LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 69

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK

Motto:— We write for the benefit of others not for ourselves S'fS' No letter to contain more than 430 words Dear Dot, —As I was reading the D.L.F. letters it suddenly struck me that I had not written to you for nearly two years. Well. Dot, such a lot lias happened since I last wrote to you that I doubt i? I can sot it all down on paper. 1 had a six weeks’ holiday in Christchurch, and I can tell you that I enjoyed myself. I say, Portree, when do you intend to answer my letter? I suppose when you see this letter in print you will sav. “Goodness gracious has lie written at last!’’ To tell you the truth, Dot. I almost feel ashamed to write. I suppose you will say here is one who lias not written for a considerable time, so off goes Ids name, and a thick red line will be drawn through my name. If you do so. Dot, I can’t blame you. I sent a post-card to Heath about a year ago, but ehc has not answered it yet, so I suppose the answer will never come. If yon happen to notice this, Heath, remember I am still in Xa-seby. Can you give me Dove Lies Bleeding, Tea Bose, and Highlander’s addresses, Dot, as I forget them. Well, Dot, I must put an end to this ter-

rible scribble, loping to get the addresses. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself, I will stop,— ; Yours truly, CAPTAIN BLUITT. [Very pleased you enjoyed your holiday in Christchurch, Captain Bhiitt. 1 am sorry I cannot give you the addresses you ask for, but possibly some one else will oblige you.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been away from home for four months, staying with an aunt at Flamborough. It was very quiet there, but I nearly always found plenty to do, and as it was only five miles from home, I rode home nearly every week. I am going out again this week to stay a few days and help with the thrashing mill. A hockey club has started here this winter. I have attended practices while I have been home. Wo aro not having such, bad weather now, considering it is winter time, but about a month ago it was simply disgusting. We are milking three cows night and morning, separating, and making butter. There is a dance to bo held near here on the ICtli and another on the 25th. but 1 am not going. The farmers have started nloughing now. but so much wot weather keeps . them back. The roads about here are very bad just now; even the main roads are worse than they have been for a while. My little brother has the croup to-night; lie takes it every time ho has a cold. I hope the smallpox does not come near here. Well, I. must close now. With love to Mildred, Mistress Joan, Curtis Melvin, Rosamond, and all the other L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours trulv, THE MAID OF THE MARSH. [Your time would be fully occupied, dear, while you were away from home. Hope your little brother is better again.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —1 took the mail down to Ate's place as 1 was goine down to play, and Ate gave me the badge, so I carried it down and back home again. You will have to get a paper for the L.F. soon if many more- write. My sister is writing to you, too, and every few minutes she asks mo how to spell a word, and T have to stop and tell her. My brother was reading the L.F. letters just now. There seem to be more letters in the Witness every week. Mary's Mate and I were counting up all the D.L.F. we knew at school to-day. 1 had my music lesson to-day. There is a strong wind blowing to-night. I was not very well last week and was not at school, but' I am all right now. I have no more news this time, so I with, stop with love to Ate, Mary’s Mate, Daddie's Lassie, Wattle, and yourself,— Yours truly, 'MARY. [I hope, dear, you will send me your name and address the next time j-on write, and I will have it bv me for future reference.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is the first letter I have written to you. May I join your happy band? I am nine years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. Before I came to the Nuggets I used to live in Tima.ru. I have just got over the whooping cough, and have been home from school for a week, -dy grandma has a very sore throat, and can hardly talk. My father asked me to inquire of you how Conn is getting on. My father served under him in the South African war, and ho wants to know where lie is. I will close now with love to all the L.F.—Yours truly, KEOB MYA. [i am very pleased to receive your first letter to Hie page. Conn is still out in South Africa, 1 shall look up his address and forward it to your father.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l w-ill send you some shells today. Grandma has some people staying here. Grandpa lias two horses and one cart. Mabel likes to go for a ride with nini. 1 went to church on Friday night with my mother. Happy Fairy and her little sister came over to play with me on Saturday. Mo had lovely fun playing house. Happy Fairy is the -only one of" Dot’s Folk I know. She and I go to scool together. I will say good-bye. Love to all.—Yours truly, LITTLE BUTTERCUP. [Many thanks, dear, for the lovely shells. They are very beautiful. The colourings and shapes of some of them are wonderful. I must again" thank you.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was so pleased to see my last letter in print. I am enclosing stamps for auto cards. I hope Pinkie will not bo thinking that I am a long time in sending her post-cards, but as I had none at the time 1 will send them as soon as possible. Wo were all vaccinated at school to-day. Although it is still winter, we have been having very spring-like weather. Wc don’t seam to have had very many rough days this winter. My sister is wanting to join the page, but sh'e does not quite know what N.D.P. to have yet. It will not be very long before we will lie having another 'school examination. We are going to have school holidays in September. I think. As this is about all the news 1 can think of just now, I will close with love to all the D.L.F.— Yours truly, LADY BETY. [I iiope your arm is not too painful after being vaccinated. Sometimes it is very sore. September is frequently a delightful month for holiday-making.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —We are having very wet weather lately. I suppose you are having the same kind of weather as we are all getting. We have about a mile and a-half to go to school, "and it is very cold. When it has been raining all the hollows and creeks are full of water, and wc very often get wet, and it is not very nice sitting in school with wet feet. I was at Mary’s birthday party, and 1 enjoyed myself very much. It was nearly dark when wc left, and as we had about throe miles to go. Ate, Blair Alton, and myself walked down the road together very frightened indeed. 1 must stop now with love to all the D.L.F., especially Mary, Ate. Daddy's Lassie, Blair Alton, Sweet Noll, and vourself, Dot. Yours trulv. MARY’S MATE. [I am sure it must be very disagreeablb sitting in school with wet feet, besides not being good for one. as one is so liable to take cold. You should take an extra pair of stockings, and change on reaching school.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am now going to try to describe the pleasure and enjoyment 1 have had since I last wrote to you; but, first .of all, I shall discuss a few common subjects. We are having good winter weather, but very cold. One needs plenty of fat to keep one warm, so people will see my. reason for keeping my condition up. There was a big crowd at the Dunedin Show, I suppose. Isn’t it a. pity that the Invercargill L.F. Club had to be closed down ? I know sonic of the D.L.F. would miss the good socials that used to be held after the Show. I told you I was going to the Eastern Bush. I went, and had a really enjoyable time, although 1 fell in a creek going over, and got my feet wet. Pixie was there. She was doing splendidly; but, of course, all pixies have a magic wand with them, and can enjoy themselves wherever they go. What has become of Pixie II? I was at the bachelors’ hall at Orawia on Friday night, and it was a great success. You would wonder where all the people came from—there were fully 50 couple in the grand march, and then there were others who came afterwards. There were too manv for the size of the hall. I

think everyone went home satisfied, after a good night’s enjoyment. White Iris was therp, having a good time. How did you get home, Stockman? 1 was very pleased to meet Lady Connie there; we aye been writing to each other for a wL.ic but I never had the pleasure of meeting- her ■ before. Lady Isabel II has not come up to Clifden vet for her holiday; but I am looking forward to seeing iier very soon. Hurry up and write to me. comrade. What are the Dunedin Winter Gardens like now. Dot? There is not a flower out in our garden, but ■ the daffodils are coming on. There has been so much rain lately that it lias been too w.et to dig in the garden. I do not care for gardening; but I like flowers, especially the White Iris, eh Stockman? Marjory has her garden dug and a few bulbs planted. It will soon be O.W. Week, won’t it? Well, dear Dot, I will close and leave space for a more able pen than mine. Hurry up and write Muta, don't forget. I will close now with love to Muta, Stockman, Pixie, Way hack. Lady Isabel 11, Lady Connie, Pixie 11, and all the other D.L.F., not forgetting yourself, Dot. —Yours trnlv, AIRLIE. [You seem to have had an enjoyable time at the dance, Airlie, and the other L.P. also were having their full share of pleasure. The Winter Gardens are very beautiful just now, and the orchids are very lovely.—DOT.], Dear Dot, —May I please be one of your Little . Folk? 1 will soon be nine years old. I go to the Xugget Point School, and am in the Second Standard. There are 10 children going to school. There were II but two left to-day. We had a holiday to-dav, and we are going to have a week’s holiday at the end of August. I read a lot of books. The weather we have been having lately baa been dreadful. There is a lot of hush here. It looks very pretty in spring when the various bush flowers are all out in bloom. 1 must close now,—Yours trulv. ■' SEARCHLIGHT IT. [Certainly, yon may join our band. Searchlight 11. I liope the weather will b« better and more settled when you have your holidays.—DOT.] \ Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and 1 hope you will accept me as one of your happy band. I always take a great interest in reading tiie Little Folks’ letter®. I am 10 years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. I don't like going to school very much, for I have three miles to walk. The mud is very deep on the roada this winter. I have four sisters and ono brother. My brother is 20 years old. and my eldest sister is 18. My youngest sister is just beginning to talk, and she is very amusing sometimes. I live on a large farm, and I like farm life very much. 1 think this is a long enough letter for th© first time, so 1 will close with love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,—Tom's truly, KOHIXE. [I am very pleased to welcome you amongst us, Kohine. Farm life is a grand life, and 1 am sure all town D.L.F. will agree with me.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have made up my mind to write tb you oftencr, so I am going to see if I can keep np the record. We have been having disagreeable weather —if it is nut raining it is blowing. The Sunday school broke up at th© end of April, and is starting again in September. It breaks up every year for the winter months My mate at Sunday achool is Mountain Lily.' She left school last year, and I was very sorry. The v.oung people of the district are holding their annual ball on September'l2. My eldest sister came home from sewing last Saturday. I went to the Tapanui Winter and Poultry Show. The Government displays were very nice. It was very cold driving in. One of my eisters is away keeping a friend company. There are 37 children going to school. Xioarly all the children going to oiyr school are D.L.F. I will close now with love to all the D.L.F.. Mountain Lily, Foi, Bridget, Aunty’s Girl, Scotch Reel, Roscmount, Sally our Cook. Pheasant and Sunshine.—Yours truly, RED HAWTHORX. [Very glad to hear you arc going to writ© more regularly to me. Rad Hawthorn. Shows are very interesting as a general rule.— DOT.J. Dear Dot,—Once again I write to you. I was very pleased to see my letter in the page. We arc having splendid weather here, considering the time of year. Last month we did not get any rain at all worth speaking of, but we had plenty of frosts, though the days were more like summer. My sister, Ivy Green, and I went to a concert and dance last week, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. My mother, sister, and myself went to the Heads to see H.M.S. Xcw Zealand when she came to visit Wanganui, but wo did not go on board. The morning was fine, and a lot of the school children got over to see her, but the wind rose up in the afternoon, and the man-of-war bad to steam, out of tho harbour We saw a lot of Lie passengers on their return, and they did look sorry objects; some of them were black as niggers, and others were seasick. I have started to learn the piano, and 1 take great interest in it. My mother has promised to take my sister and me to Dunedin next month for a holiday, and 1 am looking forward to seeing a good manv D.L.F. V.V'.ll, dear Dot, 1 think this is all I have to ,ay this time. With love to. all the Little Folk and voursolf,—Yours truly. May blossom. [I hope. May Blossom, that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you when you come to Dunedin. Pleased to hear you are learning the uianoforle and that you like learning.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —It is a long time since X wrote to you last, so I thought I would write again. We go to the Technical School every other Friday. 1 ,T o to the cooking class, and my brother. Captain Webb, goes to woodwork. 1 was at Sunday school today. We will be having our day sciiool examination or, July 28; we weic going to have it last Wednesday but (ho inspector didn’t come 1 :bd mu writ mg for t! o Winter Show, but J didn’t gc‘ a prize. Last week we had a snowstorm. I •■• ' it to school and got my feet ive’ At L b * : me wo were throwing srowlij's ■ t -uother. Raceabout is cooking at l : - ■ for two men. I think tins o’! With love to all the D.L.F. r' * —Yours truly, S.' " f \’ER. [Delighted to hear fro-' • Horner. I supnose you vdl !•• , ••'rbratr-A cook by now, and ;■ •• , a great variety of cakes, etc. — IT . I t Dear Dot.—lt is s.verai • . ’■«. since I last wrote to you. This is th-.- last dr.v of our holidays; we have had a week'?, holiday. Wo always get a holiday after our examination. There is a very small aftendance at our school —only about 35 pupils. I suppose there will be that number of scholars in ono standard at any of the Dunedin schools. I have, never been down to Dunedin, but I hope (o see it some time. My father knows a good bit about the town, though. Ho knew it long before it was what it is now. 1 love to hear him tell us about Dunedin and its surrounding country when be was a boy. There was a dance in our school about a week ago, but I did not go. I never go to dances, as I never see any good in dancing. Are you asleep, Miss Lou? It is time you made your appearance in the Witness again. Spring is coming on apace, and all

