LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 83

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto:—We write for the benefit of others, net for ourselves. £27" No letter to contain more than 450 worts. Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your interesting page, and I sincerely hope yon will include me as one of youir members I had intended to write to you for a long 'time, but I was not brave enough. Never mird: better late than never, I am 12 years old, and am in the Sixth Standard. I attend the High Street School, and have not been absent one day this year. Like many of your other readers, 1 take a great interest in your page, and I never miss reading the Little Folk’s letters. Well, dear Dot, I will bring this note to a close. With love to all the L.F., —Yours truly, FETED PAN. [Have you ever noticed, Peter Pan, how our D.L.F. names mark the important events of our times. You have chosen a name which should mark quite an important event for some of ns —the coming of “ Peter Pan.” I shall expect great things from one possessing such a name.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. I am six years old. My name is Daphne, and I am in Class 111. I like my teacher very much. We had three rabbits but. they ran away.—Yours truly, COUNTESS DAPHNE, [Countess Daphne! What a pretty name! I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Countess. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —As there is another Gipsy Queen, and she is the first, she is entitled to the name, and I will change mine. I did not know that there was another Gipsy Queen until I saw her last letter. I just made my Gipsy Queen up out of my bead, perhaps because I am always interested in gipsies, and I thought a queen at the end of it would make it sound better. I have seen the comet twice —once early in the morning and about 20 minutes past 6 to-night (Sunday). We haven’t had any very hard frosts here yet, but they will soon be coming. The skating rink is to be opened on Monday. Last year I sprained my wrist the first time I was there. I hope I far© better this year. I have a new piece called "A Showman’s Life.” I like it very much. I must close now. With love to all the D.L.F.,—Yours, truly, RIPPLE. [Ripple is the name I have chosen from the list you have given me. Personally, I like it as well as any of the others, and,

moreover, it seems quite original. With regard to a part of your letter, I have struck out. I think the story must have arisen because someone was doing my work recently while I was on h< hday.—DOT."] Dea.r Dot, —I have not forgotten you or the Little Folk's Page, although I am a bit slow at writing. I am going to tell you how I spent my school holidays. Most of tho time I stayed at the seaside at my uncle's place. It wag lovely the day I left heme, and although the train was crowded I managed -to get a seat in a carriage so that I could see the sea. When I got to my uncle's I went out to play. What a lovely time I had at the seaside! I used to go down every day to wade and play in the gravel. I had * bathe once or twice, but I did not want many more, as I got very sunburnt. My uncle lives near the sea, and I had not far to go. I was at r picnic on Boxing Day, and I enjoyed myself very much. I was at the public Gardens in Oama.ru twice. They are very nice. Love to all D.L.F.,—Yours truly, KYRA. Dear Dot,—lt is a good while since I last wrote to the dear old page. I got a. prize for sewing last year, and so did my sister. I am in the Fourth Standard now, and it is fairly hard. Buttercup has the South Schcol now, and I am very sorry, because she was a great playmate of mine. Buttercup and another girl sang at the opening of the Band of Hope at our Sunday school, and it was a very nice song, called " Dainty little pansy." I have read a fair number of books, such as " Cloudy Day," " The Farmer's Friend," " A Noble Woman," " Home Spun," " White Daisy," and a few others. I have not been at school this week, because I had a very bad cold, which I do not like. When I heard that King Edward VII was dead I could hardly believe it. Did not the late King have a short reign compared to his mother (Queen Victoria)? I never saw Ha.lley's comet. I think it was too cold to get. out of bed in the morning. My birthday is on June 5, and I wish it would hurry up. Then I will be II years old. I know a fair number of D.L.F., and their names are Fee, Shenac, M. O. C, Poley, Elinor, Buttercup, and Honey Bee. We had a week for term holidays, but I think we should have got three weeks, beoausa the High School did. With love to all the D.L.F., —Yours trulv, FLOWER GIRL. [I see that, it says in tb« notice with regard to the Invercargill social that extra ladies are admitted in for Is. Whether they have a half-price for children or not perhaps someone will let us know in next week's page.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —As I was reading the Little Folk's letters I saw Robin Hood's letter but it was not the Robin Hood I thought it was. Last time I wrote to your page I gave you the list of a number of books I bad read, and you asked me which one I liked bsst. They were all very good bocks, but the best was " The Three Midshipmen." I Lave read a number of books since I last wrote to your page. To-morrow is Friday, and we are not to go to school. This is only a short letter, but I will write a longer one next time..—Yours tru'y, JOLLY FRIAR, Dear Dot, —I am going to write you a few lines about what I have been biisy at this last fortnight. A trapper not far from where I live went away for three weeks, so my mate and I took. possession of his traps and set them. There were about 90 when we started, and we lost about 20, and when the boiss trapper heard this he said we had to pay one shilling for every tran lost; but we looked about the paddocks and found more than we lost. One morning we had in old mare with about 30 pairs of rabbits on her back. I was leading her over on old biidge when she fell through and would not try to get up. I got a great fright at first, and then had a good laugh at the sight. She was lying with the rabbits on her back. The next thing my mate and I had to get to work and carry all the rabbits ur> a big hill and hang them on a fence for the rabbit-cart to get. After we had all the rabbits carried up the hill the old mare auietly got ut< and started oating grass. I was wild with her, for she might have got up sooner and carried the rabbits. We had another bit of fun another day. We vut a number of traps on one of the other horses, and it bucked and ran away and tried to put the traps off, but it did not manage it. With leve to True Blue and all the D.L.F.,—

