LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Ustta :—We -write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. g£T letter to contain more than 450 worla. Dear Dot, —We have got our holidays just now, but three weeks of them have gone, and there are only three weeks left. We had a dano'e on the 11th January, and I enjoyed myself immensely. It didn’t end until about; 4 in the morning. My father is cutting grass just now, and my two brothers are stooking. My eldest sister has just gone for a month’s holiday. We are going to have a picnic up the mountain some of thesa days.—Yours truly, i. VALLEY VIOLET. J Dear Dot,—l was very glad to see my first letter in the Witness. We have got a lot oi roses out just now, and also a lot of sweet* peas. I have quite recovered from th« scarlet fever. Santa Claus came round ta our place and left me two dolls and a largqj tea set. Did you hang up your stocking/. Dot? We have got our Christmas hohdaya ( now, and I am very glad, because I do not like school. My sister and I are learning to milk cows now. Our school picnic waa about three weeks ago, and I got three pnze% —one for singing, one for sewing, and the other I got for school work—Yours truly, , 0 e CHRISTMAS BOX. [Old Santa must have had a good stocl( oven when he -arrived at your part of th<? country, Christmas Box. No, Santa sends my presents by post now.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to th« ■page I -am in the Third Standard. 1 have two sisters and one brother writing to- the page. We are having our school holidays just now. I like reading books, but I hka reading the D.L.F. letters better. I am Ilf years old, and I have three sisters and three/ brothers. We have not had our Sunday*/ school picnic yet, and I don t know when* it is going to take place. They always hole* it up the Blue Mountains, Dear Dot I hav< not been to Dunedin yet, but I would hW to go just to see the pretty Gardens. Ml two sisters have been there. I know a h* of D L F. I have been very lazy these hoW days' I have not been anywhere, but J sometimes play with my doll With love t 4 all.—Yours truly, HAPPY BIROS. [You would be interested in a great many things besides the Gardens, I think, Happy Birds if you came to Dunedin. I can hardly look upon you as a stranger, -as you hav< probably been acquainted wi„h Dot-land a •long time. However, I am glad to have you* , first letter. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is some time since I las! wrote. I Have got six week's holiday from school now, but the worst of it is the time goes too quickly. We have bad some very hot weather lately, and it has ripened the crops.j My youngest sister is always singing scales, 1 and she says “do-ray-me-for-so-naughty. , She is always wanting to write a letter, and uses quite a lot of paper. Our trap hoisq sot caught in a barb-wire fence, and tore her leg very - badly. At first father thought he would have to shoot her, but I in-ink she is getting on all right now. Father has given my sister and myself a hive of bees each and mv sister tool? 241 b of honey out, of her hive the other day. My grandmother, and mv aunt are staying here just now.f Father "is showing my sister and myself how, to milk cc-ws, and we can milk a cc-w while lie milks two or throo. My sister lias ton dolls, and she kept my aunt and me busy ramino- them. I will now close. —Yours tru'y, POKE BONNET. [Do yon, think one of those letters of your sister’s will over reach Dunedin, Poke Bonnet ? With all those dolls, she should have •a fine family history to tell us. That is- a most useful present to get; do vou have to look after the bees yourself, I wonder. — DOT.] Dear Dot,—Just a few lines to the page hoping they find all L.F. in the best of health and spirits after suoh a season of merry-making as Christmas. I think that I have quite got ove-r it by now. X will telP you about a week’s holiday that I have juss spent. On the day before Christmas I and my two younger brothers went out to father 9 place to spend Christmas and New Year. We arrived in Wnitar-a about 20 minutes post 6 in the evening, had a look round the town until about 9 o’clock, and then set out for our two-mile walk, laden with paa> eels to where father is. We arrived there at last feeling very weary. On Sunday we wen# to the beach and spent nearly -all the afternoon there. On Boxing Day we were nearly all the day at the beach, having taken our lunch with tv». I bad a lovely bathe in a little pool on the beach. It waa simply delightful. On Tuesday I aid father’s washing and some baking, and on Wednesday afternoon I went _ into Waitara, where I staved for three nights./ On New Year’s Eve the larrikins got up a tin-can band, and marched about all overtha place. On New Year’s Day the annual W,a.itar.a regatta was held on the Waitara River. I went to it and enjoyed myself immensely.] I met a girl I know from Inglewood, so we were together all the rest of the day,. It was very amusing to see the tub race and walking the greasy boom. None managed to get right to the end of the greasy* boom. I think there were only four competitors in for it. They were no sooner out on the cole than they went splash into tnl river. The regatta started at 11 o clock and finished about half-past 3 After it wai over mv friend and I were “shouted a trrj down to the mouth of the river and back in a little oil launch, and afterwards we wer« (riven tickets to go on the merry-go-rounc ( It was a dreadful old ramshackle of a thing, though; it nearly shook the life out of me; I had two rides on it. and l that was emits enough for me. That night I went baok to father, and on Sunday and Monday again went +o the beach. On Tuesday evening 1 came back home tired out, but nevertheless after having a thoroughly enjov-ahle time. Wo have had a lot c-f clrv and verv hot weather lately. It has rained lightly all day to-day—the first wet Sundav w- have had for some time. I hope to be able to give vou an account of my mountain trip next time. Dot. We have not gone up yet- but will probab 1 v do so in a week or a fortnight’s time I will be 17 on Saturday next.Gettino - nuite ancient, am I not 9 Wishing all of D/.L-.F. the compb-meut o of the season, —Yours truly. MOUNTAIN PEDLE. fYou certainly have bad a. pood holiday. Mountain Bede. Your -birthday will be massed now, but ma-v I wish vou many happy returns of the clay. Fr-'-m 17 onwards life grows very interesting and real. -D-OT.I Dear Dot,—Our holidays are half over now; we have three more weeks to stay at homr. I was at the Riverton picnic, and I had a good day. We had great fun in die water The name of my school prize was “John Halifax, Gentleman.” It is a very nice book, but it is rather long. We had great fun the day ws got our ho.idays, and, w© played lots_ of funny games,, as w ha,cl a. very long dinner hour. Wo all got p. Christmas card from the teacher. While I sim writing this it is raining very heavily.. I hour the cuckoos all day just now, withi their funny screeching voice, but I did- not see -anv of them this year. We had a very qufot Christmas, but a happy one. I ho.ua yot had a good Cbxistma-So Dot. The