th© bulbs nr© peeping above tb© ground. We have not had a very severe winter, though wo had several hard frosts. It seems to be the fashion to write on a day that is raining. Well, it is raining tonight, so by chance I write on a wet day. I have read several very good books. I have a dear little calf, and I call her Queenie. She is red-and-white. Well, Dot, I think this is about all I have to say. When I began I had enough to tell you that would fill both sides of two sheets of paper, but I cannot think of half of it now, so I will- draw to a close. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulv, STOLEN LOVED. [lt is very interesting, indeed, to listen to stories of the early days, and it is wonderful to note the great changes that have taken.place in so short a time. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have a cold, and have not been to school these last few days. Our examination is on Monday and Mr Owen is the inspector. AYc have been having bad weather up hero. Sally Horner’s letter is in the same envelope as mine. I am in Standard. 11l at school, and am nine years old and will be 10 on October 18. I don’t like school very much We have two and a-half miles to walk to school. Wo had two weeks’ winter holidays. I got very interested reading the D.L.F. letters. I am a Scout, and go to the meetings every Friday night at half past G. Some of them go home at half past 7. and some stay till 8 o clock for boxing. The patrol I am in is called Peacock’s Patrol. 1 will now bring tins letter to a close as I have no more news. Love to all D.L.F., not forgetting yourself, —Yours truly, SAMSON.

[I am sorry to hear Samson, that you are suffering from a bad cold, and I hope you arc quite well by now. 1 am glad to hear that you arc a Scout, and that you are 6<> regular in your -attendance at the meetings.r— DOT.] D»ar Dot,—Wo are having very bad weather. 1 have four miles to go to school. I have two dogs, two cats, and one- pigeon. We are having our holidays just now. I . am going to the Kakanui school concert on Friday night with mv mates. I was playing football yesterday with my friends. Our ferret died the other day. and I was very sorry. Wo were out camping about five mouths ago. Wo camped beside a river in a round tent. We drove 16 miles to get there. 1 put my cats in the Show, and got second and third prizes. I have not much time for writing, as I have a long way to go to school and it is late when I get home. On the day of the Show I was in town all day, and in the afternoon I wont to the picture matinee. I must close now. Love to vou and the D.L.F. —Yours truly, ' FIELD MOUSE. [You have quite a number of pets, Field Mouse, and will be able to have fine fun •with them during your holidays. You would be very proud of your cats winning the prizes in the Show.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have not written to the page for some time, but 1 must write now to change my pen-name. It is nearly two years since I started writing to you. and bo far my N.D.P. has been Wych Hazel, hut I find 1 have been using another person’s pen-name, so I must apologise. I do not remember seeing the one I have chosen this time used before, but there are such a lot of D.L.F. that it is a job to find a penname now. The D.L.F. social seems to have been a great success this year, and the L.F. who were at it must have enjoyed themselves. We are, to have a spinsters’ and bachelors’ ball here next Friday, and, oi course, wo hope it w> 1! bo a great success. I think it ought to bo, as there are about 27 members who have joined, and they ought to be able to get up a good ball. Have you many flowers oirt now. Dot? We have just a few primroses and violets, which came out two or three at a time, but the garden looks very bare just now. Soon we will have the spring bulbs in flower, and then it will ' not look to bare. As there seems to bo such a lot of L.F. writing just now I expect you won’t have much space to spare, so I will close now. With best wishes to my L.F’. correspondents and vcurself.—Yours truly, ‘ SCHERZA. [lt is indeed very hard, dear, to avoid duplicating pen-names, as the pago is growing very rapidly. We have a few flowers out, and the narcissi are out in bloom already.— DOT.] Dear Dot.—We have shifted into another place now, two and a-half miles from Thornbury. It is raining hard at present, but the last two or three days have been lovely. Yesterday (Sunday) 1 went to Sunday school, and two of my mates came home with me. Mother had gone out, so we had the place to ourselves. To pass away the time wo went for a walk over the hills. We got a good view of the sea from where we stood. Vou can also sec Thornbury and Riverton, i saw some letters in the page from my Clifden mates lately. I would like to go hack to Clifdeu again. We have a wee greyhound pup four weeks old; it is such a pretty wee thing. There are not many flowers cut in the garden just now. ■ I think the house looks so dreary without a few flowers, don’t you, Dot? We have a good few pot-plants—-geraniums, cactus, wandering willie, etc. I am not very fond of pot-plants. Sunny Jim has not been to school for two weeks; lie has not been, very well, but ho is recoverin, for he gets up to all the mischief ho can. Rubylocks is living in Oamaru, and she doesn’t write to you very - often. Sunny Jim is such a bookworm. Mother is calling to him to got his spellings, but so far ho hasn’t turned up. I suppose the book is too interesting. The last book I read was “Trevelyan Hold,’’ by Mrs Henry Wood. I liked it very much. Have you reacT"‘The Real Siberia ” by F’ostcr Fraser. Dot? Zviy dog. Dinky, came homo yesterday limping very badly; I don’t know what happened to him. Massey’s Pictures aro in Thornbury to-night. 1 was going, but it is raining too hard. We are not getting many eggs just now; our hens are all on strike. There is concrete all round our house, «o we don’t get muddy when we- go outside like we did when wo were in Thornbury. Are you fend of cooking, Dot? I like doing some things. To please Suny Jim to-day 1 cooked some apples and rod jelly. When it was finished he said it wasn't any good; all tho Game he had a second helping. Well', Dot, I haven't any more news. Love to Heather Lassie, not forgetting yourself, —Yours trulv, SCEPTRE, [I like to sec flowers in a room. Sceptre, as it really seems to brighten up the place. 1 am verv fond oi cooking and baking.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Hero I am again after a lapse of a few weeks. I intended to write before, but kept putting it off. I started to writ© Ja-st, night, but when I went to get the letter io-night I found that my uncle had written a vholo lot of rubbish under it, so of course & was posted in the fire. I feel a bit angry. »ut ho is always playing tricks on us, and, fcosides, it no us© being angry with small matters like that. My grandfather has been very ill lately. But, of course, he cannot aspect to be' in tho best of health as he is 81 years of age. Isn’t he an old mart. Dot? In spite of all his ailments he can ' walk quite smartly. He was out filling in a ditch a few days ago, but that did not do him any good. Ho is a, man that cann-'’

rest iijside if he is well enough to go out. My eldest sister is out here just now, and we have some high old times. I have tried to get her to writ© to you, but I don’t know if I will succeed or not. My uncle took my sister and me to the Quadrille last Friday. We had a lovely time. Well, dear Dot. I don’t know any more news that would interest you. so I will say good-bye for the present. Love to ail the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours .trulv. LOCH CAD RON.

[Your uncle must be very fond of you, Loch Carron. as they say teasing is the sign of loving. Very glad to hear you enjoyed yourself at the Quadrille. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —Nelson's Victory is at present staying with mo for a long holiday. We are having great fun. In the seven weeks she has boon her© we have been to five parties. We also had two at our place—one on the occasion of Nelson’s Victory’s birthday. The rough weather prevented u-> from seeing -the New Zealand. It was nearly two miles out of the harbour, so the people were taken out in small steamers to see it. I did not go down to Bluff. Some of the girls who went to sec the battleship 'did not see it at all, so they were disappointed. My brother went round to the Bluff in a motor launch. He viewed the New Zealand from the Bluff Hill, and he saw it going out at night. He said it was a beautiful sight. The gleam of the searchlight could be seen here. I am very sorry I was unable to see it. I might never have the chance again. The hockey bazaar was a great success. One of the competitions was a tug-of-war Each hcckcv club entered a team. The tug-of-war p:oved to he too much for some of the weaker girls, and two or three of them fainted. I shall be glad when the tennis season opens again. I think tennis is very much nicer than hockey. What kind of weather are you having, Dot? I don’t think it could be as bad as that which we arc having. 1 must close now With kind regards to yourself arid all the Little Folk. —Yours trulv. HA RUM SCARUM.

[Yen have boon having a very gay time lately, Harum Scarum, and you and Nelson's Victory have had vour share of parties.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is some time since I last wrote to you, and during that time another D.L.F. has taken my N.D.P. (F’aifh); but 1 won’t deprive her of it as ,1 will change mine, and call myself The Only Girl. I have read several good books lately. Among them are; “The Four Gates,’’ by Amy le Feuvro. and “Sarah Fuldon,’ which is rather an amusing Dorset story, by Orme Angus. I am a great reader, and have lately counted up ah the oooks 1 can remember reading (some of their, several times), and t-he total is nearly 300, not counting papers and magazines. Dot, are you fond of parrots? I have had out- for about a year now, and ho can talk very well. When I go out of tho room ho screeches til) ho secs m© again, and if anyone is going away he calls out “Good-by©.” Lately ha has started to say “Scratch cocky,” because my father says that ti him every morning, and he comes up t) the side of tho cage to get his head scratched; he likes it very much. I let him out sometimes, and ho flies round screeching, till lie has lot off his superfluous steam, and then he gets on the table and prances about. Sometimes, for fun, I got under the table; then he looks over and calls me by name, and when I don’t come out he jumps on to tlie floor and runs after me. It is very amusing to watch his funny ways; tho only thing w.e don’t lik© is when ho gets on our heads, and pulls my ribbon end mother’s hairpins out. _ Wo have a little kitten, and sometimes when it is rubbing against the cage, its tail gets through the bars; but it doesn’t stay there long, for cocky seizes his chance, and gives the poor tail a tweak, 'and then kitty runs. Cock seems to remember anyone who teases him, and snaps at them when thev go near the cage again. Gentleness with birds and animals is the best poliev, as well as with people. If the lust Dot left, to he married, I wish her much happiness; she seemed to take a great interest in her correspondents. 1 hope tho new Dot will find much pleasure in giving pleasure to so many young people. Au rovoir to you and all. —Yours trulv. THE ONLY GIRL.

