LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 77

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

Motto:—We write for tlie benefit of others, not for ourselves. ggg- No letter to contain more than 450 worls. Dear Dot—lt is some considerable time since' I wrote those two words, but. to use the old saying once more "It is hotter late than never." I should think you would be about tired of reading that excuse, but, really, I was never a very consibteut correspondent to the page, so you will have to forsive m© for so long an absence. I really don't know why Connecticut does net write more often; he has more spare time than T have hut .evidently he is following my example. He tell* me nearly every time be eces me that he is goin<j to write but by looking at the Witness every week I notice no letter appears from his Lo:<l*hip. I generally tell him when I am .cxvng to write, but this time I did not. so when he finds out I have written he will srive me a shake up for not lei ting him into the know. Well. Dot. I d-vn't suppose you wan't to< hear all about our little troubles, so I will to tell yen something of the happening* about here. Thev say the wind blows more in Wellington than in any other town in New Zealand, but It would have to be pretty bad at the present time to beat sunny Napier, why, it has done nothing but blow here evorv day for tho last two months or more. But some of the would-be prophets have the idea that it will drop when the sun passes the Equator, but what if tho wind changes too? What a time is in store for poor Napier 1 Beally, I think you would be better off down at the South Pole. I suppose, Dot, you have lead about the ideas of the different engineers re the making of a harbour for this town. The Wellington dredge has been hired by the Napier Harbour Board to dredge away the boulder bank which lie® directly out from, the entrance_ for the proposed Inner Harbour. By xemovjtig this bank the engineer who reported on this scheme hopes to reduce the velocity of the tides, but if this does not

happen as he anticipates I think the Inner Harbour scheme will' be a. failure. I suppose there was plenty of excitement in Dunedin on election night when the results were known. Things on the whole were very' quiet here. Mr Brown, the elected candidate, received a very mixed reception when he gave a speech after the final results were screened. Mr Hill, Mr Brown's opponent is a .real old sport; when he addressed his constituents after the poll he called for cheers fox his rival, and they were heartily given. In my opinion, if good Opposition candidate had' contested the seat in opposition ■ to the other two nominees (who are followers of the Ward Government) he would have had no difficulty in being returned, as there is a very strong feeling here for the Reform party. Dot, what is the retiring age? I have an inkling that my time is fast drawing to a close when you will have to strike my name from your book, but, nevertheless. I will always take an interest in the page. Well, Dot, I think I have written a long enough letter this time, so. will close by wishing yourself and all the D.L.F. the compliments of the season. —Yours truly, AHURIRI. [The retiring age is 20. but I hope you are not going to tell me that you are very near it, Ahuriri, for I shall miss your breezy letters from Napier. I said "breezy" without thinking that the term might be just a little hurtful, if you are at all sensitive about these winds you have been having; but I beg you to take the other and more complimentary meaning out of it. Tell Connecticut from me that I shall look on him as a broken reed if he does not very soon write to 'me'—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is much better now than it was, a few days ago. To-day was worm, but there was some rain in the morning. The garden is looking very nice just now, as all the vegetables are green. I have a flower garden,, but there are net many flowers out in it. I was weeding n, bunch of forget-me-nots to-day, and I noticed some young seeds were above the ground. There is a weed which is growing all over the dug ground, and it is very hard to keep it down. We are going to have a lot of fruit this year. The apple trees are covered with young apples, and .1 hope they will be able to ripen, as it is not very idee to see them blown off by the wind . before they are ripe. We have five pet lambs, and I always feed them at night They are very greedy, and often spill their milk. We are milking 16 cows. The mexi are ploughing the swamp just now,, but they can only go a few rounds each day on account of the manuka roots. The Otautau Show was on the 22nd November,; and it was a great success. We had 17 ducks this year, but the rain and cold killed 10 of them. The other night we forgot to shut them up, and through the night the rain came on,and in the morning there were five of them lying on their backs nearly dead. We took them beside the fire, and they soon revived. The Sixth Standard examination was on the ISth of December. Mother and father were at the Invercargill Show, and the place was in a? dreadful state with mud. My little sister started writing on a large piece of paper, and said she was writing to Dot, but I don't think it will ever be posted. Wishing all the D.L.F: and yourself a merry Christmas and happy New Year, —Yours truly, MISS MAC. [Tell the little sister, Miss Mac, that Dot was so disappointed that her letter did not come too in your envelope. I suppose she cannot write a letter fox printing yet, can she? What is the weed that gives you iso much trouble" in the garden ? " Is it "fat hen," a thing with a greyish-green leaf and small green flower, that pulls up very easily? I have seen that in great quantities on ploughed ground.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—l was glad to see my last letter in print. All the flowers in the garden are looking fresh after the rain. The weather has improved a great deal since I wrote to you last, and all the farmers are glad to see sunshine again. Our school concert is on Friday, and I shall bo going if the night is good. We have two little kittens, and they live in the garden with their mother. My sister is learning to play the piano, and I am going to start after New Year. I have been in Dunedin a good few times, and I think it would be a nice place to live in. With love from all to the L.F.— Yours truly, WEEPING WILLOW. [This is quite a hopeful letter about the weather, Weeping Willow, I am glad you look on the bright side, for I think most of my correspondents have given up hope of getting warm, sunny summer weather. I hope you had a good night for the concert—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in print. Our examination is on Friday, and our final one is on- Tuesday. We have five little kittens, and one is a yellow one. It is blowing and raining every day just,now. We have a holiday to-morrow for Election Day. We are milking 15 cows, and eight more heifers will be in next year. The wind is destroying all the flowers in the garden, and the roses are just coming now. Sir Joseph Ward was speaking in Oreti on Wednesday night, and Mr j. C. Thomson was in Druminond on Saturday night. We have 458 ewes and 515 hoggets. The doors of the buildings are very dirty with the wet weather. We have a lot of fruit this year. The Otautau Show was on the 2Qnd of November, and the Invercargill one is on the 13th of December. I am * reading a very interesting book just now named "The Coral Island." We have five little pigs jußt now, and they are growing very rapidly. We caught a seagull, and it is getting quite tame. We have not many chickens this year, and we have Eeven young ducks. Some of the farmers about here are shearing their sheep now. I was at the moving pictures the other night, and they were very good. We sold a bull lately, but wo have a young one left, and he is very, very cheeky. We have five pet lambs, and we also have 15 calves. We sowed some early turnips a IrElle while ago, but they are not through the ground yet. I know a good few Little Folk writing to the page. With love to all 1 the L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS, [Are you going to keep your .seagull in the garden? They can make themselves very useful there, by helping the gardener to exterminate harmful grubs. Most of the farmers seem to have delayed sowing their turnips because of the weather: it is interesting to note that though you made a sowing, they have not appeared yet. Evidently they (refuse to do their part until there is a little sunshine to greet them,— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was just thinking what I would do to-night, as it is a wet might, so I thought I would! write some letters, Since I last wrote I have been on an excursion trip to Colac Bay and 1 to the Inveroarglll Show. The morning of the excursion was beautifxil,

