LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 82

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

UetU:— TVt writ* for th« benefit ef others, act for ourselves.

(V* N« letter te contain more than 45ft words.

Dear Dot and Little Folk,— You have not l.card from mo for n«*arly four years, but I hope some of you will remember me, as I have always remembered you. I cannot express the sorrow I feel at tho losa of our Jjest and kindest of friends, the editor and Dot. No band of little folk ever had a wiser or better ruler, and though the Master has seen At to take him to the Better Land, he will always be in our thoughts as a true Christian gentleman and wo'l-v.iaher of all little folk. I feel a3 though I had lost a I'eisonal friend, but I never had the pleabiire of my more fortunate South Island friends of feeing or knowing cur Dot. I very sinceiely wish cur new Dot every good wish, and sfter leading her very kind letter feel sure we- will all welcome, her as Awkwaid Ned has done. So, little folk, we still have Queen Dot. It is a beautiful spring Sunday. I hope you are all cnjoyuig the same beautiful weather, little folk. I must foon get ready for church. I always like Sunday to bo fine and peaceful, aa I am inside most of the week. I think the springtime the best of the year; everything is co green and fresh, end makes one glad to he up and doing. I simply can't help getting up at 6 o'clock to play tenni3. I suppose most little folk play that grand game. It is such splendid exercise, is xt not? I iiope Dot will forgive me for writing this now, but I wished to let you all know ho»v I feel with you, and to ask you to club together and keep the Little Folk's corner as ou" dear editor would like to see it. I still correspond with two Little Folk, so I hear most of the interesting news. Wishing Dot

evary success, I will say au revoir ti O. W. W. at Chrisi uias,— Yours truly, A. M. W.

[Dear A. M. W.. you and many others of tho Little Folk have been so kind and cheering in the friendly messages that you have sent to me, that I feel truly grateful to all of you. It is such a pleasant thought that we "are all in sympathy with one another, even though we are wide apart.— DOT.]

Deai Dot. — Spring has come, and Nature is again vl«th«d vi luxuriant g.i«en Hkiawnt.

The <3«ep green of the trees and hedges, combined with the orange hu«s of the gorsc, tend to make a pleasant eight for the eye to rest upon. The birds* too, seem to be lejoicing over the coming of spring, for they le&ume their songs with renewed ardour, and tiny snow-white lambs may be- seen frolicking in tha mecdows. We have had a very mild winter here, but I think a. heavy fall of snow would have been of more benefit to the farmers. Although many nonths hare elapsed since I last wrote, it is not through decreased interest in the page, and 1 I still look forward to paper day. What a number of old-esteemed writers have retired; ft by, it is quh-e usual to see two or three retiring letters in one week. The l»st S. S. W. was a bril'iant success, and Jessica could scarcely have chosea three more suitable subjects to construct a story on. Blond-el's pen sketch was a very good idea, but as I am. not acquainted with any of the prominent Dunedin writers I won't attempt to guess the original of the sketch. SpringvaJe is as* quiet as ever, and the advent of the railway into this part of the district has quite lost its novelty. Since writing the above, I have read the announcement oi&the death of our beloved Dot and editor. The curtain which has for so long guarded his secret has been drawn aside, and Dot is revealed to us in his true identity. Ah, we little knew how dear he had become to our hearts till Death took him from us, and we Tea'issd ♦hat we were indeed separated from our beloved Dot, to meet no more till we all stand before the Great White Throne. Although personally unacquainted with the majority of them, Doi seemed to exercise a fascination over the Little Folk, probably swing to the kind, thoughtful interest he took in their affairs, and the cheerful manner in which ho encouraged their plans and aspirations. I had almost decided to relinquish all intene3t in the pags sooner than accept a new Quean in the place of our departed friend, but few could read her kind letter without resolving to remain a Little Folk and learn to love our new Dot as we did her predecessor, — Yours truly, LEILA. Dear Dot, — I have not. written to the page for a 'ong time. Not long ago Greta was down staving with Var.da for a while, and many nights they came to see us, and we enjoyed the evenings very much indeed. When she went homo we rnisced her very HiUch, as she was so ■amusing. There is a large school here for such a small place. There are over 50 children going to school. We have some different teachers at the school this year, so thai, wo havo not a very good chance of getting through ihe examination. I am in ihe Fifth Standard at school with my brother, The King of tho Cannibal I<oes, and, about eight others. We have been having beautiful weather lately. Nearly all our sheep have lambed now. I have a gcod few aut^s now, and so has my brother. Most of the farmers about are cowing their crops of wheat, oats, or anything elee they need. There is a flaxinill here, and the steamer C'yde comes sometimes with coal or timber, or it takes grain, fibre, or anything eke that is to be shipped away. My brolh-ar baa not be^n very well at .'ll to-night, but I think he will be better to-morrow, — Yours tiuly, ' DANDELION. Dear Dot. — I ' would like to beccine a n-embor of Ihe D.L.F. Club under the norn da plume of Aroha Nui. Now, I will tell jou about my tour to Invercagill with tho Maori Concert Company. Wo are trying to raise funds to build a Maori Mission Hall here. We have not met with much success as . T et, but we hope to in ;he future. We have Somebody's Sailor Boy and Mystery Island 1 in <:ur company. Somebody's Sailor Boy end myself cycled to Te' Tv» about a week ago and had a jolly time. The only thing that put a damper on the trip was '.hat, K9 we were passing through Orepuki, I managed :o puncture my tyre, and of course we had to lese an hour to repair the damage. After the puncture was fixed we left Orepuki and got as far as- Pahia, when the patch came off. and I rode the bike home on the rims. And it was such a lide too! Talk about bumps. I don't know which got tho biggest shake up, the bike or myself. Well, dear Dot, I will have to conclude my first letter to tho page with best respect to all the Little Folk and yourself, — Yours truly, AROHA NUI.

