LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 73

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto: — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. Dear Dot,— Tho v/eattaer lately has beei very web, though ye have not had a ses'er? winter. I sra sorry io say that someone else has taken my N.D.P. Jt will be two years in Augci-t since I first wrote to your page. I think I had the name first, as I have only saen cue of ths other Waterlily's letters m the paper, and I think that writer should cb'aiige hei nanie or put "II" ail or it Do you think that it is proper for someone eKo to take my noni de phirne 9 Not veiy Iojc; ago I went to Greymcuth with my father aii'l mother, Grey Valley, and Blue Violet. Grey Valley, B'ue Viol3t, and I had to go to the dentist's, which wss not by any means pler.sant. I had four holes stopped in my front teeth, and I didn't like it. In the mornings it is very 2old driving to school. Chicken-pox, scarlatina, and influenza are going about at present. I am just getting betisr of an attack of chicken-pox, but I was j not very bad. With love to Meta Rose, Little Nell, Dolly Gray, the editor, and not forgetting yourself, — Yours truly, WATERLILY. Dear Dot, — We have both been correspondents to the page for many years, but thi3 is the first time we have written together, and may be the last for a while. G. S. is going away at the end of this week, and G. is wondering how she will get on without her. The Literary and Debating Club seems to ba getting stronger every week. We are thinking of writing papers for next open meeting. G. was a member of the club for about two months about Christmas time, and G. S. :'s all excitement to get to a meeting. We think tho proposed D.L.F. bay for the winter show a really gocd idea, and if it can possibly bj arranged we shall do all we can for it. Dear Dot, we were at a fancy dress ball on Friday night, and we did enjoy ourselves. O- S. was dressed as "Night," and G. was dressed as "Jockey's Companion," her partner being dressed as "Jockey." G. is giving a party on Wednesday night as a send-off ;o G-. S. We were nt a concert about three \veok3 ago, and both of us .sang. We had to drive about 14 miles to it, and were not a little tired when we got home again, as tbere was a dance after the conrert. Dear Dot, we see you have a great many critics now. Why, there will be no room for letters soon. Some of the critics are a little hard on the girl members of the club, especially the secretary. Now. G does not think that anything can be said againsS T. D. A. You've got a friend yet, T. D. A., even if she is far away. Quago says that Lulu's terrible round of applause could be heard at the Octagon, but it must have been loud if it was louder tha.u G. S.s squeal just now when the cat chased a. mouse under her chair; in fact, one of our next-door neighbours came running in to see what was the matter. So excuse the writing, Dot, as G. is trying to write, but can't ses for laughing. Some of the L.F. do not Jiclieve in Sunday writing — one especially gets "disgusted." I hope he won't get "disgusted" at us for writing on a Sunday, for we don't get time during the week, as our fathers keep large dairy farms. The other day one of O-. S.s father's cows was blown up with turnips. Her brother told a youug man that the cow got "blown up." The young man innocently asked, "How far up did it go?" Dear Dot, it is snowing hard to-nisrht, and if it continues a.!l night we shall have some trreat fun snowballing to-morrow. We will be able to snowball the cows into the byres, but it will be very cold driving to the factory- We" both drive the milk carts, which is rather an exciting game when there is a. lot c-n the road tr\'ing to i?et there first. We think it is high time to ring" off, as you will be tired of us long ago. With love to all, — Yours truly, G. and G. S.

Dear Dot. — I am going, to tell you about a holiday I had at Jlaka Point about a forinjght ago. We started r-n our journey at about 1.30 p in., and reached our destination, at about 4 o'clock. We then had tes, vbich we weie ill ready for. The nest day Bush Eoamer cam 3 down, and she and I had a grand time toget'isr. We were out on the beach every day, and were having tip-top fun skipping, and sometimes fishing. One day we went out ci ab-hunting, as we called it, and eh, Dot, you should have been there to sro such a number we got. There were about two dozen vnder one or two stonos. After we had got a3 many as our tins would hold we emptied them into a big pool of watar for tha ticl«. to wash them away, as we did not like to kill' the poor things. It was geiimg on foi tea time, so we departed fes the night. One day we went along the beach to ses a man working a sluicing claim, and I think it is a wonderful thing how you get tho gold that way. One night when we were coining home from fishing we met Cooee, and had a long D.L.F. chat with her I think she is a rathei nice girl, and she invitpfi us over to her place next day. We went over after dinner, and she showed us her photo?, ■which are very nice. Bush Roamer vas going home that >lay, so we did not stop very lccg. She only stayed a week, but I stayed another week lonsrer, and I missed her very much, as she is a lively girl. I then came home, after having an enjoyable holiday. While there I met Badger, Cooee, Lighthouse Lassie, and Cosy. I was at the Balclutha poultry show, and enjoyed myself immensely. There were a great many entries of a'l classes, and it was a very successful show. With love to all the httlo folk, especially Bush Roamer and Oaty, not forgetting your<=elf and Mr Editor, — Yours truly,

COSMEA.

Dear Dot, — Once again I commence a letter for the page. It is a considerable time since my last, and I am sure the club members will be saymo- that I am setting them a very bad example in the direction of letter-writing. However, I have made a start, and will try to be good in future.