Did Writet?' .tetters T«ic i»iy interesting. When I am old I inean to write to you every year, too; I have seven more years to write to you —a long time, isn't it? But I Buppoae it will not be long passing away. Then I shall be 20 years old—quite grown up. Convalvulous, why don't you let us hear from you again? And you also, Mischievous Schoolgirl? This is- a very short letter, but it is better than none, and I have not much news to tell you. so I will stop, hoping you and all the L.F. had a happy New . Year .-Yours truly, MISTLETOE 11. " [You cari "■ gain quite a lot of fame in. seven years, Mistletoe, both in Dot-land and in your- own- special land. From, now en until 20 are very precious years, and it really depends on yourself how fast they go.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have very little news at present, so I am going to tell you how 1 epent my Christmas holidays. Christmas morning was rather rough, but in the afternoon the clouds cleared away and we were then able to venture, out. Next day being Sunday, I went to see a D.L.F. £nend_ who lives about two miles away; but I did' not ■ have very long to stay, as I had to be home to milk. Cows have to be milked on Sunday as well as other days—more is the pity. ; When we got home and finished milking it was nearly bedtime, and I felt ready for bed, •too. On the 23th the" annual picnic was held here. The day was rough, but a good iew were present, some coming from about 10 miles or more. The danoe in the evening was held in the school, and it was a veTy good one; It broke up at about half-past' 8, and we got home at 4 o'clock and went to bed for three and a-half hours' sleep, and you may be sure we slept soundly. On the 31st my brother and sister-in-law and I went io the sports, which were to be held about 3.5- miles away. We arrived at our destinaiion at balf-pasF 12, and then went to the sports grounds, where we had dinner. I had a look round, then went to see if I . ©ould find any L.F., but did not see any. At about half-past 6 we left the sports after ev very enjoyable day's outing. Later on we went to a dance, which was largely attended considering the very rough' weather. The dance broke up ai 8 o'clock. We broke our journey that night and had a sleep, leaving for home next day and reaching there just in time for dinner. Thus ended all the holidays I havs had so far. Hoping all the L.F. and yourself have had a happy Christmas and a merry New Year,—Yours truly. LADY SUE. [The summer does not see the end of dancing in your part of the world evidently, Lady Sue. And you make a full night of it, •too. Well, I suppose you must have your little compensations, for no doubt you have a hard enough time. How unpleasant it must ha to get out of your cosy beds after only three and a-half hours' sleep.—DOT.] . Dear Dot, —Just a short letter this time. I hope that you had a merry Christinas and a happy New Year. My brother has just come home for his holidays. 1.. am in the Fourth Standard at school, and am ten years old in June. It has been terribly hot up here just lately. I have one little blaok- , and-white' kitten. It is very fond of me be- ■ cause I give it milk out of a saucer. Its Smother is.dead now. I have a very pretty flower garden at home. I would like to be f« flcwermaid for "I am very fond of flowers, j Well, dear Dot, I suppose you have been j Cooking for a letter from me for a long Pttime. Did you think that I had forgotten ijwou altogether? I have a big black horse at jr-ome. Well, dear Dot, I will close now with I Sove io our friends and yourself .—Yours i*™ 1 *". •«££. -ST- „ . MONA. I* [Mona would be "sure to come to light again. By the way, you know our little .tula concerning supplying names for pets It would be a big undertaking if we obliged everybody, so we have to be unkind and \ m ake a ? u l« against, the practice. Don't you think, we love things better if we don't use them make a living. To be the little mistress of the flowers is better . than to be their maid.—DOT.] V Dear Dot,—We have been having very drv weather lately,, and most of the people are wishing it would rain, a.s the ground is *rery_ dry and some- of the wells are near'y empty. We are having five weeks' holiday from school just now, but I do not think J. am going, anywhere this time. Our school .broke up about two weeks ago, and I got iwo prizes One is called "The Early Choice and the other "Lady Dye's Reparation, which is a very nice book. We also got our Sunday school prizes on Sunday, and • %.fP* , a very good book called "The Doctor's T?" T »e «tn.er day Queen of the Flowers ami l went to the bush for some gooseberries but as some people had been there before us we did not get very many. I went to the annual district picnic, and went in for two races, and got an inkstand for coming eecon'd m one. I think this is all the news just now, so I will close with love to Cream s™. Furhte, Queen of the Flowers, Granclad s Girl Leopard Lily, and Geranium iours truly. A BUNCH OF BLUE VIOLETS. P'V . Dot '~- it i:lle breaking-up of lour Bohool ± got two first prizes for English Compcsiwcn and one for second in the standard,- Tlle names of the bocks are "Ess.ays of Eha," "Three Midshipmen." and "In Far Bolivia, which is very long and interesting. .Both my brother and I go fishing now, but I never catch one. A few cf the farmers about here have begun to cut their oat crops, which are very early this vear - I know a few D.L.F. about here, their N.'s-D P , are Wild M'Greeor. Wee M'Gregor, and Burning Plain. My brother has got a White rabbit, which he dug out of a hole! With love to all the L.F.—Yours truly JOCKEY BOY. „J 1 wonder whether you will be reading assays of Eha"—some day perhaps. Not much ecort in fishing when you get none I shculd think, Jockey Boy.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l suppose I ,», m rather late to wish you a happy New Year, but "'better late than never," I intended writing sooner but at Christmas and New Year I was too busy; then one af my brothers was borne for n holiday, so I didn't think about writing He had his grapVophone with him, so while be stayed wo had an enjoyable time. He was home for nearly a week, but went back to '.own to spend New Year'with F-ome mates. He wanted me to accompnay him, but as I couldn't hs went himself/and ■: I don'f. t>ink bo would have a very pleasant! time c;i New Year's Eve as it rained hard ■f 11 the evenirg. On Christrmr.s morning it rained here, but the afternoon was fine. Janua.i-v 1 was •"•ery wiidv. Several picnics were heJt! here, but I did not go to any. I was not away anywhere i»JI the l-olida-"3. and am not going anywhere either. Now that the 'holiday"? are eye l we are having a drv spell. and if'it ; coesnt'rain-soon we will have to earrv ""Cur water, as the tanks ar<v nsarlv ■rrcipiv. The oat crops will be light if it. doesn't -rain, as they are'looking parched. Thn harvest time will soon be hero now. Did you ever have io stock up the sheaves after the reaper and binder, Dot? I can assure y-r-u that it is on a hot day. I ■ h/»d to last vear, and when one does ■tho housework and then goes out and stoolos I'm eure oraa is hot very sorry when the time oomes for a trip—and ft is always a

