LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK
Motto;—W« write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves. X3T No lotteg to contain more than 450 words. Dear Dot,—We were over seeing my mate, Forest Hill, a while hack, my cousin and I Oh, Dot ! These townies are frightened of mud. (I beg your pardon, I’ll say some of those townies, because you might not think me a bit fair if I say all, seeing that you arc one yourself.) But, really. Dot, they are-—at least some of them are, I mean. The long days are coming again. Hullo, Tyne Ease! Where was your address at the foot of your letter? I used a magnifying glass to make sure that it was not there before 1 spoke. You seem to have ripping times of it, eh? Your letter to hand, Welsh Boy. and I will answer it
soon. That was a very long letter you wrote to Dot, Milk Can; do you call yourself a D.L.F. ? A name more suitable for you would be Dot’s Lazy, etc. Well, you take the scone, Impie; are you sure that you know who I am? Imps are awful things. Don’t you b« the least bit afraid, little, or rather big, fellow. I did see you in the group, standing quite upright and not in the least afraid. Oh! No you don’t, Froggie! I spy you hiding there. Ah 1 Such a thing is that green for showing plainly. Why, did you think that if your head was hidden y r ou were safe? Impie, don’t vou think a good plan would be for Froggio to eat a lot of cream cakes, so as ho would turn cream and could not be seen as easily? Why did you let your friend be trapped like that, Impie? Why didn’t you tell him that ho was leaving a piece of his green fur (oh, no, that won’t do; frogs don’t have fur) skin sticking out? Perhaps you never saw him half-hidden, Impie. seeing that you are away back there. All things come to those who wait, even imps and frogs. Do I know Puni Creek. Froggie? Most certainly I do; but how should you know anything about roaming there? I think it would be just beautiful as long as you didn’t fall in anywhere. How is Silverstream compared to Puni Creek? Have you ever visited Puni Creek? If not, it is worth your while. I do so love to stand there and watch the clear, shining waters flowing past me; nothing could be more beautiful than it, eh? It’s a good place for frogs to live. That must have been where our Elf lived; or I wonder is ho there yet, oh. Ptero? Do you know where he disappeared to? Perhaps up to Silverstream. No, I will just think you were a very plucky pair to venture out to have your photographs taken, especially Impie, who never even tried to hide himself. I sometimes think ho does look a bit nervous, because he seems to want someone to support him from breaking down and hiding. What do you say, Impie? You are not in the group, are you. Froggie? All’s well that ends well, to observe, to reflect, and then to hide, eh, comrades? Is that it? Or is it first to think, then to croak, and then to hide yourself properly, leaving no trace behind you? Wait till Mrs Grundy comes back. She is the one for two such hard cases. She will just have to watch you closely, even if you were registered at Puni Creek. Froggie, not Silverstream. How would a frog supper affect you, Impie? But'l bet you were only hoaxing when you said you knew who I was. Frolic will bo calling me a lazy one, but I am just waiting until I get them. Oh, you know what 1 mean, so as I can fulfil my promise to vou. Your letter was quite the longest I have ever as yet received from any of my comrades. I think you need your N.D.P. used on you, Broomstick, to make yon answer that letter of mine. How would you like that, eh? Dot, don’t you think it would be very nice if we could get a group of L.F. (not Frogs or Imps) taken at our Summer Show this year? But our biggest trouble would be to got somebody to arrange everything, wouldn’t it? There are generally a lot of L.F. down to the Summer Show from all directions. I will have a cow to milk soon, but I don’t mind milking a quiet cow and making quiet butter. In hot weather the butter is very disobedient. What are you doing, Ivnnhoe? Is all your spare time still occupied, ch? Dot is waiting on a letter from you, you know, before O.W.W. I send in papers for open meetings, but they are not of much consequence, or else it would not he me who wrote thorn. I have also joined ns a country member row, to increase Possum’s list of C.M.’s. Dot. do you keep albums to nut auto cards in? If so, how much are they? I wa« out for a bike ride on Sunday as far ns W niton nnd or coming back I found that my bike had been punctured in the back tyre, so you know what hard work that meant to bike back with a flat tyro. I was tired next day, I can tell yon. However, I wasn’t go n-r to wn’k all my way home, because T would not be home vet had I walked all the way. I will not put it where It can be punctured next, time. I did not nerd r bell In let people know I was coming, for mv ears were nearly deadened with the noise it was making on account of the tvre being flat. I am still writing, and it won’t, do to take up so much of your very snare, wi'l it? Tvanhoc. Frolic. Pterodactyl (try and catch F'-oggie and Impie while vou are at +he club, will yon?) and all the other L.F.. yourself, and Editor. —Vnurs tvdv.
SHINING SUNBEAM
[Wo do not keep auto books, Blrning Sunbeam, One of fho L.F. montloncfl in her letter tihat sho made one herself out of an ordinary auto book. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have hud a lovely winter so far. It has just been like spring- instead of winter. We had a good bit of rain on Friday, and things arc very wet and muddy. Nearly every Saturday 1 hurry up with my work.' And then I go down for the mail. Every time I go to catch the pony I come hack without her, and then my father has to get her. It seems she does not like me. On Arbor Day I went down to school in the afternoon and had a good time. When 1 got down to school they were skipping, and I turned one end of the rope. They wore all wanting popper, and I can tell you rny arm was stiff next day. After a whi'e the people began to come. The school children were lined up and marched down to the place where the trees were to he planted. The school teacher planted the first tree, and then each scholar had to hold a shrub each while the committeemen put soil round them. This done, wo went off to get afternoon tea. which the ladies had prepared After we had had our tea we went to have a skip to shako it down, as we all ate a great amount Then we went and had a game of two’s and throe’s. After that it was time to cro home. We were very tired when we got home, but wo had spent a pleasant afternoon. Three weeks ago I went into Timaru to stay from Tuesday till Thursday and to get two teeth out. In the morning when I arrived at ’lirnaru fetation my cousin was there to meet mo, and I went to my aunt’s place. When I got there I had a plate of soun and it warmed me. Then my cousin and I went down to ring pp the dentist to sec what time I could have mv teeth out. Ho said. “At, a quarter to 3/’ Bo at a quarter to 3 we were at the dentists. I got my teeth out without taking anything, and it did not hurt a bit. We then went hack to aunt’s place, and after a while we had our ten. I went to bed early that night. Next night wo went to the pictures, and they were lovely. Next day at a quarter-past 2 wo left aunt’s place, and mv cousin came down to the train to see me off. T got borne at 6 o’clock. Dear Dot, have you anv D.L.F. in Timam, as T never see any badges when T am there? When we nut our little grey kitten out nr night he juirms us on to the window-sill, and sits
there and looks in at us, and in the morning when I pull the blind up he is sitting there waiting till the door is opened, and then he comes in. Wee Pompey is away from here, and is away back in the back-blocks 22 miles from the nearest railway station, and that is Timaru. She says you can see nothing but hawks and tussocks, so it must bo a very lonely place; must it not ? I received your letter the other day. Linnet, and was glad to hear from you. We sent Wee Pompey’s letter to her, but I am afraid it will be a while before she answers it, as she is very slow at answering letters. We have a lot of lovely big violets out now, and in the morning they have a lovely smell. Our hens have started laying now, and we get about 10 eggs a day, so that is not so bad. I see there are always a lot of new writers every week. I am looking forward to Old Writers’ Week, a« I like reading their letters. I like reading, and have read a number of books. There are a few lambs about now. The other day I made a ginger-bread, and it looked lovely; but its looks were deceiving. Mother cut some, amd they had it for supper. Next morning when I got up she told me to taste it; but, oh ! one taste was enough. Instead of spice I had put in cayenne pepper, and you con imagine the taste it had. Another day I made a sponge roll, and when I went to roll it it broke into 150. pieces. I had put too much sugar in it, and it was quite nard. Well, Dot, I think this will do this time. I will have to leave space for others. Ixtve to Linnet, A Motherless Lassie, Wee Pompey, ami Mither’s Wean’s Cousin, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly. PUDDOCK. [You were very brave, ruddock, to have your teeth drawn and not to have anything to kill the pain. The ginger-bread would bo decidedly hotter than the usual run of ginger-breads, and wou'd not. be in much demand after the first bite. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —The birds tell ue that spring has returned again, for they are beginning to build their nests in the fir trees and the bushes. One starling thought it would get a nice place to build its nest, so it go into a cupboard that is outside, and started building there, but we stopped it, so it load to go anti find another place. The boys will soon be able to go bird-nesting again. Some of the gooseberry bushes have tiny leaves on them, and most of the other trees are in bud, so everything will soon be full of life again. The daffodils are just about out, and there are some narcissi in bloom. The violets and primroses have been in flower all winter, and they still have a large cluster of flowers on them. Now I shall tell you about the flood. The wpathcr until last Wednesday was beautiful spring weather, but it broke, and rained for throe days. The river rose very high on Thursday morning. I was quite surprised to see everything a lake of water. In one house up in the- township water came over the range. There was about 4ft of \\ ;,tcr on some parts of the road. The gravel was all washed off the road in several places. The footbridge that was across the river down here was swept away, but it didn’t got very far, for some of the wire ropes that wore holding it together got caught round one of the piles of the traffic bridge and stopped it. The men went down the next day with two horses and some ropes and pulled it ashore. In a good many places the water has been over the fences, and has left them all decorated with pieces of gorso bush and other rubbish that was carried down by the river. Parts of the road are strewn with turnips that have been washed out of people’s paddocks. There has been a lot of soil washed away, too; and one farmers’ gates were carried away. There has been a few landslips, too, and in some parts the road lias been washed away. The river went down as quickly as it went up. On Thursday evening it started raining again, but the river d'dn’t get over its banks. The bachelors’ ball was on Friday night, but not very many went to it, though it went off splendidly. Had it been a fine night there would have been a large number there, as there wore over 200 invitations sent out. There is to he a band social on Wednesday night, so the people will bo hoping for a better night than the one they had for the ball. I was at church last Sunday, and. as I was later than usual I had to ride pretty quickly, for I go home first and walk to church with my mother and father. I forded the river so as to cut off about a mile and a-half of my road. On going into the river I got a. bit of a scare, for the horse went suddenly down a bank. It was just a steep bank of alwut 18in or 2ft. but 1 got through the river all right, ami just home in time to get to church. I think tin’s is all, so I shall close now. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting vourself, — Yours trulv. GLOW-WORM.
