LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.
Motto:—W* writ® fox tho benefit of othera,
not for ourselves.
tST No letter to contain more than 450 words.
Dear Dot, —It was a fine day to-day. The roads are very muddy down here just now. I never miss a day from school, for 1 UK© it very much. My brother was not able to go to school on Monday. My birthday is on August 10. I can’t think of any more
[I hope you will have a very happy year, dear and trust you had. a happy birthday. DOO?.] Dear Dot,—lt is a very long time since I last wrote to you. The roads are very bad just now. We are having wet weather down here. There are not many flowers out just now. We had red and pink roses out all the year rcund. I know a good many LuUe Folk. Their names arc Queen Tottie, \\illiam tli-e Conqueror, King Cole, Lady Isabel, and Princess Isabel. Oak Tree, hurry up and write to Dot. You are as slow as myself at writing. I am 10 year's old, and am in the Third Standard. Me have a few hens laying. The stoats watch them laying and eat the eggs. Me are milking six cows in the morning. M T e have two dogs. Their names are Fan and 1- 10. I like reading very much. I have read se\erai books. Some of the names of them are. “ Daisvland,” ‘Brave and True,” "The Little'Haven.” Did you ever read any of the books I mention. Dot. We have a piano, and 1 learn music, and like it very much. I think I shall close. —Yours truly. PRETTY PANSY.
[Pleased t-o hear from you once more, Pretty Pansy. I don't remember reading the books you mention. —hoi'.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to you, and I hope you will tnink it good enough to put in the paper. Waikawa is a nasty dirty place just now, as the roads are in a terrible state. I am in the Second Standard, and dislike going to school. Did you like going to school. Dot? Wo have two cows and one calf, eight cats and one dog. I am the only girl in our family, but I have throe little brothers. One of them has been very bad with the croup, but lie is better now. I think this is a long enough letter this time. Dot, so good-bye. With love to Waikawa Lily, Little Miss Vanity, Daddy’s Little Bov, and all . the other Waikawa D.L.F..—Yours truly, WAG TAIL 11. _ [Welcome to our large circle, Wag Tail 11. I am sorry you do not like going to school, but perhaps later on you will like it better. —DOT.]
Dear Dot, —I have now left school, and am working a team of horses. I am about half through with the ploughing. I have a little fox terrier, and he often catches rabbits and chases all the cats he , sees. The weather has been rough here lately, and one Sunday night it rained hard, and the creeks rose verv high. Dove to all D.L.F. and yourself, —Yours truly, CAPTAIN STARLIGHT. [Yon will have plenty of hard work to do now, Captain Starlight. 1 suppose the wet weather interferes a great deal with the ploughing.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is very changeable. I was away from school four days, because I was not well. It is not very nice to be sick, is it? Two of my mates at school have joined your little band. Their names are Ivy Berries and Rose Mary. I am reading a book called “On Angels’ Wings.” It is a sad book. I have read Grimm’s “ Fairy Tales ” and Scouts and Comrades,” but they are not so nice as “ On Angels’ Wings.” Please, Dot. will you send me a D.L.F. badge. I should like to have one very much. Ivy Berries lives next door to us, but Rose Mary lives a good way from us. but -she lias only a little way to go to school. The wet weather has done a good deal of damage to the roads and paddocks. It is a good thing that we have all our ploughing finished. When the weather is wet we take dry stockings and slippers to school to change, because we generally get our feet wet. I get one or two books at school for prizes. I have four prizes for sewing, and two of them were for the best sewing in the school. I shall bring this letter to a close. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, CLIFTON’S MATE.
[I am sorry, _ dear, you have been ill, and hope you are quite well again now. Sickness of any description is very disagreeable.— DOT.] Dear IJot, —Just a line to let you know I have not forgotten the page. Our cat got caught in a trap, and her log is coming off. We shall be having our examination this month, and I hope I pass. Please will you send me a badge, because I should very much like one. We have a lot of homework to do at night. Some nights we have arithmetic, and other nights English; but I like English better. Do you put the letters in the Witness every fortnight? I like reading the Little Folk’s letters, and 1 see you have a number of new ones joining. On Monday we could hardly walk to school against the wind—it was blowing so much. I like reading very much. Some of" the books I have read are: "Brave Brothers,” “On Angels’ Wings,” “ Charles Kingsley,” “ Algonguin’s Indian Tales,” and I am now reading one of my mother’s school prizes. We always have a concert at the end of the year, and I always get a nice book. The name of the last one 1 got is “ Captain Nat’s Treasure." I began to read it, but a friend of our was staying with us. and he asked me if I would let him read it. There is a lot of bush about here, and the trees look lovely. It is very nice to go for a walk in the bush. My father bought a horse the other day, and its name is Jip. My birthday is in November, and it won’t be long to wait. Our baby's will l>e in December, and ehe will then be two years old. I am 10 years older than her. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, CLIFTON.
[I hope you and your sister both receive your badges safely, Clifton. 1 wish you success in your examination*, dear.—POT!] Pear Pot, —I suppose you thought I was never going to write any more, but 1 am not quite as bad as all that. We have shifted a long way from where I wrote last, and I like down hero very much. We live’ on the coast, and about 10 minutes’ walk will bring you down to the beach. AVe can see steamers passing when they are going to the Bluff. I like our schoolmaster very much. He is very good to the children. I have not been to school lately, as I was not well. AVo have 27 cows. They are all dry with the exception of two. I have a dog called Glen. AVhen father was away at a contract Glen was always ready to fell us when anybody was coming, but when father was coming he never barked at all. Father used to leave the pony home for mother. As soon as the team was on the flat Glen would tell us. and the flat is a mile long, ft is raining to-day, and I am not sorry, because the tank is just about empty. There are not many flowers out in bloom yet, though
the primroses, forget-me-nots, and daffodils are out in our garden. Do you like flowers. Dot? I do. I see there are buds on tne apple trees. The rhubarb is sprouting. I wish some of it was ripe and ready to eat. The days are gradually getting longer. It won’t be long before the Christmas holidays are here. Red Jacket, are you still catching rabbits or have you given it up? If you are still at it you will have a fortune. I believe poor old Blacksmith got a black eye playing hockey. That was unfortunate, wasn t it ? We play hockey at our school, and I like it very much. One day I got hit on the nose. I was a bit unfortunate that day. When I got home I found that I had a good many bruises on me, but I was none the worse. I only wished the football did not burst. We are steadily getting nearer Dunedin j we are about 80 miles from there non. I don't suppose you had any skating up your way, Titanic? Do you remember the fine times we used to have skating? If you come down here in the winter time don t expect to see a great pond of ice, you know. If you come down in the summer you can go surfbathing. A little while after we came down here we three boys—Butcher. Carpentaria, and myself—went for a paddle along the beach. There are not many swamp hens down here. Are there any round about Dunedin, Dot? I went in for a Sundayschool essay-, but I do not know how I got on. I was sorry I did not go in for the examination. The people about here are cutting the gorse hedges, and when they are burning it I like to run through the smoke. If it is too thick, and you can't find your way through, y-ou have to lio down on the ground and wait till the wind shifts the smoke round, and then you are right. We were burning the swamp, but I waf not there. Well, I must close now. With all sorts of good wishes to the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours trulv, . WAGGONER. [Pleased to hear from you once more. Waggoner. 1 a Eft glad you like your new home. You are nice and close to the beach. Hockey is rather a rough game at times, isn’t it ? —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—May I join your liappy band? I am 12 years of age, and am in the Fifth Standard at school. I have two miles to walk there. It has been very wet weather lately, but 1 hope it will soon be fine. As this is the first letter to you, I think I shall close. Love to all the L.F. and yourself, —Yours truly. ADMIRAL TOGO. [Welcome to the page, Admiral Togo. I am pleased to have you as one of my L.F. DOT.] Dear Dot,—We had a fine day down here for the first of spring. I am glad that spring is here once more, because I like to see the many nice flowers come up out of the ground. Which flower do you like best? I think my favourite one is a cream rose. I am enclosing ninepenoe in stamps for 25 auto-cards. I am going to save my pennies and send for a D.L.F. badge very soon. must close now. With love to all the D.L.F. not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, SILVER CUP.
[I was ' delighted to hear of your kind action, dear. I am very fond of all kinds of flowers, though roses, carnations, and violets rank equal as my favourites. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and 1 hope you will let me join your happy band. My aunt is helping me to write this letter. I go to school, but am only five- years of age. I have two aunties writing to tlie page, and also one uncle. His N.D.P. is Welsh Boy. I went to the pictures last night, and I thought they were very good. 1 think I have told you enough for the first time. Love to all the D.L.F 1 ., not forgetting yourself, —Yours truly, MOTHER’S PET BOY.
