LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.
Motto : — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. Dear Dot, — I changed my quarters six weeks ■go, and am living now in the land of Balfour. It is not half so pretty as Dunrobin. When I came -iiere first we had fine weather, but last ■week it changed to rain, sleet, and frost. I had i a pretty lively time at first, between a concert, the .mill, and a. banquet. We had the anil} here from the Monday, evening till the Friday afternoon, and such a nice lot of early rising, cooking, and washing dishes there was. liuckiiy we had fine weather, and thus got rid of them all the sooner. On the Friday evening my mate and I were driven into a concert at Balfour. Lantern slides were shown very nicely, especially the ones accompanying the Bongs, "The Holy City," "The anchor's weighed," and "Star of Bethlehem," which were sung by Mr John Stanley, an Australian singer. "The Paragon" sang "Killarney," "Jock o' Hazeldean," and several others. Thus ended our evening's entertainment. The banquet I was at was tendered as a farewell social to Mr and Mrs S*mith, who are leaving Ardlussa to go to Pukerau, Mr Smith having been school teacher here for ten years. A long service, wasn't it. The social was held in a tent or marquee on the lawn in front of Mr Smith's house. It started at 7, and ended at 12 t 'clock. The tent was decorated with wild fowers, such as periwinkle and so forth. There were three long tables, on which were jellies, lemon sponges, cakes, confectionery, fruit, meats, fowls, etc. Here and there were stuck bunches of artificial flowers, which did not look half so nice as real flowers would have done. The forms were taken out of the school for seats. The dinner was the first part of the programme, and it lasted over an hour. After that the musical part began. Songs were rendered by Miss Cowie, Mrs .Stuart-Smith, Mrs Tulluck. Misses O'Shea (2), and 1 MacPher=on ; Messrs Hart, Butler (2), Kasmusscn, and Dawkins. The best music was given by Mr Robert Butel's graphaphone. The singers were not heard to any great advantage owiug to their songs being in a crowded tent. I was away near the outside of the tent, and enjoyed myself amongst the crockery. Singing over, a cup of tea was handed round, and the singing of "Auld lang syne" brought the evening to a "close. Oh, I forgot the Masters Butler gave a recitation, and so did Miss Mears and Mis 3 Leffir. Mrs Mears rendered a very mournful recitation on "The Smiths' Departure." Mr 'Mears and Mi Stuart presented Mr and Mrs Smith with (t gold chain and a set of dinner dishes. Mr Robert Butl'ev presented Mr Smith with an elaborate address from his old pupils. I wonder if my blue Persian cat is still alive. I has been a foutcp of amusement to many during its travels — in sacks and so forth. Three more months till I see my pussy again. It seemed so proud the morning I went to the dcor, and saw it squatted down comfortably with a lump of red ribbon round its neck and a paper notice sewn on it, "I returned home in lime for breakfast." The rest wa-s pulled awsy, perhaps in lipi- vain efforts to got the affair off. Her carrier had a lot to do. I think I shall close now, with leve to all the D.L.F., Dot, Pearl Queen, and the editor. — Yours truly, THE SHEPHERDESS'S FAIRY.
Dear Dot, — Since last writing my sister has gone to Lawrence, so, yon .see, I am housekeeper at present I see. poor Zealandia has been getting into hot water. However, lam not going to say anything about that. Although I have an opinion of my own, my advice is, '"Keep it." It is very cold in the mornings now, and one does not like leaving the bed. I am all on my "lonesome," and you would think in here by myself with no noise I would have plenty to write about, but that is not the case. The "Pisk Jubilee Singers" was the title of a lecture in song and mirth given on May 30 by the Rev. Arthur Mitchell. I was at it, and enjoyed myself splendidly. The Picnic Club's letters are generally very amusing, and I quite pnjoy reading them. We can never have a P.Ii.F. picnic up here, because some of the Mtle folk are disagreeable. There now, I have Lad my growi. I'm quite as bad as our celebrated" chum, Awkward Ned. We are mostly all growlers up here, and as I have caught the complaint there is a- little allowance, is there not? Wlmt a break there has been in our page. Fuchsia 11, Bluebell, and Lady Landers all gone to dwell in the heavenly home above, where they 3hall know no more sorrow, no more pain Oh, blessed thought, where all ■will be joy for ever and for aye. The bereaved ones have my sinceiest sympathy. I also extend my heartfelt sympathy to Mauvourneen, Heather Bell, and Ivy Doreen in their sad loss, •for I know what it is to be without a mother, having lost my awn dear mother three years a<*o last April ;' but I would not wish her back to this world of sin and care. Oh, no, rather would I prepare to be ready to meet her m that bright mansion above, ever remembering lhat "In the midst of life we are m death With love to Zealandia. Dame Trot Duchess oi Lorraine, Casina Girl, Kia-ora, Sir Simon, yourself, and Mr E.-Yours tmly.^^^ Dear Dot,-We have shifted back to Ulvcrs<fc£ again, and it seems very rfa!e jtfter »«f iv the town. I just came home yesterday (Me .i day), after having stayed at fapanxu for o*ei • week. I think Tap*mu is a very nice place it being situated near hills. The weathei was pnEtty rough while I wa.3 there, co I cou.d no go out much. However, I went to see tne cometeiy, and I never saw such a pretty one before. It is all laid off with rice fiower beds and shrubs, and they are kept m sucii good, order. I meant to go and see the Government Nursery, but tbe weatttier was too rough, so I stayed at home. I was at tbe Andeison's Bay picnic, and I .on joyed myself greatly; Lut f.s it was rather iate m the season for a picnic, it soon beaaraa da.tk. I cdcln't like it ?o well as ihe Stewart's Gully ooe, fey all thct. I enjoyed myself m town on Satuiday night. As it was my first Saturday night and. my last m town, it was soireihiiig new to me. We p-aaraded the streets till 9, aad then we went down to th-3 station. Most of the picnickers came to s°e us safely aboard, and to bid me a last farewell. I think the Picnic Committee are doing gooal work, aaid managing things veiy wll. Kow that they have got a Debating and Literary Socieriy going, the ps-.e will become still more im.eTestirg. From all I li«ar, the wiu-
ter show seems to have been a veiy good one. With lo'-e to Indian Chief and Duke's Amuser, yourself, and the editor, — Yours truly, ELDERGOWAN. P. S. — Thank you for your auto, Elhe Khea. Dear Dot, — I am having another change of air and sceneiy. The school which lam at present illuminating with the sunshine oj: my presence ia Eae's Junction, a small country school somewhere between Lawrence and Roxburgh. Before describing it I will tell you about th.3 time I had at the winter show. On Friday (3rd) night King Dick and I strolled round to the door of tho Agricultural Hall, and stood outside for a few minute'? to wait for some more little folk, who said! they would be there Presently Dundonald and Kis3-me-Quick, followed by Elmo and Cherry Blossom, came up to us, and the six cf us waited till Ophir and Eeta (who had told us they would come) arrived. Then the eight of us went in together, and presently came across Indian Chiet with another following of little folk. King D. being a. "new hand," i introduced him all round and left him to take care of himself, which he was quite capable of doing. We moved about through the crowd, getting an occasional glimpse of the exhibits, and being especially interested by the splendid fat stock, over which we had several arguments. Nf-xt we made a, move for upstairs, but got separated from one another in the crush, which was terrible. Dundonald, Kiss-me-Qick, Ophir, Re f a, King D , and I, by dint oi severe efforts, reached the top of the stairs, but the crush had made Kias-me-Quick" ill, and she very nearly fainted. I l-rocmed her a cup of water at ths refreshment room, and after drinking it she felt better. As the ciush was still vevy great we went out, on to a landing, where there were some chairs, and where tho air was cooler. King D. and the rest of us were busily engaged exchanging autos for some time, and then we had a D.L.P. talk till it was time to leave for home. On Saturday night I went out home to Milton, and on Monday I resumed sny journey for Rae'a Junction. At Milton station I met one of my mates, and we went up in the tram together. At Lawrence we took an express and drove up to the High School, where two moie were working. After we had dinner we gave them a hand to pack up and load the express which was to take us up. The roads are too bad at this time of year for bikes, so I left mine behind. We left Lawrence at 2 p.m., and proceeded at a smart trot over fairly good roads past the Chinese Camp and through Evans Plat. Then the roads got wcr3e, and more hilly, so that we had to walk pav:^, of the way. However, as one of us had a gur. and I had a line, time 'passed wonderfull/ We managed to place several rabbits hor3 de combat, and I had the good fortune to shoot a hawk which was discussing the contents of a rabbiter's trap. As we were proceeding up a gully a turn in the road brought us m view of a huge snow-clad mountain, with heavy snow clouds thick upon it. My mates broke into exclamations of woe, such as " Back pedal!" "Hold on there; what's the game 9" "Take me back to home and mother. ' and "Is that* 1 where we are going?" On the driver assuring us that he was going right to the top", the journey was resumed It was not a very comfortable sight, and to make matters worse a heavy drizzle started, with an icy cold wind. Even with leggings, a waterproof overcoat, and thick wcolfen gloves reaching up to my elbows, on, I felt the cold intensely (you'll remember those gloves, Dundonald). The longest lane has a turning, and at last we rattled down the last hill and saw the cheery lights of the schoolhouse shining through the ram, beneath us in the hollow. The school is situated half way between Rae's Junction and Island Block, so tbat the children from both places etui attend it. Consequently, theie arc no houses for about two or three miles on either side, and were it not for Chinamen, waggons, and the coach passing we should have no one but ourselves to speak to. The winder holidays are on just now, so even the "merry prattle of children" ia missing. Talk about loneliness! Ugh! Besides, being in a gully, v:e only get four or five hours' sun, and a common remark in the early morn is like that of a moneylender in a play a week or two ago, "It's werry wahm," meaning, of course, the extreme reverse. However, " 'twill' not be long, cur journey here," so that is one thing to bo thankful for. With love to all the little folk, yourself, and the editor, — Yours tiuly. TEXAS JACK.
Dear Dot, — The days are ve>-y short now; it seems no time from daylight until dark. It is very cold first thing in tbe morning owing to the heavy irosts. I must tell you of a httle incident which happened to another girl und myself to-day. As e>ll the people of the hotise were out, and we were having a gay old time all to ourselves, we heard a rap at the door. I went and opened it, and there, to my horror, was a man pretty well drunk. He asked for'ihe mistress of the house, so I tod him she was not in. He th"ii wa-lked into the passage and ordered a meal. I lan in and told the other girl, who was a grest deal rnoie plucky, although younger than myself, and she went and ordered him out. He went away, and oh! how pleased we were to see the la^t of him. Our poor cat died yesterday morning, and we were all very sorry. With best love to Smiling Lass, Tans}", Holly Tree, Mustard Plaster, and all! the rest of the little folk, Ttot forgetting yourself and the editor, — Yours truly. " MICiiY DRIPPON.
