LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 73

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto: — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. Dear Dot. — Kindly allow me to eongrsiulato the membera of the D.L F. Club in inveTcargill upon the success of their 'Irst annual social, which was held in Asnley's 'ilall on Wednesday evening, August 2. Although in 1 , one of their number, I was invited to their social end enjoyed myself immensely. There

ere 100 persons s present, and a capital programme was submitted. Willow Brock, in tho chair, opened the meetirg with a vary satisfactory address, which was much appreciated. Tbero were 25 items on the progiamm.3, exclusive of the supper, at winch Zealia, Maidie M., Ceres, and Willow Brook were mujh in evidence as waif-er3 at the vab'a.

thmk ihat in fu;urc some of the ether members might bs genercus enough to lend them a lifle more assistance at the supper. I am fcrwarding a programmo to you, so will not enumerate the items, but much praise is dus to three young lads, who recited Shylock and Antonio. Southland Cynic (who belies his norn do plume) gave a verj humorous reading, which was followed by a song by Morepork. It was my first expciicnce of a Morepork singing, but I would not by ?ay means object to hear tho same one sing again. Queen Bess, Tika, Ceres, Maidie M., and Mr W. Cnrrie gave recitations, each being very good ; but, Trido .of place must be given to llaidie M. for her rendering of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night." She has a wonderful memory, and a good delivery, cveiy word being clearly spoken, and ph,e was loudly applauded at ihe finiDh. But if tliev.* was • one thing more enloyable than another in the programme it was a dialogue entitled "Aunt Jeniima's Visit," rendered by the Al Opera Company. It wa3 ?. vevy mirth-provoking item, especially where Mary Smiler stamps her pretty little foot m indignation at her husband anent tho announcement of Aunt Jcmyna. coining to spend some tirno wifh them, and was renewed whsn Jack gavo his aunt the. kiss of forgivenes* — it was naturally done. The President then r.unoun^cd a veiy pleasing duty he had to perform an behalf of tho nub — viz., to make a prege. tation of a lovely Morocca, silver-bound

in we stood on rocks and let the waves go . round us, and you may be sure our feet were | usually wet. Finding out who Badger wap, and where he was working, Cosmea and I went along every day and watched him working. One afternoon when we were going home«rfrom having a little fish, a girl called out to us, and on going up to her we found tiwit it was Cooee, Badger being so kind as to tell her our aoms de plume and who we were. You may be sure we had a nice long chat, and Saturday found us skipping along the beach till we got opposite Cooee'" s house, where we waited until our new friend cam© out with- her box of autos to show them to us. Later on Saturday Cooee and Cosy came along th© beach, but we just said, "Hullo," and went away. Badger's friend (I had better not mention his name) seemed very happy on Saturday, as he was going along the beach dancing. On Saturday night I went home, having spent my holiday very pleasantly, and I stayed at home until school took up. The other night when I was teasing my brother he threatened to write to you and tell you that I rode a horse stridelegs; but what harm is there in that, Dot, especially in the country, whore nobody seed you? My mate. Cosmea, has r.ot been at school for a while, as she has been ill; but I think she is coming soon, and I am glad, because she and I are great friends. I think I have written a long enough letter, and I shall now close, with love to all the L.F. — Your 3 truly, BTTSH EOAMEK. Dear Dot, — We have not been having good , weather for the last few weeks. Ever since I the flood the days have mostly been wet, | foggy, or clou-ly. There have been very few j sunshiny days, and therefore the place is both wot and daanp. It was foggy this morning, and the sun tried its best to shine through itf About dinner tune tho fog disappeared, hub as tbs sky is a grey col< ur through cloudo, the | sun has "not yet appeared tc-day, and is not I likely to do so. I have been wondering what iisnie will bo giv-eoi to our last big flood — whether it will be known as the Seddonian flood, b'ecaiiss it occurred on Mr Seddon's birthday, or as the "Tommy Taylor" flood, becbuso Mr T. E. Taylor gave a lecture on "Tempcrancp'" in Greymouth on the preceding Monday, nnd is reported to have said, "What we want in Greynioiith is more water and less j whisky " They very soon got more water, bnt nob in" the way he meant, more's the pity. I an- sitting writing this down near the bottora of Hie "big garden," as the lower orchard is called. It is separated from the top orchard | by means of a fence. The two orchards are ( surrounded by trees. At th.o top and bottom ; sr>e rows of fir trees, while on one side are 1 willows and on the other mostly macic- j [ carpa.s. A tall hedge of maorccarpas ( | hides raos: of the homestead from view. | I can just se-3 the fops of some of j the mountains belonging to the Paparoa , Ranges over this hedge, and they are mostly draped in robes of snow, and very pretty they | are to look at. The fruit trees are beicft of | foliage at present, showing that winter is still here-. In a few we'jks they will again be f ' covered with leaves, and the air laden with , the perfume of their blossoms. The last few ] 1 days there has been a, great stir among- the j creatures of the feather&d kingdom. When- ' ever you go outside you can hear the joyous , songs of the birds. Tliej^ evidently tMak thatj

good spring, as a reward. With kindest regards to one and ES * u £ OABTER .

D©ar Dot,— L. am going to tell you abouu a picnio I was once at. It was one Friday, if I recollect aright, that three of my friends and myself went up to Clear Stream for a picnic. We got there at about 11 o'clock, bui having no watch, we could, not tell the exact time. We had to wade the river two or three times befori we got to our destination, so you can imagine we were pretty well soaked by the time we got there. We soon had the billy boiling ; but •we' did not have a very nice dinner, because the water had got smoked, and the tea was by no means good. After a while we went up the stream, and when we came ba.-V we had with us such a bundle of musk" and .unit. th. t we could hardly tell what to do with it. When we got down to the place where we had left | the billy, we gathered some sticks to light the fire, and in a, few minutes the water was bubbling merrily. After having tea and a few canned peara we decided that it was time to be going home. Accordingly, we started oft", and reached home at about 5 o'clock. Really, Dot, I can't think of any more events to tell you of, so I may as well put the pen and ink away. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting the editor and yourself, — Yours truly, INENZO. Dear Dot, — Since writing my last letter our new hall has been opened by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan. Mr Herdman, M.H.E. , was ako present, and made a speech. At the ball there were 65 couples in the grand march, and as far as financial matters were concerned it was a gr&at success — but otherwise not so satisfactory, as there was such a terrible crush. Another ball, in aid of hall funds, is to be held on September 8. The bachelors have also had their first ball, and the married people of the district say they never saw anything so well carried out. The hall was beautifully decorated with paper chains and Chinese lanterns. Nobody failed to praise the artistic way in which it was decorated. There were about 80 couples in that grand march. Besides ] all these, we have a weekly dance, so you see we have not got very much cause to complain of dulness. I had a letter from Broncho Bill lately, and he tells me he was at the D.L.F. j social. I should 1-ike very much to go to ! one of the socials, but that is out of the ouestion for us in the backblocks, so all we can do is to wish those who are present a merry time and a long sleep next morning. I Lady Stair is still in our district, and she . lives a bit nearer to us now. She had Q-^eer ' Fellow round seeing her lately. I felt so I sorry that I missed him, seeing he was here — - but better luck next time, I suppose. What a wandering life he leads. I don't think I j should caie about it. What a, crowd of old ■ writers there are. Oft-times I sit and think \of them. There is Twinkling Star, Alys, Golden Morn, FluS, G-iuha, Lance, Willie Mowat, and, oh! what loads of others. You and all of T. Star's friends will be sorry to hear that she has been very ill with rheumatic ' fever. She is a "bit better now, but her ' arms are quita useless still. She has been jin the hospital quite a long time. Let us all hope she will soon be up and doing, like ' most of us are at present. Spring will soon be with us again, and all the lovely flowers, !of which. I am very fond,- We have had a