[What does your Maori name mean, Aroha Nui? It has ouch a musical sound that I cannot help wondering what its meaning is Yes, certainly you may becoma one of our band ; it goea on increasing, and the old members are alwax* glad to welcome the nsw.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — Up here all the irtut trees are cut in blcoin, and many -of the paddoc'ua which have cvops in them are nice and green Many of (lie farmers burn all the tuasocks off their paddocks so that the irass will spring up nice and green for iheir sheen. W« havo not hsd cur examination yet, but it wMI 'j-s s^on. Wo hn,ve not had much, rain for a Ion? tun-? We did not have a very cold winter,— Yours truly,

SXIDER.

[I cannoO put yciu- name on tho roll r.s Snider until I know yom- addrcsc ; will you send it to me, *yr remember to put it next time you writ;? — DOT.J

Dear D-4, — It is a long while since I wrote t-o fie pags. The K. races are just C'Vcr, an:l in the Steeplechase one hcrse struck a log fence and broke his bind leg, and another horf-o fe'l and his rider jusu escaped being badly hurt. It is very dry weather up hero, but tlio crops are looking well. The flowor and fruit gardens ere looking very pretty, as the fruit trees are out in blossom and cowslips nxii primroses and many other spiing flowers are out. It has been a. very good lambing season up here, as thc-ie has be?n no suow. I was at th<i Jockey Club ball and had a very good time. I saw a good many D.L.F. at the ball.— Yours truly. BUCCLEUGH.

[Here ara two little folk frcnt the same place wanting to change their noms de plume, ond both forgetting to send their names and addresses to me! I think a wave of infection must ha\e swept over Uie township they live in — and perhaps further, for vhey are not the only forgetful Little Folk this week. But you will remember next time, won't you? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, Or> lietali of soms ClrUlclinrcl D.L.F., I vrite to say how terry we are for the great lose tho D.L F. have sustained owing to the death of the late editor of the Otago Witness. With heartfelt sympathy for all vhose belonging to him arid to D.L.F.— We are vouru truly, ARIZONA, AVON WILLOWS, THE CHRISTCHURCH MAIDEN, AVOXIA, & GLBNFERRIE.