[I am very pleaded to receive your first letter, Mother’s Pet Boy, and you' are welcome to join us.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —There is a factory going up at Kelso, and dad is going to milk about 40 cows for the factory. We go over a swing bridge to school. My uncle teaches the school I go to, and he said that whichever boy or girl from Standard 111 to Standard VI gets the most marks from now to the holidays, he or she is going to get a prize. I shall tell you what the prize is later on. I saw Willowburne’s letter in the Witness. We should have a good orchard if it were only taken care of. Dad has started digging, and we have a few flowers in. The daffodils are nearly out in flower. My sister’s (Starlight Bose) letter was in the Witness, and my auntie wrote it out on a piece of paper, and she is going to keep all of them. Sfte said it was very good. I think I shall close now. Love to WilJowburne, Simmel, Faithful One, Ivy, not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, CARPATHJA. [Your aunties will be very pleased to sec your letter, too, Carpathia, as it is a very nice letter also. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I thought I would write to the page again. The weather is very wet up in this part of the country; but that is what we must expect at this time of the year. I went to the pictures on Saturday night, and they were very nice. I did not go to see the battleship. I do not know any D.L.F. up here. We get the Witness every week from Auckland. My brother sends it up to us. I like reading the letters in the page. A skating rink was opened on Saturday. 1 cannot skate, but am going to learn. We used to live in Central Otago before we came to the North Island. My sister has been away for her holidays, and arrived home last Thursday. I think I shall close now. With beat wishes to all my correspondents and D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, DINA.
[Pleased to receive your nice letter. Pina. Be careful you don't get hard knocks when you are learning to skate. —DOT.J Pear Pot, —With much pleasure I take up my pen to write a few lines to the page to lot you sec I have not forgotten the queen of the P.L.F. and her happy hand. Spring is upon us once more, and the days are beginning to get longer and the nights shorter. 1 like the long days far better than the short ones, don’t you, Pot ? We have a Quadrille Assembly here every week, and 1 like it very much, as 1 think dancing such a nice pastime. I have been to only one dance in Punedin ; that was the Pruids' ball, which was held in the Art Gallery, i enjoyed it immensely. I think it is such a nice hall for dancing in, as it has such a lovely floor. We have been having such bad weather here lately, but it has been a little better these last few days, and I hope it will continue to improve, as we could do with a little fine weather. Do you do much reading. Pot ? I have read a good many books; but the days will soon be getting too long for reading. How is your garden? Have you many flowers out? I have a few primroses and a good many violets. I like the violets, ae I think they are one of the sweetest-scented flowers one can grow. I have only one more year to write to the page, so I shall have to make the best of my time and write a little oflener than I have been doing. I don’t think the page will ever die out, for as fast as the old writers are retiring there arc always new ones to fill their places. My word, how the P.P. Club is progressing! I have started once or twice to write a letter for the club, but it generally managed to
land in the tire. Well, dear Dot, as I have no more to write about, I shall close. With kind love to A Motherless Lass, The Girl in Love, Taieri Belle, and Pixie 11, not forgetting your dear self, —Yours truly, CHRISTMAS LILY.
[The primroses and violets have been flowering beautifully nearly all the winter, and now the crocuses and narcissi are out in bloom. I trust you will make up your mind and send in a paper to the clul\ Christmas Lily.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter, and please, may I become a writer to the page? I am nearly nine years of age, and live in a very cold place. I had very sore chilblains, but mother got a new ointment called Edinburgh ointment, and' it took all the pain out. We have had a number of men up here skating on the ice.—Yours truly, PLUM DUFF. [I am very pleased to have you as one of my happy band, Plum Duff. Glad the> ointment cured the chilblains. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have been having good weather here lately. My father caught one of our cats in a trap on Sunday morning. We did not see it about the house for three days, so we think it must have been in the trap all that time. My brother Steelie fell down the stable loft stairs to-day. but he did not hurt himself very much. He came in half-crying, because he was all dirty and wet. My mother changed his clothes, and he came out to me laughing. 1 have found out who Little Lark is that writes to the page. She and I are in the same class at school. 1 often write to my granny and grandfather, and when they write to me they address the envelope to me. I always go down ,to stay with them in the holidays. I have not very many flowers in my garden, but 1 am going to plant some more. I shall be 12 years old in about two months. I got a cup and saucer last year for my birthday. I shall bring this letter to a close now. Love to Little Lark and all the rest of the L.F.. not forgetting yourself. Dot, —Yours truly, DAD'S GIRL. [lt was a very 4jood thing your brother did not injure himself in any way when ho fell down the loft stairs. You will be pleased at receiving letters addressed to yourself.—DOT.] j Dear Dot, —I am going to try to write regularly to you like some of the Little Folk do. I finished my homework —which was a map of Canada—early to-night, so I thought I would like to write to you once again. We have been having two or three fine days lately, but there has been a fairly heavy shower to-night. 1 was very pleased to see my last letter in print. Some of the Little Folk write you some very s interesting letters. I am rabbiting now, and I have a few skins. We are making gardens at school now. They have been ploughed with a digger plough. They were ploughed lOiu deep. There is a man fencing them now. 1 think this is all the news I have at present. I must close now. With best wishes to aU the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself,— Yours truli, KING COLE. [Do you like drawing maps. King Cole? You will have quite a nice garden at school after a little while.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—The thrushes are laying now, and whistle lovely tunes, which, is a great change to us after such a time without a sound to stir the air. Lady Islington and Snow Queen, do hurry up and write to the D.L.F. page. I have not seen a letter in the page for quite a long time. Dear Dot, now that I have started to write this scribble I don’t know’ what to write about. 1 liave not much time for writing. There arc a few D.L.F. up here, but they do not seem to write very often. Love to Dutch Maggie, Hoxburghite, Lady Islington, and Snow Queen, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, ROSALIND. [Events of interest to someone are alway* happening .if one is observant. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is about six months since I last wrote to you, but hr re 1 am starting again. 1 have my mate writing to you now. and I am quite pleased she has started. Is Frosty still writing to- you ? I have not seen any of her letters in the Witness lately. I was at my brother’s wedding two weeks ago, and I had a real grand time. I tied a pair of boots behind the motor car, otid there was another lady who tied one boot on behind. There is going to be a bail on the 15th of this month, but I do not know if I am going. 1 must describe the dresses that were at the wedding. There were two bridesmaids —one was the brides sister aim the other was my sister. The two bridesmaids wore pale violet-coloured dresses. They wore that colour because the bride’s name was Violet. The bride’s dress was cream crepe de chine, with lovely lace on it. The bridegroom’s presents to the bridesmaids were gold bracelets set with stones. They were very pretty. After the wedding breakfast the couple* left by motor for Dunedin. They went on to Queenstown, where the honeymoon was to be spent. In the evening we had a nice time. We played all kind* of games; and then went home about naifpast 12. I suppose you have a good number of Little Folk writing, Dot? I have just seen one of Henry Lovie s in the Witness. In the last Witness I noticed that Queen of the Snows had been writing. Havo you any D.L.F. in Australia writing to you, Dot? There was a football match here about four weeks ago, and a man had hi* leg broken. With love to Henry’s Lovie, Kaurameke, Frosty, and yourself.— Yours truly, KISS lObll COUSIN. [Your brother's wedding must have been a very pretty one. dear, and the bride and bridesmaids must have looked charming. Yes, we have quite a number of L.F. in various parts of Australia.—DO I.]
Dear Dot.—Since I last wrote to you the crocuses and snowdrops have come out. They are very pretty flowers, are they not? My father had three weeks’ holiday a few weeks ago, and in that time lie dug up all the garden. At school we are having an examination just now. so we do not have many lessons at night.—Yours truly. IXES. (T hope you pass sucre-sfnMy through your examination. Tims. T( ■- always an anxious time, is it not?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have not written to you for a very long time, but I always read the L.F. letters. The weather up this way is very changeable, but we Iwc not had many hard frosts this winter. We a' - e at the beginning of spring again, and all the Ircautiful spring flowers arc coming out. I think spring is a very nice season, because very many changes take place. The young leaves come on the trees and the flowers come out; also it is so nice to see the youn" lamtrs playing about with one another. The farmers are getting the ground ready for their crops. We held our school concert a week or two ago. I had a very enjoyable evening, and I am looking forward for another one in about a week. My birthday will be on the 15th of this month, and I shall bo 12 years old. I have not done much reading this winter, but I am doing some fancy work. There is a great difference in the days: don’t you think they are getting much longer, Dot? The pupils of our school went to Oamaru to see the battleship, but when we got there wo were all disappointed in not seeing her, but
wo spent an enjoyable day. We shall be having our examination at the end oi September. I think I shall close this uninteresting letter. Rest love to Sunbeam, Butterfly, and yourself,-You« Jrtdy^
[I must wish you many happy returns of your birthday, London Pride, and hope you have a very happy day. It is ind^. ed noticeable the difference in the lengtn of the days.—DOT.]
