LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 91

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

l£ott»:— We write for the benefit of others, act

for ourselves. ££T No letter to contain more than 150 words

Dear Dot, — We have had very little frost so far, the mornings being generally foggy. We have at present a few bunches oi rhododendrons out in bloom, and some more coming, and this is the second month of winter. It looks as it they had mistaken the time, and thought this was spring instead of wint-er. There are still a tew' roses on the bushes, but if we get frost soon it will spoil them. Dear Dot, have you ever seen a timothy head all sprouted? I think it is a peculiarity only to he- seen on the West Coasc, as we have shown them to more than one person, and they could not tell Ub what it. was. They are very pretty, especially when shey are covered with a mass of small green leaves. We thought at first they could not be the seeds, as "they would not be ripe enough, but we are sure that they are now, as I got some a week or two back with roots on them. It must be the dampness of the climate that causes them to spring. I have also noticed a cocksfoot head sprung a certain amount. Thank you for the information concerning the beil-oird. I have often heard it since, but 1 have never been able to gel close enough to have a good look at it. The other night, when I was over at the station, a morepork came and sat on the station. I started giving the morepork call, and it started moving its head quickly from side to side as if trying to puzzle out what kind of new species of his tribe he had found. Aftex a iew minutes it suddenly flew away, uttering a queer, angry cry. They are quite plentiful about here, and at night they may ">e heard in all directions. I bave seen a good number of fantails lately, both black' and pied. They are very pretty iiitle birds, and it is nice to see them flitting around opening and shutting their fanlike tails. It is very curious that nobody oan find, out which is the male and the female, or if they are two species. Hoping that the S.S.W. will be a success, and that •a. large number of the older L.F. as well as the younger will contribute, I must now close, with love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself. — Yours truly.

BLUE VIOLET.

[That is very strange about the timothy and cocksfoot, Blue Violet. The damp must account for it. With regard to the fantails, there are vwo species — the black and the pied, — and their habits are very much alike. The male and the female of both species are quite similar in appearance. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — It is a long time since I last wrote to you. lam very busy just now, and hwve plenty of writing to do. lam learning book-keeping by post from Christchurch, and that taxes up- a lot of my lime. lam working in the Post Office and store at Limehills, and I like it very much. We have had good weather here lately, up to this week. It started snowing to-day, and 1 think the ground will be white tomorrow. W.e shall have some fun snowballing each otbei then. The fireside is the best place on the cold winter nights. At least. I think so. My holiday is a long time past, and I am at last going to tell you about it, although it was not a very pleasant one. On Tuesday, March 9, I left by the 9 a.m. train for Lumsden with two friends. After going about a mile and a-haif up the line, a beast ran across the line, and put the engine off, thus delaying us five hours. During "this five hours- we passed the time at a friend's place about a mil* off, and at 2 p.m. we left for. Lumsden by the midday train. The other one shunted back to town. When we arrived at Lumsden we had a cup of tea, ' and theni drove from there to Balfour. We stopped at Balfour, and had tea and at 9.30 p.m. we started off for Waikaia, which is the place where I apent my holidays. We arrived there at 12.30, and were ready for bed, as we were tired. In the morning, when I got up I had a good appetite. In the evening I went to a church social, and enjoyed myself greatly. On the following day (Thursday) I went to a picnic, and had a good 1 time. On Friday I went for a ride on the bicycle. But on Saturday I did not feel too well. On Sund-ay I felt -worse, and for four days I was ill. I was better on Tuesday, however, and went to Balfour. I stayed there two days, and left for home by the midday tram on< Thursday, and arrived safely at Centre Bush, a-t 5.20. Well, I never enjoyad myself very much, but hope to have bsttsr luck next, holiday. I forgot to say I was ou a dredge up at Waikaia. Well, I must now close, with love to all the L.F. — Yours truly,

BONNIE JEAN.

[You had an eventful holiday, Bonnie Jean, even though it had its objectionable side. I wonder whether you had too good a time the first two days? lam glad you are liking your work. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to the page, and I ho>pe it will be in print. I like reading the letters which the L.F. write. Igo to school at Balclutha. We ha\ c a cow and a horse. I can play golf a little bit. I like reading books, and I am saving up my money to buy some more. My mother is making me a new dress for winter. It is snowing, and it is very cold to-day. We are having our winter holidays now. I have never had a chilblain in my life. lam knitting myself a pair of cuffs for winter. I think I will close now, with love to Mistletoe II and yourself. — Yours truly, LILY OF THE VALE.

[Your first letter is welcome, Lily of the Vale. There is nothing like having our own books. They seem to become more real when they belong to us and not to a library or a friend. — DOT.]

Dear Dot. — I have not written to the page for a long time ; you will be thinking I have forgotten you -altogether. There has been a good lot of snow, here to-day. It has been the first snowfall we have had here for this winter. We have a library at our school, which is called "The Victoria League Library." My mother and I have joined it, and there are very nice books in it. I have got my sister to write to the page, as well as myself; her N.D.P. is E. I. C. The garden is not much just now, as the flowers are nearly all past. With love to Lizzie's Sister, Cherry Plum, Queen Maud, and yourself, — Your.« truly,

COTTON.

Dear Dot, — I now take up my pen to ■write you a few more lines. To tell you the truth, Dot, I don't know wha-t to write about. I will now give the names of some books I have read lately: "Uncle Tom's Cabin," *Young Peggy M'Queen," "Mother's Little Girl," "Aunt Jane's Hero," " The Fairy Godmother," and a good few others which I forget the names of. Now, dear Dot, you must excuse this scribble, as I am in a hurry. Are we allowed to write stories out of books for S.S.W., or have we to make them up? "What a number of new writers you are getting every week, Dot! We will very aoon- want a Witness all to ourselves, won't we? Where are you, A Telescope and Blue Ribbon? Are you both asleep for the winter? - If so, wake up,

and write to Dot. Dear Gravel, did yon get that little box I sent to you? _I have not much news this time. Dot, so I will close now, with best love to Gravel, Shasta, Luceda, Lily Blossom, Harvest Bell, and your dear self, — Yours truly, LOJN'GWOOD BLOSSOM.

[There is no reason why you should not use New Zealand history to help you in your story, but the story must be your own composition, and not copied direct from a book.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,— This is the first letter I have ■written to fche page. I hope you will accept me as on« of your little Jj.F. lam in Standard 111 at school. I have a nice yellow cat, which I call Tommy. He can jump through a hoop and over a stick at the same time. We are milking three cows just now, and their names are Duchess, Lil, and Lady. All the farmers about here are busy ploughing the land just now.— Yours truly, E. I. O.

[Always glad to have another member of my family. Did/ you teach Tommy to jump yourself?— DOT.] v