Dear Dot, — I now take up my pen to write to the same old D.L.F. Page, yet not the same. I was indeed sorry to bear of the death of our late Dot^ and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the friends and relatives of our late beloved Dot and editor. And to you, our new Dot, please allow me to extend a hearty welcome. Ido sincerely hope and tiust that our D.L.F. Page will, under your Suidwice sad sufiwvisioflj flourish in the

coming years m ii has done, all will agree* ir the past under our dear Dot that is .no jnore. I only saw-~Mr F«nwick once; that was at the Invereargill winter show, and I still remember his smiling faoe, aa ho talked with one and another of the D.L.F. present. We have bee? enjoying lovely weather her* lately. W« nave our garden all in now. Everybody is planting potatoes round here. One farmer not far from here has 25 acres iii potatoes. We also have otir oats in; most of ih.3 farmers have their readr, and a good many have sown too. The birds seam to be very plentiful this year and will I «m afraid, do great damage to the crops; but I fchmk the rabbits are soarcex than they usually are at this time. A week ago a sawmill waa burnt down in this district. Much of the machinery was so badly damaged! that it will be no longer of use. . There are also a number of hands thrown out of employment. Dear Dot, I notice the clematis is in flower already. I saw some as I came home one day last week — the first I hay© seen this year In* » week or two there will be plenty out, as the weather is co warm;. The sea is very calm just now. and it looks very pretty this morning as the sun sparkles on it ; it quite dazzles one's eyes if one is close to it. But 1 think I like the sea beat in the moonlight, when it is very calm and! smooth, and the mcon is bright. The light of. the moon sparkles on the little ripples, and it looks very pretty. One night I was going along the road close to the beach with: some friends, and we thought we saw something shining in the water, but on ' going closer to examine we found it was the reflection of a particularly bright star in that water, — Yours truly,

MISS MAGDALINK

Dear Dot, — As such I will always think oi you in future, though our l«te dear Dot will never be forgotten by me. I am not needed to express my deep sorrow, aa you will know yourself how all the D.L.F. feel about his death. However, I hope we will make as good friends as in ihe past. — Yours truly, GOLDSPUR.

Dear Dot, — I only met our late Dot once, and never will forgot his kindly smile when I told him I was a D.L.F. He chatted with me awhile, and then he offered W show me through the Witness Office, bat I had not time, so he made me promise (t come again next time I was in Dunedin. I mean to keep that promise, only there will not be our dear old- friend to greet me withi his kindly smile. — Yours truly, FAIRY DENISE.

[Yes, do come. Fairy Denise; you made the promise to him; you will keep it to me, and we shall talk about him together. — DOT.J

Dear Dot, — I thought I would writ* to you to-night, as I have not written to your page for an «ge now. The Black Girl is writing letters, so, you see, I am keeping her company, as the rcat are in bed. Four of us went for a lovely long drive one Sunday,' and although it was cold and windy wo enjoyed ourselves very much. The Black Girl kept us pretty jolly, so we did n«t notice the cold. I was at a concert the other night, along with my mate, and it was very good. There is a dance on to-night, but we did not go. The wind is blowing a hurricane, and it is cold enough to freesft you. It is very cold about N<»«eby in the winter, as it is just at the foot of the mountains. Dear Dot, one fine Sunday) morning a party consisting of two young 'adies and two men took a journey co the top of Mount Ida. Just as they -got to the top he rain came pouring down, and Miss J. and Miss K. had <rilk dresses on. They turned back pretty quickly, and th« men gave them their coats. They reached home drenched through, and I tell you diry clothes did them no harm. That was their last trip lo Mount Ida. — Yours truly, FAIR HAIR.

Dear Dot. — Just a few words io let you know that I aro still alive and in the world. We are having lovely weather. Spring has come and a lot of the flowers arc opening, such as daffodils, crocuses, primroses, daibiea and pansies. The garden does look very pretty just now. We have got almost all out garden dug. - My father has got » lot of lambs. We have had our examination a while ago, and I am glad to be able to tell you I passed.— Yours truly, A TELESCOPE.

Dear Dot, — As my two sisters, Mifanwy and Sunbeam, have joined your page, I havo made up my mind to do the same. I ros* the D.L.F. Page and find it interesting. In addition to my sister being a poetess, we can till draw. My sister bunbean* is sanding you some drawings in the came envelops with my letter. — Yours truly, MOTHER'S BOY.