[ very mild winter so far. for this part of Hie I world at anyrate. Wit Move to Lady Stair 4 ' Jeannie Dear. Broncho Bill, tho editor, ana ' J ourself ,-Your. trtfy. Gipgy Dear Doi, — It is about ?ix years since I la 9 ■vvrota io you, but I have always taken a grea, 1 interest in the page. A bazaar wa.« held .n Roxburgh a while ago. There was a big cio-.vd at it, ard it was a gre^ success. Kee.lleas to say I enjoyed myself imai? ■'.ce'y, as I piways dc when I go to Eoi'*'urgh. Antl io <t ! seemed to have a good lime in Dunedin during I show week. I pj.-ked her at. once amongst th^s i group in the Witness It is very quiet about i here just now, but a quadrille assembly has beos started, and that may liven tliirgs up r. little. I was down at Port Chalmers abcufc eigl)'. months ago, but as I was only there a fortnight I didn't noticp any D.L.F. I was only in°Dunedin a couple of days, so you see, Dot, I hadn't much time to look round that wonderful city. I was vpvy anx : ous to stay longer, as it W3= the first time I had been there since I crossed iha briny ocean. I thmk Alexandra rather a nice place, only foi the dust in the summer time. It is veiy bare compared tiith this place, having so many rocks and :> scarcity of grass. They have a nice recieatioi ground there, a_nd I cften used to go io hesr the band playing. Two of my girl friends from Bald Hill Flat used to go with me, an we had grand fun. I often intended going to Clyde, but I never reached that far. What a splendid account ited K-ata gave of her childhood's memories. How I remamber those days when we used to play together. Although, they are past they are not forgotten. The weather is simply lovely for this time of th? year. It is just like spring, but 100 good to last long, I am afraid. The sprmg flowers are ajl up in the garden, and some Ot the prirnioses and pansies are in bloom. I walked three miles to a quadrille assembly on Saturday night, Dot. co you can guess ho->v fond of dancing I am. The going was all right, but the coining home was quite a different matter altogether. I was nearly going to sleep on the way, but was pleased to think that the next day was Sunday, so that I could have a long lie in in the morning. I had every daces except two, so it was no wonder I eculd hardly walk home. The q-uadrille assembly is a great success this year — far before last year. It is like a social, but it is such fun, there being siich a lot of beginners; but I don't need to talk, for lam only one- myself. Thero must be grand socials held where Devonshire Dumpling ' lives, judgh-g by the account she gave in Special Subject Week. Grumpy and I walked to Moa Flat one night, and talk about frights, Dot! I am so stupid in the dark, I nearly ran into a man on the bridge, and I think I gave the man quite as great a. start as I had myself. Grumpy was- telling me about a ghost being in Dunedin, and ther« was a horse coming along the-road with a cover on it, and really, Dot, at the time I thought it was n ghost. I could feel my heart beating. I ishall now tell you about a picnic I went for with three other- girls a while ago. We started in the morning with our baskets and billy, and a young man came along with a fruit cart, and he gave us a drive about a mile. We were sitting on top of a lot of empty fruit case 3, and every rut I thought I should tumble out, but luckily we reached our journey's end in safety. Then we started to walk up a gully until we came to a place called the Maoris' Camp. We had several rests on the way, for it was so hard clambering through the bushes. After we had had a few minutes' spell we boiled the billy, and had something to. eat, and I can tell you, Dot. we 'nearly emptied our baskets then, although they were a fair size. After .-that we started to catch crabs. One of the girls caught such a lot, but frightened ma ' would scream every time she would throw one out of ther water. I think they are such ugly things, and I would not touch one for the life of me. The girls caught the billy full between them, and then we put our boots and stockings on and staoried to climb the hill, not knowing where we were going. We crossed over several hills and gullies, until we cam 3 to a gully with bulrushes and ferns growing ia abundance. We were going to boil the billy again, bnt we had tec eat what was left in our baskets without anything to moisten I our lips. Then we filled our baskets with ferns, and each 1 of us gathered some bulrushes, and w9 plodded over hills and gulli©3 again until we came in sight of the little township. Goodness me, Dot, we could hardly walk for bid-a-bids. It was no uso trying to take them off us, so we jn=t , kept going until we reached the bottom of th > gully. The coach just passed, so we got it move on to try and free ourselves of the bid-a-bids before we should cross the bridge to get the mail. We must have been near.v half an hour scraping the bid-a-bids off, and I don't know what we should have done had not one of the girls had a knife with her. At last we made ourselves respectable enough to get our letters. When we were crossing the bridge we put two of the largest crabs on it and left them, poor wretches. I wonder what happened to them. I suppose they fell into the wild waters of the Molyneux. We still h&d to walk a mile before we reached home. I think it was a peculiar picnic, and have never bothered about another one since. I can tell -sen I was ready for bed early that night, and expect my mates were likewise. Wiih love to Red Rata, Dulce Dornan, Anthea, Bobby , Burns, Grumpy, and all other D.L.F., yourself, ! and Mr Editor. — Yours truly, BERYL 111. Dear Dot — A strong desire is within rue today to pen a few lines to your precious pa§e. Although a few weeks have now elapsed since I returned from my trip to town at show time, I don't suppose it is too lats to give you a short account of it. What do you think, Dof On the morning of the 14th of June, accompanied by my father, I started fcr the station, which we reached in 'good time. i. r half-past 10 the train arrived, piid soon we wer9 BD<?eding northwards. Arriving safely in tov.-n, v* made for our lodgings, where we d.d jtitvpl?' justice to the good dinner provided ?iicit!» afterwards, accompanied by friends. I 4oot tram down to the Botanical Gardens, wiiero I spent the greater part of the afte.rr.oon. 1 di(| enjoy wandering through the Gardens. I f&ai a great fancy to the little yellowish-brown deer. Next day I went to the show, bub I cannot give you a, description of it, as there) was such a crush, and I could scarcely sec any of the exhibits. However, what I didi fee was very good. In the evening-, with, friends, I went out to Anderson's Bay. wheore I spent a very jolly ev«oing, and I also inada a D.L.F. acquaintance. I shall now skip on till Friday afternoon, when I met with the rest of tho Tj.F. aoid had my photo taken. That trying ordeal over, we adjourned to the D.L.F. joni, where a plentiful supply of fruit and l lollies was handed round. 'Vvith others, I was shown over the office by Indian Chief, wb"ii went to no end of trouble in explaining to \ik everything about the machinery. After exploring the office we decided to go up to St. Paul's Schoolroom to see how things weie I getting on there. Shortly after that I left my, j chums, and made for my lodgings. Resting 1 1 for a while, I had tea, and started again for St. Paul's, where a large crowd had already, assembled. A very good and interesting ac- | count of the social appeared some time bac>. ,so I need not enter into details. Needless t-> say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I thiii^S Friday afternoon, and. was the ihof a

pooketbook to the secretary for his many cer \icea to the club. It wrs such a surprise to him in rei/ity that ha -ot'kl hardly speak a. Pi at, but n-hor ho mastered his agitation he gave us a vondorhilly good speech. 1 was very pleased to m'*ct Blnndel, who was enjoying himself to the full. I mci. Snapper there al=r,, :nd predict a groat iuture ior him. If h? succeeds in hit. notes he will yet wipe out the Soutl'land Critic. But. I must close by endcusing the remarks of Boy and saying "them's my senurnento," and shall look forward to another pleasure at the next annual sccial — Yours truly, EOS-NAUT-Y-MELYN. Dear Dot, — Will you admit yet another ons into your happy band? I have boon interested for a long time in your page, and aft?r a lot of hesitation have started this letter 1 o you Living- euch a Irn^ wav from Dunedin, I only get the Witness about every fortnight. 1 should like to get it every week. Have you ever been to Auckland, Dot? I think it is icvely, especially in the summer time. We livo right opposite the beach, and you may gi,ess we have good times. Still, I think I fchould life) to hvs in the country x or a while. It must be glorious to roam through the fields, of an evening and to help in the haymaking. How nice it must be to have to go five or six n.iles to he nearest town when ycu want to buy anything. Of cour&o I am referring to the summer time only. I am sorry I do not 'ivs in Dunodin, because I shoald like to atlrnd the meetings of the Litsrary and Debatipa Club. Are there ary I/.F. in Auckland? T have not seen an^. If any LF. would like to send his or her autograph, please send So "Mifanvy. C.P.0., Devmj,ort, -Auckland." Well, Dot, I must finish this letter now, hoping you will find space for it. Please give my lo»e to tho editor, and most of all yourself. — Yours truly, MIFAiYWY.

Dear Dot, — Winter holidays being over I suppose it will be the faishion to write about how you ypent them One may a-s well lio out of tho world as cut of the fashion, so I shall now bagin. Well, we got a fortnight's holiday from sohool, and on the Thursday I left her 3 ir. the train for Balclutha. After staying there a few days I came home again on ills Saturday night. Sunday lyeing a good day we drove to Port Molyneux, where we stayed at Kaka Point for a week. One of my schoolmates who writes to you under the norn de plume of Cosmea, was staying at Kaka Point, and we Lad fine times together. We got a skipping rope each, and wo used to skip along the sand, talking and latighing all the time. When we got tired of skipping we went out on the rocks hunting for crabs, or i trying to fish, but I am sorry to s-ay we did not catch any. When the tide was coming

spring is not far off, ond T hope it isn't, and that vve shall soon have bright warm days again. From all around aro coming the straim of some bird's song. On a tree not very distant is a thrush singing his delightful song, trying to sing it better than its fellow thrushes, no doubt. Yesterday morning one thrush was sitting on the topmost branch of n tall macrooarpa tree, while another was on the higlic«t bough of an apple tree. Both were singing with the greatest vigour, making the air" resound with their delightful songs, when suddenly both stopped and I heard a great flutter, and on looking to see what had happened, I saw those two thrushes on the giound i.aving a fighl. It looked as if they must have been rivals, and were settling the matter in that way High up in the air above a paddock near by ?re several skylarks pouring out iheir joy in strains of the most delightful melody. What a charming sod% to proceed from such a small singer' In tho distance I enn hear ihe r.otes of some tui's song. Severs! tparrows in the pir.e trees are chirping to one another, Vut louder than them comes the tr.nes of a ihrush. One cannot look across the orchard for a minute without seeing some of the leathered songsters flying about very busily, as if they were on some very important business. they are, but their songs seem to be thrilling with the greatest pleasure. The following lines of Wordsworth seem to be very true: " The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure ; But the lea^t motion which they made, It seemed a thrill of pleasure."