Yours truly, • ROWDY MAUD. Dear Dot, —As it is about twa months since I last ■wrote I will -write again. My eldest sister used to -write, but she has stopped. We have a new teacher at this school, whose nanus is Mr Scott. He has not been here very long. T. will give you a riddle: " Why is a Canadian thistle like afternoon tea?"' I have seen Ihe comet. The first time I saw it A had a small tail; the next time it had a large one, and I cculd not see the stars. We are having real wintry weather down here. King Edward is dead, and we now have a new King. I don't like going to school very much. Did you ever hear this before? — " School days, school days, Real old golden rule days; Reading and writing and arithmetic Taught to the tune of the hickory stick?" As this is all I can think of iust now I will close.—Yours truly, TRUE AIM. . Dear Dot,—l once again, take up my pen to wi-ite you a letter. We are having very rough weather lately. Winter is nearly upon us now with its frost and snow. We have scarcely any flowers now—only a few chrysanthemums. My sister and I have been home from school a week, as we had the whoooing cough. Tt is my birthday to-day, and I am 12 years old. It is very sad about our dear late King, and I have read in the paper of all the memorial services being held nearly all over the .vorld. On Friday, th© day of the funeral, we hod a holiday from school. All the trains were stopped for a quarter of an hour. There are not many D.L.F. about here. I have just finished reading a book named, " A Welsh Singer." written, by Allen Rmne, and I think it is •a very nice book. Have you read it, Dot? With love to all the D.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, HAZED EYES. [You speak as though the whooping cough were all over, Hazel Eyes. I thought it lasted a long time. Yes, I have read "A Welsh Sirger," and I remember at the time I thoroughly enjoyed the book.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a very wet day, so I thought I would write you a letter. I eww the comet last night, and it was a v«iy pretty sight. We had ? holiday froac school on Friday for the late King's funeral. On Thursday night we hoisted our school flag half-mast. I hope King George V will nrnke a good ruler like King Edward did!. I 'Suppose tho Coronation will be soon. At Orepuki the station is draped with black. After our last quarterly examination we had a week's holiday, and on the Wednesday night I went up to Orepuki in the train, and then vent out with my brother to stny with him at the psv.-mili at the Wimimw... He lives in a hut c'.ose to the mill, an:k

does his owl ■jerking, and I helped him by getting his ifteala ready before he knocked off work. Nearly ail the men out there do their own cooking in their huts —only » few are married men. There is a ' lot of bush out there and some pretty ferns, but there are so many mills that they will eooh cut the bush ail down. I stayed there till Saturday night, and stayed at Orepuki till Sunday morning, when I drove home with my brothssr, who always comes home on Sunday. It is very wet here tc-o.vy. Winter is ccming on us now. The roads are beginning to get very wet and dirty, but we have had no frost yet. 1 suppose we will get it socn. I have been rabbiting a bit lately. I sold-the rabbits to the trapperswhen they were round this way. At other times I saved the skins. I see by the paper you are going to have a D.L.F. social at Dunedin on show night, but it is toofar away £Ol us to go from here. I generally go to the Invercargill summer show, but I don't ihink they have a D.L.F. group taken at it. I don't know why, for there are generally a good number of D.L.F ; at it. — Yours truly, . ISAAC. [You must have had quite a pleasant change living in the bush hut, Isaac, and your brother wouldn't be sorry to have a. cook.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I suppose you thought I had forgotten all about you, but that is not the case. I have been ill, and I am still under the doctor. I could not write, because my hand was so shaky that I could hardly hold the pen. If I get a little excited I shake like a leaf. We had some visitors from the North Island staying with us for rome time. I can teil you we had a. jolly time. We drove to the Gorge, and also round Moeraki and around the Mile road. I think I will be leaving here soon and going down south to work. There has been one or two frost fish caught up here. My brother often goe3 down to try to get one, but he hasn't caught any yet. I have' been' doing a few paintings since I wrote last, and also a few book-marks. I wonder if you would like one. If so I shall send you. one. One of my brothers has now joined the Brass Band. I have not met any of the L.F. up here lately. We are having nice weather, but I think we could do' with some rain, for the tank is just about dry. I think I will stop now. With love to all L.F.—Yours truly, ASCLEPIAS. U am sorry to hear oi your illness, AsiUkpias. Yes, I should be very glad to have a specimen of your work, if I do not put you to too much trouble. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I think I promised in my last letter to write to the page more often, but I have broken my promise already. I notice that a great number of the L.F. are very fond of reading. Weil, I am. the very opposite. I don't think that. I have read half a dozen books yet. Harvest is ell over now, and some of the farmers have more crops in. I only wish I could get a holiday. I would make for Dunedin straight away, so as to be able to go to the social, but I am very much afraid I will have to leave it till next time. Well, I must close now. With love to all the L.F.,—Yours tiuly, ABSENT. ißon't you think it would be wise to remedy your relation, with books, Absent. You miss such a- lot by not. reading. Instead of having one. world to live iu you open out to yourself quite a number inthe universe of books. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am a little West Australian. My mother and father are New Zealanders. M«.y I be one of your happy band? I am nine years old, and in the Third Standard. We live on the Kalgoorlie goldfields. W« have very dry seasons here, and grass and flowers and trees do not grow like they grow in New Zealand. The summers here are very hot, and we don't have rain for many months. Then we have to buy our water. The people living in the city of Kalgoorlie are fortunate in having plenty of water, as they have one of the greatest water schemes in the world. It is pumped from Mundaring Weir, near Perth, a distance of about 400 miles. Not many people keepcows, but numbers keep goats, and use their milk. We have two gcats—Snowy and Spot, —and each has a little kid. I milk therni every morning. I have one little sister and? two little brothers, whom we call the black i fellows of the house, because they get ao <sirty. We get the Otago Witness, and I like, your page very much. With love to all tha D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly,BARONIA. [Welcome, my little West Australian. Iff is most complimentary to hear from one so far afield. You will be able to interest us greatly by telling us about your countryand life What a wonderful piece of engineerthe Kalgoorlie water scheme must be-!; I remember another D.L.F. telling us alt about Kalgoorlie. Write again soon.