[Please tel Sunbeam that I received tha drawings safely, and was very pleased with, them. I see bhe does use coloured crayons; the next step for her will be to use watercolours. Ido not know how old she ia; is she older or .younger than you?— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — It was with deep feelings, of sorrow and regret that we received the> news of our late Dot's death. We w-ere ' both struck with a pang of grief when wa read of our dear Queen's, or rather King's-, death. Although very sorry, still we try to remember that ho will now be very happy ia that invisible world with his Maker. It is no uae weeping, for we know that God's will must be done. He has gone to do * greater works for his Master, and he shall be rewarded for his goodness to each one of us little folk in giving us direction and instruc-* tion in the bsst ways. We both send ourdeepest sympathy to all his friends and relatives in their sad bereavement. We always found Dot a good friend, and during our connection with Ihe page, he has proved a 'oving and gentle compamou, full of tenderness, kindness, and sympathy, sharing ir* our joys ond sorrows, and possessed of every virtue that helps to rn?ke a good man's character. We sincerely trust that cur new Dot wil' do ac good -a.3 cur late Dot, and that she will give us instruction and keep us lr.taresfed in <ho page. With love and a happy welcome to our new Queen, and doe-pest sympathy to all friends of the late Dot — Yours truly,

ZEPHYR and URSULA.

Dear Dot. — It £3 with a sad -m--l tea??i.eart that 1 take up my pen to write these few lines saying how sorry I am to hear of the death ol the late Dot. When I read about Via a»ath in the Witness, I could hardly telieve my eyes, but there it was all "too '<rue, and I am sure all the D.L.F., will join taid sympathise with me for the loss of our 7eloved editor, end I hope that the letters 8f the iitt'o folk will continue and prosper as they have been doing all along. Dear Dot, we are having 'ovely weather here just row and iveryone is getting their garden seeds in; some people have them all in already, and their gardens are looking very;* nice with all the seeds up. The flower gardens look far nicer than the vegetable ones, as they havo now got so many different flowers out in bloom. "We shall soon bit having Christmas on us again; how th« time mcStJ X turns no time since ltfl

-OI British birds, the guillemot lays tie — The Bermondsey Board of Guard isui.s, by keeping pigs »nd fowls in the grounds of their workhouse at Ladywell, made a 1 irofit of £387 18s 5d in 12 months. '

— The people of the United States are the greatest readers <.? fiction. Their pubbc libraries contain 15,4100,000 volumes, ajstl 80 per cent, of all ihe volumes lent out are fittiou.

Christinas, but I suppose as we grow older tho time goes lnors quickly. — Yours truly, ROSABELLE.