[Your friend was indeed a plucky girl, M. D. The man was evidently not a very desperate character; still, the incident was quite alarming enough to give you both a good fright. — DOT.]
Dear Dot, — After due consideiation I have come to the conclusion that if I am to remain a D.L.F. it is about time I wrote again. Perhaps the D.L.P. have forgotten me by now. but I am afraid if that is the case they will have to make my acquaintance on.c more, for I have almo3t three more years to go ere I reach the retiring age. Such numbers of old writers have left us since I last wrote that one may pick up the Witness ?ml scan the page without dropping across one familiar norn do plume. But, alas 1 re cannot expect to reiT.ain young- a"ways, riid so the elder ones mv = t pass on and make room for the vo'-.nger D.L.F. But I am spending too much time and '-pa^p lamenting what cannot be helped, so I had b?tter pass on and tell you about a little trip my cousin and I had to Cape Saimders lighthouse a short time ago. I v.as stopping on the 1 eninsula for a week or two, and one day, the weather being beautifully bright and warm, it was pioposed to ride to the lighthouse. Accordingly we had an earK r lunch, and left a httle after 11 in the moini'ig. It wis the first time 1 had been on a side-saddle, and almost the Sr=t time I had bec-n on a horse, but ers we" hrd gone far I could enjoy a good sharp canter. ~We had about five miles to travel se, nn'd most of the track lay over veiy hilly coiuitiy but the longhncss of the road was fully ron'nisnsatcd for by -the mpgmficent view we had of the ocean and the coast. There was a heavy swell on, and the waves rolkd in, tossing and tumbhrg- over the sands in some places, whilst in others it dashed against the rocks and cliffs, making a loud noise, and sending c'ouds of white spray far and wide. All this we viewed as we rode along, and presently we crme in sight of the lighthouse also, and a little later we arrived there. My cousin knew one of the keepers, so we went straight to his house and left our 1 orsrs there, while we all went to see the lighthouse. We were shown all over the building, and the keeper was kind
enough to explain the workings, and even set the lamp in motion to let us seo> the effect. Everything is so spotlessly clean and bright but, "really, Dot, those s-tairs are just a phade worse th?n those in the Witness Office, almost straight up and down. The keeper very kindly gave us ifternoon tea at his house, and afterwards took us down to the landing stage, where the boats come m with coal, oil, pud provisions. My couain had brought his fishing lines with him, but it was uutch too rough to venture out on the rocks, so we had to go home minus the fish we had hoped to carry. About 3 o'clock we again mounted the horses, and turned our faces homeward. The road was so steep in some places that we had to walk and lead the horses, and in me place we had to go tluous-h a crowd of fierce-looking cattle, which stared so threateningly at in that I wa3 not sony when we were safely through the paddock, with the fence betw f> i us and the cattle. After that we did not dismount till our destination was reached I was rather soiry when the day was ended, for I don't think I ever enjoyed anything more than that ride. I am afraid, dear Dot, I have taken up plenty of space already, but as I shall only write a little once in a while I hope you won't mind this time. I should have liked very much to have gone to the Anderson's Bay picnic, but unluckily I had to letum home to Southland t>bout a week before. Before comieig home I sv-as about a week in Dunedin, but I hardly saw a- badge. I've had ihe misfortune to lose my own lately, so, of couiae, I cannot expect to be recotmised by badge-wearers. For the present I must saw ndieu — Yours truly, ABIGAIL. Dear Dot, — I ha Tl e ir>ovecl to town since last writing to the page. I like :t all right. It is a pleasant change from the country — not so etiuet, and there is more to take an interest in. I often meet a girl here who wears a D.L.P. badge in her hat, but have not spoken, as I very seldom wear mine : too much trouble moving it from one hat to another. Are there many little folk on the West Coast, Dot? It would be very nice if we cou'd manage to have a group of West Coast little folk taken. Greymouth is the most cential place, and trains run conveniently up and down the country, so there should be no trouble so far as trains are concerned. However, I shall w?it and see what some of them think of it. 1 We have had disastrous weather during the past week, causing; no end of serious damage. IXo less than five slips came down at Brunner. A house and part of a hotel were swept away in one, and seven children buried in the debus, the mother and father escaping miraculously. The proprietor of the hotel was also killed, and his three daughters badly injured. Word of the calamity soon went lound, and 200 men were in a shoit time clearing away the mud and rocks to recover the bodies. It cast quite a gloom ever the distnol, much the same as when the explosion took place eight years ago, when 15 men losb their lives. The slip occurred at 2 o'clock m the morning, and the bodies were found at half-past 1 m the afternoon, all much disfigured and knocked about. It was very sad to see them being lifted from the mud quite deed. They had gone to bed the night before little thinking it would be their last sleep. The o de^t was 13 and tli3 youngest IS months old. A subscription went round town, eveiyone giving what they could. Yesterday the amount was nearly £100, not including country amounts. With love to yourself and ITlorodor?, — Yours truly, * YOSLANDE.
[I am afraid the West Coast little folk are too much scattered. Besidea some in Greymouth and its immediate vicinity, there are some at Ahaura, Paparoa Ranges, Orxvell Creek, Ross, Hokitika, and probably other centres. They could scarcely be gathered together, could they?— DOT.]
Dear Dot, — This is the fust time I have written to your worthy page, but tbat page has not been unfamiliar to me. This last six months I have been corresponding with D.L.F/, but it is a longer period since first your page interested me — namely, 16 months. Doubtless the D.L.F. picnic at Mosgiel is still fresh in your memory, a3 it is in mine. Well, Dot, it "vas the happiest day of my life, thanks to The Duke's Amuser, Olive, Areta, Awkward Ned, Indiau Chief, Jean Gerald, and others whose noms de plume I forgst, Last, but not least, comes Marsh Marigold, to whom I really owe the palm for taking me to such a grand place, and picnic. You have already had M. M.'s account of our day, so I shall not weary you with another one. Of the individual memLer3 of that party I should like to speak. The girls all worked together grand, but Indian Chief is the one to boil a billy, and Awkward Ned was the hero of the day. His pleasing wpv, witty speech, snd jocular manner made him a great favourite with us. In last week's Witness Vance tells you of my tiredness on Easter Sunday morning. Well, we left Mount Cargill at 7 m the morning and did not get back till 10 at night, so don't you think we were entitled to a rest? He also tells you of my opinion of Mount Cargill scenery • it is the best I have seen so far. The people rave about the Wangranui River and Eimutaka Gorge • they ought to see some of the spots around Mount Caigill. Well, Dot, you will excuse this first epistlp to you, and with best wishes to all D.L.F- I shall remain, — Yours truly, BEN BACON. P.S.— -Love to M M.; best respects to A. N., V., I. C.
Dear Dot and Little Folk, — By the time this appears in print I shall have reached retiring age. lam only one more to join the vast number who ha\ c lately pent in their last letters, and as this is my last I shall not make it a lengthy one. I have been writing to the page for three years, and am truly sorry that the time ha-s come for ms to say good-bye, my one regret being thst I did not write when I vas younger. During my three years as a member ot your happy band, Dot, I have only wutten six letters — one every =ix months is what I limited ni}=>elf to, and I think I've kept to it. Nearly thiee years ago I came, a stranger, to Southland, with only my badge to introduce me, which it speedily did. The fiist D.L.F. I made the acquaintance of was Kitty Clover (x retired D.L F.\ and Him and hue friends \%c have been since thi memorab'e day we >'i-t met Do you remember it, Kitty? The i*sxi I met that I can lernember is now my deuiest or chums — Mira Gitar.a. Don't foiget, "'.Hia GiUna, you owe a letter to the Little Folk's Page after you've read this. Now I can s-ay I know dozens of L.F., and intend to sti'l keep and ever mcie'<<uiiK the number. I j.oticed Fome time back that a lot of L P. were asking for my auto. A'^ong the nuaiber was A r ike I intended to - end my auto, to him, as he is a favoinrc wi.ter ot mine, but I lost Ms address. As fcr the rest of the little folk, 1 iiope they will excise me fo. - my =t-cming .tier;lect, foi I had far too many correspondents as it was v llhout auto. -collecting , but if the httle folk still want mv auto, here is my adc "l lc=i — "Lizzie Smith, lilir>clevil'e, via Goic Somo of the little folk a' ways seemed to th'iik Uogii3 a Loy, but they v.-i 1 ! find out that f.fter all she is only a girl. Whenever I nr.'.de the acquaintance of a fresh httle folk, c-;iecially a; tho Invercargill show=, I -vTor.d bear in sUlIi disappointed tones, "Oh, I alwa\ s thought Rogue was a boy." Now, denr Dot, I think I've written quite enough, as I want to leave a good or at least fair) impression on the lrinds of our worth}* critics. They have indeed been very gcod to me ; no, not me — my letter I mean. Dt-n't tell me, dear Taffy, to write what I mean, or I might change my
opinion of you, and you wouldn't like to think I did that, eh? seeing that the one I hold now is a very good cne. Before closing I wish to tell all my httle folk correspondents that though I am no longer a writer to the page, I do not wish to give up writing to them, unless, of course, they desire to do so themselves. So now, good-bye, Dot and little folk, and may yon all have a happy and prosperous career is the sincere wish of, — Yours trulj-, ROGUE 11. [Good-bye, ROSU3 11, and may your future be as happy «is the pleasant days you have spent with us liavT been. Your letters have always been of interest, though they have been so far between, and I am sure many little folk will, with myself, regret to learn that we shall see no more of them — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Some time ago I noticed a letter from A Kilted Laddie, in which he was giving a description of life in a fruit garden. He said, "You have to start work at 5 o'clock in the morning, and work till 10 or 11 at night." Kbw. Dot, I know something of the work referred to by A Kilted Laddie, and can honestly say that there are no unreasonable hours worked in that garden. He also said that you first arrange for a job, and then make tracks for a broken-down shanty, or the reminiscence of the early days, which is to be your future home. He then criticises my letter by saying Roxburgh is the prettiest town in the goldfields. Ho also esys that he is an experienced dredgman Does he mean to tell the whole page that he would work 20 hours a day in a fruit garden for the usual wages, 15s to £1 a week, when he could get 10s a day on a dredge, pnd only eight hours' work? If he was dissatisfied with the garden hours, why did he stay there ' ? There was only one truthful part in his description of working the garden — that ' was where he said tho lunch boy never goes back with anj thing in his basket. With love to Dieudonmo. Dame Trot, yourself, and the editor. -Yours tru]y, ZEALANDIA. [Zealandia has a gcod deal to say in icpiy 10 Teviot-ite also, but I think his reply to A Kilted Laddie must suffice for one letter — DOT.J Dear Dot, — It has been raining, hailing, and blowing all day, and all we want new is a boi'i to low around the hoase. A person v.onW need to be web-tootdd to live m a place like this. I hava no animals or any pets to write about, so I shall tell you of a walk that J thiee girls aud> iny=e!i hid d, few weeks ago. It was a lovely Wednesday morning, and after a small lunch we left home at about 11 o'clock, all in good trim for a day's rambling in the bush. After we had passed ihe mill and hsd a good look about us, wo started again and walked on along the tram, passing notes on everything we saw, until we came to a high bridge, and looking down we saw ferns — eh, such