At last cold, dull winter begins to leave us, and the first wane rays of the spring sun eu'g beginning to make themselves felt. It makes

one feel glad already at the thought of the good old picnics, long bike spins, and the baautiful evenings which invariably accompany summer. It is the.i v. c feel that it is good to be young and able to skip about and enjoy ourselves. Whnt great events have happened in D.L.I I . circles during fie last few months, Dot. First of all the ej*es of the Invercargill Club are made to open wide by the -sudden appearance in their midst of a critic — a real live critic, and full of funny notions and sayings, too, at that Next appears a column in the Witness headed "Dunedin Club Notes and Criticisms," and signed by that notorious yeisonatje Quago. who has taken up the idea of his southern comrade and carried it thiough with considerable euccc^s. One would have thought that would have been any amount of criticism ; but it appears not, for T. J. C, Civis, ar.d one oi two otheis give a hand to Quago, while Snapper coaxes to the aid of his soul hern chum. The ne^;t evei't is the Dunedin Club's annual socia'. Then opt old comrade Boy pays us a flying Msit. jN'-o sooner ha 3 h.e gone thsn the annual social of the Invercargill Club is held. And thus things keep gouig It is well that it should be sc. for this all tends to further ihs interests of Dot and Uer good old page. Tho socials especially do a, great deal of good by bringing the clubs under the notice of the public This is just what is wanted, for unless tho public tr.ks an interest in us wo cannoi. expect to pa ogres?. On August 2 the Invercargill Cub hold their social. It v/as in every way a huge success, but as there have been so many descriptions of the proceedings of the evening in already I need say nothing mote m that head. Suffice it for me to say that everything went of swimmingly, and that Dot'= kind me-'agc of cheer and help w?= noi. thc-lea<-t-apprecisted event of the evening. Thank you, dear Dot, for your kind words. They .made me feel that we were not — although you have much to keep you occupied and busyforgotten by our noble leader; that she always coald find time for her little folk, no matter how far away they may be. But there, dear Dot, I am afraid I am taking up too much of your valuable spsce, and that you will have no room left for all those cutics, so I shall now close. With love to Harry and the members of his club, also all the Invercargill D.L.F. and all little folk in general, not forgetting our dear friend Dot, — Yours truly, | WILLOW BROO£. Dear Dot, — As news — that is, news interesting to L.F. — is somewhat scarce just now, I •»v]li just tell one or two yarns, in the reed'tig of which some of the L.F. will doubtless lese control of the muscles of their faces. ! A fsw months ago I had the toothache. Well, now, I suppose every young per-son knows what that means — to their sorrow. For three days I took so many toothache j otives, internally and externally, that it is " leally a wonder In? alive to tell the tale, i Tho nearest dentist was 30 miles away, so ' 1 thought I would try a dental operation j myself. I got a "Physiolcgy" and studied it ; till I knew the name aad position of every [ tooth and bone in my head; but still my teeth ached, s<nd I wasn't any wiser about j how to get them out. I have a pair of i pincers which close with a spring, so I got these and tied a .stout piecs of window-cord ',1 thought string w?s not strong enough) to the handles, fmd then, as it was the tooth in the lower jaw I wished to extract first, 1 fastened tho cthev end of the cdrd to a ring in the. ceiling Then I enacted the scene in \ "Hamlet" wherein Ophelia faints: I fell — tha cord resisted my weight — my tooth came out in the grasp nf the pincers. Suddenly the day grew dark, and the twinkling orbs of Heaven ajjpeared before my gaze — i.e., I saw stars. I soon recovered, and now wished to extract one more tooth — this time from the ui'per jaw, so that the ring in the roof would not seive my purpose. After thinking for a while I undid the cord from the ring and j fastened it on to the handle of the door. ' Than I applied the pincers once more to my ' tooth, took a seat, and held firmly to my i chair, while I gave a piercing shriek. Some- j one came running along to see what was the ! matter — the door flew open, and — exit tooth. I won't -pay a dentist half-a-crown any moreto extract a tcoth for me when I can do jt so neatly myself. j

Pome time before the above events I had been to town to get some teeth out. Now I have a friend who is very inquisitive, so I told her that I wae getting a set of fake teeth and that I expected them up in a week. At the end of the week I received through the po.=t a little box, neatly done up and wraj>ped in silver paper. Inside- reposed a beautiful set of teeth— horses' teeth, nicely fitted into wax,— and on a slip of paper tho words: "With the maker's compliments. (Made in Germany.)" I guess-sd who had played the trick on me. When my friend came I happened to be writing letters. She asked me if I had received the teeth yec. "No," said I ; "but I am writing to "the dentist about them," and I shower! her the letter. This I put in an envelope, but it did net get posted, though my friend thought jt did. An acquaintance was going to Greymouth soon after, so I gave her a parcel addressed to- myself to post. In it was an old set of false teeth (real ones), which had belonged to a relative. The next mail day I contrived to have my friend with me when I received the box again. Of course she was "laughing all over her face" in expectation of the fun. for she expected to «os the horse's teeth ; but when she saw "the real set she looked somewhat blank. No^r I tell her that I cannot wear them, as they do not fit me. I intended to give a shoit account of the West Coast flood, but another L F. has forestalled me, and I know the tediotusness of a twice-told tale, so I will content myself by asking and answering a riddle : "Why was the Grey Valley during the recent flood like. Egywt in o'.den times''— Because it was a. land flowing with milk and honey" — i.e., several cews and a number of beehives went down the river and did not come back again." With remembrance to Paparoa and Mountain Rambler, — Yours truly,

VENETIA CORONA.

Dear Dot, — I wish to draw your attention to a letter in the W-itness of August 2. written by a thoughtless D.L.F. who evidently does not follow up the fetters very minutely, or she would have seen my letter in about three or four months ago, and also my photo in the D.L.F. group on show week, and therefore wouldu't have taken my norn de plume. As I have written under that special N.D.P. for foiu* years I know you will agree with me, Dot, that I have first right to it. I had a most enjoyable time on the Fiiday of show week a.rnang the many D.L.F. whom I met from all parts of Otago, and among them I met some of tha cleverest of the writers. After we had our photos taken and had done ample justice to the good things so kindly provided by Mr Editor in the D.L.F. room, the editor showed Tin Tackis, Longdal'e Lassie, and myself all through the printing office, and we had a most interesting time, which we won't readily forget. Since then I have left the Valley, and am at my birthplace again for a while — nanielv, Hyde. It is awfully quiet up here, and I dc^i't think I could be contented here for any length of time after having a taste of town life. We have only had one little shower of snow here

lately, and scarcely any frost at all. What * remprkab y good winter 1 But I suppose we shall get our share later c-n. All the farmers are looking for snow, as they say there won't be very good crops next season without fome snow. I don't kr,o\v ioi vh - .t leason, but ..I most probably keeps the .gi-oiuicl warm for the young seedlings. What a nice group of D.L.F. appears this week 1 I don't know i.iany of them, cuid I got quite a surprise when I noticed my photo in it. Desr Dot, do you think we could get round Mr Editor to give you half an hou. off nexc tune wo go into tiie office to look round' It would be so nice to have you with us to explain things, and you know we would keep it such a secret — ivouldn'l we, T. T. ? We have not had much dancing or public amusement' here this winter co far, but I believe there is to be a bacheloio' ball and also a liailitai--concert in a short timo, which will liven the place up a little, and then we shall soon bo near the lively time again— Christmas and New Year Isn't this year flying, Dot? We p!n.'l never know till 1906 is upon us. I am beginning to feel quite old now, although I have two good years before learing pge. I liked the special subject ive.ek very much . some of the stories were most interesting. With love to all the D L.F., Mr Editor, arc! youi-self, — Yours tru'y,