This tinio last year the birds were having great rejoicings, but the morning the snow was lying on the ground they were silent. I hope we will not get any snow Ibis winter; but wo must take what we and trust to get no worse. Since writing the above anoth/iT day haa dawned. This is a most baauti-.:l clay: there is a delightful east wind blowing, and the trees arc swaying to and fro in it, and waking a deep sighing sound. The sky is of a pretty blu9 colour, and flecked with white clouds; the sun is shining brightly and warmly, and for the mildness of the day one would think that we are well into spring instead of being still in July. This morning 011 going_outside I heard a great chorus of sweetvoiced singers singing most beautifully. Birds of many kinds were there rendering their pretty songs. As I sit here I can hear the clear niping of a chaffinch in a pine tree close by. The bees are very busy humming and buzzing about ; indeed, all Nature seems to ba waking up more or less on this lovely day. Since we have been having rather bad weather lately I hope that we are going to have a

enjoyable part of my delightful liitle trip. I got 'to Blanket Bay about 11.30 or 12 o'clock Unit night, and oh, dear, 1 was sleepy next morning, 'out 3 managed to get ur> at 7, thus giving us sufficient time to be at the siation to catch tho 8.30 tram for the south. Had it nnt been for the purpose of being present at the social 1 should not have had my nice trip. I can tell you I was very pleased to be at it. Coming home, I had Olaucia's and Pansy Blossom's company, which I enjoyed. Special Subject Week was, I think, a thoiough success, and I hope it will long be a successful event to look forward to. The stories of Awkward Ned, Auntie Daisy Primrose, Devonshire Dumpling, Jim Brown, Mountain Rambler, and Paparoa were my favourites, though the others wore equally as pood. With kindest regards to Olive, Indian Chief, Simpleton, Appi 'i'aniwha, yourself, and the editor, — Yours truly, LADY BENUSSI. Dear Dot, — Once more our page is at the mercy of pissent-day L.F., and the retired wnt&is, who so practically illustrated that their interest in affairs pertaining to Dot and the beloved page is still at boiling point, must resume compulsory silence till O.W.W. heralds their oeriod of reaction. How nobly they responded to the ccil 1 of S.S.W.— or, ratter, fortnight. It brings back memories of the past to hear from the writers who were connected with the page in its infancy, and on account of their enforced resignation we welcome them for the sake ■of old times. How anybody characterised old, not r.e<:ossarily in years, but old in the place they occupy in our cetimaticr., evokes our admiration. There are in the locality of a celebrated gully, which shall bo nameless on this occasion, many old pioneers of the early digging days, styled "the good eld times." Eadi has his little peculiarities, customary to old age. One old digger spends the evening of his life in planning by what means he may make his name as immortal as thai of Shakespeare. Just the other day he was telling me how he proposed patenting bicycles manufactured solely out of willow wands. Such are the ridiculous fabrications of an eccentric failing mind; but it would be a monstrous shame to laugh at his absurdities, though I am often compelled to choke, cough, and sneeze to hide my rising laughter. There is another, so different — alittle old lame man, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye — the boys' privileged companion, and the darling of the girls. He tells them wondrous stories of his game leg, each time a different one, must to th-s children's delight They never think of questioning as to the credibility of his statements. Childlike, they take it for granted, and ask for a second helping. There are others, but as they are by,rio means so pleasing as tliose I have described, I do not inland to say anything further about them. They are, alas, being sadly thinned by the great reaper, Death. Scarce a month passes without some worn-out frame -being laid to rest. Ofttimes no statsly tombstone marks their last res.ting-place, but a memory of their quaint beloved ways comes home to friends left behind, and calls their virtues and their goodnesses. Dear Dot, for the benefit of ( our page I am going to give a little reproof to l one of our silent members, Priscilla, of Lawj rence origin. Six months have passed away since last the page was honoured with your valued contribution. In a place wherein Dot can boas* „)f but three representatives who can rise "■above the horrors of the condensed column, we : cannot afford to let one so worthy desert our page; so, Priscilla, for the honour of Lawrence, take up that ink-corroded pen of yours and get it into motion ere I ask Quago to administer a reproof. Like the Yankee, I am forced to say yours is one of the longest volun tary silences I have ever listened to. Fear not, Dot, that aught I have said will offend Priscilla. as I know she will take this littlo reminder in the spirit in whicih it is given — that of good intentions; and just see if my I corrective powers avail anything. They will be amply rewarded if Priscilla writes, which I do not hesitate to say she will. Now, dear Dot, I come to the part which old gossips love and I abhor, that of bidding adieu, >so with | kindest regards to Dot, Mr Editor, Priscilla, and Lady May Trevelyn, once more I sign my self,— Yours truly, OORNISH. Dear Dot, — What a great success S.S.W. proved to be. I do not think it was as good as last year's, but then the subjects were not so c»imple. A girl friend and I walked to Moa Flat the other night, and I enjoyed myself immensely, a3 I always do when I am with A., as she is such a lively girl. After doing our shopping and visiting a few of A.'s friends, which of course took some time, we started for home, a lonely walk of three miles. When we were crossing the bridge A. said she saw someone standing at the corner, and thinking she knew the person she went up. I think she intended to speak, but the only thing I heard was a terrible scream from A. The man, for such it turned out to be, evidently got as big a fright as she did, for he muttered some words of apology to A. and hurried away. After getting a few more scares we reached home, A. saying she would never go back again on a dark night, as she is a very nervous girl. I have just been reading a paper read before the Debating Clubs, written by Harry, and headed, "Early Associations," and it set me thinking of my old friends. I wonder if T shall ever meet any of them again in this world. Oh, how I should like to see some of them once more. Red Rata's contribution to S.S.W. semed so real, and especially so to me, as I have visited the place about which she wrote. This letter is getting too long, Dot, so I wil stop and leave more room for better writers. With love to Queer Fellow, Flower o' Clutha, Clydeite, Lady Rosabelle, and your own dear self, — Yours truly, GRUMPY. Dear Dot,— l was very pleased to see Special Subject Week such a success. I prepared a paper en the plot of "The Merchant of Venice," but I forgot to post it until it was too late : behind the times, as usual. Of late I have bean suffering dreadfully from a ft of laziness, and I could not find time to do anything. I suppose it's the fault of the weather: it is just as well to blame the weather as to blame anything else. We have had dreadful weather here lately. It was awfully amusing to see us wading through the waters of the "Premier flood, 1 ' when goina home from school one day last month. I can tell you we were not sorry to reach home, and divest ourseb-c.s of our wet — very wet — clothes. If only I had been able to geb my "pitcher took" to send to the Witness ! It would hay? looked almost as well as the turnip which Wulhe suggested as being a good substitute for his hard head. This little town of ours is simply "swarming" with hockeyites and footballers. When you see a number of young men having a quiet ('■) talk in the street, yoii may rest assured they are talking football. In fact, at every corner of the street there stands a group of "toeballers" discussing their matches. If the home team ltoses, the referee always spends a few quiet evenings at home, ■out of ihe clutches of the angry members of the defeated team. It is even more amusing to watch the hockey ladies arguing over the strength pf_ this club, aa\d the colours of that clutT. TEey always" like to play a club with colours not quite so prfttty as their own. If enteric fever is infectious, I think hockey fever must be moie so, for every second lady you meet here ajjuears to be stricken with, tie Jioqkey