[Floods have been very frequent this year, Glow-worm, and the fanners in some places must l>e despairing of having their ground ready for putting crops in.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —l was very pleased to see mv first letter in print, and it has encouraged me to write again. Wo are having beautiful weather just now, different to when I wrote last. Tho miners have all started to work again, and my father works in an elevating claim. I have two brothers, one is working on the State Nursery at Banfurly and th© other is working near Oarnaru, but we are expecting him home any day now. 1 have on© sister, and she is staying with my auntie. On*' Sunday she had to push her bicycle all the way on account of the wind. The voting ladies gave a ball for tho footballers in honour of their winning the banner, and it was a great success, and everyone had a lovely time. The football tournament is to be held at Ranfurlv on Thursday, and I hope they have a pood day for it. It. is to ho hoped that onr boys bring home the medals with them. Some of the school boys are going down to play, and if they win our teacher has promised us a half holiday. Brairbush, hurry up and write, as I am longing to see your letter. Lollle’s Darling and Polly’s Pet live opposite me, and many a good game w© have together. Well, dear Dot, it is getting on for bed time now, so I shall close. Love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, NASEBYITE. [You will be hoping that tho school hoys are successful in winning their match, Naaebyite, especially as there is a promised halfholiday attached to it. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Once again I take up my pen to write to 3’ou, so I am making up for the two wears that I didn’t write. It is raining hard to-day, and looks as if it is going to continue all night. Skating is all over now. Dot; hut we are having real spring weather. Don’t you think that I am careless? 1 do. because I have lost my D.L.F. badge; that is the second one I have lost. I do not think that I will get another one, because I shall only lose it. I say. Portree, when are you going to write to Dot? You were always asking me that question, so now I am asking you. Do you like reading, Dot? I could sit and read
all night. News is horribly scarce new—that is always what I say to Portree, although I only write a few lines. There are not many L.F. about here now, not like there used to be. Don’t you think it is time you were writing. Dusty Miller? I don’t know when I saw a- letter from you last. I hope that it isn't two years ago, like me. But I must not say that, because I am not going to have any more two-year spaces. Could you tell nio anybody who could give mo Rosebud, Highlander, Tea Rose, and Love Lies Bleeding's addresses, as nobody about here knows them. What Interesting letters Tyne Lass writes. I don’t know how she can find all tho things to sav in them; but everybody is not like me. My mato says that he is going to write to you, but he has not done so yet. Well, Dot, I must stop this almost unreadable writing. With best love to all the L.F. and yourself,—Yours truly, CAPTAIN BLUITT.
[I tried to find the addresses for you, Captain Bluitt, but was not successful. Perhaps some of the D.L.F. may know, and be able to help you. Very sorry to hear you have lost your badge. That is very unfortunate.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Please may I join your happy band? My sister writes to you. 1 am six years of age, and am in Standard I. I have a mile to go to school. This is a very wet day. and there will be a flood if the rain does not stop soon. My brother and sister are in Dunedin for a holiday. I have a little brother two years old: he can talk quite well now. We had two little cousins staying at our place lately, and we had great fun with them. As this is my first letter, I shall close now. Love to Escalonia and all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly.
TEA ROSE,
[Yes, dear, you may become one of our litUe writers. You write very nicely for six years of age, and 1 shall look forward to hearing from you again.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am going to tell you all about myself I am nine years old. and am in the Second Standard. I know five Little Folk. I like this place very well. We have two dogs and a cow. We have to go half a mile to school. I have one brother and one sister. My sister is three and my brother is 11. Well, this is all the news I can think of just now. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, GLAD SMILE.
[Very pleased to receive your nice little letter. Glad Smile.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. I hope you will let me join your happy band. I am 13 years old, and am in Standard Y. I walk two and a-half miles to school. I like reading the D.L.F. letters. We are milking six cows now. It was raining on Wednesday and Thursday, and the river is very high to-day. We are digging the garden at school. There are 11) children going to our school. They have not started to build the Orawia bridge yet, but the piles are there. We have quadrilles here every Saturday night, and there is going to be a bachelors’ bull here soon. I shall close now, as this is enough for the first time. Love to Little Boy, Daddy's Pet, and Coal.—Yours truly, RAGTIME.
[Welcome to our band of writers, Ragtime. The ground will be too wet to plant seeds yet, will it not ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Will you allow me to join your Little Folk’s page? We had a very heavy rain here last night; but it is not raining this morning. I have two miles and a-half to go to scnool. My brother’s pup killed a hen on Saturday, and I gave the pup a good hiding for doing so. About 19 pupils go to our school, and we have our gardens dug. The factory will soon be opening. I get up at 6 o’clock every morning to milk the cows. 1 don t like milking cows. They have not started to build Feldwick bridge. Love to Kiss-me-quick and White Rabbit.—Yours truly,
MYSTERIOUS MOON
(That pup of your brother’s was very naughty, Mysterious Moon. It deserved a good thrashing. I am pleased to have you join us —DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is not picking up at all. The rain came down so heavily that we thought there was going to be another flood. There were not many children at school to-day. 1 did not go either. We were playing cricket at school; hut onr master stopped us. for the ground was too dirty. Massey’s pictures were here again on Saturday night, and they were very good. The best picture was “Den Hall, the Bushranger.”. We are busy getting the school garden ready for the spring seeds. Mother is getting ready to go to Waikaka to the wedding of a friend. We had our aunt and her little girl staying with us last week. 1 think I shall close. Ixive to all. the D.L.F. and yourself.— Tours trulv, TOTARa.
[Cricket is not the game for wet weather; is it, Totara? One needs a fine day and a dry wicket before one can thoroughly enjoy it.—DOT.) Dear Dot. —As I am writing this, the moon is shining in at my window, and it’s a lovely night to-night, or, ns the Scotch sayng i«, “It’s n brnw, bricht, minlicht nicht th’ nicht aw richt.” It’s not long since 1 wrote last, but I must write while I am in the humour, or I’ll never write at all; 1 was very pleased to see Pussy Whitefoot’s letter in print, and I thank you very much for putting it in. I don’t think I will write a letter for it this time, ns I haven’t much to say; but I might write for it next time I write, i like reading the L.F. letters ; some of them are very interesting. My only spare time is at night, and nearly every night I am doing something about L.F. I am cither writing a letter to Dot or answering some of my L.F. correspondence. or reading the latest L.F. letters in the Witness, or writing out antos or counting my own autos, or cutting out the letters 1 know and pasting them in my book, or. if it is none of these, 1 am sure to be up in the garret raking out old L.F. pages from among the other old papers and books. I saw in Tyne Lass’s letter to you that she had found an LF. page dated JH99. Well, comrade, 1 have one that is dated as far back as 1595; that’s four years older than your one. It must be about 38 years old. I also found some dated 1897 and a good few dated 1898. At the very first they all wrote their own names, addresses, and ages at the foot of their letters. And, oh, such lovely letters they wrote in those days! One girl wrote right from America, and was tolling all about over there. Later on they start to take N.D.P.’s; and such funny ones there are, too. There is one little letter in one of tho 1698’s with only this in it:
“Dear Dot, —I have three dolls and a dog.— Your little friend, Babt.” It doesn’t take much time to read that letter, docs it? 1 know some of the L.F. in the old papers; some of their N.D.P.’s are:—Harry, Bert, Solomon Slow, Bush Eoamer, Victoria, Oaly, Cosey, Cooee, Badger, and a lot more whose N.D.P’s 1 cannot recall just now. 1 run not getti ig on very fast with this letter, as I have been reading some of the old letters. I would advise ali L.F. who have old L.F. pages to hunt them out and read them. There is n
lot more good reading In them than in ft story book. I have just been reading *onj* of Harry’s, Bert’s, and Solomon Slow’® old letters, and they are well worth reading, I was reading one of Boy’s letters where he was complaining about there being ft new L.F. named Boy 11. He did not think it right that they should have “II” and “III” after their name; but .just change U completely. I agree with him in that. 1 do not think it nice to have a name like that. Lately there has been an L.F. named Linnet 11. Well, if she reads this letter 1 hope she will change it. I have beeij writing to Dot now for about seven year*, always under the eame N.D.P.' As 1 waft looking through some old pages I cam* across my first letter to Dot. I also found my eldest sister’s first one, and my onljt brother’s one, too. I see by this Witnesft that Elmo Athol has retired. I think eh 4 wrote a very nice and interesting letter foe her last as an L.F. 1 enjoyed reading your letter very much, comrade. I hopft the L.F. will take her hint and write Dot often. I also enjoyed reading Shining Sunbeam and Tyne Lass’s letters. I won* dcr if you two L.F. would care to correspond with me? 1 would very much like to writ* to you both. If you care to do so you will see my address in the Auto Column eomi time soon. Lately 1 have found out some L.F. just by their letters to the page. I’m nearly sure that Happy Fairy’s initials at* D. M. I tlii irk 1 also know who Rolling Thunder and Mischievous Jack ape. I think you live about five miles to the weekof here. I reckon you do not know m«u If you L.F. read this, would you mind exchanging autos with mo? There are a lo* of L.F. whom I Would like to exchange autos with; hut they never seem to my request for their autos in the auto column. I saw in a late- Witness that onft of our noblest L.F. hud passed away. 1 did not know Gravel personally, hut f havft heard a great deal about him. All I/.P. will offer their warmest sympathy, as I do, to the bereaved relations in their deep grief. Truly, I believe bo did his best for th« page, and right nobly, too.