[I am sorry about the N.D.P.. dear, and shall watch that you are not deprived of your new one. A parrot that is a good talker causes plenty of amusement, and it it must he amusing to sea your parrot playing with you. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I think it is about time I was writing to you again, as it is about two months since I wrote my first letter. What kind of weather are you having just now, Dot? It is very bad here—rain and wind; and I think wo will have snow before verv long. Wc are having Sunday school examination practice now. Dot, and I hone I will got on all right this vear. I did not do very well last vear. and 1 said I would not bother the next lot; hut I soon changed my mind. Have you ever been to c,bating. Dot? I have been, and. my word, it js nice. I can nearly skate properly now, and am very anxious to learn. British Boy was down one night, but he did not geton the skates. I think he is a hit afra.id of getting a fall. I have not had a fall at all, and 1 think T have been very lucky. We are having a fortnight’s holidays from tho school, as the measles are going about. Well, dear Dot, I shall have to close now, with best love.—Yours trulv, LITTLE AUNTIE.

[I sincerely hope yen will be very successful in your examination, d'-ar. You are very fortunate not to have had a fall while learning to skate.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —Like all loyal Britishers, I was very sorry to see the last of the New Zealand. I did not go on board the first time she was here. Wo were very busy shifting, and I don’t know how it was, but I did not have any inclination to do so. But the second time she came, of course, just because I couldn't go on. I was very anxious to, and was verv sorry to hoar that no visitors were allowed on board. However, as she was lying right at the wharf I managed to have a good look at her. Is the smallpox scare alarming the people in Dunedin much vet. Dot? Large numbers are getting vaccinated hero every day. I had to go down town to tho doctor three times before I got done owing to the shortage of lymph and the large numbers waiting to lie done. Tho process of vaccination is very simple, and cannot be said to hurt, as it is just like being scratched with a needle. My sister and brother were vaccinated over a week ago. and it has had no effect at all on my sister so far. On the eighth day after it was done mv brother was laid up in lied all dav from the effects of it. IT© was very feverish and altogether out of sorts, but is pretty well right again now. I suppose mv turn will come next; but, anyway, it will b© better than smallpox, won't it. Dot ? I do hop© this epidemic won’t spread nnv more. It seems to have gained a good hold in Sydney, and it will be hard work to wipe it out now. What =ort of weather are vou having in Dunedin at present. Dot? AA'e have not had at all a bad winter so far. To-day i= th© wettest dav we have had ; it has l>een raining heavily all day, and it must have been a

big disappointment for all those indulging in outdoor sports, as it is Saturday afternoon. We are having a try at a general Saturday half-holiday in Auckland just now, Dot. It seems so funny to see all the shops c o'ed on Saturday afternoon, and 1 expect it will lake the public a little while to get into the way of having Friday night as the late right, I must now end, with love to all the L.F. and vourself. —Yours truly, LADY IDA. [At present the Dunedin people do not seem to be greatly alarmed over the outbreak in Auckland, though a few people are being vaccinated. I suppose that after a while- one will gc-t used to shopping on Friday night, but it must be rather strange at first,—DOT.] Dear Dot.—l know a good few D.L.F. in Clifdcn. It is beautiful in the bush on a I fine sunny day. I like reading the letters. | Sceptre must have forgotten all about the i page lately. I have not seen a letter from I him for a long time. Hurry up, Ruby | Diamond, and write to the page. When i are you. corning hack to Clifdcn again? ; Weil, Del, all the farmers about here are j busy ploughing and getting their ground j ready for crop. This has been a very wet season, and all the farmers were late with their harvest. We have had lovely weather | lately. It is beautiful in the evenings when I the moon is shining; you see all the children playing about in the paddocks till I about 9 o’clock. I think I will close. With love to Ruby Diamond, Sceptre, Mary, Blair Alton. Mary’s Hate, Ate, and yourself, —Yours truly, QUEENIE. [I quite agree with you about the bush being delightful on a bright day.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have not been at school for this last week, because one foot is covered with chilblains and I cannot get on my boot. It is raining nearly every day, and the river is very high. The roads are very muddy, because the men are carting gravel on them. My father is trapping just now, and ho is nearly finished. One of my aunties is ill, and my mother is going away to see here As it is bed time I must new close'. With love to your Liltlo Folk, not forgetting vouself, —Yours truly. WHISTLER. [Hope the chilblains will soon be quite better, Whistler. They must indeed bo very painful.—DOT.] Dear Dot—This is ray first letter to your page, and I hope you • will let me Join your happy band. I am seven years old, and in Standard I. and I like going to school very much. There are eight D.L.F. ■going to the*same school as I go to. My oldest brother has a little blue-and-white pup, and lie has been teaching it to jump this last day or two. I will stop now. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself, —Yours truly, LAUDER. [I am so pleased you like going to school, Lauder. It must be interesting watching the dog being trained. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I feel quite ashamed of myself for not writing more regularly to the page. It is about five months since I last wrote. I don’t know what my correspondents think of me, for I have not written to them for ages; but I am making a start again. I was in Dunedin on Saturday, and I saw one or two D.L.F., bnt I did not speak to them. The weather has been very bad out here these last three days, but I think it will clear. I am going up to Waiuori on Friday, so I hope the weather is fine. I am going up to Wellington at Christmas, -and am looking forward to it. Our hens are laying well just now'. I sell the eggs and get the money. I found a duck’s nest with five eggs in it to-day. Cockie is a dirty bird. He was out paddling in a water hole to-day. He is supposed to be a white parrot, but I think lie is more black than white. Have you many flowers out just now, Dot? Wo have a few* roses. My uncle has a lovely little car, and I get a good few rides in it. Do you, paint, Dot? ‘ Dad is painting such a nice snow scene just now'. I wish I could paint; but 1 am very fond of music, and that keeps my time occupied. Did you get ,m y auto, Rough Rider? My uncle was down from Wellington the other day. He has jmt returned from Russia, and it was very interesting to hear all about it. I am reading a hook called “ Kilmeny of the Orchard ” just now, and it seems a very nice hook. Have you read it, Dot? Weli. as it is getting on for tea time, I shall have to close. With love 1o A Shining SunIriim. Tabetha Mew. Last Rose of Summer, Colonial Lassie, and all the D.L.F,, not. forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, IKE. [Unfortunately I am not an artist, Ike, although I enjoy studying pictures. What a treat you must have had listening to your uncle’s accounts of his travels. —DOT,] Dear Dot, —As onr examination is over and we haven’t so many lessons to learn, I thought I would write another letter to the dear old page. I see by the Witness that the social was a great success. Clad to hear it, comrades. We are having frosty weather up here now, but I like the frosty weather best, because we can have sliding. We play hockey at home, and we have great fun sometimes. 1 have read a very interesting book called “ Little Faith.” They are going to get some new bocks in our Sunday school library, and I hope they will be interesting, as I shall he reading them. My brother, one of my mates, and I go to the pictures about once a- month, and I do enjoy going to them. I have another pigeon, a fantail, and it looks very pretlv. Our eat sleeps in the place where the fowls lay, and it looks very funny to see the cat among the fowls. ' Our fowls arc laying now, and wo are getting about four eggs a day. One of our friends has, gone to Adder!v Hoads as signalman, and mv brother and I arc going out there for onr Christmas holidays, and Mr M’Pherson, which is the man’s name, is going to teach us signalling with flags. Wo will he able to go fishing alsA and that will ho all right; don’t von think so. Dot? A man who works with mv father has a little dog named Spot, and he has followed mv father home two nights. The last tune he followed my father home it had to sleep in the washhouse. We lot the fowls out the next morning, and he did chase them. T went to the Museum two months ago, and I saw the flag that Captain had’ with him at the South Pole. It is such a tiny flag. There was a tea meeting held hero last Thursday, and I went to it. After tiro tea we had games: then we had supper and went home. Last Saturday my brother, mother, and myself went to ' Christchurch to spend the day. After we had done cur shopping, wo went to some friends for dinner. After dinner one of my cousins came up. and se we had all the more fun. About 3 o’clock we went to another friend’s place, and stayed there for tea. We left there about 7 o'clock and caught the train home, after spending an enjoyable day. Measles are about her© just now. hut I don’t think I will have them, as I have had them already. We play scallywag at home

in the long evenings to pass the time. The Wahine lias taken up the ferry-steamer running between Wellington and Lyttelton in place of the Mararoa. The Wahine is such

