LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto:—W« writ* for th« benefit of otheri, not for ourselves. , WNo ltttcr to contain more than 450 words. Doai" Dot.—This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will accept it and let

me be one of your band. -I am 13 years old, and in the Fifth Standard. I have to feed three horses every " morning and four sows at night. We are having very cold weather just now. To-night all the hills around are covered with snow, and look very pretty. Kind regards to all. — Yours, truly, BLIZZARD. [Yes, you are welcome, Blizzard. It seems odd to talk of a blizzard being welcoire, doesn't it? I suppose the capital B makes all the difference !— DOT.] Dear Dot,— l saw by. to-day's Witness, to my surprise and vexation, that I h*d taken someone else's N.D.P. It was quite a mistake, as I did not notice it, but I'hope it will not put her about in any way. I am very glad she told me, as it might have made confusion for you, Dot. I will sign a new name this time, and I hope no one idse has it. Will you kindly enter my name in your book if you have not already done so? We are having cold, rough weather just now, but the worst is yet to come. I told you in my last letter that I was going to a party. Well, Dot, my sister and I both went, and what with music, playing games, singing, and dancing we both said that we never enjoyed ourselves so much before in all our lives. I have just finished reading "The Basket of Flowers" and "The Pilgrim's Progress." I enjoyed them very much and recommend them to others to read. With best love and sincerest regards to all L.F., the editor, and your dear seH,— Yours truly, ERIN-MAVOURNEEN. [I have entered your name, dear; I think you will find you have not taken anyone else's this time.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I have -.been an interested reader of your page for a long time, but this is the first"" time I have taken courage to write. I hope I may become one of your happy band. Maid of Erin aad I are schoolmates, and are in the Seventh Standard. Our examination is coming ofi in about a week's time, and I hope all the children will pass. Although it is about three or four months since I went to the Exhibition, it seems only yesterday that I was looking at the art gallery, the fernery, the aquarium, the Balrtle of Gettysburg, the camera obscura, etc. The art gallery was very pretty, but I soon grew tired of looking at so many pictures. The fernery and the aquarium* were aleo very pretty, the little goldfish in the latter being, I think, a very 'pretty sight. With love to all the D.L.F., especially Maid of Erin," Alice O, and The Friends, not forgetting the editor and yourself—Yours truly, - ELEANOR. [You may certainly become one of our band, dear. Have you wondered when your letter was going to appear ?— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your page, and I -b.ope*you will allow me to be pne of your correspondents. I am 14 years old, and am in the Sixtli Standard at school. Winter has come, and I am- having great fun skating and sliding on the ice. At present I have not much to do, so I can have plenty of fun. 'With love to all the L.F. and yourself,— STours truly, TAIAROA. [You have forgotten to send me your name and address, Taiaroa. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Once more we take up our pen to write to you. The weather j B very cold just cow. We. went to school to-day, but there were only 10 present in our room, so the teacher gave us a holiday. We are working hard just now for the examination. We hope to pass into the Second Standard. The fishing' industry is at a standstill, as the boats get nothing but red cod, and .the freezers will not take many. Dear Dot, thank you- for the kind letter you sent to us boyB; we were very disappointed over that little raatter, but your beautiful letter quite consoled us. Mr little brother was so pleased to ccc his letter in the page ; he gave mother no peace till she cut it out and pasted it in his picture book. Your family is getting very large, Dot; we will need a paper all to ourselves soon. H. -H. sends kind regards. With love from— Yours truly, SORDENSJOLD AND DANNEBROG. [I suppose it seems a long time since you wrote this letter to me, boys? All the ordinary letters have had to wait for a fortnight, you see, while we had our -Special Subject Weeks. I an* so sorry your father got no satisfaction about that missing letter, but I think the explanation you suggest is the most probable one. Please give my kind regards to your mother, and tell her I appreciate her interest in the page.— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is over a year since I last wrote to your page, and no doubt you have forgotten all about me. I am in the Third Standard, and like going to school very much. The last time I wrote to you I was living at Nugget Point in Ot«go, but now I am living at Portland Island, off the Mlahia Peninsula. There is a little school here with only foui children attending. A good many years ago a vessel called the Pirate was wrecked: here, and on a Saturday the school children often go and have a picnic on her. When the Pirate was wrecked she was coming from Newcastle laden with coal, and if we get short of coal here we can use the coal that haa. been washed out of her. I am learning to play the organ, and practice en hour every day. My little sister is also learning, but she is so small tnat ahe can - hardly reach the bellows. Dear Dot, have you ever been in a lighthouse f I hay© lived in one all my life. We had a bi°- storm here last month; it is supposed to have been the biggest that has been here for many years. Kind regards to all your Little Folk._ Yours G guly, ousE Dear Dot.— l was very pleased to see my first letter in print. It was very cold last week, and we had plenty of skating. Our school is closed for two weeks. I have two eisters and one brother. I was at the Exhibition in March, and I had a good iime. With love to all the Little, folk and yourself,—lours truly, 'ElSGriiSJ^tf. Dear Dot,— l have read many of your Little Folk's letters, and think they are splendid. I would like to become a D-L-F. myself. I am 13 years old, and in the Fourth Standard. I live on a htt c island off. the Mania Peninsula. The, island has a lighthouse on it, and contains some 335 acres, 30 acres of which be-long to the Government and are reserved for the hghthousekeepera. The remainder belongs to the Maoris, who run a few sheep and cattle on it. The only houses on the island are those in the lighthouse reserve belonging to the lighthouse-keepers. We often go down to the beach for picnics, and as we nave a nice little boat here we go out for a row when the weather is fine. A Maori named Wi Te Ratipu brings our mail every fortni"ht. He rides seven mile-s, and then ne has to row over the passage in a little boat. The Government steamer Hinemoa brings our stores every three months, and we children are always glad to see her, as we have a holiday from school. I am learning to play the violin, and can play several pieces. I must stop now, as my sister i« also writing to you. Kind regards to you and all the Little Folk. — Yours truly, GROPER. [I was co pleaded to get these two letters from Lighthouse Lassie and Groper aud