—DOT.]l Dear Dot,—The air has begun to get chilly, and that shows that winter is drawing near. Our quarterly examination was held on the sth and 6th of the present month. After if, we were given a holiday of a week, which I am enjoying immensely. I have veai a great number of books. Some oi their names are "Lottie Lonsdale." "Humpty Dumpty," " Silver Bells," " Uncle Tom's Cabin," " Reaping the Whirlwind" " The Basket of Flowers," "The Lost Chord," <wid a great many more. Have you read " Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Basket of Flo-weTs/' Dot? Our winter chrysanthemums arei coming out now. I am in Standard V now. We g«t home work every night, and I have got 15 stamps for it since we began. We are milking one cow, which calved on New Year's Day. One night last week after we were all in bed we heard a strange noise outside, and we could not imagine what it was until we- heard it saying, " Pork!— morepoxk! Any morepork!" Then we knew it was a morepork. In the morning we kepi watching to see it, but we did not see it. I have been up several mornings to see th* comet. I know only four D.L.F. where 1 live. I will send you my auto., Lily Blossom, With love to Lily Blossom. Longwood Blos« som, Larry Bobtail, Helen, Lonely Jen, Coal, and yourself,—Yours truly, BLUE RIBBON. [I have not read " The Basket 01 Flowers," Blue Ribbon. The morepork about youa? hosto h supposed to bring you the greatest good fortune, is it not?— DOT.I Dear Dot, —This is the first time I have written to you, and I hope you will welcome me to your happy band. I have been, up several times to see the comet. Its tail is much longer now than the first time that I saw it. I am in Standard 111. I have a second class oertifioate. The games we play, «t ftsl tal are marbles, rounders', and skipijjnsfy The daffodils and other bulbs are beginning to peep above the ground. Nearly all the flowers have stopped blooming.Yours truly, CAMEiRiA.. [I don't find anyone else with +he name you have chosen, Camera. We no sooner lose the beautiful things of life than we have promise of more. Do you learn that from the peeping daffodils?— DOT/) Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to the pa*-?. I thought I would like to join your r.i i - I go to school, raid 1 am in Sta.u- . i.-.td HI " We are milking only one cow

■ow, but we have 12 cows altogether, and we have a numba- of pigs, but I can't tell you how many. I wili count them and tell you the next time I write. I have four cats, two lovely white rabbits, and two opossums, so you see I em well off for pets I have also a. white calf, and its name is Nancy. I don't know many D'L.F. down this way. Two of my sisters are D.L.F., but I don't know when they wrote last. I like reading the letters in the Witness. I have three sisters and four brothers, and they have ■all left school but mie. I like going to school in the summer time, but. I -don't like going in the winter. I think this is all the news I "can give you. — Yours truly, SNOWBALL. [You are indeed well off for • pets, Snowball. How do the opossums get on as pets ? "Will you tell ns something about them? Don't forget to send your name and address.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —It is now two years since I Ir-at wrote to you. It was very cold here last week. I am 10 years old now. I have two sisters and one brother. I have been up Ben Lomond and Qu-eenstown hills. _ I have not seen the comet yet. I must write oftener now. I have been up at the Head of the Lake since I last wrote to you. With love to all the Little Folk, —Yours truly. HOLLYFORD. TThat is a long time to be absent from the page, Hcllyford. Now that ycu find writing easier, don't ycu think you could Bend me a letter more often? —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I shall be in Dunedin at show time, and I might go to the Winter Gardens with the other L.F. than have tea with them in the afternoon if they do not object to a country bumpkin. I see that my cousin, Feggy Savilie, wrote her retiring letter last week. I saw the comet Dne morning, and the tail seemed to be rust a few feet long; but, of course, I know ihat it is milli* ns of miles long. I can hardly think of a distance that could be bo long, could you, Dot? It is rather cold i'ust now about here. I may tell you tint wrote a fairy story for the L.F. Page, but I did not like to send if. I am very fond of fairy tales, although I am 14. I should liked to have see", the " Peter Pan" play, but the last right of it was last Wednesday, and I am not going to Dunedin till Saturdaz, the 28th. Love to all the L.F.— Yours truly, STAR OF DUNTROON. pTo h trm would bs done if you sent your eiory tc me, Star of Duntroon. If it is ' not suitable for publication I cculd tell you where I thought it -failed.—DOT.] Dear Dot—We have all our new buildings finished new. We had a surprise party in our new barn. There were about 30 there. They played cards till half-past 10. Then they had supper, and finished up with a dance. Poke .Bonnet and I danced a few fiances, and we did not go to bed untdl 2 o'clock, and got up in the morning at 10. the barn was done up, and looked so pretty. There was a flower show here last week. l?oke Bonnet and I went to it. We decorated baskets. I- did mine in white.' Poke Bonnet got the first prize with a red basket. I did -not get anything, but I got first rrize la3t year. There was a fishpond, and got a jug and. a little pepper pot. Then Hrere was a, .bran tub, and I got four things out of it. We have three cats and three dogs. One of our cats won't let you mtch. it; it always runs up a tree. We bve a fe.v flowers out now. Our garden s still some green trees in it. and some «re pretty. .. I will ; close - new.—Yours truly, . CHRISTMAS BOX. Dear Dot—Tlvh is my first letter to you, endl would like to become one of your band. I j'm 12 years -of age, and am in the. Fifth Standard. I am very interested in Halley's ccmet.'- I' have been up very early some . mornings. -to 'see it. A Jew. mornings .ago - I went with my father along the beach to • so- it, and had a splendid view. I have Iwo sisters and two brothers, but; they mre dreadfully' lazy. They all liked blanket bay best.