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Otago Witness, Issue 2721, 9 May 1906, Page 74

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto. — We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. $5S* If o letter to contain more than 430 woids. "Dear To I,—This1 ,— This is Gi.-turdav night but Saturday night in the country is vastly difieier.t fiom Saturday night in the town. When one leaves the gorgeous glitter of the town and come? into the quietude of the country, he very hke.y heaves a sigh of relief. Nothing but the moan of the wind and the distant r.oi=e of a passing vehicle is breaking Ine stillness of tc-r.ight. Even the great hammer is stilled after the work of the afternoon. \VA\, Dot. v most delightful thing has happened. We break up on Wednesday for a term ho'iday of three weeks, during which time I =hall hove to collect my scattered brains for another three months' work. But, on the v. ho!f school is not fo bid es I expected it to b?, go I shan't grumb'e anj more. La%t night our new Sunday School Hall was opened by a ■-ociiil, the programme cf which v.as made up of itenj"= gp-er by the chi'dren. The hall was packed to its utmost limit, and a very enjoyable evening wjs spent. Do you like cats' We have a be?uty, and it belongs to my sister. If it were to die 1 believe she Kouel break ltei heart. From what my brother and sister say, maibieo are the craze at school, ar.d at> soon as they land home at night down go their bags and books, and of? they c; 0 for a game of marbles. The Eat-tci: 1 o'.ivkiys passed very pleasantly, and altogether too quickly for me, at least. On Easter Monday I went up io the water race, which flows s.lor.g the hill opposite to our house; and on the other days I amused myself eating apples and rending books, which 1 would rather do than go out pleasure-seeking. I suppose in a ■short time Dunedin will ba quite deserted and Ohristchiuch overcrowded with people to see the Exhibition. I do not think I 3ha)l bo

::niong the lucky crowd. "Winter will soon bo here, and although it is a great thing to get me out of bed in summer, it will be a still gi rater feat t-o get me up on the cold, snowy, vmtei mornings, when Jack Frost is always ready to nip your fingers and nose. I have l.c t a very bi.e nose, so if that oft'er.der tiikes French leave I do not know whether you will call it a nose or not. Are not the tiees looking pretty just now, with their beautiful t:nts ci reddish gold 9 but very jcoii they will be bare and desolate-looking, for we caniiU expect ike same beauty all the year iound.

Even winter has its own fascinating beauty, {when it covers the green grass and trees with a, beautiful white coverlet of soft snow. What « number of dahlias and sweet peas there has been. My grandmother's garden is looking quite a show with them, although we have very few growing. But beautiful autumn leaves in the vases look quite as pretty and ornamental as flowers. Do you not think so? I know only two D.L.F., and they are my cousins, so 1 am not very well acquainted with. .the page; but, nevertheless, I take an interest in reading the letters, although I do not know .the -writers. Well, I suppose I must obey the rule about the 450-word limit, co my 3hort scribble must close. — Yours truly, WINTER ROBIN. Dear Dot, — Nearly a year has elapsed since H last wrote to the page ; in fact, I had almost forgotten that I was a D.L.F., and had it not been for the arrival of The Nipper in these parts, I believe I should have forgotten the page altogether. Since The Nipper came down here life has not been so dull for me, and hardly a day passes but what our conversation drifts to D.L.F. subjects. I had the pleasure of being at the Riverton picnic last Boxing Day, and as- it was the first D.L.F. gathering that I had been at in Southland, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. During the last two weeks heavy rain and floods have been the order of the day. It was the biggest -flood that we have had for some time, and the little town of Otautau was for two days a Venice on a small scale. Much damage was also done to the crops, the flood having carried a lot of it away. What with a late season, heavy floods, and continuous rains, the farmers of the south are having anything but % pleasant time. A good proportion of the oats is Btili to cut, sc that we stand a chance of having a midwinter harvest. I am looking forward to getting up to Dunedin for the winter show, and a bit of a holiday, as it is now two years since I left home. Seeing the editor lias limited your space, I shall ling off. — Yours truly, SIR TOM.

Dear Dot, — Being some few mouths since I last wrote, the fact of my sister writing tonight induces me, being of an economical turn of mind, to follow suit, and enclose my letter with hers. It has b?en raining on cml off here for the last six weeks, and the farmers arc despairing of ever getting in their crops, such aB they are. Why, the rain even keeps the roads in such & state as to be unfit for biking, and to an "accomplished" rider like me that is an awful catastrophe. When I say "accomplished," do not think I mean good, but it means that I never feel the slightest inconvenience if the clam breaks, tyre punctures, or front wheel comes off; and can ride as well by water as by land. Southland cyclists all have practice in plenty in this latter accomplishment. I never think anything of taking a good supply of twine with me, and on one occasion, when my wheel cam* off and deposited me on the muddy road, by dint of many knots and twists I at last made the bike rideable, and exclaimed, "God bless the man who first invented twine, Lnt the machine has been to the "doctor" since, and is now fairly well. Did you ever get a fire scare, Dot? Well, we did a few months ego. I was staying at my brother's, and one evening we made sure that the old house would catch fire, as the denies were issuing from the chimney in an awful manner, and there being no men at home, we started taking the furniture out. Even in our excitement some of us must indeed have been destitute of land ownsrs, had we not seen the grim humour of our Sunday hat lauding oa the coal heap, followed by some old boots, or perhaps the blacking brushes, with my poor bike thrown almost into the brook close at hand. Oh, it was funny, and after all it did not catch on fire, and, in the words of oue of our number, I'd spy, "Oh, it's too bad after all our trouble.'" All the same we were vary "pleased it was so. Hae not our Htpe been a success? We are ali quite proud of it. The essays were very good, also the stories, lut I think I liked Willow Brook's article about the best, as being a bit Irish. The humorous, rather than the sentimental, appeals to me. Almost was I persuaded not to write until my trip to Dunodin was ov-er, but having got five D.L.F. letters during ths last week, one cou'd hardly help awaking to the sense of one's duty and pleasure, and a P.C. from Boy to-day made me think that even my "blackness" could not excuse my neglect. Well, Dot, upon counting my words, I find I have oven low exceeded 'he "irn;t, )>ut I don t like 1- >>ine "onfir.cd to just so inar.y, ~o I hop 3 you'll excuse jcut ever loving but erring DARKY.