EVANGELINE

[I trust the writer who took your noni cle p'nme, Evangeline, will see your letter and endt-avcur to tir.d a name which has not bce»i m ur,e befoi-o, though I nnisfc admit that is a somawhar difficult feat to perform —DOT.]

Dear Dot, — The weather is very cold down here ,iu=>t now, a.s a cold east wind is blowing. There are two Union Sieam Ship boats in a' v present. The ship that was m went away on Satuiday, after making a long stay. Ths dredge Munhiku is domg good work now. The Hon. Sir Joseph Waid v,as dowr here on Wednesday to christen the dredge. It was rather wet m the morning, but it elepreel up after dinner. They had a banquet in the forenoon, and 60 sat down to it. We have great fun at the Skating Rink on Wednesday afternoons; it is the only half-noliday we gel. Don't you wish you could have a fly round with us? With beat love to all the little fo'k, the dear ok l editor, and yourself, — Yours truly, SMILES.

Dear Dot, — I live in a very rocky place, surrounded by bu«h. The bush is comprised chiefly of brpadleaf trees. I do not go fernhunting vei*y much, as the lawyers prick your hand* and face if you try to push through them. In summer, when the clematis, convolvulus, and other bush flowers are out, the busb looks very pretty. A great many birds build their nests in the trees, and' last year my brothers sold the most birds' eggs about here. They are trapping for rabbits just now, but I don't think they are catching very many. Do you collect anything, Dot? My ty/o sisters and I do. My eldes": sister collects post-cards, Jnd the othei one collects autos., while I collect stamps. I have about 500 stamps now. Our examination will soon take place, and consequently we have to work hard at our lessons at present. I have just finished reading a very humorous Scotch book, which I liked very uiuch. Our garden looks very 'lesolate just now. There are no flowers out, except a fewviolets, and all the leaves of the trees are lying withsred on the ground. However, we shall soon be sowing some seeds, and they will spring up in time, and in due season will come out in flower. With love to aP L.F., not forgetting yourself and the editor. — Yours truly, MARIE ANTOINRTTF

Dear Dot, — I thought I wouici wine you a few lines to let you know how I am living. Well, my sister and I rode about seven miles to see a friend yesterday, and we went at such a rate that my back has been so sore all day to-day that I can hardly move. My sister was on our old grey pony Li!y, and I was on Bell, and of course one tried tc race the other; and, my word, it was a dandy ride. Fourteen miles altogether was a very good ride, and the horses were dripping with sweat, as it was very hot. We intend to ride round by Hedgehope soon. We are havinaf lovely spring weather here just now, and bikes are flying about everywhere, as the roads axe nice and dry. My brother started for Invercargill on his bike yesterday to see my sisters, and got about four miles when his tyre burst and he had to turn back. We arc busy m cur flower garden just now, and we intend to have a .splendid one this summer, as we are getting a lot oi seeds and are carting soil to raise the flowe. beds, so if we don't have a good garden this year we shall be disappointed. I am going to hav^ some sunflowers, and if* they grow like they dc in lnvercaa-Kill they will be splendid buttenho'es, as the once I saw were about 7in across. We are milking two cows in tho morning and one at night, and are feeding one calf, which I call Bessie. It will not be long till we have pet lambs, and then I sha.ll have to be on the move. My brother and I went to the dog, pet, and poultry show in Invercargill on June 29, and spent an enjoyable day. We had some running to catch the trains, of course, but we got there and back all right. We got off at Waikiwi, where my sister is, and then walked to Kcw to see Silcue, and then we caiiie back to the sho?r. I liked the show very well, but the noise was something terrible. You can imagine what it was like with a great mob of dogs barkin™-, ducks quacking, and roosters crowing. Some of the dogs were queer-looking sticks, especially the bulldogs and pugs. My brother ar>rT I laughed till we were weak at one little, pug which was barking for all he was worth, with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, and looking so savage; but he became quite quiet when we patted him, and he was evidently pleased at our attention. I liked the cats and pigeons, and also the French rabbits. There were five cockatoos like my one there, but they were not so nics in appearance, thcudi I hope they were no) so stupid pis mine is, as he can't say a woirl, and all he can do ira to aot the cats and hens, and yell for all he is woith. We had a good Icok round and then went to the station 'fo meet Siler.e, as she was sick and was going hone with us. My other sister turned up in time to see us off in the train, and I wac ver\ tirc-d when I tome that night, I can tell you. We had Rose-a-Bud for company fiom Invercargill to Browns. Silene is learning to play the vioMn m town now, and I hope she will get o.i well. My brother is a)so goins: to go to "Browns to learn, so wo ought to have music some day. It will soon be a year since I spent my holidays in Dunedin, and I intend to have another holiday this summer, but not iii Dunerlin. I see one LF. says that Dunedin is not to be compared with Invercargill, but I think it is the other way about. I think Invercargill is a miserab'e place to spend a day m after seeing Dunedin, as you can walk all over it in two hours, and it takes clays to see all Dunedin. I; correspond with Synda, and she sent me a nice photo of herself, and I im going to frame it. My two brotheis are playine-" euchre, and seem to be having great fui)s iudgiiig by the noise they are making; With! 10/e to Alpine Princess, Sviula, all other L.F and yourself, — fours truly,

WATTLE BLOSSOM.