short one—to Blanket Bay. Anyway, I must not complain, as it i 3 healthy. Isn't it, ! Marjory?" This afternoon two of my school- ; fellows came up to see me. After going | round the fowl-ran we went up into the i loft, where we had afternoon tea.. After tea , had been cleared away someone suggested | that we should have a "concert." The ; programme was a small one, only half a | dozen songs being sung. The visitors sang one very nicely, too, the name of it being "Bonnie Jean." Then we adjourned to the garden, where we picked two bouquets of flowers. Going down the road we had a regular school game of "tig," which ended in eome of us being pushed into a ditch and getting "biddies" on our clothes. We did enjoy it, and are looking forward to another visit from them soon. I haw to thank all the D.L.F. who sent me autos-., and hope that they have received mine safely in return. - I have told 1 you all the news at present, so will close "with kindest regards to Young Cyclist, Marjory, General's Sweetheart, Verbena, Helen, Mayflower, Livingstone's News Agent, Jessop, Simon Kenton, and Sunny Jim. —Yours truly, A TELESCOPE. [I hope you received my note, Telescope.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will make me one of your L.F. There are no members about here. The weather is very warm and the ground hard and dry. I am 12 years old, and !am in the Sixth Standard. The Mataura ! Eiver is very low, and half the creeks about | here are dry and the tanks empty. I have a flower and vegetable garden, and I have ito water them every evening. We have no pet I lambs, but we have a number of chickens. ; I have read a number of books, some of them being "Parkwater," "A Self-willed Family/' and "Mrs Halliburton's Troubles." I am reading one now called "Trevyln Hold." The gras3 harvest is on just now, and the farmers about here are very busy. Christmas ■and New Year holidays are all over now, but the school excursion will be on soon. I hope it will be a fine day. .1 know Orange Lily, Septre, and Rubylccks, and I hope soon to know a good many more. We finished shearing a good while ago. As this is my first letter. I will close now, hoping i to become one of your Little Folk. —Yours I truly, OONA. I [A water famine must be most unpleasant, Oona. Do you have to cart water from the river? I am glad to welcome you, especially as you have chosen such a pretty name, j r- -DOT.] ' Lear Dot.—Just a few lines to let you , know that I am still one of your Little '., Folk, though it is a Ions: time since. I last ' wrote to you* page. But lam going to j miaJce a fresh start. I am going to try and write more regularly. On the 14th of this j month I ajn going away for a week's holiday. When I come back I shall tell you all about ' my holiday. My brother Jock has gone to the North Island. I am feeding 20 ducklings and 50 chickens. I hope all Little Folk had a happy Christmas and a merrv New Year. — Yours truly, LADY OF THE NILE. I [Say, then, in two or three weeks' time, if not sooner, we shall hear from you again.— DOT.] i Dear Dot, —You will be thinkina; I b*re ! forgotten you, but I have not. t take a great interest in the Little Folk's Page. The Christmas and New Year holidays are all over, and we will have to settle down to school life again. Our school opens on the 31st January. Did you get my auto., Giulia? I posted it, but have not received yours yet. It has been very fine weather.—Yours, truly, j JESSOP. j Dear Dot, —The fruit season is in full swing now, and all the growers are very busy getting their fruit ready for the market. Some of the fruit even gees a 3 far as Ohristehuroh, where there is a ready sale for it. As we live in the celebrated Teviot "Valley, we oan get fruit cheaply. We get a case of the very best peaches for 2s 6d, which is very cheap, is it not? The. fairmers, too, are buay, for they are attending i to their grain, o.nd sinw have it cut and stocked already. The. Roxburgh Ea.st annual picnic was held yesterday, and there was a good attendance. I was fortunate in winning a race. With love to Texas Jack and the re3t of the Little Folk.—Yours truly,, j - WILD WILL. 1 [Those very bast peaches we poor ononis never see, I understand, let alone get them for half-a-crown a case. Congratulations on winning your race.—DOT.] ' Dear Dot.—This is my first letter, and I hope I will be -a regular writer to you. We are having nice wejjher just now. I am staying with my aunt for a holiday. I am going to- bring my cousins down to Pojt Chalmers until the school takes up again. I will bring them xup to see you. 1 will be j 12 on February 7. We begin school for the beginning of the year <m my birthd!av. I must stop now, with love to all the D L.F Yours truly, THE OTAGO DOCK. [I am pleased to hear from you, Otago Dock. I hope you enjoyed yourself at Waiwera South. You will have more of your holiday doings to tell us about next time you write.—DOT.] Dear Dot—My cousins from Port Chalmers are staying with us. and my brother and I are going back with them until the school opens. I will try to go and see you, Dot. wKen in town. I did not go anywhere •at Christmas' or New Year. Harvesting started down here a fortnight ago. The cloverpaddocks look lovsly. There are mushrooms about already. Heartsease is taking a long time to write; she goes to our sehool. I know Weary Wouser also. The river is very low now. My cousins did enjoy the fruit; it 13 no' very plentiful in Port. The tbru°hes go for the wild cherries. Wishing ■all the L.F. .and, yourself a happy and pro£ perou3 New Year. —Yours truly, NELSON'S VICTORY. [Your stay at the Port should be a very pleasant change. I should think. I know I always liked going to stay where ships and water were.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is the first letter I have written to you. and I hope you will let me join your band of D.L.F. I have not been keeping very well lately, so I am living with my sister for a change. My father ha* a largo sheen run, some of which is very high country. There is a dairy factory down here now. and it is paying . very well. I was going visiting to-day. but it has come on very wet, to I will have to stay at home. I often go out rabbiting. There are a many of the y-ung men down here in the troops.—Yours truly, ARISAK.A. [You must tell ut something more about Otia.ke. Aris.aka. I hope you will make use of the page as oftstt as you like.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am writing ta you for the first time this year, and wishing you a happy New Year. I have not enjoyed "myself thia New Year; it has been wet weather. and I could not get up to town, so I had to stay at home. I was down in Inveroargill for a fortnight, staying with my brother-in-law, and I met two D.L.F. I was sneaking to them just a minute, when I had to gn home for dinner. Then in the afternoon I went up the town again* My sister used to live in Clyde street. The rea=cn .1 oboae Papoastle for my name was because my

