LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 77

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

i Motto:—We write for the benefit of others, *>ol for ourselves. I gs" No letter to contain more than 450 worli. I Dear Dot,—This is the first time I have written to your page, ‘and I hope you will allow me to join your happy hand of writers. I am 12 years old. and will be m the Sixth Standard next year. We haie been having very rough weather lately. I think it is terrible weather for so near Christmas. What a difference to last year at this time! It /was very hot then. Vte have two cows, which w© call Darkle and Imkie, and about 15 fowls and 10 chickens. Have you read “In Lion Land ? I have just read the book a few weeks ago. Our school examination is over now, and on next Friday the prizes will be distributed. I was at Wirth’s great circus on Saturday, and I sow Lizzie, the hippopotamus. The acrobats are wonderful; they did such daring feats, #<ind turned somersaults in mid air. With love to all the D.L.P. and yourself, —Yours truly, j ROBINSON CRUSOE'. ’ [I have enrolled you as one of my D.L.F., Robinson Crusoe. I should think “In Lion Land”’ would be a very interesting book; is it all about the heart of Africa? Did you see in the paper that King George has been shooting big game in India, and has shot two tigers and three rhinoceroses?—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have never written to your page but I would like to join your happy band. I have a pet lamb and a flower garden of my own. I live a good distance from a railway station. We are having good weather down here just now; it is so nice and warm. What kind of weather are you having in Dunedin just now? With love to all the L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly-' NOBODY’S GIRL. (You cannot be a D.L.F. until I know your name and address, Nobody’s Girl, but if you send me those I shall enter your name in my book. You will see about our extraordinary- weather in the paper, and the violent rain storms we had on Christmas Eve.—, DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have got our holidays now, and I am not sorry; but the worst of it is that w© have only got a month. I will send you a recipe for sugar candy. Ingredients: One cupful of white sugar, half a teaspoonful of cream of tartar, quarter cupful of cold water, half teaspoonful of butter; boil without stirring. Wo have a lot of roses out now, and I just love to smell the scent of them. It will soon be Christmas. What is the weather like in Dunedin ? If it is like the weather here it is not very good. as it is blowing all the time. With best wishes for a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and with love to White Crocus and My Mate,—Yours trulv. WHITE MAPLE. 1 [One things vou forgot in your recipe, White Maple: how lone do you boil your candy? I always think that is the important point with candy and toffee yet you do not i mention it. Perhaps you just test it by , Irving it on a plate or in water; do you?— S DOTi] j Dear Dot.—We have just got our holidays; , I love holidays. I suppose I will be going to spend my holiday with My Mate; then I will tell you all about it next time I , write. I will give you the recipe for toffee, cocoanut candv: Two cups of white sugar, ! quarter cup of water. After boiling put the I pan in a larger pan of cold water and stir j until cool. When it begins to get stiff stir ■ in the grated or dessicatod cocoanut, and | when cold cut into squares or cakes. With love to all the D.L P. and yourself.—Yours truly. WHITE MAPLE’S MATE. I (You arc as bad as White Maple; you ! don’t tell us how long you boil ycair candy, I either. You see, a certain amount of hoil- ! ing makes a syrup, a little more makes i a soft sugary mass, and a little more makes lit hard and sugary. But the precise point | at which candv comes is what is so difficult j to know. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —May I join your happy bond? I I like reading the D.L.F. letters; some of them are quite interesting. I have a brother and sister writing to your' page. I know two or three D.L.P. I have two sisters and one brother married. There has been such rough weather out here lately-, and I cannot get out anywhere, so I am looking forward to a good day at Christmas, as one of my sisters is coming out to stop with me. _We are milking 18 cows, and I do nine night and morning. I am up about 5 every morning, and go to bed at 9 or 10 at night. We shall soon be having a busy time when the hay is coming in. lam puzzled for a name, but seeing there is a Boy in Lovo and no girl. I think I will take that name. I know the Boy in Love, Taieri Belle, and the Black Girl. Well, as it is “cow time” aeain, I will have to stop. With best love to 1 all the D.L.F. and vourself.—Yours truly. THE GIRL IN LOVE. [You have not sent your name, though you did give me your address; pleas© Let me have your name also to enter In my