Dear Dot, — We hid our examination la^ week, and I <mi sorry to say that I faileJ,. We have had a week's holiday horn sclioo') and go back next Monday. I have a. Uitij

— There are over 5000 employees enrolled I in the co-partnership scheme of the London South "Metropolitan Gas Company, and ( they have no less than £230,000 invested. > Last year £33,212 was paid in bonuses to | the employees. '

— A woman has been elected as local magistrate in lihe commune of Rank Herlein, Hungary, because the whole adult male population ol the place had emigrated to America, and there was not a single man, left to fill th©

dog called Wease l . lam going to tell you how I got it. My mother -was standing in her bedroom, when she saw a little white thing rim under her bed. She called to my sister to see what it was, and there was a. deai- little Skye terrier. She inquired about it, but no one knew anybody who had lost one. About a week afterwards it was advertised, so we told the owner that we had it, and he said he would call fcr it, but he was such a long time oommg for it that it got quite used to us. When the owner came for the puppy it did not want io e,o, so we bought it from him. — Yours truly, CHATTERBOX IV. Dear Dot, — I have not written to you for about four years, but the other day I bought si Witness and w?« reading some of the letters, which I enjoyed very much, so I thought I would begin agem. Ipm going to tell you what I did ivhen I was in Christchurch. One day I went to a picnic with some friends tc Sumner. We left about 9 o'clock to catch the 10 o'clock Sunnier traan. It took us about an hour to get there, as it is about 10 milts from Christchurch. It was | very nice going there, only the smell from the engine was not very pleasant. When w» got to our destination we went to a little rottage on the hills, where we rested a while and then had our lunch. Later on we took a walk to the top of Mount Pleasant. It was rather hot work climbing, but when we got to the top we had a lovely view of Port Lyttelton. It was very n,ica watching the ships coining in or going out. After we had rested a while we started to go back, and caught the 7 o'clock ear to town, after enjoying ourselves very much. Dc yoir" know if Quince still writes to you? I used to live m the same place as she did. — Youts truly, PEGGY. Dear Dot, — I was in Dunedin during show week, but did not go to takv part in the group; but I have the greatest hopes of being there next year, and also of attending the D.L.F. social. This is an awfully quiet place, dances being few and far between. My -chief hobby is dancing; 1 never seem to get tired of it. Indeed, I often stiike up and do a polka round the room when I am in the middle of my work. Vy sister and I went for a day'« fishing a few months ago. W© started about 10 o'clock, and a,s we only had half a fishing line we went tc a neighbour's to see if we could get anything to tie on to the end to make it long enough. Well, as luck would have it, they had no fishing lines either; but, being obliging people, they lent us an old clothes-line, on condition that we gave them half the nsh we caught. To this, of course, wo agreed, and set cfi once more (o the fishing rock. We got some mussels for bnt, and after a good deal of struggling we managed to get two hcoks baited. Then caino the fun. I held one end while niy sister threw the line in. We waited for about fl .ve minutes, and— then we started to pull up the lme ; but no it wott'd not come "Oh, great Scot!" we cried; "we've caught a shark — no, it must be a porpoise." After pulling like giim death for about five minutes we found out that thp lino had become tangled in seme seaweed near the ro<_-".<s. You can imagine our disappointment. After about an hour's ii&hing we managed to catch one U + +!e fish: I think it was an cvor^r nvn cockabully. Ihe next .hrow I was not holding the end of the line, and l.ry sifter threw line and all in, S3 that en'led cur day's fishinjr. With love to all the D.LF., yourself, anj the editor,— Yours truly, ' CHA.R. Dear 3Dot, — There were four nights of til"} Balcluth.i Band Carnival, and I was ther3 every night, and enjoyed rnysolf veiy much. The fiist night I had twt rides on the haunted swing, and it was just lovely. At half-pa.s!: 7 each evening Ihe poster march took place, and it ,vas veiy nicely doin.e. The maypols dance was o!=o vtiy pretty. I was eorry when the last night of the carnival came. I spenr my winter nohdays &t LoveP's Fiat. I had a very enjoyable time. One diy during my holiday -my cousin and I went up to the bush and brought home a gieat qunntiiy of diierent ferns. Another day we went up to Ihc top of a vpry high hill, from wh»^h we had a solendid view. I came home the day before the school opened, after spendirg a very enjoyable hohday. With lovo + o Mountain Rambler. True Blue, and the editor, not forsetting yourself, — fours truly, C. H.s S. Dear Dot,— We wore hrving lovely weather till last week, wnen a change set in; but we can't growl, for we have had a splendid winter. I did noi like getting up at 6 o'clock in the frosty mornings, I can tell you. One day lately some friends from the country and I wont lo the Bluff for a picnic, and of coiu°ns I took off my boots and wanted to wade ; but they said ihey wouldn't take theirs ofE, and who>n I asked them why they said they wer? frightened of crabs Then I started joking with them and told them that they had holes in their stockings and tlrat they did not want me to see them. Then I tried teasing ther.i about being frightened, and was telling them I was not afraid and had never been bitten yet. I was ivading about, laughing at them, when, lo and behold! about five minutes afterward I felt a dreadful pinch on my right big toe. I let out such a yell, and they asked me what was wrong, and I said I had been bitten by a crab. Then they all laughed at me, and said I deserved it all for boasting about it. 1 was out of the water like a shot, and dried my feet and had my boots on in abou' 10 minutes. There was no more wading fcr me that day ; so we went up tho hill and boiled the billy and had our tea, j catching the last train home. They told them at home about me, and I got an awful teasing. With love to all D.L.F., the editor, and Dot, — Yours tiuly, xVLBERT DE ZULU. Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last penned these two little words; but how often have I seen and read them! I have been going to write scores of times, but this is the , furthest I have got, and I hope I shall finish it, although I have nothing of interest to write about. Well, since last writing lots of things have happened — the social is almost a thing of the past (though I daresay some will always remember it), and S.S.W. is ovei, too. I was not down for the winter show. I wanted to go, and yet I didn't, because if I had gone I should have missed something here, and then by not going I missed the grand D.L.F. social, also the opportunity of getting photographed. (Ah, happy photographer!) But I could not be in two places at once. My brother went down, anyhow, and I milked his cow and did one thing and another for him; so it will be my turn nert year, and I may be able to get awaj r for the social then — let us hope co. S S.W. was a grand success, although there were not many letters, considering the large number of wiiters there are. On the v. hole, I think the letters weie far supcuor to those of last year. Perhaps it was that they had a variety of subjects to choose from, whereas last ve.ir there was but one. Some of the stories were excellent — a ciedit to the writers and to the page. I have been doing a bit of exploring lately. My mate and I have been going for long walks eveiy Suudav, taking roads whu-h wo had never traversed before. I am just beginning to know the place, and yet I have lived here all my life. Two or three Sundays ago my mate and I, with a friend, climbed to the top of Mount Puketapu. Oh! it was great, especially coming down. We came-