a lovely big boat. I have a fortnight’s holiday from music, and I am so glad as 1 will have more time to road and play. Our Cadets won the shield for shooting, and our Scouts won the shield for swimming. The Scouts’ shield is a bigger one than the Cadets’. The boy next door to our place has a white rabbit. It got out the other day, but the boy’s mother caught it, and he was so glad, as he would be very sorry to lose it. Our teacher has been away from school the last three days, and we have another teacher; but I like' our own best. As I was reading the D.L.F. letters this week I noticed that there is another D.L.F. in Lyttelton, who signs herself Geisha, and I would like very much if I could meet her. I will always wear my badge, and I might sec Geisha that way. My brother and I sent money to the Lyttelton Times for the Fresh Air Fund, and that is the reason that I haven’t sent it to the Witness. Now. Dot, I will bring this letter to a close. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours trulv, HAPPY JIM. [Very pleased to receive your interesting and chatty letter. Happy Jim. 1 trust you will have a delightful holiday at Christmas time; it will be a splendid tiling to learn signalling.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—l am at home with influenza, so I thought that I would write to you. 1 am going to school to-morrow. Last week, when my aunt was up, my sister and she went over to see the dredge. They - went on board her, and they saw the gold getting washed. First, the gold was put into a basin and was washed in sulphuric acid and water. The gold is washed three times, so that all the nand is taken out. Then the geld was put in front of the furnace to dry. As the river is too high for tlie dredge to work, the men are out of work for a while. We are having very cold weather lately. Peacemaker 11, is "Stone” the answer to your riddle? I will close now with two riddles for the Little Folk: (1) What is the difference between a baby and a pair of boots? (‘2l Why does a negro not have the cap on his knee that a white man has? Love to all the Folk, not forgetting vcursclf.—Yours trulv, BIDDY. [So sorry the influenza has attacked you, dear, but hope you will scon be quits well again.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is just a month since I last wrote to you. The weather has been very wet here lately, and it is very cold in the mornings. My brother came home from Auckland on Saturday, and is going back to-day. What a great success the D.L.F. social must have been in Dunedin at Show Week. There are always three football matches hero every Saturday. There were pictures shown here on Saturday, but I did not go, as it was so cold out at night. You must excuse my scribble, Dot. as I am not a good writer. I road the D.L.F. letters, and find some of them very interesting. The school children have a school picnic every year. There are plays and concerts here every night of the week. My sister-in-law has a little baby boy. but 1 have not seen him yet. She will he staying with us before she goes home, and very likely I will go with her. I think this is all the news just now. Dot, a£ it is bedtime. Next time I will write a- longer letter. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting vourself. —Yours trulv. SILVER BELL. [You write a very nice hand. Silver Bell, so need not apologise for your letter. I should have thought that you would not have very severe weather tip north.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have been in bed for about a week, but I am getting better again. I have read “ Abou Hassan,” and “ Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” and many more. We are getting a good few eggs; we got about 10 or 12 every day. I have a garden, and I havj some roses and pincushions. I have a vegetable garden also, with some currants and raspberries in it. My little brother has a pony now. and could you give me a name for him? We have been having lovely weather up here this last week. I like going to school, because I have a nice teacher. I will bring this letter to a close now. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting vourself, Dot. —Yours trulv, DAD’S GIRL. [Gardening is most interesting. I think you do not mention the sex of your pony, so 1 can hardly give it a name until you do. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am writing to your page again, and was pleased that you enrolled me as a member of your happy hand. I have a white rabbit, and it hit my finger. I had two once, but my dog Rover killed one when it got out of its run. I have two brothers and one sister. They are all younger than I am. Our school is closed for a fortnight for winter holidays. No more nows at present. Best wishes to all.— Yours truly, KIWI. [Glad to receive your letter. Kiwi. I hope you have a good time during your holidays.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was glad to see my letter in print, and so was Miss Bobbie. We went down to the beach on Sunday afternoon, and Waikaura Fern was with us. 1 noticed Woodbine’s letter in the Witness. Guiding Star has a bad knee; she has been absent from school with it. There is to lie a school concert on the 15th August. They have a tennis court in the school ground j now. When I was at school wo girls played football with the master and the big hoys. It was grand fun! We were always falling in the mud. and making more washing for our mothers. Love from KISS ME IN THE DARK If. Dear Dot.- —You will be thinking I have forgotten tho page, as I have been so long in writing. Wc are having dreadful weather down hero just now. , Wc very seldom get two fine davs running: it is just rain all tho time. [ am learning music now. and like it all right. We had a bazaar here a while ago in aid of the Bowling Club. There is a concert here to-night in aid of the Debating Club. We are practising for our school concert (which is in August) just now. The battleship New Zealand came to the Bluff, but she did not come rigid in to the wharf. She lay about a quarter of a mile away. I did not go to see her. We go to tho Invercargill Technical School for cooking lessons every Tuesday now, but we shall soon stop, as our term is nearly ended. I shall he sorry when wo stop, as it is very pleasant going. Have you been vaccinated. Dot? Numbers of children round here are getting vaccinated in case of the smallpox. Since I last wrote to you 1 have another baby sister. Her name is Jessie. She is just five months old. and is beginning to take great notice of things. There are six children in our family how—three boys and three girls. My aunt who was living in Dunedin has gone to live in Timaru. Have you ever been in Timaru, Dot Some people say it is a lovely place to live in. The spring flowers are starting to bloom again. I wish the weather would clear up, so that we could get our garden dug. We have some primroses and violets out. Luccda,

who was our pupil teacher, is at the Dunedin Tra filing- College now. Wo were all very sorry when she went away. I think I will close now, as I am short of news. With kindest regards to Woodland Rose, Luceda, Mother's Sunshine. Waggles, and Corria Mondah Lass,- —Yours trulv, FENWICK LASS. [Very pleased to receive a letter from you, Icnwick Lass. I have not been vaccinated yet. Timam is a delightful place for a holiday.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —There is church here every month and Sunday school for the children. We ail go to it. My birthday is on the lOlh of August, and I shall be 11 years old. During the winter holidays I had' one of my schoolmates down to play with me, and wo were playing dressing up in long clothes. I milk the cow at night, and feed the calf both night and morning. We are having very wet weather just now, and it is very miserable. With love, to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Y'ours trulv, BROWNIE. [Many happy returns of your birthday, Brownie, and I hope von will have a happy year.- DOT.] Bear Dot,—My cousin and I have made no our minds to write to the page, so I hope you will accept me as one of your Little Folk. I enjoy reading the Little F°lk s letters. I do not know many Little I oik. I have six sisters and a brother. Iwo of my sisters are married. The elder lias three children, and the other has one dear little child called Roda. My sister who writes to the page has a very bad foot. We arc having lovely weather just now, and we are appreciating it very much. I live on a large farm, through which flows a clear stream. 1 have road a few books, some of which are “ Blind Alice,” “ Proud Miss Sydney,” “ Unlucky,” “ What Katie Did at School,” “ Little Ruth’s Lady,” ” Molly Winter,” and “ Madge's Mistake.” I think I will close now, with love to Hilraa and Queen Gladys, not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulv. GARDENYALE. [Welcome to onr circle, Gardenvale. I am pleased to hear from you. I am sorry to hear your sister is suffering from a bad foot, and trust she will soon be well again.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to the page. May I join your happy band? I am in the First Standard, and I can do the Second Standard- sums. We have a little calf called Cygnet. She is very playful, and wo let her out every day. I have two hens. 1 set two traps, but 1 did not catch any rabbits.— Yours truly, NEW POTATO. [You are very welcome, New Potato. Y'ou must be good at arithmetic to be able to do Standard II sums. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I am nine years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. I go to the Convent School. I like going to that school. I have six brothers and two sisters. One of my brothers has three rabbits and another two pigeons. As this is my first letter, I must close now. Love to all the D.L.F.—Yours truly, RASPBERRY. [I am pleased to receive your first letter, Raspberry. I would like you to send mo your own name, please.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my letter in the last Witness, and am also pleased that you have let me join your page. I know a good few L.F. who live in Clifden. I sit in the same seat at school as Mary, Mary’s Mate, and Ate. I like reading the page very much, and some of the letters are very interesting. We have been having lovely weather lately. I will stop now. as it is getting late. Love to Queenie, Mary’s Mate, Mary, and Ate, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly. BLAIR ALTON. [Your know quite a number of Little Folk, dear, so you will all take a keen interest in each other's letters.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I went, to rc-e the battleship, but dul not get on board, as the sea was too rough. I enjoyed myself very much. I was never in such a crowd. When wo got back to town a few of us went up to the water tower, and also had a ride in the electric cars. Wo arrived home about 3 o’clock at night, tired but happy. We nro having lovely weather down here these last few days. 1 hope it keeps fine now, as it is not nice going to school in the wet weather. Our school concert is coming off next month I will tell you about it next time I write. We are milking only five cows once a day now. We have one little calf about a fortnight old. Our hens are -starting to lay. I am glad, because I am very fond of eggs. I have no more news to give you this time, so will close now. With love to you and all the Little Folk, — Yours truly, LEONORA. [I hope you will retain your present X.D.P., dear, as changing from one name to another occasions a great deal of confusion.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to your page. We are going to get our winter holidays next week, and on Friday night we are having our school concert. We are milking four cows just now, and we had four calves, but one died, so now we have only three. We have also a little black rabbit. I have not been to school for a week, as I was in bed with a cold. I am in Standard II at school. Wo have five ducks. Our hens are not laying just now. We have also a black dog, and its name is Glen. —Yours truly.

RINGDOVE. [I hope, dear, you .ire now quite bettor of your cold. Colds are very disagreeable things. I hope your school concert will be a big success.—DOT.]

Dear Dot.—May I join your hapoy band? I am nine years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. I have two sisters, but no brothers. One of my sisters is older than I am. Wo have 13 children going to our school. We have 10 working horses and one we drive in the gig. The mail comes hero twice a week. Well I shall have to close now. Love to all L.F. and not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly. ETTIE THE ROSEBUD. [Delighted to have you join our large and ever-increasing circle, dear.-—DOT.] Dear Dot.—Winter is nearly over, hut tho weather does not seem to be improving very much. How are your spring flowers getting on? We have some crocuses and primroses in bloom, and the daffodils are a few inches above tho ground. We have been having tea at school this winter, and the bigger girls take turns at making the tea. There have been a great many ducks on the lake lately. I suppose it is because this is not tho 'shooting season, and they know that they arc safe here. I am very fond of reading, and the last story I read was called. '• Betty Trevor,” by Mrs George de Horne Vaizey, and the second last one was called “ Tho Cottage Girl,” by the same author. I like her books very much. I do not know very many D.L.F., but I have lately discovered that two of my cousins write to the page. I am doing some faneywork just now called ivorywork. It looks rather