Dear Dor. — I was indeed sorry to lsarn cf the C-e^fb jf cur late baioved Bat and editir. ai.d ttill more sorry not to have seen him -n person. I havo no dciibt that all D.L.F., 1 bcth old ar.cl young, will Ic.ig levsrenca and ! 1 aspect his memory, while they v.-frl yet ever [ miss him, iiis ch-eery way pad kinJ, benero!e'it face. The sea Jess we have sustained vill sesni fcr a long time to cas' a shado-v over U3 all ; we shall long in vain for '"the tcuch of that vanished hand and thp soiijid of the voi?e that is -.ulh" A missu.i h^i lately been held here, but I cnly attended it ence , (tear Sister Olive held a piayr mer;ng for ladies after the mission meeting fc that night wa^ over, and she spoke and sang \ery nice-lv. We have had splendid weather here latsiy, real spring; the little pmk apple blotscni' are out on jar Irenes, and the birds £.nd ijccs tic singing merrily Spring seems to ir.ake a'l of us happy and fills us with a wistfui longing to see ths world happier a-.id free- {toiu pain. I went to 'ietr iho Salvation Lc.sscs' Band when it visrted Duj:eclin, and I think thr young women p'.aysd a-;d e.ui" very nicely. The Salvation Aimy aoes a lot of good in the world, dees- it not, Dot? I must now close, dear Dct, with 'ove V yourself, editor, and al! little fo'k, — Ycurs tiuly. MIFA2JTVY. Dp?.>- Dot. —l axa writing to tell you how grieved I was when f read *Le Witness, and sow o! cur dear and kind Dct's death. I send my dc?pest sympathy to hia bereaved 1 datives in their sad trial. What a kind and patient gentleman he has been with us, and how gocd of him to think of 119 little folk m death! How tb? page is growing larger r.nd larger every v»e-ek! We lo?e "cms of ih2 best w'ters thrcugh tha renrmg age, but 'hen they are allowed the privilege of writing for Special Subject. Weak and Old Writers' Wc-ek, and we all look forward to our retned comrades' letters. I was sorry about Daisy Primrose's illc-eas sonio lime ago; I hopo ehe has recovered agnm. AVhat a nice piece cf poetry B!ond-el had in this weak! We aie having splendid spring v.sather. We are into the last month of spring already, and Christmas is not very far off. Oh, doesn't time fly! It f-eenis no time sines list Christmas to me. It is like the saying. "Time and tide wait for no man." I 6sa not think we- will have very much fruit m our orchard ihia year as there is nov?ry much blossom ca the trees, and what there is the birds are picking off. I think th 9 most we will havj will be cherries and pears. Trusting we will by kind and loyal to our new Dct, as we were to our late Dot, — Yours truly, CYMBELINE. Dear Dot.— The Ahaur? D.L.F. will 1)3 puzzling thsir brams to know who A Bachelor is. Perhaps ih/;y will think it is B. J. We ate enjoying beautiful weather lately. Ii is just like Eurnmer weather. I hoard Joan D'Arc hrd a j,ood fall off hei biks Ic-uight ; I hops you did net huii« yourself, cliiun. Litwe Nell ancil Bill Bailey vrere ako cut biking with her, and I believe they h?d a gcod laugh at her. lam very sorry to hear that the dear old editor is. dead. Mis Fenwick has my sincere sympathy in hex sad bereavement. I hope to be able 10 attend the next little folk's picnis in Ahaura. if 1 am here; perhaps I will be out camping I think I will be going to th« Chnstchurch Exhibition. I ani cnxlously wailing to see your letter in tlio Witness, ElsincTe. I always take a great interest in the Litt'e Folk's Page. I pluyad) in a, football match not long ago, and we came off victorious. I believe Ahaura is full of Little Folk. I would very much like to know ■who DaiK Horse is. I have a good idea who it i?. I was very sorry to see in the Witness that Quago has left us. I will have to clr-.se now. With love to all the Ahatira D.L.F. — Youis truly, A BACHELOR. [Theio seems to bs no oxher Bachelor on the roll, so I have let that ncm de plume stand.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — As some time, lias now pasred fcmoe I last wrota to you I hope I may claim a short sr.aco in tho page. I have ofie.i ;jjarie up my mind to write again, and hay«? j written a gccd many letters, which wer-j rhvav-- ported in the fire! Last June 1 , spent a week's holiday in Dunedin. I at-t<-nded tii3 club one night, and made the acquaintatc3 of a gccd many Little Folk I r.lso attended the social, but had to leave CE-rly as the hotel at which w© were staying c!oted at 10 o'clock. I also explored the Miiseum and mat Chlce and Lady Stair. Chios an'\ I went through every psrt o[ it. Dear Dot, did you ever experience the want of water? Up tlna way people have 10 c'.i-i\ c over tbrei miles to the K-.kanui Riv.-r for waic-r. Chlce was home for a day i ! few v asks ago, and she and I went to the river. With a feohng of sorrow I read of our dear o'd editor's death, but my scircrv incre<i£:.l when I -read that hist letter to his Little Folk, and found thai we liad lott our lauch-loTcd, mysterious Dot I little thonght wlisi. I saw him at the s. c:?l for the 1 first time that I had also seen him for the I last time. His relatives have my deepest sympathy in their great loss. — Yours truly, WILFUL MARY. Dar Dot,— Don't you tlauk the page :3 improving every week .' I do. and I hope lo se3 it &1111 improve. Winter has gene, and sprin<_- hss taken its place, and with it coiue all the lovely flowers. The farmers rcu.ul about this district are busy ploughing the ground and getting it ready for the grain. Our school exam, will bo over by the tima tins let*;r is ;n print, and I hope to pa*°. i i<m leaving at the end cf the year anJ hope to go to c scho~,d in DuneJin for a year Theie are many of the school children up here -aymg that they are going to write but 1 do not think many of them ha\e started yet. I havo a little gardsa cf my own, which lcoks very nice on, present w:Ui a!l tile different kiud3 of flowers out in it. The fishing ,«eason ha* opened now, anJ many large hai'is are t;»ke:i. sometirs^s as many as 30 or 40 a, night, — Yours truly, FREESIA. Dear Dot. — It is with great sorrow and regret that I read the farewell letter of Dot. Little did we Little Folk +hink who was passing from amongst us. We hope and trust that there will be another Dot to take up the burden that our late Dot has laid down. What shcil we do if there is no D L.F Page' Our grief is nothing compared with that o£ *Le lela-ives and frieads our derr Dot has 'eft bahincl. Accept our united sympathy for all oui late Dot's friends; all cur family are D.L.F. I see it is time I wrcte to the page again a? a Lilt'e Folk has taken ray noaa de plume. I hope she will change har notr do pluni." or else add a number to it It is tlio fir&t time that any little folk has taken, my norn de plume since I started to write to the page. I have been writing to the page for iour years and have always stuck to the same ncm de plume, so I think I had tha rom de plume first. I think the ithc- Gi>:»y Queen must be a new writer. We had iw winter here to speak of, and r d