down a different way, and in one place, just before we reached the road, we neaily got bogged, the mud being up lo our boot-tops. I'm biu'3 mj companions will not forget their trip to Puketupu in a huriy. I know 1 shan't — -.vill j ou, A D.? I reckon not, if your skut v,as ro hard to biush or your boots to clem as mire were. A dancing clr-'ss is hsld here ever/ Friday night, and I am attending it. I think it is a delightful way to spend a winter evening. We do have some grand times, as most of us aie learners. As ior Dolly Plimket (I think it was D. P., but excusa me if I am wiong) oaying girls wesr shoes thai pinch the feet at dances, I don't know how anyone could dance and bs comfortable if their shoes hurt them. A while back the pater was ill, and so Clarissa came home for a time; but &he went back after hs got better, and, my word,- I did miss her. It's dead slow at home by myself. My biother still has a weakness (pretty strong) for making toffee. He only discovered the colour of my hair the other day. He gazed at me for a full minute, then blurted out, "Your hair is carroty." "Yes," I said ; "didn't you knew? The next carrot you find in the garden the same colour, bring it to me for a keepsake." He said he would if I 'gave him a lock of my hair to compare them; but he didn't get it — not much It's a caution when a fePow lives with you all his life and only discovers the colour of your hair after 15 years; what say you, L.F. ? Did you ever hear of anyone taking a piece of butter for a bit of ioap, Dot? Well, an old bachelor (he is a bit short-sighted, so perhaps we j ought to excuse him) told us the other day that he took a piece of butler for soap that morning to wash himself. I think he would be "just the giearcy pig" when he had finished. I should not like to try the experiment. Since writing the above I nave paid the dentist a visit. I had the toothache till I j could endure it no longer— having to ro out of church on the Sunday mgh+ was the last | straw, so behold me in the dentist's chair next clay. Wcu'd I have a little gas? Always being told T had toe much, I thought more might b? hurtful, so I refused. Then the work began and I was soon r ; d of niv two enemies. Ore was very painful being pxtracted, as there was an abscess at the root, but it was scon over I had a terribly sore ] throat the next day md the day followinsr • but yesterday it was much batter, po I wo"b to the iJ-uicirer cls=.s last night, and to-niaht T jm half-der-1 (wonder if anyone will °o in | half-mourning M with a sor? threat and ?n awful cold. " What a jn^nd D.Ti.F. groim there wrra in this week's Witno~-<- — D Tj F. from all parts How interesting (if =oinewb'<t pcr c onall are the rotes V Ottago t>nd T. I. C , our two mysterious DL.P.; also, the notes! from tbe Invprcp-.-gill DLF With love to nil tb-e D.L.F., H. Me, youiself, an<l tV>» «'litor, -Your-, truly. EASTER. Dear Dpt, — We are having grand weather up here— ]vj3t like spring. I fm in the Sixth Standaid, and as our examination is in October I shan't have very much longer to go to school, if I pass. We had Cowslip up staying with us a day or two, and we both went down the road for a ride as she was going homo My music-teacher is giving another concert in about a fortnight, and I am looking forward to it, SB a dance is to follow. We have about six pigeons, but none of them are carrier pigeons. They lay two eggs at a time, and then "begin to sit on them. I have a nice little puupy. which I call "Gyp." I think Intoinbi's letters are very interesting, and I j should like to exchange autos. with her. I am writing to a D.L.F. in England. Ail the j trees have lost their leaves, end there are no flowers, so it looks very wintry : but I supB o.=e it will rot be long till they pick no sonic green leaves. We have two vary large plantations here— it i& jtv4 like a bu.sh % Wo live at the top of a hill called Borach, so we get a very nice view of ' everything going on. It was Very quiet up here this winter without any quadrilles to help to pa.ss the long nights. I go for a good many rides on horseback; I think it is a lon^ way ahead of walking. With love to A Lively Measure, Queenie 111, and Kia Ora, not forgetting your&e lj —Yours truly. PRIMROSE 11. Dear Dot,— l shall tell you about our school picnic to Evnnsdale. Tiie drags started from Knox Church about 9.30 a.tn., and reaching Normanby turned up the high Port Chalmers ioa.d. As most of the rca.d this side of the Upper Junction is hilly, we got out and walked for a good while, so that the hoi>3C3 wculd not have such a h&avy load to carry. On the way we passed a httlo school, and at the gate were a isw children, who gazed aftor us a« if they would have liked to have bsen in our place. Arriving at EvansdaLs, we left the drags at the hots-!, and, carrying baskets, rugs, and various other articles, started to walk for some distance up the Evansdaie Gully, which is a very nice pl?ce in which to j have a picnic As we turned the corner of the track we saw a pretty little hollow, which we thought would make an ideal spot in which to stay. The first item on the programme wa«, of ooiirse, lunoh, and after we had partaken of this we scattered — some going to gather ferns, some to look for white violets, and scm* to wade in the :lear little creek. I was ameng the last-named, and my word", Dot, when I first stepped into the water I could hardly feel my feet at all. Afterwards some girls and I walked farthei up the gully, gathering ferns and little flowers. The Say soon wore on, and after having tea we started again for Evansdaie, and were soon on the drags and started for home. With love to all the D.L.F., the editor, and especially to your own self, — Yours truly, CORA LINN. Dear Dot, — I live in a country place in the north. We are having very wet weather hero at present, and it is blowing to-night. There 19 a lot of sickness here just now, but no doubt the sufferers will soon get well when spring weather sets m I know twe or three L.F. up this way. One was pointed out to j "me at the ball the other night. I did not ] speak to her, but the nest time I see her I shall have a DLF. talk with her. You ought to see her, Dot, she always has a smile on her face. I was in Dunedin not long ago I like it better than here, for this is a very slow place — a ball now and again being all the diversion we have. Have you beer * through the Manawatu Gorge yet, Dot? I have been as far as Woodville, but I don't care much for it. I was afraid the trtin would slip into the river. The Pohangmfi and Manawatu were in flood l^st week. Witb love to Smiling Gwen, Dot, and the editor, — Yours truly. KAITUNA. Dear Dot, — The weather has been very changeable up this way lately. It has been blowing very hard all day, and I can tell you it is no joke making and feeding cows in the cold frosty mornings. I saw a letter by Golden Prince=s in the Witness a week or two ago, and I thought it was very interesting. Golden Princess and I were old schoolmates, and many a little bit of mischief we got into together— eh, Golden Princess? We had a D.L.F., Vidocq, staying at our place for a few days, and I oaii tell you between him and my brother the place wae pretty lively. Mr H. was fencing at oui place, and he was giving it to Vidocq and me for writing to Dot. He said he wa? goin^ to write to Dot and take "The Fencer" for a - JLB-R Pa Friday, sth ; twg L^ e.^\ w£s<itt