—Yours truly, ■ THE COMET'S TAIL. [I am sorry that the name you chose, Hzlley's Comet, has already been appropriated. I have called you for the time being by another one. You may retain that or . choose another. Let we hear from you «gain. soon—DOT.] '"- y, , ■ Dear Dot, —I have just been reading the ■ 3j-F. 'letters, and I - thought I -would write once more to ycu v page. I have seen the corcet three tines—once in. the morning and twice fa the evening. My little sister is verv ill. She has had the whooping cough, and now she has pneumonia. We have fcad the" doctor cut to her three time's, and we"expect him out again to-morrow. I was foing to church to-night with my auntie, ut it got so rough that we had to stay »!- home. -We have been having very ■ unaetled we>ther .. lately, but I hope it will soon clear up. again. I think I shall. close shot. -With'love to all -the L.F..-—Yours truly. . LADY MURIEL. ; 11-hope your sister will be well. soon. It must be a- very arxicus time for you all.— DCT.] " Dear Dot, —Here I am turning up sgain like-a b'jd pel ny. It is dull,, and there are showers now and again down here. I Bin sending a geographical letter to the page. I daiesav some of the L.F. have fceard it before. I was in Invercargill on Wednesdav. and I went through the Gardens. While I was going along a young •D.TaF. lady passed me. She was wearing the D.L.F. badge. I would have liked to hare spoken to her but I didn't have the courage to. Perhaps if I see her next timie •I might be more bold. Well, I. think I ■hall brin? my letter to a close. With kind regards to the L.F.,—Yours truly, . .- ■ RUTH'S DARLING. (Thank you for the geographical letter, Ruth's Darling. I will publish it elsewhere §n the page.—DOT.] iDear Dot,—lt is such" a long time since my last letter appeared in the page that you, will have forgotten that I exist. However, I have not forgotten the D.L.F. letters, iipd enjoy reading them. The Tiabury L.F. ell seem to be sleeping, as I do not see many letters from them. I am in the .'Sixth Standard at school now. There are 'only throe moro'girls in my class, and no .boys. We are having seme hard sums now, 'Jpuifc so fai I think the work - has been : J»sy. . At the end of the year I got three BOrizes and a certificate. Do you like readmig, Dot? I do; but a while ago I read so .much that I weakened my eyesight, and now A -ami' not allowed" to read' any' more at 'sught. . I do not-think it is the pleasantest of things to sit and watch others read and jiot be able to road yourself. We are milkrg six cows at morning and four at night, milk two at nighs and three in the mornSag. I think milking is ■■ very enjoyable work.. The factory is: taking the milk four days a week now. -So far we are having very mild weather for winter, but the 'ast few-days have been wet and cold. Whooping cough is going about, and three of my • brothers .and one of my sisters hr>ve it One of them, who is sac **ars «■*, la laid up in bed with it and rh-earrntica.

With love to the D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly FLAG LILY. [I R-ondjr whether you knit, Flag Lily? Have you something to do in the evenings which will not try your eyes ? There seems to be a groat deal of illness about now. I am so sorry to hear about your sister.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. I am 15 years of age, and I left soheel about four roctths ago. I would sconet- be going- to school than staying at heme, for I have to work hard, as my father is generally working for ether p-eople. We have only a small farm, containing about 104 acres of good grass land, with a- small river running through it. We have 140 sheep, four cows, four calves, and one mare and a foal. We do not grow a large crop—about 12 acres of oats and turnips. We have & hand chaff cutter, and do all our own chaff-cutting. I have set some traps along a hedge, but I have not had great success yet, fof I am catching ferrets instead of rabbits. Ferrets are not very nice animals, and they somietinies do a lot of harm by eating hens and chickens. This is all I can write to-night.—Yours truly, FIRE- STOKER. [I am glad to hear from you, Fire Stoker. We all have to grow up and take .upon ourselves additional responsibilities. I suppose you feel much older now that you are so useful to your family.—DOT.] Dear Dot, This is my first letter to your page, and it will not bs my last. We are having very changeable weather, and there was a slight, fall of snow the other day. I saw the com-eit on Friday, May 6, at halfpast 5. It was very bright that morning. We have nin.e little pigs and two big sows. We have weaned cur foal—it is a quiet little thing. My brothers feed it. My two brothers are setting traps this winter. Most of the farmers are ploughing about here. The threshing mill is still working in the district. The farmers had big crops this year. Therj are about 16 children going to this school. There is going to be a school concert in the Mossburn Hall on Friday, 27th. It was going to be last Fricay, only that was the day the King was to be buried. With love to Little Princess, —Yours truly, THE PET LAMB'S MISTRESS. [Both you and your brother, I hope, will become well-known 'Writers to the page, little mistress. I wonder whether you have to help in the work <. f the farm, too. —DOT.] Deat Dor, —We are having very rough weather up here just now, but we can expect onthing else for a few months. I have been rending some very nice books lately. One of them was called " Torn Sails," by Allen Raine. It is about a beautiful young girl called Gwladys, who worked in a sail shed mending sa.ils with a number of other girls. The master, whose nsm® was Hugh Moigan, was beloved by everyone, <md he was in love with Gwladys; but Gwladys is secretly in love with his foreman, Ivor Parry. He also loves Gwladys, but has never told her so. While out beating one night Hugh asks Gwladys to marry him, rnd she consents. Meeting Gwladys accidentally on the beach before her marriage Ivor Pairy reveals his love for her, and asks her to give up Hugh. But this she cannot do. They get married, and Gwladys finds a firm friend in Mari Vcne, a former lov-ar of Hugh's. As tame goes on Gwladys grows pile and thin, and, worst of all, Hugh finds out he had never really loved her, but had only been dazzled by ber. beauty. He also finds out she had loved Ivor. A short time after this Hugh is at work in his office at the sail shed fixing up things before he leaves, when Gwen, a. mad woman, sets fire to the. building and. gets burnt to death herself. Ivor and Mla-ri Vone. manage to get Hugh out before the office gets burnt, but a beam, had fallen on hdm and injured his spine. When he lay dying he told Ivot to look after