ferns! You could scarcely realise how beautiful they were. Biit we had to pass on, and leave them. Next we came to a steep hill, so we set ourselves to work to climb up it, and when the top is reached we find ourselves m a i deep cutting, and having good eyes we noticed j it was marked aIL over the sides with advejtisements for G-awne's saiice, and Mr Cock Robiii, i with his head erect. Xext is a beautifu 1 bridgi with sides on it, and a deep, swift-running stream at the bottom, and the sides are filled in with the dirt that is sccoped out cf the cutting. We .ire beginning to feel n little warm by this time, and as we see an. o'd hut at the side of the tram we think it a good p'aee for leaving our coats, so they are lolt. and wo I proceed up to the hauling- engine, and = it down > for a while and watch the men going to the | ejigine for their dinneis. After that is ov?r ■ wo go up to the next engine, and ilia boy who | drives it shows us where to get tnov/berries. ■ We follow a water race, tlriiikfhg in all t>,o j 1-eautiss of the bush. I shall net attempt to , describe it or my pen v;iU rui away with me ' When we had gone about tl'rec ni^es ws , thought it about tuna to retrace our slx-ms. i When we reached the engine again, the dmei ! told us to wait for a few minutes and see the trolleys being pulled up by th wire iope f -. and when the trolleys came up he said we could go down "then; so off we set for home, little tii inking of any tricks being played. But when we got down to the banks and were m the midst of all the mud, the slioeman called j cut, "Look out for the noUey.s!" so with a hurried glanco we look round. Oh, what do we see? It is the trolley's coming down on us like lightning, so in a minute of dreadful alarm we plunge — oh, how foolish we were — for v:s plunged into the midst of all the mud. and I lealiy believe if it had not been for Katie grabbing me by the arm and pulling me with all her might I would have been stuck. TVe best of it all was that the minute v>c were in the mud the trolleys stopped. Then to hoar tl c men laughing at vs — for we were iino-looklng objects, more like mud larks than anything else. Feeling very small, we set oi? fcr home at a brisk pace, and then we did ample justice to a good meal. With love to all,— Yours tiuly, SPEKENZA. D&ar Dot, — Winter is on us again. It seems no time since last winter, when everything W3 frozen up. I hope it won't bo so bad tlm winter. The township I live in has not a, large population, so theie is not much to look forward to in the winter time. I think in a large town you haven't gol> time to feel the cold, for there is always some new excitement on. I cften go to Dunedin for a few day?, and I always dread leaving it again. T shall only write a short letter this time, Dot, till I see how it looks in print. If it doesn't look tco bad I shall write a, longer and a more interesting one. With love to all the D.L F. and«ilie editor and yourself, — Yours truly, WHO CAN GUESS? Dear Dot, — The fine weather has broken up, and it has been raining cats and dogs for th° last three days, and to-night L hear the cold wind whistling round the corner of the house. I think it will put a set on the rabbiting for a while. It seems very crue l to hear the rabbits squealing in the traps \n a cold windy mght, but the rabbiters do v.ot seem to be troubled over it. lam going to teU you about a dredge I was aboard last night. First of all I went down to the water's edge and lit a match, and the fireman came across in a boat for me When I got aboard the first thing I noticed were the electric light? — seven in number — which lii up the dredge and part of the bank. I went :nto the engine room, and saw the engine which drove all the machineiy on tlie dredge. One of the men asked me to boil the bills', so I lit a fire m the forge, and did so, and I had a drink of tea with the two men. After tea I went round to the stem of the diedge, and I saw the tables which save the god, also the screen into which the gravel fion; tbo buckets is emptied. It is then emptied into the elevator, which stacks it to a height of about 40ft above the water level. I then went round to the winchman and watched him working the winches for a while, and then I asked him to take me ashore, which he did, and I returned home quite satisfied after my evening's outing. It is time to turn the horses out row, po I must be going. With love to La\inia. Isle of Beautj, and all tbe othci little folk, not forgetting yourself and the editor, — t Yours truly, PEARL DROP. Dear Dot, — I suppose ye didna' ken you had a wee «ort o' body like masel' writing tae ye. Well, lam just "that sort o' body I wus oot \vi' the doogs rabbiting yisterday, an' I catche-1 twa. Tt was snawin' I dunno whot, an' as I wis cooniin' hanie tae ma cabin I met Dame W., and she said, "Ye poor wee bairn, ye wee las°, come awa' tae me hcose, an' hae a warm ' an' some soup." So 1 gangs aya 1 wi' her,
1 sn' I had the loveliest drap o' soup ye could e'er mak', and I v, us michty glad o' it too. Whin I had finished it I telt her I wud hae tae gang awa ha.iie, as me mither wanted the rabbits tae rnak' a drap o' soup fur me faither. So after Dame W. had given me an auld petticoat ta,e pin aboot me I started for hame. Whm I got home me mither wus gaen' tae knock tbe brains oot> o' me fur i>ot hurrying wi' tha rabbits, but I telt her that Dame W. made mo come tae her hoose, an' that made matters a' licht. So after I had had ma supper I gangs a*va' tae me bunk, — Yours truly, A SCOTCH LASSIE. Dear Dot, — A considerable number of the D.L F. girls seem to be teased to death by their biothcrs, and seek consolation from others similarly pestered I have only one dear little baby brother, so I have not much to complain c£ as yet, though I am convinced that, if he continues to pull my hair so, I shall soon be bald. While reading Awkward Ned's letter I waxed warm with enthusiasm, and was greatly disappointed when I found that he had only dreamt of his heroism, but finally 1 could not lestrain a hearty laugh I think my next letter will be sweetened with flowers, which surely will be welcome to you. With love,— Yours truly, A WOULD-BE AUTHORESS. Dear Dot, — At Christmas time I was away for two weeks, and I enjoyed myself splendidly. I went to Glenavy, and I had to cross the Waitaki bridge, which is throe-quarters of a. mile long. Glenavy is a very quiet place, there seeming to be no life in it at all. I should not like to live there, although I enjoyed m> &elf while there. I didn't see any D.L F , arid consequently I didn't get sinything to talk about. Two or three nights before I came home I went to a circus, and I did enjoy watching the animals performing. The weather up here has not been very gocd. It has beeii raining this last week, and it is a good thm<j that a'l the fanners have got their threshing finished ; and I suppose they are verj glad that the ram has come at last, because the ground is very hard to plough, and water is very scaice. In a district about four miles from here some of the young rcen have started a Quadiiile Asccmb"y, and I hope it wi'l be a succes°. With Vv3 to nil fie htf'e folk, not forgctiirc; \ruraslf a:.d tho editor, — Yours tru'v, GOGGLES. Dear Dot, — I am only a mouse. lam -~o frightened I run away when I see anybody. The oilier day I came out of my hole for food, when Mr Farmer chased me with the pitchfork. Then I had to ltin for my life, and I was glad "o get into my hole. The other night when I vas nibbling the cheese Miss Tabby, the cat, came in, and I had to run for my life once •rorp I got away all right, however. One night when I could' not get into the cupboard T wont outside to pick up my tea, and a sparrow hawk tried to catch me. I wonder if it is tho Spairowhawk that writes to this page. I hope it wasn't. With love to Newbury, Card'c-c'-ck, Victoria, and all the lest of the D.L.F. and your-c-15,— Youis Iru'y, MOUSE. Dcvr Dot, — We arc; having vry bad weatiier licre just new — rain and snow every day, but it has cleaved off to-day. I had a splendid biko ride about a month ago. I left home at 5.30 in the morning for a 120-inle ride to Dunedin, \'ith a strong west wind behind me. I covered the first 25 miles iv a litt'e over an hour iv the dark. When I got to Pukerau I "" had to ride en the railway line, and I resljy thought. I would never get o^er that seven milea 'o Waipahi. I arrived thece safely, however, itr.d then got a move on to Clinton, which I -i-auhed at about 10 o'clock. I then went on for five miles to a friend's place, and stopped theie for dinner. After that I started on the K-maiacler of mj j'oitniey. All Trent well for <*! out thiee mile-, when that mishap so dreaded by cychst.s befel me — a puncture. Well, I sat down beside my wheel to repair the t - .-ouhl», v Inch fortunately did jiot prove so veiy iedioas. 1 then mounted once more, .mid went on pi & ij.ake-neck pace. When coasting down a hill T. n:el jnollier poor cyclist pushing his wheel against tho wind. He reckoned I was having a good spin, and I though so ton. A'-riving-a;. Ciutha, I had a big hill to ride up, but I did not mind that, as I knew there was a big cne to go down on the other side. By thai liuiß the wind was blowing a gale, and lets harder it blew the faster I went, till I was going at a dangerous pace. Well, I got to Milton none the worse for my_ 90-mile ride. A-* I had only 40 more to go, I thought I would steady down a, little, co 1 rode quietly along tLL 1 I got to the head of Lake Waihoia. when my front tyre punctured again, so I had to ge& my repair outfit to work once more. Unioi*> tunately I vas in so big a hurry to gel a, way th^t I did not fix it properly, aud it went dowfc ?gain in about a. mile. I Fet to work again, and with batter success. When I got on the road once moie I had to make things hum, as it was getting near simset. All went v;eil till I got to Henley, where, horror ot horrors, that disheartening- sensation caught me once more. liy Vast time it was dark. cIe I then lit my gas lamp and i.efc to to repair by the lamplight — nofc a very satisfactory job at the best of time. Well, I thought I had it done; but no, it had the i better of me. so I just let it stay, and rode the I last nine miles to Mosgiel on a flat lyre. I can tell you I w*sn't sorry when I got there. ! Nr-xt day I did not leave home, being full of I riding for a while, — Yours truly. CABBAGE-TREE JACK. [A hundred and ten miles is a long day, a".d with several punctures! It seems very surprising to me. Jack, and I should have though!, you would only be fit for bed for a. week alter ii. — DOT.] Dea.r Dot, — I am writing you a few lines, but as I a,m just beginning you cannot expect a very big letter at first. lam ten years old, and have two miles to walk to school, and am in Standard 111. It is a very rough walk to school, bill I do not mind, as I have two or three mates, and we pass Lake George, which I think is a very pietty lake. Its water is of a dark coffee colour. We often sse black swans on the lake, but if they notice us they mako off as hard as they can go. I have no pets. Dot, so my time is occupied in teasing my sister and brother. I have only two sisters and two brothers. The baby is two j ears old. Her rams is Ivy, and she is =uch a dailing baby, Dot, and thoroughly spoilt. Ido not know many D L F., but mv sister writes to you r.s Sperenza. I also know Wild Rose, Bell, Lucy Grey, Alpine Princess, Countiy Girl, and a few others. With love to all the little folk, — Yoms truly, DARK-EYED MAG. [You have done very well indeed for a bsgmner, Dark-eyed ilag, and your li-tle letter is very inte.eoting.— DOT.] Deor Dot — It is very quiet to-night, the «creerhi!ig of a night owl being the only sound to be heard. I have been doing fancy work, \vhich interests me greatly, nearly all day. as it was laming, ,>nd I could not^get outside. We hod a spinsters' ball here last b riday night, and ,l, l proved to be a great success. It wa3 the first of its kind ever held here. I was there,, aud I saw all the httle folk from, this place, and we had some fun when we all got togetheras wo arc a lively crowd. Coy.'-spanker woult^ have a lough time of it if we could find ouS who he is. I like to give and take a, joke aa well as anyone, but I cto not cave for jokes so personal as Co-,v-spanker indulgd in in hi 3 letter; V rt I hope he has learned a lesson thig time. It is very quiet hera now that tlig dairy factory has closed, said the cows are dry If only the rain would keep off we should havr fins times going to tte beach for picnics.