“Wars will come and years will go; But the form we loved eo well, It has vanished from our home; How we miss him none can tell. Angels to their starry home Called the gem we could not keep) There he waits until we come;
Our dear comrade's gone to sleep
“Gone to yonder happy home. Sadly round his bed we weep; Angels bade our dear one come: Our dear comrade's gone to sleep."
I put this in to show a little of my syn*. pathy with Iris relations. 1 will not write more about this, as I am sure that othet L.F. will want to say something, too. J am not writing a very interesting letter thift time, but I have nothing in particular to write about. Hurry up and write to ma* Wee Pompy; I’m still waiting tor a letter. I notice that a lot of tbe L.F. write down tire names of the books they have read. Well, I think if 1 started that job I’d fill up a whole page with names of books I have read. I like adventure stories, also stories of boy's and girl’s boarding schools. I have read, many interesting books; a few of-the names of these are:—“Coral Islands,’* “The World of Ice,” “Allan Adair,” “The Wonderful Gate,” “Peggy S. G.,” "Peggy D. O.,’’ “’Jinn Brown’s School Days.” "Blac* Beauty,” “The Dog Crusoe.” “The City Arab,” “Orphans,” “Little Miss Mullet, “Aunt Dian,” and a great many more for which I have not space to mention. A great many books I have read over and over again, especially the ones I got >1 school. I will hare to be closing now, o> I’ll be taking up too much room. Ido hope that the L.F. I ask tiie autos ol will «cnd mo theirs scon. I will say “Guid uicht.” With best love and wishe« to all the L.F. and O.W.’s, especially Linnet's Mato, Pete, Fairy, Darkie. Puketo, Lady Victoria, Broomstick, Navigator, We« Pompy, Rolling Thunder, Mischievous Jack, Happy Fairy, ami all the rest of my comrades and yourself,—Yours truly, LINNET. [Many thanks for your interesting letter, Linnet. You must bo kept very busy with your correspondence, etc.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have the writing fever tonight. 1 have written three other letfers, eo I thought it was about time X wrote to the page again. I think 1 shall start again and see how many letters I can write before I am 21. I am 19 now, so I have just two more years. Wo are having bad weather in Oamaru just now; it lias been raining every day this week. There liavo been no floods in Oamaru. like iu Dunedin. It must be dreadful to be flooded out of your home. Mother and 1 were up at Ngapara for a few days, and thought it was very quiet after living in town. I would rather live in town than in the country. It is spring again, and the flowers and bulbs are all coming out, and the leaves are beginning to sprout, and the days are getting longer. My sister is in the Fourth Standard at school now. They will soon bo having their examination. We have been living in Oamaru 12 months now, and 1 am the only one that lias had the doctor, and I have had him twice. Love to all, not forgetting yourself, Dot. —Yours trulv, SPRING ONIONS.
[I am sorry to hear that you have been under doctor's cure. Spring Onions. The weather has been very trying these last few days, and the heavy rains have caused % great amount of damage.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —I think that I should drop you a line or two. Our examination is coming off at the end of this month. Pinky asked me if I would change post-cards with her, so 1 sent them away last week. About six weeks ago 1 fell over at school and skinned one of my knees. I was away from school for about a fortnight, and I am only j>o w recovering. We have been having veryf cold weather lately. I have a very bad cold just now. A good few children have colda up at school. The Pnkeiui Freezing Works are getting on wonderfully. Some of the men are making a reservoir. On Thursday night there is going to be a concert, and I think it will be successful. I will write later on and tell you al/out it. 1 think I shall have to stop, as news is very scarce. Xjove to Whitburgh Las=, Pinky, Pink Clover, Moss Hose, Orange Idly, Mass Bobby, Water Lily 11, and the other'' L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, GUIDING STAR. [Pleased to hear that your knee is quit# better again, Guiding Star. I hope the concert will be a great success. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —1 have just been reading the Lflttle Folk’s page, and thought it was about time I had another letter in. I see Sea* field had a letter in the page a few week* ago. It is a long time since I have seen her X.D.P. Wo were having lovely weather, but it has come on to rain to-day again. All our cowslips and snowdrops are out in flower, and even the fruit trees and willowy are in bud. It is an early spring this year. have a big doll that was given to me six ./ears ago, and it is quite good yet; but I do not play with it, as I am getting too old to play with dolls. lam looking forward to a holiday up in Queenstown when the we»thcr is more settled;-but the
whooping-cough is going around up there, bo I cannot go till it is all over, as I do not want to catch it. Ths dairy factory will soon be opening up again. We expect some of our cows in at the end of this month. Can you do fancywork, Dot? I can do a little, but have net done any for a long time. My birthday was last month, and i was 13 years of age. I have a post-card album, with nearly 400 cards in it. I can never manage to write a long letter nte Shining Sunbeam. Love to Shining bunbeam, Shotover Lass, Lochiel, Peggy, Briar Bush, Ptero, and yourseih-Your^
[You write a very nice letter. Forest Hill, even if it is not as long as some others. Queenstown is a delightful place for a holiday, I think. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —My auntie is up staying with me, but ahe is not staying very long. I bad a lovely fern, but it died. What kind of weather are you having down there. This is spring again, lam thank.ui to say. Some of our violets are out, and they have a sweet smell. Do you like violets, Dok. I was very glad when spring came. i think I shall close now. Love to herns, Hollow, and all ? the truly GOLDEN IvAi. [I am verv fond of violets, Golden Bay. What a pity the fern died!—DOT.]
Dear Dot,—l have always thought of writing to the D.L.F page; but now 1 have made a start, I hope you will let me join your band. 1 am still at school; but hope to leave at the end of this year, U I do not like school a hit. I know Kiwi, Baby Rose, Double Dahlia, and some others about here. A mate of mine is at the Balclutha High Schqpl. She is a D.L.F. a.so and sometimes writes to me. I have read “Alice’s Adventures m Wonderland, “Mollv,” “Loyal and Truei borne uf Dur Fellows,” “Love Covers All, 'lhe Mender, “Days in Wondeiland.” and a great many others. Do you know Dot, my brother has written to you and has not asked you il he may join your band. It is not very dry here at present, as there is an eastei j rain, and it soon wets you through and through. We iiad some good fun at school to-day, tor we had been allowed to stay inside by the fire, where we had good snort. We played consequences; »uu tna time was all too short for us to Play Well, Dot, as this is my first letter I think I shall close now. Love to all the D.LV. and
fVerv pleased you have decided to start writing to the page, Sweet Plum. It was kind of your teacher to allow you to play inside by the warm fire. DOI.J Dear Dot.-r May I join your happy band? I am nine years of age. and am in thSeeond Standard at school. I have a dog named Tiny—that is a proper name for her, because she is so very small, i know Kiwi Double Dahlia, and Kaka Beak. It has been very wet to-day, and nearly all the creeks are flowing over the .road. Some of my schoolmates were up to their waists coming to school, and others had to be earned over on boro back. Yours truly, QGIN
f Certainly you may join our page. lihl « Osin I hope your schoolmates did not suffer any ill effects hom getting so very wet. —DOT.’] Dear Dot,—l suppose you think I have forgotten vou, as it is such a long time £S I wrote to you last. Well. I hardly iuow where to start to tell you all the news. At Christmas time I spent a very pleasant time. I was over at Brighton lor a fortnight, and I enjoyed it very much. Wo drove over, and although the road was very hillv and rough, I did not mind it, for it was a lovely, hot, sunny day. It was very good weather all the time we wore over there, and it was a great change after being used to the inland country. After we came home I went to the Berwick sports and had a good time there. I was at home then for a while, and then we shifted from Henley to here. I do not like up here as much as I liked down there; but we are nice and handy to the station and school. We have another little brother einco 1 last wrote to you. He is such a good \yoe fellow. He has one tooth now, and he is beginning to creep all over the place. Glow-worm is playing the piano % just now. 1 like music very much; but I can'only play by ear, and I often wished I could play properly. Well, 1 will have some more news to tell you next time, so I must close now. Love to all the D.L.i. and yourself.—Yours truly, LOST JIP. [lf you care for music, Lost Tip, you ■will get on famously with it when you do start learning. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —During the past two weeks ■wo have experienced splendid weather. The days, although there has been a keen wind, liava been nice and sunny, and the roads and Mount ry have dried up wonderfully. We Jjkvc had very little frost down here this winter. I sa.v the D.L.F. photo that ■was taken the day of the Dunedin Show, but did not know any of them. We ha,vo a good few spring flowers out now, sonic of which are primroses, cowslips, daffodils, crocuses, and violets, which I like best of all. I was verv pleased to sec in the paper that the D.L.F. social evening, held in the Waratnh Tea Booms, was well attended and a success. If the Invercargill D.L.F. had had a social on Show Night, Althaea intended going to it, as she was staying in town for the week. One of my uncles has to go up to Wellington this month. The last time 1 saw him I told him that he
would get smallpox if he went up there; but ho said that he was going to be vaccinated before he went. The doctors will be doing a good trade just now. I saw A White Violet and Sky Pilot’s letter in last week’s Witness. I was up the Water Tower, too, White Violet; but I didn’t sec you. I
saw your mother and sister as wc were going in lo see the Poultry Show. 'Althaea saw B. D. there, too. If it is fine to-morrow Althaea is going to drive my aunt and cousin over in the morning and come back for then; at night, so I hope it will be fine. The roads are grand for cycling again
now, but like it for
I don’t think they will keep very long, as it looks as if
there will be a change to-night. Masrcy’s pictures arc to lie shown here again next Friday night, but I don’t think I shall be going to sec them. They only started coming here lately, but 1 think they are usually well patronised. The best pictures I have ever seen were the ones that the Black Family showed on the evening of their
entertainment. I saw a very good one, entitled “A New Hat for Nothing,” at Stevenson’s pictures one night. Well, Dot, I shall now bring this letter to a close. Levs to all the D.L.F., not forgetting ynnrsclt.— Yours truly, VIOLA. fl suppose you do a great deal of cycling ■when the weather permits. Viola? The gardens are now starting to look perfect pictures with all the early spring flowers out in bloom. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —As I am just waiting ft- &c train to come in I thought I would a few lines. The train will not be in tm 8 o’clock all this week, on account of the races, so Jiridy will not Ire home from school till late. It is drizzling a little to-night. There is a picture show to-night, but none
of us is going. I went to a ball not very long ago, and I enjoyed myself very much, as it was the first one I had been to. There is another next Thursday; but I am not going. We have bad hardly any snow Lore this winter. This time last year mother was in the hospital, and we had a very bad winter here. There was snow on the ground about 2in deep the morning she went away. When I want to change autos with any of the other L.F., how shall I get their name !tnd address? But Ido not think I shall change any this week, but think I shall next time I write, and I shall look up the Otago Witness to look the names up that I am going to exchange with. I must close now, as it is getting late. Love from —Yours truly, SUNBEAM.