Dear Dot,-This is my first letter to your page. May I join your happy band? 1 am in the Third Standard at school, and am stoopin' s, with my married sister. I out rabbitin' 5 after school, and caught one rabbit. I set traps and go ferreting. I have been a long time away from scnool. There are four in the same class as I am. Lo\e all u iD.L.F., not forgettmg^ur^f^ours [Welcome to the page.- Jam Bottle. I hope you will be able to attend school regularly now. —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—At last I take up my pen to let you sec I have not forgotten the page. Although I do not write regularly, I always' take an interest in all that is going on in the D.L.F. column. 1 was very sorry to see by the paper of Gravel’s death a though I did not correspond with him. I have heard good bit about him from other D.L.K, and felt sorry for him. He was a loyal L.i • I was in Dunedin for a fortnight at Show time, and had a lovely holiday. Ihe weather was fine, and that makes a groat difference to a holiday. I was taken with the D.L.i . group, but was sorry not to get to the social at night; but better luck next time. M bile in Dunedin I went to a play by the amateurs of Dunedin, and I enjoyed it very much. I went to the Great M’Ewcn, and it was really good, too; also to the pictures a few times. There have been a few dances here this winter We have the school teacher staying with us, and it is good company for me She and I were at a ball at Greenfield three weeks ago. It was a fine mgn , and we had a lovely time. There is to be a epinsters’ ball up there in September, and it, is to be either plain or fancy dress. Me are having nice spring days here this last week, and Ido hope it continues. The spring flowers are all bursting into bloom, and it « nice to think of the long days after the winter’s short ones. We shall be milking about 30 cows this year when they are at in, and separating all the milk at home and Bending the cream into Dunedin. 1 h °P® that the L.F. T met m your office that day found her luggage all right. I have forgotten her name. Dot, but I do not remember L.F. names very we I I was sorry to see that the Invercargill Club had to close. How are you getting on, Ptero? Merc you at the social? I hope you enjoyed it. I hope you received my note last week, Dot. The roads up here have been awful tins winter, hut they are beginning to dry up now. I shall draw this to a close, as 1 have no more news. I am expecting the group this week. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgatins yourself, Yours
[I received vour note, Piki-Arero, and Possum, our C.M.R., kindly, consented to attend to it for me. You will no doubt have received the group by now. So pleased you enjoyed your visit to Dunedin, dear. DUi.J
Dear Dot,—Several of my mates who arc L.P. have requested me to renew my acquintance to the page, and also to become a country member, and send in papers occasionally. Well, some day I shall send in a paper.' Spring is here very early this year. But two birds are still missing, and they are tho sandpiper and the banded dotterel. W© have had violets out all winter. I had such a lot to' tell you when I started, but it lias all gone like smoke. I did not have a skato this winter. I know quite a number of D.L.F. in this district. I must close new. —Yours truly, DUSTY MILDER. [Delighted to hear that you have renewed acquaintance with L.F. page again. Your Sapers to the club will be very welcome lusty Miller. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band? I am only nine years old, and am in Standard 11. My father has a small farm. We have six calves, three pigs, two horses, one dog. one cat, and 24 hens. I have four big brothers out at work. One of my brothers has just been out shooting rabbits. He took th© dog whose name is Wag with him, and my brother caught 12 rabbits, and the dog caught four. Well, Dot, this is a very email letter. —Yours truly, PUSSY BLACK PAWS. [Welcome to our page, Pussy Black Paws. I shall look forward to having interesting letters from you later on. —DOT.] Dear Dotg-It is quite a long lime since I wrote to you. Winter is nearly over, and I am very glad. I have not been to school this last week, because I have had the earache and a cold. Did you sc© the battleship, Dot? I did not go, but some other children who go to the same school as I do said that it was a grand sight. Since I last wrote to you wo have had some snow. It was about 3in deep. I have a new hers© now. Its colour is black, and it has white feet and face. I am learning to play tho piano, and I find it very easy. I go to music lessons on Wednesday. I get out of school at half-past 2 in the afternoon, and get home at half-past 5. We have a lot of spring flowers out in tho gardens now.' Did you plant any trees on Arbor Day? W© wore to plant trees round our school garden, but they came too soon to keep, so we got some acorns and planted them. This is all I have to say. Lov© to all the L.F., not forgetting vourself, —Yours truly, MAGPIE. [So pleased that you are making good progress with your pianoforte lessons. Magpie. How very nice it must be to have a hors© of your own. You are a verv luckv girl.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Our garden is looking very well. Wo have a lot of crocuses out, and they are all yellow, with the exception of one blue one. Our daffodils arc all up also. I have two cousins, and I go over to play with them sometimes. They live not far from us, and I fight with them sometimes. Thank you very much for my badge. I know two D.L.F. here. I still go to school, but w© have not got our lady teacher just now. She went away on Monday, as her sister is dead. I think I must stop now. Love to yourself, the editor, and to ail L.F.,—Yours truly, MYTYL. [I am glad the badge arrived safely, Mytyl. The crocuses are lovely little flowers, are they not? They are so bright and dainty.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I -enjoy reading the D.L.F. letters, so as I have finished lessons for the evening I thought I would sit down to write, but when I do sit down there is nothing very interesting to write about. The young men abotit here started a Quadrille Assembly, but it was not a success, as there arc not many young people about here. Most likely this will be my last year at school if I manage to pass the Sixth Standard. So far I have missed only one day this year. We are at present milking only one cow, but I suppose there will soon bo a great many more in. I have been helping with the milklog for tho past six months. I got an invita-
tion to a bachelors’ ball, and I think my brother and I are going to it. I shall be housekeeper on my own next week, as my mother is going away for a holiday. I think this is all just now. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself,—Yours truly, LADY GREEN.
[I hope you will have an enjoyable time at the ball. Lady Green. You will be quite a busy little person while your mother is away having to attend to the housekeeping. —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—l suppose you think it is about time I wrote to you. I notice that there are always more children joining your happy band. The cold days will soon be all over now, Dot, and the hot summer clays will come. It will not be very long until our examination. The Christchurch Meat Company’s Freezing Works are going up very quickly now. I like watching them build the big chimney. Well, I think I shall close now, because I have told you all I can, and there is not much news. I send my love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly, MOSS ROSE.
[lt must be very interesting watching the men building the big chimney, Moss Rose.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —To-day is the first of spring, and it was an all right day. M'e play football at the school, and have played three games against neighbouring towns, two of which w© won easily, but lost the other one. The birds are starting to nest heie again. One day not very long ago I went out shooting with one of my brothers, and I had some good fun. My brother gave m© a shot out of the gun at a rabbit that was running, but I ‘only wounded it. I can hit them all right with the pea-rifle or the dcublebarrel gun if they are sitting. When I first had a shot out of a gun it kicked very badly, hut it was on account of the way I held it. If you hold it loosely it kicks, but if you hold'it tightly up against .your shoulder it does not. M'e had a visit from the chaffcutter since I last wrote, and w© got 200 bags of chaff. I have to feed the cows and the horses every morning and night. I made a good cheque at the factory this year —£7 10s. That was not bad, was it, Dot? Most of the farmers are ploughing up this way. My father has all his ground ploughed. You must excuse this scribble, as I got a kick on my thumb to-day playing football. I think this is all I have to say, so I shall close. Love to all the D.L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, GINGER BOY. [That, was a very nice cheque to make, Ginger Boy. A kick from a gun makes a very sore bruise on one'sjshoulder.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Well, Dot, I ought to be ashamed, but really I had always something else that kept me from writing. M T © are having our examination on August 18, so we have to work hard, and I have also a music examination in November, so I shall be kept going, because I do not want to fail. I have a new bicycle. Such a small one it is, but it is easy to ride. Dear Dot, I know three more D.L.F. Their names are Kiss Mo In The Dark, Miss Bobby, and Shona. We have wattle out. DP you like it t I think it looks pretty when there is a whole tree out in bloom. There are not many flowers out now. I sprained my thumb not. so long ago, but it is belter now. Well, Dot, it is time to stop now. With love to yourself,—Yours truly, WAIKAURA FERN. [You will be kept very busy with your examinations, dear, and I hope you are sufccessful in both. It won’t do to go spraining your fingers if you are going in for a practical examination, will it? —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—To-day is just like a spring day. I always look forward to spring coming. There are only some primroses out in our gardens just now. They arc very pretty wee flowers. I had a nice time up at the bush to-day. ' I got a lot of leaves to press. When I was getting some leaves I noticed a little tomtit sitting on a branch of a tree close bv. Ho seemed to be a very tame little fellow, so I stood still to see if he would come very close to me. He just hopped about in a tree, and then aat and watched me until I moved; then he flew away. I got quite a lot of leaves. One time when I was trying to get some leaves which were growing in among some logs and in a swamp I stepped on a log, and, not knowing it was rotten, I was going to walk on it to get the leaves wlren it broke and let me into the swamp, but I did not get wet. A long time ago Buckjumper—who is my brother—and I wore up at the bush, and we found some raspberries growing. I went to see how they' were getting on to-day, but I could not see any of them. They had berries on them lastyear. I saw letters this week from a good many whom I knew. I laughed when I saw Ralph the Huntsman’s letter about the old cat 12 years old. It must be pretty old. I have just read a book called “ Little Women,” and I am just reading one called “ Good Wives.” They are both very nice books. The cliaffcuUer was here the day before yesterday. My cousins Moa and Penguin have not written to you for a gool while, but I don't think they get the Witness now. I saw a picture of the Clifden bridge in the Witness, and also a picture of some of Mary’s father’s sheep. I have a big book, in which I paste pictures. I cut the picture of the D.L.F. out. Mum and dad were at a wedding at Orepuki the other day. I am in the Fourth Standard at school. I don’t like school much. Well. Dot, I think 1 shall stop now. —Yours truly, ATE. [You must have forgotten to enclose the stamps, Ate. as I looked for them in the envelope and letter, but they were not there. I shall get Possum to write von in re club. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band. I am 10 years old, and am in the Third Standard at school. Wc are having very unsettled weather up here. It was raining off and on to-day. I am practising for a school concert, and I am in a doll’s cantata. I have not far to walk to school, and do not miss very often. Our concert is coming off on the 21st of this month. We have had no snow this winter, and not very much frost. All my daffodils in mv little gardens are out in big buds, and the willows have tiny green leaves. Wc have a piano, and my brother and I learn five duets. I think I have written a ‘.ong enough letter for my first. Give my iove to all the D.L.F. and vourself. —Yours trulv, LITTLE COOKY. [1 am very pleased to hear from you. Little Cooky', and welcome you to our band. Will you send me your own name the next time you write, so that I can enter it in my lx>ok.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I am 11 years old, and in the Fifth Standard at school. I am in the School Football Club, and we have played two matches without success. There is going to be a band concert here on August 13. and on August 21 our school concert comes off. I am in one of the farces. I think we are going to have an eariy spring, as file apricot trees are nearly out in blossom, and the daffodils are all but in flower. I learn music, and we have a piano at home. One of mv sisters also learns. I had two little goldfinches which I kept as pots, but one day they managed to get out of the cage. Our winter holidays are over now. During them one of my mates and I rabbited, but wc
did not catch many rabbits, as the frost made the ground very hard. I must close now. With love to all the Little Folk and yourself,—Yours truly, A YOUNG FOOTBALLER.