Dear Dot, — It is -a long time since, I wrote to the page. News is very scarce at the present time. My brother was at the Dunedin show, end he came home to-day. We are making gardens at the school just now, and we have to cart soil to build it up. We haven't planted any flowers in it yet, but we mean to plant some soon. We have church every second Sunday in the school. - We have Sunday school before church. 1 did not go anywhere for Easter this year. • My brother was up at _ the Volunteer camp at Mandeville. -He came to see us before he went away again. The Invercargill show is "on the 15th June, and I don't think any of us are- going to it. "W« had a school excursion to .the Bluff in February. One of my brothers has got a- phono-^ graph.' and he has got about 50 1 records/ They are very nice, some of them! lam looking forward 1 to Special-. Subject Week. This is all I can say, with love tp Que«n Maud, Mountain Maid, and yourself, — Yours truly, SOPHIA FtJLGARIE. Dear Dot, — Now that we are having our holidays, I thought I would send you a fevr lines "and tell you "how ,1 have been spending my time since I last wrote to , the page. At Easter my mother and a school mate and myself weni for a* trip to Teniiika. We left home on the Thursday, and stayed at Oaversham that night; then we went on next" day. We arrived at Temuka. aiboufc 5 o'clook. My auntie met us with th« buggy, and we had a pleasant drive to my grandmother's place. Have you ever been, to Temuka, Dot? I think it is a pretty place, And quite a change from. 'Oatlins. We have had two months' holidays from, school. Our school was too small, so we had to get a new one. When it opens we ate going to have a- concert, and lh« school children are going 1 to sing. Whew . it aomes off I will write .and, tell you alt about it. I must close now,- "with love to Pretty Polly,- -Lady Crew, and yourself.— Yours truly, " ' , CLIMBING- FAIRY. [Yes.. Climbing Fairy, Temuka is a very different place from Catlins. I remember it chiefly on account of a beautiful sunset I saw there while driving through many years ago.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I was glad to see my first letter in print. . It is, snowing here at present. The traction -engine and mill will be here some day nest- week 1 H the snow dries up. We have five working horses, one foal, one hack and & pony. .We have 150 sheep, ' and 10 young cattle. I have two brothers and three sisters. I will also tell you what books I have got as prizes. Their names axer "The Boyhood of^ Great Inventors," -by A. Fiaser ' Robertson ; "The Story of John Wesley," by Marianne Kirlew; "May, Guy, and! Jim," by Ellinor Davenport Adams; "Jack," by Y. Osborn; "A Boy Crusader," by T. Nelson; 'Ohrist, Our Saviour," by Mrs White. I have read a- few of those. I shall dose now, wito love to all the L.F. and yourself. — Yours

RAPITI.

Bear Dot, — This 1b my first letter to your page. My two -sisters used to write to the page. Last time. one of them wrote you did not 'put the letter in the page. We persuaded her to write again, and that was not put ' in either, so she wouldn't write again.. Mamma, asked me if I would write, and I said "Yes." I often road the D.L.F., and find it very interesting. lam nine years old, and anr in the Second Standard. One of my sisters is going to . the High School, and likes there very much. . We all like reading Daisy Primrose's letters, they* are so interesting. I must close now, with - love to sull the D.L.F., not forgetting yourBelf. — Yours truly.

VIOLET ELLISON.

[Well, Violet, I shall continue to wonder if I was the culprit, or whether your sister misred seeing her letters. __ You know sometimes the letters, having to take their turn, don't appear until over a week after they are> written. We will take good care that yourf gets safely into print. I. am pleased' t« welcome you. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — As I have not written to you, for some time, I think I will begin a letter to-night. We got a half-holiday to-day for the Prince of Wales's' Birthday. Our teacher was ill for a, while, but is now better. This month,- either on Tuesday or -Wednesday, our late stationmaster went away, and; another is now here to fill his place. British Boy was not at school to-day. We havfe not had many severe frosts this winter yet. I have just finished a book the title of whica was "Hillside Farm," by M. X Ridley. My brother is trying to grow some ferns. I was down at Waitopeka on Empire_ Day, and had a fine time. The morepork has disappeared altogether. I»ittle Sunbeam is away to the Dunedih show. I have over 100 "postcards. We got a new cow not long ago from Ohvo Rose's mother, and we call her Mina. I will stop now, with love to Blue Rocket, Olive Rose, Little Sunbeam, and not forgetting youreoK.— Yours truly POND LILY

Dear Dot,— You will be wondering what m the world has taken yours truly again — another writing fit, I suppose. "Well, as I'm not doing anything much to-day, I thought I would write to you. Our teacher is leaving this school in about a month. _ It is raining just now, and a. cold wind 1 is blowing. I wonder, Dot, would you mind if I sent in a story for Special Subject Week. I have never done so before, and this one. might not be a success ; but I'll per'iaps try ; don't you think so? Have you forgotten me, Nightingale? So many are asking tl.e same question" that, surely . you can't help noticing them. I have been reading about a, trip round the world. I would like to go the same trip. I would love to go to India, the wonderful land, and Egypt still more. The man whe Wrote the story of his trip round the worid said that he had often wondered why the Bed Sea was called that, but sus he went on ho saw that it must have first been called the . Red-hot Sea, because of the terrible heat; but as time went on the second word became so hot that it had to be diovped. At Aden, while the ship is taking ia o»al, tke passengers

keep in ihsij cabins or go ashore for a abort time, because of the merciless Jreat. It used "to be -the custom ;for passengers to amuse themselves by watching Jiative »oys diving for pennies pitched into Hhe sea, but a few years ago one of, the divers was gobbled up by a hungry shark, right before the eyes of the audience, since when the ship lias forbidden the practice. When the traveler went to India he went to see the Taj Mahal . erected by Shall Jehan as a me- • morial to hicr wife, Arjairnan Mumtaz liahal. It -was ids most cherished dream, to make it the most -beautiful building in the world. The 35aj'st«nds on a marble platform about 55ft high, nand about .300 ft square. This richly-*erved and embellished 1 platform or dais in teen rises from! a> pavement of red sandfcuone and marble, that extends laterally to Has "walls of H3ae ground, where erected two beautiful ioosques } eaoh facing . fhe mausoleum. In the mlddla -of the side "walls, and looking toward . th« central portion of the garden, two omuTniealal buildings, surmounted l>y dome-lite cupolas, are . noted, while a colonnade, terminating in iugily-embellislied -boyr-eis at •eacli angle, . -extends along three sides of the enclosure. The icaveliex also -visited ihe Temple of \hz Cow. The cows aase under the .temple r iof, while a beautiful court surrounds the temple. The Bacxed cow* Jie quietly chew- . ing their sacred cud. The next place visited was the Monkey Temple. Here numbers of monkeys of all .ages and sizes live. The tourist is supposed tfo feed the : manle-VB, and -they rub their stomachs, ■ •smack iheir lips, and- show their empty l«nds. N<ext day lie Burning Gliat was ■visited. Here a*e cremated the Hindu dead. 'Wien ihe body is burned to * heap ■ of glowing -oasis, ihe j>elatives gainer xound for the list parting ceremony. This consisted -of pouring Ganges -wafer Irom an ■eaithen jar on the embers, and at the same ■ •fame tpecifang a, pcrtior. of fee Vedic funeral service. When the fire has been quenched <the earfiben jar -or "chattie" was held aloft, and ak the •end -of a, prayer dashed on thte pavement .balotw, where it broke into a thousand pieces, thus symbolising the complete disintegration of the body and the severing of all humacn ties. AfteT this the funeral party fi]»3 -down to the bathing sphai, and -performed ihe cleansing of their bodies, for ooniact wdth the dead is unclean. Tlaey then departed Sox -the nTjofle tjl "the dead, mhea>e, after £he doors and walls had been sprinkled "with, sacred water, the ceremony ended, and each returned to his home. In. the meantime four men bearing a body ■ on «, bamboo litter descend the steps above the burning ghat, and l^ay the corpse in ijbe water till only the face .remained above the surface. . Then .each man takes a handful of water in his hands, and lets it trickle into the mouUt of the dead. 'Now, Dot, as there is a lot more to tell, I'll tell it in my next letter. With, love to all D.X.F. and yourself,— Tours truly, THE FEOST MAIDEN.

tl Tiope I shall receive a, story from" you. With regard to a portion of your letter being missed, did you look at the 1 bottom of ■She advertisement in the first column of the seoond p&ge ?— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I was very pleased to see my letter in the Witness. lam 11 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard. We h<ava fceen .having "very rough weather lately, and if was raining <m Friday. 1 have had several ieeth -cut, and some stopped, and it ■was iiot 'v«ry nice. I think the book called '' 3?h« .Lamplighter" is very nice to read. • There axe a few HF. I know about here. My iaAher and aunt went down' to the -winter show. I think I will close with love to WilS Ifcoses, A. Bunch of Blue Violets, *n<3 yourself, — Yours truly, EARLY BIRD

