DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 69

DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

LETTERS PROM THE LITTLE FOLF.

Dot invites short letters from her young friends throughout the Dominoon on matters of Interest to themselves, the result of their observations in the animal world, descriptions of anything they are interested in, of the district in which they live, of their school and home life, holiday trips, &c. The letters are to bo written by the little folk themselves, and addressed "Dot, care of Editor Witness.”

Dot’s Little Folk’s Badge with pin, for use as a brooch, obtainable on application to Dot. Price, Is 6d post free, in penny or halfpenny stamps. Auto. Cards are obtainable from 'Dot, Witness Office, Dunedin. Price, 9d for 25.

11 otto: —Wo writ® ior the benefit oi other*, not for ourselTee. KT No Jotter to contain more than 450 word*. Dear Dot,—This is my first letter, and I hope you will accept me as one of your number. I am 10 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard. I know only one D.L.F.; she is my cousin, and her ND.-t*. is Matai. I have four brothers and two sisters. My three brothers go to school. We live about half-way between Oreti and Drummond; but we go to the Drummond School. We have three miles to walk to school. We often get rides w'ith people going along the road. The water has been over the road three times'this year; father drove us across twice, but it was not very deep, there are. 60 odd pupils going to our school. Lizzie has very sore hands this winter. When i first started school there were 100 pupils, and there are two teachers at our school. On© is a man, but the other is a woman, she is staying for a month only, as she is a relieving teacher. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoon we have sewing. Mr Irwin (the Presbyterian minister) comes to school every Wednesday to give us lessons. We have two cats and three dogs. Our labbit got out for two days. His ears and eyes are black, and he has two black spots on bis back. When we come to feed him he puts his paws on the wire netting of his cage. He will cat all kinds of food except meat. As this is my first letter I .will close with love.—Yours truly, SHAMROCK (Drummond). [Very pleased to have you join the page, Shamrock. I Lope Lizzie’s hands are getting better. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are having lovely weather down here just now. There was a very thick {<yr all day, and .so it was pretty cold, as the sun was. not shining. We are milking 10 cows now, because all the rest are dry. I went to the Invercargill Show, but I did not enjoy myself, as it was a very disagreeable day. The garden does * not look very pretty just now, as there are not many flowers out. It will soon be time fox us to sow our early vegetables. The daffodils are showing their green leaves once more, which shows that the spring is near us. When we see the gardens in the summer the iigly look of . winter is forgotten. I think I shall close now, as it is getting late.' With love to alb the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself Yours truly, . • ■ TARLAND LASSIE (Otautau). [lt is encouraging to see all the spring bulbs making an appearance; but I suppose we appreciate them all the more after the bareness of winter, —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am writing to 1 the page once again after a long absence of about two years and a-half; and what a lot has happened since then! I was speaking to Elbon to-day, and I promised him I would go down to the club next Tuesday week, so I hope to be able to keep my promise, as I have heard it is very interesting. I met Ivanhoe at Christmas lime, coming down from Central Otago, so 1.-hope he remembers me, as I daresay he will. X got quite a surprise w r hen I saw that letters came to the page from Auckland; I thought it was only round about Otago they came from. It is quite interestng getting letters from up there. Well. Dot, I don’t think there is any more hews at-present, so I will close now with bast love to Elbon and Ivanhoe, not forgetting vourself. —Yours truly, WILD WEST (Dunedin). [Very pleased to hear from you again, Wild West. I am sure you will enjoy the club, and we want all the support we can get.-—DOT-r] • Dear Dot, —Thank you very much for the name far my calf, and 1 think it will suit splendidly. ' We have one big grey cat. Three days ago it was my birthday; I got a lot of presents and a big birthday cake covered with icing and two lots of toffee and chocolates, and some more presents as well. On my birthday I made a stew for my buff bens of boiled rabbit, potatoes, and carrots, and they, are laying very well now. On my birthday my rooster was dead. My sister is Winona, and she says she will write soon. Row I will say good-bye.—Yours truly, • LITTLE THUNDER -(Five Rivers). [Such a repast should stimulate any hens into laying. Little Thunder. What a splendid time you would have on your birthday! —DOT.] Deaf Dot, —Wc have a new schoolmaster here now, and like him very well. I am in Standard 11. My sister Florence Nightingale is stopping in "Gore for the winter, as it is late when the train comes in. I must close now with love to all the Little Folk.— Yours truly, QUEEN ANN II (Greenvale). Dear Dot, —We are having fairly fine weather here lately. 1 think it will be an early spring, as the grass and flowers are beginning to look green again. Well, Dot, when I started to write this letter I had quite a lot in my mind, but now it seems to have flown away. I have not read any books since last writing to the page. I received my auto-cards, and I like them very well. I will not exchange autos with anybody yet for a while, as I may be going away for a holiday soon. I have often thought of sending a paper in for the club, but so far I have not managed to do so. In’ last week’s Witness I noticed one subject was “My Favourite Hobby, and Why.” Does that include reading, sewing, etc.? How do you fill in the auto-cards. Dot? Would you please show me at the footnote of this letter. I have not seen a letter from Alda for some time now. Hurry up and write again, comrade. I went to hockey practice to-day. We were to have played a_ match, bait we had not a full team. I noticed the photo of gome of the D.L.F. who were at the Winter Show; they all came out very

plainly. I did not know any of them. Well, Dot, as there is no more to write about,! will conclude with best wishes to all the L.P.-Yom, truly, LADY FAIRFix . [Name Address Birthday (if you wish) N.D.P Is that ,clear, Lady Fairfax? The subjectmeans just as it states —“My Favourite Hobby”;—whatever that hobby may be you axe asked to wrfte on it. I should think it ought to appeal to almost everyone, and we hope to receive a large number of papers. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l often read the letters in the Witness, and I thought I would like to join your happy band.' I am nine years old, and in the Second Standard at school. We are having very had weather up here just now, and the roads are very muddy. _Ye play football at our school, and I have joined the third team. I must close now with best love to Edna May, Australian May, and Kood, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, WHISTLING JIM (Cromwell). [Certainly you may us. Whistling Jim, and we shall hope to receive a longer letter next time.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter: to the page, and I hope you will let me join your happy band. I had a good trip up to Cardrona, but it was very cold. I was frightened going round Hu Crown Range. Coming back we had to get out of jiie car and walk about a mile, as the roaa was very heavy; but walking warmed us up. I will be glad when the winter is over and we can go swimming, as I like swimming. Mother’s Little Maiden is my chum. I think I must stop, as it is bedtime. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself,— Yours truly, FUCHSIA (Lumsden). [Pleased to have you join us, Fuchsia. I think we shall all welcome summer when it comes. —DOT.] Dear Dot—This is my first letter to you, and I hope you will let me become one of your Little Folk. We are having O’ery disagreeable weather just now, and the roads are very muddy. We are having our winter holidays now, but we go back to school on Monday. We are milking eight cows now, and I am learning to milk. My father and mother went to tne Dunedin Winter Show for a week,-and my eldest sister kept house. We are building a new pigstye with a cement floor. We are feeding six little calves. I am nine years old, and in the Second Standard - at school. We killed a bujlock some time ago, and it weighed about 4401 b. I like reading the Little Folks’ letters. I must close now with love to all. Yours truly, SHOTOYER LAD (Lr. Sholover). [Yes, you may join us, Shotover. Lad. A cement. floor should be a great boon in a sty, as pigs, when I have seen them, seem to delight in uprooting everything—DOT.] , Dear Dot,—We have just finished our quarterly examination, and I came second highest. Our aunt and uncle have -been stopping with us, but they are away now. We are having nice weather just now, but it rained all the time they were here. Our concert is to be held on August 7. Bride s Cake and Belle Mahone are going to sing at it. Ail the bulbs are showing up above the ground now; they are early this year for this part of the country. My father sowed five rows of potatoes last Monday, so they will be ready about Christmas. We bad holidays at the time of the Dunedin Show; but I did not go, as we bad Very bad weather at the time. We had a heavy fall of -snow at the time, but I dbn t- suppose you would get it in Dunedin. I saw the photo of the D.L.F. in the Witness, blit did not know any of them. Bride’s _ Cake, Peepsie, and I received a letter from Biddy. We got out of school early on Friday night, as our teacher had to go to Balclutlia. We are not having Sunday school now, because the roads arc too muddy, and not enough children went to keep it going. Our hens started laying, but are not doing very ''yell. We have a lot of young roosters to kill this year I have not seen a letter from Mildred or Cora Lynn for a long time. I saw a letter from Tullyskerney a short- time ago. White nice lono- letters she writes! 1 will close now with love to Mildred, Tullyskerney, Honeysuckle, and Lady Sybil, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, DAISY BLACKBURN (Awamangu). [lt does happen' that when one has friends visiting ihem, and one wants fine weather to show them about, the elements prove. perverse. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Yesterday our school played football with Naseby, and won by 20 to nil. Maroon and Gold was playing for Naseby. The seniors played Naseby too, and won by -6 to ml. Ranfurly are leading for the banner now; they play two matches yet, but I think they will win them. We have been having good weather these last days. I got my badge fixed the, other day. This is all the news at present. Love to all D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, ’ , , DEFIANCE (Ranfurly). [I trust vour hopes of the banner are fulfilled. Defiance. The school was very fortunate. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —May I join your happy band? We K et the Witness every week, and I take a great interest in reading tbs D.L.F. letters. I am 10 years old, and am }n the Fourth Standard. ” I have neither brothers nor sisters. There are about 45 going to our school. The boys play football, and the girls play rounders. "We have three cows, but they are not milking. We have a little white calf, and it is a comical little thing. We have a piano. Dot. and I can play it. Do you like dancing. Dot? I am not too fend of it. There was a concert here,_ and it turned out a great success. I was in a dialogue, and my name was Aunt Polly, and I was dressed up as an old woman. I played a duet and sang two songs with the other girls. I think this is a long enough letter for the first, so 1 will close. Love to Crookburn Lass, Milk Boy, and all the rest of the Little’ Folk, not forgetting yourself.—Yours tlUly ’ . DANCING FEATHER (Tuapeka Mouth). [Certainly you may join us, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I received the badge quite safely I am not at school to-day. Wc have a new teacher, -and I like her very much. The weather is neither very fine nor very roup'll. We will soon be shifting up to the next station. The farmers arc busy ploughing their ground to let the frost get into ° it. We have had two or three hard frosts since I last wrote. One of my brothers is over at the West Coast. Hurry up. Shamrock Bells and Molly Bawn, and writ© to the page! My mother was at Invercargill last week. My birthday was on July 5; I was 13 years old then. Well, Dot, as news is scarce I will close with love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours Truly, TERRA NOVA (Te Wae Wae). Dear Dot, —la it very wet in Dunedin? It is very muddy up here. A concert will be held up here soon; it is facing to be in the cheese factory. We are milking two cows at night and five in the morning. I milk one

at night and two in the morning. There is going to be a send-off for a man near ns, and I thmk I shall go; it is a good distance away, but it won’t take long to go. One of our neighbours is going away on Monday, and we had a send-off for him some time ago. I was in town at Show time, but I did not have enough time to come and see you. I know a good few D.L.F.; some go to our school. Well, Dot. I will have to close vHth love to Frosty Joe, Tommy Furcqat, and all the rest of the D.L F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, THE BEARDLESS BO.Y (Awamangu). Dear Dot, —I have two pt t white rabbits, an.d the cat often tries to get at them. There are no D.L.F. about here. We have had a new addition to the school, and the schoolhouse is going to be made larger. There are 58 children' at this school, and two teachers. I have had sore feet lately, but they are getting better now. Our school is keeping Arbor Day this year by planting 100 shelter trees in the school ground. We are going to have an agricultural plot, and it is just being fenced. The teacher is living in the school now, as the house is getting built larger. I was pleased to see a group ofpD.L.F. in the Otago Witness.— Yours truly, WAIAU (Papatotara). [I am so sorry to hear you have had sore feet, Waiau, and trust that by now they are quite better. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I like reading the D.L.F. page. I am 10 years of age, and am in the Fourth Standard at school. Our teacher is leaving us in two weeks’ time. I wish she was not leaving ns, because - she is such a good teacher. Do you like reading. Dot? The name of the books I have read are “Beryl’s Triumph,” “Enid Duncan,” “The Wide, Wide World,” and many others. My auntie Is coining up to see us soon. I will bring this uninteresting letter to a close. —Yours truly, , , LADY ENID (Wamo). [Yes, you may join us, Lady Enid. One is always sorry to part with a good teacher.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt has been raining these last two or tnree days. I was very pleased to see my letter in print. My grandfather gave me a lark and a canary, but the lark is dead now. We have three dogs; their names are Clyde, Top, and Rock. Clyde is a sheep dog, Top is a cattle dog, alid Rock is used for everything. We are going to have a school concert soon. Bride’s Cake and I are going to sing together; the name of the song is “Echo.” We play tig in the pine trees at school now; but it is getting too stale. I know a good few D.L.F. about here. Daisy Blackburn plays the organ at school. We are learning some nice songs now. Hurry up and write to the page, Lady Sybil .and Bride's Cake. Well, Dot, as news is scarce I will close with a piece of poetry: Help your parents as much as you can, Be kind to your brothers and sisters; Do not be selfish, but share all your good things; Do your best to please your parents. With love to Bride’s take, Lady Sybil, Golden Bangle, Peepsie, Cora Lynn, not forgetting yourself.—lours truly, BELLE MAHONE (Awamangu). [I hope Bride's Cake and yourself may be very successful at the concert, Belle Mahone. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—As it is such a long time since I wrote to the page, I thought it quite time I penned you a few lines once again. Just think, we are nearly through another winter! How time does fly! Such a number of new writers there are to the page! There seem to be a lot of new ones every week, I was veiy sorry I did not get in to the Dunedin Winter - Show and get taken in the D.L.F. group. I did not see you there, Dot. I sent a post-card to Corresponding loath some time ago. but have had ito answer. What has become of yon, comrade? 1 also sent one to King Harold, and have had no answer. Do you like reading. Dot I I am very fond of it, and have read a great number" of books. We have a library not far distant, and can get books when we want them. Some of those I have read la-tely are: “At the Moorings, by Rosa Carey; Won by Waiting,” by Edna Lyall; and “In the Rocky Mountains,” by Charles Kingston. My favourite authors arc Annie Swan, Edna Lyall, Lillian Turner, and John Foster Fiaser. The latter’s books of travel are very interesting. Do you like Charles Dickens’s books? I do not care for them at all. They seem very ridiculous. Such a number of our band have gone from us within the last year. What has become of you, 1 ankee iocodle? You have not wrtten for some time. Kind regards to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, WINGATUI (Waiwera S.). [I think Dickens’s works very fine, Wingatui, although one or two of them at the first reading did not appeal to me, so perhaps you may feel the same about them. On reading them later I thoroughly enjoyed them. —DOT.] Dear Dot. —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? 