[You are welcome to the page, A Young Footballer. I hope your concert will be a big success. Please send me your own name.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —I now take the pleasure of writing a few lines to the page, as I have seen a letter in the Witness from Cinderella. The weather up our way has been very good lately, and I hope it will remain for a few weeks, but, of course, we require a shower now and again. I was at a wedding last Wednesday, and enjoyed myself immensely. My cousin is working for us now. She has not been out from the Old Country very long. Her sister came with her, and her brother is coming. Father gets the Otago Witness, and I always enjoy reading the letters. 1 think some of them are very interesting, but I do not write very good ones myself, as I am a poor hand at letter-writing. Well, Dot, as it is getting late, I will not write any more. Best love to Creeping Ivy, Thelma, Princess Adelaide, Florence Dombey, not forgetting Yourself. — Yours trulv. CANARY CREEPER.
[You write a very nice letter, dear, so don't bo afraid of not writing interesting ones. Pleased to hear that you had au enjoyable lime at the wedding.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to ycur page. May I join your happy hand? I am 10 years old. and am in the Infant Reader at school. I have a nice doll, and a nice little cat, and I give it a saucerful of milk every mormng. 1 am going away soon from Cromwell. I have been in the Dunedin Hospital before. As this is my first letter 1 will close now. Love to nil the D.L.F., — Yours truly, SHINING STAR.
[I am delighted to receive your first letter to tho page, Shining Star. Do you mean that you are going into the hospital at Dunedin again ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. May I become one of your little band of \Jiitors? Wo live near the bush, and it is very nice in the summertime. I know a lot of L.F. about here. We are having lovely weather just now, but we have had our share of bad weather, too. I am in tho Second Standard. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly.
NURSE LOTTIE. [You may certainly become one of our happy circle. Nurse Lottie.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to the page. May I join your happy band, Dot? Or am I too late? How do you like winter, Dot? I think I would sooner have summer, as the days are so much longer. Well, Dot, I will now close with a riddle: If a man fell out of a window, what would he fall against? With best love to all the D.L.F., — Yours truly, ELLIBANIA.
[Pleased to receive vour first letter, Ellibania. I would like you to send me your own name, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is quite a long time since I last wrote to your page; but, never mind—better late than never. We are having very nice weather here just now. I saw Queen Ida’s letter in the Witness last week. We are digging our school gardens just now. Do you like gardening. Dot? I do. I am very fond of it, especially flower-gardening. I still go to school, and am in the Seventh Standard; but I am going to knock off this year. I will bring this short letter to a close now. With love to Queen Ida, and all the rest of the L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, PRINCESS MAUD 11. [Very pleased to hear from you, Princess Maud 11. I am fond of gardening, dear, but have not very much time to attend to it.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to the page, and I hope you will regard me as one of your L.F., as I intend to write regularly. lam 10 years old, and am in Standard IV at school. I meant to write sooner, but as the examination was on I was busy at my lessons. Do you read many hooks, Dot ? I read a good many. I don’t suppose you have much time to read books, as you have so many letters to answer. I always road the letters, and take an interest in them. I think I have written enough for the first time, so I will now close.—Yours truly, TITANIA.
[Delighted to have you as one of my L.F.. Titania. I am very fond of reading, and have read a large number of books. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—The weather has been very disagreeable here lately, but we have had a few fin-e days this week. I do not like winter, as the days are so short. The daffodils are beginning to corno out, and wo have some snowdrops out now. I think they are such pretty flowers. Our hens have been on strike lately. Dot, but wo have one duck laying. Wo are not milking many cows just now. I don’t suppose you can milk cows, Dot? I can’t, cither. I cycled to Invercargill last week. The roads were a bit sticky, but I managed to get there all right. I am making a ball out of silver paper off Tobler cards. It looks nice, too. I also save tickets out of cigarette packets. There is church ■ hero every Sunday. I see by one of the Witnesses that Cushedin Lassie saw me at the Winter Show.' I have been trying to think who she is, 'but I can’t pick her. Mv eister gees in to Invercargill for cooking class every week. I used to go last year. Pinkie and Daddy’s Girl were over for the evening last night. I save post-cards, and have an album with about 100 post-cards in. I like reading very much. I am reading one of Charles Garvice's now, entitled “Better Than Life.” I like Charles Garvice’s books; they arc always eo interesting. Tho flaxmill is not working now. There is a great scare about the smallpox in Now Zealand. There is a bachelors’ ball here to-morrow- night. 1 think I shall go. I have a sore lip, and it is so swollen. I will draw this scribble toa close. Best wishes to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly. MOTHER’S GIRL.
[I am sorry to hear, dear, that you like Charles Garvice’s novels. They are so absurdly overdrawn that they are very apt to eivo young people quite wrong ideas of life.—DOT.] %
Dear Dot, —I was very glad to see my last letter in print. I am 13 years old now, a.s my birthday was on August 7. We had the inspector that day, but we did not know whether we pasred or failed. He stayed for half the day, and went away by the express in the afternoon. The weather is a littlo better now. I think it is going to turn over a new leaf now for the good, although it is better to have some rain than none at all. The gymnastic club was hold last Wednesday night, but I was not present. It will be awful if smallpox breaks out in the Soutli Island, because it is had enough to have it in the North Island. I hope it does not reach here. We will be getting our term holidays in September. I hope it is not wet and muddy when we do get them, because it is no good having holidays in wet weather, is it? We have two foals, which wo lead about with halters on, I can lead one of them al>out, but the other I can’t hold. Every time I go to catch it it runs away. Wo would never catch it by
ourselves; but we never let it go without a rope on it. Tire rope is five yards long, and about one inch thick, so it will not wear away in a hurry. This year is passing quickly. Bo you remember Black Watch? He is a D.L.F. His brother is working at our place. This is all I have to talk about this time. — Yours truly, HAPUKININI.
[I sincerely hope the weather will be on its host behaviour when your holidays are due, Hapukmini, so that you will have an enjoyable time.—DOT ]
Dear Dot, —Last time I wrote I said I would try to write oftener in the future, so hero i am, though what I am going to write about I do not know. I am working at a place about five miles from home, and I like it very well. My mother has been in the hospital for about six weeks, but is going home to-morrow if it is fine enough. I never see a Witness now, and I miss reading the D.L.F. letters very much. In the last Witness 1 read I saw that two other JJ.L.F. had the same name as mine, so 1 shall change mine if you have no objections, Dot. It was my own fault, 1 suppose, because I never wrote, and I don’t expect they knew that there was such a person as me. I went for a ride on horseback last -Sunday, and had such a lovely ride. I am no good at letter-writing, so I shall close. Best love to Bush Daisy, Bleeding Heart, Meta, Lass O' The Mill, and vourself, —Yburs truly, CARROTS.
[I am so very sorry, dear, that your nom do plume was taken by another writer. I think you write a very nice little letter.— DOT.]
Dear Dot,—l am writing a few lines to let you know that I wish to become a member of your happy band. 1 understand that this guild is free’ to anyone who wishes to become a member. My age is 15 years, and I have left school, and am engaged as a baker hoy for a well-known baker in Kaitangata. I should like to be known in your band as The Sun. ' I would be very pleased if you would allow me to become a member. —Yours truly, THE SUN.