pretty, and, although it is very simple, you are apt to make mistakes if you are not very careful. My uncle gave m© half a sovereign for learning the 105th Psalm. He also gave one to Red Currant for learning the 19th Psalm. W© are going to put it along with our other money in the Savings Bank. My sister gave me a game called carpet croquet, but after she had given it to me we found that the hoops had nothing to support them, so we got a turnip and cut it into squares, and stuck the hoops into them. It acts all right too. This is all I have to say at present, so will close with best love.—Yours truly. „„„ LAUGHING WATER. [My srpring flowers are coming on very nicely. Laughing AYater. The narcissi are out in bloom now, and the primroses have been flowering all winter. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is very wet weather just now. W© have two nice black-and-white calves and 13 pigs. I have to go with the milk every night when I come home from school. We have nice fires her© at night, for we burn black pine. The roads are very muddy down here. My sister is learning to play the piano. . We have our holidays from school just now, and I like it very much. - AY© had very heavy rain yesterday, and the tram was flooded, and the water was running over the road. I have a very bad cold, but I never miss a day from school, and like going very much, My sister will be going to school directly, as she will soon he five years old. I will close now as I have .no more to say. Yours truly, GATLINS GIRLIE-. [AYhat a large number of pigs you have, Gatlins Girlie. AYood fires are delightful 1 always thinlp—much nicer than coal fires. DOT.] Dear Dot,—AVe have just completed our winter holidays a week ago. I did not go anywhere for my holidays, because I could not get away, as my grandmother was veryill. AA r e have been having very rough weather lately; one day it is raining and the next day it will be blowing a gale. It has not been freezing very hard flies© last two or three nights, but we have very cold winds during the day. I did net go down to see the battleship, as my father was very busy and could not take us, and my grandmother was not very well at the time. A few of my schoolmates went to see it, and they enjoyed the trip very well. I told you in my last letter about our school concert ; hut we have had another one since, and it was a great success. Miss Churchill, a prominent Dunedin reciter, made her appearance here especially to entertain us with three of her recitations, which we enjoyed immensely-. I have two very- nice little kittpns and would like names for them. My uncle calls one Johnson and the other Barry; but I would like two nicer names for them. AA T e are very busy at present, as we are packing up to reside in our future home at Miller’s Flat. AA T e are not going to live on the run, but eight miles from it. I suppose that this will be my last letter to you from this district, but I still intend to'continue my correspondence to you from Miller’s Flat. Mv father has just been to town for a holiday, hut had very disagreeable weather, and did not staylong. 1 think this is all the news I can tell vou. Dot, so 1 shall now conclude. Best love to Doreen’s Mate, and not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, A LONELY STAR. [Glad your school concert was such a great success dear. Removing from ono place to another causes a great deal of worry and trouble, docs it not ? —DOT.] Dear Dot.—l was away for a long rid© to-day. but I was not tired, for I am not a new chum at riding. I have a pet kitten, and it can jump very nicely, and so high. I am in the Fifth Standard at school, and am 10 years old. I like reading very much, and the names of some books I have read are “Little AA’omen.” Angel’s Brother.” “Two Little Turks,’’ 1 “ AYc© Doggie,” “ Susan,” “ Alice in Wonderland,” and many others. The name of the prize I got this year was “The Mystery of Alton Grange.” The weather up this way- is very wet, and the roads arc very muddy. How do you like Dunedin, Dot? I would like to go there. AYakc up. Lady of the Nile, I have not seen a letter from you for a long time now. AYhat is the matter with yon. Postage Stamp? AYhy don’t you write? This letter is hard to write, for news is scarce. 1 will slop now. —Ycurs truly. BLUE BELLS OF SCOTLAND. [You are getting on very well at school, dear, and making good progress. 1 am very fond of Dunedin, though sometimes one gets very tired of the cold, wet weather.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We arc having a very mild winter this year, but there was an inch of snow lying on the ground this morning. AYhat sort of weather are you having in Dunedin. Dot? There was a ball on July 4. in aid of the Territorials. It was held in the Hakataranica Hall, and there was a good assembly at it. Two of my brothers arc in the Territorials —one is in the mounted corps and th© other is still in the Cadets. Y'ou were wanting to know what style of painting I was learning. AVell, it was landscape painting We have the poisoners up hero just now. poisoning the rabbits. Eight men ought to kill a few of the rabbits, end there are four rabbiters coming in after them with dogs. Our hens are starting to lay again, and it is not before time. I did not get down to the Show, as 1 was at the station with one of my sisters, and I was very disappointed. Did you see H.AI.S. New Zealand, Dot? I went up to Timaru to see her. AYe did not get on board, as it was too rough, but we sailed around her. She is a lovely ship. I was not seasick, hut some of the people on hoard were. I don’t think I have any more to say at present. With kind regards to all my cogirndes and yourself.—Yours tnjly, LADY NOGGS. [Your brother’s badge was sent th-> same time as your own, Lady Noggs. I have the entries in my book. I hope you are making good progress with your painting lessons, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—What a pleasure it must bo to have so many writers, and yet what a tedious task it is for you to read such a number of letters and answer the questions put to you. It is a task that I should not like to' undertake. AYe arc having lovely weather up here, and I really hope it continues so, for it is not like winter at all. I went to the football match yesterday, and enjoved mvself thoroughly I did not see many D.L.F. The only ono I knew was Prince Hoa. We have not had anv skating here; the ice is not strong enough. Wake no, Captain Scott, and write to the page. It is a considerable time since I have scon a letter from you. AYhat do you think. Dot, we have snowdrops out. They look so pretty, holding their small heads up to the sun. I don’t suppose they are out in Dunedin, are ‘they. Dot? Did you receive my post-card. Dina? I shall bo very pleased to hear from you soon, comrade. AYhat a number of new writers there are every week, Dot, and what interesting letters they write. I sometimes can tell who some of the writers are by what they say in their letters. Well, dear Dot, I shall have to closq now,

as news is scarce. With lov© to Dina, Lottie's Darling, Prince Hoa, Captain Scott, and all th© other L.F., not forgetting yourself, —Yours tmly, BEAUTIFUL MONA. [How very lovely th© snowdrops must look. Beautiful Mona. I have not seen any out here yet.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —VTe have been back to school a week, after a fortnight’s holiday. During th© holidays we had very bad weather, and have had the same ever since. Last AATcdnesday (Arbor Day) w© had a holiday, but did no tree-planting, because th© rain poured down all day. The talk now is about the Grey election. The people of AYestland are taking great interest in it. A number of people are visiting the glaciers just now. This is the right time of the year to see them. Well, Dot, I will close now. AYith love to all the L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly, - MOUSIE. [You must hav© been very disappointed at not having fine weathea: for your holidays, dear. I hope your next ones will prove more successful. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather down here is very wet, but we bavo not yet had very much frost. AVell, now, I must tell you something interesting. I lately got a letter from Pinkie Blue, my correspondent. Did you go to see the battleship '! 1. went with the school children, and when we left Invercargill it was quite dark. AYc went in the first car, and then in the first train. It was 8 o’clock when w© got to Bluff, and it was cold and miserable. AYe waited on the wharf till about 11 o’clock, when the ship came into view round the point, and then wo went put. Most of us, Including myself, were disappointed at not getting on board the vessel, but we sailed round it, and that was just as good. AVell, as I think I am taking too much of your space, I will close now. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, MAY BELL. [Glad to hear from you once more, 'May 8011. Ibeased to learn you enjoyed your visit to the battleship.—liOi'.] Dear Dot,, —AYe are having very unsettled weather at present, but I hope it will be fine again soon. AVe have two little calves, and my little sister calls fliem Peter Pan and Dawn. 1 have a large post-card album, which holds 300 post-cards. Ono day my uncle sent a lot of pcst-cards out from England, and they were very pretty, for they were old English scenes. Well. Dot, I tuink 1 will endeavour to write a few more lines before closing, for I think my letters to the page are few and far between. My sister is just going to, bed, for she gets very tired and cross at 'nights, so mother thought she would like to have a read for a few minutes. AA T e have a beautiful pot of shamrock, which has been green all the year round. 1 have some wandering willie, but 1 do not like it as well ns shamrock. There are not many flowers out now, but the violets are still flowering. AA T ell, I must stop now, as I want to learn my book for Bible class. AYith love to all the D.L.F. and vourself, —Yours truly, OLIVER’S BRIDE. [Thanks fer your very nice letter, dear. How very pretty the shamrock must look.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —AA'o had the chaflcuttor in, and cut ever 500 bags of chaff. I was at cur school concert, and enjoyed myself very much. AYe had tea at the finish, and I had some. 1 was also at the bazaar, and bought a few little things. I see a number of little folk have joined since I last wrote. You must have a large number by this time, as I eee that a lot join every week. AVell, Dot, 1 think 1 can’t write any more, so will close. AYith love to all the L.F. and yourself,—

A'tours truly, HAPUKININI. Dear Dot, —You will be thinking that I hav© forgotten you. I was pleased to see my first letter in print, AVe have been having rough weather these last few days, and th© river has overflowed its banks. The dancing clas-es began up her© last Saturday night, and I was there with my mates. They arc going to be held every week until the winter is over. The roads are very muddy about here, and they never seem to improve. I do not think Sunlight soap would clean them. AYe had a bazaar up here about a fortnight ago, and they made over £'s7. That was good, wasn’t it. Dot? AVell. Dot, I will have to close now, as it is getting late. With kind love to all the D.L.F and yourself. —Yours truly. CO’EN.

[Amu will be quite an accomplished dancer by the end of the winter, Co’en. The bazaar must have been a great success.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a scribble to your page once again, after many years’ absence. I am working in a foundry, driving a steamhammer, and I like the work very much. My two sisters used to writs to your page, but they have drifted away from home, and 1 never sec a letter from them now. Well, football is just about coming to a close up here, and I think when the end of the season conies we will have the banner as wo have a very strong team. AYe have Scotch practices up here every Afonday night, and, of course, there is always a great crowd there.

as all the people from surrounding districts coino in to it. The skating about here is just about finished now, as we are not getting such hard frosts as formerly: but perhaps wo may got a few days lator on. I was in Dunedin a few months ago. but didn’t like clown there, as it was nearly always raining. Mysisters’ names worn Little Bright Eyes, Mo. 1, and Xo. 2. Well. I will bring this letter to a close. With love to all the other D.L.F.. not forgetting vourself,—Yours trulv, STEAM-HAMMER.

[Very pleased to hear from you again. Steam-Hammer, after your long absence. I hope your football team has a good record at the end of the season.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was glad to see my last letter in print. One of my uncles found a piece of ambergris on one of the beaches down here, and everybody is looking for ambergris now. I think Sailor Boy must have been dreaming when ho said he saw a tui sitting on the top of a dry kauri, because to my knowledge there are no kauri trees anywhere except in tbo North Island. The roads out here arc very muddy, and we can hardly go outside without getting our feet wet. * We have an organ, and I am learning to play it. Two of my brothers and one of my sisters have also learnt to plav. The epidemic of smallpox which broke out in Auckland must be a terrible thing. I would like to go to the Auckland Exhibition, which is to ha opened on December 1 ; but I tliink it is too far away for me to go. I will close now. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, BELL BIRD. [Glad to hear you arc learning to play the organ, Bel! Bird, as it is very nice to be able to play an instrument of-Sonic kind. Your uncle was very fortunate in finding the ambergris.—DOT.]

Dear Dot.—Blue Boy is writing to you. so I am getting auntie to write to you for me, as I cannot write with a pen. I am eight years old and am in the Second Class, Auntie used to write to you. She signed herself Garde la Foy. Dear Dot, I have two sisters and two brothers. I have a wee black-and-tan pup at homo. Please give me a name for him. I am staying with

auntie for the winter, so as to go to school. Dear Dot, I shall stop now. Love to the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, BEN BUTTONS. [I am very sorry, Ben Buttons, hut I could not accept a letter written in lead pencil. Try and write the next one by yourself, won’t you ? Do you like Rover for your dog’s name ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have not written to you for a long time. The rivers are high just now. The road by our gate has been flooded with water, and we could not get out. The contractors have started the factory, and when starts we are going to send the milk. Wc will be milking about 35 cows, and then there will be plenty of work. We have a little dog called Ting, and it is always after rabbits, but it is too little to catch them. Our kitten is a playful little thing-, and our baby is very fond of it. He was a year old on the 13th of June. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.— Yours truly, LADY MOLLY. [How very awkward it must be now that the road is flooded to go in or out to your place. Baby will soon be able to give you plenty of amusement. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —My father has made me a wheelbarrow, and I am expecting to have some fun with it. First of all, I will have some dockens which my mother has dug out to wheel away from the garden. My mother reads the L.F. letters to me, and some are quite interesting. We have a number of cows and three horses and two pigs. I have a nice book called “ The Brave Men,” and such nice stories are in it, only some of the words are very hard for me; but I will learn them later on. Love to all the L.F. and vourself.—Yours truly, MR NOBODY. [Tour wheelbarrow is going to be put to good use, Mr Nobody, and you will find it useful for many odd jobs.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —With great pleasure I take my pen to write you a few lines. The weather np here is very cold, with a little rain now and again, but nothing to speak of. My sister and my two brothers went to a fancydress ball last Friday night. My sister went as a Maori, and one of my brothers went as a- clown and the other as a dummy. They enjoyed themselves very much, and wore sorry when it was time to return. It looked like a fancy-dress, ball before they left as they were rushing about getting their fancy dresses on. My mother and father are away, and my sister and I are into all the mischief we can possibly get i I see by the Witness that some of the debates are interesting to listen to, and ife you went to the club you would meet a iV*Ti"’ 2r I know a number of D.L.r. now; it is wonderful how you get to know them. Creeping Ivy, hurry up and write to the page. You promised when you left here you would write, but I have not seen your letter vet. Well, Dot, as the nigut is getting on, I think I will stop. Best love to Taieri Belle, Creeping Ivy, Hilma, Florence, Bombay, Weeping Willow, White Iris, Dadclie’s Lclssie, -not forgettin <y yourself.—Yours truly, CINDERELLA. [lt always causes a great deal of excitement when people are dressing for ■ a fancydress ball, and the whole household usually becomes excited over the process. Don’t vou find that is so?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, I once more take up my pen to write to the page again. Well. Dot, if thus weather lasts 1 think we will all be wab-footed, like the ducks. It started to rain on Monday this week, and every day since has been wet; but Friday was the worst of the lot. 1 was at the bachelors’ ball here on the 11th, and it was a great success. It was kept going until 1 o’clock in the morning so we had a good night’s dancing that night. Then, the following Wednesday night I was at the South Wyndhani bachelors', and also had a grand time there, though there wasn’t nearly as many there as at the Edendale cue. There is to be a fancy-dress ball here on August 1, so it wi.l be a great affair. 1 will write after it comes off and tell you about some of the dresses worn. What' has become of you, Awkward Meg? You never answered my last post-card. We arc milking only three cows now. We separate the milk and make butter; but it won’t be very long before we will be milking for the factory again. At the factory last season they made butter out of the whey, and this year they are going to make sugar of milk out of the whey that is left after taking the butter out of it, so there won’t he very much left out of the milk after making cheese, butter, and sugar of milk, will there, Dot? Well’ you will be getting tired of this letter, so I will close. With best wishes to Killarney's Mate, Sheila, Mother’s Help, A Lass From the Southland, Awkward Meg, and yourself,— Yours trulv, -V LASS FROM CARLOWRIE. [You have been having plenty of dancing lately, dear, and one may be sure j”u have enjoyed it.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in the Witness. We got a holiday from school this afternoon, as there were veryfew there owing to the wet weather. We have three and a-half miles to go to school. One of my brothers drives us ”n in the morning, and we walk home. To-day 1 drove to school and home, too. I like riding horses better than driving. I will bo nine years old on August 4. I am the youngest of the family. J think I shall close now. Best wishes to all my D.L.F. comrades, not forgetting vourself.—Yours trulv MOTHER’S LITTLE MAX.