father and mother come from the part called Papcastle, and my grandmother lives there too. I went J ;o Bhiff, and we went nearly around to the point, and I saw a steamer going to Stewart Island. I had fine weather while I was in Invercargill. Dear Dot, I have only two lots of pets. They are fanta.il pigeons and line doves. The ring doves have 0112 young one and the pigeons have two young ones. I gave my dog away to my nephew. Do you like poetry for your page? I have not seen my little friends for a long time now, but I hope to see them soon. I will have to wait till they come back from their holidays. They are *t Wendon, where they used to live before they came to Gore. They are very nice people, and very kind to me and my brother. With all good wishs to all D.L.F. and yourself.— Yours truly, PAPCASTLE. [Original verse is always welcome, Bapcastle. There must be some special reason for reprinting it from books, though.—DOT,] Dear Dot, —For a long time I have taken a great interest in the D.L.F. Page, but I have just made up my mind to become a member of your band—that is, if you will let me. I have just passed the Sixth Standard, and as I am going to be a teacher I will have to start studying again when the_ holidays are over, so I will be very busy during the year. I am glad I am going to be a teacher, because I like to go. to school. I ' did not go anywhere for my holidays, but I enjoyed myself just as well at home. As it is getting late I had better close, with love to all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, IXIA. [I hope the name Ixia will become a household- word in Dot-land in the next few years. Your school life and your experience with children will always form an interesting topic—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have taken a great interest in your page for some time, but I have never managed to write a letter until now. I wish to join your circle and become a D.L.F. I have been painting some landscapes and ocean scenes under my teacher, and would like to know what kind of pictures you like best. I saw some pretty places at Christmas, and some day when I learn to paint nioely will try to paint some of them. I had a very pleasant trip down the Otago Harbour on the day after New Year (Monday), and enjoyed it very much. If ever I am in Dunedin I would like to call in and see you.—Yours truly, SIMPLE CTVEN. [Have I got your name right, Simple Ctven? If not, it is not entirely my fault. Have you not set me a rather difficult question in asking what pictures I like best? Pictures, like literature and music,, are judged by quality, the' preference of c.ass and kind being a secondary matter. Let us hear more about your painting whenever you like to write.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to you, but I have not forgotten the happy band. We had a -very good break-up this year. One item was "The Old Brigade." For this song the boys were all dressed in red coats and hats, and the girls had red hats and bands on. We all marched, and it wa3 a very pretty song. Other items we had were "The screen song," "O'er the hills," "Tambourine drill." Christmas time," and two recitations. I got four prices—a very pretty green plush 'hrorkbox for first sewing, two good books, and a lovely silver medal, for best essay in the, school. The essay was on "A Farmer's Life." At the end of the break-up we had tea and 'cakes. I am 11 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard at school. We have a very nice teacher at Berwick School. I only know two L.F. about" here—Smiler and Kowhai. This is all I have to say.—Yours truly, WINKIE. [You were most successful. Winkie, in your school work. You are still trying to improve your style of composition, though, I hope.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to your page. We have got six weeks' holiday from school. One of my school mates i 8 away for her holidays, and I got a postcard from her. She y.avs that she likes being where she is. and she has seen a monkey.—Yours truly, SILVER STAR. [I have made the change you desire, Silver Star.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—'This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let me become one of your happy band. I am seven years old, and in the Second Standard at the school. I have two sisters, and I went, for a nice drive to the Crown Terrace on Sunday and had ra fine view of Q.ueenstown, Lako Wakatipu, and Lake Hayes. With love to all the L.F.—Yours truly. 'SAMUEL LOVER. rYou have not written us a very long letter _ this time. Samuel Lover, but it ia a beginning, and I hope to hear from you again soon.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I just' came home last night from spending a holiday -with No Name. We wou'd have enjoyed ourselves better if it had not been so windy. We have been having a terrible lot of wind lately, but I suppose you will be having the same ur> there. It is not very nice weather for riding the bike just now, unless you have the wind at your back, and then you enjoy a ride. I saw my letter and No Name's in this weeik's Witness. I was at the Bluff regatta, but I did not en |oy myself as well as I expected to. It rained nearly all the afternoon. I r.a.n tell you it was not muoh of a treat. My sisters and I went on a boat till after the rain went off, and then we went tin wharf to get on the Therera WaH; but it was so crowded that we could lna v dly &p,t on. Thea.it was such a . short ride that the only thing to cure .vs.-vas to go aarain. Wo ware goinsr up to th« flagstaff, but it c.a.me on so wet that we ocu'd *>of go. Wasn't it awfti'—tb» wreok n { (;}-, 9 Woikaro. at Dusky Sound? What a blessins: none of them were drowned. Indeed, there have been some terrible wrecks, look at that ship that was never found. How dreadful it, must have been for th" '--eciile, and such a. lot on boai-d, too. With love to Midgie. Ni-> Name. Molly Malone, Larrikin Tom. and Colonial Boy.—Yours truly, MADELINE. Dear Dot, —This i 3 my third letter to your page. We are having our holidays just now, but I am not going .anywhere. The school broke up on the 23rd oF December, and doe 3 not begin until the Bth of February. I got .a prizft for attendance. The examination has passed. Bud I ara in the Fourth Standard at schooJ. and I am ten years nl age. Our Sunday school picnii i. 3 to be held about the 29th of this month. I am kept very biisv driving the cows backwards and forwards to the paddock, and I get -mid a shilling « week for each cow. I will close now,, wishing vou the comolimp.nts of the season.—Yours truly, UNION .TACK. Dsar riot —This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let mo join your band. I am ericlesinsr the drawing of the New Zea'ard Santa Claus. I r,m 12 years of age. I have read a good many bocks, some of which I have read being "What Katy Did," "The Lost He}'," and many others.— Yours truly, A. B. C. [Thank you for the drawingfi A. B. C. Write again soon and tell us something about your part of the country.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—This is my second- letter to your page. The, holidays are all over now.