[I gladly accept you as a member of our band. I hope tho badge arrived safely.— DOT.]
Dear Dot. —I have just been reading the D.L.F. letters. I think Shining Sunbeam and Tyne Lass write very interesting and amusing letters. That was a nice piece of poetry you wrote, Elmo Athol. I know a good many L.F. up here. 1 notice a lettor from Totara in this week. He goes to the same school as I do. I would like to change my N.D.P., as I do not like the one I have. May I, Dot ? When did you sec the Bridge of Allan home last, Totara? Who was that farmer’s daughter you were talking to the other evening as I passed? My two sisters are playing euchre, and they are quarrelling over the cards. Two dances were held here lately, and we were at them. I enjoyed them immensely. There’s going to be moving pictures here on Saturday. There are a good many flowers out just now. I think violets are lovely; don’t you, Dot? Well, bedtime is approaching, and the clock is striking 9, so good-bye, Dot. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.—-Yours truly, SODA WATER POLLY. [I am pleased to hear you enjoyed the dances, dear. —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—For the last fortnight the weather has been very mild —in fact, at times it has been just like summer. A good deal of snow is yet to be seen on the mountains, and the roads are still in a very had condition, but I hope they will soon dry up. There is every promise of an earlier spring than last year. If so, there will be a good deal of crop put in. Winter feed is veryscarce about here. There was a meeting of the Birchwood hounds held here some time a cy o, and X think there must have been* about 50 people at it. There was only one run, which started about 3 o ( dock. Xhen there were jumping competitions, which were very good, as there were some very good jumpers. There is a new doctor here now. lie came about the middle of July. I hope he will remain here for some time, as wo have been without one for long enough. There was a fancy dress skating carnival held near hero some time ago, but I did not go to it, as I cannot skate. The other day our cat went into the barn and brought out a mouse in her mouth. When she got half-way across the cowyard she put it down and went back about a yard and sat down, Whenever the poor little mouse would move puss would spring forward and pcunce on it. This went on for aliout five minutes, when all of a sudden puss caught the poor creature by the back of the neck and threw it up in the air. After doing this several times puss took another sudden move and ate tho mouse. We have two dogs, and I am very fond of them. Do you feel refreshed from your long sleep, Golden Fern? What a surprise I got when I saw that y-ou had written to tho page again! Our snowdrops and primroses are all out in bud. and our bulbs are well up. The flower garden is in a bad state of disorder. As tho ground is very wet it would be a waste of labour to try' to do anything with it. I saw the photo of the group of D.L.F. in the Otago Witness so I cut it out and kept it. Love to Castle Grant, Foxglove, Golden Fern, Blue Bells of Scotland, Snowball, Lily of the Dell and all the D.L.F., not forgetting youtastf. You" truly, j.aDY ANICE.
[The jumping competitions at the meeting of the Hunt Club must be very exciting. Cats are very cruel in the way they play with the nice after catching them.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my fust letter to tho page. May I join your happy band? Icm eight years old, and am in the First Standard at school. I ride to school. 1 have read one look. The name of it is “A Devoted Daughter," and I have started to read “ Old Nursery Stories.” I like reading. I have u very pretty doll and a nice teaset They are both Christmas presents. Love to Mokoreta Birdie, not forgetting yourself. truly, SILVERY WAVES.
[1 am very pleased la receive your first letter to the page, Silvery Waves. You write very nicely with a pen. DOT.]
Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to your pa"e, and I hope you shall let me join your happy band. 1 have two sisters and four brothers. I have a pup, and I would like you to give me a name for it. I have a very sore thumb. My littlo sister is three years old. I like reading the D.L.F. letters, as I know a good many—namely. Aunty Xell, Teddv Bear, and May Blossom. We have two and a-half miles to walk to school, and the roads are very muddy. I am 10 years old, and am in the Second Standard at school. I like at school, but the teacher is rather" cross. My little sister is a great' one to make fun of anything. She is now playing with a tin. We have two cows and one caTf. We feed them all on turnips. We have a nice flower garden. I am doing a pillowcase at school. I think this is all the news this time. Love to all the D.L.F. and vourself.—’Yours truly, JUNE ROSE. [Welcome to the page, June Rose. Here are a few names to choose from; Rip, Hoy, Bob, Barney, Major, Rover, or Tim.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wo are having terrible weather up here. There was a very hard frost one Wednesday morning, and my toes were
numbed with the cold. I have a calf, and I would liko you to give me a name for it. My youngest sister is brushing father’s hair. 1 lie measles have broken out up here again, but I have had them, so I shall not get them again. We play rounders and hockey at school. My youngest brother is in the Dunedin Hospital, and he has been there for six months. There is to be a wedding up here on Monday. We have 12 hens laying now. X have to milk one cow, and we feed a j i . cows on turnips. I have a nice black-and-white cat. Its name is Tom. I have two teeth that are always aching, and I am v? ln §: to got them out on Sunday night. My brother and sister are writing to-night. There was a man drowned here not so very long ago. There is to be a dance on the 28th of this month. My father hurt his toe the ether day, and he has to go about with the toe out of his boot. I shall close now. Dove to Teddy Bear, Mayflower, June Rose, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly.
AUNTIE NELL. [I am sorry to hear that your brother has been in the Dunedin Hospital for that length of time, Auntie Nell. Will Gaffv do for your calf’s name? —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—l was very pleased to see my letter in print. We are practising for a concert that is to be held on August 21. the day after is my sister’s birthdav. I suppose the warm weather will soon be coming again, Dot. I have a nice little •* iv llc am always making clothes for it. Wo have a good many fowls, and have eggs every Friday. Love to all the D.L.F.— Tours truly, RASPBERRY. Lit is very nice to be able to make clothes for jour doll, Kaspberry. I hope the concert is a great success.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, -Tyne Lass has persuaded mo to write to the dear old page once again. Of course, I have changed my N.D.P.; but that doesn t matter as long as I have not taken anybody else’s name; but you will let mo know. Well, Dot, we are having most beautiful weather for winter—not a speck of snow and very little frost; but I think wo shall have a long, hot, dry summer, which is not much good to anyone. Football and dancing are all the rage here at present. I think football is a very rough game. Both 0 . brothers play against my mother’s wish. Wo have also a cricket team. It is a much nicer game. ' I like dancing, and we have a quadrille here every week. There are a good many young people abbut here, and no other amusements. 1 am learning the piano, but my teacher is away through illness. has been away for a month now, but I don t care whether she comes back or not; I just hate it. I was down at the W inter Show, and enjoyed it immensely. 1 would love to live in town. Tyne Lass is a great writer to the page. She comes up for the mail every day, and I, being in the post office, always see her, and generally I bike a bit of the way home with her. I shall close now. With love to Tyne Lass, Beautiful Mona, and all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self, —Yours truly GRETCHEN VON GRETCHEN.
[I don’t think you mean what you say, dear, about your music teacher. I suppose you mean you dislike learning music, and you are not anxious to continue doing so. I like to think that any case of sickness or suffering finds a sympathetic response from one and all of the L.F.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Once again I take my pen to writ© a few lines to you and D.L.P. in general. I have just returned from a threemile run, and am feeling Al at home (not at Lloyd’s). I ran 100 yards in lliscc,'and I am trying to reduce that time by a second and a-half, so that I shall be in good form for the Labour Day sports, which are coming off soon. Dot, can I change my N.D.P. to Ebbon? If so, I shall change it to that name, and I shall sign my N.D.P. as Ebbon at the foot of this letter. Well, Dot, the last time I wrote to you 1 told you about our Bami of Hope competition, and my side came off best by a good many members—that is, one for tho boys and one against tho girls. I was away for a week up at Hampden, Dot, and I enjoyed tho following pastimes very much Frost-fishing, horse-riding, running, and in helping to wash up the dishes. I broke one plate and a cup. Not bad for a new chum at tho game, was II? It is a fine moonlight night .here fo-night, and after 1 write this I shall go for another short run, come home, rub myself down, and go to rest. I am back at my old job again, and nearer home, too, so I can get home for ray dinner, and I am glad to be back with my old acquaintances and surroundings. The horse has "got into a few bad ways since I have been away, so I have to drive him with a kicking-strap and check rein to keep him in his place. Well, Dot, this is all just now, so I shall close. Love to Dewdrop, Tough Hag, Woodland Lassie, and all D.L.F. writers, not in the least forgetting yourself. —Yours truly, / EBBON.
[You should be in splendid form for running by Labour Day, Ebbon. You will be bringing home all the prizes. Glad to hear you enjoyed your holiday.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been gardening. ]Vly spring flowers are all looking so nice, the primroses especially. We. are having mild weather at present. Everything is looking so green. It is plain to see that our old friend spring is here. Our examinations will not be long now. I intend to go to Waimate for my holidays. Have you any D.L.F. writers from Waimate? I would like to know, as I may know some of them. I have been rousing up Waikawa Fern. I think she has written to you. I am reading such a lovely book. The name of it is “ Miss Bobbie." My favourite author is Ethel Turner. I generally get library books. I think I am going to the pictures to-night. I am very fond of reciting, Dot. I used to practise once, but, of course, never think of it now. Well, dear Dot, there is not much news at present. —Yours truly, SHONA.