—To Gloucester Cathedral belongs tho unique record of having had but six wodjlmgs solemnised within its \\a.\h during tho ba*t 150 years.
— Women may hereafter bo employed as station agents on Ru-sian railway*, by order of tho Mini-itc-i of Railroads.
] intend going as soon as the frosty mornings a^id ! fine days set in. Nearly all the little follc 1 ere have caught the auto. cras,e. I have had it for some time, but I am getting better, as I've get a good number now. I think Holly Tiee has caught it off me, as they say it is infectious, for I often see her viiting a, few on the quiet. I suppose I shall be getting a v. arm oar for telling tales, so I must hid" tli.s I Jotter until I get it postrd. With love to ail I the C'ha -lands little I'oik, moHidirg 6owj Flanker, though he- doc-s not clescive it, the editor, and yourself, — Yours truly, TANSY. Dear Dot,— Winter is coming on again, with ' ita cold days ana long nights. I h»vc a. little ■ bird now, a wax-eye, but he has no feathers, as , ho was saved iiom being eaten by a sparrowj hf'vk. My wood pigeon is getting veiv tame, I and I can now let him out of the cage io follow me. Influenza is going about vist now, i but I am glad to say I have not had it yet. There is a shesp sta'ion not very far from our ! plsic-e, and the shepherds are sometimes very l-.isy. As I was pas-sing through Roxburgh, I ■ iidiccd a D.L.F. looking ot the Witness, and j I suppose it was the D.L.F. Page which was i the centre of attraction. We are haying very j windy weatl'or just now, and I shall not be ! scri-y when the wind goes down. Rihbiting is in full swing, an-1 the iabbiters are sending a lot of bunnies to thf factory. Adieu to the ! editor and yourself,— Yours truly, ! MONSIEUR DFMOLLET. Dear Dot,— l went clown to tlie Witness office to get iry photo taken with the rest on .-the Prince of Wales's Birthday, and I was surprised to see so many. After the photographer liad finished, the kind editor took us to the Coffee Palace for afternoon tea. Then we went back to the office and had a, look through it, and we lost one another in its intricacies. When we got together again, we went into the library, which is a very large room, lighted by the electric light, and had a meeting. After that, The Duke's Arnuser, Isalene, Dundonald, and myself went and had tea, and then we paited for a while, meeting again at the show. Oh. what a crush there was! I don't know how the others got on, but I know I got a good crushing, and I was glad to get home. Dundonald and I went down to the station on Saturday to see «flonie friends away, and we met nine D.L.F. We went into the railway Rc-freshment Rooms to have afternoon tea, and we had great fun; but the tea wa3 not very good.— Yours truly, TISBURY. Dear Dot, — I went down to the Witness office on the Prince of Wales's Birthday to get my photo token in the group. After that serious deed was done, we went up to the Coffee Palace for afternoon tea, and we had a glorious time. When we had finished, Fred sang, after which the editor got, us all round him and made a speech, and when he had finished speaking, Reta sang. Then we all vent down to the Witness office, and were shown alt through it. We saw some letters being printed, and some of us had our own names mads by the linotypers. After that we all went into the library, and had a meeting all on our own. When the meeting was over, Kiss-Me-Quick and myself went away for tea, after wards going to the show, where I enjoyed myself very much ; but tlie crowd was almost unbearable. However, as the saying is, the more the merrier; but not so with Kiss-Me-Quick, foj when we were going to see the dairy-farm-ing exhibits up in the Victoria Hall slie fainted. Wo managed to get her ÜBstairs safely, and she got over her faint. We got downstairs again, and soon afterwards went home and got into Blanket Bay, and I did not know anything rnoro till the morning. With best love to King Dick, Texas Jack, Jezebel, and Mr Editor, — Yours truly, DUNDONALD. „ Dear Dot, — I sit alone, thinking of my childhood days and the dear old school where many a happy hour was spent with my schoolmates. Alas, where are they now? It is true that "some have gone to lands far distant, and with strangers made their home," and one true mate has found a soldier's grave on the lone, dreary veldt of South Africa. There are some among us who do not care for their schoolmates and old playfellows, but turn to , fresh aud new faces, never thinking of the ten- , der aud true hearts they are scorning. But such is the way of the world. Some long for worldly pleasures, while others, again, seek ', for heavenly joys. I notice that some of the ■ Jj.F. have taken to contradicting statements made in one another's letters without any reason at all. Now, my advice to the L.F. who may be the injured one is to just treat the offending one with calm contempt. By doing so they will soar far above them in the long run. I see that the Critic Club are at work again. Oh, well, it just helps us to be a bit more careful, and not let them get a smpek at us if possible. I find one fault with them : they do not criticise often enough. There might he a letter in ouce a week, instead of which we have to wait five or six weeks before one follows another. However, possibly I had better sing small, or they may be having a go at me. I am glad most of the L.F. have stopped complaining about "that horrid mincing machine," as it was often termed, for I think it ia a very useful thing where there are so many letters corning in. Though I live in a fas-away town of the west, I know who you are, Dot. It is wonderful how soon one can pick tip information, is it not? But your secret is quite safe with me, Dot, so do noi be afraid.— Yours truly, W. Y. H.
Dear Dot, — I have read your interesting page for ever so long, and have often written letters to which the fire was "postman" ; but I hope this letter will not share the same fate. I live in the coitntry, about 27 miles fiom Gore, and four miles from the nearest township. I like living in the country in summer time, but in the winter I prefer the town, for, instead of stepping about in mud you can walk on asphalt, and always have dry feet. "Winter is coming on :iow, with its frosty mornings and cold, chilly days, and everybody is preparing for it. Little folk are very scarce down this way, and it is very rare to see a badge, unless you go to Gore. I go in every week for music lessons, and I like my teacher. Miss D., very much. She has between 30 and 40 pupils, and I often wonder how she can get through them all in a week. Our teacher is going; away, and we gave him a farewell social the other night. The school would not hold all the people, so a laige marquee was erected, and even then some had to stand outside. The ladies of the district set the tables with great taste, and at 8 p.m. everybody was satisfied, so then the marquee was cleared, the piano brought out, and the musical programme started. After numerous speeches, songs, and recitations, tea was served round, and everybody started for home, many disappointed because there was no dance: but tho .-school was not "uig enough to hold half the people. I have iust finished a book called "Wrongs Righted," by Annie S. Swan. I like lie- books best. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself ?nd the editor, — Yours truly, " COLINETTE.