Dear Dot, — I am afraid I have not been keeping my memory green in our page, but time passes so quickly in our part of the Milky Way that a few months moie or less in your is as but a few days to us. Shortly after I wrote to the page last Aunt Venus Rave a bir'iiday party, and vre had a very festive time indeed. All the planets, both little and big, ivul stans that coud get a move ou at al, v. ere prerent. Ths comparative brightness of the different planets afforded an effect 111 light and shade that would be hard to realise without being present. Even Grandfather Suu and Grandmother Moon were present. And now, dear Dot, I have to record a very sorrowful i'reident, which has been a cause of mourning to the whole planetary system ever since its occurrence. Dear old Grandfather Sun was showing the light of his countenance to other planets going home in the early morning, and. ever forgetful of himself, he struck his head against a telegraph post, and has been under the care of Dr Jupiter ever since. For some time Dr Jupiter had little hope of his recovery, and even now his case requires great caia. He is beloved by all. and we have been v/eeping almost incessantly ever since the accident. I suspect, dear Dot, that you will got some of the moisture of our tears, even in your far-away planet, and you will understand why Grandfather Sun has not been so cheerfully bright as he used to be. Some day we hope — a number of us v'cungei planets — to make a. closer acquaintance with our comrades of the page, for as we are always on the move, and as light attracts light, it is not unlikely that we may rub shoulders with some of the brighter comrades who contribute to the page. Perhaps you will think, so far as we are concerned, distance lends enchantment to the ■view. Dear Dot, what sanies the L.F. in your planet indulge in. When we little planets are sent out to play we sometimes play "leap frog" with the Great and Little Bear, but our most exciting pastime is sliding down the rainbow. But there, old Father Time bids us retire, and so I must close, with love to all the L.F. and yourself. — Yours truly PLANET JUNR.

P.S. — I am sorry to tell you that Grandiatker Sun tooL a. serious reljpse on Saturday night, and we have been weeping mere copiflusiy than ever.— P. J.

Dear Dot, — I am going to give you a few particulars about the wedding of oiu late echoolmistrjss. I shall begin by saying tjbat the marria-e of Miss M. A. J. Wall, eldest dau S hter of the late Mr John Wall, to Mr J. -A. Crawford, youngest son of Dr J. R. Crawford, late of Dunedin, was ;elebrated on Monday, 23rd April, at the residence of the bride's" mother. The Rev. Monsignor O'Learr officiated. The bride wore a. lovely dress of fawn silk, and held a small white gilded prayer book, in her hand. The bridesmaid, Miss Kelli? Wall, viQUi a dress, oj JBjetti silyejj;

grey. Mr Frank Whelan was best man. After the ceremony the guests sat down to the wedding breakfast. The Rev. Monsignor O'Leary, in proposing the health of the newlymarried couple, wished them happiness and prosperity in their future career. The bridegroom's present to the bnde was a ruby and diamond ring, and to the bridesmaid a lovely cairngorm brooch. The wedding party drove to Mount Stuart station, where they boarded the train en route for the north, staying foi a few days in Dunedin, Waimate, and Christchurch, before leaving for their home in Hawera. The presents were both numerous and valuable. Amongt them I noticed a beautiful silver tea-kettle, and was presented by the parents and friends, and a boautifully-in-silver tea-kettle and urn, presented by the Catholic congregation. The school children's present was a lovely gold brooch. The school children were given a holiday for the occasion. Miss Wall had been schoolmistress here for seven years, and during that time, through her lady-like character, has won the respect and esteem of the whole community. Miss Wall will be sadly missed from the Catholic congregation, as well as frcm other circles, as she has occupied the place of organist for the choir for the last seven years. Miss Wall, although not a D.L.F. herself, always took a great interest in D.L.F. matters, arid had a great many friends m the D.L.F. circle who will be pleased to see an account of her marriage. In the evening the young people had a gay time of it with cards and games. We played "musical chairs," consequences, etc., and even had cur fortunes told, this causing much merriment. The supper was very good, the tallies being well arranged. The party broke up at 12.30 p.m. after singin«- "For auld lang syne" and "For they are jolly good fellows." Altogether a very pleasant evening was spent.— Yours truly 1 JOSiiJriiA.