I. was at some sports on Christmas Day and! at the Bluff regatta on January 3, but it came on to rain, and we were glad to come back to town by train. I saw the Waikare that was wrecked afterwards. Our school opens in two weeks time. Our school picnic is on the 2nd February. I hope we get a fine day. Our garden is looking nice, but it needs rain. We are milking 15 cows just now. With love to the D.L.F. —Yours truly, LADY GREEN. Dear Dot, —Wo are having our holidays, but the school is going to bsgin in a week's time. I enjoyed my holidays very much. The farmers' oats look very nice and green. They are a good height now. Dear Dot. we are having lovely weather now, although it is windy. The brambles and fuchsias are ripe now. Santa Claus has gone till next Christmas. The dandelions are out in bloom, and they look nice among the green grass. Lots of othej§ flowers are in bloom. This is all this time, so I will close with love to Wainaki Violet, Ivy, Orange Lily, and Pixie. —Yours- truly, TWISTED EGLANTINE. [lt is well to be able to appreciate the dandelions, Twisted Eglantine. They are pretty in the green fields, although we do look upon them as a weed. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is about two years ago since I last wrote to you. I suppose you have forgotten me by this time. I was at the Bluff with my three sisters, and had a fine time. I would have had a better time if it had not rained. I was out on the tug with my sisters, and we got very wet; but we did not mind that so long as we enjoyed ourselves. We have had about four weeks at homo for Christmas, and we have two weeks yet. I have two little boys to pl.a.y with me, and we have very good times. We go wading every day. and we also make boats cut of flax, and we have to anchor them or we would never see them again. When I was at the Bluff I saw the boat races. With love to all the D.L.F.—Yours truly NAGGER. [Why so long an absence, Nagger? I suppose you don't make rafts out of fliax sticks, do you? I have seen some fine rafts, big enough to carry a heavy boy, made by tying a great bundle of flax sticks together.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —When some of. my D.L.F. correspondents begin to ask me when I am going to write to Dot again I think it is about time I made another effort. I did not go anywhere for a holiday this year, as I went for one last year. It has seemed very quiet for Christmas time here. I think it is owing to the weather, for it has been so wet and windy that it was impossible to go out and enjoy ourselves muoh. I have . met several D.L.F. in town lately who have come for holidays, and I have seen plenty of badges. On show day I saw about a dozen L.F., but owing to the crowd I did not get a chance to speak to any of them. I have left school now. and I am sorry. I sometimes wish I had failed, so I could go back; hut I would have to leave some time, and I might as well do so now. One of the prizes I received from school last year was entitled "A Noble Life." It was one of the nicest books I have read. The chief character in it was an invalid, and although he was unable to walk or move a limb, a life could not have been more noble than his. He was always ready to help anyone in trouble, and did everything in his power to win the friendship of his neighbours, which he very soon succeeded 1 in doing. There is nothing exciting in the story, but it touches the heart of the reader in a remarkable way. Sweetbriar is aiwa.jcs- sawing she is going to write to you, and I believe I have raced her after all. It is ages since I saw a letter from her. The holidays will soon be over now, and I suppose we will then be looking forward to the next Christmas. With love to all the L.F., including Dulcinea, Fenwick Lass, and Bobbiedear.—Yours trulv. BLACK-EYED SUSAN. [The lesson "A Noble Life!* teaches is one we can't be reminded of too often. Our influence for good does not depend upon our circumstances and our opportunities, but upon our willingness. Given the desire the opportunities follow fast.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Although I have not written to you for some time I have not forgotten your happy band, and always take an interst in reading your letters. * All the crops in this district are going to ruin for the want of rain. They are going to cut our crop to-morrow. We had some relations down for New Year, so I could not get away for my holidays, but I am going to Christchurch at Easter. I went to Oamaru the other day, but I did not see any of Dot's Little Folk. I do not know any D.L.F., but I hope I will get to know some soon. Our baby has a very bad cold, and often when she is coughing it takes away her breath. I have left school now, and I am not sorry. I have about 109 post-cards in my album. The pin came out of my badge. I have a good few prizes, but I don't suppose I will get any more. I do not have much time to read, but I read all I can. I think I will close now, with the fondest love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, PRIMROSE. [How about the great prize you can win after you have left school. Primrose —peace of mind for duty done. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote to you Christmas has come and Santa Claus has been here with all his beautiful toys. Did you hang up your stocking, Dot ? I did, and got a nice lot of his toys. I got a toy sewing machine for sewing my dolls' clothes, which is a great help to me. I have made three or four small dires°es with it. Besides this, I got some fruit, two lucky stockings, a little and a big one, and a box of chocolates and a few other good things. I have got nine dolls now, and dada has made me a pradle for them with a hood to it, so they are well off. We have pot six weeks' holiday from.school now, but they are passing away very quickly. I _ am having two friends to spend their holidays, with me next week. Biddy O'Tool has been away now for a week. Love to all the D.L.F. —Yonrs truly, LITTLE ELF. TThat stocking of vours must have been well loaded, Little Elf. Santa Claus didn't fill my stocking, but he sent me some good things all the'Fame. What ,a luxurious vinra those nine dolls must have! You mustn't spoil them, though, els'* they won't b" nice men and women when they grow up.