LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 73

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

( Motto: — We write for the benefit of others, not j for oui selves.

Dear Dot, — It is nearly a year since I last wrote to the page. Dux-ing my absence there have been many changes and improvements, especially th-e establishment, of the L. and D. Clubs, which have so far been a success, and also the picnics. I have not been at any of them yet, but hope to be able to attend one in due time. I am staying in Oamaru now, and I hope to soon meet some of the D.L.F. here. 1 was going along the street one day when I came across a D.L.F., and I spoke to her, but she only smiled; but on coming back she asked where was my badge, as, unfortunately, I had not one on. Oainaru is a very pretty place. The houses are lnamly built of white Oamaru stone, which makes them look very pretty. I like up here much better than down south, a-s we get more fine weather here. I have lately met another D.L.F., and I have great sympathy for him, as he has to be wheeled about in a chair. His norn de plume is Pretoria. He said he had not written to the page for a long while on account of his being laid up. It is strange to me that they have not got any cars here, as it is a fairsized town. I -tried to get to the D.L.F. picnic at Waihola, but I found I could not get off. I was greatly disappointed, but I suppose there will be more picnics in due time. It is a wonder the Oamaru D.L.F. have not formed a L. and D. Club, as I think there are plenty of L.F. here; at all events I Bee plenty writing from here. With love to all the D.L.F., the editor, and yourself, Dot, — Yours tiuly, SCRAM

:bular

[I am glad to hear about Pretoria again, Strambular, but am sorry to learn that he is still an invalid. He used to write some very pleasant letters a year or so back, and I hope he will soon be able to write once more and t9ll us how he is getting on. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— AVe are in the middle of harvest here, and most people are cutting, while some have started to lead in. We have had grand weather for a long time, and the ground was M>ry dry before the rain (which i 3 falling as I write) came. AYe had the church anniversary social here a, week ago, and it was a great success. AYe had a good choir, and it did much to make the evening enjoyable. The speakers did very well, and we had some good laughs at the stories they told. My brother and I and two others went for a trip to the Blue Mountain^ some time ago, and we tyid a. great time. AYe took two drays, and started pretty early in the morning, as we had about 20 miles to go. After travelling for about 15 miles through the Pomahaka Downs -fre came to the Pomahaka River, noted for its troutAshing, and saw one or two of the speckled

beauties jumping in the ripple?. We forded the live." all right, as it was lew, ai d then sturtcd up the hills bj' a road r or a little distance, and then through the manuka, with only a bridle track to show us Ihe wrj. We soon got over the hill and into a gorge, which led us sway into the heart of the mcnntains. There was a stream ruining down it, and we soon left one of the drays bahirjd, as it wasn't very safe for them in some placet. We reached our destination in due course, and after dinner went up into the bu«h and started cutting ninnuka for rails and stakes. Wo could see the doer tracks everywhere, but did not see any of the animals themselves. We had tea about G. and after a look round we fixed up the teams, pitched the teiit, and turned in. The horses stampeded at midnight, and two of tho party had a grand time phasing them. We toiled all ths next day, hauling out the rails with horses, and by night were ready for an early start the n°xt morning. One of us was ill "in the niornin", but we got on uretty well, and landed home about 4 p.m. With lo^-o to all Clutha friend" -tours truly,

BRIDE'S BLOSSOM

Dear Dot,— We have had grand weather clown here lately, and all the farmers are as busy as bees getting in their crops. We had a small crop, and my brother and I had to stop hotrie from scliodl to help to s,ei it exit, but we uid more rabbiting than anything else' My brother had a little dog named Dusty, and he said io me, " Yor. stay there; I =cc "a rabbit"; but the rabbit was too smart for him. AYe had a. bail down here, and I net a number of D.L.F. there, I saw Smiling Lass, Hollow Tree, and- •Mafl^Qjut, and they asked for my an'o. With love to all* the little folk, j.ot forgetting yourself, — Yours truly,