t

went to Ecfielcl, a clme of abcut six mites, and T can tell you we enjoyed ourselves We were* rather surprised to find it was 12 o'clock when we reached Enfield, c-o after payill" a visit to tbe butcher and grocer we winded civ v.ay homeward, and .is I w« driver ycu may guess the poor house hud no eav,- time of it. V.'ilful Maiy said if vheie happened to be a policeman about 1 v/ou it have baen taken up for furious driving Rather complimentary, wasn't it, Dot' I should like to be down in Dunedm to attend come of tli& Debating; Club m-etings. T im ■mre they must hi very interesting, as all the LF. who have been there say so. Did nc» the «ocial prove a great success? I wish I had besn there, but as fortune never favours me I did not get. If all is well, by next year I hopo to bs down at the winter show, antf then I car. go to the social. I think I lmisb "ring off" now. With love to Golden Princess, Wilful Mary, and Vidocq. not forgetting -your dca>- self and the editor,— Yours truly, J " " CHLOE. Dear Dot,— l wa= down at the winter show, but only stopped a week. I wish nay holiday had lasted loiger, as it is so nice and lively in Dunedin. I met .several D.L.F., but, not having my badge, I did not speak. I went out to the Taieri, also, to see my two sisters. We have been experiencing lovely weather lately— ouite a rare thing this time of th year, — a I le i have had only cue fall of snow yet. A singing class is held in the schoolroom every "VVeclnosdav evening, and qu?drillc.3 on Friday nights. The D.L.F. Page is going ahead with its clubs anil societies. I pgiee with the D.LF. who sny that the page was better som? years back. With love to Taniwha, Winifred, and Queer Fellow,— Yours truly, ITY DOREEIC. Dear Dot,— l am just a little girl, eight jcars oH. I have been at 1i0n.3 ficm school ior ? month, because 1 was not keeping well, but I am better now. Our examination ij\c<i place in a week, but I don't think I shall sass. I bave a nice pet pigeon, and there are a. lot of lambs on my father's farm no*, mid the ws-nthev is so nice for them. I have lour brothers, but no sisters, and my biothers are great teases I wab away for two week*' hohcUys at North Taieri, and I did enry myself with my ccusms. My eldest brothpr nas a nice little pony, r.nd I sometimes get a ride on her My biotiier rid as her at the Taieri shows, and he has won first prizr-s. There is s D.L F. in. my class at school, whose noni de plume is Anne. With lovs to Anno,— Yours truly. T3IXIE 11. Dear Cot,— Once e,gain I make up my mind to write to that mjstsrious personage Dot. Although we ha\e had papers on the question, we are no further advanced as to your identity than we were at the beginning. It must be ]ust love'y to feel that so msny persons are being interested in you and ye' are unable to find cut who ycu are. I was going to write to ycu some time Rgo, but il>et letters only reached ths fire. Our famous page is slowly but surely growing more interesting every week. Although I do not correspond with it very often, still I read the L.F. tetters with much interest, and have done so for years. There is nothing of much interest to "tell you of up here, Dot— only football, which is played here nearly every Saturday. Our curlers met with disappointment this winter The bonspiel was to have been hold hen* last week, but owing to the thaw it was postponed till some future date, when the frcst is favourable With best love to_all the ii 171.,I 71 ., especially Paparoa. A Lively ileasure, H. M., and no* foicettinp; Dot and the editci,— Yours tiuly, " SUNNY VIEW. Dear Dot, — Smce last I wrote to ycu winter has come and gone, but we are still getting a little frcst m the mornings. We h.avo nearly 50 little lamb's, aiid it is jnsi the wo^thec for them. There was a conceit and dance here not long ago, and as it was sucli a lovely night I enjoyed my;clf very^mueh, getting home about 3 o'clock next morning. ThlG is a lively little place for concerts and other amusements. There is to be another concert next month, and I shan't bs sorry when it comes off. Most of the farmers have nearly all their i rop sown loxmd about this dis'.rict, but we have a good few acres of cats to sow yet. With love io all D.L.F., tho editor, and not forgetting yourself,— Ycir a truly, VERBENA. Dear Dot, — We are at pressne expciieuciugvery bad weather. It is blowing and raunug iisid to-day, and I think winter has ju=r co.ns, .is the sky looks veiy dark, and I do believe we are gomg to get a fall of snrw before 'ong. The farmers around here ara very busy getting m their wheat. The rabbet factory is still going on. How sad it is to see all the poor little bunnies deed ; but the farmers axe glad to get rid of them. Dcr.c Dot, wou'd you kindly tell me the meaning of "Kia Ora," as I should veiy mush like to know I was away for a veiy long ride the other day. I have oftsn been &n horseback, but I wpis very r.sarly thrown cS that day, as my horse shied at a while post that was lying on the side of the road ; but I escaped without being thrown off. With love to ail the little folk, the kind editor, and yourself, — Yours truly, CORAL. ["Kia Ora" means "W:=h you well" cr "Wish you luck," Cora!.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As we sat reading the Witness to-night a thought came to oiir minds : How r.ica it would be to write to the page! We> live in Niagara — i very pretty little township, situated on the banks of the beautiful W.'ikawa River. Ther» i 3 nothing w<: enjoy so much as a row on this pretty river, which h?s plenty of gieen fenis ard bush all along it 3 banks. W- went for a ride the other day to a- vlsee called Haldano, about 10 miles from Niagara. We enjoyed the ride very much. Juot as we came to .the end of the- Waikawa. Beach we saw a young man get thrown off his horse into the water. One of our horses wa3 very flash, and it got such a fright at tho ireident that it ncirly bolted. We went out shooting the other day, and got svich a lot oi birds that we could hardly carry them home. With love to n. r l the L.F., the editor, anci yourself, — Yours truly, * DOOD AND BANDY. Dear Dot, — Ju^t a few lines to let yon know I am not dead yet. I have changed my quarters since laat I wiots to you. I left the Oast about a month ago. by a boat called the SVainm. I was sick from tho time I left Greyiiiouth until I arnved m Wellington. My sister met me m Wellington, and we came bythe express to the Upper Hutt It is a qnie'ct httlo place, lying between hiils. I like ilia North Is-land very well ; it is much warmer than the Coast Well, dear Dot, I must no\»| close. With love to all the D.L.F., yciueel^ and Mr Editor,— Youns truly. NTJGGETY 808. [T am glid to hear oE Nuggety Bob's safe arrival, and tiust the change will do hei a lot of good.— DOT ] Dear Dot,— lt is such a long time sine© 5 have written to you that you will be forgetting thst there is such a person It n own a-3 Grey V<.llcv. West Coaster is always asking me when I am going to writs ngpiu, but I always make the excuse, "I do not know of anything to wiite about." Bine Violet i=t f-ittino at the table, end the table seem? to b^ on the continual quiver — a thing whkh I do rot apprecn^e "cry much, but if I ay toi much about it it will be ths woise for as,