Dear Dot, — Having read and heard so TO/acli of you and your interesting band <>f correspondents, and as my cousin (who has been -writing to the page for a considerable time and is very keen on D.L.F. topics) Iras been and is now doing ler hest to try and persuade me to write to you, I now take the pleasure of complying with her ■wishes, to my own enjoyment and her satisfaction. There are quite a large number of L.P. in this district, and . although I am acquainted witih the majority of -them, I don't think they are aware of my des:re to become one of their number. To tell , you a little about myself: It is now a few years since I left school. I don't think I am a very interesting individual, and am mostly considered a shy sort of person. "Still rnns the water where the brook is > deep" is a time-worn saying. f l wonder if it applies to me. Some of my friends eeem to -hake a delight in repeating it in my presence, but I really don't think I em so very bashful. At present lam living two or three males from InvercargiJl. and h«ve been doing so for several years now. We were living in the North Island before coming down south. I re in ember ii was very cold here when we "arrived, and it seemed rather dreary at first, after living in the "sunny -north." A few days ago my uncle, * friend of mine, and I went to the Bluff for a trip and a little sea air. It was a fine day, and we enjoyed our- , selves imjnense'y. We cJimbed to the summit of Bluff Hill, and viewed the ocean for miles -around; but w* didn't remain on th« top Jong, as it ■was- ratEer breezy, and we econ found our way to a more sheltered spot lower down the hill. After a while we found ourselves al the foot of the hiJl once more, and finding it time to go home, • we made a rush for the train, which we just managed to catch. At last, we reached oxtr home, ■well pleased with our day's outme:. . Now, Dot. I think I shall conc'ude, as this . is quite lonp enough for a first, letter to the ' page. Honing you will accept me as one of your LJ., — Yours truly.

APRIL MOBX

[You have made a very good V>e?iiminpr. April Morn, and I horve your ieitexs will arrive quite often in the future I don't think ycu haVe taken another's name. — DOT.]

Dear Dot. — This i= toy first I-efcter to your page, and I horse tou will include me as one of ycur Little Frlk. There are 19 children going to -our fcJioo!. J am 12 years of age, and lam in tb™ Fifth Standard. We ■axe having very windy weather »p here, and lain too. 'W-e hod rtn^e feet of snow last ■winter, but 1 hope it won T t be so much this time. "We nave a parrot. and it is Just beginning to talk; we call him Joe. I will now close with love to all D.Ii.F., and not forgcttirg yourself. — Yours truly, SOOTTIE,

[Ijet roe compliment you on tie neainess of 3?otcr letter, Scoitae. Yon -will have received yoiiT badge by tlow. — DOT.] Bear Dot, — Here I am again, like tie proverbial bad penny. We are having very wet vteaiher here, and the roads are in a cL-eaclfal state — mad everywhere you go. 33)« re was » concert down here, and my sister etmg » solo? It was a beautiful uiglit, amd tihere -eras * great crowd there. Our minister (Mr Johnston) ias left here and gone away to Stewart Islaad, and he ■got such beautiful presents before he left. He got a. tra-velling bag and s parving eet; and Mrs Johnston got a silver tea, set. Mr Johnston held a Bible Class every Thursday

■errening in the church, and I never missed & night. It was very nice, and* all "who -went seemed to enjoy themselves. • With love to all tiie J}~LJ?. and yourself. — Yours truly, LOVE'S YOUNG DBEAM.

Dear Dot, — Snowy is very quief. I lave a little pony called Mag. It is a quiet pc-ny. Tecumseh feeds lex in the cold mornings, and I feed lex at night. She is a good walker. It was snowing on Sunday morning. I am getting on at school all aright. There are 29 in the little room at cur school. — -Yours truly,

WATERCRESS

Dear Dot, — I Lave at last mado a start to wiite again to the page. lam now going to school, so I iave not so much time fox writing as formerly. We {that is, father, mother, En», and myeeif) have been up on Mount Buffalo since befor© Christmas, and only returned to Harrietville at tie beginning of April. We h«d! a -splendid holiday We 'did all the sights, and I like the Gorge best of all. It is « wonderful sight, and -suij^asses -na© 3*&-ve ever seen We were out at the Hc*n (s?6Bfti <m Christmas Day, and we got & splendid view of the surrounding mountains. There is a huge rock -standing on- tbe "top of a rise called The Leviathan."" It ib said -that it is 150.000 tens in weight, «und is Q» largest detached jock in the colonies. There is the Monolith, at one time called the Loolcoat Rock. It siards right on ihe edge of another immense rock, and to look at it one would think someone had stood it up on its end. Then ther* is tie Torpedo. It ib exactly like a torpedo, rnly Burger, of course Then there is the Devil's Couch, Egg Rock' Stanley Rocks, Drillhole Boci, Cinderella's Slippers, the Caihedral Rock, asd -ethers. The Cathedral Rock is "very majestic-looking, and is on on« enit of -a Mllock, the Hump being at the other «nd_ From either rock one laa a mia-gnificent view. There are caves in the Cathedral Rock, but very small Xaie Public Works' xn& Tourist Department have spent an enormous amount of money in opening up roads and providing accommodation for tourists to and from tiieeo mountains, and. there is still a lot -of roadmakimg and the building of the hospice to be done. We met a number of New Zealand people while up ihere. We had a slight shock of earthquake here a. fort-nigiL-t ott so » g<> . Kb Tvns o£2«> a ajjiwsaite explosion, and runiblßd fox such « long time afterwards. We "bave had miserable -weather lately. It is fine Sor tav> or Uuee days, and then rains for a "week, "but they say that vb the usual winter weather here. With love to Curly, Erin-go-Bragh, and Howhai, — -Tours truly,

HARRY FARRER, JUjS t .

. [You certainly must have Imd an excellent time at the mountains, Harry. — DOT.] Dear i Dot,— This is my first letter to your page, and I hope- to join your happy band. I go to Tisbury School, and am in the Fifth. Standard. I have tkree sisters and four brothers'. I read the D.L.F. letters every time I get a chance, foT ihey are very interesting. We have four cows, one pig, and some poultry. Some of my schoolmates axe D.L-.F.J so I 'thini I would like to be* -with them in their games. The school to which I go has two large rooms and two porches. There aie two teachers for each room, and tlbexe , are about 160 children. Hoping this will find you well, — Yours truly, RED BIDING HOOD. [I am, pleased to iiav© another Invereargill D.L.F., Bed! Biding Hood.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — It is a long iim-e since I wrote my last fetter to you, but I am going to try and write oftener in future. Last month we Had beautiful weafther for winter, but it seems to hava changed this month, for this morning there w*s «, heavy fall -of snow. It is all lawsy laow, though, on t-he low ground, but ihe hills axe quite white yet. It is very ©old to-day, as it has been blowing ever .since th-e enow melted. We have a fairly big garden, wifh plenty of fruit of every sort in it. The pears are fall done this last day or t^wo, and <nice it is finish-ed I have b&en fixing up my flower garden this last day or two, and once it is finished I srn going to dig amongst the gooseberry and currant trees. We have not got our oats threshed yet as wa cculd not get baps until last week. The threshing mill is in this district at pr?seul, so we are liVtOtr to get it. soon. lam very fond of reading and Ixpve read a. good many books. One of the last on-e* 1 lead was "The Wide, Wide World." I liked it very mucli. and wcu'd like to get soiye more books of the samo writer's. I think I have, told you all the news this time, so T will not stop, «*h love to all the D.L.F. -and yourself, — Yours truly, A. S. E.

[Tb»t is all right, A. S. R. T have reentered vcur name on my Toll. — DOT.]