[lt is very nice for you to be driven to school, as then you are not tired before you begin your studies. Many happy returns of our birthday, Mother's Little Man.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I now take up my pen to write a few lines to the .page again after suck a long absence. As I have not manymore years to write to the page I shall have to write oftener than I have done in the past. The weather here has been good; but it has been very cold. I suppose you have had the measles, Dot? My brother, sister, and I have just recovered from them. H.M.S. Mew Zealand caused some excitement in Dunedin, did she not? I was not in Dunedin to see her, but would have liked to have gone. I was not in at the Winter Show, either, but my brother and sister were at it. What has happened to you. King Harold? You have not answered my postcard which I sent you some weeks ago. Some of the books 1 have road lately are a Tlie Girl and Her Fortune." by L. T. ’Meade, which is a vorv good book. I have giiso read ‘‘Anne Hyde,” by Annie S. Swan; "Our Bessie.” by Rosa N. Carey; "Torn iSails,” by Allen Raine. Have you over been ,to Port Molyneux, Dot? I was there for my holidays this year. It is a splendid place to go for a holiday. There is so much bush, which makes the place look very pretty. There is a lighthouse there, which attracts holiday-makers. The lower part of it is built of stone, and i.s very secure. It is built on a rocky point jutting out into the sea. The lamp inside is of such, an immense size. There is also a signal station, built on the summit of a very high cliff, whereby to signal to passing boats. I was taken out to sea for a sail in a motor launch, and it was splendid. The sea was as smooth as glass, so there were none sea-

sick. I have never tried surf-bathing, yet I "would like to try. I have often paddled, but have never bathed yet. Four boats passed when I was at Port Molyneux, but they were too far out to eea to bo able to examine them. I will now bring this to a close. Lovo to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, WINGATUI. [Delighted at hearing from you once more, Wingatui. I have not been to Port Molynoux. dear, but have seen the light from the lighthouse when far out at sea. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was very glad to see my first letter in the Witness. I think it is time I wrdte again. We had a cvanco here, and I had a number of dances. I have not much to say. Dove to Dast Hose of Summer and Little Girl 11. I think I will close now.—Yours truly. BIRCHWOOD SNOWDROP. [Thanks for your nice little letter, dear. Glad you enjoved yourself at the dance. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am a stranger to your page, although I am interested in some of the letters. I' go to the Technical School once a week, and this is my second year. I have two sisters, and four times as many brothers. My brother has a cactus -plant, which is out in blossom, and it looks very pretty. Love to all D.L.l'. and voursclf. —Yours truly. GOLDEN HAIR. [You will not bo a stranger long. Golden Hair, as the L.F. are very sociable. The cactus flowers are very ueautiful, are they not?—DOTT.] Dear Dot, —It is a very long time since I wrote to you; but 1 always read the letters. I have left school now, and I go to the Technical College. I am in the domestic course, and get taught dressmaking, cookery, and needlework. I go all day, alid like it very much. I like cooking far better than dressmaking. Which do you like best. Dot? We are having very cold weather, and I sometimes wish I lived where it is always warm. 1 used to go to the Public Library, but I have stopped going, because 1 have no time for reading. My favourite authors are Ethel Turner, L. T. Meade, and May Baldwin. I suppose vou have read some of tiicir books. Dot. When the battleship was at Lyttelton we went up to see it, and stayed at Christ’s College at Christchurch. It is a boys’ college, but they had their holidays, so we slept in their beds. We all enjoyed ourselves very much, and the stay was all too short. I think 1 will have to change my N.D.P., because I am anything but “wee”—in fact, I have grown too tall for my ago. 1 will have to stop now, as I have no more news. Love to you and those who have not forgotten me. —Yours truly, WEE WOMAN. [Welcome back again to the page, "Wee Woman. I do not know much about dressmaking. dear, but 1 am very fond of ccoking.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—How are you getting on this long time? I am in Standard I at school. I live in Queenstown. The winter is very cold here. I have chilblains on my hands and feet. Do you ever get them? There were 63 visitors to Queenstown came up last night. 1 will close now, as I have no more to say.—Yours truly, ULIMALOR. [I am sorry you have been suffering from chilblains, dear, and hope that now spring is coming you will lose them all. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Spring will soon be here, and the birds will begin to sing. We have had a fairly wet winter this year, but we have had no snow here. Do you like winter? I thiiiff spring and autumn are the best of the four seasons. In spring most of the flowers come out in bloom, and in autumn the fruit begins to ripen. Every Wednesday I go to the Technical School to learn cooking. Last Wednesday I made sausage rolls. They tasted very nice. We are expecting the inspector to conic and examine us next week. I have not finished reading “ Little Dorrit ” yet, as it is written in two books—book the first and book the second. It is a very' interesting book. Wo are learning at school a piece of poetrycalled “ The Passing of the Forest.” I have not very much news for this time, so 1 think I will close for the present. Love to Happy Heart, Rere Lake, and Whittle Blossom, not forgetting, yourself.— Yours truly, ’ JANE EYRE. [You are getting on famously with your cooking, dear, and I’m sure the rolls would lie much appreciated. 1 think I have heard tile piece of poetry you mention. 1)01.] Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see ray first letter in print, and thought I would write again. I am learning to play draughts, and like the game very- much. The Papatotara School is getting an assistant teacher, and the school is to bo enlarged. The minister shifted into the new manse on Thursday. We have two little pups, and they are very funny. I will close with a riddle: Black and ’white, yet red all over. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, WAJTvU. [The game of draughts is very interesting, and one you can become deeply engrossed in. You will be able to have grand romps with your little puppies.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l went to the Invercargill Show with my father and mother. W’c arc having very bad weather just now. I have not missed a day at school yet. It will be my birthday on August 2. This is the answer to. the riddle 1 gave last week: Old Mother Twitchit, she had but one eye and a tail, which she always lets fly, and every- time she went through the gap she left a piece of her tail in the trap. Answer: A needle and thread. — Yours truly. SCHOLAR. [Thanks for your letter. Scholar, also the answer to youi riddle. Though your birthday is passed, still I hope you will have a very happy year.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Xot many children arc going to our school now. It is my birthday on the 3rd of September. 1 have four sisters and three brothers. One of my brothers is married, another is going to the High School, and one of them works in the store. The creeks are rising a good bit. There is such a nice wee baby here; it has just come home from Invercargill. Wo are going to get a concert up soon.—-Yours truly. FLOWER GIRL. [How nice to have a dear wee baby to play with. You will have good time with her.—DOT. [ Dear Dot.—l wrote a letter about a month ago. hut posted it in the fire. I have not been at school for two months, as 1 have had scarlet fever. The narcissi arc just coming through the ground. Wo have a lady teacher at our school. Mabel and I went up to the bu h the other day, and got some pretty ferns; they are growing nicely now. 1 have just finished reading “On the Wings of the Wind,” and think it is a very nice book. We arc having bad weather here just now. There was snow on the ground this morning, but it is all away now. One of the pups killed two of our ducks on Tuesday night. We have two dogs and one pup. The doga’ names are Don and Rover, and the pup’s is Bang. We have very bad roads up this way; there are always traps getting bogged in them. They have become so bad that there is a road made through private property for light traffic. Oar aunt is staying with us, and she

is teaching Mabel and mo to play the organ Have you many D.L.F. around this way, Dot ? Some of the farmers around her* have started ploughing. Is the price of the D.L.F. badges Is 6d or Is 9d. Dot'? It is a very rough night to-night, so I suppose we will be having some more bad weather. I will bo glad when summer comes again,. I have about 100 post-cards. I will close with a riddle for the Little Folk: What cake does a boy like best? With love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, WAIRAKI DAISY. [The badges cost Is 6d each, Wairaki Daisy. I hope you are quite recovered from the scarlet fever, dear. Sometimes it leaves one dreadfully weak and tired.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your page? I am 10 years old, aud am in Class 4 at school. I am staying with my aunt, so as to bo near the school in the winter time. We ride from home in the summer, and we have to leave at half-past 7 and get home again at half-past 4. Please excuse the writing, as it is the first time I hava written-with a pen 1 will stop now. Love to all the L.F. *and vourself.—Yours truly, BLUE BOY. [Yon have written your letter very nicely. Bine Boy, and I am very pleased to hava you join our page. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Please may I join your happy band? It is very windy here just now. Is it windy in Dunedin, Dot? I am nine years old, and am in the First Standard. We have a black cat, and wo call it Tricks, because it is so full of mischief. 1 think it is a good name for him. Wo have got a yellow cat, too, but we have not got a name for it. On Saturday my father went round his traps, and got the yellow-nrat in. one of them. Now her paw is as big aa two of her paws put together, and 1 feel sorry for her. Wo get five or six eggs a day, but that is very poor for 2C fowls. I think 1 must close this letter now. Love to all the D.L.F. and vourself. Dot.— Toura truly, , IVY BERRIES. [Welcome to our page. Ivy Berries. The poor cat must be suffering great pain.— ■ DOT.] Dear Dot, —The birds are already telling us that spring is returning. The sparrows and an odd thrush or two never left us this year, and. as our place is completely surrounded by trees, the sparrows used to congregate there and hold some enthusiastio chattering matches. One very cold day a little white-breasted tom-tit came Hying to the window. Thinking it was hungry, wo put some crumbs on the sill; but it must have been company it wanted, as it apparently was not hungry enough to even attempt to pick them. It made its appearance' every evening at 5 o'clock ter a -number of weeks, and then-disappeared. I have not seen it since. Last year a pair of paradise ducks made their home !U our paddocks, as there are some lovely ponds in them. They must have nested somewhere in the cultv-grass. because they brought out six little ducks. They were very nice little things, but so timid; if you went near them they would make for the water. It was funnv to see them diving in search of food, and corning to the surface two or three feet away. Their number was occasionally increased by the presence of a . few teal ducks. The green linnets have been back for some time now. As it was a nice sunny day last Sunday we went for adrive, and enjoyed it very much. Our flower garden is looking a bit miserable yet, but the pot geraniums are splendid, as they arc never leit out in tire frost. I have two trice ferns growing in tins. One is just as fresh and green as in the summer, but th*» other seems to have died down. I think it wilf come up again iir (he spring. Win*, a mild winter we are having—very little frost or snow. I often get a nice letter from J. G. I was sorry to hoar that her mother was ill. Ido hope ahe is much

better now. Was the poem I sent you th.e correct one, Tuieri Belle'/ 1 hope it was. I had a nice Ion" letter from Redwing 111 since her accident. I must close this uninteresting letter; but there is really np saw* to write about. With best wishes to Dot and all the L.F.,—Yours truly, C EXEVA. [Delighted to receive your charming letter geneva. The geraniums always make a hr