Gwladys for him. Soon after he died Mari Yone was found dead, and by Gwladys's request, who knew she had always loved Hugh, they were laid to rest, side- by side. A year after Ivor asked Gw'adys to come and brighten his home, and she consented. Some other books I have been reading are " A Trooper of the Finns," " Creatures of the Sea." and " Glengarrv Days." I thought "Glengarry Days ".the best of the three. Dear Dot, I was at a party the other night, and enjoyed myself very much. Some of the farmers round ner<; are busy ploughing their . land. Seme of them, have their early oats sown already. Others are busy digging their pctatees. A lot of the potatoes are blighted this year. We have two sawmills here now, end they will soon make short work of the ferns ard pretty scenery. I have never seen a sawmill working yet, but I mean to go to see one of them at work some of these days. The nearest one to us is only a quarter of a mile aw.iy. Dear Dot, we are milking five cows just now, but they don't give much milk. The people round about here are going to get a dairy factory next year, so I don't suppose it will be long before we will have to be up at 5 o'clock milking the cows, and I am sure I won't like that. My birthday was about a fcrtnight ago. —'d I got some nice presents and post-cards. 'ell, dear Dot, I must draw this letter to a close. With love to all the L.F.—Yours truly. LADY CONNIE. [You have giver us quite a good resume of " Torn Sails." I read it' a good many years ago, and your description bro-jght the story back co my mind quite clearly.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—This ii my first letter to your page, and I hoo? that you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. I an 13 years of age, and am in the Sixth Standard at school. I greatly enjoy reading the Little Folk's letters. I only know four D.L.F. here—Schoolgirl, Mountain Daisy, Mountain Lily, and Genevieve: I think this is all the news to-night, so I will conclude. With love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself—Yours truly, PIXIE 11. [I am glad to welcome you. Pixie 11, but I am afraid you have taken the name of a very well-known writer. Perhaps you would like to change the name, but in the meantime I have called you Pixie II.—DOT-] Dear Dot, —It has been very cold weather here lately, and it is very rainy to-day. Well, Dot," it is getting near winter again: We had a concert and dance here on April 2G i . Tt was a great success, and there was a groat crowd at it. We collected £U 9s for the tickets. Our sdool garden is getting on ail right. Our school teacher is leaving, so we will, have to get another teacheff. I am m Sixth Standard at school. I wis 13 on the Bth of this month. Lady Connie, hurry up and answer my post-card. Oar grandmother is staying with ua. I have another new schoolmate since I laßt wrote. Her name is Phoebe Butson, and she stays with Miss Wraytt. Our teacher won't be lonely, as she has two giTls staying with her. Her N D.P. is Mountain Mail, and she comes from Garston. I w« at Sr.r.day school today. I wrota to Uncle Phil the ot"-er d_sy.- My. N.D.P. to liim is Curly Na*. i have a

little brother not five years old going to school, and he can spell the three-lined words. I would hk? to go to the Dunedin show, so that I could go to. the D.L.F. social It was a holiday frcxu school on Friday last. All the shops wore closed, and the post office and ever./ thing, as it was the King's funeral. There was also a memorial service hs'.d in the church. I think I will have to close now. With love to Avice and A Lonely Violet, —Yours truly. SANDSTONE. Dear Dot,—The weather is very rough just now. We have got a holiday to-day on •account of the King's funeral. I have seen the wonderful comet. Its tail is 14 million mile 3 long. I notice every week that your page is increasing. I have not seen a letter in from Mute and Lady Margaret. I think they have forgotten about you altoegther. The days are getting shorter now arid the nights longer. We had our photographs taken at school recently, and some of them came out very well. Sydney Stevens-, at Otautau, took them. There are only 10 going to school now, as one of them. left. Inky Bill wis away for a long time. I think she was at Miataura. With love to Pixie, Inky Bill, Muta, Ruby Diamond. Dooley, Cherry Blrs&rm, Golden Fern, and Postage Stamp—Yot.rs truly, ATBLIE. Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to you, and I hope to become one of your happy bind. I am in the Fourth Standard at school, and lam 11 years old. I have five blethers. I set six rabbit traps, and get a few rabbits. We get 6d a pair for rabbits. We milk 17 cows, and we send, milk to the factory. The cows do not give much milk new, as winter is comiing on. With love to all the D.L,F. : —Yours truly,

SMART BOY. [You must make quite a large fortune from your rabbits, Smait Boy. Write again. —DOT.] Dear ~Dot,—lt is some time since I last wrote to you, BO I am going to write tonight. My birthday is to-day, and I am 16. It is raining to-night, and it is very cold, too. All the farmers about Kaweku are busy ploughing their ground. A Telescope owes me a letter, and I hope she answers it soon. Maid of Honour, hurry up and answer my post-card. Was it not sad about ths King's death. I wrote to Uncle Phil about two weeks ago, and my letter was in last week. My N.D.P.to Uncle Phil is Maggie. A retired. D.L.F. is going to the Dunedin show. She is a neighbour of ours. She will likely be at the D.L.P. social when she is down. I would like to go down with her My geraniums are not growing very much now. I suppose they will stop growing, as it is near winter. I shall ' write a long letter soon. Love to Maid of Honour, Mountain Maid, A Lonely Violet, Avice, Sim's Mate, Lady Connie, A Telescope, and all the rest of the, D.L.P., — Yours truly, MOMOHAKI. [I wonder if it is too late to wish you many happy returns of the day. It is a bad thing to b.; too humble, Momohaki. That is why I have crossed out the modest statement with regard to your writing.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to you, and I hope you will let me join your band. I am 13 yeara old, and I left school about six months ago. I know a good few D.L.P. about here. I have 18 rabbit trap 3, and I catch a few rabbits, which I skin. We have two dogs and four cats. We milk about. 16 cows, and send the milk to the Woodlands factory. With love to the Little Folk, —Yours truly. THE RABBITER, BOY. [I suppose you have to live a. busy life now that, you n&v© left school, Rabbiter Boy. Tell me more about your life next time you write.