for she will shake it all the more. This is the middle of the first month of spring. Wo have had no very haid frost so far, and T hope we ■escape it now. The birds evidently ihink spring is "-with us, for they have be?n tinging very much since the beginning of the month. The weather has been pretty mild, considering there is a blight -coating of snow on the top of some of the ranges. On Fiiday morning I took it into my head th-it t would 'ike to go out for r bike lide, so I hurried up with my work in double-quick time. It had b&sn frosty the night before, so the roads were in fairly good order. On my spin I did not meet a person coming or going, for there is not much traffic — mostly butchers' and bakers' carts on certain days of the week. When I am out by myself, especially on the bicycle, I do not care about meeting people. I got home in tinie to lay the table for dinner. In the afternoon I went to Ahaura, and I saw a good many of the D.L.F. of the township. I went first down* to the station to see if there was a parcel ior us there, and there happened to be one ; lout it was too heavy to ride with it on thpkike, so I had the pleasure of walking back from the station I called in at Lavender's uncle's shop and tad quite a friendly chat with her for a while. She is one of my old schoolmates. I arrived home at 6 o'clock, feeling a little bit tired after my day's outing, especially as I am not out on the bicycle for months at a time. "Wets Coaster is away on a holiday at presant, and she is coming home to-morrow morning, so you can expect to hear an account of her holiday from her shortly. With love to you and all D L.F , especially Lavender,—Yours truly, GREY VALLEY. Dear Dot, — The weather is very cold ja&t now, and every morning the ground is white with frost. We have had our first fall of snow, and it lay on the ground for three or four days. All the rivers and creeks have been flooded lal-sly, and all the dredges have had to stop. Football is in full swing at present, but so far Roxburgh has not many wins. We have stopped trapping now, and are going to commence poisoning in a few days. The local Pipe Band held a concert the other night, but I do not think I would go again if. the admission were free. The footballers held a tournament on Friday, which ended in the Alexandra senior t-eam winning the silver medals. Special Subject Week has passed, and there were some very inter-eating letters among the contributions to it. With love to Piece of Dougb, the editor, and yourself,—Yours truly, TAIPO. Dear Dot, — Many months have come and gone since I last wrote to you. but they e-eemed to fly past so quickly that I can - scarcely realise that summer and winter have passed by. However, I have made up my mind to write to you at last. We are having lovely weather here st present Everything i-- " beginning to look fresh and green already ■and the roads aro drying up well. I have is ot beer, for a holiday this winter, but I mean to go fox one in the summer. White looking over an old paper the- other day I saw a letter from Joe, describing the Blow- ' hole at Catlius. Ido not think Joe ever saw the Blowhole, or else he would have given a, better definition of it "than he did. You were very much mistaken, Joe, when you said that a tunnel a mile long r?n from the cosst to Ihs Blowhole. "Why, it is not more than 100 yards from the hole to the coast. You were wrong again when you said that the air came xip out of the Bks'vhole r.nd made a greit liullahaloo among the trees. Kbnc of ths trees- are close enough to ihe hole, ""and at - -snyrate -the wind does not come rushing up - like a whirlwind, ox anything like that. Ii is re-ally a most wonderful hole, but. it i* certainly not so wonderful 9-s Joe makes it <mi to be. Do not hs annoyed because I have contradicted you, Joe, for I do not Hv» many miles away from the Blowhole, and I have been tc see it clcse on a dozen time?, - and havo gone out to the coast several timei. From the top of the cliffs one can get a fine view of Tunnel Island, and ihe Maori gardens and Whi A c H'sad can also be seen in the distance. Now, Dot, I ehs>ll step picking other people's letters to pieces, 1 snd rhaii£fr nvy topic to something more agreeable. I think the L. and D. Gmb is a very novol idea, and I wish ths club every success in its future career. I r.nly wish I could attercl ihe meetings, but I am too far away to think of any such thing. What a success the S.S.W. was. I think Auntie Daisy Priim-o-o wrote a, charming story. Jessica also wrote a very nice one T agiee wiih Ted. of the C.C.C., in saying that you are doing good for the young people of New Zealand !No doubt msny of the L F. will take an interest in the C.C.C. when they see that oue of its band takes ail interest in D.L.F. matters. What a lovely night it is to-nisht! I hope it wiii 7jo as nice a night on Friday, sn my sister and I are going to a concert at Owaka, anr! we want to enjoy ourselves. With best love to Native Vine. Wavey, Aster, and Alexan- j drina., not forgetting yourself and our patient editor, — Yours truly, E. D. A. j Dear Dot, — At last I write the words which form my introduction to the page. Since I came to New Zealand, about 15 months ago I 'have always taken a great interest in Dot's little folk, and v.ould like to become one of them ; it is a splendid idea. This is a busy • little islaee, as well as being pretty, and as I sit here and see the lovely country all around me I thiiik of the advantage we havo .o\ er our city L.F , who have in many cases j ■to leave the town in order to find any niral j scenery. There is a beautiful gully about two rniio-s from on/ place, where I often go in warm weather. A small, clear stream of icecold water is always Tunning between, the banks, which aie lined with aJmo^t every kind of fern, whilst oveihead birch, light • wood, fuchsia, and many other lovely tress form a protection from the sun. Tree-ferns are often seen 20ft high, with lovely frond? from 6ft to 10ft long, and the bed of the stream is almost covered with smaller ones. Lawyers and many varieties of shrub are so interwoven with one another and the surroxinding trees that it is a difficult, and m some places imuossibie, task to break through them. If you have ever had anything to do with the lawyer. Dot, you will know what a tenacious hold it gets upon oue. I have left many a piece of &kin and clothes behind me on the bushes. I hope those latter remarks will not discourage beauty-seeker 3, and, fearing it may, I shall say no more about it. I have not seen any badges in this town yet. and do not know if there aie any little folk here. I ihink the badge should be worn oftener, so as to let people see that one is not ashamed to be a L.F. If this letter is too long, I hope you will not do the same as the young reporter did who, when on handing m his first report on a speech was told that "half that would do," divided the pages of his notebook and innocently asked, "Which t'aif?" With love to all D.L.F., the editor, and yourself,— Yours truly, THE" GRAMAPHONF.. Dear Dot, —We have had lovely weather i lately, but it lias started to rain to-c?ay. 3Xy ' mates, One of the Troopers and Clover Le.if. and I were carting firewood the other day, and my sister was driver, and when she started to dii.-c the house it left the sledge behind. When wo wore finished with the wood we pll suggested to go over to the