book. "What are the names of /our brother and sister who -writ© to me?—J.IOTJ

Dear Dot, —As I have not wfitten to you for a few weeks, and as school is over and I have more time on my hands, I thought I might write you another letter. Our school broke up yesterday. I received three prizes one for composition and diligence, the other first prize for cookery, and a first-class certificate. We do not know the results of the examinations yet. Christmas will soon bo here now, won’t it? It hardly seems a month since last Christmas. I hope the weather clears up before the holidays; _ it won’t be nice if it’s like this. I am going ■away next Friday for my holidays. Hurry up and write, Lady Sue; it is your turn. I hope Ethel Watson Pahia received my auto, which I sent a good few weeks ago. I have not received hers as yet, but hope to do eo. Dear Dot, did the cosmos seeds come up? Mine are up, but not thriving very well, because they don’t get any sun. If it would only clear up now they would be all right. I planted mine in pots, because I knew the ground was too wet for them. I have just taken one of my cakes out of the oven, and it is lovely. I don’t like fruit cakes, so I made one with dates and preserved ginger. I like baking if I have nothing else to do but look after the baking. I am fond of making sweets. Me have the telephone up our street now. I have had a cold, but one cannot expect anything else this weather. We will not b© able to have green peas and new potatoes out of our garden for Christmas. It is very backward, but I think everybody’s is the same. I will now close, wishing all the D.L.F. and yourself a merry Christinas and a happy New Year, —Your truly, CORN STALE.

[I have not even sown my cosmos seed, Cornstalk, because we have not had one day without rain since I got it, and there has been hardly any sun. I thought it was too late in any case for this season; it needs to be sown quite early, does it not ? Cosmos does not do well with us in any case; I think this climate is hardly warm enough for it. But I shall try your seed next season. It will just take a little longer to germinate, through being a year' old.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —In my last letter I asked you your favourite rose. We have none of those you mention, but we have several very nice ones. Two climbing ones almost covex the front of our house; one is named La marque and the other Cheshunt Hybrid, and they are both nice one®. Mother has been anxiously watching some that she got from Dunedin last winter, and her patience has at last been rewarded. The bad weather kept them back very much. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria had only one flower on it, but it was a beauty. There .are other buds coming on it now. It is a pale cream. Frau Karl Druschki is a lovely pure white, as white as snow, most beautifully shaped, and 1 keeps nice a long time. General M'Arfhur is a beautiful very showy red, sweetly scented, Mrs Aaron Ward a pretty yellow, Etoilo do France a lovely dark red, keeping a beautiful bud for a long time. Fortune's White we do not know yet. as its budls all dropped off before they came out; for what reason wo do not know. There was not one left, and no more are coming on it. Several others of the new ones are not yet out. Mother lias seen the one called General Gallien, but never seen Billard and Barre. or the monthly pink one you mention either. We have several different kinds mother has grown from cuttings—namely. Devoniensis. Maigaret Dixon, Lamarque. and Cheshnnt Hybrid. Well. Dot. I will continue the stcry that appeared in thi® week’s Witness. —“ Now we’ll have some fun,” said Jackie. “ We'll play water polo, and you can take it in turns to ride the horse. The log. will do instead of another pony, and we’ll have some sport.” All went well for a time. By and bye the horse did not seem to go just as it should. Perhaps it was tired ; but it refused to be pushed about and startled by the three boys, who evidently did not know how to ride a respectable hors?. “ Now, Harold,” said Jackie, “ you get on that horpe and make it move You know you're the best one with animals,” How it happened they never knew, but the horse made one spring forward and overturned the log with the two boys on it, and when they recovered poor Dick, the youngest, could not be seen. Harold suddenly' turned the horse towards a house not far distant, and called out "Help!” Jackie could do nothing. An hour or two afterwards the body of poor Dick was recovered, and a very sorrowful party turned towards home with the silent form on a gate, 'lt was found that the log had struck Dick on the temple and killed him instantly. Poor father when he got home found a very repentant Jackie; but it was too late. Jackie learned a lesson that day he has never forgotten. Ho is now an elderly n an, but he has never forgotten the awful feeling that took possession of him when he saw that his dear cousin had lest his life through following his example in disobeying his father. Now. dear Dot, I must clo=e. Wishing you and all (no LF’ a happy New Year.—Yours truly. , ' CANDALABIA.