Dear Dot,— l was away for seven weeks' holiday at Christmas, and spent a roo3t enjoyable time of it I first went to Dunedin, and stayed there about two weeks, putting in my time visiting friends, going to theatres, pports, the beach, etc. I did not visit the Debating Club, as I did not know any L.F. to co with. About the sth of January I took train to Milton, ar.d stayed there a few days with my friends It is a very nice little town, but I was rather disappointed at not seeing any badges, as I thought there were a number of D.L.F. there. Then I took the express to Balclutha, landing there about 7 p.m. I was much taken with this locality, and remained there for some time. Oce morning two of uiy cousins and I drove down to Port Molyneux, and spent a very pleasant day wandering among the bush, getting ferns and gathering shells along the beach (a good many of which I brought home with ms). A cousin and I took the express through to Clinton one morning, and came back with the evening express, but did not see any of the Clinton D.L.F. I stayed » few days at New Chum and Laura's place. They are cousins of mine, and we had a great yarn on D L.F. matters. After putting in three weeks there I started for Dunedin, where I stayed for another week, then, finding my holiday was coming to an end, I said good-bye to Dunedin and all its nice green lawns, bush, etc., and steered for this dry, barren country of Otago Central. It would open the Dunedin L.F.s eyes to take a trip up country. I see you have discarded long lettero in your page, and our space 13 limited. This does not harm me, as I was never in the habit of writing long letters. I went to the Clyde sports on Easter Monday. The gathering was about the largest ever yet held in Clyde. I stayed for the concert, which was very good, and then, putting in a few hours in the "light fantastic," I started for home, arriving there safe at 4 a.m. I noticed Flower o' Clutha and Lady Lihas there. — Yours truly. MAID OF DIAMONDS. Dear Dot,— As ths thought of D.L.F.-dom has again entered my head 'to-night, I decided to write a letter once more to the dear old page. What with the bay, the social, and— cve v picnics, there is nothing of any importance for U3 D.L.F. to think about; at least, I haven't anything. "Picnic!" Ah, yes, there I am again. Oh, thafs the thing, Dot, especially our one on Easter Monday. Oh, day of happy nieinoues, why not come again 9 In her letter Giuha says that it was no wonder Go Hon asked a girl if she thought the Duuedinites were ru-u-g-s. That s:irl was "me," was it not, Go Hon? Catch me calling the Dunedin L.F. mugs. No, Go Hon. I don't think so. Now G.. did you not enjoy 'he picnic 1.0 your heart's content 9 If not. why not? for I am sure all of the D.L F who were there on that day never enjoyed themselves so much before." I never heard a muimur about its being a bit slow. Oh, Dot, if you had only been there to see and hear Go Hon singing, Grape Nuts playing his mouth organ. D. Y. K. giving out his instructions as M.C. at the bal!-ic— ei— giound, and our famous old Tomahawk' acting as referee for the Great Banana Race, ai.d Laddie succeeding in knocking off the Turk's head, you would not hesitate in ptittmg on your bonnet and couung to Oamaru for our next picnic and joining in our games. Now, deai Dot, tell me honestly, will you come up next time we have a picnic, and tell tbe editor to come, too, you know. Dot. "After the bay is over the D.L.F. work is done." etc. It is raining in torrents to-night, and last night it was blowing something awful. All the stacks were blown about, and must of the grain was lost. It is lucky for you, Dot, to have no crops or laltle to worry about on nights like these. I might get down to Dunedin at the show or social time, and see what is to be seen. O woe is me. "What?" I hear a voice in s-tern wordb sayinj. "Count your words. Lilian'" I ace a line and a small hand pointing to the words, "No letter to contain more than 450 words." Safe so far. Oh, Dot, aren't you frightened of Laddie? I think you had better give us another page for fear he might — oh, you don't know what he might do.— Yours t ru ly, LILIAN 11. Dear Dot.— The winter show and D.L.F festivities are now very close at band, and I ,un looking forward to having a right royal time, for, you know, when we country L F. turn out for t special orcasion we make things go merry. By al l recounts you are going to ha\e "a record attendance this year, so beware, city mmradeg. or we may catch you uiawiws.' I noticed a letter from a chum 111 tlu« week's Witness, living net far from 1 ere, ihoin I am anxious to meet. So now, Lyrist, send me your auto, addressed "St. Elma, Chattcn." and it will not be lor? before we became acquainted. You will leceive my auto, in return. Tins last month has been, something awful for the farming community — rainin" every f^w days. Round here we are cnly half way thiough harvest, aad yet we are i.early into May. I have never known the harvest to be so kie before. Our roads are very much cut up now, with ram and heavy j traffic. Clay roads soon bscome impassable. Well, Eot, I must crawl back into my shell ard wait +il! June. wh;n we will pay headtuarters a visit, and I am sorry to °ay that in a few -nonths I shall write again , anj. then— no moie —Yours truiv, ST. ELMA. Dear Dot,— lt is very hard to get a minute to write to -,ou nov, as the shooting season, as people ca'l it, is cl^se at hand. To-morrow IS iliS itey. it jt^'.i, i had ] very, narrow