Trooper's place. My brother was riding, bvt he got offend put One of 'he Troopers «>id me on. We were carrying some trees, so v, c could not go veiy fast. We had not gone far round ths beach wli3.i we met One of the , Tioopers' brothers, so we gave him the tre-js to carry and wo cantered all the way round the beach. I was away from home for six weeks' holiday, and enjoyed myself immensely. 1 was at a ball at Fortrose, and met Tommy and Tini there All the farmers hero are busy with their ploughing. With best love to A Banch of Violets, Auld Reekie, A Niagara Lass Tini, sncl Somebody's Saiior Boy, not forgetting yourself r.nd kind Mr Editor,— Your* truly, GEORDIE'S MATH. Dear Dot, — We are having lovely weatlm here just new One of the Tiocpers and I went through the bush to gather native trees. We left home after dirner, and got back oi 2 in the afternoon. After we had had a rest and some lunch Geordie's Mate, One of th° Tioopers, and I went for a ride. 1 w?..s veiy sorry to hear of Little Flirt's death, as she was a friend of mine. On a calm day we can hear ihe sawmill whistles at Waikawa and Niagara. A schoolmate of mine died heie on July 19, and was buried in the Fortrose cemetery on the 02nd. We are only milking one cow just now — enough, don't you think sc, Dot, for tins time of year? All the f aimers arc bu<=y ploughing. We are going to have a concert here on the 23rd of the month, and I shall give you an account of it next time I write. With love to all the D.L.F., yourself, and the editor. — Yours truly, CLOVER LEAF. Dear Dot, — I live in a very pretty place. It is surrovnded with bush and hills. It is a nice place for bathing in the Fummer time. I was out for a ride to-day, and found it very enjoyable. Dolly, the horse I ride on, is very quiet, so there is no danger of my getting bucked off I was at a serial the other night, and enjoyed myself very much. There we:e not a great many at it, although it was a lovely night. Dancing and games were enraged m I had a good many dances at the social, and I enjoyed them, for dancing keeps one warm. Wo ars having lo^y weather at present; indeed, tho days" arc getting quite warm. It is nearly two years since I was iv Dunedin, and I should like very much to go m again <soou. "N c have plentj of ferrets and weasels litre. If you would like any for your supper you may come out here and get some. With love to all the L.F., the editor, and voiuoelf,— Yours truly, LADY AKATORE. Dear Dot, -We are having lovely weather just now. There are only 12 children at our schco! — three- boys and nine girls. We have two miles to go to pohooi every morning, and we get very tired walking. My eldest sister likcis riding very much, but she does not get i«:any ridco. We are only milking two cows just now, and they are milked but once a day. Oui teacher lias left, and I don't know when we shall get another one. We live near ihe tea, and it is very pleas-ant bathing in the summer time. My mother and my sister do tho gaivlen With love to the D.L.F., not f oi getting your own dear self, — Yours truly, I FAXTAIL.