[The monthly pink rose I mentioned is just the commonest rose of a'l, Candalaria; yon see it in almost every garden. It is almost of climbing habit, and grows very tall. I feel quite sure that you must know it. You evidently have some very nice ones among yours. I am glad that your mother is so successful with her cuttings. Would, you like oi.e of Billard and Barre? It is a beautiful vellow. Let me know when to lake it, and I can easily send her one.—DOT.] I Dear Dot, —It is very bad weather up here to-day; it must be rough on the newly-shorn sheep. Mount Torlosse is covered with snow. Have you climl>ed Mount Torlesse vet. Dot? What is it like in Dunedin? My flower garden is coming on so well. Dad gave u.s a piece of ground between six of us, and bo divided it into three plots, and we have vegetables in two plots. The cabbages and lettuces are ready for transplanting. I must close now. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. —Yours truly, SUNBEAM ( [No, I have not even seen Mount Torlesse ' yet, Sunbeam; but I was reading about it the’ other day in a book I bad, and I still hope to go there some time. The weather in Dunedin is so bad that we are tired of talking of it; it seems as if wo have had ro sunshine this summer, —nothing but rain, rain, rain Has yours been as bad as that ? DOT] I Dear Dot, —I suppose it is about time I wrote to the page again, or you will be thinking I have gone to sleep like White Rabbit What sort of weather are you h&vir.g in Dunedin? It has been raining here for about three months. There was a concert :■ t Waikawa for the closing of the school. I was at it, and enjoyed myself very much. White Babbit and Kiss-me-quick did not get down to it. There were a good many D.L.F. there. Green Gage was there; she was juitli me all the time. There is to be a concert and dance at Niagara School, and I intend: going, but I am not sure whether I shall stay for the dance. I would like to, for I am very fond of dances. It is milking seaeon again, and we are milking 20 cows, and

send our milk y*) the factory; w© can so© it from our front door. Ido not tak© th© milk this season. Th© picnic is to b© held in our paddock, so I shall not have far to go. It is on New Year’s Day. What has happened, to the Niagara D.L.F. ? I haven't seen letters from them for a long time. I will watch for your Mier, K«6-me-quick; I hop© it is in th© same time os min©. With loro to L. K. G., all th© Waikawa Valley D.L.P., and th© rest of th© Littl© Folk, —Yours truly, BURNS’S BONNY JEAN. [Tliere are two Niagara letters in this week, Jean, so they have not all gone to sleep down there; but there certainly are a few of them who have given no sign of life for a long time.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —W© have two new calves. I have a garden at school, but there are no flowers out in it. W© ar© having a concert at the school, and 1 w© ar© practising for it now. W© hav© a lot of hens laying. I milk five cows. W© are milking 36 cows for th© factory. I have tried to climb thd greasy pole, but I could not get up.—Yours truly, SUPLE GEOFF. [I have never even tried, Geoff, so you are one ahead of me there! Are you allowed to put resin on your hailds? I should think that would make it easier. W© used to do that when we had gymnastics at school; it mad© it so much easier to hold th© rings,— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I am seven years old now; my birthday wes on the Hth of December. We have had bad weather down here. I cannot go to school just now, because it is too wet. I have a toy pigeon, and it will nm along the floor. I have found a lot of birds' nests.— Yours truly, STAR. [There is such a pretty piece of poetry about a little girl who was just seven, Star, and if I can find’ a copy of it I shall publish it in the Witness this week specially for you. Perhaps you will be able to learn it. You must be sure to tell me in your next letter if you like it. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to j T our page. May I become one of your happy band? I have always taken an interest in your page, as there are many interesting letters in it. I have a flower garden at homo, and it is looking vety nice. I like going to school, but I liave not very far to go. There are a few D.L.F. about here. A show was held: about a week ago. but I did not go. With love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly, LIN YET 11. [You, too, are welcome, Linnet 11. Have you any linnets in your district? They are such pretty littl" birds. We found a linnet’e nest the other day with four eggs.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —You will think I have forgotten the page, but I read the Little Folk’s letters every week. We have 26 chickens. My brother and I have a little pony now; he used to be Golden Pippin’s pony when she lived here. Have you another pony, Golden Pippin? We call him Cronje, as he is very tricky. We ride him for the cows every night. I passed into the Third Standard at our last examination. I had two little kittens, but I gave them away to a friend of mine who had no oat, Wc are having a concert at our school next Thursday, and I am in it. It was raining here yesterday. Christmas will scon be here. I have thred dolls, and their names are May and Rosa and Violet. I hope you have a merry Christmas. I am going to see my grandma at Christmas, but I don’t think I shall bayo a very merry Christmas, as my grandma is not very well. It is raining very heavily here, and does not look very promising for our concert to-night. Wishing you and a,I tlie D.L.F. a merry Christmas.—Yours truly, VALLEY R^SE. [All vour dolls have names of flowers. Valley Rose, and you have chosen a flower name for your own r.om de plume, so I think you must be very fond of flowers, and 1 hope you have a garden.—DOT.] \ Dear Dot,—We have been having fine weather up here these last few days, and tho crops and the grass are springing splendidly. Dot, are you allowed to write fongs to the page, the songs out of a phonograph book? —Yours truly, DETECTIVE-. [I think it is hardly worth while copying songs out of a phonograph book for tho page, Detective; I should much rather just have an original letter from you. You sent stamps for a badge, but I do not know either your name or address; send me them, and I will send the badge.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have two months’ holidays. I wont to stay with my sister, and I enjoyed myself very much. My father and mothei came for me. There are not many ehelli coming in just now. Igo back to school on the 22nd of January, so I shall be wild foj something to do. I have got 30 birds’ this year. My father is away shearing, but I don’t think they will shear much this weather. Tho crops round about here aro looking lino now. To-day is very rough; it has been raining all day without stopping, and the wind is very strong. Wc went for a drive to Bull Creek yesterday, and had a very pleasant time. When we were going there we saw a traction engine taking a load of chaff to Milton, and when we were coming back we gave a lift to a man who had been catching sheep and shearing them on the road.—With love to all D.L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly, FISHER GIRL. [You also forgot to send your name and address when you sent stamps for your auto cards. Fisher Girl; I shall send you the cards as soon as you let me have them. Indeed, it is no weather at all for shearing, and I am very sorry for any newly-shorn sheep out on tho hills. They must regret those good warm fleeces they have lost, I think.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was just sitting thinking what I v ould do, as I am all ailone just now and feel it so lonely. I thought I could do nothing better than write a letter to the D.L.F. Page. I hope I am not writing tea often, as I might be taking the place of some more useful member. I was at the Invercargill Show both days, and I enjoyed myself immensely. I did not happen to !C,eet any D.L.F., and I was so surprised, as I thought there would be tome at it. I did not go to the show the first day, but I went to see some of my old mates that 1 used to go to school with, and we spent quite a happy time talking about the grand times we used to have at school. Two young gentlemen and I went cut to Gladstone in a taxicab to a friend's place to have tea. It was such g, lovely night, and the drive waa all that could be desired. After we had tea wo came back in the ’bus, and went to see Wirth's Circus. Great crowds were there, and just about the middle of it the rain simply poured down, and the thunder and lightning were terrible. The show grounds were very muddy, hut it was very lucky for the people that it cleared up on Wednesiday afternoon, and they got better as the wore on. The train for Nightcaps left os. Wednesday night ,'at about a quarter past 6, and it did not reach its destination till about 6. But that was not all; after that we had about 10 miles to drive, but