! fever. So far, I have escaped it myself, but I take a great interest in watching the , matches, especially on a very wet day, and on a very muddy srotuul. Some of the players [ put down their sticks until they brush the ! mud off their dresses; -others stand in pools of water looking for the ball, while others. s<*ain, the more persevering ones, succeed m oTving the opposing team a surprise by hitting the ball through the goal posts. It was very amusing at a match the other day. It had rained steadily for a number of days, and the ground was in a. dreadful state. You could scarcely ses the players through the mud and water which was flying in every direction. The men, -who were barracking for the ladies, were greatly delighted, and kept calling out, '-Alice, where art thou?" It was very nice for us who could stand in macintoshes and with umbrellas over us, but I suppose for the players it was no joke. With love to Venctia 11, lavender, Dolly Gray, and all the D.L.F., and lots of love to yourself and the dear editor,— Yours truly, S. R. H. C. Dear Dot, — Special Subject Week is now over, and we have to settle- down to ordinary letters again. Some of the stories were very good, but there were not so many as I expected. I went for a long walk up Cairnmir to-day. My mother and father had gone up, and they told me to come and meet them. "When I got over the bridge, two of Flower o' Chttha'a sisters wero playing there, so I asked them to come with roe. Wo started off, p.r-d plodded steadily up the hill, and after a while reached the road which leads to the Loch Lomond dredge. We had a good look around us, grtting a capital, view of the Dunstan ird Earnscleug'h Flaii?. In a few minutes we again started on our walk, but thi3 time wo jvero on a road. We walked on and on, and at last, e.s there was no sign of niy parents, we thought we might as well turn back. We went down quicker than we came up, as we ran nearly all the way. The way down was pretty steep, but that did not seem to make any difference to my friends. They just ran mi, leaping over stones and bushes, and I rouat say that they managed it better than I did. It was amusing to watch the younger one She would run on ahead, and all of a sudden slio would throw herself down on Hie ground, and roll along a little way. We got down to the bottom all right, without seeing a sign of my parents. As my friends lived on the "other side of the river, I had to come the rest of the way by ;nyself. When I got home T found that my parents had gone a different way to the one we took, and had got home before us. - My mate and I have joined the hockey club in Alexandra, and we go down every Tuesday. We have to go on business, t I don't think we should go down every week. 1 have not seen any D.L.F. in Alexandra, although I have kep 1 : a good look out for badges. With love to Flower o' Clutha, Grumbler. Jessamine, Cosy, the editor, and yourself,— Yours truly, GIPSY MADGE. Dear Dot, — I enjoyed reading the letters in S.S.W. very much, most of them being very interesting lam going to tsll you about an adventure I had some time ago — one I never want to have rfgain. One Sunday afternoon my two sisters, one of my brothers, and I had decided to go for a, walk to gather some feius from a hill not far from home. We all set off with a kit and a basket to put the ferns in. Whan we got to the bottom of the hill ws found that the milk cows and pome other cattle were ahead of us, and we were afrair! the cows would take the others out, for they were new ones. My brother sent the dogs up Ihe hill to fetch them down, but they ■were rather lazy, and would not go in front. At last the cows came down with a great rush, and left the two new ones behind. One, an old cow, was kicking at tha dogs, but all she managed to hit was a tree behind her. V. T e called the dogs off, and my brother got through the fence by which we were standing, and then he went away to llead them. When he got there the cow was looking very wild, so he called out to us to get through the fence as she might chase us. My sisters got through, but I said I was going to stay where I was, -,o I just lay flat on a log that was sticking up in the air. With a great scramble and rush the two cattle came. One ran one way, but the cow came straight for me. JusL then she saw ray sisters on the other side of the fence, and she darted at them ; but when she got there, her front feet slipped right under the bottom wire of the fence. The cow was only a few feet away from me, so I jumpod off the log, to give her a fright, m I though' but it was to be :n& who was to get the friG;h\ When I got down she rushed at me, but she was on one side of the log and I on the other. She was snorting in a most awful We dodged about until my sister threw a piece of mud and hit her in the eye, and just then she slipped and fell on her back. I can tell you, it did not take me lcag to get through the fence, for I was on the other side before the cow could get on her feet again. Theai she raced away as hard rs sh<* could, and joined her mates. I got a terrible fright, and next time I shall make quite sure to be safe, and not take any j-isks. With love to all the L.F. and the editor, not forgetting Yourself, — Yours truly, BKAMBLE. P.S. — Would you please tell me if any L.F out of Dunedin are allowed to have proper auto, cards. — Branjluln. [Yes, of course, Bramble, write to Hsrry, chairman Literary and Debating Clrb, D.L.F. room, Witness Office. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is now over a year since I started to write to the page, and during that time I have made many D.L.F. fri-rnds and correspondents, and I really think that if you are a D L.F. you may be sure tou will soon make a number of friends. Since last writing to you, many things have happened in Christchurch, and I think the most interesting is the opening of the electric trains. They were opened on June 8, and a great number of people went out to witness theii advent, although the ground was covered with snow at the time. The first car, a doiible-decke*-, was decorated with toi-tois, ferns, and red, -white, and blue ribbons, which blended well together. On board this car was the Mayrv and members of the Tramway Beard, with their wives. Several other cars followed, and e>s each one .entered Cathedral square, the people cheered with great enthusiasm. They went to Papamn (a suburb of Christehurch^ and back, and T think those on board must have had a delightful ride. They aro only running on two lines at present, as the others are not completed. I have not been on Hie:u yet, but it will be time enough when they rr.u on our line, as I tcke the tram to business evfry day Some funny remarks have hso i passed about them, and the one I am about tD tell you is said to Us tine. An old man was heard to say that h» had so3ii trams pulled along by horses and engines, but he had never seen them pushed alcng by a fishing lire lipfcre. "Ignorance is bliss," eh, Dot? I think now it is time to leuve the trams, and tiun to some other topic. Ws have had a new drillshed built here, and it is to be called King Edward's Barracks. The foundation stone was laid by the "Premier some time ago, arid it is to be opened next week, vslipu a circus will be held in aid of the building fund I think it will be a success, as entertainments connected with the volunteers generally Ere. Dear Dot;, could you let me have Davky's address, as I hav^ an auto, to forward on to

her from a LF. m England. I suppose yon havo heard of the exhibition which is to ba held here m the latter end of next year. Th-^y are soon to begin laying out the grounds for IX, and I hope to meet a large number of L F. at that time, if all goes well. I am very sorry to say we had to postpone our picnic on account of -he weather on June 3. but we are to have it some lime di.ring the summer. Wi f h love to Smiling Gwen, Cooee, and all the L.F. band, not forgetting yourself and the dear o'cl editor,— Yours trily, ARIZONA. P.S. -Is thpre going to bs a D.L.F. social on Labour night, October 12, this year? If so, I am going to try to be present.— Arizona. [Address the auto, to "Darky, D.L F., Pyramid hiding, Southland," Arizona, and it will reach her all right. No, dear, the intention is to only hold the annuail social during winter show week. It i* too serious an undertaking to hold them more than once a yea-r.-i DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was at a school social and dance-, held here on July 21. I saw a gocd few L.F. there, but Star of the Evening was the only L.F. I spoke to. She is one of my best friends. Can you ride a bike, Dot? I can. Many a tumble I had when I was learning; but that is a thing of the past now, and I cia te.ir along of n great rare. AiKjut Day is cnn-ini} on Hie 11th of this month; but I iden't suppose I shall be going to it, as I am .c,om,j to the ball at nignt I like dancing very mu^li, and I dc not miss many dances at W. Tf.panm is a miserable httl? placo in winter tin;", but it is very piutty in summer It is situated at the foot of the Blue Mountairs. Star of the Eve- ( iirf<% brother Wri'3 wurking ihei-e, but he ha<l ii t?o away owing to b^d health. There will ba no common !evter3 m the page soon ;f 'he critics go on lnciaa/mig as they have dono lately. -NTear'y every v. eek there is a new ciitic. Tho nKwt prominent game at this social was that terrible game, "Pic." Suchi a noiss the pic players made with th<?ir one, ore, cne, two, two, two. I pm sure tlie euchre an-i draughts players, aa well as the others, were not sorry whpn they stopped! playing pit. If anybody had been going past •ihe hall, they would hava though it wa- an. asylum. "TTnss&va" is a splendid book, and is well worth leading. I have read a great many bcoks but I cannot read much more thau half an hour now, aa my eyes get so sore. When I was a bit of a nipper I wes hardly ever seen without a book in my hand. Among the books I have read are, "From Jest to Earnest." "Daisy." "Xewlyn House," "Martm Rattler," "Fci the Red Rose," "A Mnn'9 Foes," and "Red as a. Rose is She." Sorro of the essays in Special Subject Week were just splendid, especially those of Daisy Pnmrc se, Venetia, Corona, Tussock, and Jessica. I was expecting to see more essays from 1119 members of the Dunedin and Inverc. jgill clubs. I suppose they would have written if they could have made time. With love -o Star of the Evening, and kind regards to all, —Yours tmly, J. R.s JOCKEY. Dear Uct,—l have often heard of the D.L.F. Club of Jnverargill, but I never realised what a sociable club it was naitii I had the pleasure of attending the annanl Focial on iVeduesday las^. It was held in Ashley's Hali, in Fsk strest. The social -vas opened with a selection on the piano by ills 5*5 * Chilton. Then there was the Chairman's yddress, by Willow Brock. We had recitations pame'S, singing, and dancins, aJtei'ii^te'y. 'i here was also a dialogue, £jiven by ZT.in, Willow Brock, Miss BnbUe. Maidio M, llegina, an'i Ceres, after this came the fares of 'Aunt Jemimi's Visit to Her Nevjhpw Jfok" It w?s rlevmly acted, and + l:o audience enjoyed it immensely. Three L.F. gave a recitation, "Ths Mer:h«wit of Venire', Professor Robincm gave a rerding, Maisie P.ee sang "Just a. song at twilight" ; Qnoan Bern gave a reidmg, Mor?p^rk sang "Listening"; Ceres gave a recitation; Miss Chilton and Zcalia. played a duet on the pian^ : Mis-s Tannic sang "Sing me to slceo" ; Maidie M recited "The Cerfew Shall I^o? "King To-night" ; Miss Chiltcn, Miss Davis, and M'ss Bobbie kindly assisted with the danca mxraic Tika also gave a recitation, "The Man Who Lived in Grumble Corner." At 9.45 p.m. we all went in to supper. The tables were laden with good things, which wo &11 did justice to. We had Constable Mothceon at the headi of our table, a-nd he kept the company in n icar of laughter. There were over 100 present. Seeing the enthusiastic manner in which Ceres had worked during tho year, the n? embers of the cub deci'ed to give him sorrefching as an acknowledgement of their appreciation of his services, so they clubbed together, and during the evening presented him with a isilver-rnouiiied pocketbook The natron, Mr Maclennan, was present, and Mr Sutherland kindly undertook to act as M.C. We broke up at 1.30 a ni., after thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We dispersed after singing "Auld lang syne." It was the first ev.jnirg that I have spent vriMi the D.L.F. of Invercargill, but I siuc?iviv hope it will not hi the last.— Yours tin' 1 - F. M. iS. Dear Dot. — I was in town duung the winter holidays, but I only saw one D.L.F.. and 5-hc did not hav2 her badge on. Why don't the town T_i.F. wear their badges ? We were down on ihe wnarf while in town. There is a girl down heri, and she is always calling me by my norn de plume. There ara a good many D.L.F. down here, and I think wa ■shall have to get up a picnic during the coming summer. One of my mates at school is a D.L.F., andi we have all right fun together. I was at Sunday school this afternoon, but I di-3 not ride, as my horse hz 3 got a sor-e leg-. We have not got any violets out just now, but I shall send you some* when they come out. We have a telephone in our house I have been at home from school for a week with a bad cold. I em learning to play the organ, and I like it ver«well. While I was in town I learned to play pit and dominoes. With love to all the L.F., yourself and the editor,— Yours truly, OATY. Dear Dot,— l suppose you have forgotten you have such a name 'as The Lamplighter in your band, a3 it is nearly a j'ear since I u-rota to you last; but "bettor late than rever " Father alwaya tells me I am not a D.L.F. at all, bpcause I do not write often enough. I was away for five weeks at lm-vest time, and I was speaking to two D.L.F. — Maw of Argyle and New Chum. I was not spendir^ a holiday while I was away, but was thsi cook's help, as we had «• haivest contract. Tbeie wero n>-e men to cook for, mv fat'ier and brother hems, two of them, and the oth=r three wpr* hn-pd men. Every morning we %ot bieakfast by 7, sometimes before that tim°, while if it was a wet morning we left it till later. The next men 1 was forenoon lunch, then dmne-, then pfternT.n "unch These thieg I had to take cut to the paddock in a sledge. It was fine fun driving a horse a^cT sledge up hill and down through among the stooks. My sledge alwpys went by the narno cf "the old Irish jaunting car." After tha oafs were all stacked we went home for a fortnight to wait for the wheat to dry befcre stacking it. I went to the sports mi Mi'ton, and cnjjyjd myself splendidly, tht ugh it was pouring lain. I met Fairy D<?m=9 at the sports, apd we had a talk. When tho wheat war leicly for stablemo we went back to the camp we were :n, a.od we led it ourselves, with no lined