■ Hunt show, don't they? I am very f< i of them, especially the bright scarlet oneDOT.] Dear Dot.—lt is some time now since I wrote to the page, but 1 think it must have been Althaea’s letter that prompted me. I think tlpr less said about the weather the better, as it has been dreadful for a while; but I hope it will be better when spring comes. 1 went to the Invercargill

"Winter Show, and did enjoy my day’s outing, as I met quite a number of people I knew. I climbed to the top of the water tower, and got a splendid view; then went through the powerhouse. I thought the farmers’ bays were exceptionally well got up, and attracted quite a crowd. Frolic was the oply i).L.F. I met that I did not know. I was expecting to see more. I also went to tho Gore Winter Show, which was held in conjunction with the Poultry Show. The exhibits were rather scarce in tho \\ inter Show, but the display of poultry was really good. The white rabbits took my fancy more than anything else. I used to have three little white rabbits which I fed with a teaspoon; but they all died of starvation when I went to the Gore Show; but that could not be helped. Sky Pilot caught them one day he was harrowing, and he brought them home in his pocket. They were in a burrow along with two grey ones. I go to Matanra every Wednesday afternoon /for dressmaking lessons—from 1 o’clock till 4. It is sometimes 4.30 p.m. before I get out, so it is dark before I get home, as we live five miles out. The roads are very bad to Mataura just now, as they have been just newly gravelled in some places, and, with the traffic, this has gone completely out of sight. ' The flood did a great deal of damage. At the paper mills it was thought that the machines would not be fit to commence again, but they have been going some time now. The bridge was washed away just at that place, and we have had some experiences getting through the ford driving—especially the milk cart, before the factory closed. There was another small flood on Friday with all that rain, and spoilt the track again. I have done a good bit of fancy work this while, such as ivorywork, hem-stitch, and crocheting. The crochet craze has not taken on very much about here. I made several d’oyleys and a lot of shell lace, while I never run out of a job making babies’ crochet bootees for my nieces and nephews. I have four nephews and four nieces, all of whom were visiting here lately. Last week I stayed several nights with my mate in tho absence of her father and mother, and we had a real good time, as neither of us were nervous staying alone. Well. I think I must close. Love to all my friends and L.F. — Yours truly, A WHITE VIOLET. [You will be kept very busy at your fancywork if you have little .nephews and nieces to make things for. I don’t think I would like to ford the Mataura River. It always seems such u turbulent flow of water.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is a long time since I last wrote to the D.L.F. page. What terrible weather we are having down here just now! The last few days have been very rough, and wet. I was down at Bluff to see the battleship. but was among the disappointed ones who never left tho wharf. While on the wharf I met Ptero and had a short talk with him. I was also down at the Invercargill Winter Show, and had a very enjoyable day’s outing. I met several D.L.F. that I knew—Althaea, Viola, and Frolic. The other day as I was cycling along the road 1 met a D.L.F. who has been working on a farm close to where I live —namely, Bobbie Dear. I have some of my ploughing done, but have still a good bit to do. A ’short time ago I was carting lime, which is a job Ido not like very much. I have been reading a lot of books lately. The two Iliked best were “ The Coral Island ” and “ Corporal’ Cameron.” I think this is all the news to-night, so I will close.—-Yours truly, SKY PILOT. [Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to Invercargill, Sky Pilot. You are fortunate in having some of your ploughing finished, as the lain seems to have interfered with a number of farmers. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is with great pleasure that I take up my pen to ask permission to let me once again join your happy band. 1 was a member many years ago, but. Dot, I think I only wrote two letters and left off. I always intended to write again. But I don’t think I will leave off so readily this time. I was very young then, Dot, and did not know any D.L.F., but now I know a good few. and. as Waitress is a mate of mine, she has at last persuaded ms to start writing again. My old nom de plume was Annie s Mate, hut' I think someone else has that now, so I will change it if I may. lire weather here has been very windy and cold all week, and it is biowing and raining verv hard at the present moment. I do s .-. hate die wind. Dot. for it dries tilings up such a lot and blows things away that one never can find them when they want them. We have about 12 hens, but they are verv lazy, for we only get one egg a day. Wo arc milking four cows, and they are doing very well; but they do eat a lot of turnips, for they are no sooner fed than they are crying out for more. Milking cows is all right. Dot, in nice weather; but I think making butter is far harder, especially when it won’t come. It is very hard to churn in cold weather, hut is quite easy in tho summer. Well. Dot, I don t think 1 will write anv more this time, but will leave some for’ next time, as there is never much to v.rite about up this way. What a great time yon must have answering all those letters, Dot, or rather. I suppose I should sav. reading them. With love to all the LF, not forgetting yourself—Yours truly, ’ PURITAN SOAP.

I f am very pleated to welcome you back to the page, Puritan Soap, and shall hope to have more than two letters from you. — DOT.]

Dear Dot.— I am not at school to-day, so I thought I would write to you. It has boon raining vorv heavily here. Part of our road is flooded:' that is why I did not go to school. Some of my schoolmates -write to you. There are about eight scholars attending the Hampton Park Sunday School. Xaomi is one of them. I like my Sunday school teacher. My sister used to play the organ for it. but she does not do =o now, as one of the scholars is able to take it. Yours truly. RED HOSEBU D.

[Pleased to hear that you like going to Sunday school, dear. You must have been having plenty of rain if the roads are flooded again.— DOT.]

Dear Dot. —It seems quite a Ion" time since 1 last wrote to you. I thought [ would pass the time away hy telling you about the weather. It is very rough up here just now, and it lias been blowing frequently these last two days. I would rather have anything than this awful wind. Of course, wo can't expect anything better this time of the year, can we? A fortnight ago my brother' Pete had a letter in the Witness telling all about the severe frosts they are getting on the West Coast. I think it would-be so nioo to go up to Blackball. 1 id wavs bad a great notion of going up to Otira - but I never think about it now, as I am quite content where I am. I have been having such good times lately, that I have given°up wishing I was homo again. Well, it is getting late, and I have another letter to write. My host respects- to Linnet Linnet's Mato. Pallootee. Pete. Jack, and Sam and all the rest of the L.F. and Dot.— Yours ‘ truly, WAITRESS.

Dear Dot. —As Philadelphia has been tv ing to rouse up the Hawea L.F., I thong' that I would appear on the scene in ohedi ence to her call. We have been having such lovely weather here lately—real spring weather; but it has been too good to last.

for to-day there are all appearances of rain. We had our school concert and dance on the 18th, and it was a very decent affair. _ I think I will adopt Linnet’s idea, and write a letter for an animal, only I do not think I will undertake to hold Don’s paw. for, if I did, I am afraid that you. would find the letter somewhat unintelligible, ns he is a most restless puppy. I saw your letter. Linnet, and also that of Pussy Whitefoot. I love dogs, horses, and cats. I think they are such intelligent, creatures, and are such good companions when one is lonely. Of all the dogs I ever saw I think that the one J. thought most of was our old Angus, who died a few days ago. He was absolutely bald, except for a little hair about his neck and shoulders. In cold weather ho used to howl and whine if he had not a comfortable kennel. About a month ago he had a severe swelling in his nock and head, and when that burst the swelling went to his hind leg. I am fond of reading, and some of the books I havc_ read are ‘‘Tales of Romo and Greece,” ‘‘The Rogues’ March," “By Berwen Banks,” “The Fair Maid of Perth,” “On the Wings of the Wind,” “As Wo Sweep Through the Deep,” and many others too numerous to mention. My two sisters, Delos and Scio, are away from home just now. Delos is nursing in a mental hospital, and Scio is going to the Normal School. We aro having our winter holidays just now, but I would much rather be at school. Tho smallpox is giving some of the people a scare, is it not ? Well, dear Dot, I must close now. so I will say au revoir. Kind regards to yourself and all your Little Folk.—Yours truly, LADY CANTRIPS.

[I am very sorry, dear, I cannot have your other letter published at present, as the editor is impressing on me the necessity of keeping within the space allotted to ns. I will keep your letter by mo. and will have it printed some day when the letters are fewer. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. May I become one of your happy band? I liko reading the D.L.F. letters. On Sunday when we went to Sunday school it began to rain and blow, and the launch was rolling very much. We have not many flowers out yet—only primroses and violets. I will be nine years old on the 12th of September, and am in the First Standard at school. My sister and I go to school in a ferry boat, and like it very much. We have a day called Tweed, and he goes for the cows every morning and night, and brings the paper from the wharf every '-morning. In the summer time when we go bathing he likes to go too. We have lovely fim with him. He can hold one end of the rope while we skip, and he seems to enjoy the fun as well as we do. He also plays ball, hide-and-seek, and tig with ais. He is great friends with one of our cats, but chases the other one when lie gets a chance. Have you ever been round the beach after a storm? I like to see the different shells and seaweeds which get washed ashore. Sometimes the seaweeds,have lovely colours, and are like very fine ferns. There are not many finds of shells, here, but even the common ones are pretty, don’t you think?— Yours truly, MEG OF QUARANTINE ISLAND. [I am delighted to receive your first letter, dear. What a lovely dog that is of yours, and how very clever ho is.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It seems quite /a long time since I saw my last letter in print. The weather here has not improved in the least. These last few days we have had heavy showers of rain, accompanied by a bitter gale. We have two canaries, and they sing nearly all the day. Our school examination is over for another year, and I am not sorry. I went to see a picture show on Wednesday night, and I enjoyed them very much. We have started a garden at school now, and I look forward with eagerness to the day that our instructor comes. The snowdrops have now peeped above tho ground, and the violets have come out too. I think it is early for the primroses to he out, as the weather has been so cold and the ground very damp. I think I have said enough this time, so I will close with best love to Forest Hill, Peggy, Amelia, and yourself,—Yours truly, LOCHIEL.