escape one day. A number of my mates and myself were sitting in a paddock, when two shooters came sneaking up to us and startled us very much. We all lose, and all of us escaped except two, which were shot dead. I shall not alight in that same place again in a hurry, whether my mates -io so or not. After that narrow escape we all flew away to the lakes. Some of us did not go that far, but went into the rivers, but I think most of us went up to the lakes. When we next settled the same two shooter? weie coming on very fast after us, Lut we did not stop long enough for them to have a ahot at any of us. I wish the shooting season, as they call it, was over instead of just starting, as we do not know which of us is to be shot next. I wonder where the Two Shy Little Ducks are hiding all this time I cannot tarry here too long, or I may bs the next one to bs shot, as there is a buggy load of shooters just away up. They could not have seen me, or they would have had a shot at me most 'ikely. — Yours truly, THE LITTLE GREY DUCK. | Dear Dot, —I cannot resist the temptation of writing to you to-night and taking up some of your valuable space, although the D.L.F. Page of last week had a good number of condensed letters in it. Unlike some LF , I like writing ; but my time is so taken up with my studies that I have very little chance to write". I have been watching the Witness illustrations for the last month to see 'the D.L.F. group ; but so far it has not put in an appearance. I am very sorry to see so many of your writers retiring, but it appears Jhere are always plenty to filL their places. I* suppose you "are tired of hearing complaints about the weather, so I shall not pass any remarks, as I am afraid they would not be very favourable ones. Not long ago my cousins, my sister, and I went for a picnic. We left home at 10 o'clock, and reached our destination at half-past. On one side of our chosen spot was a hill covered with bushes; on the other side, winding in and out among trees and buahes, was a beautiful river, which -was sparkling in the sunshine As I was wandering about I came upon a lovely maulpnhair fern, which I immediately seized and carried off to show my mates. At 12 o'clock we gathered sticks and made a fire to boil the billy (I mean the water) for tea. After lunch we waded in the water to our heart's content. Then my cousin proposed following a road for a time; so we started; but I nevex could walk with my bare feet, so I put on my stockings and boots, and in doing so lost sight of my companions. So far as I could see the road was straight, so I began to run, in hope of overtaking them; but, alas for me. I came to where two loads branched off in different directions, so I took on«, in the hope of reaching them; but. it wa3 all in vain. At last I became so tired that I sank down under a tree to rest; and I soon went to sleep. Some time afterwards I was roused by hearng shouts, and there, far up the hillside, were my mates. With a, great deal of difficulty I managed to reach them, and then < we started for home, as it was getting late. We arrived just in time for tea, very tired, but very happy. — Yours truly, CLEMENTINE. Dear Dot,— l have still nine months left in which to pen those two "wee" words. No one outside the pale of D.L.F.-dom can know how much they mean to us D.L.F. I do believe that brother of mine is trying to get rid of his nose bit by bit: football again. Dear me, I thought I had cured him, too. I have been s-inging "A little bit off the top for me" to him every chance I got. It's the new cure I'm trying on him. What frightful weather for harvest. We have got all our grain in, and some of cur neighbours are just as lucky, but there is a great deal out yet. Wasn't that San Francisco earthquake a pitiful affair? We who are cosy in our warm beds at night do not know half the sufferings of the people in the doomed city. Dear Dot, our shuni and comrade Gerome has met with a sad niisforiuno in losing her father. He died very suddenly. Just a short time ago Gerome also lost her mother, and she is now alone. I am sure all D L.F. who know Gerome, «nd also those who have not that pleasuie, will join with us in extending heartfelt sympathy towards her in her great sorrow. Here is a sad case, is it not, Dot? We have a Persian cat here just now. It does not belong to us. but it i 3 not possessed of a. settled home at present, as it is doing a bit ot travelling, like its mistress. It is a beauty, with long, very fine, black, silky fur, j large paws, and saucer-like eyes, small ears, and a long, very bushy tail. It will be nearly t\i ice the size of an ordinary cat when fully grown. You will conclude from this that I am a, lovsr of cat^. It 13 true. — Yours truly, CAMELLIA 11. fl am indeed sorry for Gerome in her double ' bereavement, Camellia. It is bad enough to ' lo=e one parent without being left an orphan. , I hope she has kind friends who will do then best to console her m her bereavement. — DOT ] , Dear Dot. — It is with great regret I write ' these few lines to you; iv fact, I would sooner never have written again than be the bearer 1 ot' such sad .news. It is that our late friend and comrade Fairy Bell has left us for the ' "Better Land." To know her was to love her, and though I was only acquainted with her for the last eight months, I miss her very much; ' indeed. 1 cuu haidly realise even yet that I ! shall never see her again in this world. Being I quiet by natuie, and only resident here for about eight month 0 , she was not so well • known in this district as would otherwise have been the case, but I am sure she will be ' greatly mourned by her Lumsden friends, where her parents for so many years resided. Poor g»il, she went to sleep never to wake again or earth at about 7 o'clock on the iu°rht of April 10 From the time she first took ill till Ihe end came was about two months, | and the last five weeks she was in a private , hospital in •Invercargill. There she under- ! went three operations, but the last was too much for hey. Though suffering great pain all the time, she was ever patient and cheerful, and beside her was placed one white rose, a fitting emblem of her short life of 18 summers I am sure all D L.F. will join with me 111 j expressing my deepest t-ympathy with her sor- ' rowing paieuts, brothers, and sisters in their sad bereavement. Autumn is now past, and soon we shall be having frost and snow again, but summer has been more like winter this year, with its cold rain and hail showers. What Christmas weather we had! But we were fortunate in having good Easter weather. ( At the regatta I met a great number of , D.L.F., among them being Lady Stair, who j was with me all day. She is a regular D.L.F. enthusiast, and seemed a very nice girl. There was a farewell social here the other week to the school teacher, but I did not go. What ai< important page Dot's is now but instead of being for little folk I am afraid it is moie for the big ones. Well, Dot, "time and tide wait for no man," and each year we grow older, | end I, for another, mu«t, with the deepest legret, sever my connection with the page. So. Dot, I will say good-bye to one and all. With beat \vi=hes for the success of the page, I am once more — Yours truiv, HYACINTH. [Hyacinth's letter is a sad one altogether, as not only does she tell us of the lamented death of a comrade, but she also announces her retirement from the page. Poor Fairy Bell, how she must have suffered. My heart goes, out in sympathy to her bereave^ jyuaflig