THE SHINING- AVEB

Dear Dor,— A few of the Christchurch D.L.P., including myself, had their photos taken the other day, as 1 suppose you already kiiov. 1 believe they canie out all right ; if ?o, you will get one of them in* dtie time. I saw a D.L.F. at the band in Victoria square last Thursday evening, and spoke to her; bn< she was either too shy lo come and speak to me or she was waiting for me to go and speak to her. However, we were both too backward in coming forward, and now we must take the consequences. The other da}-, as I was most solemnly whistling the "Dead March " over a headless fly which I had seized from a spider's web, a cocky little bantame came up and unceremoaiousJv reminded me, by a good peck, that my little toe was protruding from a hole in my shoe. Of course I left the fly, and after him in double-quick time, but he made good his escape by disappearing into the fowihousc — lucky fof him, or there is no telling wiiai I might have -done. One evening last week I went to a limelight entertainment, and enjoyed myseH immensely. Some views of the Antarctic regions were shown, including some of the Discovery and Morning in the ice. Several illustrated songs •were sung. A young lady sang " Ora pro nobis," which was accompanied by illustrations. I think it is a beautiful song, and everyone who is fond of music should have it. It is not a humorous song by any means, but for the sake of those who have not heard it I will say it is rather mournful. There 'vas another song sung by a young man, which I enjoyed very much. The name of ths niece was " Anchored," and it was beautifully illustrated. Sonic very humourous slides v/rre =hewn for the children. One day lately I strolled out to the front door, and saw our tat. cautiously turning something over and over with her paw, and for curioslH's sake thought I would go and see what "it was. "Well, I discovered it was a great bumble b?e. almost too chimsy to crawl, but the cat did not feel inclined co leave it in weaee. I thought to myself, "Mistress Cat, if you don't leave that alone you'll come to grief", but. scarcely ha-d the last word got out of lay mind when the cat gave a loud and rather unexpected " Jlaw-aw-w," ami flew about a dozsn yards, to begin vigorously rubbing her nose with her paws, until I "thought she would have a hole worn in it. For a while after, at intervals of about fiv minutes, I went to sc» if her nose were getting any bigger, but it remained the same snubby little point. I went to see the swimming races at the West Christchurch School yesterday afternoon. Several of the girls won prizes for their performances. Besides the races there was floating, graceful swimming, and life-saving, which were very good indeed. My sister won a prize for racing and good swimming. During the afternoon tsa was handed round, and at the finish Mr Garrard, the performers' teacher, was presented with a silver sovereign case for his kindness find preseverance in teaching them through the season. This is all I have to srav just now. so I shall close, hoping you will find loom for it.— Yours faithfully,

GLENFEKRIE

[Only too uleased, G-lenferrie, for we do not find a L.F. with a fund of anecdote at her command every day. Poor uuss would know better than torment a bumble bee a second time. lam glad to hear that the Christchurch L.F. have beeri able to muster a sufficient number for a group, and I shall look forward to receiving one of the photos — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — "We are having glorious weather, but most of the people are wishing for rain. I know a good many D.L.F. ibotit here, and some of Ih pin are very nice. We are going to start and play hockey, and I am glad, for I am very fond of the game. A number of the D.L.F. and I get together at school and talk about the D.L.F. page. The evenings are getting- short, and I am sorry, as after the. hot days we often go for a swim. About 20 Ahaura D.L.F. sue gomg to get our photos taken, and at Easter we are going for a picnic — Yours truly, COTJ

NTEY MAID

Dear Dot, — We have had splendid weather up here lately, there having been hp.rdly any rain for a month. My schoolmate and I used to go up to an old friend of ours and lead the little folk's Letters to him. I was staying with my sister for a few days while mother went home to the sports. We have two stores, and sometimes I go down to the store at Omakau to stay for a while. I am learning to ride the bicycle now. I have five sisters, and they can all ride it fairly well. With love to the editor and yourself, — Yours truly,

LITTLEBOTJRNE LOCK. Dear Dot, — I, feeling tired and lonely, wandered out on to the verandah, and, being in no hurry, thought I would like, as I often do, to be alone for a few minutes. I seated myself on the rail of the verandah and gazed across to the hills befoie me. Two lines of hills run parallel the whole length of the valley, until they seem to meet in the southeast. There are hills all round us, and many declare we are living in an ancient lakebed, as there is only one way by which you can get out without climbing the hills, and that is to follow the creek. While I was thus ruminating I could just discern the rising moon behind the tree-covered hill before me. It was lovely to look at, as I could see quite plainly the tree trunks that stood between myself and the moon, and as it rose slowly over the trees it seemed to me as if the trees were painted on the moon. Inch by inch the golden moon rose over the tr^es, and inch by inch ths trees disappeared. At first I