Dear Dot,— The nights are getting long and tlreiTy now, pnd I don't know what to nrr.use myself with, although I have a goocl raarv correspondents to write to. We had a football tournament here on the 3rd, and there v/cukl have been a big turn-out of people to it had it rot l-ainerl for two days before, and "early all that day. My sister and I went down for a, while, and T was speaking to Pat Sneezer I saw Kilted Laddie and Clydeite, buL I did not speak to them. Indeecl, it was
aryihing but pleasnt walking about, a<3 the rmd vns very nearly up to your kners. Kilted liaddie was "barrscking" ior the Hoxburgh boys , but our boy?. b3at theui, «i d I did i oi need +o "barreck'' them at all. Tlicic \v«? a social at lnqht, and jiist as X. was get l ins; isady to go, the ram came pouvinsr down, and or couise that iDut a stop to my night's enjoyment. My sister and 1 -/ciit out to spend the evemn? at a nc;pchbc m's place the other night, and knowing the loads were very muddy, I put on a pair of bcct3 an_l advised her to do so, too ; but slie said sh° wov'd be all right with a pair of light choc. We started oil", but had vot pone voiy far wlipii °Let o n d mo to go firs-, :',id I recorairceded her to take 1.i% steiDS, ar.d she would f,efc j->-er it quickly. I managed to get a bit ahead of her, and whon I turned roiind I wv her sticking fast m the mud. She puPed her foot out, and left her shoe there, and wo were locking for it for a loiig time, as it was very dark. We ware just going to give it up when a. gentleman came riding along, and he had a. good laugh at us. At last we managed to light a match, and found the shoe. We very seldom get into a fix like ihat up here, as there it! usually so in-tcli div sand. I see by Texas Jack's letter ho has had a, trip up here. The chair by which he crossed is lust a little distance below our place, and ba'7 he known it he would have bo.m *'sry welcome to eotrie and sec me. I hope he will hav^ a. bettor trip next time. It is raining to-r.ight, and the rivers are beginning to rise. It was love! / a, id calm this morning, and I went to see mv fistar off in the coach. I thought she would have a nice drive down to Roxburgh; but I was just home when it stsrted raining. With love to Anthea, Pat Sreezer, Maid of Diamonds, and yourself, — Yours truly, M. P. D. Dear Dot, — The mu' ton-birders arrived last week in the Rose Casey, which sailed for Dunedin on Saturday afternoon. They say that the birds are very scarce and small. Rain is frequently pouring down on the islands, ar.d tand is still more abundant. My boss has 11 irore pigs, and they sold seven of them. The Riyerton show will soon be held, and I am going to exhibit. I have a very pretty fantail pigeon, and lam very proud of it. I had two of them, but I think the other has been "eaten by the ia's, or else it has got out. My father went out on Saturday for straw for ovir cow, and he will have to get some turnips for h^r. A football match is to be played in Riverton between the sawmillers and a Riverton team. When I had taken out my milk, I went to the flcarmill aud gathered up some wheat for my pigeon. I do not like school very rnvich, because I get lcept in. There are about 200 attending our echobl now. It has been a good season for rabbiis this year, and they are plentiful over nearly the whole of Southland, — Ycurs truly, A PAIR OP GAME BANTAMS. D?ar Dot — I am going to tell you about a trip I had from Rough Ridge to Milton. We left Rough Ridge on Tuesday morning in the II o'clock train. When we reached Hyc]e I got a cup of tea, which I enjoyed very much, for I felt very sick. We stayed 20 -minutes at Ilydo. After passing a few small stations we reached Hiudon, where I had another cup of tea. At a quarter to 6 I reached Dunedin, where I was going to stay for two days. After having te* at a hotel we went to take some things to the show. After leaving tlv* show I went to the theatre. The next day I did my shopping, snd in the afternoon I w«nt to the show, and I thought it. was exceedingly nice. That night I went to the theatre again, and greatly enjoyed myself. Th? next day I did more shop-ping, and at •! o'clock I took the train for MiHon, reaching my destination at half-past, 7 o'clock. With love to all D.L.P., not forgetting your own little self, — Youis QUEEN OF THE MAY 11. Dear Dot, — Siiioe I laci wrote to you there have been a grea'., many changes in the place where I live, which is the well-known Ca&tle Rock Estate, lately sold tc a company, which has cut it up into several farms, nearly all of which have been taken up by farmers, who are busy breaking up the land and sowing grain. Another change that ha 3 taken i:lace is the building of a new school. Though only opened a few vesks. ago, there are 13 pupils attending i', and I think one or two more young ones will start as .soon as the cold weather is over. Speaking about the weather, I dent know what to call this we are having just now. I don't think it is weather at all, for it has been raining and snowing constantly for the last five days, ard it is snowing again to-day, and does not look as if it is going to stop. I hope it will not keep on for another five days, as it is terribly miserable to have to stop inside all day. 1 see in last week's Witness a letter from Another Mountain Lily, saying she was back from ths snowy mountains again. I don't sec where she find^ snowy mountains about Centre Hill. I never saw any all the time T was tip there. She also spoke about "dear old Castle Rock." I don't find anything "dear" about it (except the land of the estate, which is exceptionally dear). I think it is a horribly stale hole. I've lived iv it for 16 years now. and I thiak I've had enough of it. -I have been residing in the Te Anati district for the last, six months, and I liappe Tle d to be one of the gang of shooters mentioned by Two Shy Little Ducks, who were shooting about Mararoa on the Ist of May. They said they escaped unhurt, like the rest of the "ducks that we fired at. Well, if you had seer, the hearcs of ducks that were lying in front of the Key Hotel on the eve of the Ist, you would have said there would not be a duck left for next day. So if the Two Shy Liot'e Ducks had been knocking about like the other ducks, they would have stood a poor f.har.ce of getting home sife, for most of the ducts that wpnt up or down the river met shooters on all sides, so a great many of them fou .id rhoir way to the game bag. These two : ducks need not boast of escaping altogether, for the season is not over yet, and if they are still in the district I shall have .a goc.d hunt for them when I go up there again, and if I get [ Uiftm within range I shall give them both , barrels straight off the mark. With love to Two Shy Little Ducks, v Another Mountain Lil?-, Queer Fellow. Scotch Thistle IT, Dot, and ; the editor,— Yours truly, TRUE BLUE.
Pear Do I,—l1 ,— I have only three and a-half months till I reach the retiring age. It is 18 mrntlis 6ince I wrote last, and p, great many changes have taken place since then. I must tell you of my trip to Dunedm last week, to see the show. We (my sister and I) left home on Thursday morning, and travelled to town by the first tram, reaching Dunedin about 11. The tiain was crowded, and there wasn't too much, sitting room. We took the car to Lees street, and walked from there to Areta's place. I think the cars are juso the thing, for they spin along at a great late. We had about a dozen rides on them in the thiee days that we were in town. We stayed at Areta's placp, and had a real good time, and I am lust wishing that I were back again, as the streets are so much nicer than mud and water, like it is out here just now. We went shopping the first day, and Areta showed us the way to the shops we wanted. It was pouring rain all the time, end by the time we got home we were not very dry. We got dried and had tea, then went to "see the show, and we met quite a number of people we knew. We stayed about three hours, and had supper, and then went 1-cme, pncl I know I felt very tired after the 'ong day. On Friday we went and saw the II o'clock train come in, and met some of our mates : then we went visiting. In the afternoon vie went io the carnival. Ilie daiic-
ing" was veiy good, and the little girls lookeel so me?. Friday night we &pcn J . at the show, and, oh, there was a crowd! I never got such a squeezing m all my life, pud I was nearly btifiocatc-J. The crowd was voist at the foot of the sians that led up to the buHer room. You had jiut to go »vlieic you were taken, for you were carried along with the crowd. Texa3 Jack was the only D.L.F. we met on Thuisdi'y night, anel Arota introduced us to him. On Fuday night I saw a dozen oi two that I didn't know, bvtt only spoke to Ophir, Reta, and Texaj Jack. I intended gri. 1 :, to the D.L F. meeting, but I forgot till it was too late. We met Darky on Friday afternoor, and had a good D.L.F. yarn. On Saturday we went and called on a friend, and then had our photos taken. The rest of the afternoon we walked about the street*, and had a look at the shco vvindows, till it was nearly train time. Thar, after snying good-bye to cur friends, we made tracks for the station, and managed to get a seat in a carriage. We reached home about 10. ?nd I think it has lamed every day since. I saw Floiodor* at the show on Friday night, and I think she is veiy like her photo. With, love to Areta, Boadicea, Darky, Jessica, Tho , Duke's Ainuser, and Dot, -Yotus truly, i LUCINDA. Dear Dot,—^e are having very w&t weathec here at piesenf, which makes the loads , veiy muddy , but as the holidays are all over for a while, it docs not matter so mvcli. I was in Gore lately, but did not see a badge, although thnrc were a good many young people on the streets. I went to Waikaka, on" Good Friday with some friends to see my uncle pncl aunt and cousins. After having dinner and a t walk through the orchard, and having as many j apples as I could eat, my aunt asked me if I should like to go and see one of the dredges. | Of course we all said "Yes." and off we all went, and were soon at the side o_f the dredge. One of the men kindly came with a boat and took us aboard, six of us He then showed v? 'all around the dredge. What a noise the bnc- ; ketg make as they go rattling along with their ' load of gravel, sand, and gold! One of the party told them that all they were good fo? was spoiling good ground and making muddy , water. Now, Dot, don't you think if that was all they were good for they would very soon stop j dredging? I was very soiry when I heard of tho death of Queen Mary. She spent her Christ- ' mas holidays with us this year. She was such ! a nice girl, and to her friends I tender mv _ sincere sympathy, a 1 so ',o the friends of Lady . Landers, Bluebell, and Fuchsia 11.. With love to Bleeding Heart, Violet Leaf, A Farmer's Daughter, A. S. S., and yourself,— Yours truly, SOPHIA I. ! Dear Dot, — The roads are very muddy at nre«pnto, but we cannot exuect anything I else at this time of the year. I must tell you about a picnic a I few friends aud myself went to a short time ago. Leaving home at 9 a.m., we arrived at our . destination ft 11. After Testing a little wp | gathered some wood to light a fire and boil ' our billy. Having had a good lunch, we went Jto gather some ferns. We had such fun scrambling Ihr^ugh. bushes and brambles. I was only wishiu? you "were there, Dot, for I am sure you would have enjoyed yourself. We i pathered a most lovely collection of ferns, and 1 then started for home, after having snent a, ; very enjoyable day. Do you get chilblains. Dot My feet and hands are covered with j them. Could you please iell me a cure for i them' With love to all the little folk, not forgetting yourself and the editor,— Yours truly. , IDYLLEN. , Tlf the chilblains are not broken, iTie best way is to burn them .out at the fire. It is very ' painful, but it gives relief. Another method is to steep them in hot water, pouring in more ! h?t water from time to time to keew up the 1 temperature.