Dear Dot. — It is a very long time since I penned these two words. I have just written a lot of letters, so I thought I had better write to you. It is very wet liere to-day. "We have had snow and wind, and very lieavy rain showeTS. I think we are going to h»ve a flood, because the rivers are very high. We could not go to school io-day, because it was too wet. It is not very nice miJking the cow this weather, as it is very cold. The cats got mv poor bunny. I was very «orry. Isn't there a lot of sickness just now? Tliis snow cughi +*» take it. all away, doaVi you think so, Dot > What a Jet of new writers there are every weak! And I also see there ars conic retiring every we-vk. I Jinve read some ver » nice books sin_>e I last wrote, th« nances being: "The Dog Crusoe/' "Frank AUreddy's Fortune," and many # others. There > was a very large dance here last week. We had a holiday on Empiro Day, and I had a grand time. With love to Mayflower, Sceptre, and all the other D.L F., not forgetting yourself. — Yours truly,

SALLY.

[You will see, Sally, I am putting a letter from Tecumseh under a separate heading. The subject is the book '-The Dog Crusoe, and taie conden c <ed description is so good I thought it deserved a heading to itself — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — We have been having grand weather thi3 last day or two, and it is very frosty to-night. I am going to -tell you about a. ride I ■went to Arro-w. I left here about 2.15 p m., and. arrived at Arrow at 3.35 p.m. I went over to sc-e a football match, and, my word*, it was a good match "too; but one side was stronger tSfin *he other. Queenstown. being the vea"k side they lost by 17 to nil. After the ma tell was over we went along the principal and only street in Arrow, and stayed yarning until it was time to make tracks for home. I left Arrow at 5.45 p.m., and arrived home at 7, in time to catch the boat from Kingston. Just -after I got out of Arrow a bit I got into a rut, and was thrown right over the handle-bars of my bicycle. When I found I was able to pick myself up, I quickly did 1 so, and found I had bruised my bead -and sprained my thumb. However, I think I got off very lucky. The handle-bars of the bicycle were twisted, and my back wheel buckled, but I managed to fix it up all right to go home with. While I was over at Arrow I only met one D.L.F. Her norn de plume is I^ady Xancy, and I

had a chat with her, but not for -very Jong. There is anotler football match here tomorrow, so I lope Queenstown wins, just to give them a little bit of a chance for the flag, wlicl they are playing for. lam ktill waiting for post-caxds from. Sweetbriax, Purple Hea-tler, and Lonely Lassie. I would haxe likect very much to have "oeem in Dunedin for tie show and DXJ 1 . photo group, but no such luck for a country boy is there, Dot? ' I must .stop now, with best love to Gypsy Queen, Sweetbriar, Lonely Lassie, Purple Heather; Lady Nancy, Longwood Blossom, Lady Leaf, Black Pansy. 2\luta, The Frost Maiden, tiaeeilie, Lady Sne, Hilda Grace, and Bell Heath. — Yours trulj", BOBBIE DEAR. lYou have only two teams in for the flag now, I understand. They must get ' tired of playing one another. How fortunate you escaped without greater injury. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I am glad l to see thai tie page is increasing every week. I lave not seen many of tie Tisbury D.L.F.'s letters for some time. > Cleer up, L.F., and let us h&ar from you. I sa-w Purple Heather's letters this week, but I lave not seen any oiler, Dot. Winter is here, Dot, with its cold days and cold nights. We had a fall of enow here .last Sunday, and' on Monday it was nice to see the white ground, but it did not last here very long, as the Tain fell and melted all of it. lam away from homo just now, Dot, and) I iav-e not very much longer to stay. I lave been up at Centre Bush two „ weeks, and ha.ye only two weeks longer "to stay. I was not -wanting to go home, but J have to, as I itave only fonr weeks to stay, and tie time will soon be up; but you canrot get too much of a -good -thing. lam staying -w±#i my sister, and of course it is jiist like home, for T am treated very -well. Well, Dot, we sSicll Boon ha-yp lie shortest, day now, and tlen ai month after we will notice tie dtoys axe getting longer. My sister is np% keeping too well just now, co I have io get up first ta tls moxning and so that means 5.30; but I don't mind a little,- as I have a. good fire and every tiling I want; so there is nothing to wcrry about-. Well, I must conclude now, hoping io see tmotler letter published from Purple Heather. With love to all the Tisbury D.L.F.,— Yours truly, BELL HEATH. I>©€i3r XJ>o-t 7 TxiErfc 'sv fe-w lines io Xot y^>ix know that I lave not forgotten you. W© are laving very cold weather lere jttsi now. It was snowing for two days. My sister and brothex and I lave collected a. good few post-cards and auJos. My sister. Wild Girl, is away for lex holidays, and I think 3he is enjoying tlem. Purple Heather, I think I know "who you are: I know youx sister, any way. She ie not far frota •where I am living. It is a long "timesince I saw Mother's Help's letter in the Witness. We are not milking for the -factory now. We are only making four cows, and making our own butter. My sister, Lady Leaf, is writing to tie page to-night. Tlere are not nrany D.LJF. Irving about hexe, but all tie- fame I know » good ifew by this time. We are laving- a cold! and wet winter lex-e. It was a fin* winter last year, and we lad no snow. Well, dear Dot, yon will think this is • quite long enough, aud as it is getting near tea. time, I will 'bring my /letter to- a fcloEe, with kindest love to all tie D L.F. and youraeif, — Yours truly, ■ / RUBY

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your band. My father has a big fax.m. We had a lot of cows, and we s have- sold them all but two. lam eight -years old, and Igo to school ewry day. lam in the First Standard. I know two other D.L.F., their names being Sceptre .smd Sally. I 3dve just near them. I have three- sisters and c. brother. They huTC not "written to your page yet but 9Oon. will. I hay© 32 rabbit traps, and I am catching ra-biits. We lave had snow down here, and it is very cold. TMs is all I have io lell you in my lettei this time, so good-bye, with love to all the L.F., not. forgetting yourself, DADDIES BOY.

[Yes, Daddies Boy, I am glad 1 to add you to our numbers. Shall be pleased to heaar fiom you soon, and don't forget 1o write on one side of the paper only. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I suppose thai you and your Little Folk have all forgotten that the little snow flo-wer Edelweiss ever "bloomed! in your large garden, as it is over eight months since I last wrote to your page. I was in. town on Friday, but I did not see any D.L.F. badg-e. MV" brother and an other little boy went in with me. and ihey were very anxious to go to the wharf to see if any steamer might be in. The Waikare was in, so wie wen-t on board h,er, and had a gcod look round. While in the dining room, the boy with me noticed the reflection of the table and chairs in a mirror ■era the wall, and mistook it for a contirmanoe of ths room, and went towards it. He ■was surprised when he touched the wall and glasL. The other night, my sister and two other girls and I were coming home from Bible Class, wtien we +ripped across a string held across the read. Luckily it was not a strong on*, and broke when we walked against it. Queenie II and Swamp Hen go to Bible Clifs too. and we all stay for choir practice. Qaeerde is a terror to talk, especially on frosty night* ; eh. Quetoiie? A penguin strayed up from the t>fach a few weeks asjo, and was tied in front of n shop for efcliibition. The question in W. just now is "I wonder if our hotel will %o out? 1 ' It is th-ought by the majority that it will. Eot long ago I caroeacross a photo of the L.F. taken when the Duke and Duchess were in town. It is rather old fashioned now, and consequent iy the style is amusing. T<vo of my sisters are in it, also three of' the W. girls. Zitella and East Coaster were wanting to write, but were too late m ihinking about it. The school girls have formed a hockey club now, and Zitella can talk nothing else but ho&key. She is a great bookworm, Dot, j.nd I, h?ving used up all my persuasive powers in trying to break ler off the haoit of reading to a slight extent, have come fco the conclusion that bookworms wil! be bookworms. I read a greet number of books myself, but she beats me. : Aivtra. are ycu Bleeping? I think you must be: you hsvo not - written fox * long time.' "Oe'l, Dot I will close with kve toa!3 Do-t s \ Folk— Ycurs tiuly, EDELWEISS j [You are o stian^er, Edelweiss, but thera ii an art in making us all remember you, with a few characteristic words, and you have acquired that. 1 hope- you will rot oe silent for so long next time. — DOT.] Dar Dot, — Once again I sit down to pen v, few lines to the page. You will be thinking I have forgotten both you and the page. I see Kia Ora won a de"bate. He is to be congratulated. Hurry up., and try and win another, ICia Ora. The weather has been pretty rough up this way lately. We had some snew last Sunday. In fact, it nearly ended in a flood. It has calmed off a bit now. lam not a great reader myself, so I can't e-vy anvtning about reading. A lot of the. "D.L.F. seem very fond nf reading. I have often started a. book, but have never managed to get through it. I have a lot of nice prizes too. My sister