but before the train reached Cblao it was raining, .and we bad showers during the day. It was a miserable day. I would not like to live all Colac; I think it is too wet foT nie. I arrived home, wet andi cold, at 8 o'clock, and had to tackle into five or six cows; that spoiled the fun. I rather enjoyed noyself. At the Show I met two D.L.F., so I didn't do bad. I know a good! few D.L.F. no*. It was «i nioe afternoon overhead, bu't a bit windy. The Show ground wias ankle deep in mud. You could tell everybody who had been there just by looking at their boots. The girls I met asked mo to join the club when it starts again.; I shall ©eo when the time conies. I went into two of the sideshows, but they were most disappointing. Wo had a better time while ploughing through the mad What sort of weather are you getting up in Dxinedm. Dot? We are getting nothing but rain and wind, and wind and rain for .a oßange. With love and good wishes, for a merry Christmas and ia happy New Year to all the L.F, and 3'ourself, —Yours truly, QUEEN ELIZABETH.

[This mud at the InvercaTgill Show must) have been something quite extraordinary, for though a number of Little Folk went to it, the only thing everyone has told me about it is. with regard to Che state of the ground. No mention of prize cattle or mil.kingl machine®: just the mud. I wonder who cleaned all the boots after it. —DOT I .]

Dear Dot, —I have been going to write to the page every night tills week, but there has always been something to stop ma My mate, Possum's Friend, is ill just now, but I hope she will soon get better. lam looking! forward to the Christmas holidays now, as they are very near; but Ido not know whether I am going away or not, as I shall have .a good time at home. The election is past now with all its excitement, and I shall be able to have a good rest now. Willi love to the D.L.F. and yourself, —Yours truly, WILD WEST.

[Perhaps you would foe wis© «to stay . at home, Wild' West, .and just enjoy youirself having- quiet little picnics. Dunedin Tias so much to o'tfer in the way of pleasure resorts. If the weather gets warm you can have surf bathing or swimming in St, Clair baths, and excursions on the harbour, and if it stays cold there sure .always walking picnics to our many beauty spots. Write and! tell m/e what you decide on. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I wrote to the page, but I hope I shan't be so long next time. We have 'a little pet tomb, and we call it Daisy, end. a lot of chickens, big) and little. We get a shower of rain nearly every diay now, and everything is looking so nice and green. With love to all the Little Folk and yoTinseli, ia!>so wishing them all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, — Yours truly, BRIGHT STAR.

[Thank you for the little pansy, Brigxit Starr. Do you know what ponsies signify? " Bansies for thoughts," poor Ophelia said:; so I ahiall have to think of you and you of me because of that little pansy.—DO.T'.]

Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to the page. I think I will tell yon something about tihe place where I live. JVly foome is in a Valley seven miles rom . ifoo " white stone city " ; it lies to the west. T:> the north are the Ngapaxa Hills, capped with snow at times; to the east, the Kakanui nanges in the distance, but nearer is a higJi hill called the Bound Hill, on top ot which is a trig station. To the south. is the sea in the distance, but nearer at hand 1 is another high hill called Sebastopol, and on top of it is ia memorial built of white stone in memoiry of Mr Thomas Brydone. Now, Dot, can you tell me which province I arn living in, and then you may be able to tell _me if there are any more D.L.F.. in my district. Our school picnic is to be foetid on Friday in the Oannaru Gardens. Wishing all the Little Folk and yourself a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year, —Yours truly, „ TOTARA TREE.