to think that, away in their distant little | island home, they are thinking of Dot's Little Folk and the page. We are very , glad to welcome Groper among vs — aren't we, D.L.F. ? And what t. good thing you children are fond of music and have your organ and your violin! It must be such a great pleasure to you and your parents to have music in the long quiet evenings. I hope' you will both write again. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my second letter to the page, but my first to you. I was sorry t -tt> hear of the late Dot's death, as he', was* very much liked both by young and old! That you may reign long and flourish is my sincere wish. We are having- lovely weather for this time of the year, and it looks as if it would be fine ,for a good while yet. The roads are lovely for cycling down this way, ' although there are coal waggons on them every day. My ;ather has a coal pit, and he also has" a waggon catting coal to the dredges. Have you ever been in a coal' mine, Dot? We enjoy getting a ride down into the mine in a truck which has been sent back again to 'be refilled. They have an engine here for pulling up jhe trucks, which carry half a 'ton of coal At a time. They are pulled up as incline, and, when empty, go down .again at a good rate, held by a wire rope. The farmers about here are getting*their ploughing done, but the ground is very hard these frosty mornings. We are nilking three cows just now, ana h«ve to chop up turnips for them morning and night. I see by the paper that the L.F. had a good time in Dunedin it show week, ' and I was pleased to ccc that the social was such a success. I was in' town at' the last social, but could not go up this year. The photograph came' out very plain, and I recognised a , few of them who were there last year. There were not so many in the group this year as there were last year. I did not meet many L.F. while in town. I was there for, nearly eight months, and never saw one with a badge alter the show. We felt the earthquake here last week; it waa really nothing, but it gave you a bit of a scare at the time. We do not want another for a day or two. It is getting late, and as we get up at 5 to-morrow morning I think I shall stop and not take up all your valuable space, or the editor will be saying some nice things! With best love to all the L.F., the editor, and yourself, — Yours truly, ANOTHER EVANGELINE. [I hope you will be able to come to the next social, as you missed this one, dear. You will get your photo ehortly, as theorder has now been in hand two weeks. Youi coal mine must be an interesting place, but I have never been in one yet, and am not quite sure how I should like it. — DOT.]^ Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let me become one of your, large band. I find the letters very interesting in the Witness. The page is getting larger and larger every week. Yellow Daisy is, writing too.- I have about three miles to go to school, But we are going to drive now, as the winter is coming on. Our examination is in v a week, and I hope I shall pass. If I do I shall be in .he Fifth Class. With love to all the L.F., yourself, and the editor, — Yours truly, x \ POLLY. Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will accept me as- one of your Little Folk. I like reading the letters in the Witness, and I thought I would like to write, too. My mate is writing to you 1 too, Dot. "I am 11 years bid, and I am in the Fifth Standard. Our examination is drawing near, and. I hope I shall pass. I -know two or -three- L.F. about here.- "I willclose now, hoping to write soon -again. — Yours truly, YELLOW DAISY,/ [Perhaps you are in the Sixth Standard by new, dear. Have you had your examina. tion yet? If so, I hope you have passed, and like your new work. You are welcome as a D.L.F, Yellow Daisy— DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is the first Mime I, have written to your page, and I hope you will accept ma as one of your band:. I am 12 years old, and am in the Sixth Standard at school. . I have a good distance to walk to school. The weather is very cold here just now, and there was snow last night. I am learning the violin now, and I have had about two quarters' lessons. With love to all the L.F. and youraelf, — Yours truly, BLOSSOM. [Another little new writer who is welcome f A little blossom this one, too, for my garden. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — Eighteen months have passed sway since I penned my last letter to the page, but although I have been silent I have" been nevertheless an interested reader. 1 promised to write an account of my holidays, and hope this may be cf interest to some of my L.F. comrades. On June 3 I left home to catch the morning express for Milton, where I intended to stop that night and journey next -norning to Otokia,- at which place I meant to stay for a fortnight, at Lady Esler's home. On the arrival of the morning train I was met by Lady. Esler, and after a. short drive reached my destination, where I was welcomed by Lady Ester's, mother and sister, Boadicea. That afternoon was spent in having a look round examining photos, post-cards, etc., until some visitors arrived; then the remainder of the day I soon passed in entertaining them. Next day L. E. and 1 I visited a friend, and on Thursday morning Boadicea, Lady Esler, and I drove to Mosgiel. On our way thither we visited the East Taieri Cemetery, where I was taken to the grave of my friend's sister, the late Maid >f Athens, and that of our late comrade Isalene. When we reached Mosgiel we were shown by a friend of Boadicea's through a house in the course of construction. After a thorough inspection of the building we departed for the woollen mills. The manager kindly consented to our going through the factory, and further obliged us by allowing one of the employees to accompany us and explain the works of the various parts to us. I was deeply interested in all I saw, particularly in the drying room. I found that it taxed our powers of endurance to the utmost . to spend but a few moments in that chamber, much to the amusement of Lady Esler, who did not seem to be so much afraid of being frizzled. After seeing through every department, we thanked 1 our conductor, and took our leave, and soon after were bound for home, where we arrived in time for tea. During the drive home we could not help thinking of the difference in the temperature of -the «ir through which we were passing and that of the room we had recently left. On Friday morning L. E. and I walked to the Otokia Station to catch the train for Dunedin. Arriving there, we met L.E.s father, who kindly took us over the s.s. Tarawera and s.s/ Moura. We were pleased with all we saw, but preferred our own beds to the berths. When we saw the cook cutting the pudding we thought it time to seek our own duJnew. After that important item we visited Holly Hedge, with whom we intended to stay for the night. We then found out - way to the Witness office in time for the group. Afterwards we went to the Coffee Palace, where we met Dot, .and made several new L-F. acquaintances. Then we went to- the show and had a good look througti the different depart- J meats, the laughing galleiy included. L. E. *

[ and I saw ourselves there as we never saw* ' ourselves before, and hope never to be seen i again. We then made our way to the station to see L. B.s father and my brother off in the south express. These were both playi in«r in the draughts match, and as they both came -off victorious, they were in good spirits-. I was* speaking to N.Z. Holly for » few, minutes on the platform, but did not see her again. 'After waving good-bye to our friends on the % train, we; retraced our steps and! ■found- Hofiy^ Hejdge. >We then took a car and went with" her for "our tea. When .hid >was over we got ready for the social. After several inquiries we found our way to &t. Paul's Schoolroom. I rfeed not enter jnta details about the social, as that has already been described, but I must «ay we "spent af very enjoyable time. The D.L.F. were .all very sociable," and did .'their '.best to make everything enjoyable. We reached home early next morning, and, of course, slept in. When we did manage to open oui dreamy eyes-'vt was not long till we j»de off to see the beauties of the ?ity. First we got into a car and went to the" Gardens, when we had a good look round. The fernery, attracted my attention .nore than anything;, and the ferns were at their best. After seeing all the beauty spots we went back and! had dinner. Then -we' went shopping for the first part of the afternoon. During th» day we met several sleepy-looking li.lr. ;^of the evening before. After bidding our L.R friends goodbye we had tea, and then wended oui way to the station, accompanied bj» Lester, who kindly, carried our parcels for ue. We were not long in reaching Allanton, where we were met by Bqadicea, who drov« over to' meet us. -On ' Sunday . night Lady ~ Esler, * friend of hers, and I went to th« Otokia Church. The following days wer* spent in visiting till Sunday, when w» meautf to make a long .day of it, -a it was t6'b« the laet. Early on Sunday morning* Boadi* cea, Lady Esler, and- 1 drove away to .th* East Taieri Church. We took ?ur lunch: with us, and after the morning service wad over we .had lunch, \nd then set off through Mosgiel to get oui in time for the af ternooa service at Allan ton. There we put our -horse in » friend's stable, and then set off fox the church. That day was the happiest day I> spent during my stay, and I will always remember it with pleasure. After bidding farewell to my kind friends at Otokia, Lady, Esler . drove me to the station, And it was not long till I- was in Milton again. Thei rest of the week I spent "with my cousins there, and it was not long in passing. On Sunday I went with them to the JEtton* Church in -the morning and evening. Next' morning I left for home. I met «. neighbour on the Clinton station, and he kindlm offered me a seat in his buggy. I had l<* walk two miles alter leaving him, but waa very thankful for the lift. I gave them all * surprise at home when I walked in, a* they were not expecting me. With kind regards, to Boadicea, Lady Esler, C. D.'A., anol ' all Clinton friends, —^ours truly, • ttATIVE VINE. [I am quite sure, from your account of .if all, that you thoroughly enjoyed your holi* diay, Native Vine,, and I am. glad to. hear ft, I hope- 't will, not be 18 months before' you] write your next lejtter to us, dear. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— At last I. have made a; starfe, I havj always been going to write, but have* never got ittny further.' My sister is a D.LJS, and I also hope to* be enrolled «s me" oi that happy band. T-heT weather rJbout here has b<en 'very cold* of' late, and some of the ponds have had ice thick enough to beax skaters and sliders, among'- which, I am glad to say, I usually found myself.- Do you likW sliding or skating, Dot? If so, you knew* how cold your 'hands get. I have to milid a, ww every morning, acd these «»ld mornings it is not Very pleasant. I have two dogs and a cat; the latter generally [ikes' curling up on the bed. I see that Dais»/' Primrose has a letter In this week. I always like reading her letters, as .well as ill tne; other Little Folk's. We get the Witness ever*, week, so I have a gcod chance to read tha, letters, and I enjoy it very much. ' The. killing rabbits lately, so the rabbits are no* 'so thick as usual ; but I suppose that the** will be as thick «« ever by next winten How do you like living in town? I have only tried it for about a -week, but waa verjn glad to get back home again to the country. It might be better living in Dunedin, but 1 do hot know anything about that, not eves having the good fortune" to go so far as thaif yet. There are a good few D.L.F. about here.;) those I know are Ivaaboe, Indian Chief, Araminta, and a few others. In summea I have a great time at my grandfather's orchard, for he is very liberal' with his fruit, much to my delight^ for I am very fono? of 'fruit of all descriptions. With love to all the D-.L.F., not forgetting yourself and! the editor, who must think us all nuisances, —Yours truly, FROSTY BILL. [You axe quite wrong about the editor* Erosty BUI: far from thinking you. all „ nuisances, he is most interested in the Lifctki Folk. Wait till you pay that visit to Dunedin, and you will see. No, I don't. eithen skate or slide, Frosty Bill; I wish I could! It must be most exhilarating. I hay« enrolled your name. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It has been very frosty weatheiS down here these last two mornings. There: was snow on the ground down here 3mf . deep. My mates at school are Snowdrop and Peril Point. My sister is away for a holiday; she has -been away two weeks, and she is going to stay a month. She has beei* at lots of places; she was at Dunedin n?oi* and to* W«,imate and Christchmn-Jt, and sh« was coming to' Milton and then back to Dunedin. I am going away for a holiday aftea our examination. The ploughing .matcbJ down here was on Wednesday. With love fcoi the Laet Hose of Summer, Farmer's Milk< maid, and all the other D.L.F., not forgets* ting yourself and the editor, — Yours truly, / * BED INK. Dear Dot, — I find a great pleasure in open* ing a correspondence with out Dot, and 5 hope to try and gain the friendship of you and all the L.F. My home is situated in * > pretty little country place not many miles; from Dunedin. I am working in the town^ and I think it is very pleasant to be travel* ling backwards and forwards to work, e*pe-< dally in the summer time, but I find i\ rather diffioult to get up in the winter monH ings; but of course w» have to put up witU a few hardships some time w other. InJ the summer time we have grand Kun; m> relations otben come io stay with me, f and, many a happy, time we. have spent together! One incident will suffice to let you know the enjoyment we must have hid. If X remember rightly it was Easter Monday* a- lovely day, on which we went for our picnic My cousins and I went* down to the station •bout 10 o'clock to meeS some friends who) were coming by the traia from Dunedin i& join us. All wno were invited came in high spirits prepared for a. good tinje, which, yom will learn afterwards, they had. To reach, our destination we wet* obliged to china a hill. When we arrived at the top wo were quite exhausted (especially two town, girls who were not used to climbing), so we lat down to xeet ourselves «* th «^ ad ° £ 6 the trees. After partaking of some JruiT. I we pattered some stick* and made a fire, and to *w ttan hftK *a ho»» *• *« re

Bitting on the grass enjoying our lunch. It ires about 1 p.m. when dinner iras over. After lunch we went off together in search cf fern« and wild flowers. We trandered far 'into the bush, gathering many varieties of monMtnd ferns on our travels. We decorated ourselves with clematis and different kinds of foliage. We also gathered some • wild herries and ate them, aerer tinnking of the aanger there miffit haw teen in doing so. When onr baskets were fiHed witn lerns and other bush tveaanxes we began to feel the pangs of hunger, and thought J' wae time ia letnrni 0% m then ireadeS our

, way over to our camping place, and after hsiving tea and gome more fruit, we mede our way home, arriving there about 6 o'clock. I invited my friends in to our place for the evening, and there we sang and pl&yed games till 9 o'clock. We then proceeded to the stfctiou t- see our friends off by th« 9.80 train. On iheir departure they thanked me very much for having given them such a grand holiday. With love to all the Little Folk,— Tonrs truly, LOVY. [Ton evidently had a very happy day, I liovy, and I think perhaps friends from } town had s still bsppier one. I wonder how

many delightful picnics our New Zealand bush has already been witness of? — DOTJ Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will accep' me as one of your happy "band. I always thought I would like to write to the page, but I was never able to make up my mind to do so. Ido not know any D.L.F., and I don't think there are any about here. We get the Witness, and I always like reading the page. I am 14 years old, and I am in the Seventh Standard. I- go to -the Huirangi School. There are only 34 children going to this school, and more than half are away just now .?ith whooping cough. There is some very- beautiful scenery around here, mostly on the banks of the Waitara River. The Te Arie Cliffs, near the junction of the Munganui and .-he Waifara Rivers, are not far from here. It was these cliffs that some Maoris jumped over rathei than be caught during one of their tribal wars. As this is my first letter, I will now close, with love to all the D.L.F., not forgettino- yourself and the editor. — Yours truly, "RUHIA. Dear Dot, — fhis is my first letter to the page. I hope you will accept me as one of your band. I do not know any D.L.F., as there are none around here. I go to the Huirangi School, where Mr 3 Currie is teacher. I am 12 years old, and! am in the Seventh Standard. We have a farm of 100 acres, of which nearly half is bush. We only keep thre. horses. We milk 17 oows in the summer, but are. only milking three now. I can get a grand view of Mount Egmont, as it is only about 15 miles away. On a fine day I can see Mount Ruapehu's snowy, top. We have- four black oats, but they are not very tame. I must close now, with love to all the L.F. and yourself. — Yours truly, - TEDDY. [You two, Ruhia and Teddy, will be. pioneers of D.L.F.-Jom in jour district; I am very glad to have you join us. What lucky- children you are to be spending the years of your childhood netix anything so beautiful as Mount Egmont! Wouldn't you miss it if it suddenly happened that you could never see your beautiful mountain any mere?