1 am 10 years old. I have a cat, and her name is Topsy. 1 have read a number of books; some are: ! ‘Dolly,” ‘“What Katy Did,” “The Wide, Wide World,” and a great many others. We have a garden, but .there are not many flowers in it. I saw Dewdrop’s photo in the Witness, and she looked very nice. I think I will close with love to Dewdrop, Nancy Bell, and Dad’s Pet, not forgetting yourself, from—Yours truly, ELIZABETH JEAN (Pukerau).[Yes, you may join us, dear. Most gardens are rather bare at this time of the year. Ours is almost quite bereft of flowers. — DOT.]' Dear Dot,—l was very pleased to see my letter ir, print last week. We are having lovely weather now. I went to a concert on Friday night at Waihaorunga, and it was very good indeed. We have a fortnight’s holiday from school. We have a little calf, and would you please give me a name for it. Will you not be glad when winter is over? Have you ever been to Waimate, Dot? 1 am reading a book called “By Stream and Meadow”; have you read it. Dot? I will close now with best love to the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, NANCY LEE (Waihao Downs). [Before I can comply with your request, Nancy Ijcc. 1 have to ask you a question: What is the sox of the calf?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —My last epistle was after the D.L.F. social hold here on April 23. As is usual during the winter months, there has been a succession of socials, balls, and dances. A couple of weeks ago it was my good fortune to be at the pictures in Kurow; they were really good. Next Saturday they start their season in Kurow, then every Saturday. Wintry conditions prevail here at present. May was very frosty, the teams working only half-days. There was plenty of crop to put in, and we almost thought it was a case of having to postpone operations till the spring. However, June came in with rain and enow and very cold winds, not finch frost, and things got busy. As the month remained decent we managed to get nearly all the crop in. I was very pleased to the D.L.F. photo in the Witness, although it is my misfortune not to know any of our Dunedin ivee. It was quite

a pleasure to get a glimpse of a photo -which gives one some idea of what- our comrades are like. I think the representatives of Haka and Kurow ought to have their photos taken—that is, if the camera will stand the strain. Well, I think I will close. With very best wishes to Waitakian (whose name on this page I look in vain for), E. A. M. (who is at present taking a well-earned holiday), and all other comrades, including yourself, —Yours truly, DE CLAUDE (Ilakataramea). [The group was rather good this year, I thought, De Claude, although it was by no means a representative one. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather down here is still keeping fine. There was a social here on Wednesday, and I.enjoyed myself very much. I paid 6d to go and look for the hidden treasure, which was 10s. This week has passed very quickly. There are very few D.LF.. about here. I have been going to write for ever so long, but have not got a chance till now'. I will have to get a badge some of these times. I was at the Riverton races at Easter time, and inet Supple Jack there. Dicky Bird is ploughing just now. The days are now getting a little longer. It is very lonely down here, since my brother is away from home. I am milking three cows just now; but * milk them in the morning only. I heard my father say to-night that, a new cow which he bought at the sale has come in. I will stop now with love to all / the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, ALLAN-A-DALE (Waimatuku). [I suppose that means more cows for you to milk, Allan-a-dale. ■ Naturally, you must miss your brother. —DOT,] Dear Dot,~This is my first letter to the page, and 1 hope you will accept me as one of your happy band. 1 am 14 years of age, and have left school, as I, passed the Sixth Standard. Do you like milking. Dot? A\e are milking only nine cows now, and they are not giving much; I suppose the cold weather affects them. I will close now with love to Star of Haka, Waitakian, and all the other L.F., not forgetting yourself. Yours truly, FOXBURN (Waimate). [Truth to tell, Foxburn, I do not know the first thing about milking. Will you please rend me your name when next you write ? DOT;] Dear Dot, —I saw some photos of the D.L.F. in the Witness. A Lonely Violet and I often meet together. I suppose she does not know who I am, but 1 know who she is. We had three weeks’ holidays from school, as diphtheria was in the district. I am ‘glad to ’ say it is about stamped out. Only one family had it. I was busy dressing a do’l for the Presbyterian bazaar; but I was not lucky enough to get the prize. I think I shall draw this letter to a close with love to Thyme’s Mate, Sweet Pea, A Lonely Violet, not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulv, _. > , , , TULIP (Riversdale). [lt is indeed a blessing no one else suffered from diphtheria. Tulip; it is such a dreadful thing, I think.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—You will have forgotten all about me by this time, as it is such a long time since I wrote to you last. I have another sister and brother—they are twins. What a number of new writers you have. Dot! It must take a long time to read such a number of letters. We arc having very good weather at present. Cur hens have started laying, and we are getting five or six eggs a day.' The champion ploughing match is to be held in Mr Gray’s paddock at Wallacetown, and we are getting a nalfholiday from school. We have a new teacher at our'school, and his name is Mr Shroedoi. The quadrilles are held her© every fortnight. The ladies of Ryal Bush held a ball here on the Bth of July. The hall was. packed, and the dancing did not stop till 3 o’clock in the morning. The bachelors of Ryal Bush are holding a ball here on the 7th of August. I will have to close and get to bed. Youis SCHOLAR [Ryal Bush). [Very pleased to hear from you again, Scholar. The number of writers is steadily increasing.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band? I am eight years old, and am in Standard I. . I have two miles to go to school. I must close now. With to all the D.Jj.F., not forgetting yourself, —Yours t«Sjdy, E AKAT ARAWA (Ilakataramea). [Certainly you may join ns, dear. We shall hope to receive a longer letter next time. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l have not written to you for over a year. We have been in our house about one year and three weeks. I am sorry I could not go to the Times office. as 1 never seemed to have time. I was just readino- the D L F.., so I thought I would like to'write. I am in the Fourth Standard now, and in the term examination I was sixtn ton of the girls. I have read many ; books, among them are; “Melbourne House, Ifie Court and the Cottage ” “Five Little Birdies.” and “Ivy’s Dream.” I think there is a D.L.F. on the other side of the -Glutha River at Balclutha-, and 'I want to know who «h" is. T learn music now. My cousin writes to you, and her N.D.P. is Moma; but she has not written for a time, has she? We have a motor car now. and a telephone m the house. .1 have a sister a pupil teacher. Kind regards to all L.F. and yourselves. —Yours truly, , , , , CURLY TOPS I (Balclutha). [lt is so long since you wrote, Curly Tops, we must welcome you back again, and trust we may bear from you again before another year elapses.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I wrote before to the page to ask if I could join your happy hand, but the letter was not published. I am in the Fifth Standard at school. I know a good few D.L.F. about here. I must bring my letter to a close now, with love to Queen Nancy, and not forgetting yourself. —Yours truly, WILD VIOLET (Outram). [Certainly you may join us, dear. We shall expect a more lengthy letter next time. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have had very bad and cold weather. My little brother is in Primer I, and is six years old. The winter will soon be over, and then we shall have spring a°-ain. It would be very busy in Dunedin during Show Week, Dot. My eldest sister works in Winton, and cycles home every Sunday. I have read a few books lately. We o-et five and six eggs a day just now from' 7 ’about 36 hens. I have been doing fancy work, and like it. We have four cows, and they are all dry. We have a foal aborit two years old. I will bring this scribble to a close with a few riddles: (1) What is the colour of a green plot covered with snow? (2) When is a man not a man? (3) Which is the oldest tree in Australia? I will give the answers to the riddles: (1) Green. (2) When he is a muff. (3) The elder. With love to Summer. Wee Dot, Little Jenny Wren, Woody Knoll, Shining Sunbeam, Mother’s Servant, Young Meg, and Swanhilda, not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, SILVER CHIMES (Centre Bush). Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? My sister is writing to you, so I thought I would like to write a few lines too.« We are