— DOT.] •' Dear Dot, — There was a flood in the creek lately, which was very high, it being caused by the melting of the snow. The frost is just beginning up here, but it has not been very hard yet. I spent Empire Day very quietly at home, although it was a nice, fine day. The 3rd of June, which was the Prince of Wales'a Birthday, was very wet, so I had to stop indoors. We have not got our winter holidays yet, but we hope to get them in July. When the roads are muddy it is not at all pleasant j walking to school. With love to Winifred, and ail the other JJ.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self and the editor, — Yours tru'y. AILIE. i Dear Dot, — Since I last wrote, I Lave received a lot of autos. There is quite 1 a number of D.L.F. going to the High School which I attend. Some time: back I was at a, wedding — a ceremony not peculiar to this disi trict this year. On April 13, at the country ■ church, there assembled a large number of people in order to witness the wedding cere- , l lony. The bride, who was given av«y by her father, was charmingly dressed in a turquoise ! cashmere dress elegantly trimmed with lace, white silk, and turquoise ribbons. She also ! wore the ordinary wreath and long veil, and ]p/rge picture hat overalled by turquoise smc! white silk, chifi'on, and white plumes. After the ceremony the company retired to the hotel, where a sumptuous breakfast was partaken of. . ifter breakfast, vrlirch lasted but a, little more than half an hour, for the train would soon be going off with the newly-married couple, the guests spent part of the time in looking at the presents, which were both numerous and costly. ; Soon the time came for their departure, and, . oh, dear! the rice was flying everywhere. How- . ever, they reached the station, and into the | carriage they went, only to receive a double I dose. , As the train steamed away, three cheers i were given, and someone put something on the , railway lino which went off like the report of , puns. Then all retired to the hotel, where those who had not yet partaken of the wedding breakfast (for theie was not enorigh room for all j to sit at once, though the apartment was j roomy) took their places at the table. Then a little time was spent in conversation, after t which the guests adjourned to the private parlour, where singing, etc , was indulged in till about 2 p.m. Dinner was then provided, and when every one had done justice to the occaI sion, a little exercise was taken by the young ■ people, and soon all were seated in the parlour, . and once again enjoyment began, lasting iill nearly evening-. After tea moat of the people | left, for their homes, but the younger mem- ', bers "pent a social evening, the night's amusej merit being kept up till the small hottvs of ihe< j morning. A welcome home was given to the young couple on their return. With love to Daisy Primrose, Florodora, and all who have sent mo their autos, — Yours truly, PINEAPPLE. Deer Dot,— Although this is the first lime I have written to votir columns, my name hns irj doubt been there before as Weaiy Wilho m Scobie's letter on camp life. It was on ) board^ the good ship Karamea, on her trip to . New Zealand, that one sunny morning, about j 5 o'clock, we heArd the order given to diov> j anchor. On looking round, we found that we j were m the harbour of Teneriffe, which lookeel i a most beautiful place from where we stood. Scon after we saw a number of small boats put 1 oft" from the shore and make their wcy to our steamer. They soon arrived, and the occupants, who wcie fruit selleis, came on tlio deck; but as they did not do much busme-s, they ipturned to their boats and put back to tli 2 shore. Then we had a visit from boys, who kept us amused by diving for small siivei. For a shilling they dived ii<:ht under th« ship, a'ul came up on the other sule. Shortly jfterwaida
the launch arrived and took us ashore. When ■we arrived v.c saw that the town did not look so pretty as it did from the sea. We noticed that the men did not do too much work— they seemed content to let the women do that. We were amused at seeing an old woman washing in one of the main streets of the town. She ■was evidently economical, as her washing board was nothing but a big stone. When passing a liotel, a young Spaniard came up to us and gave us some cheek — telling us the English were no good, etc. We stood this for some time •until one of the chaps I was with could stand it no longer, and he rushed at him, and a good fight took place, until the Spaniard received one hard blow on the face which made him pull a knife from his belt. The fight then came to a close, and not before it was time. In the afternoon v,-e went to see a bullfight, which we did not like, as there was rather much slaughter going on to be pleasant. After some light refreshments we started back for the ship, and arrived there without anything of interest occurring. We were just in time, as the Steamer started immediately after on her long journey to New Zealand, her next stoppingplace "being Capetown.— Yours truly, ; BROTHER BILL, j Dear Dot, — I am now going to give you a description of the cabbage tree. These trees, we all know, glow in all parts of the country, but they are more abundant near the banks of rivers, and are also to be found on the slopes of moist and sheltered hills. Trees of a good age sometimes reach a height of about 30ft. If you cut across the branch or the stem, you will find that it has no pith and no true baik,, such as you see in the apple or willow tree. The outside ol the trunk, however, is rough, and full of little cracks, and this makes the tree appear to have a true bark. The upper parts of the stem and branches are closhed with a j dense array of long, narrow, tough-leaves. In some trees the old withered leaves hang down and form a kind of sheath round the stem; -in , others the dead leaves drop off. In this way ' the tree gives a lot of trouble in gardens, where ! it is often planted for its beauty. Have you ever noticed, Dot, the flowers of the cabbage I tree ? They grow in big bunches, and are very fiweet-scented. The trees generally bear flowers every other year. In the south, where it is too cold for palm trees to thrive, the cabbage tree lias much the same effect in the landscape as palm trees have in warmer lands. It is a very hardy plant, and is found almost everywhere — y even at great heights above the sea. The young plants are very easily raised from tho seed. ll you take pieces of the stem and simply bury them in the soil, they'll take root ard grow in no time. The main root of the cabbage tree stiikea deep into the soil, and gives a great mmber of strong, thin roots. Owing to its firm hold of the ground, and to its -bending a little before the wind, it is very rarely blown down, though it has a large head of foliage to face the force of the wind. The cabbage tree leaves have a strong fibre, which is not at present turned to any use. There is another kind of cabbage tree, known as tree-flax; it has lesves like those of the native flax. This plant is. I believe, found in many warts of the North Island aud along the West Coast of the South Island. I don't think this is much of a description, but I suppose it will pass. ' The mountains round here are covered with snow, and there cotildu't be a finer sight that to see those snow-covered peaks, with the sun snining dovrn upon them. This is the time of year for those who wish to see alpine scenery. I don't think the frost will be so severe this •winter as it was last; at least I hope not. The , weather has been very unsettled of late. It has been raining off and on for the last fortnight, but it now looks as if ifia going to clear up for ( a while, and then I suppose we shall get some of Jack Frost's handiwork. The farmers are pushing on ahead with their ploughing. They are, no doubt, taking advantage of the fine weather in order to get as much ploughing ' done as possible before the real hard "frost sets ' in. With kind regards to all,— Your* truly. ' NEU-BURY. ; [Your description of the Cabbage tree is very interesting, Neu-Bmy, and T hope you will see your way to describe some other of our native trees or plants.— DOT.] J Dear Dot, — Seeing that all my mates have written to your page, I think I am in duty bound to do so also. I shall begin with a sea ' voyage taken by me in the s.s. Monowai to ; Melbourne, and if this part strilces you favour- ! pbly, I shall finish next time. We left on the Monday, and had a pleasant trip down the har- * bour, after which we were soon outside the ,' heads, where there was a heavy ground swell on, ' which pitched the ship about considerably, ' soon having its poor victim (myself) very much upset about the stomach. I cannot describe to you the feelings of sea-sickness, nor can any one else who has undergone the experience. ' You have no will for anything, and feel con- j tented to die on the very spot. Being very weak, I lay on the forecastle head, intending : to sleep oif my sickness. Scarcely had I lain ' five minutes, when I was deluged with water f from head to foot, caused by the ship giving an i extra heavy plunge and sending a volume of water up the hawse pipe with the result men- j tioned. You can just imagine how the other ! passengers kughed at and chaffed me: but I ■' can tell you it was no laughing matter for me, • although I appeared to be unconcerned by f wearing a very feeble smile. Just picture me ! wending my way alon? the deck to my cabin. J I remarked to myself, that I came for a holiday, \ and certainly had made a good skrt. Once in J my berth I intended to sleep, but was it sleep? , Lying there, tossing and turning, I expected ' , every moment to be my next. At las^, through ! ( pure exhaustion, I fell asleep and woke up to J find the ship moored at the Bluff wharf. It is ! : unnecessary to say anything about the Bluff, ] beyond that it is a somewhat lonely and cheer- 1 less place. I v.-as not sorry when the ship ; left at 4 p.m., and I remembered I had to rec- ] kon on a three days' journey. We had beauti- * ful weather during the time, and it is a pleasing 3 sight to see the porpoises racing ahead of the j ship, and now and again a shoal of flying fish, i These fish fly for about 40yds. and then take < to the watei- again. Early on Friday morning 1 "we sighted Tasmania. We did not see much of i ] the coast and outer hs" l^ IV , owing to the fog. ! 1 but after wo psssed the " Vonpot," an island j ] on which is a lighthouse, the fog lifted and j i pxpo3ad some beautiful scenery. Turning round j 1 Sandy Point, we saw the inner harbour, and ' 1 Hobart at the head, and we were soon berthed I i at the wharf. Scarcely had we been berthed 1 ten minutes when I repeatedly heard a loud < a-attling noise up the town, and being curious < to find out the cause, I went ashore after break- 1 fast, and wa3 struck with the resemblance of ] the town to Dunedin. Proceeding along the 1 street, I heard the same rattling noise, and on ( looking round saw the electric car buzzing a'ong, rattling like pills in a box. So this waa * the cause of all the row. Hobart can boast of * some ilne buildings, the post office and Museum i being magnificent structure?. At 11 a.m. the * same day we left, so I had very little time to ? examine the town properly. After another i; pleasant journey down the harbour we stood out to sea, and early on Saturday sighted Port Phillip Heads, and lighthouse. I think we , I will anchor here for the present, for I fear I am j I eucroEchiJic on your space, anri with your per- ' s mission will finish next time,— Yours truly, t MICROBE. l Dear Dot,— l was at a spinsters' fancy diess r ball the other night. Among the number of : a little folk or ex-little folk were Devonshire r Dumpling and Priscilla. Were I to give a 0 description of the dtess^s I should write to v Emmeline, but *s I don't intend) to do that c