we were very happy, and as there wd'e a good many of us, we did not think tlfi time long at all. lam going to the RivertoJ regatta on Boxing Day. I wonder if therf is going to be a D.L.F. picnic ? Election day is over once again. What a great pity it was that they did not carry National Prohibition! But they may have next election. My mother is away at Wyndliam just now, but I hope she won’t stay long, as I do feel lonely when she goes away. My little niece from Orepuki is coming up on Boxing Day to spend her holidays, so she will bo grand company for a little while. It is Christmas Eve on Sunday night, but one would hardly know the difference in this remote part of the workl. Still, 1 suppose we can just enjoy it the same here as thev do in the large towns ot the Dominion. My sister in Sydney says that the heat over there is dreadful; I have been telling her that she should send some over to us, as it is cold enough for winter hero. Sho has gone away to the Blue Mountains for the summer months, as it is much cooler there. The school here breaks up to-morrow, and the children are having a picnic at the homestead. What an unusually lon'r period of bad weather we have been experiencing. but I think it has taken a change for the better. We are not nearly so badly off here as some places, ns the roads hero are as dry as can be. I was told at the show that they are about knee deep at Eden dole. So that Birehwood is not the worst place to live in after all £hen I started this I had no idea what to wrue about, but after all I have managed write a letter, although not of great interest. Dear comrades all, who have sent me your autos. I will return mine to you in a. few days. Wishing all D.L.F. a happy New Year, —Yours truly. THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER. [I was going to say that perhaps Birchwood mud had prepared you for the mud at the Invercargill Show, but I find from the latter half of your letter that that would perhaps have been an unjust thing to say, since you tell me the roads .there are now quite passable. Indeed, you do not write too often,. Last Rose of Summer; I am always clad to hear from you and get your news. DOT.]