haying a new school built, and a start has been made by carting gravel for it. We are having very cold weather just now. I must close now, as this is my first letter. Love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, QUEEN MARY (Cromwell). [Yes, you us, Queen Mary. Is the old school too small for present :fbeds?— DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. 1 am seven years of age. and am in the First Standard at school. There are only 10 going to school now—five girls and five boys. ,We have not very far to go to school I have six brothers, but no sisters; five of them are older than I am, and one is only three months old. I like him the best, he is such ;i dear wee fellow. I like minding him and seeing him getting, bathed. Ho can laugh and kick. I have five dolls, and .am making a dress for one at school. I have a little bantam hen, but she is not laying just now. This is all for this time.— Yours truly, r TUI II (Kyeburn). [Very pleased to welcome you to the page, Tui. Babies are sweet wee things, are they not? and so interesting.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is very cold up her© just now. My sister is waiting to you to-night. Our school opens to-morrow after two weeks’ holidays, and I am very glad 100, for I like school. Our hens are not laying very well now. My mother has not been well lately, hut she is getting all right now. I know quite a number of D.L.F. about here. I will have to close now, as it is getting late. —Yours truly, RASPBERRY (Cromwell). [I am sorry to learn your mother has not been well. Raspberry, but trust she is now fully restored to health—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We find it very cold driving to school these cold, frosty mornings, and I will not be sorry when summer comes again. What sort of weather are you having in Dunedm, Dot? We have just had our quarterly examination at school, and I came third top. I have just finished a book called "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” and at present am reading one called "Rainbow Children.” I think they are very nice books. I like reading; do you. Dot? \Vc are just milking one cow at present; hut she does not give very much milk. Well, Dot, as this is a very quiet little place and news is scarce, I will draw this short letter to a close. With kind regards to Kood, Edna May, Australian May, Gardener, and Early Riser, not forgetting yourself—Yours truly, ELECTRIC (Kawarau Gorge). [lf you enjoyed ‘'“Alice,” Electric, you should read ‘‘Through the Looking Glass,” by the same author; they are delightful. I think.—DOT.] - Dear Dot, —I am very pleased Pat has joined our page, and. seeing that I succeeded in persuading Pat to write, I shall try someone else. I had a girl friend up for tea yesterday, and, as the weather was beautifully fine, we enjoyed our rambles immensely. We went fishing, and we caught some crayfish; but we put them back again. Do you like fishing, Dot ? I think it is lovely, exciting fun. Now, I will tell the D.L.F. a story, the name of which is “The White Swallow.” Once upon a time there lived a king and his only daughter. The king was very mighty, and so ferocious and cruej, that his subjects all feared him. When they heard he was coming out from his magnificent palace the people hurriedly hid themselves, and this made the king more savage than ever. He was very unhappy; but the Princess Alba was just the reverse of her father. Autumn was at hand, the leaves were changing colour, and the swallows were flyings south when the Princess Alba stood in the hack garden waving a. gccd-bye to the departing birds. Suddenly a beautiful purewhite swallow fluttered to her feet. “Poor thing,” she said, as she nicked it up. “you must be wounded.’’ Finding it had hurt its wing, she placed it on some mors in the conservatory, saying, “I will come ynd see you eoon, but if you feel better you can fly out of the window.” At night the princess 'went to see the white swallow, and imc-diately under the electric light stood a handsome prince, clothed in pure white velvets. “Ah!” he said, “how glad I am you have come to me, for my arm is well now, and I must go to my home in the south, and will vou come with me?” But the piincsss said. “Not yet.” Alba was in great,flßmbie. because the king said she 'had to marry an ugly privy councillor/as a reward for somethin"'-. The swallow came and wont with his ninths, and always with the answer “Not wt.” At last the princess said. “I will go with you to the end ’of the world.” The next morning, when the swallows gathered up in the sky. there were two white birds among them. Across the hills and far away beyond their utmost purple rim, and deep into the dving dar the happy princess followed him.'" I hope I get some correspondents. Dot, and I am e-ec l osing stamns for auto-cards. Love to Pat. Primula, Shining Cuckoo. "> Orange Blossom. Snowdrop, and voursolf.—Yours truly. SOMEBODY’S SWEETHEART IT (Orenuki). [Thanks for your story, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot. —This is my first letter to your page, and I wish to become one of your happy band. I am nine years of age. and am in the Second Standard at school.” My two cousins, my brother, and myself drive to school, and we find it very cold these winter mornings: hut winter will soon be over now, and I will bs glad. I know a good few D.L.F. up here—a few go to our school. What kind of weather are yon having in Dunedin Dot? We are having lovely weather up here -at present. We have a cow and a horse. The cow gives about a bucketful of milk, and I am going to loann to milk soon. We have a good many hens, and they are just beginning to lay after their long winter spell. Well, Dot, as news is scarce, and this is iny first letter to the page, I think I shall stop. With love to Electric, Australian May. Kood. and Edna M!av, rot foraettin.g vourself.—Yours truly, " BROWN-EYED RUBY (Kawarau Gorge]. [Delighted to welcome you to our circle, dear, and I am so triad you have a mimber of D.L.F. friends. I .have posted vour badge.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy hand? I like to read the D.L.F. letters, and I take a great interest in them. I am 10 years old. I have read two books, and I found'them very interesting: one of them is “The Wide, "Wide World.”- and the other is the “Blue Book for Boys.” Ido not know any n.L.F.. Dot. We are milking six cows, and I milk two cowa' nearly every morning. I will close now. With love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting vourself, Dot. —Yours truly, BEAUFORT (Morton Mains]. [Yes, you may join us. Beaufort. I hops you may soon know some L.F.. if not personally, perhaps through corresponding with them.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a few lines so that you will not think I have forgotten you. I intended to write last week, but my Tittle sister, who is six years old, wag crossing a creek on a plank, when she slipped off. and met with a very had accident. She had to be taken away to the hospital, and may not be home again for five or six weeks. My mother is away with her, so I am kept very busy. What kind of weather are you

