. — DOT.] j LETTERS CONDENSED. Queeh Bea "has h^d three weeks' holidays in consequence of the illness of her teacher and the departure of the lady teacher. "Dear Dot, we had a grand bazaar in aid of the church fund, and I am sure we had capital fun both rights. The weather has been very cold these last few days." Topsy II has had a couple of days' holidays from school. "We had a social and dance about a -week ago. The social started at halfpast 7 o'clock, and was kept up till about 11, when we all went into the tea room and had supper. The room was then cleared, and dancing started, the dancing being kept up till 4 o'ciock in the morning. We left about 2 a.m., and I can tell you we were all very tired the next day." ! Mistbbss Spitfire had a good time at a concert held lately in the schoolroom. "We had some snow here the other day, and I had some snow fights, which I enjoyed very much, although I got some hard ones." IiADT Constance tolls me there is a thick costing of snow on the ground where she lives. "The snow has been drifting all day. The Hessey dredge will be starting work shortly, as the building of it is almost finished. There is a, great talk of the railway coming up to Waikoia. If it does come it will be a great benefit to us all, especially to the farmers. The winter has not been sever* aa yet, but it is said that wo are to have a very bad winter." John Mannikin has a capital little dog. "Dear Dot, I am living in a very lonely place, and I wish I was out of it. My father and mother are living with me, and a little dog named Snip. It is a very pTetty little dog, and I train it to do many funny tricks." Sailoe has a dear little brother called Ranfuxly. "1 went to town last week, and I enjoyed myself very much We were down at the wharf, and saw a large steamer there. Th« D.L.F. had their photos taken, but as it is not very dear we are going to have them taken again." Pansy V agrees with tha D.L.F. girls who think brothers are teases, for heT brother was teasing her while she waa writing. "We have j a nice pony here. She does not buck like other ponies, and I ride her; but I do not ride the right way for little girls, for I cannot. I went up to my aunty's on the pony, and got some apples. I went to the skating rink on Saturday afternoon, and had two falls, and the ' other day I had three falls. ' Clematis I thinks Wullie a very comical writer, and she used often to laugh at the amusing expressions ho used. ""We are having very cold weather along this way, and the fanners Are very late getting in their crops." Cannibal Tom mid Cock of the Nokth both tell me they are trying to do their best in writing, and ask tliat their letters may not appear in the condensed column. There is, however, scarcely enough in either to warrant their appearance in full. They both practically say: — "We had a fall of snow, and we had good fun, I can tell you, Dot. My sister and I had a good snowball fight, but I cannot tell you who won. Dma has been to Dunedin, and was go very fortunate as to be able to see Nellie Stewart in "Sweet Neil of Old Drury. ' "I was at Bluebell's party on the 25th of June, and had a very good time. We had all kinds of games. We have a little pony ; she threw me off and galloped away, but we soon caught her again. I have not been on her since. Maid of Ireland knows six D L.F., namely, Tussock, Jessica, Nut, Scotch Heather, Hazel Stick, and Merlin. "Merlin goes to the same school as I do, and she is an the Fifth Standard. I am in the Fourth Standard, and 10 years of ' age." A WISH FOR LIFE. (Dedicated to the members of the C.C. while • they are still living and nbto to appreciate it.) Mysterious band of youthful boys most wise, Who id Dot's Page discreetly criticise, Across the space, with hopeful heart and true, I now a friendly greeting send to you. Accept my wishes hearty, love sincere, Acd as from day to day and year to year You tread life's mazy pathway, honest, true, My kindest wish shall ever go with you. Across your ways may Fortune ever strew The flowers of joy and love, and e'er on you May Hope's bright gleaming, guiding star Shine clear to light your paths afar. And when your youthful writing days are o'er, And you to dear old Do,, can write no more, May vain Kgretß your thoughts ne'er overcast, But may you find the preHent as happy as the past. Then when a sweet, cl^ar angel voice of love Calls to you from the happy realms above. Safe may you cross Death's deep, dark, lolling tide, And greet some long-lost loved ones on the other side. May long-stilled, loving voices bid you come, And guardian angels guide you safely home. JESSICA. July, 1903. AUTOS. Stab of the South is willing to exchange with any L.F. AAJress: "Star of the South, care of Ma-s Reoves, Waipori. ' Queen Majiy would exchange with any L.F. Address : "Qneen Mary, care of Mr A. F. Campbell, Kamahi. Edendale." FntEW.T wishes to exchange autos with any li.F. Address : "Firefly, care Mis . M. Werner, Lowburn, via Cromwell.' ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. loulkthe.— Did you get my letter? If so, kindly reply as soon ts possible. LITTLE FOLK'S BADGES. ""*"-- following badges have been sent : — Pearl -*. Lady Doreen, Flower 11, Alice M.

LITTLE FOLK'S EIDDLES. By Greengage. — Why is a schoolboy teing flogged like your eye? ANSWERS TO RIDDLES. By Heliotrope II. — A hundredweight, because it has four quarters.