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is very cold in the morning now going to school. My youngest sister and my third brother go too. He is six years of age. I ride to school on a horsey it is two miles there. I am in the Sixth Standard. I know a great many D.L.F. up here. With, love^ to all ths D.L.F. and yourself, Dot, — Yours truly, WHITE ROSEBUD. [Why do yon want to change your name, dear? The one you have is prettier than the one you want to change it for. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is the first time I have written to your page ; will* you enrol me as one of your L.F.? I am staying with my cousins, Mother's Help and Black-eyed Susan, and they persuaded me to write to you. I have two sisters and one brother. I had s lovely ride on Black-eyed Susan's merry-go-round, which she told you about. I go to the Tisbury School, and thert. are a lot of D.L.F. going to it. We have moved into a new house, and we are busy getting the furniture straightened. I will write you a longer letter next time when I have more news to tell you. I will close now, with love to all the Little Folk.— Yours truly, IVY LEAVES. [I know I have quite a numerous band in Tisbury, Ivy Leaves; I am glad that you are making another recruit among them. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your band. I am 10 years old, and am in the Third Standard. I have three sisters and four brothers. I live quite close to tho school. We «re milking seven cows in the morning, and five at night. With love to all the Little Folk, the editor, and your dear self, — Tours truly, LI HUNG CHANG. [You are welcome too, Li Hung Chang. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was very pleased to see my first letter in the Witness. I am in the Second Standard at school. I am learning to do money sums, and I find them very hard. My father was in Dunedin for a week; he went to the winter show. He brought home a piece of the big cheese, but there were no coins in it. He brought my sister and me a doll each, which pleased us better. We are having very cold weather up here at present. With love to you and all the Little Folk,— Yours truly, GOOD HOPE. [Do you wish you were a little French child, Good Hope? They never have any 12*8 or 4's or 20's or 16's to bother about iv any of their tables; everything goes by 10's. Then don't have pennies and shillings, pounds ajid ounces, aa we do, but if they had the names we use their tables would be— 10 farthings = one penny 10 pennies = one shilling 10 shillings = one pound. Would that be easy?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am having holidays, as our teacher is away in Dunedin. There has been a fall of snow here, and it is going away very slowly. Mount Bokaraki is looking very pretty just now. My neighbour was at Daisy Primrose's mother's marriage, and she says that they all enjoyed Themselves very much. The whole wedding party went out on Lake Wanaka on her father's vessel, called the Nun, alter one of the sisters who were up at the Lakes for a change, as she was in ill-health. It -was a lovely day, and they anchored at Healy's Island, where there were little gardens, kept nice and tidy by this man named Healy, a native of Denmark, who sold the produce, or more often gave it away. They had a picnic on the is.and, and then went all over it. At the very top of the highest hill on this island there is a tiny little lakelet, and they were told that it was so deep that no one could fathom it. Dear Dot, I have not much to write about this time, and therefore I must conclude, with love to Daisy Primrose ana all the little ones. — Yours truly, MOUNTAIN MAIJ. Dear Dot, — I hardly know what to say next, but what I want to say is that I've reached *he age limit, so must bid adieu to being a L.F. any longer, except as an old writer. I started to write eight years ago under the N.D.P. of Lady Peggy Primrose, but as somebody else took it, I changed. What a crowd of L.F. there are now, and what a multitude of changes have taken place within the last few years. What with D.L.F. picnics, debates, socials, etc., the D.L.F. ought to be a very happy band. I should like to be able to attend the debates, but one can't have everything. I think they are grand for taking the bashfulness out of young folk. And think of the friends a girl or boy with the silver baffge can make! It's very nice for the country L.F. to be shown /ound the town by town L. F., in many cases quite strangers to them before. It is the magic badge at work. And we have lost our Dot of bo many years' standing. How we all wondered who he was! His secret was so well kept; but I think it ' must have been verj gratifying to Mm to

note what strides the page was taking after all his hard labour. It must require a great amount of patience to go through all the letters and give a word of friendly advice to one, of sympathy io another, of cheer to another, and so on. He thought of the L.F. to the last. I'm "sure Mr P'enwick will not soon be forgotten. As for you, dear Dot, we'll rally round you as we did round our late Dot. Anyone whom he chose must be well able to conduct the page, I think the page very Interesting. I take as much interest in it now as when my first letter appeared, perhaps even more. "What a good idea the competitions are! My sister is trying them. They help to pass away the long evenings. I went to watch a hunt the other day. Hares were hunted, and I liked it much better than drag-hunting. Some other ladies and gentlemen in vehicles and boys on ponies started off at about 2 o'clock and followed the hounds. We all turned into one of the neighbour's homesteads, unyoked, and jiade for the hills. "We could not drive because of the fences. "We had some good exercise running up hill and down dale to watch the hunting. "We didn't see all the jumps, because we couldn't run quick enough. I felt sorry for some of the ladies, for they had been at a ball the night before. However, after an hour or. so the hunt stopped; then we were all invited to afternoon tea, which 'was most acceptable. I went to a concert and dance not long ago, and I saw "Mrs Millis's Will" acted. Two or three D.L.F. h«d parts in it, and they performed very well. We have passed the shortest day ntm, but it does seem an age before the days stretch out again.- Tm. not fond of these cold mornings, although the middle of the day has been very sunny. I noticed a group of L.P. in the last Witness. I could not single out any of the girl L.F., but I could see Harry, Indian Chief, Black Watch, and. a few more of the boys. I am glad 1 to see Daisy Primrose has recovered, and I hope Koby has by fhis time. This letter seems to me to be more like a sermon than anything else, but you feel like preaching a sermon when your age reminds you that you must retire. But there are plenty of new writers coming on to take the place of those who retire, and if there were not an age limit where would it end? I think I have taken up "quite enough space, so, with love to you and the editor and all the L.F., I'll say farewell.— Yours truly, UP-TO-DATE (N. G. Hassall, Hakataramea). [Yours is such a bright and chatty letter, Up-to-date, that it is only left for me not to spoil the brightness of it by saying a mournful farewell. We shall part with smilee: I know you are not going to forget the letters D.L.F., whatever happens. So— a gay g©od-bye!— DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to you, and I hope it won't be the last. I am staying with one of my aunts and two of -my cousins, and two of my cousins axe D.L.I?. We are having hard frost just now, and I find it very hard to get up in the morning; indeed, some mornings 1 don't get up till about dinner time. I am a very interested reader of the L.F. Page. The examination of the school that I go to is io be Held on the 2nd of July, and I am glad I shall not be there, as I am going home on the first Monday of July. Dear Dot, did you feel the earthquake? I did. We were, all frightened when we heard the' windows .rattle. It was. the" first one I have felt. Will "you kindly add me t your happy band. — Yours truly, PELOBUS JACK. [I have added your name to my roll, Pelorus Jack. Are you still kept busy swimming after the steamers as they sail up the "f.und or you given up that amusement now?