Dear, Dot—The Ist of December came in with splendid weather, but the second week brought with it all manner of storm. These last few days wo havo had mixed rain and. shine. At the latter end of the week cold, showery weather set in, and rain is in the air at the time of writing. The grass will respond to the showers, however, rain being needed to bring on the pastures. Tho shearing lias been prolonged considerably owing to the stormy weather. The head man of our shearing shed was one evening relating to me some of his childhood experiences. The following paragraphs may, I hope, prove of some interest to my fellow comrades. When he was a lad he lived in Glenesk, Scotland. The Earl df Dnlhousie owned immense estates there, and one place was called Glenmark Deer Forest. In winter time the deer would emerge from tho extreme back country and come to where thoer was more green country. They had evidently a sweet tooth for turnips, etc., and became a source of annoyance to the farmers. Previous to tho particular day about which I write, it had been snowing, and the lad’s duty was to look round in case any of the sheep had become embedded in the snow. No snowploughs in those days like those we have here! Having finished his arduous task, he was about to return homo, when suddenly lie espied a herd of deer. These at once scampered off. excepting one, which fell, and was unabile to regain its feet. The lad on seeing this hastened to it. and jumped on to the back of the deer. Evidently it was through sheer fright that the deer making one bound freed itself and cantered off down tho slope with the lad on its hack. The chosen road led past the schoolhouse. and from there the school teacher and children scurried out to lock on in utter amazement. The doer made its wav towards the river, and the lad. not wishing to be immersed, gentlv slid off. This lad afterwards came out to New Zca and, and once was taking a minister, who wished to view the country, un Mount Ida. While making the ascent tiie minister passed the remark that the place would make a splendid deer forest, and then proceeded to relate this very story. When ho finished, his companion said he was tho man about whom the minister was speaking. As this is my concluding letter, for 1911. I shall wi-h you everv good wish for a nrosperous New "iear. May each bring with it an increasing devotion to our page is the fervent wish of—Yours truly, ST. DONALD. [lt says something for tho lad that he managed to keep his seat when tho deer maae off in fright; it was a novel experience, wasn’t it? Thank you for your good wishes, St. Ronald ; I hope you have a very happy year yourself.—DOT!] Dear Dot.—lt has been raining to-day, and co I thought I would write to you. What kind of weather are you getting down in town? We are getting cold, wet weather up here. We have got fivo weeks’ holidays this year. We have got a little bay foal about three weeks old. My pony is lame just now We put him in harness, and ho started to kick, and that is how Ire got lame. Now I will close with some riddles: (1) Why does a gcat cross over a road? (2) What smells mc.st in a chemist's shop? (3) Which is tho hardest key to turn ?—Yours truly,

FELIX. [I believe I have guesed all three of those riddles, Felix; do you know any more? I do hope your pony’s lame leg soon gets right again; ho evidently did not like being in traces.—DOT.]

Doar Dot, I was very ploased ■to gee ?ny last letter in print, and meant to write before, but I was busy learning my lessons for the last term’s examinations. I hope to pass this year. If I do I shall be in tho Fifth Standard. Our teacher is leaving at the end of the term, and we are all very sorry, because we .all think ho is tho nicest teacher in the school. We break np in three days—years I was going to say—for six weeks’ holiday, and I mean to enjoy myself. Today is very wet, and I could not go to Sunday school, so I sat down to wTite this letter. Christmas will soon be upon us. I wish we had snow as they do in England. I suppose you get snow there in the winter time. I have never seen snow, and I often wish we would hove a gcod snowstorm, and then what fun we would have snowballing each other! They say we are to have a long stretch of very hot weather, a drought, probably. I hope not. for the people in tho country will have to carry water from springs, most likely far away from their homes.. A friend of mine. Scarlet Kowhai, came to see me to-day, and gave me a. beautiful bunch of sweet peas and pansies. The sweet peas are my favourite flowers, and I always manage to beg some from my other friends, at school whenever they have any. What is your favourite flower, Dot? I have iust finished a book called “ Fair Inez.” by Ethel Turner. She is my favourite author. Who is your favourite author, Do* I lam asking you plenty of questions, Dot, so I will tell yon about my story. I did not got a prize or mention for it, because it was

judged with the adults’ stories, and of course I could not compete with them, but I will try again next year. This is the longest letter I have written, 1 think, so I will close. With love to yourself and all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, SCARLET PIMPERNEL.