[I do not know whether there are any other D.L.F. in your near neighbourhood. Tbtara Tree; but there axe several in Oamaru. Will you be going to the 'Oama.ru picnic on New Year's Day? Then you will meet them.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We shall soon have Christmas here again. all like when that time, oom.es, ae we get such lot® of nice things, and nice tiimes too. Our concert for prize 3 was about a fortnight ago; all the girls were dressed in white, and they did look nice, like o, lot of little fairies. We do not get our prizes till the school breaks up. We are milking 15 cows and feeding three calvesI will now write a little piece of poetry. "God hath given me store of love; All the things that breathe aind move I love; I love the earth, I love the sky,

The flowers that bloom, the flowers that die, I love. I love the trees, songs, birds, and flowers, The summer and the winter hours; I love the friends of love and truth, Childhood, old age, and merry youth;

I love the gcod, the great, the free, . In all things I some charm can see: But, most of all, whoe'er loves me I love." With love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, YOUNG TOTARA.

[Can you say that little piece of poetry by heart, Young Totara? It would be a verv nice piece for you to learn, I think. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —For some considerable time I have taken an interest in the Little Folk's page, and have wished that I belonged to that band also, but not until recently have I met any of the members. One or two of them work by me, and since one has been bringing the Witness to work I have desired more earnestly to write. I really don't know what to say, but I wanted to ask permission to' become one of your many writers; may I ? What good times you must have at the club! Possum's Friend went ona night, and had a lovely time. I hope that moonlight picnic proves a success, Well, Dot. as this is my first letter, I will close. Wishing you the compliments of the season, and with love to Possum, Possum's Friend, and all the L.F.,—Yours truly. - MAYFLOWER.

[Certainly you may become one of "ours," Mayflower: nothing is simpler. And if you do not know what to write to me about, just write the wry simplest things of your everyday life, work or play; I shall bo interested in it all—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been neglecting the page lately, but I sba.ll make up for it now the examination is over. I passed my standard easily, as I usually do, and now I am in the Sixth. Christmas is .almost here already, and New Year too. I am looking forward to these days, and I suppose everyone else is also. My sister and I aire going to Napiear for our holidays, I have a dear little pet lamb at home, and I call h«r Daisy Belle, as it is what my mother used to call h©ra when she was little like me. Wo have three canaries, and we had a nest of goldfinches, and they all died but one We hate alto two cats and two puppies. Have you got many flowers out, Dot? Ours are beginning to look nicer now. A short time- ago an amusing Incident occurred here. At a boardinghouse there were too many cats, so two or three of them had to be shot. When they.

were killed a boy about 18 skinned it and told the cook there was some rabbit to b© cooked foe the master's tea that night. So she cooked some of it, and when i't was about cooked the mischief-maker and said, "That is not rabbit, but. oat.'' Th© cook was disgusted at this, and' would lot lift ,the pot off the stove. When the master came in he laaighed heartily. I see someone has still my niame, and I wish they would change it. Wishing you all a' Busrry Christinas and a- happy New Year, —Vnurs truly, EAWAIUU.