'is "not v reader either. DeaT Dot, I must dose now, as I have to go to -work fairly early, in the morning. lam only gbin& fox a week or a fortnight, as the person- I> am working for is ill. I will write more next 'time. With kind regards to Kia Ora, Claarit-y, yourself, and all' the D.L.F.,— Yours truly. .STAR OF HOP"E. IPerhaps, the books you have tried' to lead have not beeu irteresiing, Star of Hope. I .-wouldn't give up trying. — DOT.] ! Dear Dot, — It is a few months since I last wiote "to the page. The roomings are very ' •cold irhen we go to school. I walk two . miles to -school evexj day. My auntie is staying with us just 'now. ' We have a good I time. All tie farmers - about here aore very busy trapping for the factory.— Yours truly, QUEEN IDA. [I suppose you are hungry -wien ■you get .back from, school in the evening lassie.— DOT.] i Dear Dot, — I have taken great interest in" tie DX.F. Page. W-e have had very rough weather lately. I think it has settled now for a wjbilej it is a treat to have fine weather again after the rougii. I was looking' at an ole& Witness, and saw in it that Xi» Ora Jbad won the debate. X would lilte to congratulate him. upon it. I' 4hink this is all* at present. I will close? " ■with best wishes ' to Kia- Ora, Chaxity, and! Star' of Hope, not forgetting yourself. — ■ Yours truly, HOPE. Dear Dot, — I now take up by pen, to ■wiite ycra a few lines. We * aie getting winter now. It was snowing last. Sunday. I got; 10 new books to-niglt. I went to Ailanton on Tuesday with my father. I enjoyed the ride very much, and I was -driving nearly. aU day. I left "horne 1 " in tie, Tnornin-g efoout T o'clock, and «rrivejT lorn a at 4 o'clock. We lave a-- createdgrebe and » kakapo. I must now close, with love to all tie Little Folk,— Youip s truly, ORANGE L-ILY TI. [I saw a paiT of stuffed cresteS grehes wlile on my last holidays. Orange Lily. They had been procured rroin Lake Rotoroa," in 2vi«]son. Where did youro -come from, I wonder. They are very rare birds now.— ' DOTJ v ' I D«ar Dot,— This is the- fir3t letter I iwv* - written to the page far about a year now, -and 1 ought to .tore a gDotJ lot to s»y. X was in Dirnedin last August,- and I enjoyed myself very much. I was in the Museum, and brw many strarige animals. We h\«6f cur school concert not lone ago, but it •wasn't a nice night, and there irere not many there, but we all enjoyed ourselves" very much. There noa a d«nce *ftex. - Oar school teacher is getting 1 -a., three-roomed' , residence built. It la 3 been Very rougii down leie these few days. — Yours truly, LITTLE BOY BLUE-. Dear Dot, — I was very glad to see my last letter in print. We have ha-3 very "bad weather here. We play marbles' a£ school. They are laying the traxn>w<&y past our xl*oe. I like gorog to school. TheTe are 72 children going to our school. W* milk one cow, and hex name is Topsy. '1 am in .the First Standard at school. There are four new louses built' opposite our ' place. They lave finished the railway lin« iiom Waihoaka "to Te Tua. The school i« three miles , from «or place. • Wrthr lov* , to all Dot's Little* Folk,— Yours truly, , TEia

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to fh» page. I am nine years eld, *nd in *b» Second Standard at school. ~W*~ have tw» kittens, wh~ose names are W-hitefoot »nd Sambo. I have read a number erf books—; ■n»ine,]y, "Love's Golden Thread," "How Paul* - Penny 'Becanse a Pound," and "Holidays at Sandy Bay." T came io ITew Zea- - 3and four years ago, from . a place called. Wollongong, a. few mile 9 from; Sydney, &nd I did' not care fcr New Zealand weather, fox a long time. I am in the Band of Hope, and go to practice once a week. I) sar X>ot, this is- all the news with, love to alii the li.F., not -forgetting youTself. — Tours truly, ILIiAWABHA LASSIE.

[I suppose you found; it much colder in Otago than whtxe you came from, Lawie. However, we gel used io the more vigorous climate. Write again soon. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — I waa pleased to ace my letter in. print. It hoa been this last few days, and I have been- compelled to stay inside, so I thought it would "be a gooS •chance to write to you. School opened today, after a week's holiday, and I -was not* 1 sorry when the day came to a close, as my feet "were jus! ' about frozen." My sister is writing to -you to-night for the test time. She has often made an attempt^ but burnt them, as sihe thoug-hi iley were not good enough. I lad two of my cousins from Ifilton staying "with me lately. They were here * fortnight, and we had great games. We "were out nearly every clay picnicking and bike-riding. W« wen£ to the beH/cit, and had only reached there when the rain cam© dtown m. torrents, so instead of taring a picnic at the beach we had one coming home drenched to the s"kin. I thini ■we have given, up I^ie beach until the summer* comes again. I went hack to Milton with them, and stayed a. fortnight W« •went up to the Fairfax Cemetery. ' It is a, large one, and very nicely ladd Out. I did not think i± was such a large one. t My aunt came back with us, but only stayed a • ■we&k. as her baby took "bronchitsß, and she haldi to go home sooner than she eipected. That is the second time she has come out here for- a. holiday, nn<t the bshy has taken ill This place surely wra't agree with them. Dear ■ Dot. I have been looking forward t9 a trip to Dunedin this last two years, but have always been dißapiwiuted. But I hope to get tha* far this time, *« I only had » short «tuy fcere when we were coming through four years iiso, so I don't know much about it. I did not care muchi for this climate after T>eing used to the lout xonnd -Sydney way, but now I do not think I would care to go back, as when there aire » iw lot Says here I am complaining, and tli« heat hew is nothing to over theTe. We used to laugh *t the fruit being sold by the pound here, as it is sold by "the doren over there, such as apples, peaare. T>eaci>es, «fo., ana «c olum* and smaller fruit !■ sold "by the p*nt; bet graces— real good ones— you can owt for a penny and twopenc* * pouna Tho cheapest tiey get dovn tint "way _» m " c " wtice. «7id you think that » terrible price rfter being used to getting them so che«^, I have never scan a water melon «mcß I came here. They ore" T-ery nice oa a» w*rmi day. They So in place of m drink. Tou can get one as large as you can carry . for -sixoence. WelJ, dear Dot, '-I thro* I will draw U> * <3o*e, -with love to yourself and all the HW. ' Dear Dot, — It is a very long tame «mcc I last wrote to your page, but I hope you have not forgotten me. I ami no* in £19 Fourth Standard. *t school. We are to have ■an examination on Monday. ATjKnit * month ago two men came to our school to take our photographs, and sold the prints for sixpence each. Last week we had . our winter holidays, which we enjoyed ver? much. My father and I went up Flagstaff , i