[The only trouble about these questions of yours, Scarlet Pimpernel, is that I cannot answer them. My favourite flower, and my favourite author: it seems to me I have so nmny, for I love all the sweet-scented flowers, from the first early violets to the frosh, pungent chrysanthemums of autumn. As for authors, there are some I love for gay days, and some for sad days, and some at all times. No, I am no good at “ Confessions ”!—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I received the badge safely. Lawrence is very quiet just now. I have been reading “ The Legend of the Red Cross Knight," from Spencer's “Faerie Queeno.” I began Kingsley’s “ Hypatia,” but did not have time to finish it. I shall read Dickens’s “ Pickwick Papers ” next. I got “ The Empire Annual for New Zealand Boys” for a prize, being first in English, Latin, geometry, algebra, and agriculture, and second in attendance. I shall desc.ril>e to the best of my ability “ The Red Cross Knight.” It was a festive season in the <lourt of Fairyland. A stranger dressed as a countryman asks permission from the Fairy Queen to do some dead of valour. A beautiful lady named Una rides up and asks for a knight to help her to release her father and mother from a castle which is besieged by a dragon. The stranger begs for permission to help Uua. They set out, and they come to a dragon's cave. The knight slays the dragon. Dear Dot, do you not think the death struggles of the dragon are vividly related? After slaying the dragon they proceed, and come to the cave of a wizard. This wizard causes dreadful drcamis to be put into tiie knight’s sleep. These dreams are put there to cause the knight to suspect Un.a of being wicked, but they fail. The wizard, ani"ry at this, sends the knight on a fa so errand. He tells Una that the knight has d©sorted her. S*h© forth to &c&roh for him The wizard in the meantime dresses like the knight, but is killed in a combat with a Saracen, The knight, travelling onward, r©=cii , ©3 wh»at he supposes to be a beautiful maiden, but sli-e is in reality a witch. These travel together until they com© to a large court. Here the knight severely wounds a Saracen, who is carried b> Night into the infernal regions to be cured. Ilia description of the infernal regions is lory realistic, is it not, Dot? The knight eets forth, but is captured by a g.ant. The giant makes D ness a the witch a queen. The knight’s servant is at a loss what to do, until he finds another knight with Una. This knight kills the giant and exposes Dues'ia in her true form, filthy and horrible to behold. The Knight of the Red Croas is rescued, and proceeds with Una in search of the dragon that is besieging her father s castle He kil’s the dragon altar a severe struggle, and after great rejoicing they aie married, and the knight returns to the Fairy Queen. I have also been reading King Lear.” “Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and other plays by Shakespeare. Christmas is very- quiet this year. I think this is all. Wishing all. D.L.F and vour&elf a merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year,—^YnneTOU. [Have you read the story of the Red Cross Knio-ht from Spenser himself, V innetou . I am always so glad to hear how you are readme, some of the best books in our English literature. Either your taste is naturally -mod or you have had someone very wise to guide you in your choice. It is a long time now since I read “ The Faerie although, oddly enough, I was thinking of a passage from it only last nigh -“Peace after Cl port after stormy seas ”; do you know the lines? And I, too, have been Trading Shakespeare, only my play was Macbeth. IHve you read that? It is dark tragedy almost all through, unrelieved, as Lear is t the beauty of Cordelia’s character and .he devotion of the Fool. DOT.]

Dear Dot,-It is a few months since I wrote my first letter to you and since the wo have had our examination, and I am hi ti e Second Standard. Our school broke up yesterday, and I got first in class work and first in sewing. Are we not hay - miserable weather for Christmas Do? I hou° it clears up a bit before n.xt Weclnes day as wo arc going up to Alexandra to stay for a while. Have you ever been to this place? It is very pretty when the weather is fine. There is a lot of native bush about it. We sometimes go for a pcimc up to a reservoir that is a good was into the bush There was a concert given for our school prizes in the hall last week, and it was very good. I wrote a post-card to Santa Claus, but I did not get anything; he will he coming round to-morrow nigh.. and I am going to hang up my father s ss- rv ffiSfKtr * " wy Dear Dot,—At the time of writing quietness reigns supremo in the house; Bert has gone out for a stroll, Charley Boy is trying to be very much interested in a book which he has already read about 993 times, while 1 on the other hand, have taken m> position at the writing desk, puzzling my head and wondering on what subject to write about. I was going to give a description of the various flowers we have in our garden, Dot but now that I come to look over it again I am unable to tell which are flowers and which are weeds, and therefore to give a description at all I would in all probability be decribing the various weeds in lieu of the flowers, so I had better leave that subject alone, don’t you think so? Well Dov. as “Faint heart never won fair lady,” neither will the want of a subject make me stop writing this letter, so I will give ft description of how our Christmas pudding turned out. In the first place. I may say that the size of this famous pudding was about the fame ns that of a largo football, but instead of being shaped like one, it was more of the shape of a heart. When all the ingredients were thoroughly mixed together—the recipe I cannot give, as Charley Boy holds the copyright—the dough was placed in a bag (not a sugar bag, though), and after tying the neck of it so that the pudding would not walk out and go astray, it was put into a large pot of boiling water, whore it was allowed to remain for five hours. When its time was duo we took it out and then placed it in the oven to steam. Honestly, Dot. I don’t mind heavyweight lifting, provided such weights are not too heavy, but I would have most certainly objected if I had been told to carry that pudding four yards, for I’m sure it would have got me down. I won’t sav it weighed a ton. nor even a hundredweight; but I don’t think I’ll bo very far wrong in putting its weight to about a stone (more or less). Its skin was about as thick and ns loueh as that of the outside cover of a football, so no doubt you can just imagine what it was like, can you? I may also mention. Dot. that we had the honour of our southern club member’s, Pteradactyl, com-