— DOT.] ' Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last •wrote to you, but I hope that I am still welcome as a member of your happy band. I should have written sooner, only we were moving. When we were coming down in the train Velvety Rose got into the train and sat down beside, me, and we started to talk about D.L.F. affairs. I have two brothers, but no sisters. My brothers ajre II and 10 years old. I was in Dunedin about two months ago, but could not pick up enough courage to go and see you. With love to all the L.F., yourself, and the editor, — Yours truly, GOLDEN LEAF. [I hope you like your new home, dear. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last I wrote lo you, but I have not forgotten you. I Although I do not write to you often, I always read the D.L.F. letters. Since I last wrote to you we have moved into another house on top of a hill, from which we get a lovely view. I have four brothers and two j sisters. One of my brothers got married a month ago, and there was a ball &t night, and I enjoyed myself very much. We have four cows milking now, and my sister milks two and I milk two. We have our school holidays now, and we are having » good time. There were 4in of snow here a- lew days ago, but we did not do much snowballing, for it was too cold. There ■ is a telephone at our place, and when we first got it we could have fine times with it, but row w© have got io pay for it. With love t to all the D.L.F. and yourself, — Yours truly, | GUM BOOTS. ! Dear Dot, — I was pleased to see my letter ! in the Witness. I read the D.L.F. letters every week. My sister is writing to you tonight, and when I saw her writing I thought I would write too. My sister has been to i the jhow ; she was there for three weeks. My turn will come next, as I have not been to a. show yet. "We are having very wet weathei here ju3t now ; it is raining nearly all the time. With love to all the D L.F. and jourself, — Yours tiulv, "CURLY HEAD. Dear Dot, — Five long months have passed since I wrote to the dear old page. It was m Dunedin that I wrote my last letter. Since then I have returned to Southland, where we are having the most awful weather that we ever ha.ye had. My only D.L.F. comrade is awa.y just now on a. visit to IPoxfc Molyneux. He is, as he stated in his last letter, enjoying himself amongst a few more L.F. He has met St. Nolan down there, and I wish I were down there to share their enjoyment. I promised St. Nolan that I would visit him last New Year, but as occxipation is the first thing to consider, I kept straight on to Dunedin and joined a little coastal steamer which sails to Invercargill and Stewart Island and a few more porte. Whilst I was on the boat I thought it was & grand place to see a bit of life and to learn more about other parts of the world._ 1 was in Dunedin » *ew days ago on a visit to some friends in Caversham and Pelichet Bay. After three days in Dunedin I went to Port Chalmers to visit an old shipmate on the s.s. Fifeehire. They were bound for the Bluff, and he wanted me, right or wrong, to go with them, co I had to give in to him. We had a grand time coming touth until we were off the Nugget Point Lighthouse. We then had head seas and wind, making our. trip an unpleasant one. At last Bluff was reached, and after saying good-bye to my comrade, who was going to England in the Fifeshire, I made for the station. After bATing nrj last iook at the boat I went into

the carriage and journeyed up as far as Appleby. From there I went to visit some more friends, until the afternoon sun told me that it was near train time. So I started for the station, and was quite surprised to see a large number of peopl© on the platfcrm. I was told that a large show had been going on during the • day I arrived home with a very good appetite for tea> and after having a good mea 1 I went to bed. Th*-t concluded my eight days' visiting. With kintl regards and rarm" wishes to Aroha Nui, St. Nolan, W. Y. H., yourself, the editor, and all D.L.F.,— Yours truly, : SOMEBODY'S SAILOR BOY. ' Dear Dot,— l went for a lone drive with my mother ;- we passed through Mabel Blzsh, Myross Bush, and Kennington. We passed many beautiful farms, and saw hundreds of i sheep a-nd cattle. We also passed Ml Flem. i ing's place at Rahahouka, a beautiful farm, I which fhe Governor generally visits when he stays at Invercargill. We stayed two days in Invercargill. Good-bye, dear Bob. — Yours truly, RED ROSE. - I Dear Dot, — A new sawmill is being built here since the old one was burnt down. | We go along the tram line to school someI times. We have two horses, -and sometimes I go for a ride. We have also two black I cats; one is called Dreamy Daniel and the. other Billy Biff. The weather is very coldi and there has. been some snow on the hills.. We live at the foot of the Hbkonui Hills,, i which run from about Wintaa to Gore. I | went to Inveroargill with my father in a | trap one day; the 'horse jibbed, and I fell ' : out, but did not hurt myself. I went to he - bush with my brother for wood on Saturday with the spring-cart. We have a small axa* for chopping wood ourselves. Goad-bye, dear \ Dot— Yours truly, BLACK BIRD. ; Dear Dot, — The weather is just perfect oat I here for this- time of the year. I read Dais; Primrose's essay in the Witness, and wished : I could write one like her. The. country out here is very poor in some places, and also very dirty. I don't know how to describe the country Hedgehope is situated in. It -is like a large saucer, for it is a flat, with hills all round it. With love to all D.L.F, and Dot, — Yours truly, j PDJi: CHEEK. | Dear Dot.— This is my. first letter to you. I am 13 years old, and I am in the Sixth Standard at school. Our examination is coming off in a fortnight, and I hope to pass. I do not know .many- D.L.F. Vivian ! I end R. E. W. are about the only ones I know to speak to, but I know who Firefly, Little Miss Vanity, and Miss Neddycoat are, aa I know their brother very welL We are milking two cows^now, but they do not give, much milk. I have two sisters and four brothers, but none of them are D.L.F I heard that Vivian I had measles, but I hope she will soon' be better. We have a small flower garden, but there are not any flowers i in bloom just now. We had snow here a little while ago,- but it did not last long. With love A> Vivian J, R. E. W., and your, self,— Yours truly,' BROWN" BESS. [I am glad to hear from yon, dear. I think you will 'soon make friends among tne D.L.F. Did R. E. W. tell you about the social?— DOT.] Dear Dot,— My sister has gone up to Waf mate; she went away to-day, and will not be tack until Monday. I am keeping house for •my three brothers and dad tintil she tomes b*clc. ' My- brother hae &» gramophone ' going while I am writing ihis -letter, Dot; he is playing such a pretty -violin solo. I like the granraphone very much ; don? t yon, .Dot? Do you hear ' gramaphones very often '. in Dunedin? Dad ««ys he need to hear "them ' every day when he wa» down there last ' time, and be got a bit' ired el them. I go to a private school in Oamara, Dot, and I am in the Sixth Standard. I am 12 years old. I do not think I shall say any more about myself, oz everybody will know who I am. I do not know many D.L.F. about - here, but hope to get to know more of them. My sister sent me down her Witness the other day, and I enjoyed reading the D.L.F. letters very much. I think I shall be going down to Dunedin for my spring holidays to stay with a friend. I have not been in Dunedin for a long time now, so I suppose it will be very changed. The electric can were not there when I was there. We used to live there once. It is very muddy about Oamaru just now. I have a yery nice bicycle. I usually ride it to achool, but it has been so muddy the last few days that I have had to jo in by train. I just have to walk across the paddock to the siding, where I catch the train. We have two such nice dogs here, Dot; one is a yellow one called Bill, and the other is a brown one, and named Brown. We had four lovely kittens just like Persians, but they all died of distemper; we were so sorry. We still have a black and wßdte-cat; she i« affections-** enough, but is not to be trusted, as she thieves. Onr neighbours have a pretty little ■ terrier^' and he comes- over to _ our place every day, jumps through the window, and eoes right through into my sister's bedroom-.