Tl suppose people have eate=i cat before now, Kawarau. Indeed. I have a very shrewd suismcion thai I ato it myself onoe. It waa at a restaurant in Versailles in France, and we were told that it was chicken; but I am perfectly certain thai no chicken ever had bones like those we found in this or.e! ' lit is a little difficult to understand our extremal prejudice against cat; and why do we not «aif horse-flesh is readily as beef? —DOT.] Dear Tot,—l think I will tell the D.L.F. a story. "I have nothing to do," said little Dottie Lennox, as she threw down a cardhouse she had been building fox the' last hour, and threw herself down on the rug before the fire. "Baby is asleep. Nurrao; is busy. Charlie is downstairs at lessons' with mamma. Oh, poor little me!" Dottie) then wont over to the window to watch tha raindrops trickling down the window-panes. One little figure soon took her attention She .at first thought the figure to bo abrown bundle of straw, but as the bundle drew nearer it turned! out to bo a little gir, wrapped in a shawl. A basket hung, on her arm. A gust of wind blew the cove? mg up and some oranges peeped outt "Oranges, oranges!" shouted Dot; "I wish I were an orange girl. It would be so nice to eat oranges whenever I pleased." Nurse laughed at such a thought, and told her not to wake baby by talking so loud, bu* Dottie forgot everything in her anxiety, for the little orange-se'ler had taken shelter under a, doorway opposite. Laying hear basket on the ground, she unknotted a corner of the old shawl which served as a purse, and counted out a few halfpenceIt was plain to see that something waa wrong, but what it was Dottie could not decide. Half afraid to lose sight of the little gir 1 , Dottie glided out in tho rain and talked to the orange-seller. Almost breathless, she rushed to her mother and said, "Oh, do please open the hall door; I want to give a litt'e girl my dolly." Mrg Lennox asked the little girl who sxipported them., and she said, "Please, ma'am, I do. The oranges never sell well in wet weather, and the rent has to be paid tc-morrow, and I have not enough money to pay fca: it." "If Komoono bought all your oranges would you have enough?" "Oh, yes! That would be .fifteen at a penny each, and cur rent is only Is, and I have already threepence." "May I buy them, mamma?" "Certainly, if you choose." Maggie then ran home very pleased c with the money in one hand, and holding the doll that Dottie had given her in the other. Charlie, with a manly air, ran homo to share the oranges with everyone in the house. I must close now, hoping I am not too late in, wishing all the D.L.F. and yourself a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. With love to Silver Sultan, Starlight Maid, and Lady Lilian/ Yours truly, GOLDEN SUNSET. [Good wishes are always welcome, Golden Sunset; thank you for yours.—DOT] Dear Dot, —A few days ago, when being presented with various little gifts and such greetings as "Many happy returns, dear," I suddenly remembered I had only two more years to write to the dear old page. How time does fly! It does not scorn seven years since I penned my first letter; yet numerous changes have taken place since then. I must say I have been greatly benefited through being associated with the page, both from its letters and fellow comrades. Well, Dot, news is scarce here at present, therefore I cannot promise an intei-esting letter. Everyone is grumbling -about the weather, which I think is excusable, as this continuous rain and wind is very depressing. One can hardly realise that the longest day is almost here, and so far we have had no summer at all. The election, with all its excitement, is over now, leaving a v«ry unsatisfactory state of- affairs. The candidates here on their campaigns received a very lively time at some of. their meetings, some of the audience being bent on causing interruptions. We all cycled in to town on the night of the 7th to see the results. There was an immense crowd in front of the News office watching the returns being placed on the screen. .Our annual show is over once more, but owing to the previous wet weather the ground was in such a condition that enjoyment was almost impossible. I was on the Icokoui for badges, but did not see- any until we boarded our train for home. Shortly after leaving town we noticed that two of our fellow-passengers were wearing badges, but having ieft nine at home, I felt rather too shy to speak. However, I plucked up the necessary courage, and soon found myselj chatting away to these L.F. We had scarcely been speaking a few minutes when' I heard "Tisbnry!" called out by the guard,, which meant me making an exit front that carriage. Now, I may be mistaken, but -I think my comrades' N.D.P.'s were Queeh Elizabeth and Lady Sue. (Pardon me, friends, if I am wrong.) I have not been able to reach the club for weeks. As sure as Wednesday comes, so sure will it rain, and blow hurricanes. I do not mind riding m the rain so much, but I do object to Ihe wind, and wind and rain together are just too much. A few weeks ago Blackeyed Susan and myself left home on our bicycles to make an attempt to get to tho meetings. Almost immediately after leav- -1 ing- home wo were compelled to take shelter from a- passing heavy shower, as we thought, but when that shower blew over it waa too late for club so we had to turn and com 3 home again. No doubt someone will say, "What about Pterodactyl?" We all know he does very weU to attend as regularly as he does. But if Pterodactyl does live nine miles from town he is a man, and not so easily daunted as the weaker sec<. Perhaps we shall have better luck when the club opens again. Now, dear Dot, I must conclude this dull letter. By the time it is in print this year, with aU ita joys and sorrows, will bo waning, so before closing, I will wish you, Dot, and all my 1 D.L.F. comrades, "a happy and prosperous" New Year." —Yours truly, . MOTHER'S HELP. fl am very sorry to hear how the weather has hindered your going to the club. Mother's Help, for I know that not only would you miss it, buti you would be very sorely missed. Pterodactyl 1 is certainly an ardent loyalist, and I am proud to think how he braves the weather; but it is true that girls are more handicapped than men when it comes to cycling in rough weather. Their dress alone is a big enough handicap, isn't it? However, I hope the weather will soon clear enough for you to get In again.— tor.j Dear Dot,—-We have been having lovely weather lately, and it is so pleasant to

out in the sunlight. Yesterday, when tny sister, brother, and myself were down in the hayfield watching dad cutting hay, we went into the bush, and eaw two morepokes—ft young one and its mother. When we told dad he came and snared them both, but we let them' go again. Nearly all the shearing irr this district is finished now, end it is not .uncommon to meet wool waggons on the road. We now have our six weeks' holidays. My schoolmate gave me *uch a dear little kitten j its name is j

Mittens. It is black and white. The name Mitiens was given to it because the b'aolc touches the white a little above the paws on its fore-feet, and it just looks as if it had mittens on its feet. I am kept busy keeping my little brother from lifting it about. Last night he put it in the pig's milk-tin, and he wet all its tail. On break-up day the school teacher gave me a book of Tennyson's poema for being dux of the school. A litfo while ago we had a hen with 17 chickens, and now there are only five left.

The rats have eaten all the rest. Mother set a wire trap and caught six half-grown rats. Yesterday dad got two pigs, and they keep so quiet that you would hardly know that they 'were in the sty. There are a nice lot of pretty flowers in our garden now Yours truly, WREATH.