and Mount Cargill. On Tuesday we started ebout 9 o'clock to go up Flagstaff, and went through the bush. When we got out into the scrub we had a job to find some water. Arter scrambling through the scrub for about as hour w e found 1 a track, and very soon a lovely stream of water. We boiledth» tally, had lunch, and started on again When we reached the top we had a, lood view of Dunedin. On coming dow« agaiu Thursday. Thursday -morning found us going up the Pine Hill road on our way to en<i of the road we got com* water at a, «f m !: : n ° n a"*™* at the top we boiled the billy, and' had our lunch. It was a beautifully clear day, and we got a magnificent view. About half-past 3 a mist caW aown, and m five minutes we could scarcely see naif a chain aliead of us. We hurried down, but got about two miles out of our course. After walking on we came to a house, and asked the way down. The man joja us, and we were soon walking home on **»c road. On Friday I went' to the show. rf V V°£ t^ er be , en up Fla gstaff ox Mount climb. The following are some good books L. r ?£ d: . Unga**," "Little Lord Fauntleroy, "Swiss Family Robinson," "Alice's Adventures iv Wonderland," "Wildcat hZr'C T 1 " Tie <***«»•.' Story." We have two dogs now, one called Bob and the other Tiny With love to all Little Folk -and yourself,— Yours truly.

BLACK BEAUTY. [There is no doubt that the view from Mount- Cargill is one" of the finest in the bouth island, apart from the actual mouncl^ x?. ce^ ry - I - have be en to the top Be to and Mount Cargill, Black

Dear Dot,— As this is the first time I Save written to you, I do not intend to send a. long letter. lam in the Hospital now, ana have been, here for eight months. Before I came into the Hospital I used) to nave great times mushrooming at Macandrew Bay One day when I was in a paddock looking for mushrooms, there came from a o lump of bushes not fa* off a half ,a. dozen, bullocks rushing towards me, and 1 had juat got on top of the fence when the nrsfc bull omashedl into the fence behind me, and fallmgi on the ground I knocked! <my nap, and was carried' home in a motor car, where I took bad.— Yours truly T m. MOZART. [I. hear you are a great artist, Mozart, and you sketch the various nurses in your ward. I hope you will send me a sketch next time you write. — DOT.] I>ear Dwi,— l am going to write you a "letter tonight. I diaven't seen, my last letter— my Biater has not sent me it yet. I hardly ever see the Witness now; we don't got it here. The winter seems to be passing very quickly this year— to me, it ia hard to realise two more weeks will see the shortest day. I have been very busy yesterday and to-day, as my sister was away to Dunedin for the shew. There is a lot of work in this house for one person, and it is a very hard- house to keep cleanseem* to be always dirty. ' Hy two brothers are s»t home. It is a very quiet place this; you never see a person passing up »he road, except on rare occasions. We are ri*ii from the population, and there are *on]y my two brothers, my sister, and niysp.'f here. My sister- said she would be home to-day, but somehow I did not expect her till I saw her. I rode round to the siding," and I got & bit of a surprise, as my sister was there, and" she had brought the friend with whom she was staying with her I did get a surprise, as I was backing into the ctatnon not ■ looking, -and I heard an exclamation of "Why, here's M. and Bil!!" (Bill is the dog.) They had come by the slow train, and were stacked up with luggage, but they oouldn't carry it. I strapped my sister's big overcoat in front of my saddle, but I could not carry any more on the pony, as she ia only a young one. I tried to race them going round the road — they wero walking through the paddock 3. and I set off a-t a gallop round the muddy road. I had to keep up on the bank, or I would have been covered with mud; but they just sot first by a few minutes. I "was so sorry I had not! got home in time to light the fire. Igo out tiding every day, as the little horse gets fresh. She has a •terribly hard .mouth, and I always have to rids her on the snaffle, as she has a trick of rearing up and coming backwards on the curb, and that ia a dangerous thing in a horee My brother is breaking in a young colt, and he does "not chink it will ever give up bucking, but he is a, quiet, docile beast to handle. I give him apples to eat. My brother rode Jones's buckjumpers when here, *nd he never got thrown except once, and that was through his stirrup coming off. Both my brothers threw the lasso and rope-spun for the entertainment. — Yours truly, ' THE FLOWER OF DUNBLANE.

P.S. — Our new trotting track here is just a sheet of wa4er, and it is going to be used soon. They will have to run the water off. The grand stand is just finished. — F. O. D.

Dear Dot, — Just a line to let you know I am still alive. There was -snow here last. Sunday, but it- was a lovely day *uday. lam once more at my grandmother's house with my two eldest brothers, but one of my brothers went home. I was out Jot a ride to-day on a pony named Dolly. She is a very quiet pony. The men were making a new bridge over the Flaxin-ill Creek, and when vp© were going to school we had to cross over the piles We were in town two days at show time. The first night we went to see the Chinaman, and the second night we went to the Carnival. On the second day we went to the show. I did 1 not like the show at all, but I iikect fhe Cnrniv-p-I. There isn't much news about here, Dot, so I think I must close, with love to a!l the little folk. — Yours truly. WINKIE.

Dcf.r Dot, — Just a few lines to let yen know that I have not quite forgotten you. I have been laid up with hip disease. I have been bad ever sinos last November. I lay inside the house for two mouths, and X have been on crutches -ever since. We have had very rough weather lately. I have had a good spell, haven't I, Dot? I think this is all I can say just mow, so good-bye. Hoping you and all the D.L.F are well. — Yours truly,

EIKALB.

[You have indeed had a most trying time of it, Eikalb. I wonder how you manage to pass the time? Write soon and tell me more about ycur=elf, your thoughts, and your doings.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, — We are having seme bad weather up here now, but en the whole we have had a good season. The snow is very thick on the Dunstan and the Umbrella Ranges, and we thought we were- going to halve a fail of snow on Sunday night, but it did not come. I have a* little baby brother since I last wrote. We "have got our winter holidays, and have to go back to school on ih* 14th of this month. Then wo will #et another weak in November. As

I think I have •written enough I will now close ■with love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself. — Yours tiuly

VELVET ROSE.

Dear Dot, — This is my first letter to the page, and I hoje you will accept me as one of your littls folk. We have had very windy wea f her lately, ard some snow also. I ■am veiy fond of reading, and have read a lot of books, some of the most interesting being "By Berwen Banks," by Allen Eaine; "At fhe Mercy of Tibsrius," "The Last of the Mohicans, "In the Days of tl'e Pioneers," and a great many more. I think that Mrs Henry Wood's books are very interesting, also Allen Eaine's. I have a big black cat with a white breast, and his name is Moody. I had another, but it died. I Lave also a little fox terrier called Spotty Do you like dogs, Dot? I do, and Spotty is ■a, great favourite of mine. I ami very fond of riding, and prefer the sidesaddle. News is very scarce down he;e I know a. few I/.F. I will have to stop now, with love to Little Miss Vanity, Hezeldell, yourself, and the other little folk. — Yours truly,

PftINCESS DELPHINE,

[I don'fc know which I like better, Princess, ca+s or dogs. Peibaps we like cats because they appeal io the touch and are so -graceful— though thej must be clean and ■well brought up — DOT.J

Dear Dot, — Winter has come, and it is very cold in the mornings. We are having a, snow-storm/ here, to-day, and we are all expecting a fall tomorrow. The school is to reopen again to-morrow, and) if there is snow -we will have some good lun at snow fights. The farmers are starting to plough and lime their land for ' the next season's crops. One farmer not far from, where I live has ploughed some steep ridges, and h# has employed the traction engine to cart lime on to hem. Babbiting is the chief industry about bere just now, and many men make a living at it. I was setting 30 traps until yesterday, but I brought them home instead of setting them. I have caught -from 12 to 19 rabbits la a morning.. I used to catch about 17 as a rule. It was .prettj cold! looking after my traps in • the evenings and again •in the early mornings. But as there are plenty of rabbits close to where I live, I did not have to go very far to look after my traps. I used to be hot before J got home with my rabbits. After I had my breakfast I used to take my rabbits to the depot. Then after I got home I went to set my traps. In the afternoon I used to go out ferreting. I have a very good feiret, and used to get a loi of rabbits. The rabbiting season opened on the Ist of April, and since it opened I have caught rabbits worth £5 1 8s 9d.— Yoois truly, A BAB.E-LEC-&ED HIGEI/ANDEB.