-Our log Bill' oomes into the house, too; he is such « nice big dog. We do not live . in town, Dot; I do not like living Tight in town. We live six miles out, and have snen ! a nice place; it has a very big f«*d«n. «»* plenty of flowers and fruit of all kinds v* the ---VS^ROFD^MBLANK [You do not say whether this is your first letter, de»T; yet I think it is. If «p, you are welcome, and I hope you will write again.— DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your little band. I am nearly 12 years old and am in the Fourth Standard; we .< have a very nice master. We have had very cold weather here just now. We have a cow, a pig, a calf, and some hens, but we have only one hen laying. We go into school at half-past 9, and ;et out at half-pae» 12. Were you up at the Exhibition? I was, and I enjoyed my trip so much. I was away for a week and two dV^-To^gg^^^ [I have enrolled you* name, Saltcellar, as „ one of the L.F.-J3OT.] Dear Dot,— This is the second time I have written to your page. I am going Jo A*in- . edin next Saturday for two weeks. Did you go to the Exhibition. I did, and was sorry when the time came for coming home You lon't hear much about the Exhibiton now, do you, Dot? We are having lovely weather now I do not know many DX.P. about . here. With kind regards to all,— Yours truly, Dear Dot,— l lik» reading the Liltle Folk's letters, and ,think I would like to be one of them. May I, Dot? I am seven yeoxa ■ o'd and in the Second Standard. Ma teacher's name is Miss Daplyn, aad I likelier /cry much.- We have not been to school for two days, aa the snow was too deep. Starlight has been pulling Hazel Eyes and me about on a sledge, and sometimes he tipped us out, and we had such fun. Does your brother pull you on a sledge, Dot? My sister and I like playing houses and. dolls and getting dressed up in mum's long skirts, hats* and veils, and viaiting each other and having afternoon tea. We are sorry wi—

Bly sister has to go to her music practice. I will now close, with love to all the L.F. and yourself. — Yours truly, COWSLIP'S PET. (You may indeed be one of us, dearl I «m glad to have you. My brother does not pull me about in a sledge now, little one; but I used to love "dressing up," just as you end your sister do. Don't you feel grown tip when you have a long skirt on? But you •would not be able to play games so easily if you had to wear one always: would you. dear?— DOT.] - ■ \ Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I wrote to you. I' would have written before, but -we have had » sad loss in our family; my -brother aged 14 years died, and it has mode us all very sad and miserable. He was just leaving school, and his schoolmates, put » lovely wreath .on his grave, which was very kind of them. We are having very . Tough weather here, and the ground is covered with snow. We are milking two cows, one of which is just newly in, and it is very oold for the little calf. We have not been at school for two- days, because the snow, is too deep for tbe 'bus to run. Did you feel the earthquake, Dot? We did, And got a fright. It was a very severe one. Dear Dot, our teacher has a new strap, but it doesn't hurt very much. I am in the Fifth Standard, but do nearly all the Sixth Standard work. There is only one D.L.F. about here except my sisters. On frosty mornings it is very cold riding to school in the 'bus, bo we get out ana run behind. - Some mornings when- we are running, the driver makes the horses trot, and we get left behind, but we run and soon catch up. again. We have a long bridge to cross, and when it is frosty the horses nearly fall down. It • wa« very cold coming home on Wednesday night, as it was a driving snowstorm, and •Hie horses would hardly face it. My sisters and I like going to Sunday School. As it is getting on for bed time, I will now close. With love to all the L.F., the editor, and yourself,— Yours truly, STARLIGHT. [I am so sorry to hear about your' brother's death, Starlight. I know you will all miss him sadly. You will be your mother's »m-fort-now; will you please 'tell her I am very sorry she has lost her son? — DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to the page, and I hope I am welcome to it. I am 10 years old and in the Second Standard. I have a mile and a-quarter to walk to echool. In the mornings, it is very cold, and the roads are very muddy. But when there has been a frost the rood is nice and hard. I like going to school, and have two sisters and three brothers going with me. — Yours truly, BLUE RIBBON. Dear Dot,— As there is not much doing in my port of the world I cannot say much. At any rate, . I will try to give you a brief description of a walk I had the other night. The sky was cloudy, and it was very dark -when I left here with a lantern at 9.30 p.m. A breeze, which had sufficient strength to. put out my light, was blowing from west to east. The first step waa to go down a steep hill, at the bottom of which was a deep swamp. At this time of the year this swamp is filled to the top with water. There are gome very deep holes in it, and when I would try to jump from one tussock to another, I would miss and land in the water. I tell you, I did not return that way. I was on & chase, but the one I was chasing arrived home before me. I reached home shozifr after, none the worse of my ' -walk, only I waa soaked to my knees. I will tell you of another night's enjoyment we hod. We left home at 7 o'clock, und arrived at a neighbouring place shortly afterwards. W« did not start any games for a while until some more came in. Then we gave riddles, played" games, etc., and then started for home. It waa 12 o'clock when we got home. We had a severe shock of earthquake a short time ago. It rattled the doors and windows, and gave us all a great fright. The mine has broken out in fire, and there have been several explosions in it. Three men were killed, and numbers had to be carried out on account of their getting into the gas called "blackdamp."— Yours tru'y, A TELESCOPE. Dear Dot, — This is my second letter to you. I had the pleasure of reading my last letter in print. We find the weather very cold. I often wonder if it is co cold in Dunedin, as I would like to come and live there after I leave school, and learn a trade. I - have lots of j_ aunte and uncles down there. I was once in Dunedin for a holiday, and enjeyed myself very well. I have had a very bad cold. We are having holidays just now, as our teacher is in Dunedin. With love to all D.L.F., yourself, and the editor,— Your3 truly. " WAXEYE. Dear Dot, — We- are having very cold weather now. I see in last week's Witness that White Heather is writing: I know her. We are not going to get any winter holidays. With - love to White Heather and youreelf ,— Yours truly, NIGHTINGALE. - Dear Dot.. — The time has come at last for me to send in my retiring letter. Like many more L.F., I feel sorry to do it, as I have enjoyed myself as a D.L.F. I went to the D.L.F. social, amd spent an enjoyable evening, like all the other D.L.F. It was the first one I had been to, and it will not be the last. I must give credit to the committee ' and the artists for the way they carried out their work. I am now going to try and tell you how we spent Easter. Four mates and myfelf left Dunedin for Warrington at half-past 3 on Thursday afternoon, and we reached Warrington at half-past 4. Then we got our luggage and set off for the beach, where we were told we were allowed to camp. When we got there we started to pitch our tents in a nice little paddock. We had not started long when we saw a man coming , towards us. When be Sot to us be told us to clear out of it as quick as you like": that the ground belonged to him, ' and he was not goiug to let anybody camp there. So we packed up our swags and set oft for the station. On our road up we asked four people if they could tell us where to camp, and they could »ot help na. v We arrived al the station and •at down there for a while, sold, wet, and jstujgry; so we opened one of the swags and had a good feed of cake. Thia was 9 o'clock *t night. Just ihen a man came and had * talk to us, and after a while we asked him if he could tell ua where we could camp, and Le also said no; he said the people about there would not let anybody camp on their ground. He told us to go down the line about half a mile and we would oome to a railway hut, and to camp in there for the night. We thanked him and set off. On our road down, when we were about half way there, we came to a house, and I went over to ast for a billy of water. I knocked hard at the door, and no answer come, so I knocked again, and then I heard a voice call out, "Who's there?" I asked if we could have a billy of water, and the man said "Yes"; so he got out of bed and got me" the water. Then he asked me what was I doing at this hour of the night. So I told him that I was going down to the railway hut to camp, as we had nowhere else to camp. He told me that we could cope up in the morning and put our tents in his place, go I thanked him. When. I got down