pany when it was broken open. The following few lines only denote what happened after its five hours' boiling. OH, THAT DUFF! A duff it was, and no mistakee — For weight it fairly took the cake; And size it really made us shako With fear. We rolled it on and on and on, To the accompaniment of a song; But shortly after we were strong In cheers. We laid it upon a plate Which truly put it out of shape. And also made the front house shake And rear! Now, don’t von think it very rough For three (all' boys) to make a dutf; And when it’s made it turns out tougn And queer! We chopped it open with a knife, Each one was ready for the strife, It was a case of seeing life Next year! I was very pleased to hear, Frosty, that all who were at that social enjoyed my catering; but mustard does Icok like egg-powder doesn’t it? Therefore if the mustard and the egg-powder were placed near each other (as they must have been, in that case). ! would naturallv mix the mustard in with tl baking instead of the other but mistakes like that eften happen, don t the\ ? M elt, dear Dot. I cannot think of .anything else to say, only that the weather is still the same as it used to be; so I will conclude this uninteresting scrawl with love to all U.r not forgetting our dear editor and & ™tron. and yourself.— Yours truly, FRANCIS. [You deserved bettor of Christmas. Francis- but I reallv do not think you would have had half the fun out of an ordinary well-mode and well-behaved Chrißtmns pudding The “good cheer” Christmas brought ,4" e vJr m'«.* io,™ »>“ ",’if spirits I take it—better after ell than feasting. A very happy New \ear to you. my faithful ex-secretary. DO I.] Dear Dot.-This is my first letter to your pao-o and I would like to join your D.L.F. band. Tam seven year* oldand m Standard L °n r S Bo?k te’Me “I am staying with Sy a week’s hoKte I stocking up, and go a nice *>ll and-other a t op. —Yours* truly? QUEEN AMIEU ink, little one; but a pen rs a difficult tlun for small fingers to manage, 1 k «ow. 1 « glad to hear from you £ just seven years old. > m+U eirl of little piece of poetry about a little g rl ot seven that I have put m the to clajs perhaps your sister will read it to you. DOT.] . , rj pw T) o t -I was delighted to see my first CBSS »>»« I «■TKSm Dorntt. Pretty Dolly, and wtrE BELL D.L.F.,— Yours truly, PIPE BEbP. ■I am sorry the cir’eus did.not come along in time for you to see i , you so-e tho t-eftts up. D *J Dear Dot —As it is such a long time since finished a book c*Ued> Infehce. > U 1 a t thTcu^m^orUF. auto Sin to the effect that they wan s°end X them' yo^rfthey figjd aU wishes regarding the exchange? I sent Lon "wood Blossom my auto months a B o. amMiave had no reply. Hurry up. Leopard Lily and write; and you also, A vice. Now, Dot ’ like Motherless Girl. I have nothin., else’ to say except farewell, so I will close with love to all the L.F. and yousrelf,fX O . of course it is not right for any D.L.f! to fail to fulfil her part of the exchange when she has intimated through the page that she wishes to exchange autos or pos heard s with you. I have so often spoken about that. I wish all D.L.F. wou!d keep a very strict watch in tins respect on their forgetful memories. I certainly do not believe in palmistry as a moans of foretelling the future. I think anyone with any real religion would find that impossible. But as an amusing pastime, where no one has any faith in it, I suppose it is harmless.— DOT.]