saw many tree trunks, then they passed from viev, and 1 co-aid sco xnauy branching limbs, wine lastly I only saw the topmost hough?. They, too, seemed to drop from sight, and there, above the hill, was the moon shining si> siiveiy cii me, and the flowers al my feet. I gazed on it in wonderment, and looked at lh» sky above. Id was cloudless, and the stars -oh, thos-e lovely stars of night, they shone -n millions hke diops of dew in the morning ■■unlight I heard the pleasant murmur of the creek below as it flowed over the great; rocks and stones, of its bed. All was so silent and still that I felt as in a dream on th backward wings of Time. Ala-s, how quickie the time flics when the heart is young. And as 1 thus thought, 1 saw the many hsppj days of my childhood that have passed by v the faces of schoolmates and friends. Ah, where are they to-night? Some for ever laid at rest, and others scattered o'er the land all grown old to 'time, but not to memory, for 1 can recall those happy merry times and swaefc faces the same as they were when I was but a wee girl at school. I often ponder ever scenes 1 raw when holiday time brought rambles of delight. I see them all now,°a3 plain as .1 they were portrayed before me. I wandered from the verandah to the side of tho house, and there were those hills lit up with the moonlight, and those under the moon 9)1 clothed in darkness, for the silvery light had not readied them. I looked around, and. my whole mind and thoughts were taken up. Ah, so lovely, =0 calm, and so beautiful was the night that 1 seemed looted to the spot. Xru.y, I thought, this is but life, the happy time of lifo, when all is bright «nd joyful, :md everytmag s-oms to smile. Last night was a dull, ramj night, and ths moon was * m . l3lt)le allrl lllc stars unseen, there not even being the now pleasant ripule of the creek. It seemed mournful; all seemed to frown. A hi-, I tuouqht, how very few of those lovely nights we see. Yes, too true : the happy days c , .. fov ' fi »r between. What think you, Dot Hark' I hear the kiwi. Although the nightfall causes the songsters of the day to cc?a.,e, yet it rouses the kiwi to send tortu 111 jerks its wild coo-ec to break the solitude o t night. I walked inside to go to bed, but instead 1 chose to writs to you. How fondly n > cling to the past, and how carelessly w© ,-egard the future. Alas, the happy days of every Life are the days that are gone, when the Diessings of good health and tlio innocence ot youth walked arm in arm together. What two lovoly tetters appeared in our columns last week from our well-wishing friends across tae brmy ocean! I read them over and over again, and I enjoyed them every time. They art indeed a credit to the writers.- I must now bid you -adieu till next time. With fond lovo to all L.F. (especially those in Battle Scticol), yourself, and the editor,— Yotrrs truly, PAi'&.ROA.

Dear Dot, — Marbles -has be-on the game at school lately, but I think we are all "tired of if ,jow. I have two sisters, one of whom go 2B to ihe .High School, while -the osber goes tr Anderson s Bay for music lessons For my last holidays I went to Mount Car«nll -Anderson's Bay, and Dunedin, and yon may depend I had a good lime. It is a beautiful, clear, moonlight night to-night. It seem* .1 pity to be inside. With love to Althea, LonDale, Lassie, Shamrock, Saucer Eyes, Yetta ths editor, and not forgetting your own eolf,— Ycurs truly, VI.ETa'

Dear r<ot, — I hay? read in soin° of ilip letters that several of Dot's writers have been away for a. picnic at different times, and have enjoyed themselves very much ; but I, >infortuaately, am not able'to attend the picnics, as I ii-.-e away in the back block". I have been learning to play the piano for about three weeks, and I think I am getting on pretty well with it. Wo have r.o little chickens just now, for they have all grown bi<r, but we. shall have some chickens out soon, I think, so I shall have to feed them and take care of them. I started to milk the other day, bufc T only milk one cow yet, and she is a quiet one. A good many new writers have made their appearance in the page since I last wrote, and it is well, for I suppose the old ones can't write fox ever. My brother hss a nice white rabbit, and ho keeps it in a bos, and feeds it with grass. AYe had some visitors stopping with us lately, but they nre all away now. "We all. went for a sledge ride about a week ago along a ridge and back again, and we thought it fine 'fun. "We are stacking just now, and are pretty busy. A number of people are stacking about here at present also. With love to the editor and yourself, — Yours truly,

CELMISIA. [It 13 very late for young chickens, Celruisia, and you will have to be very attontive to them during the cold weather that wo shall have shortly. If you have a coop with ai little wired-in run for them you may succeed, however. — DOT.J

Dear Dot,— lf y brother and I have be-on away to Mo-sgiel for a holiday. AYe stopped with our sister, who lives at Saddle Hill. The day after we arrived we went for a walk up Saddle Hill, but the weather being very hot we did not care to climb to the top. My brother and I went to the coal mines, and we stopped there all day, so we h?d a gocd look at the pvf. We went into Dunedin the day before we came home. The first place we went to was ths wharf, and we °aw two large steamers and a sailing vessel. AVp also went to the Gardens and to the IVluseum, and. thought everything was very nice, especially the deer and the flowers. When we came home my brother and I had to camp out on one of my father's farms. We had to cut Canadian thistles and other noxious weeds. It was all right sport as long as it kept prstty cool, but ou hot days it was a bit tiresome. In the gullies, where there was a good lot of dried fern among the thistles, we just; set fire to ths fern and burnt them, and tharfc— saved a good deal of trouble. We were a month cutting at the thistles, and then we packed up our swpgs and came homo. The next day we had to go back to school again, but we did not like having to begin out lessons once more. — Ycurs tiu^y, ALLY SLOPES,.

[You ceitainly earned your holiday to ilosgicl and yoar visit to tho city, Ally Sloyer. Cutting Canadians must be rather disagreeable work, as I suppose you get plenty of pricks from the spines. You might have told us how you go about it, and what you do