laving in Dunedin, Dot? It is very changeable up here now. Do you like reading, Dot? I do, and some of the hooks that I have read lately are; “Danesbury House,” “Hellen’s Fault,” and “The Wild Ruthvens.” 1 will bring this letter to aldose. With love to Queen Nancy, Kaipai, Lavender, Wild Violet, Fantail, and Mountain Maid.—Yours truly, MOUNTAINEER (Outram). [I am sorry to hear of j'our sister’s accident, 'Mountaineer, and trust she is progressing favourably. Naturally 3 - ou will find j'our time fully occupied.—DOT.] 'Dear Dot,—The weather is very fine, though it is very cold in the morning; but the winter is nearly past. I read a good many of the D.L.F. letters. We have 12 hens, and some of them are laying. We have two cows, but only one is milking. I am nine years of age, and am in the Fourth StanJ dard. I have three brothers and two sisters. I must bring this letter to a close. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, MOUNTAIN MAID (Outram). Dear Dot, —It was a lovely ,day here today, hut yesterday and the day before were terribly foggy. I am staying with my grandmother just now. I went home last Sunday, and we got our photos taken. I saw Snowdrop II a = she was going home from school. I am going to the Heddon Bush School concert to-morrow night. I will give the L.F. some riddles: "What tree is expressed by two letters?—LV. Which is the hardest key to turn?—A donkey What is there that the fewer there are tc guard it the safer it is? — A secret. Well, dear Dot, I think I must say good-bye. With Love to Blackpepper, Snowdrop 11, and yourself,—Yours truly, PINE TREE II (Heddon Bush). [Your letter looks as though. it had had a narrow escape from being burnt, Pine Tree.—DOT.] Dear - Dot, —I like reading the D.L.F. letters. I know Tui in' Tuturau. We are having had weather just now. I am not milking cows just yet. We have four pigs. My sister, my cousin, and myself are going to sing at the debating society'. I am getting on well with my music. It won’t b© long now before we get sirring, and the flowers will soon he up, and the days will be longer, which will be nice. I will draw to a close with love from —Ycurs truly, HAZEL (Waipounamu). [I hope you do well at the concert, Hazel. You have my best wishes for your success.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was ver3 r pleased to see my first letter in print. Wo are milking six cows, and I milk one named Polly. I know a few D.L.F.—namely, Tui, Hazel, English Oak, and Wild Pete. We are getting on very well with our music. I have one big doll. We have four pigs, one white and three black ones.—Yours truly, N., M. (Waipounamu). [You forgot to sign your N.D.P., dear, so I have, just put your initials. I am so glad yon are doing well at your music.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Everything seems so muddy and wet down here that one does not like to leave the fireside. I was at the Winter Show at Invercargill. It was very good, hut I liked the cats the best. The farmers’ bays were very nice, and well got up. There was such a tricky little pony for the guessing competition. Whoever guessed its correct weight won it. It cam© to Edgndale. Do you like hockey, Dot? Some people think it is a dangerous game, hut it is no worse than football. Yon get hit sometimes, but it is all in the game, and you have to take the bitter with the sweet. Well, Dot, as I have no more news. I will close with love to all the other D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.— Yours trulj', CLACH-NA-CUDDEN (Edendale). [You take a very sensible yiew of things, dear. When at school I was very enthusiastic about hockey, and, like yourself, did not grumble about a few knocks; but I have outlived that state now. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l hope you will allow me to join your happy baud. I enjoy reading the L.F. column very much. Your band seems to be always growing. Dot, and I am sure you have a great deal to do lo look after all your correspondence. It is bitterly cold and wet here to-night. The past week hasi been almost spring-like«„and one could almost smell the sweet scent of violets and primroses in the. air; hut now the air smells of icebergs. I have such a nice little' fox terrier. Ho is very mischievous, and is very fond of liens, especially other people’s. "There is a carnival queen campaign being held in Invercargill and surrounding districts, and great interest is being shown in it. It is quite exciting watching the flags go up announcing which cardidate is leading for the day. I know quite a number of D.L.F. down this way. Wo have no minister at present; but the congregation is to hold a meeting soon to decide on whcm.lhey will call. Everyone seems to -he away on holiday leave just now. The winter is the only time people have to spend a holiday, as the cows are all drj-, and the factory closed down. I wonder if you know who I am. Highland Lass? Love to White Rep, White Maori Belle, and not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, CHAWA THE HURON (Edendale). [Delighted to welcome you to our band, Chawa the Huron. The winter always brings an influx of new writers, which accounts for the size of our band—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Sweet Rocket is having a holiday down at my place. My brother has a calf, and its name is Hector. Our teacher has gone away, and we are having our winter holiday. We had our annual ball on Friday night in the schoolroom; and there was a nice crowd there. I was at the ball with my mother and father. Yellow Banksia was there also, and she had three dances. We are having very wet weather here lately, and ilia roads are very muddy. We have nine ducks, but they are not laying j-et. I am reading a book called “Martin Rattler”; have you ever read it. Dot? As it is getting late I will close with love to- all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours trulj', MOTHER S LASSIE (Tiromoana). [lt is not very nice weather for holidaj'a, Mother’s (Lassie; but young people usually manage to enjoj’ themselves regardless of climatic conditions.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is over a year since I have written to the page. I have left school; I passed the Sixth Standard last October, and got my proficiency certificate, a,nd since then I have been working at different things. Through the summer I was harvesting, and after that I was trapping. During the winter I was working at a place milking cows and doing odd jobs about the house. I came home about a week ago, and I am doing a bit of ferreting now. - I have two ferrets; they are very quiet and easily handled. I was at a school concert at Hj’de last week. I went down by train on Friday and came back on Saturday. It was a very good concert, and a lot of the school children wero performing; most of them were dressed as darkies. I have not learnt to dance j - et; but there are quadrilles here every fortnight, and I intend to make a start before the winter is over. I can ride a bicycle now, and I like riding very much. I did not have any tumbles when I was learning to ride. The roads about here are too muddy

in winter for the bicycle, but they are all right in summer. W© are having very mild weather these last few days, but it was very cold to-day. We have not have very much free I • nrl enow this winter. We are milking two cows just now. I do not often have the milking to do now. We feed the cows on chaff and straw. This is all just now. Yours truly, FRITZ (Kyeburn). [Very pleased to hear from you after such a long absence, Fritz. I am sure you will learn dancing easily, and since it is the principal amusement in the country it should be a great source of pleasure to' you. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —W© are having very fine weather for this time of the year. The trees are starting to bud out now. The farmers are all busy ploughing. I like riding very much. We are getting only two eggs ,a day. Our ducks are not laying yet. Our cows are nearly dr 3' now. - I must close with love to all . D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, BEAUMONT ROSE (Beaumont). Dear Dot, —We have two pet cats. We are playing rounders at school now. I have broken chilblains on my hands, but they are getting Setter now. The inspector has not been to our school yet.—Yours truly, PEBBLES (Beaumcnt). [I am glad your chilblains are getting better. Pebbles; they must have been very painful.—DOT.] ' Dear Dot, —It seems to be some time since I last wrote to the pa.ge, and as my address is now changed I thought I would write again. , My father sold the farm which we had before,, and we 'are living here till we see where we will be going; I must say that I wish we were never going to do any moving again; is it not a terrible business moving about?