[You should keep up your practice in the art of reciting, Shona. and then you could enter for the competitions. I shall look and see if I have the addresses of D.L.F. in Waimate, and lot you know. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I thought I would write again. We have a good many mates to go to school with. The roads up this way are not nearly so muddy. I read a good many books. The names of them are: “Fairy Kings," Roll at Work,” and “To Victory.” I know a good many D.L.F. about here. My brother is writing to you, too. My mother, father, brother, and sister are down the. Flat. There is a cold wind blowing up the river tonight. The big bridge over the river is getting a now docking on it. Love to May Blossom, Aunt Nell, and Mustard,—Yours truly, TEDDY BEAK.
[Very pleased to hear from you once again, Teddy Bear. The wind has been very cold and biting this winter. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Once more I sit down to pen a few lines to the page. The genera! topic is tho weather, so I snail just say we aro having lovely spring days up here, and it is very nice to hear the birds singing in tho morning—especially the thrushes. Isn’t it a pity the thrush is such a mischievous bird. Dot. for his music is so sweet? Our school teacher is away now. So far wo have not hoard of anyone coming in her place. Before sho left she presented all the pupils in her class at Sunday school with a pretty prayer and hymn book. I see some very nice letters
in the AVitnese about an old D.L.F. (Gravel) ■who has lately passed away. I don’t remember ever seeing any of bis letters, as it is not very, long since I started to see the Witness, but they must have been very nice ones. I see a letter in from Waitress this week. I wonder if she knows who I am. I know who she is. It is a long time since Penelope or Little Lark wrote to the page. Have they been sleeping the winter? I see, Dot, I have taken another D.L.F. s pen name, so I suppose I shall have to change mine, ae she was the first to write. We have snowdrops and violets out just now, but it won’t be long before the daffodils are out. Have you ever noticed. Dot, that nearly all the spring flowers are yellow. Now, I have nothing interesting to write about, so I shall bring this to a close. Beat wishes to all the DJj.F. and yourself. Yours truly, FOHLATA. [You will be having extended holidays just now, Foulata. It was very thoughtful on your teacher’s part to make such charming ’ presents to you all.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I’ve come back again, like th* spring. I wish I were as welcome as it 14. How lovely to think that soon everything gill bo green again. Even now the trees and fields have a faint green tint on therfi. Thanks for the badge Dot. I received It safely. Lately we have had heavy rams here, which have made the roads very muddy; but, since, the weather has been perfect, and it is a pleasure to get out in the sunshine. We held a bachelors’ ball here last montn, which turned out a success, there being a large crowd at it. Last Friday we spent a very enjoyable evening at a farewell social’ given for a gentleman who was leaving our district, so Tarras is slightly gayer than previously'. My pupils take a great interest in gardening, and are very busy preparing their gardens for the spring flowers. Does L atchdog ever write to the page now, 1 have not heard from him for such a tune, and formerly wc used to correspond regulariy. The mountains round here have plenty of enow on them. There is one range that is thickly clad, and it’s lovely to ece it with the last rays of th© setting sun reflected upon it. 1 sincerely regret not having answered your letter. Young Barefeet, but I thought all the time that it was your turn to write until I was talking to Pirlic, who said sho had had a letter from you, in whica yon . stated I hadn’t written; but tetter luck next time lam going away for a few days next week, Dot. We have Jiad no winter holidays so far, for, as a rule, we generally take them all at Christmas; but my sister is going to look -after the office for a few days while I go. How time flies! It is a year next month since I came here. It v seems only a month or two to me. Weil, dear Dot, I suppose I’ll have to close. Love to all the D.L.F., and vourself. —Yours truly', REDWING 111. [You have been having quite a gay time of late, Redwing 111. I have rot had any letter from Watchdog, but no doubt ho will see your letter end will renew his correspondence.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I wrote to you. We have still the pet rabbit; we have had it now for over a year. Our hens stopped laying for some time, but they have started again. We are getting about eight eggs a day'. We have been having some nice weather lat©'y, but I sorry to say that it is wet again to-day. The primroses, wallflowers, and violets are beginning to come out into flower row. and also the crocuses. The daffodils arc still in bud, ar<J as we have a great number of bulbs, I think they will make a great show when they flower. I am studying for the examination, which will be next month. I hope fo pass; if I do, I will be in the Sixth Standard. I must close now. With love to all the L.F., and yourself.—Yours truly. GOLDEN GRAIN. [Glad to have a letter from you once more, Golden Grain. I wish you every success in your examination, dear. —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—l am glad to say winter once again is nearing its end, and spring is following in its wake. It is very pleasant to hear the birds whistling their various melodies as the days grow sunnier and longer. We have some blue and white violets and several narcissi flowering at present, and a number of others will soon be out. Th© spring flowers seem to be appearing much earlier this year. I have noticed many of the trees already budding. Some of the farmers round here have planted their early potatoes, and some of them are preparing the ground for them. Well, Dot, I have not been to town since the day the battleship was to call at- Oamaaru. Somehow, I can't think of much to write about this time. Redbreast and I were at the Kakanui bachelors’ ball, and I liked it fine. We got an invitation to two other ones, but I did not go to them. I went to the Kakanui School but I did not like it as well as last year. Last night father, two of ray brothers, and I were at one of our neighbours. We spent quite an enjoyable evening. Some of us danced, while others played cards. Last Sunday most of us drove to Maheno. Although the roads were not very good, it was fine overhead. As wc went along I noticed th© mountain ranges looked very white in their thick coats of snow. *As we crossed the Kakanui River going up it seemed very low, but coming home it was much higher, as the tide was in. I have just finished reading a book called “A Blossom in the Wilderness,” which was very nice, and now I am reading “Hearts in Exile,” by John Oxenham. Have you read either of them, Dot? Our hens arc laying? fairly well ji*st now. Wo have three Indian runner ducks, but only one is laying. The other day, when I was going along the road, I saw a number of little lambs in one of the paddocks. Well, Dot, I will close this uninteresting letter. Love to the L.F., and yourself,—Yours trulv, MOOKFLOWER. [Delighted at receiving a letter from you, Moonflower. It is very far from being’ an uninteresting letter. Springtime is the time to be in the country, as we town folks knowright well.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This week is to be a busy one. as there is to be a camp at Raaifurly, and it starts to-morrow. The football tournament is on Thursday. The Ranfurly schoolboys played Patearoa School, and won by 17 points to nil. We are milking only one cow just now, as the other one will soon be having a calf. There is not much nows, but there will be all the sports next week, and more news. Love to all L.P., not for getting yourself. —Yours trulv. DEFIANCE. [I shall expect a long letter next time. Defiance, telling me all about the tournament, etc. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am just going to write you a few lines about a quartz-crushing mill. The Progress mill puts through a terrible lot of quartz in a day. The battery looks very pretty when all th© electric lights are alight. The Progress battery rs driven by a Pelton wheel. There are eight cotton ropes, each 2in in diameter, stretching from the Pelton wheel to the stamper-driving wheel. There are 60 stampers in the Progress battery. The men in the battery luive
only to regulate the stampers. The stampers are fed by self-feeders, and are used for crushing the stone. It then goes on to the van-
ners. After it passes over tlio vannera it goes into the cyanide tank. It gets on to the cyanide tables, where all the gold has to he taken out ’before it can leave them. The men on the slime tables have rubber pipes washing th© tables. The stone is brought from the min© by an aerial tramway, over a mile long, int» the battery, where it is crushed. There is a dynamo in the battery, which my eldest brother works. The buckets that bring the quartz have to pass over one another as they go. One is going while the other is coming down all th© time. Th© men in the battery work three shifts. Well, Dot, I must close now. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting
yourself,—Yours truly, JUNO. [Many' thanks for your fine description of the work that goes on at a quartz-crushing mill. It is very interesting reading.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am hero again like a bad penny—always turning up when least expected. I am not going to write a long letter on the weather this time, as it is always wet. I am just going to give you a description of Crushington. When you first com© into it you see the Wealth of Nations battery. This is a fine, big battery, with 30 stamps, rock-breakers, self-feeders, and everything that a battery should have, an'd all this machinery is driven by water-power. From there w© go a little farther and come to the Keep It Dark mine and battery. The cages are pulled from the battery by engines, but the battery is driven by waterpower. From there we get to the Globe battery, which is on the opposite side of the river; but as my sister, Juno, is giving you a description of this battery I shall not. Y'ou see. Dot, Crushington is a very busy and noisy place. It also has a coal mine and a limestone quarry. I suppose, Dot, you will think it rather funny my writing about Crushington and living at The Landing; but, you see, it is like this; I am a bit more fortunate—or unfortunate, whichever you like to call it, —for 1 have two homes. One is a boarding-house in Crushington and the other is our farm at The Landing, and they are only IS miles apart. Seeing that you. Tyne Lass, do not exchange autos with anybody, I should like to correspond with you or any L.F. who would like me to. My name and address was in the Witness of July 30. Welsh Boy, I would rather you correspond than exchange autos. I shall now close. With love to Honesty, Welsh Boy, Tyne Lass, yourself, and all the L.F., —Yours trulv, SAUCY JOE. [Crushington must indeed be a very busy place, also, as you remark, a very noisy one. The next time I visit the Coast 1 must be sure and go (here.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I suppose by this time you have forgotten that there was ever such a person as myself living, as it must be about a year since I last wrote. I have just got over a poisoned arm, the result of vaccination. Just about two-thirds of the population of New Plymouth, I think, have been vaccinated. Since last writing I have been away for four months’ holiday. I spent most of the time in Wellington and Wanganui, but had a fortnight in Paekakariki. I had a glorious time in Wellington, being there at the time of H.M.S. New Zealand. I went on board three times while she was in the harbour, and then when she came up here I was one of th© lucky ones to get on board. I have been playing hockey all the afternoon, and we had to play two matches, and won both. We have played 14 matches this season so far, and have won every one. AVe have had a very mild winter, with scarcely any rain, and not very cold. I got a letter from Snowdrift this morning, arid ho saj’s where he is it is nothing but rain and mud. I see by the page that every week there is a new L.F., but hardly any of the old D.L.F. seem to write now. AVell, Dot, I am going lo try to write more regularly now I have mad© another start. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly. BABY.