Dear Dot, — Winter has come, •with its cold and windy days. I tore my right hand with • barb •wire a fortnight ago, but it is all right now. I see some other boy or grrl has taken my N.D.P. ; he or she will have to change it, as I am going- to keep up mine. There was a concert *nd dance in aid' of the opening of the new brick hall at Edendal«. Mr G. J. Anderson presided. T-he Wyndham-.Edenda.le ploughing match will be held at Edendale on June 23; and last of all, the Murihiku Mounted! Rifle Volunteers are holding their military ball on Friday, 11th inst., in fche Wyndham Town Sail. You wianted to know the meaning of Murikiku; well, it is the most "southerly point. ' The snow is here now, but it is almost away; the creeks are all flooded after the snow. I think I will close now, with love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself and the editor.— Yours truly, / - SKOWTE.

[Now, my second Snowie, you hear what this first Snovrie says about your name. He is evidently in earnest, so you will have to look round for a new norn de plume. — DOT.]

Dear Dot, — I think I will write you a, letter, as I .am at home from school with a bad; leg; I have been on the sofa for a month now. When Iwn able to waJk about again I mean to have some good times ferreting, as a friend of ours has kindly offered to lend me his ferrets. lam very fond of sport, and am longing for tke time, wlion I shall be able to carry a rifle. I have- x brother who plays hockey, and I watch the papers toi see when lie is playing andi how he gets on. Do you play hockey, Dot? It is getting a great game now for girls and boys. I have read quite a number of books. The names of «, few of them are: "Peter the Whaler," "The Pathfinder " "Mutiny on the Albatross," St. Winifred's," "Tom Brown's Sob-ooldays," "Cruise of the Cachalot," "Traitor or Patriot;" "Ma.sterman Heady," "Log Cabin to White House," " Robin&on Crusoe," "Gorilla Hunters " "Coral Island," "Geoff Blake," "Edwin, the Boy Outlaw," "How We Kept the Flag Flying," and others too numerous to mention. D.L.F._ whK> liloe stirring and adventurous books, " I can guarantee they'll like every one. With love to all the L.F., with a big share for yourself, — Yours truly,

CHIPS

[No, Chips, I have not played hockey ninoe school days, and then it was not the scientific game it is now. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— We have been having fine weaker lately. I don't think vre had a day's rain all through the month of May. But it started to rain and snow to-day, and it does not look like clearing up y€t. I hope wis, havei a- real fall of sno-w this time, as we can have a snowball. I think we girls always get the woist time when we start snowballing. The roads have been fine and' dry till now, but they hav-e got quite muddy through to-day's rain. Ploughing is in fulil swing now, and most of the farmers who have their pram threshed aie carting it away to the station. But mast of them find it a haord jcb to get a^y trucKs to put th-eir grain in. The farmers are ve^late in g-etlmg th-eir grain threshed owinsr to the shortage of bags, so the roa-ds will be nearly axle deep by the time- all of them get their grain cwted away. It's not hard to tell that winter is with us ince a^rain, as everything seems bare. All the trses have lost their green leavp«. and the flowrs are faded or dead. Jack Frost will soon be "here, making us feel as if our b?d= are the best place for us on some of the cold, frosty mornings that he brings with him. We have had hardly any frost yet down here. I must bring this to a, clo°e. with kindest regards to all the L.P., yourself, and Mr Editci. — Yours truly,

LADY COXXIE

Dear Dot, — I now take ut> my pen to wriie you these few lines, as I have nothing particular to do just now. It is very lonely and quiet her-e in the winter time, but I am very fond of leading, and this takes up a good deal of my time there long evenings. Mrs Henry Wood, Allen Raine, and Annie Swan z.xe my favourite wri*«rs. I have road " East Lynne," "St. Martin's Eve," "Mi'dred Arkell." "Y-erner's Pride," and " Halibur'jon House." Of Mrs Henry Wood's books I like "Ea-<=+ I/vnne" best, but it is a very esd story. We have been having rouch weather here lately ; it was snowing a little on Sunday and Monday, but not

enough to Jet us have a game of snowballs. However, I suppose there will be more snow before winfr&r is over. I know a few of the Little Folk that write to your page, and I hope to know more same day. I am collecting post-cards, and I have 90; but I have not got an album to put them in yet. Well, Dot, I will stop now, as it is getting late, so good-bye ]ust now, with love to all the Little Folk and yourself, Dot.— Yours tru'y, VALERIE.

Dear Dot,— l think it is about time I took up my pen to wirite to the page, but i I have not much to write about this time. ! We have been having dreadful weather lately, which tells us that winter has come again. I was «t the Balclutha show on May 28 _; but there were not may there when I was in. What a nice letter Daisy Primrose writes ; that was a very interesting one about "Our Passengers." It is very quiet up her just now. AJI" the threshing and chaff-cutting is finished up this way." My mother andt father are <awia-y to my sister's wedding; it is on the 16th of this month. She used to write to the page, and' her N.D.P. was Tansy. I suppose there are a few D.L.F. who will remember her. I wonder whst the Chaslands D.L.F. are thinking about. I have not seen any letters in from any of them for ages. I wonder how Micky Drippen is getting on in these days? I have not been out for a ride for « long bhae, as my brother u?es the hor*e> for trapping, and I do :not like getting on his young <me. She is very quiet, but still I am. a bit frightened. I like the old one bes+ — he is the safest. We live \a>boiut one mile from the creamery, a mile and a-half from the school, and about 13 • miles from, Balclutha. I suppose Dunedin will seem a bit quiet now the show is over. I colleot post-caxds, and I have got about 150, some of which are very pretty. They sire aGI - coloured ones. I So not collect any other kind. I have not done any reading for a good while now, as I oannot get any nice books. The last ones I read were . "The Man from Glengarry," "Dene Hollow," | "Edina," "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and "Jess." ' They are all very nice ones. I do not know any D.L.F. up this way; I don't think there axe any. # With love all the D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly.

AWAMANGU.

[Will you be co kind a« to convey to i Tansy Dot's best wishes for her future life? ' And for the rest of us, I think all D.L.F. '• on principle wish * D.L.F. good luck upon i her marriage day. — DOT.] i

Dear Dot,— This is the fiTst time I have i written to your page, but I would like to beoome one of your Little Folk. Igo out rabbiting, and catch some rabbits with my ferret. Tliere a.re not many rabbits near here, and I have got a good distance to go to get them. I have two miles to walk to school, but it does not seem far in the cold mornings, as walking makes me warm. I live near th© Blue Mountains, •and there are a lot of deer on them. In the season for shooting them there are always a lot of stalkers on the ridges and in the bush. — Yours truly, HENDRICKS THE HUNTER.

[I wonder if you ever see the deer on the mountains, Hendrioks ; I suppose you are looking forward to the time when you are old enough to take out a license to shoot them. — DOT.]

De<ar Dot, — It is a- long time since I wrote to you. We are having veTy gioodl weather for winter; to-day it was lovely, and sunny. I was at a surprise party not very long ago, and I had a good time. We are going to have our winter holidays nest week, and I think I will be staying in Dunedin for a. day or two. I mis's the snow here very much, as I anx very fond of making snow men. — Yours truly,

TIT-BIT.