- The day. we cam© here it simply poured with ran. I have not had much chance of reading the L.F.’s page just lately, as there has been so much work to do with all the unpacking and getting straight; and then, again, we have started going to the school here, and we have more home lessons than we used to, and it all takes up time. Not long before we left the farm mother was laid up in bed for a few weeks, and we had to have a nurse for her, and this nurse told me that when she was a girl she used to write to the [rage. When. I asked her what her nom de plume was she told me that she did not have one, as it was at the time when they used to sign their own names; so I thought that it made the page look a fairly old-established one, don’t you think so? Since I last wrote to you another little brother has entered the family, so now I have iwo brothers and two sisters. Our little brother will he very nearly four months old when this appears in print. About a fortnight ago I went to the pictures, and had a very enjoyable evening. I am very fond of the pictures when they are good ones, especially if they are scenic ones. As news seems scarce, I will bring this to a close. With love and many good wishes to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself,—Yours truly, LADY BETTY (Featherston). [Moving house is certainly a fearful business, Lady Betty, and I can quite imagine how pleased you are to be settled again. The page has certainly been in existence a long time, as reference to the top of it will show.—DOT-.] Dear Dot, —I am staying at Balchitha just now. I am going to tell yon about, our concert on Friday night, the 10th. It was all a great success, and opened with a pianoforte duet. ‘ The second half of the programme was a humorous dialogue entitled “Country Cousins.” The characters were: Mr and Mrs Castuvas Defop, Mrs Snob, Jane, Sarah Buttermilk, Amos Buttermilk, Moses the Jew, Butcher, Lord Flash, Tony Sweller, and the policeman. Everybody acting was in fancy dress. After the concert there was a dance, which lasted until 2 o’clock. I was out at Kakapuaka to-day Dot; that is my native home, where I lived for 15 years I must close now with love to Nurse Ella, Nurse Ella’s Mate, Lady Victoria, and other L.F., not forgetting yourself, Dot, —Yours truly, LADY PEGGY (Balclutha). Dear Dot, —May I become on© of your Little Folk? I am 10 years old, and am in the Fourth Standard at school. I have one brother, hut jjio sister. There are 20 going to our school. I have a pony, and my brother- and I ride to school. His pony’s name is Timaiti,. and mine is Jack. I have a black spaniel named Flo, and she laughs and sits up. The nearest township from where I live is nearly five miles away. With love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulj', LORINDA (Normanvale, Hakataramea). [Certainly ’you may join us, Lorinda. It is wonderful the tricks dogs can be trained to do, is it not? —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am writing to see if you will let me join your happy band of L.F. We are past the shortest day now, so the days will be getting longer. It has been a beautiful week —no rain and no frost. The jonquils and daffodils are above the ground already. Our garden has a few flowers • in it. The road was very muddy a month ago, but is dried up a lot now, and they are gravelling it in some places. The tops of the mountains are covered with snow, and they look very pretty when the sun is shining on them,. What sort of weather are you having in Dunedin now? It wasn’t very nice for the Show, was it? I saw tire D.L.F. group in the Otago Witness, but I did not know any, although I know two or three about here. Most of the young men are trapping just now, and it is a bad time for bunny. I milk two cows, but they don’t give much, as there is no grass for them to eat. They get turnips and straw to eat. The trees look bare with no leaves on them, but they will soon grow now. I will close now. With love to all the D.L.F. — Yours truly, ELIZABETH. [Yes, you may join us, Elizabeth. It is cold, wet, and not altogether pleasant in Dunedin at present.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page. May I join your happy band? I am ll°years old, and am in the Fourth Standard at school. The roads are very muddy down here, and it is so wet to-day. It was such a lovely day on Saturday. _ What has g-one wrong with you, Little Cupid and Lazy E)rone? I never see your letters in the paper. I always like reading the L.F. letters. I know a lot of L.F. about here. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter to your page, I will have to close. Love to .all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, BLUEBERRY (Wyndham). [Very pleased to welcome you to the page. Blueberry.—DOT,] Dear Dot, —Wo have been having beautiful weather, but it is going to break again. Wo had very hard frosts last week, and it was so cold getting out of bed in the mornings. I saw your photo in the Witness, Frolic, the other week, and you looked so nice I just wished I was there with you. I was at the Bible social last Friday night; there was a party of ladies and gentlemen who came from Gore to speak to us. A Bible Class conference is to he held at Gore "this‘summer. The farmers about here are busy ploughing the ground and preparing for the spring. I jvas over seeing White Rabbit, and I intend to era and see you, Frolic, the first fine Sunday.

Hurry up- and answer my letter, Country Maid, and let me know how you are. When I was looking up an old Witness the other day I noticed a letter from Mountain Daisy, and she -said she knows me, though I don’t know her; but I would.be only too pleased to know you, Mountain Daisy. I am writing to you to-night, Mabel, but I expect you will get it before my letter appears in the page. I will have to close my uninteresting letter, as news is scarce. With love to White Rabbit, Frolic, Country Maid, Mabel, Hilma, Silver Cup, Blueberry, and the rest of the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, CATERPILLAR (Wyndham).. [I, too, thought the group looked very nice this year, Caterpillar; the pity ' was there were not more present.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was indeed disappointed when I looked at my last letter to isee my old nom de plume instead of the new; but I suppose Wo must get used to disappointments. 1 know. Dot, that was why it was called Lady Barkly; but that was not why I took it for my N.D.P. Just before I came up here, 1 stayed there for about a fortnight with a friend, and I had the time of my life. I am pleased to say we are having lovely weather for July—just like spring. My sister is away from home just at present, and I am staying with a friend, and it is lovely. The only thing .that I felt sorry to leave behind was my little"b!ack kitten. , I had not been away long before a mill pulled into a paddock opposite an dthey left the galley on the roadside. I suppose the kitten felt lonely, ferity took up with the mill-men in the galley. When I told the cook about it he said that the first time he was short of meat he would make a pie of it. I have been promised that it will be well looked after and fed, so I .will get it back again when the mill draws in. A euchre party and dance were held in the Echoolhouse last Wednesday. Nancy Lee and I went; but, as I can’t play euchre, I didn’t enjoy myself much, although -I made up for it at the dance. Nancy Lee enjoyed herself, too —especially at supper time. She was racing along a scat to a certain lady with a basket of cream puffs when somebody tripped her (so she says), and away went the cream puffs all across the floor. We had only an hour and three-quarter’s dancing,, and Nancy Lee and I had seven dances each, so we didn’t do badly. I had never been up in a round dance before; but she said that didn’t matter, as long as we got around, so I thought 1 would have a try. There are two or three again next week, but I don’t think I will go. Everybody tells me I am too young. Do you think that after a girl is over 15 she is too young to go to' dances, Dot? I don’t; not when she has her parents with her. I hope you received my letter. Shining Sunbeam, and that you are not offended at me for keeping you waiting so long; but, as I have already 'told you, I wrote before, but I burnt it—accidentally, of Course. Such a -long one it was, too —10 pages. I don’t agree with you, Canola; Lochiel is not muddy—it is a dear old place. I have sent yon my auto, Nikau, and hope to hear from you soon. Yes, Snowdrift. girls are the best at scallywag, and everything else, I think. Well, as it is getting late, I will close. * With love to Shining Sunbeam, Prokep, Nancy Lee. Lochiel. Dineline v Nikau, Primula, Heather Bell, and Milk Can, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, LADY BARKLY (Waihao Downs). [I am sorry you were disappointed. Lady Barklv, but I explained my reasons before.