1 let it suffice to sny that everyone looked at i life or her best. I had my badge in my cao. J b\it thinking it might be knocked down and p trampled upon, I took it out and put it in .my diess. In return for my care I suppot-e . > I dropped it, and what a dilapidated badge s , wad returned to me. I hardly knew it, and 1 while straightening it the pm cainei out, so I j, ; doctored it up and sewed it into my headgear I ; once again. I hope nothing further will hapj ' pea it until I can save rp enough spare pocket 5 i money to buy another, for with so many calls I ; on my pocket, sometimes I am r little 111 I debt. The carpenters aie coniir.g to the school j f next week, and I wonder if Texas Jack will t, be with them. I hope so, csl should like to t have a chat with him. What slaughtering of t ( dogs is taking place by the. elcct-ric trams. t . When I come to Dunedin I shall have to lake J care as jou will fgres when I make a little 5. : explanation. When I was down at the com- '■ petitions last year a friend offered to take us J ! for a ridla in the Ro=lyn electric extension. „ t Mamma and I agreed, and after going to the ' r ; stopping place in tho Rattray street car, we ; ■ got out and waited. By-and-bye we saw a I number of lights in the distance, and piej s^nt'y our friend told us to come and bo aid j the tram. Just then another Rittiay street 1 car came along, and I — stupid country bump(- ( kin — went in front of it, while mamma was so , elprtled by i'he putting out and le-hghtirg 01 t tli2 lamps on the electric ca.rs tlw-t she clLd not 1 know what she was doing, and weuifc in front of [ the eiLectric one. Our friend called c-ut to us to "look out!" and I lan away so far, up [ ' a bank i'hat by the time I descended the cpr wa« away, and there stood our friend lit to I' burst his sides laughing at me; and mamma, ' thinking she would not get another ca.r, was [ scolding me for being so- stupid. I felt 111j • dined to call ihe car back, but mamma ext , plained she was joking, so I didn't bother. t ' When we (did get into the ca.r, though, the ! conductor had a good grin to himsolf. Another j '. time* we went to see a friend at South Dunodin, I ! ' and, stupids again, we -went back a good ' , . way from Ogg's Corner, and had great chili- j culty hi finding tlve place. Doming back ' ] 1 our friend said to me, "Now you wouldl know \ ' where to run down if yon, were coming out by yourself, wouldn't you?" I, smart as ' usual, flouted the idea that I wouldn't know j Cargill load again. Well, I came out by ] myself on the car a day or so after, ar.d this I div the car turned the corner, and I jumped J out andl, tafeinsr my parcel, set off s>t a good j four miles an hour down Cargill road, as I i thought. I couldn't see our fiiend's place, j but on I walked, until I came to the train- j sheds. After walking about for a long time j I got on to the Bay road, and I thought j surely I- must be back in Dunedin. There j were a number of tipsy men on the road, and, heavy weight and all, I commenced to J feel a bit airaid. I went up streets and j down streets, and gocdne9s knows where I , didn't go, but at last I sighted the gas works, j fiom which my destinstion was not fax; but j when I came up to the works they looked quito j different -to what they did at night, and I | might have been searching yet but that I met ou'n of the family, who piloted one to the j house. Didn't I feel ashamed after being so ; confident. I don't wish to explore South 1 Duredin again, I can tell you. I left D\ui- ' ' ecMn at 10 minutes to 4, and when we arrived at the house it was 20 past 6. I often lost ; myself in Dunedin. One day, after gcuig in j foj a music exam., I went a piece of the way j to Mornington with a girl with whom I wi&hed j to compare my paper. She left me somewhere ! on thai hill, and do you think I could get on j to a street I knew? Not if you were tc pay ' me. I'm sure I wa.ndeaed about for half an ; hour till I sighed St. Joseph's Cathedral, aj.d 1 then I was ail right ; but every time I wished to cross the street where those electric tram- ' ways were being put down didn't I have a bother. But I hopei some diay I .shall become a little "towny," •rand not look such a soft ' country latmip. Theire w?s an ex-pupils' social _ here some time ago, and it was suoh a success, j There are branches in Wellington sud Auck- ; land, so you see what a uumber of Government servants have been turned out from this school. With love to all little folk and yourself.—Yours truly, EEECE. j Deeo: Dot, — Hero lam again, but not like a ' bad penny, .or a cork bobbing up and down ', in water, as some little folk write; but with • [ a lettar brimfiiill of criticism. Before many j ; more of my epistles appear the little folk will j be saying that Awkward Ned and I are a perfect pair. It's not for the sake of argument i that I write, but I suppose it's for the want '. of some more important duty to attend to. i The Oritic Club are very quiet lately, so maybe . that is my reason for trying to occupy their position, or maybe I am sitting in Civ is's empty chair. A certain Jittle folk (I forgat j her or his nom. d 2 plume) said 1 that she thought i the, D.L F. should leave all the criticising to ; the Critic Club. Well, is she. herself not ' criticising then? I noticed some time back , that a discussion was going on between Floro- ] dcra and Heta. Florodora appears to be , strong for the dairying industry, and Eeta for I ogrlcultura.l wcrk. I hsve no knowledge of 1 either, 110s do I profess to. All I kno-w is 1 I would soonear do anything than milk cows. j I don't thiiik I ever milked! any more than '. three cows, so you can imagine my knowledge iis limited in thai respect. I notice--] in a re- ' cent number of the Witness that Gipsy NeU [ said the reason a certain little folk did not ; write was because another girl took her penj nsrne. Well, Dot, don't you think that a I very poor excuse Tor a.ny little folk to disj coi* Untie as a contributor to the page? I j do, especially when it could be remedied by j either addling 1 first or second 1 ' to her name. I 1 do not care for those supposed animals' letters. I I think there is little or no sense in them. j But as I ibave not the infinite pleasure o.f I being Dot's managing director I cannot alter ■ things. I believe Rogue II has sent in her resigning letter. The little folk will doubt- i lessly wish it were I who wa.3 retiring, but they ' wiii have to put up with me for a little longtejr '' yet. A while back, Dot, you asked 1 the D.L F. if they could, solve a way of print- ' ing all' their letters. At one time ■ wasn't there a rule by which all the ( little folk were meant to abide by? So many j lines, and so many words m each line. If I ' 1 miiicl correctly it was 48 lin.es, and 1 110 more. [ I hrve 12 words .in a line. But perhaps that k ! wcaild m*ke things no better. Could you not state a certain number of letters that each * little folk should write in a year? — hut that J would be a very hard- law for some little folk 1 to keep to. Ido not oare) for the condensed: ( coiuinm, as the smaller members of ova- band J enjoy seeing their letters in full equally as ! uruch as the older and more capable rnejn- i bers. Perhaps, Dot, you won't oare for my " ideas, but I cannot think of iany other way ' out of the difficulty. I believe Charlotte is ' very anxious to become acquainted with ' Rogue and I. I think our bsdge is sufficient 1 for an introduction, so Charlotte can come * forward when, next we meet and make herself J known. My last letter appeared to interest ' a few people 1 . One even reckoned on read- 3 ing it oub is poetry— blank verse, — Yours truly, < CAMELLIA I. I Dear Dot,— l said that if you should be so ( kind as to insert No. 1 of the "Coal-pit . i Lccalily." I would pen you some more on the I j s-ime subject. In visiting the mines, the visi- , i tor nearly always takes Walton Park as a t beginning. From the mine a long tram line j rune 16 the stage where the oflice is situated, 1 and where the coal is tipped into drays. A novice when descending this pit is conscious t of that funny feeling given him by the dump, c musty air. Something goes wrong with the t ears, and if he goes deep 4ojyn. &c feels in but i
i little humour for making obseivations. I haps for the first time in his life he finds t I he is possessed of nerves. Many men have t been able to work in this mine on account i it bping subject to foul air. A little time b; i a horse belonging to the company was wane L ing about the paddocks when it fell down '. old shaft. Although it sustained injuries : the fall, it Mould not have died had the been pure, but the poor beast was inhaling 1 ' air, which soon put an pnd to its miser; 1 Some of these old shafts are half filled w : I water. Throwing stones down and hear: them splash as they hit the water affords • boys great amusement. Loudon's mine, as ; ' is sometimes called, has broken oitt in i '■ lately, and at nights the flames can in so ', places be seen issuing from the holes, and 1 , duty, impuare odour, wafted by the win I floats, especially at night, into the houses j Fairfickl, said: .greets the noses of the poop I who consider it a by no means welcome gu« I The mine Las many mouths. Out~of these c : ; tli gs the coal juts out, although they may , only a few feet deep. Walton Park mine" I 1 ( had its d-ay, ond' is now failing fast. At c 1 time the hardy miners of Fairfield might lie • been seen working with pick and shovel, th , haid, blackened faces streaked by the pouri , sn eat and lit up by their smoking D'.ivy-lan 1 but now only one or two are employed sound their hardy picks against those' bla i vv tills. Jubilee is perhaps the next on t j circuit. The Up is leaohcd) by a long h 1 running fiom the mire. .From the mouth I the pit hcrsei pu'l the co-1 trucks to the fc ; of a steep hill) up which they are drawn ; steam power. During my last holiday < i'anfield I had an opportunity cf seeing hi j scni9 trucks that had broken away from th , holdings and reached the bottom of this ate hill had fallen off the line into a little stres j below. , All the way clown ihe decline gre I lumps of cool lay "scattered. The line j some extent was shattered here and there, a [ some little rollers knocked out of place, b beyoncl that, no damage %va.s done. T nut-hod used to pull the irucks up the li is very similar to the one employed by t JvPcTiiliill Coal and Sai:d Co. — ncmely, : ! engin-e situated at the top, driving a lai j lcllei-, around which the ropes twine. T I rest of the mines pre very simila.l to o i another, so it might, to give an account j them all, bore any little folk who .may dei; Ito read this. Fairfield ben.rs the proud d; j t motion of having nearly all its youths ai S boys able to swim The Gieen Island peop { term tihetn "water ia<s." I have been j their swimming dams and lagoons, and ha j seen them go in for a dip even before th. • have been horns from work or school. T] j water is the favouiite haunt of young and ol j Duimg the summt-i days of their holida; I the waters are continually in motion. B ! those of "South America" have aLso their s; I story to tell, for under those wee-ping wiUov a boy once went to his doom, while in 'h i agony, I sin told, the brother bit the bark i these gloomy tre/es. I must say myself th i I gloried, perhaps too much, at the sight , ovr swimming lagoons. I have known m> i self go down with my companions and sis at these places for hours. Christie's dam. j smooth, glassy sheet of water lying behindi tl old gold battery, is an ideal spot to which retire. You need not gaze aiound the hil '. to take in the scenery : you see it just as we jby looking into its wateas. The scenery j piesxnted to your sight iv the form of shadoi the water acting as a mirror. There is n ! thing to mar the tia.nquillity of the scene. Tl ! manuka is reflected in the "water, speckled 1 I th.3 yellow-tinted gorse ; the different vs.riete ! of shrub with their tinkle, tinkle, as the sui ' burnt pods, with the little pea 3in them, wai to and fro. All this I can recollect, and as ah heie I think it over again and i»gain, an by night I pray for that pest life to come, Others pray for sleep : We pass. The sentinels aare dumb, The road is eteep. Hunting is another pastime greatly indulge in by the boys. Truly enough they kno what is meant by a dog piicking tip its ea: f>nd giving a sharp bark, or when it travels i bounds thiough