[I wonder whether you ever have a chance to tcgoggan at Brighton in winter, Tit-bit. You would like that, I'm sure. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,— M«y I join the D.L.F. fellowship ? I take great interest in the page, and I engoy _ reading the letters and club papers very much. We have fcbe Witness given to us by a friend who used to live in New Zealand. My home is in the country ai Burwocd' Eiast, about 14 miles east of Melbourne. I have five sisters and three broth-exs, and I am tbc- eldest. Two •of my little sisters vrould like fco write to the page. My father is an orchardist, and we have a large fruit garden. The oranges , are beginning to turn ooLour, and the trees look very nice. We have finished picking all the other fruit. Winter is here now, with plenty of wind .and rain. We have I do snow, but we sometini'es get a distant , glimpse of it on the Dandenong Ranges. Five of our children go to school, end they have four miles to walk every day. Our . district has a branch of the Progressive Association. The Government entomologist gave a very interesting lecture on "Insect Life" at one of the meetings held recently. The lecturer brought out specimens of the various in°ects he spoke about, and they ; were on view at the clcse of the meeting. I Amongst them was a case of beautiful i Am-azon butterflies, which were very much ' admired The association gave a very successful liferary evening, entitled " A Night with Australian Poets." The papers, readings, and recitations were contributed by ■ the members. I have been asked to read, but I cannot pluck up sufficient courage. Other subjects on the syllabus are "District Hie:h Schools," "Evening with Byron," i "Should Women Hnve the Franchise?" "Should Bachelors be Taxed?" Magazine Xight, " Nature Study." "Evening with the Humorists," and " Decimal Coinage" The pnnual meeting was held last week, and a new syllabus was drawn up, but I was unable to attend, so I do not know what subjects were cho=en. I think clubs aro juat splendid. We have a'so a branch of th«> Girl's Friendly Society. My si°ter and I are members It was inaugurated mure than 12 months ago, and started with four members. Eight sirls have been admitted since. We held our first eale of work a few weeks back, and it proved a great success. We made a m-ofit of £12. A cheque for €7 w?s presented to the Church of England H^-iue for Neglected Children at Brighton : £3 was voted to the local Sunday Schocl Fund, and the remainder is being retained for the working' exnenpes o£ our branch I teaoh the infants' c!tps afc St. Luke's Sunday SohooL and T like *f very well. I pra very fond of readme. Charles Dickens, W. M. Thackeray, and Cha^ss Reade aro mv favourite authors. I «cc that many LF. like Augusta J. Evns Wilson's books. I rio rot rare foi <hem at all. I have read "Infelice," "Vashti," "Ft. Elmo." and "Beulah." I rannot see much in the chief characters. They are proud and selfwilled, and most of them possess an inordinate love of learning. I road "St Elmo" when 12 or 13 years old. and I i thcusht it a lovely book, but I changed my mir.d on re-readine it a few years later. A few months ago I had ilie t>leacure of readin? that delightful book "The Water ' Babi-ss." I have never seen it mentioned hr p.ny L.F., and a,s it is a good book, I will tell you more about it next time. I must conclude my I«her now. With krad regards to my poet-card' correspondents,

Venetia Corona, Curly, Maple, Potato Digger, and Sewing Machine; — lours truly,

VICTORIETSTNE. [You have proved yourself both a critio and a stylist, Victorienne, and I look to you to do much to elevate our litexary taste. Dot may talk ad infinitom, but it needs someone from the ranks to set the standard. I ema sure w e are all pleased to welcome an Australian comrade. I shall not forget that we are to hear about " The Water Babies" next time. — DOT.]

Dear Dot,- When I last wrote, we were enjoying the best of summer weather; but now the winder has set in, and it is. very cold and wet. I do not like the winter. We have very few flowers in our garden now, the wind has broken them all down. I live close to the sea,. I like to go out and watch it on a fine night, when the ■moon is shining on it. We often see steamers passing by here. One night my sister and I went for a fide along the beach, and when we were coming home we saw a large steamer out on the sea, all lit up, and it looked very fine. I read a good deal this weather. I think my favourite a.uthors axe Annie Swan, Mrs Henry Wood, and Evelyn Green. I have read "A Divided House." "Wrongs Righted/ "Hazel and Sons," "St. Veda," and a gocd many more of Annie Swan's books. I have also read a good number of Mrs Wood's and a few of Evelyn Green's. Now, I think I will bring; this letter to a close, with beat wishes to all the L.F. and yourself, — Yours truly, v HAZELDELL. Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your page. I go to school every day. My teacher is Miss Gray. I have not missed a day from school this year yet. I don't like going to school on frosty m/oxnings. We are milking 39 cows. I milk five every morning. I have got a little black kitten, with a white streak down its face. — Yours truly, EILEEN* ALANNAH. [I am so sorry that my first answer to you must be all corrections and refusals, bufc I flm sure you won't mind; and 1 you will soon become one of our well-known writers. First, lam afraid Eileen Alannah is a name which, belongs to someone else. Then yiou have not sent me your name and address, and last, I am afraid I have a rule against suggesting names for pets. However, I am glad to hear from you, and" I hope you will write again and send me what you have omitted. — DOT.] Dear Dot, — This is my -first lettei to your page. lam ten years old, aindi am in the First Standard at school. There is only one other in my class. I do not like going to school. « We live close to the beaoh, and- I like playing on the- sand or wading in the water. There is a number of rabbits where, I live. I will write a longer letter next time. I must close now, with kind regards to all the D.L.F., not forgetting wourself, — Yours truly, - BELL-BIPJ}. [Glad to hear from you, Bell-bird. Going to school is one of those necessities we get used to in time, boy. — DOT.] Dear Dot,— This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will accept me as one of your band. I am 12 years old, and am in the Fifth Standard. The weather is very cold down this way just now. As my sister Genevieve is writing to you I thought I would start too. I know a good few D.L.F. about here. Our school was closed for a month on account of the scarlet fever. This letter is very small, as it is the first. With love to Mona- 111, Mildred, and Killarney, and not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly . LILY BELL. [You too I welcome, Lily Bell. Quite a .number of new writers this week.— DOT.} Dear Dot,— l have been away for two w&eks. I came home on Thursday, and am going away on Monday again. Wie had terrible weather about a week ago. I was up at Wamo then. I can tell you it was pretf£ cold up there It is a quiet place. I would not like to live up there; there is only one store. I have a sister living there, and she does not like it. My sister is going in to the Invercargill show nert week. She is the only LINDEN LEAVES. AUTOS AND POST-CARDS Snowie (care of Mr Wm. Leitch, WyndLove's Young Dream, (Anna W. H. Johnston, Niagara, P. 0.) wishee tc autos or post-cards with Gravel, Brend* Gramophone, Lady Esler, Harry, Texas Jack and any other D.L.F. willing Ruby (Miss F. Butler, Dacre P. 0.) would like to exchange autos with any DL F willing. Sure' replies. ' t H£iieidellH £ iie i dell ( Je a n E. Haldane, care of Mr J. Haldane, Waikawa) wishes to correspond or exchange autos with Queen of the Flowers, Lily Blossom, Tea. Cup, Dolly Gray, New Zealand Fern, and any other L.F. willing. Sure replies. Sim's Male (A. M. Dickson, Scott's Gap P. 0., via Otautau) would! like to exchange post-cards or autos with any D.L.F. willing Lady Connie (Edith Dickson, Scott's Gap P. 0., Otautau) would like to exchange autos and post-cards with any D.L.F. willing. D.L.F. BADGE. Badge sent to Chips. D.L.F. AUTOS. Autos sent to Kaka Beak and Wayback.