[Our primroses have been flowering practically the whole year round, but we are very sheltered here, so that may account for it. You have not told me, dear, whether you passed your examination.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Just a line to let you know I am still in the laud of the living. Taiori 801 l has written twice now since I last wrote. What awful weather Dunedin has; 1 am surprised at if not being hette.r. The wind and rain this last week has been -something awl ul. On Sunday I thought the house was going to be blown over. I have been in town four months now, but I have always been too shy to go to the club; in fact, I was always with my mate on club night, and as she* was not a D.L.F. she did not want me to go either. She is up at Oarnaru now, and thinks it is a nice little place, but nothing compared to Dunedin. How are you getting on now, Taieri Belle, after your week’s holiday? Don’t you wish yon were in town 100. The only mate I have in town now is going away next Tuesday. Well, Dot, there is really no news to tell you just now. Did you get my last post-oard, Helmsman? -V week after I posted it I noticed you had changed your address. I really forgot to take it down; so if you see my address in the auto column you might kindly write. What has happened to you, Bush CI irl and Motherless (iirl? It is quite a long time since you wrote to me. Has Boy in Love sent in his retiring letter yet, Dot? I have not been getting the Witnesses lately, so I do not know what is going on. f am sorry this is such a short letter; but it is tea time, -so I must close. Best love to Detective, Helmsman. E. K. D., Billie Splodger, Taieri Belle, Motherless Girl. L. K. A.. Bush Girl, and T S., not forgetting yourself, dear Dot —Yours truly, THE GIRL IX LOVE. fl think if you are too shy to go alone to tiie club, dear, I shall ask Possum, who is noted for her kindness, to take you along. You will enjoy the meetings when once you start going. I have not yet received The Boy in Love’s retiring letter. — DOT.] AUTOS. The Cl ir! in Love (Jessie Harris, SI District Road, Roslyn) wishes to correspond and exchange post-cards and autos with any L.E. willing. Prompt replies. Princess Maggie (Margaret Smith, Woodside, West Taieri) wishes to exchange autos with’ any D.L.F. willing. Plum Wine (Galbraith Smith, Wood side, West Taieri) wishes to exchange autos with anv L.E. willing.

Wingatui (Gertrude Johnstone, Ashley Downs, Waiwera South) would like to exchange post-cards with any D.L.F. willing. Wee Woman (Violet Macfarlane, Melville street, Dunedin) would like to exchange autos with any D.L.F. willing. Lady Cantrips (Elsie M'Lennan, Post Office, Hawea Flat) wishes to correspond with W. W. L., Princess Edna, Welsh Boy, Princess Yarra, Grace Palotta, Portia, Lorna Doone, Sailor Boy, Kentucky Maiden, and any others willing Ike (Keen iPDiarmid, The Poplars, Woodside, West Taiori) wishes to exchange autos

with Hinemoa, Pete, Captain Halsey’s Mate, Sailor Bov, Silver Bell, The Lonesome Laddies, Norma, and any D.L.F. willing. Sceptre (Muriel Taylor, care of A. Taylor, Thornbury) would like to exchange autos with Glow-worm and Initial. The Only Girl (Thea Hurraway, Carnarvon street, Belleknowes, Dunedin) wishes to exchange autos with Princess Yarra and Althaea. May Belle (E. Ballantyne, Bay road, Invercargill) would like to correspond with any D.L.F. willing. A Lass from Carlowrie (Jessie M'Donald, Carlowxie, Edendale) wishes to exchange postfcards with Linnet, Wellingtonia, Glowworm, Billy’s Girl, Princess Edna, Kentucky Maiden, Nurse, and any other D.L.F. willing. Prompt replies. Cinderella (Elsie G. Pollock, Waipounamu, Kiversdale, Southland) wishes to correspond with White Iris, Hardcase, Kiss-Me-Quick, Summer, Princess Edna, Welsh Boy, W. W. L., and any other D.L.F. willing. Duncan the Meek (John M'Lennan, Post Office, Hawea) wishes to exchange autos with any L.F. willing. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Turxip Top and Blackbird ll.—All letters must be in ink.

DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motto: “Union is Strength.’’ The above club held its usual weekly meeting in Dot’s room, .Lower High street, on July 29 at 8 p.m. Those present were Francis (president), Adelina (senior vicepresident), Girlie (junior vicc-preSdent), Possum (C.M.R.), Oriel (secretary), Texas Jack, Pterodactyl, Duncan Gray, Dulcie, Avice, Creamy, Bimbo VII. Orsen, W. W. L., Malvina, Billy Burlow, Thelma, Ivanhoe, and Nik Karter. The president made feeling reference to the death of our old comrade Gravel, and a vote of sympathy to the relatives was passed. A cordial welcome was extended on behalf of the. club to the visitors for the evening—namely, Duncan Gray and Pterodactyl (late secretary of the late Invercargill Club). The evening was devoted toxan open meeting. Those who contributed papers were: Dewdrop, “ Tobacco-smoking.’’ read by W. W. L.; Shining Sunbeam, “A biography of a Dog’s Life,’’ read by Thelma; Mount Barker Rose, “ Those Bothering Changes,” read by Francis; Pat. “A Winter’s Evening,” read by Duncan Gray; Wai-No-Tee, A Few Lines on Engine-work,” read by Possum; Kitty, “A Description of Palmerston, Otago,” read by Dulcie; Ripple, “Night,” read by Girlie. (This comrade contributed two papers. Many thanks, comrade.) Lady Evelyn, " Obeying Orders.” read by Avice; Bimbo VII, “ Further Adventures of Tommy Tommyrot. late of H. M. Mudguards” (this comrade has a natural sense of humour, and his paper was greeted with loud applause); Tyne Lass, “The Black Bottle, ’ read by Malvina; Billy Burlow selected reading; Tyne Lass, “A Winter’s Night,” read by Billy Burlow; Erick, “ Jessie’s Little Messenger.” read by Ivanhoe; Princess Bess. “ A Day’s Work in the Winter,’ read by Orsen; W. W. L., “A Smash-up.”

Owing to the time occupied in reading the above, a good number of other papers were held over until next meeting. I think the evening’s papers were the best we have had for this year. I am not ®J* re but that it was a record evening, thanks are due to tiiose who contributed, iour suggestion. Uncle Mary, is being held over until some future date'. I think it a very wise on© indeed, and I will do all that in my power to make it successful Tlie subject for August 12 will be “A 'Mock ■trial by Jury: Manslaughter.” As there was no more business to brin" - before the meeting, the president declared it closed. ORIEL. Secretary. . SPECIAL MEETING. Owing to the lengthy nature of the proceedings on Tuesday evening, August 12— \ is., ilock Trial by Jurj,"—all members of tlio above club are respectfully requested to be present in the ciubroom at 7.45 p.m. sharp in lieu of the usual opening hour, V oclock - The extra quarter of an hour will be necessary for the unravelling of the great mystery which the court will have placed before it. I - RAA CIS, President. COUNTRY" MEMBERS’ REPRESENT \ TIVE’S REPORT. Dear Comrade,—l must apologise for the non-appearance of my report last week, but J was out of town, and could not attend# c lib last week. Francis, on behalf of th« club, extended a cordial welcome to' Ptero the energetic secretary of the late Invercargill Club, and also to Duncan Gray. The meeting was devoted to papers from country members, and we bad such a large number that v/o were reluctantly forced to bold some over until next open meeting. Ripple sent in two on "Night”—one entitled A Rainy Night,” anti the other. "A YV indy Aight.” Those who read Ripple’s last letter to the page will remember the delightful descriptive view of Lake Waihola, and can picture the delight with which her papers were listened to. as they were of equal merit to her letter. Write again, comrade. This was read by Girlie.

Dulcie read a descriptive paper, hy Kitty, of Palmerston. One could imagine they were touring Palmerston and surroundings as they listened to this paper. ‘Many thanks, Kitty. Write again. Avice read ‘‘Obeying Orders,” a humorous piece selected by Lady Evelyn. This was enjoyed by all. Write again soon, please. Bimbo gave us Part 2 of “The Adventures of Tommy Tommyrot, Captain of His Majesty’s Mudguard.” Those who saw the first part.can imagine the second. I wonder where Bimbo gets his humour from. Mai vena read “Tho Black Bottle,” by Tyne Lass. Xo comment is necessary, as all know the high standard of Tyne Lass's work. She also contributed “A Winter's Evening,” and “Eric, Jesus’ Little Messenger.” These were read by Billy Burlow, who also read a selected piece, “Curing a Cold.” hy Mark Twain. Princess Bess contributed an account of “A. Day’s Work in Winter on a Farm.” Did you mean the--men as well when you said about tho animals making a terrific noise about teat hue? They can make a noise, can't they? Write again, comrade. You have struck tho right style of paper. Orsen read it for you

Billy Burfow then presented Texas Jack with a fountain pen, the prize of the competition held at the social the week before. See Imp’s notes last week. Texas Jack suitably responded. \V r . W. L. read an account of a runaway horse. Ho was a witness of the flight, and helped in preventing further damage. Ho also read Dcwdrop’s paper on “Tobacco Smoking.” This was very instructive, and forcibly put together. Write again soon, your papers are always welcome. Thelma read “The Biography of a Dog’s Life," hy Shining Sunbeam. This was very humorous. Will be pleased to hear from you again, comrade. Francis read a very humourous piece,

Selected by Mount Barker Rose, entitled “Those Bothering Changes.” They were bothering changes, weren’t they, comrade? Write agam. Pat contributed a description of a winter’s evening, which was admirably read by Duncan Gray. Thank you so much, Pat. I’m sorry my note should have prevented you ■writing any other style, but all are welcome. Please write again. Wia-Ro-Te contributed a descriptive paper on “Loco. Driving.” You have, indeed, a considerable strain on the nerves, and are doubly grateful when “knock-off” time comes. Write again, comrade, and, don’t forget, we look for you every Tuesday. Possum read it, as requested. The following are the papers held over: Lady Dun das and Dewdrop, on “Surf Bathing” ; Inquisitive Poll, on “The Lesson of the Roses”; Uncle Mary, "Strong Drink and its Results”; and “Flounder Spearing at Pounawea,” to which no nom has been appended. Your papers shall receive first consideration next open meeting- . I v'as eorry they could not be dealt with this Don’t forget, I am looking for a good muster of papers on August 19, when the subject of debate will be, “ Which Wields the Greater Power, Heridity or Environment ? Open meeting, August 26. Papers of all descriptions welcomed. Was pleased to have njet you, Gundy, Rising Star. Sweet Innocence, Fairy Prince, Princess Ada, and Erotaka. I did enjoy the tramp to reach you. Row I know what the countrv members have to contend with. That hill ‘to your place. Rising Star, is a terror to tackle. Do you ever slide down instead of walking? That s what I dm Wha.t do you sav to becoming country member, all those I met Sub. is only 6d.—Yours emCerel> ’’ POSSUM, C.M.R.