[T should have liked to see two morepokes as close as that,, Wreath; I wish von had described them to us. Are they like little owls? It is such a long time since I even heard one, and I should ike to see and hear them again. I am giac to hear of your success at school; you will enjoy those six weeks; holidays thoroughly now, won't you?—DOT.]

Dear Dot.-This is my first letter jo y^r ever? cky 'i went to the Owaka Show oh Tuesday. 14th December I am.ll g»» old, and in Standard 11. We pigs now and 19 cows. My brother is broking in a young horse %*»£',£&£ away ruling on rabbits hererU collecting ? U a _ Parrot, luckier than most cripples. I wonder if you meant "drive"? Perhaps you did. But even, so, it is «pl«ndid that you are ™ confined to a chair or sofa x anaU lik * -lad to hear from you as often as s ou to write.—DOT.] Dear Dot-The weather is still very unwrite you a story, as there » no «» to till tou It is called "Look On Both Sides Two knights once differed over a shield iniured and fell from their horses A wise injured, anu W o S lr e d them what they W W filhtog ovef They told him, and he said ° "The shield one side and iron on the other Then we. have been fighting over nothing said the first. "What fools we were! said the second. "Before beginning to fight™ should have looked at it carefully on both sides." The rata is coming out m its pretty red flower. I will now close, wishing all the D.L.F. and yourself a merry Christmas and a happy **7 TT Y n e tiulv SAILOR BUY. [I 'almost wonder that the rata ventures to come into flower in this weather Sailor Boy. A number of our flowers look very fell-hearted about venturing out m the »ain And the rata, I think, is a flower 'hat particularly needs sun to show off its beauty. We shall hope for a warm January and February, at any rate. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I always manage to write to you once a year. The weather we have down here is just like winter, but I think it will clear up now. I was in at the Dunedin Winter Show, and I had a good time. I was round at the Witness office, but I had not oourage to come and see you. I might come and see you next time I come-. I was up at Gore Show, but I did not see any D.L.F. there. I liked the merry-go-round, and I was on it about half a dozen times. It is -very quiet about here just now, but it will soon be lively with picnics, dances, etc. The bush flowers are aU faded except the moko, which has a lovely smell. The clematis in our bush this year was lovely, and I was sorry when they went away. Dot, do you know two songs called "Grace Darling" . and "You'll remember me" ? I am going to learn them, and they seem nice. A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to yourself and all the D.L.F.— Yours truly, KILLARNEY.

[No, I do not know those two songs, Killarney. Have you learnt the song called "Killarney"? That ought to be one of the first for you to learn seeing that it is your norn de plume. Have you noticed how pretty the clematis seed is now on some of the trees? And do-you know there is one! kind that has seed and another that hasn't?—DOT.] . Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to the page; I hope that you will allow me to become a member of your happy band. I am 12 years of age, and am in the Fifth Standard. The roses in our garden are looking very pretty just now. Many of my friends have got mumps, but I have not had them yet. I am going to get a firstclass 'certificate for going to school every day this year. One of my cousins hasi not missed a day from school for four years. I often read the D.L.F. letters, and find them interesting, so I thought I would write too. With love to dear Dot.—Yours truly, WHITE ROSE 11.

[I am glad you did not get mumps during school time, White Rose, for then you would have had to spoil your record of good attendance. I believe there is a pupil at the Mornington School who has not missed a day for nine years; isn't that a remarkable record? Please send your name and address next time, so that I can write them in my book.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is with regret I pen these few lines, i reached the retiring age some four months ago, but owing to sickness, and then the extra work to make up for lost time. I have been unable to forward my retiring letter before this. I must confess I have been a poor contributor to the page, especially of late years, and now I have reached the retiring age I feel sorry that I did not contribute more often; but it is no use crying over spilt milk; is it, Dot? I have always taken a great interest in ths page, and L.F. generally. It is now some 10 years since I penned my first letter to the page under the same nom. as I hold at present. How well I remember it! It only seems but a year or so instead of 10. I have gained many friends since then through being a D.L.F.; friendships I wou'd never have made if I had not been a D.L.F. Very true, is the saying, "Once a D.L.F. always a D.L.F." I have always found the benefit of being a L.F. when going to a strange place. No matter where a L.F. goes he or she is received right royally by his or her L.F. comrades, who do all in their power to make that L.F. have a real good time. I also take an interest in club' especially the Dunedin Club, as I used to attend that cbib myself when I was in Dunedin. I hope the next time I am in Dunedin, which will ' likely be in February, to be able to attend the club just- for auld times' sake, and meet all my old comrades. I see by reports that the club is progressing favourably, and it is my sincere wish to see both clubs in the high condition that ..they used to be in years ago. Severa l times I have thought of writing a paper for one club or the other, but before 1 would have time to get a paper written the subject would be passed.