and family, and I am sure L.F. will all join me in offering them our sincerest commiseration for the great affliction they have been called upon to bear. Good-bye, Hyaciiith, and may your career be a happy and prosperous one. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I did not go to the Oamaru j D.L.F. picnic on Easter Monday, but my sister, Giulia's Niece, went, and enjoyed herself very much. I hope to get to the next one, as Giulia proposes making the Easter picnic an annual one if the D.L.F. are willing. She asked me to mention it, and hopes others will fall in with the idea. I was dpwn at Ngapara to-day with two other boys, and we bad some good fun at the flour mill. I then came over to my grandfather's place, and I am staving till to-morrow. I have great fun when I am here, but I have to behave myself, as my auntie has a big whip, and she is a good runner, and can also climb a tree pretty quick, so there is not much chance of escape. One .day she chased me up a tree, and when she was about half-way up I started to shake the tree, and she got giddy, and could neither get up nor down. Oh. Dot, it was ' amusing. She said if I stopped shaking the j tree she would let me off, so, you sec, I got out of a hiding that time, and I shall know I what to do again. Some of the girls were I teasing me going home from school one night, j and I caught one of them and blackened her 1 face. I live close to the railway station now, and I like it all right. The harvest is nearly ' over here now, and I suppose the weekly dances will soon start. As the hail is just [ beside our place, I shall be able to go some- j times, but I am rather young- to learn dancing yet. The Technical School gives lessons on dressmaking every Friday in the hall. Some 40 ladies attend the classes, about a : dozen D.L F girls being amongst them.— Yours truly, MASTER ALIX. , Dear Dot,— We are almost into winter now. ' aren't we, Dot? But I am not sorry, as I shall have good fun with the rabbits and hares. \ I was out the other day, and I got nine rab- { bits and three hares. That was not bad, was ' it ? I have left schol now, but school days j are the best, are they not, dear Dot? I was down at Middlemarch on Easter Monday, and saw a good number of D.L.F. I did not go . to the D.L.F picnic because I did not know any of the L.F. there, but I daresay if I had , gene I should have been made welcome. Have | you have seen a rabbit or a hare, Dot ? I don't ' expect yon have, but, of course, if you have \ «*ver been in the country you will have seen ' them, because all there is to see is tussocks J and rabbits and hares. I must close. — Yours truly, DICK'S MATE. j [Dick's mate must surely think town people , are shut in by four high walls. Why, of | course I have seen rabbits and hares, and j ferrets and weasels too. Indeed, you need not : go very far from the town belt to see plenty of rabbits, and hares may be seen at Forbury , Park.— DOT.j i Dear Dot, — Since I last wrote to you I j have had my arm broken, and it was very r-ainful for a while. I went cut one night j for a ride, and when I »ot on its back the horse got frightened. He started to turn round, and I fell off over his hip. He then trotted away to the gate, and looked around to see what was the matter. On Easter Monday I went to the Mackenzie Country agricultural show, and I spent a very njoyable day. The horses wert very pretty, especially the I ladies' hacks. The produce was very good, and our dog got second prize. I have four- i miles tc walk io school, but my mate has j si.c and a-half. She rides to school on a little '• bay mare. We have got all out crop cutSsknd | stacked, and some of it is threshed. A very j successful bazaar was held for the Volunteers, who camped here for a while. I have 25 hens and-'--eight ducks, but they are not j laying yet. I set a little white hen on 10 ducks' eggs, and she hatched nine of them. ! That was not bad, was it, Dot? But one had 1 a twisted neck, and it died. The hen lost two, and other two got cold in their eyes And died. I had only four left, and I sold a grey drake. I have two ducks and another drake left. We bought four more older ducks and a drake, and when I let them get into , the creek it is a tiouble to get them home again. I have two dogs that will not do what they are told. My other dog is a litt'e puppy, and if I run out to its kennel it will bark and chase me.— Yours truly, BUTTERCUP. Dear Dot.— Kissan and I were at the Oamaru L.F picnic, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but we left before the picnic was half over, 33 Kissan had a friend to meet at the spoits. We were there a whole hour before we found him, however, and, my word, we were wild at him for not bein» at the gate to meet us. j I mus' tell you about a "spongecake" Kissan ' b«<ked. It was a daisy 1' was made of 211' corn flour, obout the same of sugai, just ' a htt't! over Jib eggs, and a teaspoonful of , salt. I think that must have been the recipe . for it or something like it at all events, j She stirred it for nearly an hour, then put | it in tbe oven; and laugh! I don't think I ever laushed so much lr all my days as I did when the cake ■a.me out of the oven, for it was as solid ao a rock. A3 I love a little quiet fun, I asked her friend to come , and ask for all the corks she could find. She I got him about 20, and then said she was i sorry she- conld not find more. By this time he had a siring of corks tied round him, knd th? cake in his hand. She turned round with a puzzled look, and asked what he meant. He said he wa3 going past a creek, and was | afraid he mic;ht fall in and never rise again. 1 S i that ended her first prize cake, for she , said she would not have any more larks played en her She asserts that I left the oven door open nil I heard her coming. My wold. Dot. I had bo idea the L.F weie so nice. Every | one you m?et =eems so happy and kindhearted. Since I last wrote we have had the mill and all the men. I am g!ad that much 1 is done and over, its it keeps one on the move Dear Dot, did you ever milk cows? I don't suppose you did. Well. I milk 3even — nisi a nice number,— and I love cows.— Yours tiuly, FISHY ELBOWS. Dear Dot,— The weather at Easter was not so bad after all. I went to the L.F. picnic, but the L.F. didn't seem to be in any hurry to turn up. so I returned home. I think lLat when the L.F. have reached letinng age they should be allowed to see Dot, What do you tay to that suggestion, Dot? I always enjoy the stones in Special Subject Week, and am very glad to see that one is to be held shortly. It is a good while since a D.L.F. group was in the Witness. As often as I like to watch I never pee Dot's own face among those of her L.F. The winter show will soon take place now, and I suppose all L. F who are able will be going to towa to admire the exhibits. "We have got a playshe* built at school now, and I daresay it will *be of benefit to us in the winter, if not just now. —Yours truly, CATLINS. Dear Dot, — I live on the Windsor Park settlement, situated about 12 miles from Oamaiu. Mother and Fishy Elbows are up at Tokarahi just now, so Kissan and I have the house to ourselves. We have just got all the boys +heir dinner and sent them away to set their traps. I have six brothers and three sisters. My word, we make a plum pudding look very small when we are done with it. I used to live at Oatlins., but it was a very wet ui&ce. Dai^ x may tell gou, tfeat Eoaaftn