[lt is usual to put a notice in the Auto Column, saying you would like to exchange autos with such D.L.F. as you think, from reading their letters, you would like- to exchange cards with. Sonic or all such D.L.F. then send their autos, with their names and addresses, on the card, and you send your .auto in return to the addresses given.—DOT.]
Dear Dot. — I saw my last letter in the Witness, and noticed also that somebody has the same nom cie plume as I have. 1 went to the Winter Show,, which I liked very much. While I was there a friend bought mo a doll—such a pretty ono. with real eyelashes. I call her Peggy. Yesterday we had a half-holiday because of the rain, and as to-day was not much better, mother said I was not to go to school, so I stayed f: t homo and dressed my doll. I soon got tired of sewing, so I read a book. I have been ill, so now I am not allowed out in bad weather. I have had a good many holidays this winter. Has not the rain been heavy ths last two days? I am glad I live on the hill,, and not near the Leith, or any of those other places liable to_ floods. It must he horrible to see the water rising up and making one’s home a wreck. I have been going to cooking some time now. 'Mother lets me make some of the things at home. On cooking days my sisters always say, “What did you make to-day?” When they are told they look doubtfully at what I show them, and do not seem very eager to test the mixtures. I think I must leave off now, as it is getting lather late. With best wishes to yourself and all the L.P..—Yours truly. BLUE BIRD , 11. [I am sorry to hear von have not boon in good health," Blue Bird 11, and hope that when the fine weather comes you will get strong again. One always has to put up with a great deal of teasing from one’s own folk when one is learning the art of cooking.— DOT.} Dear Dot.—We had our examination about a month ago, and I came first in my class. Wairaki Daisy is busy writing a letter to the page to-night. Wairaki Daisy, my mother, my aunt, and I went over to Franklin Side to see a waterfall on Sunday afternoon. ’ It is a'bout 100 ft high. It is nice after a heavy rain, because it is flooded. Wairaki Daisy, niy aunt, and I went up to a bush near our place, and we took a dog with us. The bush is situated on the side of a steep kill. After we climbed th’ hill wo came back into the hush, and on our way the dog caught a rabbit. We lit a fire in the bush and roasted* the rabbit; it was nice, but a bit tasteless without salt We are milking throe cows; their names are Bell. Lady, and Cherry. I do not care much about milking. The only flowers we have out now arc geraniums. Do you like flowers. Dot? lam very fond of them, especially violets, Christmas lilies, and carnations. We had a slight fall of snow n week ago, but it was all away at midday. Hurry up and answer my letter, Way back. Wake up. Pixie, and write to the page; it is a long time since I saw a Jotter from’ you. There is a new school being built about five miics from whore we live. We have church hero every month. It will not he long till 0.W.W., will it not, Dot? I have about 150 post-cards. I have just read a book called “Beyond the Pale,” and think it is a very nice hook. I made some scones the other day, and when I was taking them out of the oven one lell on my foot and nearly squashed it, so you have an idea of what they were like. I baked another lot, and they wore bettor. One of my aunts got married about a month ago. I will give the L.F. some riddles; Why did the penny stamp? Why did the fly fly? I think this is all I have to say this time. Love to all tiie D.L.F., —Yours trulv. MABEL. [Pleased to hoar from you again, Mabel. What a good thing you made a fresh lot of scones, Mabel. It would l.uVc been dreadful if you had insisted on your people eating the first batch. What say you?—DOT.] Dear Dot. —It lias been ruining for the last few days, but it has cleared oil now, and I hope it will stop, because the rain is miserable. There are a terrible lot of dogs around a'bout our place, and wo can hear them barking all times of the night, and in the daytime as well. Dear Dot, I had the time of my life yesterday I nearly split my sides laughing. I was doing out the rooms upstairs yesterday morning, and I had nearly finished when my foot touched something, and down went Jumbo's baby, and it broke into a hundred pieces. Oh, what a mess, and it took a good while to clean up. 1 was laughed at and barracked all day yesterday, and I did not like it at all. We have a" fine, handsome cat that we call .Tacky and when ho is cross and we go near him he does net angry. Hie road outside our place is very wet and - dirty, and the mud is about three or four inches deep. I have no more nows just now, so will close. —Yours truly, STRAWBERRY LEAF. [I am sending you your badge. Strawberry Leaf. I did not have your address before; hence the delay —DOT.] Dear Dot, —You will think I am a long time writing to the page. Our school concert was held on Thursday, the 14th. The conceit was a great success. There was & dance after the concert, and we waited fill the end of the dances. We had wet weather up here last week, raining every day except Thursday. I have read many books. The names of some of them are: “Brown Eyas and Blue,” “The Velvet Bibles,” and “Three New Chum Girls.” I would like to change my N.D.P. May I, Dot? I think I will close now. With love.— Yours truly. PINK CLOVER. [I am sorry, Pink Clover but unless for some special reason I do not think it advisable for writers to change their N.D.P. It would lead to endless confusion, unless more time than I conveniently spare was given to the record. I can assure you it is no light task to keep a record of the names and addresses of the hundreds who write to the page, with their N.D.P., and checking oft the names adopted by new writers, to see that they are not taking that of one already writing.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —It is a lovely day here, and I hope it will last, because we have had such dreadful weather. The fhiods on the T?ieri have been pretty bad. We were quite safe. because we are higher up; hut the wa.ter was right round the doors, the creek being just a few yards awav. You couldn’t tell creek from paddock. When everything was dried up a bit I went around and found
three or four washed-up duck eggs. They were lying in the silt. The ducks were having a glorious time in the water. It was coming that swift they could not swim against it; but it has dried up very quickly, except on the flat, where the water is still lying. There is a church social here tonight, and I think I am going to it. I have not been in Dunedin for about three weeks; but I am going in at the end of the month. I had a good time at Waipori. The weather wasn’t very nice the first two or three days, but it cleared up. I am reading a book called “The Following of the Star.” Have you read it, Dot? I have just finished reading “The Master of the Vineyard,’’ and thought it was such a nice book. It is by Myrtle Deed. Perhaps you have read it. I like her books. I suppose you think I am never going to write to you, Shining Sunbeam, and Tabitha Mew. but I will write soon. Well. Dot, as my time is nearly up, I shall have to stop; but I am afraid this is a very short letter. With love to The Last Rosa' of . Summer, Silver Dell. A Shining Sunbeam, Tabitha Mew, and all my D.L.P correspondents, not forgetting vourself,—Yours truly, IKr...
ft have rend “’lire hollowing of the Star, by Florence Barclay, Ike. and thought it a very charming storv. 1 am very fond, also, o: Myrtle Read’s books. Have you read Ihe Weaver of Dreams, ’’ by her? It is a very pretty story. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have been in bad health lately. At present I am away from school, but will soon be back again, as 1 am getting better. It will not be long beiorc examination time comes, so I shall nave to work hard and make up for lost time, though I am abie to do some of my lessons while I am at homo. If I pass the bixlh Standard this year mother is going to give me an autograph book. On Sunday \\cek Roche and her father and mother came oyer to see me. It was good of them to think of me, was it not? Some time ago I saw by one of the D.L.P. letters that Tine Lass had in her possession a Witness that was printed in 189 J. We have one dated December 23, 1887. It was put’ up in the inside tho roof of our house by the carpenters who built it. I looked to see if there was a D.L.P. page in it, but I did not see any. Father said he thought that it had not started at that time. There were no illustrations in it, as there are nowadays. Mice and birds had pulled oil pieces of the paper, so that we could not read all the news in it. We are going to keep it in a box after this, so that it will not be destroyed altogether. It was a Christmas number, and there wero several stories in it. Dot, would you please tell me when tho D.L.P. page first began? I saw by the paper to-day that there are no fresh cases of smallpox in Auckland city. I have two cousins six miles out of Mbrriusville, and whenever they go to the town they pass a house where some Maoris are quarantined. The disease is cne mile and a-nalf away from them. I do not think I would like to live there, because I might get it too. Several people have left Clinton lately, among them being two of my cousins, who have gone to live °in' Ashburton. I was very sorry to lose them. I will now close. Love to Peggy, Primrose, Cherry Ripest, and Rowdy Curly Locks. —Yours truly, DEVONSHIRE.
[So sorry, dear, that your health has not been too good, but hope to hear of your complete recovery soon. The D.L.F. page was inaugurated by the late Mr William Fenwick in July, 1886.—DOT.]