to the hut my mates had a fire lit, and it was not long before we had the billy boiled; we sat down, and had a hot drink and some supper. This was half-past 1 on Good Friday morning. We did/ not feel sleepy so we Had a game of cards; we played till 6, and then we set to to gei the breakfast ready. We had breakfast, and then went to pitch our tents. It was not long before we had them pitched, so we got everything ready for the night in order to have a good sleep. It was wen blowing hard. -Off we went, however, to have a look around the town, and see what we could see, jnd when •we were finished we set off to our new camping ground again to have tea and get a good sleep. But, alas! when we got there the tents had blown down: that meant another night in the hut. On Saturday morning, when we got up, it was lovely, so we set off to pitch our' tent again. Whenwe had them pitched this time the lady of tbe house came out and told us that we had to pull the tents down, as we were not allowed to light a fire about the place. We set off on a travel again, and this time we got a place to camp from Mr Gardner. We epent our last day (Sunday) fishing and getting mushrooms. That ended our miserable holidays in a strange town. — Yours truly, E. H. F. [What a chapter of misfortunes, E. H. F. ! I had not thought there was such a seamy side is that to camping life. Mosquitoes and sandfliea I know something about, but this being chased from pillar to post without being able to find a place to camp is quite new to me. And so you, too, must go: four retiring letters this week— it does seem that my family Is growing up and leaving me, doesn't it? Well, good luck to you for your future, E. H. F.: may your new silver badge be a talisman, of good for you! — DOT.] Dear Dot, — It is now some two years since I penned my last letter to Dot's Little Folk's Page, and -this ifi the first time I have written to the new Dot. It was with regret that I read of the death of Mr William Fenwick, our first Dot. I was glad to see that the L.F. collected the required sum for the cot. The D.L.F. Page, under our new Dot, is getting along first rate. There seem to be a ( lot of new writers joining the page weekly. I was in Dunedin for the show, but I only saw two D.L.F. I was very sorry I could not go to the L.F. social, but better luck next time. I met Indian Chief the day after the social, and he told me that he had a royal time at it. I wonder where all the Dunedin L.F. were? They s&y they never see any country DX.F. in Dunedin for the show, but I think, A there are any Dunedin ones, they never wear their badges. Well, dear Dot, we ore having very unsettled weather here just now ; one day it is snowing, the next it is blowing, and then raining. Oh, it is miserable, but I suppose we can't expect anything else this time of the year. I saw the D.L.F. group taken at the show, and I, thought it looked very nice. I have been wishing ever since that I could have been with them. Well, dear Dot, I shi.ll have to close now, wishing you every success in your new career, and with love to all the L.F. and yourself. — Yours truly, AZILE. [Two years is a long period of retirement, Azile; let us hope you have come back to stay with us this time. And I also hope that I may see you «t the next social, as you missed this one. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I was very pleased to see my last letter in print, so I am writing again. I have been out all the afternoon gathering ferns; I got some maidenhair fern, but I only got three good roots. I suppose there are more further up the bush, but as there are cattle up there I do not go up. I also got some more nice little ferns, and I am going to plant them to-morrow. It is very cold in tbe mornings here, as we have some very bitter frosts, and when Jack Frost does come, it is very cold. The other morning when I got up the ground was pure white; but when the frost melts it is very muddy and wet. There was some snow on the hills last weeft, and it was a very pretty sight. The rivers get very high here sometimes, and we cannot get any mails, co, you see, <I cannot write regularly. .Dear Dot, I am dressing two little dolls and one big one for my little cousin, so I am not lonely, because I am sewing every day, and when I have finished I read my big book called the "Girl's Own Annual." It has some very nice reading in it, but it will take a very long time to read it right through. I also have another nice book called Chatterbox. I am going off to Blanket Town now, so with love to the editor, Little Folk, and yourself, I remain, — Yours truly, THE ONLY CHICK. Dear Dot, — This is my third letter to you. I have not seen my last letter in print yet that I wrote nearly four weeks ago. I am cutting out the letters^ when I get the Witness, to -paete them in a bcok. How small my letter seems in print! lam saving Scraps, and have got a little over 100. We go to the beach and wade, fish, and build sand castles. Empire Day was very wet here, and we saluted the flag in the schoolrooui. There were speeches by the Mayor, the Rev. J. R. Dart, and our schoolmaster. My father is at Puponga, near Collmgwood. My sister is going to write to the page, and I hope you will let her join your happy band. Her norn de plume is to bs Matelock. We are having midwinter holidays for a week, as we had 10 days when the cadets •went to the Exhibition. I did not go, but I am eoing to camp next Easter if we are here With love to all the Little Folk, yourself, and tlie editor, — Yours truly. 3 ZEEHAN. [Your letter appeared in the Witness of May 2, Zeehan; I wonder how you happened to miss it. It is the one in which you speak about your parrot and the cats, is it not? If you want it for your book, I could probably get it out of one of the Witness files and send it to you.— DOT.] j Dear Dot, — I hope you will accept me as one of the L.F. I am eight years old, and am in the Lower First Standard at the State School. I have two sisters and two brothers. We are having our winter holidays. It is very cold weather, and the hills are covered with snow. As this is my first letter to you, I will now conclude. — Yours truly, MATELOCK. [You are welcome as one of my L.F , dear. Do you think it is colder in Westport than in Dunedin, Matelock? AYe have snow on our hills, too. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to you, asking if I may join your happy band. I am enly a little girl seven yea-rs old. I have one sister and three brothers. My sißter ha 3 written to you, but not for a lou<* time. I know a few D.L.F. up this way. We are milking four cows. Dear Dot, have you any badges left? I would like one very much. I have not very -nuch to say this time, so I will now close, with love to all the D L F., not forgetting yourself and the e^tor.-Yours truly, [I have a large boxful of badges in my cupboard, dear-<nea,rly a thousand, I be.wye. That is plenty for many D.L.F. to come, isn't it? You and Moteleck are aewcfinwifl