Jneyj. I was crow and fatiher was stacker, so I nad easy times. It was the first time I ever was orow, and I enjoyed it greatly. I was aiof able to come to town at show time, so I was not at the social or in the group. Our tank is dry, &o wo have to carry our water now. Has not this winter been a very fine one, Dot? Scarcely -any snow, but very haul frosts. My norn de plume has been found cut by a. gocd mary, and there is someone else going to watch for this letter to see if they con-iind me out; but it won't matter if they do, as I shan't change my norn de T-iume. With lovs to Fairy Denise, Mary of Argyle, New Chum, Laura, and all the other L.F., not forgetting yourself, — Yours truly, THE LAMPLIGHTER. Dear Dot, — I promised you in my last letter that I would give you an account of gold mining, but I think I shall keep the subject for next Special Writers' Week, and" tell you about,«a picnic we had instead. My three mates and I started about 10 o'clock in the morning to walk to the sawmill, about ♦/wo miles from our home, and we reached our destination about 12 o'clock. After we *ad boiled the billy and had lunch, we went and had a look over the sawmill, and the men asked us where our baskets were, so we- went and got them and handed them round to all the men. About 4 o'clock we -^started to go to the hauler, two miles from the miU, but we did' not get there, as we loitered -an the bush trimming our "ivats and gathering ferns and moss. At half-past 5 -we started for -home, and we did not get there "till Jf -feeling" very tired" after our day's pleasure. With love to- Carmen Sylva, Emu, -Ringa Ringa, Venetia 'Corona, and" not forgetting yourself and the editor, — Yours jtrnly, - • " -> ~~ > FIONA. '_ Dear Dot, — The weather here has been lovely for the past week or two. A bachelors' ball, "was held here a 1 few weeks ago,' and it •was a great success. ' I was at a hunt here, and there -was a large '"number 'ot'. followers. I was riding along- "the other day' w&en a boy called out to me, "Hullo, D.L.F." I * immediately turned and spoke to him, and we had a long chat over D.L.F. topics. Did you see the Aurora Au steals the other night, Dot? I did, and I thought it was lovely. My brother is going to Christchurch next ■week to see the Grand National, and he expects to have a good time. The last day ' w|f winter is past,, and the days are getting longer now. The people about her© are finished ploughing, and some are sowing ■wheat. There is to be a -Point-to-Point Steeplechase here soon. We have a horse in. for it, and by the time this letter is in print it -will be over. A rday is to be produced in the hall here soon, and from all" accounts it should be enjoyable-. l One day my brother and I had a ride on the hills. We rode on to a hill, from which we could see the whole district. We got off our hacks and had a spell, after which" we- rode down a steep gully, and' I 'had to jump a, big cre.sk. As there were flax bu3b.es on its banks, the hack didn't care about jumping it. However, I soon got over, and we then rode home. With love to all tlie L.F.. not forgetting yourself and the editor,— Yours truly, PIPJ. Dear Dot, — My brother, who is in the North Island, -said that if I did not write to you v soon, you would be getting wild with me, and giving me the sack; but I hope this is not the case. He went in one day to get his dinner at the. place"where he "is' boarding, and as it was a wet day he --.said, "I shall hang my nat on this. peg.". • Now, it happened . that^there was a 'girl in the "room at -thesame" time,_~and' he put it on .hef'fiead, --and all' the'-water Tan, down, her back, 90 he got into^hbt water, again. T hear that they have Had : sc«me terrible floods at Greymouth. We got 'some of 'the pictures of the floods sent to us, andyou can see some of the 'people in the streets up to their- knees in water. They could not find where the wharf ended or •where the liver started, and six vessels were in at thie wharf, and they had an anxious time. , One ,of my brothers, who lives in 'G-reymouth, said that if the river had risen just -one more foot his house would have been washed away. We have; some fine fun playing pit at night. It is a grand game, and a good pastime, causing- a great deal of excitement. My father was going to write a> story about his life in far-off England, and I was going to send it in for the S.S.W., but I forgot about it until it was too late. Our pago is increasing rapidly, for I see we have writers from England, Africa, and Tas-' mania, and from every part of New Zealand. Winter is here again with its snow aoid cold frosty mornings. I like the frbsfc much better than the rain. It was snowing here a little the other day, but the ground was too wet for it to settle, and I was very glad. "We had snow in June. I have read many books, including "The Two Elsies," "The King's Daughter," "The Pilot's Daughter," "From Log Cabin to White House," and a great many more. I have made' two pinafores at school, and I am making the third. The first was for myself, the second for a little girl, and the third is to be for myself. I saw a D.L.F. at the Bluff on regatta, day, and I was with Minxie Grey; but we were both too bashful to" speak. I also took my badge with m© to Stewart Island, with the Jiope of seeing ■ some L.F., but, alas ! I did not see one. We shall, be having our exam, in les3 than two months' time, and I hope I shall pas 3. If I do I shall be in the Fourth Standard. With love to one and all of the L.FI, -not forgetting- yourself, and the editor, Yours" truly, HAPPY IKE. Dear Dot, — Here I am at last, actually writing to you^ the unknown and mysterious person called Dot. I was up staying with Lady Stair and Chloa at New Year time, and they asked me to write, and I promised to do so, but got no further until Lady Stair came in one Saturday and gave me a "turn" for not doing as I had promised. My mother and two sisters went to church, so I have the house to myself. Lady Stair is cooking the dinner whilo I am writing. Not bad to get someone to cook for you, is it, Dot? Chloe and AVilful Mary were in to see me some time ago. My, what fun we had: it was after 5 o'clock when they left our place, anci then they had to drive 12 miles before they got home, and it was awfully cold that night, so they must have been nearly frozen to death. Lady Stair was ill, so she came home for a rest. She is in under the doctor's care at present, but I hope she will soon be well again. Wilful Mary's sister is very ill with appendicitis. She has been staying in town tinder the doctor's care for some time. With love to Chloe, Wilful Mary, Lady Stair, the ■editor, and your own dear self, — Yours truly LUCILEA. Dear Dot, — I have to go to school to-mor-row,, aaid so T shall have to get up early. I do not like getting up early these cold mornings. We have had lovely weather lately, and. we have to carry water from a Brace, as our tanks are dry. It is such a nuisance. I was up at the sawmill for a iralk the other day, and I went a little way into the- bush to get gome ferns, finding some very pretty ones. Three ishops were burnt down last- week. The whistle went about 6 o'clock in the morning, but I did not hear Et, as I was fast aaleep. There is to be a »ocial up here next week, but I am not going ! to it, as I cannot .dance. I often go down the beach to wade, but 1 have not been down Sox a long time, as it is too cold in winter. I