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and I hope to join your happy band. There are six D.L.P. going to our school. There are three of my sisters writing to your page. It has been very wet to-day, and cold. There was a social and dance at Waikawa last week, but I did not go to it. The factory is closed down now, so we are back to making butter. I think this is all. Love to all.—Yours truly, BURNS'S BONNIE JEAN. [Pour D.L.P. in a family is a good record, Bor.nie Joan. I wonder if there are any other little on« to join yet. Do you help in the butter-making?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a month or two since I last wrote, but I have not forgotten the page. We are having very wintry weather in this district, and in consequence of this most of the large flowers have b-ecomie-frceted, and this has greatly decreased the> beauty of oui gardens. The mountains surrounding us are topped with snow, which has in a great degree added to the cold felt in our small town of the valley. The D.L.F. about here seem to take a long rest after writing a letter, as I have not sten any letters from this locality for a- considerable time. I suppose you have.- seen the comet, Dot? It seems to be the talk of the day. I will tell you of * climto I had with three other friends to the top of one of our nearest peaks. It had baen arranged that we ffould leave early in the afternoon, but it bfgan to rain, and we gave up all hope of our walk. About 5 o'clock, however, the sky cleared, and we went off. We had to walk up a steep road before wa came to the foot of the mountain. Here we halted, had a short rest, and gain moved onwards, and after much slipping amd stumbling reached the top. It was now getting late, so we could not even stay to have a rest, but immediately began to descend, and as we were at a great height we fe!t very cold. On reaching the low ground we began to quicken our steps homeward, where we found our tea and a hot fire awaiting us. With h.ve to Nebraska, Rosebud, and Lady Nancy, —Yours truly, ' MOUNTAIN GIRL. [A little more than at the top of the hill would have made your walk pleasanter, Mountain Girl. Do you get some good sunsets at Arrjwtown?— DOT.] Dear Dot,—Can you forgive me for my neglecting the page for such a long time? But I shall tell you why I did. After leaving our house at Miramar we went into Wellington and stayed at the hotel for three months, and we were so busy getting ready to leave New Zealand for Sydney that I forgot all about the page. My sister and I are weekly boarders at a very nice school in Sydney. Although Sydney is very nice, I wish I was back in New Zealand. I miss riding very much, and leaving all our animals was horrid. I have not ridden since I have besn here, and am longing to be on a horse again. I have been to a good many theatres here and like them all very much. Father .t present is in America, and when he comes out I hope to go home. I think I shall go back to New Zealand for a trip before I go home. I am going to do some ice skating over here scon. I think I shall like it better than roller skating. We went to see "Aladdin" the other day; the scenery was beautiful. We are getting into the cold weather now; I like it much batter than the hot weather. What a sensation Powelka created in New Zealand breaking into people'3 houses, etc. Have

you seen the comet yet, Dot? I saw it about a month ago, and got up this morning to see it, but the sky was too cloudy. I am going to get up to-morrow to see it. Now Dot I think I have told you all the news, so I will end this letter. With much love to yourself and D.L.F., —Yours truly, DOLLY DAYDREAM. [Yes, Dolly Daydream, it really is a lon ; ? time since you let us hear from you. So you have in the meantime wandered away to Sydney, and are pining for your beloved Maoriland. Your ponies would be wondering what had become of you.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—The last time I wrote to you I was at Mosgiel, South Island, and now I am at a place called Baetihi, in the North Island, but I don't like it nearly so well as the south. There is nothing but bush for miles around. We are surrounded by four timber mills. I never walk anywhere. I have a horse, and so I ride everywhere I want to go. We are two and a-half miles away from Baetihi township, and four mill's from Ohakune township. There is to be a big military picnic up here on May 24, and a dance at Baetihi in- the evening. When we came up here to live we left Dunedin by the boat and went straight up to Wellington. I was very sea-sick. We stayed at the Lower Hutt for a week, and then we took the train from Wellington to Ohakune, and it was a lovely ride in the train. f will close now, with best love to all D L F Yours truly, MAIDEN-HAIR FEBn! [A little less civilised your North Island home would be, Maiden-hair Fern. I hope you will get to like it though. I have passed through the oountry you "live in, and know something of what it is like.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—This is my first letter to your page, and I wish very much to be one of your happy band. I think I shall call mvse f Silver Star—that is if vou have no other one of that name. And I hope to write a longer letter next time. Now I will close.—Yours truly, SILVER STAR. [I shall await your next letter, Silver Star. This one I suppose you intend to oe merely an introductory oue.t—DOT.] Dear Dot,-It is a long' time since I last wrote to you I h*d a hen that was seven years old, and we had to kill it. We had a guinea pig, but it died. We are having fine weather. I know a few D.L.F up « ' L g ? \° schc^l . and am in the Second Standard.; I am nine years of age. My two elder brothers are away.—Yours trul y< KISS ME QUICK. - Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see my last letter in th« Witness. Since I last wrote to you one of my little kittens got killed One morning a dog chased it, and durinthe day it died. Its mate was quite lost withouti it. I got my photo taken not long ago. I had a dog with me, but it did not come out plainly. To-r.ight is the eclipse of the moon It is very windy, and it looks very much like ram. The cotton plant that grows near cur place is -not like the cotton plant that grows in North America; it does not grow very high. I saw Pixie's letter in the Witness not long ago. It was a nice one, too We have had three dav-s' holiday from school... I was over at Wairaki Violet's Place not long ago. I will close.. With love to Cream Rose and Wairaki Violet,— xours truly, ' TWISTED EGLANTINE, Dear Dot—l thought I would sit down and write you a letter We are living iii fcrranity now, but it is not a very pretty Place to live in. It is good enough for me i 11%, m ' tllou & h - w e can go up round to Miilertoa by the track, and you can see the bins from, our place and the trucks going through the tunnel. The people are very sad bacause the King is dead. The ■school has be;i shut up for a week now, but we are going to start on Monday. I am II years old now, and in the Second Standard at school. I got a number of things at Christmas time. I go up in the bush sometimes to get ferns. We have a garden up" there, but it is not a very good one Sometimes we go round the track to get fern? for Nature-study. We have learnt all about' coal and ferns and various kinds of flowers. We rre going to get an album to prass the flowers in for the inspector.