—DCT.] Dear Dot. —The holidays will soon be over , now. I enjoyed them very muclv.- We went to the Bluff regatta, and it was a, very rough day. We arrived at the Bluff at about 11 o'clock. When . we got off the train we went down to the baa.sh and had lunch. After lunch we made our way down to the wharf, where there were some 'arge sieojmers. We looked through two of them, and there were a great many'-things to see'. . After that we back to the township, but as there was not much to see there wo went down t? the station and waited until the train oame in. We .got heme ab/Mlt. 9 o'olock after a fine day's enjoyment. Rosabella was very pleased to see her letter in print. She and her brother and sister are staying hare for a bolide:'. The weatheris very rousrl here to-day. It is very windy, and everything outside is <».e*fciag...V- 1 -wn : about. I have two books c-iice I last

wroU to you-" Old duckweed and Sunflowers." I got '• Sunflowers for a prize at school, and it is a very race book. When are you going to write, Lady Green/ I saw Farmer Johns letter. He famed -o We had a good holiday. ™^ £ Brownie, Purple Heathy Mother a Help VioMta, Wild Girl, and Lady truly, school. I go to the Gaston School but just now I am having • -holiday at Waikw*As this is my first letter I will just write a short one.-Yours truly, JOgH [I am glad to hear from you, UncUJ. When you get back home you will be able to tell us all about your holiday.—DOU.] Dear Dot-I have not been on a pO*/* back since I last wrote, so I on in my riding lessons. I like riding * bike better. My water it now. She had a fall off it and hurt her knee I made an attempt at drawing our■ Sama Claus, but in vain. . I got the Girl s Own Annual for a Christmas .pr^sent.-Yours rl'am sorry you were not satisfied with your Xmpts! Uxaidla, but I don't supple your drawing would have been out of the running.—DOT.] Dear Dot,— Many months have passed since I wrote to you last, and I suppose you will think I have forgotten about you JBu, I have not much time, Dot. I work from 8 in the morning till 6 at night, _ and _ at present I am studying for the junior civil service .examination. I am working in an inronmonger's office, and like the work very much. I have been working in the o&cei for 18 months, and am .about to be shifted! into the shop, which I think I will like very much. I have entered for the drawing competition, Dot, and enclose it with this letter. I have never done any drawing since* I left school, ao my drawing is not so good as I would like it to be. I .like drawin" very much, and 1 at school I always took the drawing prize in my class I have got my camera that I told you about, but have not a suitable photo, of myself to send to you. But I will send you one as soon as I get one Hoping this will be a happy year for you and all D - L - P '^IHOPVI' [You must indeed ba very busy with those long hours and with s\udy as well, Waihopai.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to your pa°-e, arid I hope you will let me join it. I am nearly 12 years old, and I am m the Fourth Standard. I live at Mossburn, but I go to Lumsden School. I know a few D.L.F.—Princess Anne, The Little Princess, iand Queen Maud. It is raining here at present. The ground is very dry and badly in need of waters Most of tho farmers are leading in now. Some of them have cut their oata. I got a book, called "Marigold's Fancies" this Christmas, and it is .a very nice one. Our vegetables axe comino- on very well. We did have much "fruit this year, but we will have a good few apples if they are not blown down. About two years ago my father and I went to England. We went to Cornwall, and I think it is a very nioe plaoe, but I would rather be in N..Z. I.will tell you more about it next time: Good-bye.—Youirs tiruly, ™ DEWDBOP 11. [Perhaps it is a pity you could not have saved the trip up until you were a little older, Dewdrop 11, but no doubt you will have a lot to tell us in your future letters. I have hardly had to put an alteration in your letter, so we shall expect you to become one of our well-known writers in time.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —After a very long spell of dry weather it is raining beautifully to-d'ay. With the exception of a big shower on Christmas Eve we had no rain for a Itomg time, .and •everything' is needing a big drink. Flowers and grass are all withered up. We sowed trees some time ago, and have been watering them continually, so this radii is a boon alike to farmers and miners. I am spending my holidays at home, and ami having a good lime, but hav« got to go back to school to-day week. I am in the Sixth Standard now. and I expect I shall find my lessons hard for the coming year. Last year I wrote an essay on "' The Sailors of Queen Elizabeth's The esaays were sent to Dunedin, but I never heard any more about them; th« 7 could not have been up to the mark. Our school picnic will come off early in February, and then we will get cur school prizes. Last year I got a book called "A Knight oif the Nineteenth Century," b#-' E. P. Hoe. I did not care for it. During the year I have, read: " What Katy Did at Home and at School" and "What Katy Did SText." " Wide Wide World," " Eillara Montgomery's Bookshelves," ". Little Lord Fauntleroy," " Little Men," " Westward Ho," " Jack and Jill." "Boris Cheyne," "Betty the Scribe." "The White Roof-tree," "Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," and " Lorey Mary." B«tscobel and I were at an evening party the other night, and we met Meg and Towser and other schoolmates who were not D.L.F. We enjoyed it very much. With lovje to you and all the other D.L.F. comrades.—Yours truly, KHUSH. [You have got through a_uite a number of books in the year. Dil Khuish, soma of them being very well worth reading. It doesn't seem quite risht to have entirely ignored your essays. I suppose tbey wsr* Navy League essays. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I wrote to you, and you wili ba fehiakiugI have forgotten you. Our examination has passed now, and I am the Sixth Standard. I am 13 years . of age, and I will he 14 on the 3rd of September. We are having our sumn:.