the ferny ground, or when : runs lound end round a bush barking tb i v.'iile, or begins fccrapirg ot a hole. Durin ' my holidays it was a custom of my cousins aai I myself to rise early, dress qu'ckly, and ge with dog 3 and pick, over the hills. On a evening about 6 o'clock we would take our d< parlure from the house, and go to a prec pioe 'oveihanging the old batteory- Awa down below the rabbits would be feeding i thic-es and fours, when wo wcaild all shou The bunnies all darted into the holes, so w iust picked away the ground to get then I There is a striking contrast in the fields < I Faiifield. On one side of the load are ur 1 clultiting fields; on the other deep holes nlle I with smoking- embers. A long time Pgo — i have only a dim, recollection of it — theTe wa 1 an old coal mino on the right-hand side of th I road, I can remember the carts carryin I away the coal, but that is all. Long atfcei wards I used to play down by this old znin< 1 At Fairfield school we used to stand up o: the fence and count, as they passed, the truck which were to be filled by the miners. Wit! love to the little folk, the editor, and youi self,— Yours tutly, ARTHUR. Dear Dot,— Since last writing to 3'ou I hay been at a very emjoyable concert, or social a it ought to be called. I am going to try t givo you an account of it. It was given fo the purpose of making our schoolmaster tw smaM presents, one fiom the school childiei and the other fiom the residents of this plaoe As our master is leaving us, to go to auothe sokool, wo thought it nothing but fajr to tr and get him something a-s a remembrance Although this is a small locality, we maangei to scrape up enough money to give him ; gold albert watch chain from- the residents, an< a maltese cross from the school children. W< are all very sorry at losing him, as he was s very good master to us in all ways, and I d< not think we shall ever get one like him again However. Dot, it doe 3 not matter much to me as I have left school now. It was a loveb night, and a laa'ge crowd) gathered in thi schDolhouse, which was very nicely dacorate< with greenery. The first item o"n the pio grnnmiß was a pianoforte selection by a, younf lady Next came a song by six schoolgirls entitled, "Won't you buy my pretty flowers,' A few sorags followed, and then came th< pleasant news fhat there wa3 going to be t dialogue, which was to be acted by five schoo children, three boys and two girls, tUie plaj bearing the name of "The Ghost of Crcokec Lane" (rather a funny name, was it not Dot?). My word, it was worth seeing, a; there was an awful-looking ghost in it. ] think everyone enjoyed that part of the social or if they did not they must be hard) tc please. Some more songs, recitations, anc music was ewen, tih e n another dialogue fol lowed, entitled "Mrs Caudle's Cmrtain Lecture," which w«s acted by a supposed young man and a lady. Much laughing was done dining the time that play was being gont through, and I heard yesterday that some ai the audtience are not quite over it yet. Ther came the presentation, the chairman of the School Committee giving the speech and making the presentation of tihe residents. Ther the biggest boy in the school had the Lonow of presenting; the cross. The supper which followed was nicely laid 1 out on tables in a maiquee at the back of the school, which vas put up that dap- for the purpose. The tables were very nicely decorated with flowers of all description. After everyone had partaken of the good things the room was cleared for dane-ing, which was kept up till about 4
s er- o'clock. I noticed a few D.L.F.— I think six hat or moie. With lovp to Mountain Rambler, not Pr.paiora, &nd all the D.L.F. of this district — ; of Yours truly, NANCY LEE. }^' j LETTERS CONDENSED, k I Wolverine's favourite leading is of a marair 1 tiai rature. "I hope the Japs will take Port t> ac l Arthur as they did Dalny. lam a great reader ies • of tiie Russo-Japanese wai " and new 3 of the ■ith ' advance iv Thibet. I also read everything me i aboUPt t)he Balkan States, and ' Pater's Chats the • WlUl tho B °y 3 -' •are getting very fine 3 weather up here for this lime of year." gjt c The Boy in Blue indulges in a little me gi arable about the weather, bwt what is the 1a ! vl3c °' 1 complaining? "Things are very dull ,j s _ ]usl now down here. There is a, .dancing o f class every fortnight, and a debating class— ,2 e ono for the ladies and One for the men, in jg+l separate place 3. There was a concert in aid u Li of the church, at which the choir sang some j, c veiy nice hymns." las Fighting Mac has a grievance against the me * weather. "We aie having very rough weather ive ! here at present — just the kind 1 of weather, Dot, eir Jto keep the fire warm. I should not fancy rg j lciind Lake Te Anau just now, as I hear the i,d, 1 hills there are covered) witih snow. I live a to few miles out of Lumsden, ond it is a very quiet ick place, especially Ju3t now, as there have been ;he no concerts or any kind ot ball for a long time, .ne 1 I hear that a spinsters' ball is coming off «t of j Mossbum, and I wish it every success." 30* ! Sophia II tells me about the weather. "The by mountains arc all white with snow here, and . tiiere is frost these few mornings. The Wed°w ; cioiuurn concert was to come off on the Bth ej r ' of June, but it was put off a3 it was too wet e l> and cold for the people to go. The Wed'm ! dirbum Creek is up very higii just now, for -at ( it has rained a good deal these few nights." ° j Sunbeam naturally does a little grumble at , I tho weatber. "It wa.s snowing about a v/eek I? I ago, and is raining at present, andl it is very 1 cold iv tlle mornings. A great number of he I tourists come liwe in the summer." an i Lancewood was in Dunedin at Easter. "I c I ihmk Dunedin a most beautiful oity. What ka an imjjrovement the electric cars are comne I l >are d the horse cars. Waikawa, tho of I place la. wlukh I live, is most beautiful in the n n , sjaimer time. There is n little bay at the ° s _ j mouth of the wver cabled Trypot Bay, wheore n^ the whalers used to boil the whales." >le Blue Eibbon -was interested in reading at about the floods on thci West Ooast and about ye ' ihe fatal landslip at Biunner. "The roads ey are very muddy now. Snow is on the tnotinhe tciin tops, and it makes one feed cold when ,d. ( one looks at it." ys j Aunt Mac has been going to Chaslandg ut t beanh with her mates ths /iist firje holiday for ad , tame time, but every holiday that lias come v 3 lately has been wet, so she will have to wait, iis til spring. "The factory hero is closed now, of I and nearly all the cows diry, and' I am not sorry, at j although we have to drink black tea. There of. was a spinsters' ball here on M«y 27, and it y- proved a sviceess, though it was raining. There ay j were only thTee strangers there, and) that was a a disappointment for everybody." lie TITO k a9 k een a t a party to Butterfly's place, , i apd had an enjoyable time. "There was \, pienty niusic — tho fiddle, piano, r.ocordeon, and . the bag,pip^9. It has been raining very hard for a few days, but now it is clearing up. It *> jis very muddy down here. I wiah Dot would j tcrne down from Dunedin and buy some mud, because we should not miss it." es Taniwha w:i,<3 down in Dunedin last year, n . and while there she went to Seave j clhi and Port Chialmers. "We had' a, j I lovoly picnic at Hamilton station, which I ;enidi joyed very much. We had eigiht inches of sn ow up here. We were sorry cur school teacher left us and went to Heuot She used to come out and play games with us. She j tsserl -to skate, play cricket, sjiow-balling, j and many other games, but the gsmes are , . not so pleasant now." ■^ j Qtjeen Bess tells me about the school ex- ,. g j cxn 31011 to Colao Bay. When we preached ■ n 1 Colac there were some men who boileol water jk Ito make us eoine tea. We played on the ie r beach until it was nearly night, and had great lg I fun After wa got supplejacks and ferns we _§ '■ went up to the train, and started for home." t, j C. C. G-. was much interested an reading the n accounts of tie disastrous landslip at Bnmner c . and tho gieat flood at Wanga.nui, when the i- water was flowing in and out the shops. "We y arc milking six cows just now, but I do not n caro for milking, especially in the winter, when t. it is raining." 'c Bluebell of Scotland says there are not 1. many children going to the school now. "There af I were two mills up here this year, but they are 1- both oloced. Tihe winter is on now, a.nd we (1 shall scon have grand fun sliding and sk&t•I ing." 9 Canterbubv Bell will be 'having her winter ie holidaj's soon. "The factory is closed aiicl S the cows are drry, «.nd I am not sorry either. r " A sx^insters' ball was held here the other night, -■ and I went to^it and greatly enjoyed myself." Princess May also tells me about the closj ing of the factory and the spin'stera' ball. c . Princess Alice lias a mile to walk to school, and as the road is very muddy it is not very pleasant. "We are having very heavy frost a in the mornings now, but the ice is not thick s enough to skafca on yet. The primroses in o my garden are beginning to come out in flow ex 'l" i-ow. We ;ire milking only one cow, and o she doe 3 no": give much milk. There are two n milk factories in the district, and thars is -■ plenty of milk .~<u - t&d to them." r Elfredo was down at Milton for a holiday, v and she saw a rfew D.L.F. "My sister and R. V Crueoe and I are good chums, and we are a always together wlien we get a chance. The ?■ trapping is in full swing just now. My a brother sets 19 traps when he comes home from c school, and catches a good many rabbits." 0 Colleen Bav?n and her three sisters have ( three miles to walk to school, but as the roads / are good they don't mind that. "I was down 2 at Dunedin last winter, and while there a 3 friend and I went to the Gardens, and also to j the Mtiseum. I think the llnseum is a very interesting place. As the weather was not very x pleasant I did not stay 1 very long, but all trie ' same I enjoyed myself very much. ' Chape Fern is back home after being away a for nearly six weeks. "I have ridden to school a, for a few days, and hope to be allowed to ride 1 again very often. I am never so happy as f when I am on a horse and galloping along at 1 a good rate. Last Thursday night 'coming , home from school I got my dearest mate up s in front of me on the horse, and I tell you ye [ did have some good fun. Wo laughed till I , thought we should fall off." J Lord Plunket has a good deal to say about ' some of the Mbsgiel L F., but tii?re is no room for personal talk just now. "The weather here is very squally and cold so it make 1 - evervj[ thing muddy, and causes everybody to sleep in 5 in tho mornings. I have a little pouy, whiuji I * call Toby, and every day when I come home * from school Igo a ride, gives rue a good 1 appetite for tea." \ Doreen has decided to join our band after f , a good deal of consideration. "1 have four J miles to go to school, but w« bay* a quiet ] t j horse, and we always drive. I have not been 1 t I there these last i>hree days, however, as it was f v ! raining heavily." 1 5 ' TCobody Knows II find? \t very cold going to - 3 school these frosty mornings. "We live 40 [ - raiies from the railway. There are some be".uti- 1 1 ful fruit gardens about here, and there are 1 dredges on the river. Our teacher has been 1
i!l for several day?, and we are all ipa' e orry. The winter is setting in now, and the dams will soon be frozen, and we shall theii hs^e nna fun sliding and skating on the ice " The Gaiety Girl is evidently possesred of r. very cheerful disposition, as is, of course, only to be expected of a gaiety girl. "A great number of the D.L.F. think it is unpleasant to have to go out in the cold frosty mornings Aid milk cows, but I think it grand fun, especially in the snow. My brother is watching toflee boiling for fear he does not get ary."
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 73
Word Count
18,192LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 73
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