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have a fortnight’s holiday from school. It is raining hard, and we cah-. not get outside to play. The weather is very cold just now, and we have had two slight falls of snow lately. Do you like reading, Dos ? I don’t, but my two sisters are very fond of it. My little sister, who is five years old, made a pudding for dinner on .Saturday, of which she was quite proud. I have never seen anyone writing from Eeefton yet, but I would like to. My father is away from home a lot, and he finds it very cold driving in the winter. We have a tinsmith next door to us, and he makes a fine old noise. Well, as I have nothing else to write about I will close with love to all the L.F. and yourself,— Yours truly, KIOB MYA (Eeeftoii). Dear Dot, —We have two weeks’ holiday, and I am very glad. It is raining very hard here to-day. My father went to Blackball on Friday, and will not be Home till Thursday next. It has been a very cold winter in Eeefton, with plenty of rain and fog, but not much sunshine. We are looking forward to summer coming, so that we can go out for picnics and swims in the river. Our school is being painted and done up during the holidays. I wish I could write a more interesting letter, as mv grandmother cuts my letters out of the Witness and sends them Home to England to my cousin. Next month is the beginning of spring, and then I shall be able to find more interesting subjects to write about. I will close now. With much love to you and all the L.P.—-Yours truly, LITTLE BUTTERCUP (Eeefton). [Letter-writing is to a great extent almost an art, Little Buttercup; but, of course, practice makes perfect in it as in other things, and if you write what you observe your letters will never fail to interest.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are having an English Church social up here to-night, but I did not go to it. I stayed at home to let mother and one of my elder sisters go. We have a flock of sheep, and there are 50 altogether. We live on a farm, and are milking half a dozen cows. Do you like milking. Dot? I have to milk two cows every morning, and like it very well. We had the chaffcutter, and it'cut one of our stacks, and there were 349 bags of chaff in it. After the engine went away there were a number of mice about, and my two sisters and I got a stick each, and looked about and killed a lot of them. One of the mice that we caught was in among the waste, and my brother caught it by the tail and chased me with it, ancT I had to run away. Then we had tea, and went out and had a game on the bags. I was at school to-day and I got three cuts of the strap, and I did not like it. I am 11 years old, and am in the Third Standard. I do not like the teacher we have just now, because he is too cross; but I suppose we would never learn if he didn’t growl at us sometimes. There are not many flowers in bloom just now, are there, Dot? We had a lot of violets out. but one night a very hard frost came and killed them all. I am learning to play cards. I think this is all the news this time. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting vourself.—Yours truly, JUST A SNOWFLAKE (Miller’s Flat). [I do not suppose anyone likes being punished, dear; but of course the only remedy is to keep out of mischief, and so avoid ihe consequences of such rashness.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Did you go to the Dunedin Show ? I have been at one Winter Show in Dunedin, and it was very nice. There were some Highland cattle there, and they looked very fierce. I went into the laughing gallery', and I did laugh, too. There is a man coming over to our school to teach us about gardening and pruning trees. We have a garden at school, hut there are not very many flowers out just how. Mv two cousins were over at my place on Sundav; I have 57 cousins altogether. We have three pretty, slate-coloured kittens, but they are not very tame. Our fowls are starting to lay now. I will stop now. Love to A Farmer’s Lass, Granny’s

Violet, Queen of Violets, and yourself.—Yours truly, PRINCESS PATRICIA (Winton). [You have quite a fair share of relations in the world, Princess Patricia, and should consider yourself very fortunate. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to you, and I would like to be one of your Little Folk. I know some of the L.F. here. Napoleon and I are in the same class at school. . I have throe miles to .go to school; I used to walk, hut I have a bicycle now. Things are very quiet down here. There were debates _ last year, but they have not started this winter yet. I spent my Christmas holidays at Wyndham, and enjoyed myself very well. I was_ with my cousin in the bush when he was sawing timber. I do like the bush when the rata is in blossom, and it is beautiful to hear the tnis whistling in the fine summer mornings. I will close now. With best regards to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, SHAKESPEARE (Greenvale). [Very pleased to welcome you to the page, Shakespeare. Life in the country, especially near the bush, has its com pen sat ions to a lover of Nature.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—This is my first letter to your page, and I would like to join your happy band. I am in the Fourth Standard at school, and am 10 years of age. My teacher is leaving; 'she has been here seven and a-half years. I am living with my grandmother and grandfather, because my father and mother- are dead. Well, Dot, I will close now. Because I have lessons to learn. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself. —Yours truly, ■ SILVER CHIMES (Luggate). [Welcome, Silver Chimes. We shall hope for more news next time.—DOT,] Dear Dot, —May I join your page? I always read the letters from the Little Folk, and take great interest in them. The weather here is very frosty just now. but the frost always brings sunny days. Hurry up, Epthee, and write to the page. I have not seen a letter from you for a long time. I don’t suppose you know who I am, Snow Queen? Po you like dancing, Dot? I am very fond of it. We have quadrilles here every Friday night, and a debating society every Wednesday night. There are very few D.L.F. in Mossburn. Hurry up, comrades, and wake up. I will bring this letter to a close, hoping you will accept me as an L.F., and with best love to Epthee and Snow Queen, not forgetting yourself.—Yours trulv, MAIL GIRL (Mossburn). [You may certainly join us, Mail Girl. Apparently you are not lost for amusements in your district. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Our school concert is on the 71h of next month. Belle Mahone and I have to sing a song at the concert. I was at Peepsie’s place on Saturday, and had good fun playing on the stack. We play tig in the trees,-at the school. I was in at the Dunedin Show, and I would have liked to come and see you; but it was too cold, and it was raining all the time we were there. Peepsie’s sister had the highest marks in our examination. The weather up here is very miserable and cold. 'Peeps.ie, Golden Bangle, and her sister may come to our place on Saturday. I think I must close. With love to Lady Sybil, Peepsie, Biddy, Princess Alice, and Cora Lynn, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, • BRIDE’S CAKE (Awamangu). [I hope you may have a fine night and a splendid attendance at the concert, Bride's Cake; also that j'our item is a great success. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is over 12 months since I last wrote to the page; hut there is not much news about here to write about. Hurry up and answer my letter, Fisher Girl and Red Wing III; it is a long time ago since I had a letter from you. We are having very changeable weather here just now. We arc milking only two cows at present, and I think it is quite enough for these cold mornings. Since I last wrote to~you I have left school, and am not sorry either. We have not many flowers out just now. Most of the bulb plants are beginning to shoot through the ground now, as it is coming near the spring time. As there is not much news about here, I think I will close with best love to Golden Lochart, E. A. M„ Fisher Girl, Red Wing 111, Little Miss Trix, and all the rest of the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, DORIS HAMLYN. (Mabel Bush). [lt is indeed a pleasure to hear from you after such a long silence, Doris. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and I hope yorr will let me join your happy band. Rabbits are barking our trees now, and I am setting traps for him. We got a lot of apples this year, hut no raspberries. My youngest sister and I can milk the cow; she is very quiet, and comes home nearly every night and morning. When our horse comes home He kicks at the gate for his-feed. He is very fond of apples and pears. My youngest brother is at the College in Invercargill, and is getting on very well. Our town is situated on a river at the foot of very large mountains, the highest of which is 5600 ft high. There have been two falls of snow lately, but only about Ift deep. There are some lovely ponds of ice here, and we can slide, skate, and sit in sleighs and slide down the ice, and it is grand fun, especially when we all fall out. We have only two mails a week here, and they are carried by spring-cart. Sometimes, in winter, when the road is blocked with snow, or when the river is in flood, it has to be carried by the carrier on horseback, who takes down a pack horse to bring up other provisions "We are 10 miles from the nearest township. I think this is long enough for n first letter, so I shall close with love to yourself and nil the Little Folk, tiu-y, ALPINE CLIMBER (Macetown). [Mail-carrying under such conditions would not be altogether a bed of roses.