— Yours truly, MaxCLOCH. [Your Nature-study class must be very irteresting, Maicloch. I wonder if vou have seen the plant impressions in the coal.— Dear Dot,—lt is a long time since I last wrote, but there is an old saying, "better late than never." Since I last wrote we have shifted to Granity, which is about 18 miles north of Westp-crt, so this time I am going to take for my subject " The place Where I Live." Granity is not a very pretty place, and generally receives the name of Coaldust. It is situated on the sea beach, and contains the West Coast coal bins, two hotels, a hall, and grocers' stores. The first thing that a stranger sees as he steps from the carriage is the bins and the long string of trucks running up the hill to the mine. The mine is worked by colliers, truckers, rope boys, and many others. My father is a collier. The boys are sent to work the rope as soon as they pass the Fifth or Sixth Standard to earn a few shillings a day. I will be 13 in September. I pass-ad th? Fifth Standard last year. With love to all,— -Yours truly, ZEEHAN. [Though Granity itself may be a little black I daresay it does not take you long to go:, into the bush and away from any signs of coal, Zeehan.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will let me join your band. I am 11 years old. I have not far to go to school, so I can come home for my dinner. I am very fond of animals, and I have a little fovc terrier, which is very mischievous, and likes to chase the hens and eat their eggs if she gets /the chance. I had four guinea pigs. Three of them, were white, with pink eyes, and the other white with some yellow and black spots about him. They ate grass, carrots, bread and milk. Not long ago I found two of them dead. At the break-up last year I won two prizes, the names of the books being " Dick Onslow " and " Ned in the Woods." Yours truly, SCOTTISH CHIEF. [A most a- noying habit, I should think, Scottish Chief, for" your dog to develop. I should her to respect chickens and eggs very quickly, Glad to bear from you. -DOT.] Dear Dot, —As it is about six months since I last wrote to you I shall try to write a few linos to-night. The weather is very rough just now, but I don't think we can growl, as we have been having" lovely weather up till now for winter. The farmers are all busy digging potatoes. Soon© of them are using the potato-digger, which seems to be a great help to them-. We are milking 12 oows. We stopped taking the milk to the factory about three weeks ago, and are separating the milk and making butter, which is far more trouble than taking the milk to the factory. I did net go anywhere for my holidays at. Christmas, as my s'&ter was mpin'ed on December 27, and I was bridesmaid. The bridegrom gave me

a nice gold brooch, C; G. B. and hia cousin came to see me yesterday, and we had a good afteri oon's fun. My brother gave me a nice post-card albumi at Christmas. It he-Ids 300 post-cards. I have 54 post-cards in it now, but I shall have to collect 250 more before it will be full. My brother came home the other night with tihie mail, and to my great surprise, when I opened one of my letters, I found in it four post-cards which one of my cousins had sent me from England. They were very pretty, find I was very pleased to get them. I had also two sent to me from the North Island of the JSTgaero Gardens, and they are very pretty scenery or.es. lam expecting visitors on the train, and I think they will soon be here if they are comdng, but they might not. come on account of the roughi weather. There is going to be a concert up here scon, but I am not going to it. I am fond of dancing, Dot, and I think many a-good night's enjoyment is put in through dancing. I lave not been to many dances, as I have just begun to learn. I wonder where Dark-eyed Qi een has got to? I think she has gone to sleep, as I never see a letter in the Witness from her, and I sent her a post-card a while ago. She has not answered it yet. With love to Heather Lassie, E. M. G., and Dark-eyed Queen,— Yours truly, KOWHAI. [I am glad to hear from you again, Kowhai. Yo'jir letter, being full of news, has certainly madj up for your six months' silence.—DoT.l Dear Dot,—l think it is about time I wrote agum. Since writing I received a letter from Mozart, and he seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself at home. The weather here is very changeable. At present it is raininovery heavily, and it is very cold. I have not see. Tomboy's letter in .the page for a while. I wonder what is wrong. Hurry up and write, Sunflower 11. Don't preserve silence like Mozart; but I suppose Mozart is very busy taking ph<: tcgraphs. He should get someone to take a photo of himself and send it down to me. lam reading a bock called "Sir Mortimer." It .is about captains of vessels. I have read a good many books, as I am> very fond of reading. With best lov.-. to Sceptre, Tomboy, and Sun*flower II, —Yours truly, SNOWDRIFT. Dsar Dot, —I think it is time for me to write, else you will think I'm " gone dead." We have a pony to, ride to school en now, which is better than walking three and a-ha!f miles. His r eme is Tommy. He is a strong little cob, and carries Bobs and myself along in great style. Sometimes he tries to stick us up, but I can easily manage him. Sometimes daddy drives him in the sulky, as he goes well in harness. Bobs and I have seen the comet a number of times. Our bedroom window faces the north, and as we keep the blind up it was not much trouble to peep out. This morning we had 1 a splendid view, as the sky was very bright and e'ear The comet was a glorious sight. Hasn't it got a long tail? Just think! If I live till it comes round -again I will be an old. old man 85 years of age. Do you think I will be bald by* then? I must stop now. Best wishes to yourself and all the Little Folk Yours truly, PICKLE. Dear Dot, —We were extremely pleased to see our last letter in print. We are having very fine weather here just now. We are having our school concert in July. The people up here are afraid of the comet. There was a comet in 1907 called Daniel's comet. We remember looking in the west for it. Brown Weka has gone to sleep