7 said tliat you were a shipmate i my poor old grandfather's. She said you and you* brother and sister all came out together, bu( I she won't tell me who you are, so I shall hay« to bp. l ike the rest of the D.L.F. There was a wedding up here a week ago, and we are ail waiting with tin cans for them when they * come beck. Dear Dot, if this writing is not neat you will have to excuse it, as I have: only one hand, aud that is the left one. I was borii without my right hand, but I don'tf think I miss it very much, as I am usect to it. I will be 11 next birthday. Kissan is frying pancakes, and I am ready to eat som« of them. — Yours truly, LADY HOPPER. [Your writing is very good indeed consider* ing the fact that it was written with the left hand, Lady Hopper. It is surprising how we can adapt ourselves to circumstances. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have been at my grandmother's for my holidays, and I have a good time.) ■when I am there. .My mother says my grancfc father spoils me. On Easter Monday I went I a holiday with my little brother Sam and ' wether and father to Shag Point, and we dicl I enjoy ourselves. Our friends met us at the , station, and drove us home, and then to the coal mine und we went to the beach in the afternoon. , We saw «. dead penguin, and we I gathered a lot of nice white shells and stone? | ar.d brought them to town, and I put them in ,my mother's flower-pots. At Shag Point they 1 had three little Shetland ponies. One of them ( is called Punch, and Sam and I had a ride i and got our photo taken on it. Next time wer ,' go they axe going to give us a drive in the buggy with them. — Yours truly, ST. FILLEUL. ! Dear Dot,- -I have uten a silent member for ! nine months, and West Coaoter is always want- , :))g to know if I am going to write again, for 1 . ; I have only six months more to write to the ' ciaar t'd page. It seems incredible to realise how the tinw does fly, for though I am. near ! the. retiring oge I do not feel like that age ! by a good few years. I remember being told j once by a ijirl that she longed to be grown up, I but there is nothing like being young, is there, Dot? "West Coaster has got. a copy of the magazine Hope. It is very good for a start, ; nnd no doubt they will get a good sale for it , if the present one is a sample of what they j arc to be, but they must try to get hold of I fome advertisements to fill up a few pages, ' It would help to reduce expenses, and make it I ur-to-date like other magazines. So you aie> J dcing al 1 you can to shorten the letters, and f it is no wondci'f with such a lot of new D.L.P , I within the iast few months. On the West ! Coast and round about here the children seem , to have gone "Dot mad," as I have heard it I called. When. I started to write three yefis j Ego D.L.F. on the West Coast were rather ! scaree — ftw and far between ; but nowadays i hey have started up in all directions. The , Ahaura D.L.F. have had three picnics, so they 1 v.ill be thinking they are of some consequence. On April 25 the Black Family gave a- concert j iv Ahaura, aud two of my sisters, my brother. I s>nd yours truly were present. It was a- fine I night, and the hall was crowded. A good many of the D.L.F. were there, and they, s-poke to Angelesea, but I ./as too bashful to go forward. They are a-11 very good musi* sians, and it was well worth going a good distance to hear them. We are experiencing very wet and windy weather, especially the last few days, for wind ia a thing that we know very little about." About ,40' pine trees have , been blown down, and others are io be seen ' j with the tops and branches out of them. In. j our orchard seme nice little apple trees- are I having rather a hard time of it between pine I trees blowing on them and the wind. In one orchard it is marvellous how the pines are ljing between the apple trees. It is busy rainj ing at present, . and everything is very wet.I The river is getting high, for we can see it | from our house. II is "getting rather a near I companion for our liking, especially as it is 1 never content with the bed it has. In flood . it gets very high, and is very swift. West Coaster is getting in the cows, so I shall have to scamper, for it is going to bs dark soon 1 to-night. — Yours truly, 1 GREY VALLEY. 