Dear Dot,—Once again I take the pleasure o£ penning a few lines to the page —a page in the Witness which is growing more interesting every week, growing and flourishing, as the saying goes, for now writers are coming along every week. Well, dear Dot, I’m not going to start and tell you about the rain and the floods, for I suppose you arc having enough of them in Dunedin just now. Suffice it to say that we are getting our full share, like other places, and at the present moment it is just teaming down in bucketfuls. This morning 1 had to go down to the stockyard to milk the cow. To begin with, I put on a pair of dad’s boots on fop of my own, and then a big coat, picked up a bucket and a stick, and away down to the cow. Dot, you should have just seen the fun. There is a little hill trem the house to the yard, and I just slid down that, from the top to the bottom; it was almost impossible to get a foothold anywhere, as everything was so slippery. However, I didn't mind that in the least; but when 1 got to the yard I slopped in dismay. A big stretch of water to jump, then mud up to the ankles. Of course I couldn’t jump owing to the weight of my boots (add about Hlb of mud to already heavy men’s boots) plus my own, so into the water I had to wade—plopl plop!—and then into the mud, where 1 stuck at every step. I’m sure it must have taken me fully half an hour to milk that cow —at least, to get down to her and then up home again. I had rather an adventure the other night, Dot. Between our place and tiro township there is a creek, and for our convenience there is a plank across it, so that ws should not have to go over the big bridge, which is cut of our way. Well, owing to the rain which wo had had some time before, the water was running over one end of the plank—about of water to jump or step; so one night, coming home from an ambulance lecture, I decided to take the short cut by the plank, and I thought I could easily jump the stretch of water; but I had not counted on the plank being slippy. The first step I fell flat on my hack, and, on trying to regain my feet, fell into the water. And, Dot, if you had only felt the temperature of that water! Melted snow off the hills, and on a frosty night, too. Well, by good luck, I fell on the upper side of the plank; had I 'fallen on the other side the consequences would have been more serious; but the water being only to my waist, I soon waded out, and wasn’t I thankful to get safe on to dry ground again. I lost no time in getting borne, I can tell you. I felt half drowned; but soon I was in dry clothes and by a warm fire, and not a bit the worse for the ducking in water somewhere about tiro temperature of 32dog Fahr. I never saw anyone get into as many scrapes as I do, Dot. One morning W. W. L. and myself—at least I should say Elbon and I—went frost-fishing, and, somehow or other, wo missed the track in the dim light, and then I started to look about to find out where we were, and the next thing I had fallen over a bank about Bft deep and disappeared. My word! Elbon thought I was done for: but, by a fluke, I landed on my feet, and sang out, ‘Tlaiio! All safo down here; I’m exploring.” Got up again and made our way to the bridge; but before wo got there I had to fall into another ditch about 4ft or sft deep. It’s a very dangerous road round there; but all’s well that ends well. But, after all, Dot, wo were disappointed in getting no fish, though we went eight miles that morning. I was so sorry to see your retiring letter, Elmo Athol, as I always enjoyed your nice, interesting letters. Your letters to tho page will be very much missed comrade; I, however, shall look forward to your letter in Old Writers’ Week. Where havo you been this long lime, you Imp, or rather dear little Impie. Just fancy, Dot, Tho Imp coming to life again! 1 really thought it hud gone over to the
majority and was lost for over. Surely you haven’t caught The Frog, Impie, for Froggie’s notes were made conspicuous by their absence last week. That’s too bad, you know, to touch and molest Froggie, who is so loyal to the page. I’m sure you never considered how much trouble and time it takes The Frog to write all those notes. I daresay it takes him all week to do it, and so, Impie, yen must not frighten him, or you’ll upset his nerves, and the resuit will be no notes to the page. I hope you received my paper on the debate safely. Possum. It was not my fault, comrade—it was Elbon’s;- —so please forgive the delay. Little Doy, did you get my card safely? I shall bo expecting an answer shortly, so U P and write. Don’t you think, Woodland Lassie, that it’s time you wrote a few hues to the page? Tough Rag and I will be waiching for a loiter from you very soon in the D.L.P. columns, so don’t forget, comrade. The D.L.P. about here are very slow m writing, Dot. and there is such a Jot of L.F. here who should be writing to the page instead of being so lazy. I ? m fjomg a lot of sc win o- this wet weather; K fit's m time, Dot, and is pleasanter than reading. Ambulance is in full swing now, ‘ l . y° learning it. Our oxamination takes place shortly, and I hope I obtain ivy certificate, as first aid is a very useful thing to know. If I pass I shall go into tho nursing division, as I am verv fond of this work, and am anxious to "et on in it. Well, dear Dot, as it is v°:n ea time, and this is already too lengthy an epistle, 1 shall draw to a close. With 'best wishes to the club and tho page, and love to Lmo Athol Llbon, Possum, Roslyn Scout, lough Rag, Woodland Lassie, and a* my many D.L.P. friends and comrades r"Vr ,ly ’ DEWDROP. f Delighted to receive your interesting letter, Dewdrop. I trust you will take better care of yourself when out frost-fishing, etc.. otherwise we will be hearing of your nove'’r m §o.-D h OT n ] that would
Dear Do..—As we are all sitting round tbe fire owing to the cold and wet night, I thought I would write to the pa»e. Dewdrop has just been feeding her little puppv, and what do you think she gave him for lus tea?—a cup of bread and milk, with plenty of sugar in it, and a piece of sponge cake. A* hen she came in again she said he would liko another pieco of cake, an-d went away out in the rain again with another piece Don t you think that pup is well looked, afoer, Dot? Wo had our quarterly examination this week, and I am glad it is over for another three months. Football is over for the season, and wo play marbles instead; but I like foe.tball best. The other day Teddy found a nest of young rabbits. One of then was yellow, and the other two were grey. They did not have their eyes open, so Toddy easily caught them. Wouldn’t tlio poor old mother rabbit feel sad when she came back to her nest and found her little ones gone? If this rain continues, Dot, we will have beautiful waterfalls flowing down our cliffs There is a big stream already flowing down our hill. The Kuri is very high just now, and the step bridge was washed up on to the opposite bank. I was at a nice concert the other night', which was given by “The B]ack Diamond Minstrels.” Our school bazaar was a groat success, and we raised over £IOO, and the children kept things lively by performing. I was singing, and in the display of dumbbell exercises. Now, dear Dot, I am sleepy, so will say good-nigbt. Love tc all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, HARDCASE.
[Sorry I cannot allow you to take the nom ds plume you mention in your letter, Hardcaao. There is a writer of that name already.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I hope you do not think I have forgotten the page; but really, Dot, I am not absent as long as some of tho L.F. are. We had a grand concert here on Thursday night. Wo went, and enjoyed it very much The monkey, the organ-grinder, and Mrs Barclay Perkins were very nice.. I found a D.L.F. badge to-day, and took if to our teacher, and she asked whoso it was, and Hazel Dell said she lost hers. Wo have been having cold weather latelv. I am fond of reading, and have , read “Throo Now Chum Girls,” by Lilian Turner; “Four Sea Urchins,” by Nelson; “In Far Japan.” by Nelson. I like reading fairy talcs. Do yon, Dot? I havo read a great many of them. I will close now. Love to all L.F., not forgetting yourself—Yours truly. ‘ ORANGE LILY.
[When I was your age, Orange Lily, I used to enjoy reading fairy tales, and occasionally now I take out some of my old books and read them through again. Hazel Dell was fortunate in having her badge returned to her. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —It lias been raining here for two days now, and I think it is going to continue. 1 suppose it has been raining in Dunedin, too. Plough birds and dotterels are back here again, which is a sign that spring has come. Wo-havo a relieving teacher hero just now, as our other one is taking two months’ holiday. One of our neighbour’s dogs killed one of my ferrets a few days ago. There are few young rabbits about now, so it stops ferreting. The nights are nice and clear now. One of my cousins died three weeks ago. She was 10 months old.— Yours truly, FELIX.
[Wo have had very wet weather lately, Felix, but it is fine again now What a shame the dog killed your ferret.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l will now put in my haMyearly appearance. It is so long ago since I wrote to tho page that 1 really don’t know where to begin. It has been raining all dav to-day, and it is quite evident that spring’is at hand; also, that it has come in very early. The fruit trees are all bursting into bud, and the spring flowers are also showing great signs of bloom. I saw a little yellow crocus to-day. We have had a very mild winter, and I can't say I have seen much as tin of snow on the ground tins’ year; nor did wo havo enough ice to bear us. Tho next same will bo tennis. I like tennis. I think it is a very sociable „ anie . I wonder whether all my correspondents are asleep. I would like to hear from you Pussy, and. A Cromwell Violet. Where arc you? I have given up all hopes of ever gettin" a letter fiom Pinkie Bine. Her uncle died tho other day The funeral took place to-day. We have lately got a piano, and have been busy studying music out of Heniy’s Tutor. But you can’t learn to play a piano without a teacher, and in places, like our district you seldom see one who is so talented. I have a small class to teach at Sunday school on Sundays; but when your pupils do not attend regularly it is a tedious task. My youngest brother has not been to school, as he has sores on his face and legs. Although tho weather has been mild, chilblains have been very bad. If I keep on writing lika I have been, I will only get four more letters before retiring age, which is two years hence. We had a Debating Society this year. I can tell you, Dot. Hawea is getting a very lively place to what it used to be. There is a shooting competition every month. My brother has had his name on the silver cup once; but it will have to bo won ILree times before it is kept. Well, Dot, I shall not write any more at present. I bring this scrappy
letter to a close. Love to* May Belle, Pussy, Cromwell Violet, Pinkie Blue, and all the other D.L.F., —Yours truly.
LAUGHING ALLBGRA. [Perhaps yon will write more frequently, Laughing Allegra, now, that your time for writing to the page is approaching its close. It is very discouraging to teach Sunday school if the attendance is not regular.— DOT.]
Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? The weather has been fearfully wet. and many people have been flooded out; but it is quite settled now. It was a beautiful day to-day. I am working in the country, and I like it very much My parents live at Green Island, and I get home to see them at tho end of every month. I am 15 years of age. I hope you will not think me too old to join your page. Dear Dot. I have no moro news at present. Hoping to write more next time, I shall close. With best love to all the D.L.F., and vourself, —Yours truly, SPRING LARRIKIN.