With love to Emu, Carmen Sylva, and all the L.F., not forgetting yourself and the editor, — Yours truly, DRESDEN!. Dear Dot,— The weather is splendid up this way, and some of the flowers in the gardens are in blossom. This is a very quiet place, and the nearest town is about 14 ] miles away. It is a farming district, and several of the farmers milk for the factory, which is situated in the north of the district. A river iuns along the west, and the ground is flat alongside the river, and is called the river flat. Further back there is a terrace, and behind it are a number of large hills. There is a school and church situated in the centre of the district. A bachelors' ball was held, here the other night, but I did not go. There was also a euchre party got up in aid of the funds, to get an organ for the school. "With love to all the -L.F., not forgetting yourself, — Tours truly, GLADYS. Dear Dot,— l went to the last D.L.F. picnic that was held at Kamahi, and I enjoyed myself immensely We are having fairly good ■weather just now, and it teas been so dry that a number of the people about here are having to carry water, as their tanks are empty. I expect it will soon be time to plant flower seeds. I am very fond of flowers. I have five sisters and four brothers, and they are all D.L.F. except three; but I don't think many of them write now. I am staying in Inveroargill just now. I have been here about five weeks, and I have not seen one -D.L.F. badge yet. With best wishes to all 'the little folk, not forgetting yourself and the editor,— Yours truly, PROHIBITION. -Dear Dot. — I". live in, a small country place called Romahapa. It is surrounded by hills with small clumps of bush here and there. There ane two mills here — a flaxmill and a •twine mill. ■ Sometimes when there are high tides we can see the sea and any steamers that may be passing. The farmers round hero' are busy ploughing. I have had toothache, but it is away now, and I am very glad, as it is not a very pleasant companion. The Balclutha, Brass Band is holding a carnival on Friday, and T think I am going up to it. With love to all the L.F., yourself, and the editor,— Yours truly, COLUMBUS. Dear Dot,— l am sure the district in which we live is very much colder 1 than Dunedin. The milk just now is frozen to a isolid block. and the meat we can scarcely chop. A number of the children drive to school in a cart with a. cover, and we call it the 'bus. We have had a social up here, and it was a great success. I saw many little D.L.F. a + . it. We are getting seven eggs a day at present, and' we have not many hens. My father sent a munber of hens up to Naseby show, and lie got three first prizes, a third, and a £eccnd. We have two cows, but we are only milking one in the morning and the two at night. The flowers and leaves will soon be out in bloom. I should like to send you a few flowers, but we are living too far away, and they would gel squashed a-nd knocked about in the tram. Our garden is looking nice and neat, for it is all dug tip. We are having our winter holidays just now.-— Yours truly, DOUGLAS. Dear Dot,— We are having very frosty weather present, and yet there hasn't been hard enough frost to make the ice thick enoughs for sliding or skating. It is sure to freeze one night and \thaw the next. . The winter school holidays are just over, and we shall not have any more, I suppose, till after the .examination, , which generally comes in October.. The steamers are only running twice a week now, wliereas in the summer N they run throe or four times a week, so it is rather quiet here just now. Election time is near again. It doesn't seem any time since the last election. ■ The mountains aa-ound here are looking very pretty just now, for they are oovered down more than half-way with ■snow. There are very few tourists about at present. With kind regards to all the L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, BEULAH. Dear Dot, — Since we Jast wrote, almost two years ago, we have shifted to Dunedin, and it is very lively here. So different from the back blocks, where one hardly sees anyone for a week on end. How nice the elec- " trie cars are. It is a long way better riding in them than in the old horse cars tha.t were running before. About 15 L.F. came here the other night as a surprise party, and they did enjoy themselves, singing, dancina, and playing games of all descriptions until it was time to depart. I wish I could attend some of the meetings at the Witness office, but I shall have to wait a. while yet, I'm afraid. It has been terribly windy here lately, but we can't complain, can we, Dot? We can get a grand view of the city and the harbour from where we live, and also of the Ooean Beach, and on a fine day it looks simply lovely. What a grand time all the D.L.F. must have had at the social in June. We were very sorry we could not be pre-sent, but we shall try to be there next year. With love to the little .folk, the kind old editor, and yourself,— Yours truly, TWINS. Dear Dot, — It is a year or more since I |ast wrote to the page; but it seems only like a month to me. How time flies! Why, it seems such a short time since I penned my first letter to you, but in reality it is two or three years ago. The weather and I have been agreeing very well lately; but not so the mud and youns truly. I have just finished reading ihe stories in the L.F. Page ■of! July 12, and I think they are very interesting, especially Auntie Daisy Primrose's and Queer Fellow's. Last month my cousin and I were away for a delightful little trip to Saddle Hill," three or four miles from Brighton, and I must say we enjoyed ourselves immensely. On Sunday morning, July (9, I was up with the sun (or before it, I should say), and I can tell you I had to "get a bend on" to be ready by the time the horse was harnessed in the buggy. Well, I " unanaged by a lot of hurry and bustle to bs ready, and soon we were being whirled over the frost-hardened roads. A keen wind was blowing in our faces, so you may be sure that after a few miles driving we did not .feel quite as warm as we could wish to be, so when we were nearing Allanton we got out of the buggy and had a walk — to keep our feet warm, for one reason, and also to give two of our party, one of whom! was cycling | and the other riding, time to catch up on us. They had not been ready as soon as we were, so we had driven on without them. As soon as the cyclists came into sight we got into the buggy again and drove on without a stop until we reached Riccarton. Here we gave our hoise a little rest, as our friend the rider had not appeared in sight; but in a few minutes he caught us, his horse bathed in sweat, and looking as if he very badly needed a rest. Well, we did not want to waste too much time, so we set off again, the rider leading the way. Reaching a steep hill, my cousin and I got out of the buggy and walked until we reached the top, for we. are very sympathetic — ahem — girls, and did ' not want the horse to have a heavier lead than was .necessary; and, besides, our feet were rather cold. To make a. long story short, we reached our destination just in ■ time for dinner, and it did not take us long to get through that important item on the day's programme. I don't rneaai to say that I we usually look nvou dinner as something

important — far from it; but having hardly time to get a mouthful of breakfast and then driving for five or six hours on. a frosty morning does not usually make a person disinclined to eat. Thereby the reason for my I statement. About 2 p.m. seven or eight of | us went down, to the sea beach, and spent j a most enjoyable time until about ± o'clock. Returning home, we had tea, and then went down to see our driver off on his homeward journey. W^all, after that we felt a little bit tired; but when 6 p.m. came, four of us set off for a good hour's walk to Brighton Church. The roads were nice and dry, so we had a lovely walk,, and reached home again about 10 p.m. After having supper we jumped into Blanket Bay, and slept soundly till sunrise streaked the east. On Monday morning we went down to the Lauriston Colliery, and were shown round. Our guide, who was a great tease, tried to frighten us by blowing out the lamp and letting us go slap bang into a number of tiny trucks for dsrawi.ig the coal. Too bad of him, wasn't it, Dot? All the same, we had a grand time, and cam* out of the pit with no greater harm than bsing rather blacker than when we went in During the rest of the week we enjoyed ourselves to our hearts' content, scrambling about in the bush and playing on the sand. On Friday afternoon we made up our minds to walk to Mosgiel, and go home in the train, and no persuasion to wait and be over on Saturday would stop us. So off we set, and before we had gone half-way on our journey- we were wishing we hadn't started. The roads were so bad that we got covered with mtid, and were tired out, so you see we paid dearly for our folly. Never before -had we wished for night to come as much as we did that afternoon, for we felt ashamed to go on to Mosgiel station in the state we were in; but ther-e was no use in losing our train, so we had to pocket our pride as best we could. After waiting foT' about half an hour our train steamed into the station, and in we got, and in a very short time stepped out on the platform at Henley. On reaching home, what was my regret to learn that Zephy had been out to our place while I was away. You may imagine my disappointment, Dot, when I say that I have not seen her for five or six years. With love to Zephy, Sophia, and all other L.F., — Yours touty, ALLAN-A-DALE. Dear Dot, — I am sending a note to your page at the request of my cousin, Violet Rose, and hope it will be of interest to some of the little folk. I am going to an intermediate school, and am learning a lot of subjects, such as French, Latin, Euclid, history, poetry, algebra, arithmetic, etc., and V may tell you that Euelid^is a tickler. I expect to get a month's summer holidays soon, and I am going out to the country to spend them, which will be very nice after the town dust and bustle. I am now going to give you a description of Armagh, which is he city I live in. The city of Armagh is delightfully situated on the summit and sides of a hill, lound the foot of which flows the River Callan, a tributary of, the Blackwater. Christianity was introduced into Armagh by St. Patrick about the year 445. The first Christian schools were established there by him in 450, and two centuries later thousands of students from England and all parts of Europe flocked to these schools. In those days this city was the centre of civilisation. Its colleges, too, had the honour of being the finat to send oufi missionaries, and from these Irian missionaries went out to preach and teach in almost every country in Europe. St. Patrick founded a cathedral on the site where the present one .stands, and he built a monastery besides. At the time of the English invasion, Armagh was a noted seat of learning, containing ten churches and a monastery, of which no trace is left. Modern Armagh is a comfortable, prosperous town, and its surroundings are extremely beautiful. The cathedral stands on the summit of the hill, ajid the chief streets converge towards it. The Mall is a public park, eight acres in extent, planted with sycamore^ beech, and elm trees. All this prosperity is of comparatively recently development; for in 1765 Armagh had fallen away sadly from its former greatness, and was merely a collection of straw-thatched cottages. But a pioneer of civilisation was at hand. In that year a new Archbishop, Dr Robinson, was appointed, who, in fact, created Armagh as it now is. He repaired the cathsdra-l (which was finally restored in 1822), founded a free library, built and furnished an observatory, established schools, and erected the present palace, and the private chapel adjoining it. It was he, also, who presented The Mall to the citizens as a public pleasure ground. Although the present cathedral has nothing in common with that erected by St. Patrick beyond the fact that it occupies the same site, yet it is a venerable pile, part of it being built in the reign of Henry 111 and part in that of Edward 111. Though repaired and greatly improved by Primate Robinson, it was left to Lord John Beresford to finally restore it to its present form, which he did at great expense. Primate Robinson's library is neaj.- the cathedral, 'and an a hill immediately outside the city stands his observatory, while in the near neighbourhood are also to be seen the Primate's palace a.nd the Royal school. There are several lovely walks in the neighbourhood of the city. Dear Dot, this is all the news I can think of at present, but before I close I am going to ijive you a piece of poetry that I composed myself after reading a book which I received as a prize at school. Come a.ll ye sons of England, The bugle's call obey; Stand up for England's cause again, And don't delay, I pray. Come with the courage and spirit of your fathers : They were heroes to <3are and ao; They raised up England from ihe main. And gave her glory, too. Think of the days of Drake and Nelson, And the sturdy roundhead Blake: They raised up England. And no honour would they take. When Drake saw the Spaniards, The very earth would shake With the roaring of the cannon, And the foe could only quake. When Nelson saw his chance. He did not sing or dance: He could not see the signal, it is true, For on the French he flew With his little mem in blue, And left them very few By the time that he was done. With love to all the New Zealand D.L.F.,—°UrS VIOLET ROSE'S IRISH COUSIN. [I hope our new correspondent will tell tos a great deal more about his home in the Emerald Isle, as his letter is very interest-ing.-DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am going to send you a, note along with my cousin's letter, which he asked me to send to you. He has promised to write a few more letters about the Home Country, which I am " sure would prove very interesting to us New Zealand D.L.F. Since last I wrote I have visited that famous city, Dunedin. My opinion of it ia that it is very nice for a holiday, but I could never live in ' town for leng. I like the silent, wild table-