Dear Dot,—lt seems such a long time since I last wrote to you. I take a great interest in reading the Little Folk’s letters. Our concertover; it was held in the Dominion Ha'l on the 20th December. It commenced at 8 o’clock and finished about half-past 10. I got a book for second prize for attendance; the name of it is ‘The Mill on the Floss.” Our school teacher is leaving, and going to bo head master of the Ma aura School, and I hope the children of Mataora School will like him as much “ 1 On Monday, 18th December, the Sixth Standard went to Dunedin to see through the Roslyn Woollen Mills and the Otago Daily Times Office- They left Gore by the halfpast 7 train, and arrived home by the five minutes past 8. Standard V got a holiday that day. so that was all right. In my last letter I told you that we played chucks at school, and you did not know what that was- mavbe vou call it “knuckle bones. The weather is not very favourable here iu«t now. My grandmother and grandfather were up not verv long ago, and. as far as I know, they had a good time. The answer to my riddle was An umbrella. Acxt time I write it will be the year 1912. I will close now, wishing all the Little Folk and yourself a merry Christinas and a prosperous New Year.—Your.S Q AyyR fYes, I know the ganv* “knuckle bones.” Queen’ Anne; I did not know it was called “chucks.” It is a very old game indeed; do you know that the Greeks used to play it ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my last letter in print. The weather is very cold up here. The crops are looking green after the rain. My brother and I ore gathering birds’ eggs, and we have 612. We are going to learn to swim at school. Christmas will soon be here. The men are starting to shear now. I go to school, and am in the Second Standard? Our schoolmaster is going to get us a football. We are going to have our picnic on Friday. I suppose the weather is very cold in Dunedin. We have a good crop of oats. My birthday is on the 31st of January. We have one foal. We have marked our lambs, and we had a lot of them. My uncle had a three-legged foal. It is starting to rain to-night. We are going to have four weeks’ holiday. There are 19 children at our school.—Yours truly, OTUREHUA. [I am glad to hear that you are going to learn to swim; do tell me when you can

do a dozen strokes. Is there a pool in the river where you can learn ? I hope the weather will soon be warm enough for it. — DOT.}

Dear Dot, —Having often read your L.F. letters in the page, I have come to the conclusion that I would like to join your happy band. I am eight years old, and in the First Standard at school. But we are having six weeks’ holiday now. I have no pets, but I used to be the happy owjner of a pet rabbit, which was very tame, and used to roam at will in the adjoining garden. It would play about, but com© home when tired of its exercise. But at last, like the proverbial ship, it never returned. I think a dog must have caught and destroyed it. Six of my cousins are D.L.F.—namely Pterodactyl, Candalaria, Tuatara, Megatherium, Princess Martha, and Little Jim. The weather seems to be having a epit© for us mortals this summer, for we haven’t enjoyed a realty fine day for months. I hope it will clear up soon, as all the holidays will be spoilt. Pterodactyl is staying with us just now; he must have enjoyed himself at the Moonlight picnic, for it was rather late when he came home, which is exceptional for him, as he always comes home so early. His holidays will bo over soon, so he will have to return to the “Stmnv South.” Mother was saying that flcod No. 2 has made itself very apparent in tlie North-East Valley. Isn’t it a pity for the poor people who live there? It’s a long time since they enjoyed such a summer; they will remember the Christmas of 1911 for a long time to come. With rain, floods, and earthquakes they are getting things pretty hot. One blessing is that you live high and dry, out of the flood; I live just at the back of you. As this is my first letter I will oloso, wishing you and all the L.F. a prosperous and happy New Year. I am choosing a Gaelic name for my N.D.P.; it is the Gaelic version for my Christian name.—Yours truly. TEARLACH. [I can tell you, I think, why your rabbit never returned; Tearlach: he finds that he can get such succulent fare in the way of cabbages and carnations in our garden that he prefers to stay there. Will you come and take him home? Pterodactyl has just been in to see me, and has given me your letter. I was very glad to get it, and hope you will be able to keep up your correspondence with our page.—DOT.] AUTOS. The Girl in Love (care Mr Morris, Waitati) wishes to exchange autos with The Boy in Love, Taiori Belle, and any other D.L.F. willing. Cornstalk (Jeannette Waugh, Richmond Grove, Invercargill) wishes to exchange autos with Petty Officer and Black-«y©d Susan. St. Ronald (Haka Estate. Hakataramea) wishes to exchange post-cards or autos with Fantail (Milton). VVinnetou (Edward Sandys, Colonsay street, Lawrence) wishes to exchange autos with Possum, Grace Hazzle, Lady Ida, Mamie, Curtis Melvin, Loroen Errol, Sunny Heart, Peterkin Gay, and any other D.L.F. willing. Prompt replies. Suple Geoff (P. 0., Niagara) wishes to exchange autos with Snowio. Manuka, Black Rabbit, or any other D.L.F. willing. Burns’ Bonnie Jean (Waikawa Valley P-0., via Tokonui) wishes to exchange autos with Lady Isabel 11, Nurse, Lily of the Valley, White Rabbit, Kiss-me-Quick. White Rose’s Mate, Greengage. The Last Rose of Summer, Tea-rose, ’Little Girl, and any othor D.L.F. willing. ANSWER TO RIDDLE PUBLISHED DECEMBER 20. By Sailor Girl.—The rope was not tied to anything but the donkey’s leg, so he walked to it.