I may succeed yet, comrades, so live in hope of hearing from me one of these days. Several changes have taken place in L.F. matters since I last wrote to the, pnge. Our friends Boy and Iris are married, and Wandering Boy and Perthshire, I think, and also Midgie and Cornish have joined tho ranks of matrimony. Good luck to you all, comrades. Midgie and Cornish spent their honeymoon in our little town: I*iiyn sorry, comrades, you were not b'eased with better weather on such a trip as yours. Midgie is an old friend of mine, and I saw a good deal of them while they were staying hero, for liiey stayed just across the road from us. Our staunch comrade Blondel has crossed the Great Divide, and also Vidocq, besides others whom I had not the pleasure of knowing. Blondel's bright, cheery letters and poetry are missed in the page nowadays. So are Vidocq's letters of his great wanderings; they used to be so interesting. Much sympathy is felt for the relatives. "l managed to get a few days' holiday in June last, as I had worked several days overtime, so I took the opportunity and went to Invercargill for the social. From Que ens town to Invercargill was a long way to go to a social, but, nevertheless, it was weH worth it when I had the few days' holiday. I went down on the Tuesday and came back on Friday. I had a thorou'li'v enjoyable time. All the L.F. ware so good and kind to me. I sincerely thank my comrades who helped to make my short stay in Invercargill and the social so pleasant for me. I could not wish for a more enjoyable time at any social or dance that I may go to than I had at the said social: on© and a'l were so well looked after. I met several at the social to whom I had written, but bad never met personally, and also three or four whom I had not seen for several years. It was indeed very pleasant to renew old acquaintances. I was very, very pleased indeed to ■ meet j-ou there It was really that meeting that I looked forward to most. I would have been greatly disappointed if you had not have been there 1 was awfully shy that night. Dot; I was sorry I did not manage to have a little longer chat with you. I looked for you several times, and you seemed so busy and happy talking to other L.F. that I did not like to disturb you. I thought the concert was splendid, and much credit was due to Midgio m the training of girls in the club-swinging. I thought that was excellent, .bavengro was very good; in fact, it was a splendid conoert all through, and great praise is due to the Social Committee for their management of the whole affair I had a good way to go after the dance, and I was only in bed about an hour when I had to get up and bundle my few belongings together, get breakfast, and catch the Kingston tram. I am hoping to be able to get to the L.F. Social next year either at invercargill or Dunedin. I spent my holidays a t Invercargill and Stewart Island last ye-.r, and had a splendid time. I fully intended to write to you before this and give you the full details of my trip to the island, but time has flown, by quicklv. I have net time to tell you all about it to-night, but will give you a brief description of the trip and island, to give you an idea what the island is like if you have not already been there. We had a very rough passage across . from' the Bluff. Some of the passengers, had to be tied down to the steamer with ropes, and passengers were lying on the deck, some half over the side of the boat, etc., etc. I .was one among the lucky ones that were not sick. I really enjoyed tho teasing. Nearly all the passengers were drenched to the skin. I stayed at Mrs Hick's boarding-house, which is situated about a mile in the bush at the end of such a nice walk. The island is a mass of bush, ferns, tree-ferns, mutton-bird trees, and other native' shrubs. Elvery day we went to .a different place, and at the end cf the veeik we had not seen half the places. A party of us would charter a launch and go away up the Inlet for the day, landing at several plaoes. We were at Ulva, where the most .southerly post office in the world is situated, and posted post-cards, letters, and mutton-bird leaves. Crowds and crowds of people go to Ulva just to say that they haive posted letters, etc., at ■ the most southerly post office in the world". We would get back to the boarding-house just in time for 6 o'clock dinner. As soon as dinner was over we would go for a walk in the bush or- go down to Half-moon Bay, and go for a row or out in a small launch for in hour or so. We seemed never to be off tho waVr. In the season the steamer Teresa Ward goes over every Wednesday and Satu:day, and on Tuesday and Friday nights tha tourists hold a dance in the Athenaeum—just a, little send-off for those who were going away by the steamer the next day. I went to one of these just for curiosity's' sake. It was real funny seeing such a number of Maoris in a dancing hall. It was a very good turn-out for such a pmall place, and under the circumstances I really enjoyed myself. There are several "corduroy" tracks through the bush, but I did not care very much about walking very far over those tracks, as they made one's logs too tired. On my return from Stewart Island I went and saw our comrade Bleeding Heart at the Bluff. She is an old correspondent of mine, so we had quite a long chat on L.F. matters, etc. I had to return to Invercargill that night on business, but I went back to the Bluff on the Friday to a concert and dance with Bleeding Heart. I had a most enjoyable evening, and thoroughly enjoyed my short stay with our comrade. I went out to Tisbury and stayed a night with Sweetbriar, my old mate. I returned to Queenstown on the Saturday, ready to commence work on Monday morning. It took me quite a little while to settle down to toil after having such a grand time all over the country. I shall never forget my first trip to Stewart Island, and will always look forward to a trip over there. I intend going back in February for a week or perhaps more, and if all i 3 well I am going on to Dunedin and Timaru. If I manage to get to Dunedin I hope to be able to have a little chat with you, if I may. Can one imagine Christmas is so near? This day next week will be Christinas Day. It seems such a short time since last Christmas; one can hardly realise that 12 monthfl have flown by. This little township will be at its liveliest next week. A good number of tourists are expected, though the weather is so bad. It has been awfully cold here lately; we can hardly realise we are in the middle of December with such weather as wo are having. We have not been able t* have any swimming this season yet, it being too cold. We were swimming a month ptevious to this last year. Dear Dot, I sincerely wish tho page and club 3 every success in the future, and to you, dear Dot, my sincerest -wish is that you will be spared for many years to corns to fill your important role. My good wishes go with all persons connected with tho j>X,F. page. I have gained much benefit from the page myself, and it has done good, I am sure, to a great many more of our comrades than myself. I will 1 now say goodbye to you, dear Dot, the page, and all L.F. until O.W.W. comes round. Wishing vou'and all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,— Youra truly, GIPSY QUEEN. Margaret Chapman, Queenstown. P. 9.— Anyone wishing my auto can obtain B«ma by getting my address from you.