lands far better than the town bustle and r dust. I was at two debates, and also at the Dunedin D.L.F. social, and I can truly say I never enjoyed myself as well before as I did in Dunedin. Although the Dunedin D.L.F. are very sociable, I think it is only fair that the girls should wear their badges. I think the group came out very well, considering that Quago was in it. Dear Darky, do you remember the fun we had over it? X. hope you have got home safely by now. I was in the Dunedin Gardens. The tramdars are very nice and handy, especially ta those who are in business, and have a good distance to go to the shop. The last week of my holidays I spent at Waiauakarua, and I was ill all the time. I got better to come home, but I got a surprise when I came and found that four or five of the family were* not in very good trim ; so I just got home in time to take up the work of the latest on the sick list. Darky was staying with me for a week, and we had a good time. I can assure you that anyone who has not a good time whsn Darky is about must be pretty hard to please. We had a cousin up here for a. holiday, aaid he always tormented me about the D.L.F., but I have peace now, for I drove him down to the station ths other day and waved him off. With love to Darky, Areta, Pera, and all the D.L.F.,— Yours truly, • VIOLET ROSE. Dear Dot, — I have been away for a holiday, and I enjoyed myself very much. We drove into Dunedin one day, and we had a grand drive. We left home at daylight, and didn't get home again till dark. I have learnt wood-oarving, and I find it a grand paetime. I do not have to milk now, as we have only one cow milking at present. We have 'had a very good winter, but I suppose we shall get it' later on, which is worse. We have not many flowers out just now, but the bulba are all coming up, so we shall soon have plenty. I am going down to the beach next week if it is nice weather, and I hope I shall enjoy myself. We live a good way from it; so we do not go there very often. They have got the license in Port Chalmers again, and I think it is a pity, as it was much quieter when they had no • license , but I suppose the hotelkeepers will be pleased at gaining their case. I was in town the day the group was taken, but I had no time to join the other D.L.F. I am collecting photos, and I have a number collected "now. With love to Duloe Doman, Kia-Ora, Palm Lily, and all the rest of the little folk not forgetting yourself and the" editor,— Yours truly, CINERARIA. Dear Dot, — By the time this reaches you my birthday will be past. I have dene "hardly anything to my flower garden yet, as I think it is a bit too early to start shifting the flowers, and it needs warmer weather for growing seeds. Winter is already past, and we are in the first month of spring. The winter has not been very severe, though it was quite cold enough for me. We have had heavy frost to-day, but it is very bright now, as the sun is shining. There is a peculiar complaint going about among the calves. They first get very miserable and thin, and then begin to cough. Our calves were in the new grass (clover) where the hay ■was this year. Before being branded and earmarked we shifted them across the road into another paddock. When they were branded and earmarked we found that some of them had fallen away in condition, and they had colds. After this they fell away more and more, till they began to die. We have 10 dead already, but the others— about 20— -are getting better. Father thought that shifting themjEfom the new grass to the old grass had something to do with this complaint, but he found out it had not. Yesterday one of our friends who was visiting us said that they had lost 13 or more calvesby this complaint. I wonder if the calves down your way have the same complaint, as everybody's calves all over here have it. We have already thrae hens with chickens out, and eight more to come out. The first two hens brought out 17 chickens out of 21 eg ? s, but two died. The third hen brought out eight chickens from 10 eggs. I think the chickens so far have come out very well. A c are getting about 60 hens' eggs a day, and a few ducks' eggs. When it is frosty, the ducks do not lay so many eggs as when there is no frost. I have found one bird's egg this year. It was under the hedge. With love to all DL.F., Mr Editor, and not yourself,-Yo«rs truly, Dear Dot,— We have had a very mild winter this year, but we had slight snow showers this evening. It is very quiet about here just now, but in summer things are- pretty lively. We are milking two cows at present, but we shall have more in the summer. We have a football at our school, and we have good times playing Rugby. I have three Sogs, and some days I go out rabbiting, catching a good many bunnies. I used to go to a creamery last summer, but I do not know whether I shall go this summer or not -Yours truly, HAMISH. Dear Dot,— After such an excellent winter we must now expact a very severe spring. The weather broke to-day, and we are having snow and hail showers, with a wind that blows right through you. The only way to keep yourself warm is to get behind a gorse hedge aad grub gorse. The cows will soon be coming in again, to keep us working. Milking cows is all right as long as there are not tough omes or high kickers among them. I ,see Boy has been having a ,y rcund enjoying himself, lucky fellow that he is Sheep farming is a great game nowadays. Our lambing has started already, ana 1 believe it is going to be pretty cold for the tittle things. You v-ill think I have not been writing much to the Little Folk's Page, •but you don'i get much time when there s all sorts of things to attend to. I hea.r that Mrs Harrison Lee is to preach here before lon» There h?.ve been a lot of deaths about here in the last 12 months, but very few births I had some teeth drawn on Friday, and my gums are sore yet. With love to yourself and all the little f olk,-Yours truly, XvvirAlAt - Dear Dot,— l am going to tell you about a trip I had to Hokitika. We started from home at a little after 8 o'clock in the morning, arriving at our destination at 1 o'clock. We went to Cass square and had lunch; then some of my chums and I went to the sea beach and waded in the surf and gathered seaweed. We then had a look around the town, seeing all there was to see and enjoying ourselves very much. After this we returned to Cass square, "tvliere a good tea was ready for us. Then we all left for ths station, stsrtiug on our return journey at half-past 6 o'clock, and arriving home safely at 10 o'clock, well pleased with our trip. Best wishes to youiself and the DJL.F.— Yours truly, HAZEL NUT. Dear Dot,— l know quite a number of D.L.F. in and around this district, but meet of them have been strangely silent this winter, though it would be much nicer if they would throw off their lethargy and contribute now and then. The weather has been lovely for the last 10 days, but to-day the •wind has been very keen, accompanied by rain and sleet, so I was prevented seeing today's Witness. , Things hay« been very quiet about here lately, what with creameriM and flaxmills closed aad sc»xo%lj a danoe « cou-