[1 am pleased you have decided to write again to the page. Baby. Your arm must have been very painful. What a delightfully long holiday you had.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are having lovely weather just now, and the mud is fast disappearing. Our spring flowers are nearly all out now. The wee lambs will soon be coming in again. I hope I can have a pet lamb. We have two foals, called Darling and Billie respectively. Our other horses’ names are Xell, Punch. Glance, Sharp, and Bet. I sometimes go out for a ride on Kell: she is nice and quiet. I have not milked for a long time because the cow I milk is dry. There will soon be five milking. I have read a number of books, such as " The World of Schools,” “ Elsie’s Scholarship,” “ Dot and Her Treasures,” and " Robinson Crusoe.” I am reading a lovely book just now called Macaria.” I think I shall close. Love to Kelson’s Victory. Onawe, Yellow Thunder Water Fairy, and yourself,—Yours truly ’ JOAN OF ARC.
[What nice names your horses have, Joan of Arc. A ride on a nice, quiet horse is delightful, is it not ?—DOT.] . Dear Dot —We are having lovely weather just now, and everything seems to be showing signs of awakening. Our crocuses snowdrops, primroses, and violets are all ’out in flower. If this weather continues the mud will soon disappear. The farmers have hardly been able to get on to the ground—it is so soft; and the poor sheep have had to sillier, for they nearly get bogged on the turnips—in fact, some of them died. I have road a number of books, such as “ Into the Haven,” by Annie Swan ; “ Diana and Wardlaugh,” by Charlotte Murray; “Three Months Under the Snow.” and a great many more. I am reading “ The Household Angel.’' by Mrs Leslie, just now. I haven’t seen any letters from Onawe or Kelson’s Victory. Hurry up, comrades. I shajl close. With love to Black Pansy, Onawe, Yankee Doodle, and Flower of the Flock —Yours truly, TOPSY 11.
[One feels sorry for the poor sheep and other animals when they suffer such hardships in bad weather.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —I am very sorry tliat tho Invercargill Debating Club fell through; but we have another to depend on, and I don’t think it will fall through. I think the D.L.F. page is one of the most interesting pages in the Witness. Linnet writes a long and interesting letter, doesn’t she, Dot? I am sure it is more than I can do, as I am a very poor hand at writing letters. I think of a lot of news before I begin, but when I go to write it down it flies from my mind. My mother and father are homo now, and I have not so much work to do ns when mother was away. I know a good number of D.L.F. I knew only two when I began, but I know 10 now. I like writing to them, as nearly everyone knows someone I know. You must get a number of letters, from L.F. in a week, because your page is always full. Tho weather up here lias been very nice. We have hardly had a flake of snow this winter. It has liecn a very calm winter all through. We have had no rain to speak of, except the week had tho flood. I suppose Dunedin would be busy during Show Week. My father and my brother-in-law went, and they liked it very much. My father said it was the only Show he cares
for. There was a banquet on the Saturday for the pioneers, and my father, who \fm
an old poneer, got to Dunedin on Saturday night, and was too late for it. There are SM scholars attending our school. We have only one room and one teacher, and she is kept busy all day. I have not far to go to school —about quarter of a mile round the road; but generally I go over the paddock, as it is far shorter. I am leaving school at the end of this year, as I don't like it, and learning lessons is another thing I detest. Well, Dot, as the night is getting on, I think I shall stop. Kind regards to Florence Dombey, Princess Edna, Kiss My Cousin, White Iris, Creeping Ivy, Hilma, Daddie’s Lassie, Possum, and not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly CINDERELLA.
[I am surprised to hear you dislike going to school and learning lessons, Cinderella. You will find out afterwards what very happy days your school days really are. — DOT.]
Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my letter in the page. My pup can jump very well now, and I am teaching him to swim. Buckjumper is in the same class as I am at school. My fout sisters and my brother are writing to you to-night, sc I thought I would write, too. I had a job cleaning the motor car to-day, and it was not very nice out in the cold, so I did a little and then came home to the fire and left it to the others to finish, which they did in a little while.—Yours truly, KAUANA.
[lt would not be too pleasant to be outside cleaning the motor. What did the others say when they found you had lelt them to do your work ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and 1 hope you will let me join your happy band. I am eight years old, and am in Standard I. I know one D.L.F., and she is helping me to write this letter. Her N.D.P. is . Lily of the Valley. I am choosing Pink Carnation for my name, because 1 am going to a fancy dress ball in aid of our school baths dressed as a pink carnation. I am looking forward to a week’s holiday after the. ball, so as 1 can have some fun playing with my cousins. Dear Dot, I think I shall bring my letter to a close, as 1 have taken a long time to write it; but never mind. I am slow, but sure. Best love to all the D.L.F.—Yours truly, SCARLET CARNATION. [I have a Pink Carnation already, dear, so we will call you Scarlet Carnation instead. I hope you enjoyed the fancy dress ball, and that you have a good time during your holidays.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is lovely here just now. Our hens are laying now, and we get eight or nine eggs. Two of our dogs got poisoned a few weeks ago. There are two more children going to school. We are having our quarterly examination just now. I have had a cold for about three months, and it is not better yet. We have only one cow nnilking now. I think I shall close now, as news is scarce. —Yours truly, QUEEN OF THE SNOWS. [Sorry to hear, dear, that your cold is still bad. Are you taking anything for it? — DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am away from school today with a cold, so I thought I would write another letter to the page. The man we have working for us and my brothers and I often go out shooting rabbits. One day we shot five nice rabbits, and we kept their skins. I have about 40 skins now. The inspector was up here nearly a month ago. We had a very easy examination, and got a half-holiday that day. We spent the rest of that day with a schoolmate ferreting. We got a new football at this school at the beginning of the winter, but it has burst. We used to have good fun kicking it about until it burst. There was not much ice this year for skating on, —Yours truly, NAPOLEON. [You boys were not very long in bursting your football, were you? Sorry you have a bad cold, Napoleon, and hope you will soon be well again.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —It is now a few months sine© I last wrote. I received my badge safely, and was pleased with' it. 1 showed it to other Little Polk, and they all thought it very nice. I had a month’s holiday a while ago, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, i saw one D.L.F. while travelling in the train, and I met quit© a number when staying at my cousin's place. We have started the debates up here again this winter, and so far they have proved very successful. We have the same subject forsklebate on August 7 as the Dunedin Club have for August 19. We had another flood last week, but it did not reach the mark of the very big flood. This is a beautiful day, although it was very foggy this morning. We are just milking two cows now, but we shall be milking 20 when the factory stars again. There will be nearly double the quantity of milk, this coming season that there was last year. I have read a great many books. Some of them are: “ Lucelle, or the Lady of Darracourt.” “ Abandoned,' " The Velvet Glove," ” The Spider and the Fly,” ' A Dead Heart,” “ Love for a Day,” “ Peeps Into China,” “ The Scarlet Pimpernel,” and a great many more. ” Abandoned ” was a very good book. Have you read any of these. Dot? The violets are in full bloom now, and they are smelling so sweetly to-day. The primroses are also out, and the daffodils are beginning to flower. It seems as if it is going to be an early spring. I hope it is. Wo have had bad weather for such a long time. I wonder what has happened to Beatrice May. She must have fallen asleep. Wake up again, comrade, and write a letter to the page. Well. Dot. I can think of no more to write of, so I shall bring this letter to a close. —Yours truly. 'LADY FAIRFAX.