j"I am very sorry to say good-bye to you, Gipsy Queen, as one of our active writing 1 members. But then lam always sorry when you "little" folk grow into "big" folk and leave us, though I know I ought to be wise and philosophical and say, "Ah, well, it is only natural." Thank you so much for all the kindly things you have said about benefit you have received from your connection with the page; I am so glad you feel like that, and not only feel it. but say it. I remember meeting you quite well at tho Inyercargill social; it was indeed a very brief meet, but you must try and make up for that by coming to Dunedin next year.—DOT.]

Dear Dot,—The Waitahuna School concert was held in Carmody's Hall on November 2. Needless to say, there was a crowded house, the audience occupying every available seat and standing spa.ee", while the less fortunate ones crowded round the door and window. 111,0 stage was beautifully decorated, and all tiie little girls wore dresses of white. I was fortunate in securing a seat near the front, wiiea-e I got a full view of the proceedings. We missed the first three items, namely, MammVa Cry-baby," "Pip p ep p olV < all ,j ■Lattle .boy Blue," but were in time to see the tail end of " Playing at School," which was very good. The next item was a song entitled ' Postmen," by a dozen boys, which was received with applause. After this followed a part recitation, "The Elephant's Portrait, ' by Misses Violet Auld and Chrissie Morris, which was likewise well received Moo Cow " and " Meddlesome Matty " were sung very well by the Primer classes, and What I Mean to Be" was recited by eome four promising lads. The next item, " It's No Joke to be a Baby," by some little tots from five to seven years, in white dxesaes, fairly brought the' house down, and they were encored to the echo. "Dolly's Bedtime," by four other wee girls, was also very good. The next item was a recitation, " Children of the Empire," by Miss Connie Treahy ' Where Do You Come From, Biaby Dear?" and " Candle Time " brought a reappearance of the wee tots in nightgowns. The first dialogue, " Keeping House,'' was very good, but it would take too long to go into details. " Farmyard " was* —shall I say quiet ? I don't think. The next item, " Fairies," was the all-important one of the evening. About a score of girls came in daaicing, and eventually formed in two rings, a considiexablo space intervening between the two. "When the dancing ceased, and the Fairy Queen, magnificently dressed, and bearing a wand in heir hand and a crown on her head, came in, followed by four little fairies also beautifully dressed. All the girls resembled soma flower, and wore a wreath and spray, and carried a bouquet of the blossom they represented. The little fairies danced round their queen, and the flower girls sang. The scema was really beautiful, and looked a good deal more so when the electric lights were turned on. Miss Emma Lake filled the part of queen, and little Jean Auld, May MacCorkindale, Hannah Sinclair, and Lily Ryan acted as little fairies, two having pink wings and two blue, while the queen had big clear ones. " That's the Way to the Zoo," sung by the infant room, was very good. Pussy Cat Lover recited "Why?" very well._ But Master Douglas Eaton surpassed himself, dressed as a nigger, singing " Nelly Bly : he had to respond to a vociferous encore, and coming back he sang the last verse and played his mandoline. Although he was again encored he would not return. Miss May Blakie recited " The Blind Boy" nicely, and Miss Beta Ryan siang " Daddy" well." "The Better Land" was sung in parts by Miss Emma Lake Mies Lizzie Moen (daughter), and Master It'tcAie Webb (son). "Busy Housewives" was rather an amusing dialogue. Next came an amusing recitation, " Grandpa's Glasses," by Master Jack Hughes, and then the sidesplitting farce " The Red Chignon." Prima Donna acted well here as Miss Precise. Some eight oir nine boys and girls rendered " Homo, Sweet Home" very well. The second last item, by all the senior girls, gained loud applause. This was a recital of all the popular nursery rhymes, each one ending in " Pushed him through the window." Every girl sang one part by herself, and they all Bang the chorus together. The star drill was the last item, and perhaps the prettiest too, done by all the senior girls dressed in white ajid holding large silver stairs in each hand. Mr Ponder then thanked the audience for their patronage, and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the teachers and Mrs Garret, who had come to Waitahuna expressly to train the children. I forgot to mention another D.L.F. who was acting very well— Gabriel Grub. I noticed you on the stage several times, comrade. Little Dame Trot came down from Lawrence especially to attend the concert, and Pomona was ak*> among the audience. You passed me on the road going to the concert, chum. The young fellows got up a dance afterwards, but as the notice was very short, there were only two sets. Barton's Circus/visited Waitahuna on Monday night, and I went to it, aaid as it was the first circus I was ever at, I enjoyed myself to the full. The first item was a fine display of horse riding, eight riders being in the ring- at once, four ladies and four gentlemen dancing round each other, etc. The'i a little hoy contortionist dressed in brown with a green sash, and about nine years old, came in and lay down on a table holding a glass of water on his forehead while getting down, and then got through first one hoop, then two, and then three toother, ail the time lying down, and He never spilled a drop of water. There was also a lady trick cyclist riding a bicycle back to front standing on the seat, upside* down, and every way one could think of. On© man rode three horses round the ring together. He would stand 1 with a leg on each horse and the third would run in between, and then he lay across the three of them, and rode round the ring that way. There was a lady riding a horse over blazing sticks hangin <*on with her feet, and her head and arms hanging down when she was going over the sticks Little Tom Tom was very nice. He was the tiniest horse I ever saw, and he came galloping in with bells all round him. His tricks with the clown were much appreciated and he afterwards reappeared with a monkey riding on his back A lady there walked on a wire, and went througn hoops and other performances on it, and she was loudly applauded. "Alicia," the lady jugafar wasT very clever throwing up balls, tenI rracquets, pl»tes, etc. The flying trapeze* were "tvoudierful, two men dressed in green tights doing all sorts of tricks in the air. One hum* would hang on tea bar with his feet take a- strap, >and hold one end with his 'teeth Then he would double back and lift his companion down, giving hm the other end of the strap in his teeth, and thus hold his mate, swinging in the air with nis teeth alone. Those- two did many other tricks too numerous to mention. The musical "Trevares" gave a very good selection of musical items. Two men, Clnco and Cooo, dressed as monkeys, played on a, revolving ladder. One fellow hung on to the ladder by his Ml, and they went whizzing round like lightning. When Chftco was up at the roof of the tent Coco would be nearly touching the ground. Three Chinamen exhibited their agility to perfection too, sliding face downward over a table and turning SMoersaulfo as if it were fine fun to them. Then*