c irt 1 coming off. However, a y<ting lady has started a cooking class not far away, ana ladies old, middle-aged, and young are striving to better themselves in the culinary art. What a brilliant critic you have in Quago, Dot. JSW, if he had only taken to art, what a name he would have made for himself. I 9in sure all D.L.F. would welcome the rerrinting of some of B 0.8.'s or Wullie's letters in 0.W.W., as they were such popular writers. My old friends, C. C. M. and Miil:cent are doing their best for the debating societies in their respective spheres. Wishing them every success, and with kindest regards to yourself and all the little folk, — Yours truly, D. O. D. Dear Dot,— During an absence from the page of nearly two years, there have been many changes and improvements. We have* read in some of the letters that several bands of Dot's writers have been away for picnic? at different timeS; and have had a most en joyable outing. Unfortunately we are not able to attend picnics, as we live in the back blocks. We are having very hard frosts down here just now, and it is very cold in the mornings. We ai-e only milking five cows, and it is enough too, Dot, as we do not care about milking in rough weather. It is said that there is to be a D.L.F. picnio down here during the coming summer, and we hope it will be arranged. There is to be a concert and dance here soon, in aid of the school funds; but we don't know whether we are going or not. The next time we write we shall give you a. des2ription of the lighthouse, which is not far from our place. With love to all the D.L.F. and yourself, Dot, not forgetting the editor,— Yours truly, THE TWO BUSH GIRLS. WHO IS DOT? There's a simpl? little question Which has caused us many a .thought, And that question, full of mystery, Is juat onlj', "Who is Dot?" Question asked so oft in wonder, Setting sll our thoughts awhirl, Acked by many a counti-y laddie, Asked by many a city girl. Years ago we asked the question, 'In the days now far away ; But the beaming, gracious "Eddit " Answered as he does to-day.^ Looked at us with smiles of wistfom. And of mischief just a touch ; Spoke in gentle tones confiding — " Do you want to know so much ? ' Then we lisren-jd, breathless, waitin, — • This the end of all our though'—. With another smile of wirdom "EcUie" answered, "Dot is Dot."' Is our Dot a little lady? Or, maybe, a little elf? Or is she — oh, whisper softly — Is she Mr Ed. himself? Some have said it — some believe it; But, well, this much I can toll, Mr Eddie knows our Dottie, And he guards her secret well. Would we seek to solve the mystery? Ah, I think we'd better not. Better that her many writers Should only know that "Dot is Dot," ' Only know she's sweet aad loving, Only know she's kind and true; Only know she's daily wishing Something good for me and you. That she is "our little lady," Dearest, best in all the land, So once more we'll gaily crown her, Queen Dot of the little folk's band. — Jessica. Lakeside Farm, August, 1905. LETTERS CONDENSED, Jessie has four miles to walk to schcol,» and feels very tired when she reaches home at night. "I was at Dunedin, staying with my sister several weeks, and enjoyed myself very well. We have one cow milking just now, but we will have 'six in another month, so I shall not have such a good time then. My sister lives not far from us. and I often, go over and have a game of cards with her. ' Lady Claee has had a fortnight's holiday, but she did not go anywhere. "A corcert was held last month in aid of St. Saviour's Church, and it came off satisfactorily, proving a great success." Captain Tbesize is going to tell us all about the sawmills in the district in which, he lives next time he writes. "The roads are very bad just now, though we have had tv good winter. This is a very pretty place in the summer, the bush is so pretty, and there is a very large number of birds. The iui? v/histle beautifully in the summer; they sta. t about 4 o'clock in the morning." Barney O'Hae tells me that he knowswho Dot is. He really should not keep his knowledge all to himself, should he, L.F.? "Oleef was out rabbiting with me on Saturday. The Sutton draughtsmen won the match last Friday night. I have started cc,!lectir- rabbitskins, and have about 14. [ saw a pretty white and grey rabbit on Saturday." Elizabeth enjoyed reading the articles in Special Subjec Week, and thought they were a.ff interesting. "We are having real summer weather, and we are enjoying it, and spring is coming fast: all thg. small fruit trees svre budding. I go to Sunday school, and I geb a good deal to learn; but I like my teacher, who helps us all he can. The people here are going to build a church, and a concert is to be held in aid of it shortly. I hope tt will be a success." Kia-Oba would like to attend the D.L.F. Literary and Dcbatine; Club's meetings, but she lives too far from Dunedin. "The place in which I live is surrounded by bush and hills. A bachelors' ball was held here, but I did not go to it. I live on a farm and just now the pla,co ia all mud. This is the first day of spring, and during the winter tß'e ice has not been thick enough to slide on." Lady Lillystohe thought Special Subject Week was a great success, and she enjoyed reading many of the tales. ''Our winter holidays are just over, so we shall have to go back to our dry old school once more. However, school is not such a bad place after all. In the holiday time I went 30 miles away from home to stay with some friends, and I can just tell you, Dot, that I had a real good time, although I was only away a couple of weeks." Lady Muriel complains that though sh« sent autos to some L.F. they did not retur? theirs. "There is a bush here, and I often go up to get ferns. I was up there lasi Sunday. I go to school nearly every dasv but I was not there last Monday." Orange Blossom has not been attending school for some time, as she lias not been well, but she hates to begin again after tha exam. "We are milking two cows st pre< sent, but we have some to come in yet, ana we are sending the milk to the fao'-r-n'. W<v haven't many flowens oat just now, but wa shall have a lot out soon. I have a litt!e> garden of my own, and I have a lot of planta in it." The Jester was at the winter show, and saw a great number 01 L.F. wearing badges. "I live about three miles from Dunedin, on, tb« North Taieri road, foul slosa to Ashbur*,'

. — *- Ap autonaatio electrical water healer ia the production of an American inventor It is practically a water rheostat, in wibioh the electrodes are fixed in an inverted i/ink, the latter being contained in another and larger chamber. The 1 eating oi the water (by the passage o.f the electric current) in the inverted tank results in the production of steam, which, forcing down the surface of the liquid below the level of the Wectrodes, automatically cuts off thd «r- ■ but.

— f4ve<»k foot-soldi-srs are traiced in stone throwing. —Oi no other work in the world are so many copies printed annually as of the Chines© almanack, the number being estimated at several millions. This almanack, printed at Pekia, is a monopoly of the Emperor, and not only predicts the weather, but notes the days that are reckoned lucky or unlucky for commencing any undertaking, for applying remedies in di£ea&2, for marrying, and for burjins.

Hall Asylum. The weather here has been splendid lately, and idrmcis aie well on with ploughing." AUTOS. Fiona invites any L.F. to exchange autos with her. Address: "Fiona, care of Miss E. "Wallace, Orepuki." Barney O'Hae would like to exchange autos with Quago, Harry, Yidocq, Awkward Ned, Lady Stair, Joan of Arc, and any other L.J?. who are willing. Address : "Barney O'Hae. D.L.F., Sutton P 0., Otago Central." Star of the South would like to exchange autos with any D.L.F., especially with Darky, Teviotite, Pat Sneezer. Essie, Elmo, and Sunny View. Address- '"Star of theSouth, D.L F., care of Mr Eeeves, Waipori Post Office." I*ady Muriel would like to exchange autos i with Queen Anne and Wattle Tree, and aaiy [ other LF. who are wiling. Address : "Lady | Muriel, D.LR, caa-e of Mr Sinclair, Lakeside, Waihola." Orange Blossom would like to exchange a-atos with Awkward Ned, Harry, Niobe, Water Lily, and any other D.L.F. who are i willing. Address: "Miss V. Orr, care of Mr 1 J". Orr, Maheoio." — [Harry. Awkward Ned, and several other prominent writers have j notified more than once that they cannot comply with all the requests for autos, Orange Blossom. L.F. should select writers who have not so many call's on their good nature. DOT.] I Heathcotia would like to exchange a,utos with any D.L.F. who are willing to do so. Address: "Heathcotia, D.L.F., Fisher street, Papanui, Christ-church." Lady Lillystone invites Jessica, Golden Princess, A Woodland Lassie, Hilda, and Florabelle to exchange autos with her. Address: "Lady Lillystone, D.L.F., P. 0., Gimmerbura." Taipo would like to exchange autos with any D.L.F. who are willing, and they will get mine in return- Address : "Taiuo, D.L.F., care of George Dorward, Roxburgh." ~- E. D. A. would like to exchange autos with Coronation, Fairy, Owakaite 11, Jessica, Mifanwy, and any L.F. who are willing. Address : "E. D. A., care Pounawea P. 0., via Owaka." • Clover Leaf would like to exchange autos with Lester, Thelma, Dreamer, Black George, Lulu, Einga Ringa. Jack in the Box, The Two Waikawa Kilties, Peach Blossom Daddies Helper, Dresden, and Lavender They will receive mine as soon as I get theirs. Address: "Clover Leaf, D.L.F., Slope Point, P. 0., Southland." Beulah would like to exchange autos with any D.L.F. who are 5 willing. Address. "Beulah, D.L.F., care of P. 0., Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu." [Oaty would like to exchange autos with Cooee, Cosy, Badger, Jessica, Glaucia, Lighthouse Lassie, and all the D.L.F. in Dunedin and Balclutba.. Address: "Oaty, D.L.F., Somofha/pa., via Balclutha." Gipsy Madge would like to exchange autos with Indian Chief, The Shepherdess's Ftvir, Peggoty. and any others who are willing. Address: "Miss E. Smart, box 7, P. 0., Clyde." Bxish Roamer asks if Indian Chief, We, Us, and Co., and all the Dunedin L.F. will exchange autos with her. I have not received Niagara Beauty's auto, yet; I wonder if he has posted it? Address: "Bush Roamer, D.L.F., Romahapa." Wattle Blossom.— (I) 1 Yes, dear, if they are bright and clear. Sometimes it is possible, but not always. "(2) Undoubtedly you have first claim to the norn de plume after having been writing over it for four years. I hope the L.F. who appropriated it a. few weeks ago will see this and find something to 'replace it next time she writes. Bush lloa.mer. — Thank you, dear, very much for the buttonhole of violets, and Oaty, too. It is very kind of you both to send me such lovely violets. I think you had better let both your sister and your brother off this time. It is very foolish of them to talk like that, but" they only do so to tease you, and not because they really mean it. Spahbowhawk. — The letter appeared in the page in the Witness of August 9. Lady Clabe.— An auto is written on a small piece of paper the size of a visiting card. The following is the form: — —D.L.F. Auto.— Name --.. Address .^ Dats of birth „ N.D.P Date Taipo.— W. M'Kay, P. 0., Umhlali, Natal, South Africa. I have handed your stamps for auto, cards to Harry, who will no doulst have written to you ere this. Shag Valleyite. — There are no fewer thau four Irises already, and although I cannot find a Guiding Star on my list I feel almost certain that we have at least one among us. LITTLE FOLK'S BADGES. Badges sent: — Cowslip, Peggy, Char, Chatterbox. With pin:— The Gramaphoue, Smiley Somebody's Sailor Boy, Maid of the South. LITTLE FOLK'S RIDDLES. By Happy Ike : —What is the difference between a king and a policeman?