1 ! Dear Dot,— l went out to Winchester to ths butchers' picnic about a fortnight -ago, and I as it was a fine day I enjoyed myself iznI mensely. We left home at 9.30 and arrived ,at our destination at 10 o'clock. We had some 1 lunch, and. then had games. A few friends and myself went away and gathered ferns, and came back just in time for tea. ; They talk about it being a good picnic: it I was only a spot on the one held at Middlemarch ?t New Year time. Have you forgotten 1 it, Indian Chief I was very sorry not beint? t in Otago Central for the last picnic, but I | hope it will not be the last picnic you will have up your way. About two weeks' ago the Invercargill footballers paid a visit to Timaru. They pla3-ed a match here, but were beaten' 1 good enough for them. I bet they will rot j come back to Timaru again. To-night ths j Marine Baud, or the "Dead Marines/ as they ' are called, is going 1c play on Alexandra square. I am going just for fun, because I want to get a bit of fresh air Last Tuesday night a social was held in the Assembly I Rooms in aid of the Catholic Church. Of ' course 1 was there. It would not be me unI iess I wa? up to some mischief I got I home at 1.30 and up again at 6 o'clock to start md "graft." I was very tirad 1 can tell you, after dancing all night. To-morrow njght the (rarrison Band is going to open the Skating Rink. Herr Paul, the conductor, is going I away for a holiday on Monday We had a big 1 fire here not long ago, wheu three children , were nearly burnt to death.— Yours truly. • MAID OF HONOUR. Dear Dot — Winter has now set in. To-day lit is cold, wet. and windy Nuggety Bob has returned from her trip, and we arc all very p!ea=ed to see hei looking so well. We hav--» I harl a visit from Queer Fellow, also Angelesoa, who was here with h?r parents, who gave a> musical entertainment, which was well appreciated, especially by D.L F., who were there in great numbers. During the ''nterval we had a short D.L F. chat with her. Was not that a had explosion at Kuinara recently. We all feel very eorry for the bereaved relatives. Our churrii has been painted inside aj:d out, and it looks very pretty. I am returning to school tn Monday, after being at hfme for some time. We have a new schoolmaster, but I have not met him yet. Our flower garden ia looking very wintrified, only a few flowers being out. There has bren a great soarcitv of fruit this year.— Yours truly, ELSINORE. Dear Dot, —Since last writ : ng we have held a D.L F. picu'c, which I attended, and enjoye«2 myself, but I need not describe it, as come other D.L.F. has done that already. The mornings sure very col<3 now, especia-lly- wk«ja. you have to get up early. Is not winter showing up soon this year? I have just been talking to Little Nell and Jeannie Dear, at the back fence, which separates our place from th«'school. The place is very quiet just now, a.<J the smaller ones are at °cbool, and I am by myaelf. I think writing is a good past* t'me when cne is lonely. Last evening Is,. D.L.F., including myself, had the pleasurtfof having a short chat with Angelesea. I dii. not think the chat long enough, so went ta the _ station this morning, where I had quit*' / a nice little chat with her. We D.L.F. wera slow about autos, for we completely forgot 1q flhfaia hers, but ti ah* senda wa £X X will