, [Welcome to tho page. Spring Larrikin. \ou are not too old to join our happy band. —DOT.]
Dear Dot,—The weather is very bad •'here just now, and is causing big floods. Since I wrote to your page last I havo had a big birthday party. The party was very lively, consisting of games, recitations, music, singing. and other things as well. I was very pleased to see my first letter among the L.F. in the Witness. I't has been very nasty driving to school in the wet these last few days. I think I must close now. Love to all tho L.F., and yourself,— Yours truly.
TANGLE. [You must have had a very jolly time at your birthday party, Tangle.—DOT.]
Dear Dot,—This is my second letter to your "page. I saw my last letter in the Witness on July 23. The rain is pouring down outside, and I like the sound as it falls on tho roof. What kind of weather arc you having, Dot? Ours has been good until to-day. This is enough about weather. Everybody about hero has a cold. My little brother is very hoarse, but is getting better. I have had it, too. On Friday there were only four at school, and I was one of them. Dad has been digging the last day or two, but this rain will make the ground too soft. We have some snowdrops out, and I like flowers, don’t you, Dot? I am reading “The Red Mon of the Dusk,*’ and have read “Ihe South Sea Whaler,” “The Crew of tho Dolphin,” “Under Drake’s Flag, “The New Girl at St. Chad’s,” “The Lamplighter,” Ben Holt’s Good Name,” “May’s Sixpence,” “Jack and Gill,” “The Gold That Perisheth,” and a few others. Have you read any of them ? Scarlet fever is over in Bannockburn, and I suppose it will come here. My brother, Buffalo Bill, has had it, but I haven’t yet. Norman, my little brother, is in bed asleep now. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself. Before I close I will give you a riddle: A row of white horses on a rod hill, there they go, there they go, now they ate still.—Yours truly, CHESTNUT. [Very pleased to hear from you once more, Chestnut. You have read a nice number of books. I have read most ot them. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is not what I would call bad, though we had a snowstorm on tho 2nd, and the remains of it are in a snow man in the backyard. Most of tbe people have colds, and many are sick. Last week we had the poorest attendance at school that we have had, because we went right down to four pupils, and there are 20 altogether. We-have no small pets at home, only a horoe. There are many men trying to poison rabbits, but tho rabbits don’t seem to l>e taking it, owing to tho fine weather, which is making the grass grow up. I mustn’t forget to toll you that it is my birthday on the loth of this month. My best playmate is in the hospital with peritonitis, and I hope ho will soon get bettor, don’t you, Dot? All tho streams have risen by now, and the rain is still pouring. The snowman that father and I made is nearly all melted away with the warm rain that is falling. I am going to havo a garden this season. Father is going to give mo some ground in his garden, so that I can have a garden like his, and I hope it will be a good one. Now, as I can’t write any more this time, I think I shall close. Lovo to yourself and all D.L.F..—Yours trulv, BUFFALO BILL 11.
[Tliero is always a great amount of sickness about during the springtime. I hone you had a very happy birthday, Buffalo "Bill.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —As this is my second letter to your page 1 will tell you a little about our school. We have always had a schoolmistress until this year; now we have a master. I think I rather like the change. I have a sister, a brother, and two cousins going to school. I am sorry to say at present one of ray cousins is laid up with appendicitis, but he is getting better. This has been a very mild winter. There was a lot of rain yesterday. but towards evening it snowed. The roads were very sloppy to-day, so wc did not go to school. By next week most of the dredge men will have returned to start work again for the season. I have two brothers out working, and my oldest sister lives with my grandmother. Now I will draw my letter to a close. With love to all the D.L.E., not forgetting yourself,—-Yours trulv, early Riser.
[Very pleased to hear that your cousin is improving, Early Riser. Appendicitis is so sudden and so dangerous.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—This is my second letter, and I hope to write a bigger one. There has been a lot of sickness, and it has reduced the school roll greatly. I have been sick for a few days myself, but am better now. I am 12 years old, and go to the Nevis School. Tho weather hae been very wet and rainy up here these last few days. I have two brothers going to school. There arc 13 pupils going to school. There used to be 20_ going, but some are in Dunedin, Our chief game is ping-pong. The teacher lends us his sot, and we have a good game One of our schoolmates is sick, and is over at Cromwell. —Yours truly, OLYMPIC.
[I am pleased to hear you are better again, Olympic. Ping-pong is a fine game to play.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wo have had a very mild winter this year, with only two light fulls of snow. To-day it is raining very heavily, and everybody is inside keeping the fire warm. There are a number of lambs frisking about in the fields now, and on a warm day they may be seen running races and jumping about. Wo have started to do our garden up again, but this rain will atop us for a week or so. Th garden was just wet enough for digging before the rain, canio. Some of the people lower down are wanting rain but we could have done without it nicely for a month or so yet. I am looking forward to the nice long summer evenings. Two summers ago a party of 12 climbed a big hill not far from here and this summer there is to be another one. I was one of the last party and am looking forward to going with the next one. To-morrow, if it is fine, I am going to a fancy dress carnival in aid of the school funds It is to bo ladies and gentlemen in fancy dross. They arc to play fotball and hockey. At night
there is to be a dance in the hall. Could Dot or any D.L.F. give me St. Ronald’s address. She and I were the best of friends while she lived up here but when she left 1 lost all trace of her. I notice that there ia a Silver Bell in the North Island writing to the page. There is also one in the South. I know the South Island Silver Bell, but she does not very often write to the page. Come on. Silver Bell, and write; or maybe you are too busy to write. I know all about you. 'What has become of Daisy Bell, and her brothers and sisters. None of them have written for ages. Turn over a new leaf, comrades, and write often. This is the first letter I have written to the page since the last Dot was married. I noticed a letter in the Witness not long ago from Valley Rose, and she said she was going 'for a holiday with her grandmother and grandfather. She did go and looks none the worse for her trip. I noticed her at church last Sunday along with her mother and Tussock. Well, Dot, I will bring this letter to a close. Best love to Dot, Daisy Beh, Golden Pippin, Silver Bell, and all my D.E.F. acquaintances. —Yours truly, E. A. M. [I am very pleased to hear from you, E. A. M. I will look up the address you ask for and send it privately to you. You must let us know next letter how the carnival got on.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let me join your happy band. I like reading the D.L.F. letters. There are over 90 pupils going to our school. I know a few D.L.F. about here. I have no pets just now. I have not missed a day from school this year. We are milking one cow just now. The roads will soon -be dry again. I am 11 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard. Our examination is in a week’s time. Every week there are more and more D.L.F. writing. The flowers are coming out now, and the gardens are being dug for the vegetables. My birthday. is on November 20. I have four brothers and two sisters. We have two pigs, a horse, and a foal. Ono of my brothers is a carpenter, and' the eldest one is an engine-driver. As this is my first letter. I think 1 shall close now. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, SILVER CHIMES.
[You are very welcome to the page. Silver Chimes. I hope you will be very successful in your examination, dear, —DOT.]
Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. I have not been at school for a long time - because I have not been very well. 1 went up to the bush to-day with my mate. I have two greyhounds, and I go out rabbiting every day. I have a cow to milk every morning, but she ia going dry now, and I am glad. It is bedtime now, so I must close. Love to all the Little h oik, not forgetting vourself. —Yours truly, MIMIHAU.
[Welcome to the page, Mimihau. I hope you will soon be well enough to attend school again.—DOT.] Dear Dot—lt is very misty down here now, and extraordinarily cold these mornings driving to school. I am in the Sixth Standard, and cycle up sometimes if required. I have read a few books, and some of them I think very interesting: “Oliver Twist,” “Westward Ho!” “Uncle Tom s Cabin,” “Tow Brown's School Days,’’ “From Logcabin to Whitehouse,” and a great number of others. I have read many of Fcnnimore Cooper’s and E. S. Ellis’s works. Vie are discing now, but the ground ia as yet very wet. I was in to the Invercargill Competitions on Monday, and heard .the poem “One at a Time” recited. The judge spoke well of three of the piano players. The river which flows through our place has cut for itself a new channel. It cut through a high sandhill. I can’t think of any more to write, so I shall bring my letter to an end. Love to every D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, JACK-A-LANTEKN. [Were you taking part in the Competitions, Jack-a-Lantern ? —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am again taking up my pen to write to you, though I have not written for a long time. We have a relieving teacher at our school, but the new ono will be here soon. I have not seen a letter from Pinks for a long time. Pinks is my mate at school. Dot, how much is a D.L.F. badge? We do not get the Witness often, so I do not remember how much they are. It is bad weather again, Dot. We had a few good days, but it has started raining again. Now, Dot, as this is all the news I know, I shall end with a rhyme:
—A Little Rule.— “This is the rule old Aursie gave— Oh, years ago, ’tis true — To her charges three; but it seem to me ’Twill do just as well for you: ‘ Sinile in the morning when you got up, ’Twill make things nice and bright; Smile again in the afternoon. And go on smiling at night!’” With love to all the D.L.F., —Yours truly, WHITE VIOLET.
[The badges cost Is 6d each, White Violet. That is a- very true rule you have given us, dear.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. May I join your happy band? I am eight years old, and am in the First Standard at school. My brother and I have three miles to go to school. I have two sisters and one brother, all younger than myself. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, IsOIE.
[You are very welcome to join us, Noie. I suppose you will drive to school, as it is rather far to walk?—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —We have just had our' term examination, and after the inspector has been we are going to get a week’s holiday. At the Sunday school social I got a nice book called “The Orphans” as a second prize. You should see our yellow crocuses! They do look so pretty; and we must have about a thousand, so mother says. Wo have five varieties, but the yellow ones make the best shew. Have your primroses come out yet? Ours are cijt now, and the pretty little snowdrops are so large this year. Wo have 48 hyacinths in one bed. I saw in a D.L.F. letter that she bad the winter rose. We have two varieties, and many people admire them. What a lot of rain you must have had in Dunedin. It rained here on Wednesday and Friday. That is all the news, Dot. Good-bye.—Yours trulv, YELLOW CROCUS.