[I have read “ The Scarlet Pimpernel,” and enjoyed it immensely. I also saw the play of that name when it was acted here.— DOT.]
Dear Dot,—We are having fine weather in Waikawa just now, and the sea was nice and calm to-day. Our cows are beginning to come in again now. Wo are milking eight cows, and have 12 cows to feed. Some crocus flowers are coming into bloom in the garden, and we have such a lot of double pink stock. Three or four of our hens are laying—not very regularly though. There was a bachelors’ ball held in the Waikawa School last month. Little Miss Vanity and I went, and enjoyed it very much. Although I do not often write to the page. Dot. I always road some of the Little Folk’s letters, and it is wonderful how the L.F. are increasing every week. I have collected over 120 postcards now, and have some nice ones among them. Well; Dot. I have been thinking, .but I can’t find much news, so I am sending you a piece of poetry that I composed. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself, —Yours trulv, LITTLE MISS XEDDYC’OAT.
[I must keep back your poetry, dear, as the letters arc so numerous this week that I am not able to allow anything extra to go in.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have seven little calves now. One of our pigs has the rheumatics in its hind legs, so wo have it running in the paddock till it gets bettor. One of onr horses died with the strangles, and left a little foal to look after itself. One of our old cows died, too. and a weasel killed two of our hens, so we have shut the fowls in the shed. Our dogs hate the cats, and chase
them whenever they get a chance. The tides have been very high lately, and we had to let the horse go while wo walked across a bridge. The river was very high for the horse. We caught her on the other side, and rode her home. My leg is all right again now.—Yours truly, ARMS, LEGS, AND YELL.
. [You have been rather unfortunate in losing so many of your animals. Arms, Legs, and Yell.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see my first letter in print. How nice it is fo r»s all the spring flowers out in bloom. Wo are having very foggy weather up here at present. A number of children have been bad with whooping cough and measles. I am sure you must be tired after you have finished your work at night. Well, Dot, I shall close now. Love to Homo Fairy, Auntie’s Girl, not forgetting- the other D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, SCHOOL FAIRY. [I hope that you will remain free from whooping cough and measles. School Fairy, as they are both very disagreeable complaints. —DOT.] . ' Dear Dot, —Some of my schoolmates write tc the pa«e, but I forget their N.D.P.’s. My cousin writes to the page. Her N.D.P. is Dad s Girl. I am making another garden, but have no flowers in it yet. We have gardens at school. I was reading a book called ‘ The Talisman.” I did not like it much. c I have got the Girl’s Realm Annual. 1 am saving up my money to buy a bicycle. I am getting it this year, and I shall xidd it to school. What kind of weather are you having m Dunedin? It has been windy here. 1 shall close now. Love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly. RHODA. [I am glad to hear, dear, /that you intend saving up your money to buy a bicycle. It is a splendid thing to save up your spare pennies.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, I think I will pen you a few lines. It has been raining to-day My birthday is on the 20th of this month. My • .V^. gaVe , m ' 0 , a 11ICe bo °k; the name of it is Chatterbox. I have some other books. Ihe names of some of them are “The Visit to Dolby Hall,” and “Sunbeam’s River ” My c.dcst sister is at homo just now. We dim up our garden at school, and it looks nicer now;, I am going away for my holidays at Christmas. I go to Sunday school every Sunday. I have one nice big doll. Please, Dot, can you give me a name for it. There are many nice ferns in the bus.h down here. We, have a nice little yellow-and-white dog; her name is Ruby. I must close now.—Yours trul L REO MOANA.
[Many happy returns of your birthday, dear. What do you say to calling our dolly Gwendolyn, or if you don’t like that, how about Violet, or Moira ?—DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt will soon be four months since I wrote to your page. The girls at our school have flower gardens. Two of us work together. I am with a Fifth Standard girl. The only flowers that are in bloom in our garden just now are pansies. Our schoolmaster was pruning the rose trees last week, and I brought homo some of the cuttings, and have planted them, but I don’t know whether they will grow or not. My sister and I cleaned all the weeds gut of the flower beds at home on Saturday. Our garden has never been dry since the flood. Our primroses are very nice just now, and the wallflowers and violets are nice, too, although they were covered with water for a long time. I got a book for a present yesterday. The name of it is “Bell's Standard Elocutionist.” I read a few pieces out of it to-day. The first one I read was “We Are Seven,” by William Wordsworth. Another one was “Edinburgh after Flcdden,” by Professor Aytoun—this piece was in daddy’s school book; —and the next piece was “Lochinvar,” by Sir Walter Scott. 1 am sure I shall enjoy’ this book when I get older. We have some Jittle lambs; they are put into a young grass paddock, and my brother has to help daddy to take the ewes and lambs out from amongst the others and put them there. Seven o'clock is our bedtime, and it is past it now. so 1 shall have to stop. Love to all the D.L.F., and yourself,—Yours truly, THE DOOX. [Many thanks for your nice letter, dear. The book you mention is a splendid one, and you will find it very useful if ever you decide to study elocution. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is over a month since I last wrote to the page. We are milking only three cows, are feeding two calves. When the factory starts we will bo milking about 25 cows, and I suppose 1 will have to milk two or three of them. We are having fine weather here just now. It will not be long before the birds aro building their nests, and then I will be climbing up and down the trees. Most of the farmers have started to plough the ground to. get their crops in. My father has one paddock ploughed. In my garden snowdrops, violets, primroses, wallflowers, and a few others are out in flower. You should see my grey cat playing. I have a stick, and ho tries to catch it. Father, mother, and my sister were at a wedding last Wednesday. It was one of my cousins' that was married. They went to Christchurch for their honeymoon. Love to all the D.L.F., and yourself, —Yours truly, THE MATIUC LILY.
[Your garden will bo looking very pretty now that the spring flowers are out in bloom.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is with regret that I pen these few lines, seeing that I have now entered the rank of old writers. I have never for a moment regretted writing to Dot from time to time. I started about six years ago. Some people think writing to Dot is silly; but, of course, they are not D.L.F. I have always taken the greatest interest in the L.P. page; but I am afraid I have not been a very regular writer. I think the page is a grand thing. One forms many friendships through it. I have correspondents fa.r and near. Don’t you think that if all the D.L.F. were to stop writing to the page, and to one another, it would make a vast difference to the post offices? I know it would make a difference in our mail bag, as I send away and receive a good many letters in a week. Mother and I have been doing up the flower garden, and I can tell you it took some digging. Some of the crocuses are out; also the primroses, and I do believe there is one violet pushing its head out from among the leaves. The daffodils are V-ot in flower yet, but they won’t bo long, for I have noticed a few buds on them already. The spring flowers arc earlier this year than they were last year. I think the fruit trees will be early, too, and I only hope they will bear better than they did' last year, for we bad very few apples. Our raspberries did very well last year. We made ever 40lb of jam. I suppose you will be surprised when 1 tell you there’ is only one pot of it left, and that is to say nothing of the other jams and jollies that were emptied. Don’t you think we need a jam factory beside us. But when there are four school kiddies’ lunches to cut every day ft soon runs away with the jam, and then the harvesters and shearers use a good bit. Wo have no lambs yet; but it won’t bo long before there are some playing in ibe paddocks. Then the shepherds will have a busy time. Johnnie Como Lately is our
shepherd, and Fire Stoker is ploughman. Well, I thought wo wero going to have fine weather now, as it was a lovely day to-day, but since starting this letter 'it has begun rain. . 1 don’t think wo have had such a bad winter on the whole- (bar the flood). I think the Mossburn D.L.F. must have gone to sleep for the winter, as I have not seen a letter in the page from any of them this long time. Hurry up and write to the page, Yogel. Geisha, I received your auto safely. Hurry up and write to me. Frolic. \oung Barefoet, I will write to you when you send mo your new address. You owe mo a letter, Broomstick and Juanita. What has happened to you, seeing' that I liave not had a letter from you this long time. Well, as news is scarce up this way, I will come to . a full stop, wishing the D.L.F. page every prosperity; also Old Writers' Week. "With love and best wishes to all my H-HD. comrades, not forgetting yourself and the editor, —Yours truly, KATHIE. (Katherine Gallagher, Honey ton, Mossburn). [I am sorry to receive your retiring letter, Kathie, but' shall look forward to heating from you in Old Writers' Week. Many thanks for all good wishes.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I hope you have not forgotten me. ' I have a little eister, and she can walk, and she is always picking flowers. We have two cows milking, and one has a calf,about three weeks old. We have a black and it Is very savage. I have not very much news to-night.—Yours trulv, lONA. [I have not forgotten you, lona, and am verv pleased to hear from you once more. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —I had just started reading a book called “Lost in the Backwoods’’ when Kathie said she was going to write, so I put the book down and took up the pen. Wo are having better weather lately, and I hope it continues for a while, and let tho grass get a chance to grow. We are-going! to kill a pig to-morrow, and I hope they kill it while I am away bringing the children home from school, because I don’t like patching the pigs being killed. lona said she wished there was no* school to-morrow,
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Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 69
Word Count
16,739LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 69
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