°r holidays, but I ami net soinsj anywhere this time. I know a lot of D.LJF. about here just now. Our school broke up on the 23rd of December, and! I got a prize for attendance. My little sister in the Fourth Class got a prize for reading and lattendanaflt.also. Our Sunday sehooT picnic will be bold about the 29th of thi< month. We ace not going up en th i sie?..m©r this time, but we z.ze going down to a .place called Shaw's Bush. That -van 'a dreadful fire you had in Dunedin. and ii did ia lot of damage. This is all I ca»r« say just now. Wishing you the ooatpl".roentsof the season, and all the other Little Folk,—Yours truly, SLEEPY HEAD. [I hops you will have a good time at ~our picnic, Sleepy Head.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It seems such a long time eircs I last wrote to you. Wo have many pretty flowers out now, such as Sweet-oea? ■hollyhocks, lilies, pansies, lupins, and ~ carnations. I take a great interest in \-our page, and enjoy reading the Otters. I wen.* to the oicnio on Christmas -Dav. and I onjoyed, it very much, f was also" at tho Wiiton sports on Boxing Day, but I didn't enjoy myself there. Wo are milking 29 cows for the and we aro feeding four calves. We have seven pigs. I wa»

at the Winton School picnio. and I' .enjoyed, myself. very : much. I saw two donkeys, and also O'Neill's buckjumpers. Two of the buckjumpers went away into the sea, and I thought they would never come out again. With love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, HOLLYHOCKS. Dear Dotj—l have been reading your Little Folk's letters, : which are very interesting, and I hope you will let me become a member of your happy band. I am 12 years old, and I have left school, so I ought to have plenty to write about; but I will leave some of it sll next time. I must close now, with kind regards to yourself and the D.L.F. — Yours truly, .' WATER LILY. [Pleased* to hear from you, Water Lily; but be more generous with your news next time.—DOT.] ?, Dear Dct,,-~On Tuesday we went for a pionic down id Dummy's Flat. When we got riwre we went down to the river, and prepared to have a bathe. The water seemed oojd at first| but we-soon forgot about the cohlneaa of it and enjoyed ourselves- by swimming Up and down the stream'. When we were tired - of swimming the billy had boiled, so we got dresssd again and went for tea. When tej»> was over we agreed to go f--.-r a nambte'through the bush, in which •;> gathered Several feras .and shrubs. When '..j, got back to the place where we had tea 11 was time to go home, so we yoked up ".ho traps and drove home, feeling happy, but tired, with- our afternoon's outiug. I am very fond of reading, and have read a number of books, their names being—" Wonder Book/' "The- Seven Little Australians." ''■Grimm's Fairy Tales." "Aunt Sally," "Ungava," "What Katy Did," "Ellen Montgomery's Bookshelf." "Caroline Street," "Tho Pot of Gold," "Our Animal Book," "'iairi Salvan's Sacrifice," " The Jungle Baby.'' "Pets and Playmates," "Our Favouri'.f Fairy Tales," "Our Nursery Rhymes," avid a few others.—Yours truly, E. A. B. Dear Dot, —I am thinking it is about time I -".vroto.to you again. It has been raining a.il ikw, and I feel very dreary. I will name sorce books I have read lately—" Gypsy Kit," "Lost Among the Philippines," "Lady ■'Jvbte's Choice," "A. Queer* of Nine T/ays," "Ghristcbel Hope." "Tlie Heroes of Britain," "Gold that Glitters," "Our Lady," "The Voyage of the Moon," "The Last Days of Pompeii.*',' .."Fritz and Eric," and "The Czar." Thni. 'I think, is .about all. I spent ■a merry Christmas and a happy New Year with plenty'of olum duff.—Yours tm'y. . , r v ~ ASCLSPIAS. [Your, drawing. I suppose, shows how Santa Ckus,* his toys, Asclepias? Quite a good idea. They come down to his mountains in hollow thunderbolts. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been away for a, few days' holiday. My cousin and I were at the seaside .staying" with some friends. We had a" good times only it was tco -short. My grandmother'and a friend fiorn Dunedin are away for jft holiday over 300 mites away. They.are having a good, time, and if, will bo a good 6kJV%9- for tliern. My sister, the White Rose of Hastewocd, £nd Grandad's Girl are away -for a holiday, too; but will soon' be back- agpin. OtP. flower garden is v.'oi so ' n'tes-tiite year a.-j it has been so dry. I won two prizes at the picnic for rating, .and so./did my little brother. Ho was so pleased,' as he had never before. He was six years old on Christnuas Eve. We were'all invited out for the day with some friends, but it is a little damp this - morning. - I hope it- continues to rain, as. everyone is wa-niing rain. I will "now stop, with love to TJne Pomine Rosee and Links of Love.—Yours truly,' LBOPARD LILY. Dear Dot,—At this time of the year wo r'un.trv I'.LtF. do not have ranch time for writing, being busy with eutthig weeds : .!tt gathering in t'nc'\hay. Everything comes : \ a'.bimclr together; but I said to myself ••<■•' other day that the first wet day •,,t cares I would write t-> Dot, so here I ;.-,:. Wo have not had hiueh summer < ■--•■••th'r down here this year as yet. but wa 'viU 3iy». in . hopes that it will be finer -.■'icvther later on. Most of the farms! s here hjo-ve bad to. sow their turnips again, as tha first lot fuiie.rt to come up, owing to the dry weathiOT.at' ibejiixaH they were. sown. Last month the Ow.Jika iicv?vas held, -and it came off vary successfully. It was the second show, and everyone wished heartily that it would bo a batter dav than the show day of the previous .year. It makes everything BO disagreeable when one goes a, good distance said it comes on to rain; but, for ,& wonder, this year'?! ahow diay was perfect. I wa> down st- the Christmas tree last month, and .enjoyed myself very jvfell. It is so amusinsr ■when the men get dolts or any baby toy off tho tree,' They.".generally try their best to stow it 'into their pocket, so that, they can escape being 1 , lawhed at; but they are never fjuiok eneu'glj,.' Pi«ai«s are' going ahead now about- here,, there beine one, -"shortly at Pv.rekireki, and numerous more besides in other parts of the district. There ore such a onantity of D.L.F. up here, but not one cf . them seerhs to' remember the page now. A" few vozrs. ago they used to write regularly, but I lave never ' seen a letter from them foa- a jbris! **»*• Perh«-DS i? they see this it vHi. reii-ii;'! theni ih*-i ths.