[Our primroses have been flowering all the winter, dear, so also have the polyanthus. What a picture that bed of hyacinths must look when in flower. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since all the rest here to-night ore writing, I started to write, too. Wo are having very bad weather here lately, and I suppose you heard about the landslips down the line. The half-past 11 train did not roach hero until 3 p.m., and the 8 p.m. train did not get here till G p.m., so there must have been a big slip, mustn't there, Dot? All our crocuses arc out now, and we havo such a lot; you should see them out on a nice bright day. I started to ekin a rabbit last night, Dot, and I had
a great job to start it and to finish it. I had really forgotten how to skin, though I used to be able to ekin one quite easily. The fire-bell rang here the other night; but it was too far up the street, and I had to go to the Technical School. It rang at 7 p.m.; but it was only a chimney on fire. The Eire Brigade turned out very quickly. As news ia scarce just now, Dot, I shall close.—Yours truly, BRITANNIA. [There were two slips on the north line during the recent bad weather, I understand, Britannia, so, naturally, the trains would he very late in arriving.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my letter in the Witness. We had a social at the Sunday school, and I got a nice hook for a prize. It was for saying the twenty-third Psalm. It is called “The Work of Jesus. ’’ My little sister got one also; hers is “The Life of Samuel”—a nice little booklet. We had a nice evening, as there was singing, and we had tea and cakes before we came home. We are going to get a week’s holiday. I have been top for two weeks now, and would like to stay there. —Yours truly, TIMETELLER. [You are a clever boy, Timcteller, to remain top of your class for two weeks. I hope you have an enjoyable holiday.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It has been very wet down here for the last few days; but it is a fine day to-day. I was very sorry to hear of our comrade’s death, but what is our loss is his gain, is it not. Dot? We have two ducks and nine hens laying now. There is a beautiful little lake about a mile from hero, on which ducks often swim. Round its edge are beautiful ferns. My brothers have a boat, in which they go out on the sea. We have a cat that knocks at the door if it wants to get into the room, and if the door is not quite shut it will open it. I have 105 postcards and photos. I have a brother who takes post-cards and photos. Thera must bo a good many D.L.F. w-riting to you now, and I sometimes wonder how you answer them all. Taipo was very lucky in finding the money, was he rot? '1 will end with a, riddle: When is a soldier not a soldier? Love to all D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,--Yours truly, BOATMAN. [Your cat rau»t bs a very knowing creature. Boatman. Still, it must be rather uncanny to hear it knocking at the door. You must have a fine collection of post-cards.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It has been very wet weather down here. The road was flooded on Thursday and Friday. My birthday was to-day. and I am nine years old. Wo haven’t had frost for a long time. I was very glad to sea my last letter in print. I like to write letters to you, Dot. I will close now, as I have no more to sav.—Yours truly, GATLINS GIRLIE. [I hope you had a very happy birthday, Gatlins Girlie. Pleased to hear you enjoy writing to me. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wc are having dreadful weather at present. It has been raining for three days, and all the creeks are in flood. Last Friday we could not get over a creek that runs betwen the house and tire' fowl run to feed the hens, for the creek was so deep. But it is fine weather again, and it was a lovely spring day to-day. I like reading the D.L.F. letters, but do not know any of the writers yet. I will give them a riddle now; Why is a spider a good correspondent? Love and best wishes to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly. KIWI. Dear Dot, —To-day is such a lovely day. My two brothers have the whooping cough. My father is away for a holiday, but we expect him homo to-morrow. It is so very quiet when he is away. One of my cousins writes to the page; her N.D.P. is Dhoda. In the summer holidays I am going down to see her. My lilac is in bud now. It is very pretty when it is in flower is it not 9 I am seding you a painting; I did it at scllool. News is scarce at present. Love to Little Lark, Rhoda. and all (he rest of the L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, DAD’S GIRL. [Many thanks for that clever painting. Dad’s Girl. It is very good, indeed, and I am so pleased you thought of sending it to me.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —I thought I would just pen the dear old page a line or two, so that you will not think that I ha,vo forgotten it. I don’t think, however, that that is likely to happen for many a long day to come. What a crowd of D.L.F. letters were in the last Witness. Really, dear Dot, you must be kept very busy answering all their little askings and such like. The weather we are having up country is very foggy and dull. I hope it does not continue for long, for it makes things very miserable and cold for people travelling. I was at a mast enjoyable surprise party last Tuesday night, and enjoyed myself immensely. I think all who were present just had the time of their lives. It was held in a country hall, where everybody was so sociable and nice. When I sat down to write to you I had quite a long tale to toll, but it has gone away, and has not returned to me. Rabbiting seems to be everybody’s calling now. 1 noticed a letter from Lady Cantrips in last week's paper. I wonder where the rest of our Hawea comrades have gone, including Diantlius, Find Out, Pradella, and Mag Dods, and many others. Cheer up, mates, and write soon. Well, dear Dot, as I can think of nothing more, I will close. Kind regards to yourself, and all the L.F., —Yours truly. QUEEN DIANA.
[Nothing is nicer than an enjoyable evening spent among people who are all agreeable and sociable. I am glad you had such a happy evening, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —In reading the Witness tonight I noticed a letter Irom Aiflic, and she says that wo have been having a good winter. Well, I don’t know what it is like up in that part of the globe, but down hero it is very wet. Perhaps she thinks it is a good winter because she has plenty of the Grassy Creek company to keep her v.-arm at the dances she attends. I was at the Orawia bachelors’ ball, and had a good time, but not so good a-s The Girl from Rosehill. I noticed a number of L.F. there, among them being Lady Connie, Curlio, Morita, White Iris, and Marjory. Wo have not got our garden done up yet. I am something like a correspondent in the last Witness—l don’t like gardening, but I like flowers. If this rain keops on the farmers will have a great deal of trouble getting their pats in, as the ground is very sloppy, and it is hard to work up. I suppose the oats will be got in some time before Christmas. It is getting near bed time, so I shall close. Love to White Iris. Lady of the Lily-pond, Airlie, Lura, Lady Connie, and other L.F.—Yours truly, STOCKIIAN. [Pleased to hear you enjoyed yourself at the bachelors’ ball, Stockman. The D.L.F. wore well represented there.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—lt is just about a month since I last wrote to the page, and I am "oin-’-to take Tyne Lass’s advice and write once a month. I have only one year now before I reach the retiring ago, so will have to make the best of it. The weather has been terrible this last week; if it has not been raining it has been blowing, and eo on.
Well, Dot, we will soon have the Exhibition opened, and I think it will be a groat success. The Maori epidemic is very quiet in Auckland just now; there have been no cases for over a week. I think it will be well clear of the city by the time the Exhibition is opened. I went to see the League football match between Auckland and Canterbury last Saturday. The came was very interesting in the first half, which ended with Auckland 22 to 12; but when the play started in the second half Auckland had all their own waj’, and the game ended with Auckland 48 to 12. I did not go to see the Rugby match between Auckland and Taranaki, for the Ranfurly Shield, yesterday, which ended up with Taranaki taking the shield off Auckland by 14 points to 11, so it was a very close game. I see by the paper that you arc getting floods in Otago. I hope it does not get as bad as that up here. If it does the railway line will be blocked at Mercer again, like it was about six years ago. when they had to take passengers from train to train in motor launches, along the line. To tell you how bad it was. you could «o right through the Mercer station in a boat, so the sooner it clears up the better. Don’t you think so, Dot? I will now write you a piece of poetry, which is entitled, PRESENCE OF MIND. They chatted of emergencies— How one man kept his head, While some were apt. in time of stress, To lose their wits instead. To quote a case in point, said one, A thing occurred to ;ne Which shows how useful coolness And collected wits can be. It was a year or two ago, When in a lovely place I turned a corner, to confront A tiger, .face to face. It was a most tremendous brute (a man-eater, I knew) ;• I hold my breath, then, in a flash. Decided what to do. Standing erect, I looked it fair and Square between the eyes. Its jaws and gleaming teeth were things To make a man's hair rise.” The speaker paused. “What happened then ?” His nudunce, shuddering, cried. The modest hero rose to go. Knocked out his pipe and eighod. “For several minutes ” he went on, “We neither of us stirred.” He walked towards the door. “But that’s Not all,” the rest demurred. “Well, thou.” he drawled, “I strolled away, And as there seemed no more To see, I sauntered slowly out Through the museum door.” Well, Dot, I will close. "With love to Tyne Lass, Beautiful Mona, Geisha.. A Country Maid, and all the rest of my correspondents, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, WELSH BOY. [The football match between Taranaki and Auckland must have occasioned a great deal of excitement. a.s it was such a close game. I hope, for the sake of the Exhibition, that Auckland.' will be free from smallpox very shortly.—DOT.]
Dear Dot, —May I become one of your Little Folk? My sister is one of your Little Folk, and her name is Kiss-your-cousm. I am in the Fourth Standard, and onr examination is a week from Friday next, and I hope I shall pass. We have had such a lot cf rain up here, and there has been floods. I have a little kitten, and it is such a playful little thing; it springs at the birds, and it often catches them. There is a big claim up here, and its elevator has a height of 50ft. They have electric light, and I often turn the dynamo on. If you touch any of the electric wires they will kill you. In the summer time they have a rone going right down hy the eleiator, and I often go down this. I am not writing much this time, hut shall write more next letter. I shall give you some riddles: (1) When was Adam married? (2) Why is a kiss like a candle? (3) Ink nnk, under a bank, ten drawinsr four. W4A What plant is a letter of the alphabet ?-Yours jt^qY.