cotirse that meant no snowballing or sliding. We are- having some grand weather here at present. I was out taking some snapshots with my little camera last Saturday. I took some snapshots of the smallest pony in tLe district. It is such a diear little thing. I am going for a ride on it soon, so I wi'l give you an account of it in my next lette-", which I Lcpe will not be long. One ol my mates and myself are going for a drive with the pony and gig, and I am going to lake my osmeva with me. The school exa raination is on October 9. The school mistress left here two weeks ago. and has bee.t appointed sole teacher at Kapuka school. She get seme grand presents before she left here. Thav hays a relieving teacher here at piesont, but a permanent teacher has been appointed, ancT" ?he is to arrive here in about two weeks. I have left school 12 months % ago i ow. The gardens are all going ahead in this part of tha country ; how grand it is to see all the spring flowers in b!oom. We have a cherry tree that is a mass of white bloom, — Yours traly, GIPSY QTJEEX. [I am stirc, clear, that; the other Gipsy Queeu who wrote had no idea that she was taking the norn de plume of another D.L.F., and, as you tell me it is some months since ytu ivro'e to tl'e pige, it is quite possibU she has rover seen your name. She will no doubt Is quite willing (o write as Gipsy ♦Jueen 11 , or, if she would prefer it, she may chcos" another name. — DOT.] Dear Dot. — Just a few lines to let yo i know tint I have not fcrgotten the page. By the lipje tliis is in print cur school es.i noination will be ever and I hope I pass. If I do I wil! he in the Sixth Standard. A week or two ago I and some of my mat"s mad© up our minds to go for a- picnic; so wo all met together at about half-past 10 aud w<TO just gsoin? to start to climb the hi'ls when it cam? on. to rain. So we had it in tkz Hyda I-üblic Hall; it was- not so nice as if it had been up tho mountain, but we pujoyed ourselves We are milking five cows now, an I feeding four calves. My little brother is just starting to crawl, and ho gets into the most awful mischief. Dear Dot, have jou got a flower garden? I have. The only dowers I have out yet are pansie3, rrimioses. vicLet3. daffodils, and daisies. — Yoxtrs trniy, VIOLET LEAF. D-^ir Doc,— l saw that my letter appeared ir the pag3 Dear Dot, how nice it is to i-hink that one is a D.L.F. Now. Dot, I urn going to give you one of my hairbreadth eAcapea. One day I was dom:j £ome work with two horses and a dray. During the afternoon the leader came round, ant! down over the dray I went ; the wheel just misled in? We are having some very baJ. v.-eatsier just now, tha wind is something terrific Yesterday I was cleaning oat 3 and threoliing. Since I cams up here I have learnt how to kill a. sheep, skin it, and ck<in it, and also how to shear. — Yours truly JOCKEY. Daar Dct, — One of my uncles in New Zealane' sends us tho Witne&s, and I like the Lifrt'e Folks' Pai,e very much. One of my uncles (Uncle Con) and an a-miy used to write to you. ICow I will tell about my home. I live in Isairobi, in British E?is>t Africa; wo have no white servants, buD !>!ack ones. They speak a. very funny language, which I can understand. Igo to achool ■every day, a^id wo have three teachers 1 have a little brother and sifter. I am nine ycar3 oio), and I am in tie Thiri Standard . I have a parrot, a cat, and a deg, and I like going to school. I can [ work a hind machine. I like reading bocks, I and have auite a lot — Yours tiuly, _ * AN AFRICAN DAISY. [Your letter has taken seven weeks to reach us, deax; I see that you wrote it on August 23. That shows what a long distance away you live! I waa so pleased to hear fioni yen about your far-away home ; is it very hot where you live? Mombasa, I see, is just four degrees frcm the equator, and perhaps ycu are even nearer than that. But I could not find Nairobi on my atla?. lam sure you would think Dunedin very co!d. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— I am going to try to give you an account of my tnp to the Bluff. When the cutter came in, we went abcard and waited fcr Mr Russell, until he -was> finished cleaning and packing the fish. When all wa3 Amshed we made a sta-it. for the Bluff. We left at 10 p.m. and got there at 12 p.m. We never went ashore until after 10 o'clock. Mother and I wear up to see the dcc-ior, for lucther was very i!J. When we came back L-om tho doctor's it was 12 o'clock. So we went and had 'iinner at Air Parry's. When '■'6 were hnisheJ dinner v>e went up to a friend's pla<-3, where we stayed for two weeki. By that lini? we were ready to go home. We went horns in a cutter called the B<iuny Jean. We had a fair trip ever. Whoa we get home my little sister was very glad to see v«. The weather for tha last few days was real summer. To-day they have launched Reomaua'a father's cutter, the Raven. Ycurs trul y. kahui. Dear Dot, — Once again I am writing to the dear o!d page — the old page, but a new Dot. How bad it was to us all to hear of cur dear editor's death! I could not express my feeling in words, so I think b2=t to leave it aloi'e. All I can do ia to give my deepest and heartfelt sympathy to all his friends and relatives, who, I am sure, must !ui"e felt even more keenly his death thaji ue Lutle Folk who did net <ico so muca of him To know him was to 'ove him. T oaly'e?w hnn ouc», but his kindly way showed ho.v much he thought of his Little Folk, as he termed us. lam too sad to think of any more *v write But why should we i>e =ad, when he li h.ippy'' We should rejoice, in think hp is safe from the world's sorrow — Ycurs truly, EVA ST. CLAIR. Dear Dot, — It is needless to say with what *-rrow I read the account of our late Dot's death. We have lost a very patient friend, aud one^ who was loved by all who knew him. .Now we most learn to love our ne.v Dot. a>- we did the late one. I havo been up here fcr nearly four months, but am com-njj back to town on Thursday nest, when 1 hope to see some cf my old friends and clubmate?. I have had a long holiday, eh, Dot? One week I spent with my bister over ?.t Haniil*JEg, and had a right gooj time. I vent over on the Friday, and on Sunday I was at Hamiltons Church, where 1 saw five D.L.F., but was only speaking to one Another Primrose. She and I used to correspond long ago, but had never met before. Haimitons 13 a very small place. During my stay they were trying to teach me how to play scallywag, but I am afraid I was not a very brilliant pupil. I was just beginning To sea (hrcugh it when my week 1 was up. Friday morning dawned rather dull, Mid later on it started u> rain, so the t drive home was not nearly so nice as the one going We were pretty cold when we I got home. I don't know what my sister would feel like when ehe got back. On I Arbour Day we had a splendid time, although the day waa terribly windy. The children all come to the school in the morning, and I hurried through with my work and then got tea ready for them. It was served ia the

school, Boscobel, heT mother, and myself at« tending to the res"t.- That over, the girls and little boys played games. We -had a church social hero last .Friday. It was at great success. I think everybody w*s pleased, except a few who came in anticipation of getting a dance— rather a funny thing to think of at a church social, wasn't it, Dot? Well, since I started this letter I have come down as far as Hyde, where I intend spending a few days on my way down. How tn*tutiiul and green every tiling is looking! The willows make such a pretty picture in the esrly morning, when they are covered with dew and the sun shining an them. — Yours truly MA-ITIE. '