together, both little girls about the same sge, and you ore both welcome. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — You asked me to tell you some more about the birds in the bush, but I am afraid I know very little about any of them. However, I will try to tell you some of the little I do know. There is only one owL in this bush, but there used to be some more, which I suppose have died out. One jf my sisters caught him one night, but as he scratched her she let him go. He has never been so tame since; the nearest one can get is within a yard of him. He is so strange, so funny, and so wise-looking. I have never been able to find where he sleeps all day. I have seen in books that the owl- cries "Hoo-hoo," but this one cries something like "Scree-scree." There a £ 6 * Si?**' many thrushes here. I think the thrush is * very pretty bird in his brown coat and pretty spotted vest. Thrushes are greedy birds, and they are just rather greedy in the summer time, when they eat. nearly all the currants and strawberries. The thrush is a sweet singer. He is one of my favourite bush singers. Me generally sings on the topmost branch of a tree. Each thrush selects his own singing place. He often repeats some of his notes three times. Thrushes^ build their nests of soft grass and plaster, the inside lined with decayed wood which has been ground to a pulp. Then generally lay four pretty blue eggs, which have i tew black spots on them. I often see a little bird hopping near xrhen I am feeding the hens, and I think it eats the wheat. It is very like a sparrow both in size and :olour only its head and breast are of a bluish grey colour. It is a singing bird. Part of its song is like the noise made by a rusty wire rubbing on a post or staple. My sister once found a nest belonging to one of those little -birds. It was a little larger than a eroldfinch's, and was built of soft grass and lined, with horsehair (if I remember rightly). There were four bright blue eggs in it. I will now close, for I do not know if this will be of any interest to anyone. — Yours truly, HEATHER LASSIE. [Indeed, dear, your letter is of great interest to me, and will be so also, I am sure, all other L.F. who watch the habits of the birds around them. Won't you send in a list of birds for the Native Birds Competition? You are the very girl who ought to. Can any D.L.F. suggest what Heather Lassie's little stranger bird may be? — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I must write you another letter, as you gave me such a kind welcome to your D.L.F. dominion. I live among the hille near the eea. The bush here is very pretty with its tall, graceful trees, towering branches crowned with green leaves, and all shapes and sizes of ferns, young trees, and scrub bushes. The trees shelter the ferns which cluster around their roots as a mother shelters her children. The bush is prettiest in summer, when (he trees are covered with green leaves and their different kinds of flowers. Most of .the birds are very sweet singers, especially the tui, bell-bird, «nd thrush. In som>» parts of the bush the creeks have worn, away their banks until they are left standing about 10ft high. On one side is rock or hard soil covered with green moss and tiny ferns. On the other side are all kinds and shapes of ferns, large and small.- I have started to collect autos now, but I have -only three -as yet. I hope to get a good many more soon. I like reading the D.L.F. letters, for some of them are most interesting. I will now .-lose, with love to the L.F. and yourself, — Youri truly, VIOLA OORNUTA. Dear Dot, — Will you allow me to become one )f your Little Folk? I .am 10 years old. I live in the country with my father, mother, five sisters, and one brother. -*y eldest sister writes to you as Heather Lassie. I like reading little stories. I have two prize books called "Blue Beard" and "Our Little Mischief." There are some nice little stories and pictures in them. We have Grimm's ''Fairy Tales"' just now, and I like the story best about the hedgehogs and the hare. We have some pets; we have a nice pet sheep called Leo, jnd a quiet white calf called Don. We have four white cats, one grey one, and a pretty block kitty called Blacky. Blacky has four white paws and a white front. His fur is suoh a pretty, silky, glossy black. We have three dear little white chicks. /heir mother hatched them in the bush. I hope I am not taking any other D.L.F.'s N.D.P.— Yours truly, IVY DIAMOND. [No one else has thi3 N.D.P., dear, and I am glad to welcome you under it. Grimm's "Fairy Tales" are indeed delightful; do you know the one that tells how the oak tree never lost its leaves ?— DOT.] Dear Dot, — I received the badge, for which I thank you. , It is real winter now in Wan,<anui, but each day there seems to be a slight difference. In the mornings, when I have to pet up and prictise at 7 o'clock, it is very cold, and a little while back it was quite dark. It will soon be half-term now. I always look forward to half-term, for then we can go home from Saturday to Monday. I am also looking forward very much to next term, for then we have the swimming baths open, aud have lovely swims. We have swimming baths of our jwn, and there are only about five girls, counting day girls and boarders, who cannot swim. I am sure I do not know how they can get on without being able to swim. I am very fond ii swimming. I can swim half a mile, but next term am going to "try to swim a. mile. The baths are 25 yards long, and near the end of the term we have the long-distance swimming. Someone always counts while the swimmers are swimming, and then we get certificates for the distances we have done. We have a very good instructor (Mr Olds;. But this is talking of summer, and now it is only winter. Hockey is now in eeason. We are having many matches. Now I must close, with love to all the L.F. —Yours truly, QUEEN OF JUKE. Dear Dot, — I received the badge which you sent me, for which many thanks. It is very cold here in the mornings when we get up. It will soon be half-term, and I shall be very glad, because we can go out irom Friday till Monday. I shall be glad when it is next term, because it is not so cold, and when it gets warm enough we have the baths, and it is lovely in the baths. I can swim. We have hockey this season, and I like it very much. We have had several matches lately; we played against the town, and we won. We only got one goal, though. I tl.ink I must stop now, with, love to all , the L..F.— Yours truly, i QUEEN OF APRIL. } LETTERS CONDENSED. Isle of Beauty and Paderewski, wlioj write in pencil, tell me of a. novel exercise their teacher set them on Empire Day. "We were to go up the hill to draw the river, and the one who drew it best got out an hour earlier. We and a few others won." Princess Matt II writes saying tiiatt &he> has just left school, and will have more time tj write to the page now, if she is permitted to join out band. Certainly she may, if she will send hffl name aud address with acj: next l«ttcgL>

Blacklead writes asking to be made a n.embar, but gives no name or address. AUTOS. Elsinore, P. 0., Ahaura, would like to exchange autos and post-cards with any D.L.F. willing, especially any from Eiawhia-. Bleeding H«<ar<r 11, Ivy Eason, Katea- P. 0., wishes to exchange post-cards with Orippj,e, Clianthiis, E.D.A., Nightingale, Mr X, andBlondel. She asks specially for comic -or actress post-cards. • ~ - j Dusky Dinah, Miss K. Gutseli Waikawp.. via Fortrose, wishes to exchange autos with The Two Smilers, Hazel Dell, lrittle Vanity. I Little 'Miss Neddycoat, Butterfly, Firefly, and , any other D.L.F. willing. Edendaleite, Miss I. Cranston, Crawford i Farm, Eden daie, x would like to exchange : autos with A Mother's Help, Black-eyed Susan, B. E. W., and The Last Rose of ' Summer. ' - . Ardleigh, core Mr James Smith, Glenurie, Kelso, would like to exchange autos with Weary Willie, Tired Tim, Mother Goose, The Only Chick, Lady Boittersea, Luceda, and any other L.F. -willing. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. M. M'Cubbin. — Your list of birds arrived . without the necessary coupon attached. If " you will send "t to me, I shall enter your list for the competition. Pahd Bill.— Thank you lor your letter. I am very glad to hear that you are on the way to recovery now, and hope you will be very careful of your health./ until you are quite well again. Bikobiko. — Your entry ,for competition VII 1 came in without the necessary coupon. .1 shall still count it sligible if you will send me 'the coupon by Saturday. MiLLii.— There was an error in the spelling of one of the po-litociams' names; that gave you only nine instead of 10. lam supplying a coupon for you for your essay: I was fortunately able to procure one. Mountain Rambler. — I have sent the Witnesses, as requested, 'and hope they reach you safely. " ' D.L.P. BADGES. Badges sent to Schoolboy, Una. Trewinnon, Pinkie, Little Eric, Queen of May.