[F hope you will be very careful and not rday carelessly with the dynamo, Rabbit Boy. Electric!t ir is a new p«wcr, and very dangerous.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—We wore very pleased to sec our letters in your page, and hope to see this one also. We are both sisters, Dot, so we arc writing to you all in one letter, and you will not mind that, dear Dot. will you ? You have a lot of letters to answer, haven t you ? and we like to read the little ones, as they are so nice. We like going to school,' though the roads are muddy now They will be nice in the summer time, won t they? We wish that we had the nice streets to walk on; but we like out in the country best. We have four cats, and when we put the hot ashes outside they all go and ho in them to get warm Aren’t they funnv pussies. Dot? If they got burnt they would not want to go and lie in them any more, would they? Well, Dot, we think this letter is long enough now, and we hope you will put it in print. So good-bye for the present. — Yours truly. MOTHER’S SERVANT and DAISY M
[Your pussy cats must like a nice warm bed to lie on, dears. I am pleased to hear that you both like going to school—DOT.]
Dear Dot.—This is my first letter to your page. .May I join your happy band? I like reading D.L.F. letters. I am still going to school, and am in the Fifth Standard. We have four miles to go to school. We aro having very fine weather up hero; the grass is quite" green and the trees are coming out in leaf. We haw seven horses, and I like riding. The faster they go the 1 letter I like it. Wo have 6S head of cattle. We have a Band of Hope meeting up here once a month. I am going to a meeting on Friday. 15th, and I hope to enjoy myself. I don’t know many D.L.F. about here. It is getting late, so I must come to a close. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, SUNNY SKIES. [You will soon become acquainted with the L.F.. Sunny Skies, as they are a very friendly hand. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I think it is time I was writing to von again. The last time I wrote I said I did some crochet. Well, I make lace and d’oylcys. I have also learnt how to do crewel work. I see by the papers that there has been a flood down Dunedin way. I think floods arc very cruel, don’t you? There was a flood here not long ago. It broke down many fences, and left plenty of firewood. If the flood had risen much more it would have been under our house. There is still a creek running through out place. Don’t you think it is a good thing that the smallpox is leaving New Zealand? It would spoil the Exhibition. I suppose there will bo a crowd there. 1 have read “Little Women,” “The Lights of Sj-dney,” “The Lost Clue,” “Dulcie’s Love Story,” “The- Mvstorious Locket,” “A Prince Errant,” “Battling with the World,” “The Coral Island,” “The Rod Mountains of Alaska,” “The Three Midshipmen,” and many others. I cycle into Riversdale every Saturday to learn music. I Have been learning music for a good few years now. The flowers are very early this year, don’t vou
think, Dot ? I think they are welcome. The violets are out, and the daffodils are in buds. I have been in Dunedin once, and I thought it was a nice place. I stayed at the Boys’ High School Rectory. Mrs Fullarton used to be my school teacher. It is a very nice place, is it not ? As it is getting late I shall close. Best love to Taieri Belle, Princess Edna, Cinderella, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, FLORENCE DOMBEY. [You are getting on splendidly with your crochet,■ Florence Dombey. It is very interesting work, is it not ?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join j our happy band ? I am 13 years old, and am in the Fifth Standard. My little sister, eight years old, and I walk over four miles to school. I have hardly missed a day. We are not haying very nice weather, u'e have a trap and horse, but I am afraid to drive it. At 'shearing time this is a very busy place where I live. My little sister has a pet lamb, cf which she is very fond. I have two sisters and one brother. Well, dear Dot, this is all I have to say. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.— Pours truly, ACE OF SPADES.
[Pleased to receive your first letter to the page, dear. You have a long distance to walk to school, and must bo tired at the end of the day.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It has been very miserable weather lately. The flowers are all coming out; in fact, our vioiets have been flowering all through the winter. We have not any lambs yet, but our neighbour has a lot. Our examination will be in about a week, and I hope I shall pass, as 1 never failed in any standard yet. If 1 pass 1 shall be in Standard V. I am looking, forward to O.W.W. What a lot of new writers you have every week! The little kitten I told you about in my last letter is quite big now. She is either running about our feet or is curled up in some corner of a bod. We held Arbor Day at our school, and we all had to write an essay on how we celebrated it. All the members of the Fourth Standard are going to get a young apple tree, given to them by Mr Marton, the agriculturist, and when they leave school they may take it home with them and plant it in their own garden. I received your letter, Linnet, and will answer it soon. I am learning to play the mandolin harp, and I like it very much. My father has nearly finished ploughing. Hurry up, Bonny Scotch Thistle, and write a few lines to the page. There is going to be a social held in the school on' the 29th of this month. I hope the smallpox does not come down to the South Island, for we shall have to be vaccinated. We play skipping at school, and it makes you Very hot on a cold, frosty morning. I see by {he papers that there has been another flood down south. Our school gardens have no flowers in them just now, but we are going to get seeds and put them in when the ground gets dryer. Wee Pompy is away from here now. She said she was going to write to you, but she hasn’t done it yet. Onr hens are laying fairly well now. The oilier day, when we were at school, our teacher ict Standards 1 and II out to play while the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth were drawing. There was a big branch on the tree, and one of the girls pulled it down on top of another girl’s head. One of the branches make a hole on the back of her head. When she came in the blood was running down her back, and our teacher washed it and fixed it up. I shall close with some riddles:—Why is a watch like a river? Why is a racehorse like a waiter? With love to Linnet, Bonny Scotch Thistle, and yourself,—Yours truly, v MITHEE’S WEAN. [I suppose the unfortunate girl was not seriously hurt, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather up here has been terrible. The flat is all one mass of water from Kaitangata to Stirling. The railway, for about 200yds along, is covered with water. It is stopping the engines from getting across, and 1 think it will keep the mines idle for two or -three days. „ The Taratu line is all washed out for about three miles. The Catholics are having a bazaar down here just now, and they are having good weather for it. The people have enjoyed themselves at it.—Yours truly, SPARROWHAWK. [I saw by the papers that Kaitangata was very badly flooded, Sparrowhawk. We are having a full share of rain, are we not? — DOT.] Dear Dot, —You will bo having an anxious
time in Dunedin, seeing that the smallpox epidemic is so widely distributed in the North Island. In olden times this disease was a gread dread, and as they had no cure for it, it carried people off in dozens. Nowadays it can only be warded off by vaccination. For this great discovery Ur Jenner deserves the honour. Now, 1 shall explain ,to the Little Folks how this came about. Smallpox was said to have been introduced into Europe from Asia and Africa by the returning Crusaders. Dr Jenner was appointed to the post as naturalist to Captain Cook’s second expedition; but he preferred his experiments in his own village of Berkley, in Gloucester. He knew that people who had once developed smallpox could not develop it again, and had heard country people say that milkers could not get smallpox at all. Now, how does the latter fact come about? Well, it is simply because the milkers get a similar, but milder, disease from the cows. This disease is known as cowpox. Now, Jenner sot his mind in earnest to sec whether he could not cure the smallpox disease in a way, descending from this principle. lie determined to make an experiment, which Itfe found out to be very successful. He inoculated a boy named James Philips, aged eight years, with the matter taken from the sore on a milkmaid's hand. He then placed him in a position so that, if the smallpox would develop, it would take to him. Great was Jenner’s joy when ho found that the disease did not affect him. Dr Jenner soon became very famous. Even on the Continent his name was held in greater esteem than in England, for there the jealousy of medical men impeded his work. Many medical men have worked hard to improve Jenner’s work, and they have succeeded, till now they have lymph for vaccination purposes. This will do on smallpox, for if I write any more the Little Folk who read it will be dreaming about smallpox. I was out pig-huntng-about a fortnight ago. We were out .all the day, hut did not get anything. It is good fun chasing wild pigs up and down hills, I can tell you. Summer will soon be here again. It seems only a short time since it was Christmas time. Some time ago I sent my rabbitskins away, and got a much higher price than I expected. As time will not permit me to write any more I shall say good-bye. With love to all the L.F. and yourself, — Yomj-s truly, TEIG. [Many thanks for your interesting letter on vaccination, Teig. It is very fortunate that, so far, there have been no cases of smallpox in the south, and it seems to bo well in hand now up north.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was glad to see my letter in print. I go to schqol every day, and have never missed a day from s.choo! for four years running until last year, when I was awav for about two months. I J la( i a
sore side, and had to get three cuts my side. I went under an operation twice I had to get the wounds packed with iodoform gauze and syringed out with Jpye’i nuid arid water once a day. We had a hen with eight little chickens, and our ferret got out and killed them all. It is getting on for bed time now, so I suppose I shall to close. Best love to Lady of the £«ile, Swanhilda, Jenny Wren, and Hollyhock, not forgetting j-ourself.—Yours truly SUMMER.’ [You must have been through an amount of suffering last year, dear. The dressing wounds afterwards is far more painlul than the actual operation: don’t vou think so?—DOT.] AUTOS. Pink Clover (Mona Turnbull, PukeurlJ would like to exchange autos with any D.L.F, willing. J ■ I loience Domhey (Ellie Miller, Waipou* namu, Riyersdale) wishes to correspond'with Tile Girl in Love, Golden Locket, Inglewood Lassio, Princess Edna. Snooks, Buttercup, Home Fairy, and any other L.F. willing. Prompt replies. Geisha (Highland Home, Oxford street, Lyttelton) wishes to exchange autos and postcards with any club members; also other L.F. willing. Linnet (Annie Mitchell, “Iniko,” Port Molyneux) wishes to exchange autos with Rolling Thunder; Mischievous Jack. Omaa, Shining Sunbeam, Dewdrop, Adeline, Pelorus Jacy, Olaf, and any other L.F. willing. Ike (Ilcen M'Diermid, Poplars, West Taieri) wishes to exchange autos with Pinkie, Princess Varra, Red Wing. Sunbeam, Motherless Girl, and any L.F. willing.
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Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 69
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18,018LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 69
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