— The lull before the storm isn't necesarily the honeymoon. — Some men have careers like a golf ball: they are helped out of one hole >yib;- to g^t into another

— Councilman: "I've como to s^y°. sir, if you will subscribe anything to the tn\%n ctmotery." Old Resident : " (Joel graci'Vus' I'vo already subscribed three

s^-nd her ours, addressing heis to me, care of Is'apol-eon Butchery, Ahaura In company ■With La\endpr, on April ]7 I went to Greynnouth. The day was wet, acd the tram was delayed until 7 30—three and a-ha'f hours past the ordinary time. We arrived home at 9.30. not a bit pleased with our trip, for there was no enjoyment in consequence of the rain. Has r.ot the San Francisco earthquake baen dreadful and destructive, many poor people losing the.r homes by the quake c-r by fire. We New Zea'anders ought to bo thankful that it was not here instead of there, but it is a dreadful thing to happen at any time.—Yours truly. BIDDY O'TOOLE. [The flower is Cc\dahs lute?..—DOT.] LETTERS IN BRIEF. Awkvtasd Meg thinks it is a good job the harvest will scon be over. "My auntie lives not very far frcoi our pla,ce, and we often go to see her. There is a bush near oui house, and I often go and get brambles. One day when I was m the bash I came upon -nich a pietty fern. I took it home and pressed its leaves m a book, and afterwards pasted it ou to cardboard. ' Ginine leminds me that Thursday last was the anniversary o-' Little F.irt's death. S!ie further sends the following lines in her memory Gone from this wcrld, how sad y I m^s her; Lovingly, dear Annie, thy memory 1.l keep, Xever while life lasts fhall I forget you , Dear to my heart is the p!?.ce -where you sleep. Lily of tjse "Valley had her cousin up staying with her at Easter, and she .iked her very much indeed. "My father hi>s been reading me some of Dot's little folk's letters, f.nd I am so interested in them that I thought I would like to writo to-you. I live (it the foot of the Rimutaka incline. I don't like living here at ail. bacauss the placa is 30 windy and smoky. We have a black cat named Pice. and we have had her seven years. It has been lcugli weather here lately. My mother has a beautiful garden. I have v. brother ramed Walter who has ji'st beguu school " Smoke has a nice drawing bcok at school, and he is going to bring it heme for his mother tc see v. "I have three rmles to walk to school. I have a nice little dog which I pm very fond of. I often take her cit rabbit.rg, but sometimes I don't get any rabbits at all. ' ; Tibby M'Tavish went to the school picmc at Ratanui, and spent a m?st enjoyable time. " I did not go to the D.L.F. picnic at Ratanui, bat I beheve there were about ten At it. ' White Violet has two sisters and four hi other". "' We have had holidays, as our schoolmaster is getting married." We all turned out to tin-can him, and we were regaled with lollies and cakes. I do not like going to school, as it is very haid work." AUTOS. Cosy is willing to exchange post-cards with anyoi.e who wishes to do so. enclosing ?ddresses. Address Cosy, D.L.F., Kaka Point, Part Moiyneux. ilaid of H:nour is willing to exchange autos with any D.L.F. Address Maid of Honour, c/o Club Hotel, Tirnaru, South Canterbury 1 Elsinoie unites LF. to txchange autos with her. Address. E sinore, D.L.F P.O. Ahaara, W.C. Lady of Hoit Dere is willing to exchange autos with any L.F. Address: PO. Purekireki. via Owaka. Clementine asks Vance to escharge autos. Acdres^s: C/o Mrs J. Lewis, We=ton. j Corporal 111 will e:;:liange rutos and pos.cards with pr.yoi.s in the colony. Adcuess. A. Rusbatcfy Mail Office, Oamaru. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Gitjlia.—His address is Puerua. DL.F. BADGES. Badges sent Orawia Larrikin. THE SWOOP OF THE EAGLES. (Reported invasion of D.L F.-la.id by A the forces of Quean Emmehne.) Dot's little folk, prithee beware 'Tis rumoured that Eaimehne's band, For genius quick-witted and rare Is spying out D.L.F.-land. Be strongs bs united and brave, Your standard lift higher on the bie^ze, 'Tis a pathway to honour they pave, This force of the glorious three C's. Our poetess Jessica's bound. They've captured dear Roby. and beast Of capturing eminent ground On the D L.F's beautiful coast. Tbty pick cut our choicest and boat, Queeii Emnie'iiie's 01 tiers pie the=e, "<Io cormier their cfllceis. lc-it 'lhe> bafcle my I'oVt, tlnee C- " And they'll do it, with V;>l at the r head; Alrepdy they'ie boasting they've got A right to enslave u=, whilst Ted Has designs (I feei sure) upon Dot. And if they but capture our Qu-3en Wo will ba\e to capitulate, and (There-? nothing betwixt and between) Join Emmeluie'a glorious band. So, D L.F., prithee b^are. Be brave, lift your standard on Ij.gh (The higher the better), and dare Queen Emniehne's band to comr mj.'h. BLONDEL. T D.A. AND TANGLES. Life hath recompenses svveel— Like a cloud its wrangle c — Lined with sihar fo'rls couiplfto, T D. A and Tangle= Annl, w.th its surly rain. The misty air bespangle" But its storm is lebbid of pa.n— T D. A. iiid Tangle =. Care hath cluinis upon the breast; Kiercp at tiaies they v;ra''«'e. Then it is leve se^nuJi b3sl — T D. A. »nd Tangle*. F> rtuue's fiowns are a!wa\s rude, ft for all if= angles. Fortune had kind, tender moods — T D. A. -and Tangles. Cd c balov.' and clouds above, What aie all their fang:"c«, In the sunny light of love — T. D A. and fanalcs? BLONDEL. li.v2rca,gi]l. April, 1908.