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—We get the Witness every week, and I like reading the L.F. page. My brother and I go to a new school; it is one mile and a-half away. At school we play jumping and skipping and a number of other games. We have three cats and one dog. The cats’ names are Torty, Spotty, and Topsy. Mv father had the chaffcutter last week, and” I had a ride in the engine. We are getting good weather just now. To-mor-row is Arbor Day, and we are going to plant trees at school, and I am going to plant a tree for my little sister at home. I will close now, as it is time for me to go to bed. • Love to Peggy and Girlie, not forgetting vourself. —Yours truly, SPRING DAJjE (Birchwood). [That is indeed good of you to plant a tree for your little sister, Springdale. Arbor Day, unfortunately, was not held in Dunedin, as it is considered too early for plantinrr trees here; hut that ceremony will be performed next month. —DOT.] Dear. Pot, —May I join your happy band? I am eight years old, and am in the First Standard. There are only three in my class. We have one cow, one heifer, and a bull calf; the cow’s name is Kitty, the heifer’s Beauty, and the little one is just called “wee bull.” I milk the cow in the morning, and my youngest brother milks at night time. Our fowls -are not laying just

now, but we expect them to lay any day now. It is very cold in the winter with frost and snow. There was about Ift of snow here last month; but it is nearly all away now, except in the shade. We skate and slide on the ice. It is very hot in the sum- - mer and very dry. I have five brothers and one sister, and I am the youngest of the family. As this is my first letter to the page I must not make it too long, so I shall close now. With-love to yourself and all the Little Folk, —Yours trulv, PRIMROSE (Macetown). [Certainly, dear, youmay join us. You are indeed a very useful little person for one so young. I also not© with Appreciation the neatness of your letter.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page, and may I join their happy band? I have been reading the D.L.F. letters, and thought I would like to join too. We had a school concert, and I had to take part in it. I was Little Miss Muffet. We have three cats, and would you please give names for them. We have a lot of hens, but we are only getting a few eggs. I will bo 10 years old to-morrow, and am in Standard 11. Well, as news is scarce, I will close with best wishes to all f.he D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, ■ * . SYBIL (Tiroiti). Dear Dot,—This is my first letter to your page; may I join your happy band? I am eight years old, and am in Standard I at school. Our school concert was on the Ist of July, and a dance followed. 1 have dug three gardens. We have five horses, and one of them is just being broken in. We have four cows. Our hens are not laying just now. We are not trapping at present, as the ground is too frosty. We have six' dogs and six pups. We are having fin© weather up Otago Central. We are busy planting willow trees just now. We have two bicycles at home. I think I will close. Love to the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, FIREMAN (Tiroiti). [Yes, Sibyl and Fireman, you may join us; but you both forgot to enclose your names with your letters. Would you pleas© do so in your next letter, and if you tell m© what sex the cats belong to I shall be most happy to name them. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is such a long time since I last wrote to you that I feel ashamed of myself. It is getting on for three years since I last wrote; but this is a quiet place, and there is not much news to write about. We are having very cold weather lately; but we don’t mind the cold so- long as it doesn’t rain. My, two sisters and I went to Queenstown the last week-end excursion, and had a lovely time, the only trouble being it wasn’t long enough. It takes a day and a-half to go from here, as there is no early morning train to connect with the south express, so we had to leave the day before and stay in Dalclutha all night; but there was a late train on Wednesday night, so we could get right home the same day. It was raining when we left home, but on the Saturday it was a good day, and we had lovely weather all the .time we were away. On the Sunday we went to church in the morning, and in the afternoon we climbed Queenstown Hill, and when we got into the snow we s 4 artcd snowballing. You can get a good view from the top; but it was rather cold so high up, and among the sngw too. In the evening we went to church again. It was lovely and moonlight, and w© could see to the top of the mountains —the snow looks lovely by moonlight. On Monday . morning we went to the waterworks and up the creek for a long way, and when we couldn’t get any further we climbed till we got on to the track to Ben Lomond; but we wero too tired to climb Ben Lomond, so we took a track that came down behind the cemetery. It was very steep, : and in some places it made us quite giddy to look over the steep rocks; but we landed at the bottom safely at last, and walked through the cemetery home, very tired and ready for dinner. After dinner we went to see the beauties of the Domain, which is very beautiful even in the winter time. It must be very beautiful, in the summer when all the flowers are in bloom. The next day was spent in a trip to the Head of the Lake. It was a lovely day, and the lake was like glass. The boat left at 8 o’clock, so we had to be up early. The sun was just rising, and shone with gold on the snowy peak of Ben Lomond, which was just behind the place we were staying. It was lovely to see the snow when the sun was just rising. We did not go to Paradise, but spent our time in looking around G-lenorchy, which, after all, is not much to see. We arrived home again at 6.30. We had to return home the next day, and had to be on the boat at 8.30, and did not get home till 9 o’clock at night, so it was a" long day for us. We were very pleased with our trip all the same. I hop© to make my next trip to Queenstown in the summer time but I am afraid that won’t be for a long time yet. We had a social hero last week, and had a lovely time. The social was a great success, and nearly every solo singer was encored, but that mad© it very late when it ended; but, course, we didn’t mind that, as long as we enjoyed the social. I was at a social evening on Monday, and enjoyed myself fine; but it was 'a very wet night. Well, Dot, I will not write any more this time. With best love to Possum, Mary Bell, Airlie, Portree, and yourself,— Yours trulv, PIXIE II (Gatlins). [I think the wild, rugged beauty of winter in a place like Queenstown is quite as beautiful as the peacefulness of summer time. I am so glad you enjoyed your little holiday there. —DOT.] , AUTOS. Daisy Blackburn (Ruby Henderson, Awarnangu, via Balclutha) wishes to exchange post-cards or correspond with Jess, La Kola, Silver Cup, or any D.L.F. girls willing. Wingatui (Gertrude E. Johnston, AshYy Downs, Waiwera South) wishes to exchange post-cards with Lady Peggy, Kawarau, Bruce 11, and any other D.L.F., willing. Prompt replies. De Claude (Richard Lord, Hakataramea) wishes -to correspond with Everybody’s Friend. • Raspberry (Kitty M’Nulty, Cromwell) wishes to correspond with Star, Little Jenny Wren, Wee Dot, Silver Birch, and any other L.F. willing. Somebody’s Sweetheart II (Ruth L. MTvor, Orepuki) wishes to exchange autos and correspond with any D.L.F. willing, Lady Barkly (A. M. Butler, care of Mrs N. Currie, Waihao Downs, via Waimate) wishes to exchange autos with Floric, British Boy, Ethel, and any other D.L.F. willing. Princess Patricia (Ellen G. Kerr, Forest Hill, Winton) wishes to exchange post-cards with Ivy Diamond, Queen of the Violets, Nurse Ella, Linnet, and any L.F. willing. Fritz (Walter W. Pearson, Kyeburn) wishes to exchange autos with Micky’s Chum, King Cole, A Lad From the Bush, and any other D.L.F. willing. Lady Betty (Mary Robinson, The Pines, Bell street, Featherston, N. 1.) wishes to exchange picture post-cards with any D.L.F. willing. Mail Girl . (Kathlem Kearney, Mossburn) wishes to correauond with any D.L.F. willing.