was a great exhibition of wrestling and ■weight lifting; one man lifted! a weight of, I think, 2001 b over his head. Whatever it was, two of the Waitahuma hopefuls couldn't get it above their chest, and that was two together. These wear© the strong men Franz and Mourner. One of them made a bridge of himself, with his head hanging over a box and his feet supporting him at the other end, nn din thus position hie mate stood on h's stomach and lifted 201 b weight above bis gead. Of course they did not have their full programme for a place like this. I think ImTZ n f^ rly OT «Tthing. and as I must be over the word limit I will close / 0U .*° «* cw * me this time on JSLT.w a CITCUS onl y ™ iis Waitohuna, once ma blue moon. Wishing Dot and all Dot's; Little Polk the brightest" end merriest of Ghiistmases and the happiest and most prosperous of New Yeaw,—Yours truly,

FRO'STY [You have certainly had your fill of enhe 1 tow m fo? 23? y > F r sty; you *Bi Wta over aVtLT ° \ long time now *° think holfdavs 2 „ ■ Ajld yet ' witJl Christmas holidays so close upon you, I see no imme°?r* TOall >' iet «"» for you. goes InL^oT] m °" > tbm *™ if thi *

Won' Est""? iS a lon f t - im ' 6 sinoe * Wlote do to S£ - 1 , What I would! ao to pass the time away, so I thought I would write to tbe page. Pirlie wrote the other week and I wa « looking for hS letter in the Witness, but I couldn't find it, sol i; ai S f * r ««>. n«t week's, Witness to year, as it has been such bad weather. One day it is raining and the next day it is fhS nl w JX>U • OJm ' t **jxmd on the weatner Christmas is close now; it is only a week away. We have to go to school until Iv, E?f* 7 * m *, Christmas., that is, until the 22nd of December. I like going to school JUSt now as we play croquet, which I think is a good game. I wonder when Ring -oi KuOies is going to write again; she is as bad as I at writing to the page. I suppose 1 shall be going to the races and the bazaar i* « 3 ® good weather. It is strange to think it is Christmas and the weather so bad I have never seen it like this bafore. It will soon be the year 1912 now. We had thunder, lightning, hailstones, and rain here one day. It was a good thing it didn't last long, as T don't know what we should have done. It damaged a lot of the fruit and vegetables. Some of the books I have read are " Wilful Willie," " Bunny and Furry,'' "Into the Haven," "The T>A»ht Princess," "Two Girls and a Dog," " The Carpenter's Snuff Box," " Friend and His Friends," and some others. I will close now wishing you and all the D.D.F. a nwsrry Christmas and a bright and happy New Year. With love to Pirlie and Rin? of Rubies, — Yours truly, STRAWBERRY.

[Was it not from your district that strawberries were sold early in the season that -realised 5s 8d a pound? I think it was, audi I do not wonder at your taking the iom dia plume of " Strawberry, ' if you live in a district whose strawberries can command that price.—DOT.]