altogether. We have not seen a letter from her for a long time. Clorine II has shifted down to Mataura. We play rounders at school. Last year we played two matches agair.s* Ngapara, and got beaten both times. Our racquet is our master, who takes an interest in rounders, is going to get it mended for us. He made a bat f r us but we were not playing long when ouc ball split. It was impossible to play with, the ball nearly in two pieces. The death zt our late King was very sudden, was it not, Dot? W* got two holidays when he diec. As it is getting late we will close. With best love lo Brown Weka, Yioletta, Clorine 11, Silver Poplar, and Topsy ll,—Youra trul y. WE, US, and CO. Dear Dot, —This is my second letter to your page. The two lakes up here are nearly joining each other. There is only a narrow strio of land between them, called the neck. It is very frosty up here just now. Predella's Mate is writing this weelI know a lot 'of D.L.F. up here. I hope that old inhabitant of Hawera is not offended with my lamb. I have read a few books called ' Sandy's Selection," "May's Children," and a few others. I saw White Rose in iiast week. You have about 40 letters in the Witness, Dot. The lakes are very pretty up here. The King died very suddenly. We got a holiday the day he was buried. I have not seen. Ladv Kant'rips' or Kittle Basket's letters for a long time. Blue Rocket and Pink Rocket have not written for a long time. Predella's Mate and I are great friends; we are always together. I think I have written a long enough letter.—Youra truly, STUBBLE. [lf you look in last week's page you will see a letter from Lady Kantrip., I shall have to inquire of my " private secretary" about the other' little matter you mention Stubble.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Once more I take up my pen to write to the page. I was in Queenstown last time I wrote. I have been down here a good while now; it is a nice change from Queenstown. It is so quiet there In the winter. I have grand times here- we have such a lovely big garden and plesty of room to run about and play. There are three girls and a boy here besides myself, and we all have cameras, so we all go out together and take photos. When we come home there is great excitement preparing to develop . When we get in the dark rcorr together we have grand fun. There isn t very much to get photos of here, without going such a long way. In Queenstown we only had to go outside the gate to get quite nice pictures. With love to all the Little Folk,—Yours truly, IDA. Dear Dot,—lt is a long time since I last wrote to you. You might think that I have forgotten, about the D.L.F., but that is not so. I always read the page, and take great lr.terest in it. The Star of Cardrona is my auntie, and she is going away to Wellington to live, so I will miss her. I do not know many D.L.F.'s. I know Ferndale, The Cottage Girl, Watercress, and Lady Bess. I have seen the comet a good few times. All the flowers have withered away now, and the chrysanthemums are the only ones left in. bloom. They look very beautiful, but it warns us that winter is near at hand when we see them beginning to bloom. I am getting sleepy, Dot, so I will have to close. With love to all the D.L.F.,—Yours truly, ROSELLA. [You must be very optimistic, Rosella. If you keep thinking that winter is only near at hand spring will be here before you have recognised the winter's presence. —DOT.] Dear 'Dot,—lt is with very guilty feelinga that I sit down to write to you once moro. It is quite 18 months since my last lette*

appeared in print. Since then—well, many things have happened; but when I sit down to write them I certainly can't think what they were. First of all, I had to resign from, the Invercargill Club after a year's attendance., My removal from town to Tisbury made it impossible for me to attend regularly, to my deep regret. Tie Thursday before Easter saw Sweetbriar and myself seated in the Immsden train on our way to Queenstown. This was a holiday I had long looked forward to, and not until I "was on my way did I realise I was going to see some of the beauty spots of Lake W-akatipu. Sweetbriar, who had jcurneyed there so often before, was buried in- a, book —at least, her head was, —but mine was out of the window most of the time. We boarded the boat at Kingston about 5.15, and landed at Queenstown about 8 o'clock. There was a strong wind blowing, which made the lake anything but calm, but it was all the more enjoyable. The last part of the trip was in -the moonlight, and the sight was something I will ever remember. Wo were too tired for anything but bed that night, but next morning I was up early to Lave a look round. The hills seemed so strange after being used to flat Invercargill. I must say the scenery of Queenstown is all I expected it to be. Some parts look as though Nature had never been disturbed. As it has been described in ihe page so often before, I will not say any more. We spent over a fortnight there, and enjoyed every minute of the time. I met several L.F. up there, and very sociable L.F. they ■were, too. I didn't like leaving them when the time came to say good-bye. We had ELady Bsler up there, too. She went home the same day as we did, but as she was going to Dunedin, we had to part at Lumsden. Now, comrades, I am sure you will admit it isn't very nice to start travelling at 8 o'clock on a cold, frosty morning. Well, Sweetbriar and I are indebted to Lady Esler for keeping U 8 alive that. Monday morning. It never rains but it pours, does it not, Dot? A few days after we got home I was told I should go to Gore for a week or two before I settled to work again. You may be sure I didn't say " no," and here I am at Gore. We are all looking forward to the social next month, and I hope to see you there, Dot. With kindest regards to all my comrades, —Yours truly, MOTHER'S HELP. [Queenstown D.L.F. ere reno Tied for their entlmsiasxn and hospitality. I am sure you must have had a splendid time there, Mother's Help.—DOT.] AUTOS AND POST-CARDS. Eosella. (care of Post Office, Arrowtown) wishes io exchange pcst-cards with anyone wibo is willing. Mountain Girl (Mary Tobin, Arrowtown) would like to exchange post-cards with Candlestick, Oleef, A Herbert. Lassie, AlysBum, and any other D.L.F. willing. Snowdrift (Norman. M'Kenzie, care of Hospital, Riverton) would like to exchange aivtos with Sunflower, Mozart, Sceptre, and any other D.L.F. willing Pink Wool (Miss Baxter, Seaward Downs, Southland) wishes to exchange autoa with Lady Evelyn, Happy Queen Bess, Longwood Eloesom, Star of Brunswick, and any others 'willing. Sure replies. D.L.F. BADGES. Badges sent to Maidenhair Fern, Adelina, and Camera. D.L.F. AUTOS. Autos sent to Snowdrift and Pink Wool. .