-v s,re D.L.F. yet, &iid perhaps'- they will send a line to the >-.a?s. - I wits -issiikrl"' c->-:» a year fdor/t -laugh, Dot!) to the psge, but althougii it is not often; I always read the letters, aiici correspond with different D.L.F., so that xeep3. one in touch with the pace, does it not. Dot?- Our garden has bloomed very well this year, and the carnations are just bursting tkVir buds. They are rather late, as we ha.d tonne sent up from town to us a white. ago, .-and they were well,. so that we supposed ours are a little bahir.d liand. You Should see the bush about here, Dot. It has bc'&n magnificent this year; first of all the birch trees bloomed, and now the. rata looks splendid, with its a-ecS flowers showing-amongst' the green foliage. There has been suoh a number of tc-urists and hunters through this way lately. Every year there seems to be more coming, so although Owaka district is famed for its muddy roada it must be famed also for its scenery and sport. With love to yourself and all I>.L.F. —Yours truly," - GENERAL'S SWEETHEART. [I am very pleased to get your nice long tetter, General's Sweetheart. I am sorry if there are Tahatika and Oatlins Little Folk forgetting the P'age, and I hope this little footnote and; your letter will be a gentle reminder. May I wigh you a pleasant and p-rciite.b!e year.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Christmas has come and .stone again, and is as far away aa ever. Since I last wrote to the. page I have been away for a holiday. . I went to the Invercrgill show, a>nd enjoyed myself immensely. Then I went to Riverton with our school picnic. At Christmas I went out to Oreti, and stayed) a fortnight. While I was there I went to Colac Bay to a picnic. It rained in the ■■■■■ morning «,nd cleared -up- at train- time. ; I,t '.-was aHtoog journey in the train,''but at : last) there. The 'tide was • in, and •■frhere';wa*no tbs' shingle.' Tliere '-was a oiroTis-there,«.nd the horses were t'aken into the * sea to be washed. Two of the pontes-drifted out to.sea, and two men »wam out -to g.et--themi- Before we left th? %$ & went out.' and we could walk along the beach. It wiaaU balf-ipast - 9 when we got-home, and .. i 4 -was .b-lowing very hard. : It has been very

changeable weather .lately. I .have a little pet lamb. With love to all the L.F.—Yours truly, MYRA'S MATE. Dear Dot,—This is my third letter. I am nine years old now. "We have a oat and we call it Topsy. I got a lot of presents at Christinas, and among them was a book oalleo "The Children's Friend." I enjoy reading it very much. This is all I have to say this time.—Yours truly, WINNIE. Dear Dot,—l think it is about time I was writing again, as it seems ages since I last wrote. It was raining on Christmas Day, and too wet to go for a, pionic, so I had to content myself at home. Our school picnio will be on Friday, so I am looking forward to it. I think Mozart must have gone to sleep, for I have not seen his letter in the paper for a long white. At present I have a pet hawk. He is very young., and has not lost his downy feathers yet; but he is getting his wings. Some people say he is of such a kind, and others say different, so I do not know of what kind he is. But Mr Hawk is a wise bird, and knows best himself. Now, Dot, I will close with be3t love to Sunflower 11, Mozart, Pomabaka, and 1 yourself.—Yours truly, SNOWDRIFT. [Don't you think Mr Hawk will be rather an unpleasant pet when he grows un. Snowdrift. You are quite right, Mozart has preserved strict silence lately.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to the page. I have just come back firom mv holiday, and I enjoyed' it very much. I went to Waitati test Saturday for a picnic with mother and my aunties. If it is a finw day next Saturday I am going- to the Head 1 ?. When. I get my photo taken I will send l you one. With love to the D.L.F.—Yours truly, " BITI PU. Dear Dot,— t went, up to Pigeon Island on New Year's. Day. There are many different kinds of trees on it. . The rata is out in flower, and it looks very pretty. The wild fuchsias have got berries on thern which you can eat. These were sports here on Boxing Day, and they were very good. My brother won a raw at, the sports. He also won the jumping. I hr-ve reed a. few books, their names being-—" The Daughter of France." "The G -ayton Scholarship,'' and '"Little Hazel," and a few more. We had our break-no day two weeks ago, .and we went un to Ruby' Island for a nicnie, and had a very nice time. We wo having six weeks' holidav. With love'to Pinkie Blue and yourself—Yours truly, LADY KING. AUTOS AND POST-CARDS. Little Elf (Mary Oressev, care Mr G. Cressey, Ahaura, via -Grey-mouth) would like to exchange, post-cards with any D.L.F. willing. Simple Ctven (Harry Williams, care Mr A. E. .Johnson, Balclutha) would like to exchange autos. and post-cards with Lady Olive, Kia- Ora's Mate, Cowslip, Primrose, Primrose ll.* and any ethers willing. Jessop.."(William .Shteffelbten, Round Hill) would like to, exchange autos and .post-cards with Sailor Boy, Daore, Polly, Lavlnia, Farmer John, Ethel, No Name, Bonnie Jean, Leila, and any others willing. 'Diamond (Miss M. Deveivsux,-. 8,6 Forth street, Dunedin) wishes to exchange autos with Sea Egg, Larkspur * .Long wood Blossom, Larrikin Tom, and.any other D.L.F. willing. Little Blf, care Mr G. Gressey, Ahaura, via Greyniouth, would like to- exchange postcards with any D.L.F. willing. NOTICES. Letters from Liaddy, Queensland, await Miss Madge Griewa- and l Miss Grace Flint. Would they kindly let m>e know where I ■ could--forward these letters to. " -If- Chisteu wouM send -her,> address to Shasta or io me she would receive a number of reprints of article that apipeared in the Witness MSEife weeks ago. ThEnka to A Country Maid for pretty 'booklet. Ateo to Purple Heather and Bell Heath for post-card: 1 reciprocate greetings.