LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 75

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK.

Motto:—W© write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves, pgjr Ro letter to contain more than 430 words. Dear Dot,—l woe very pleased to see my last letter in the Witness. I am back m Dunedin again, Dot, and am nob sorry either. We have been busy packing a tin for my brother, who is in the Dardanelles. My other brother went away with the Earl of Liverpool’s Own on Saturday. I have only one more brother at home now, and lie is too young. Would you kindly forward me a badge. Christmas will soon be hero again. How quickly this year has gone, hasn t it. Dot? but I don’t suppose it has gone quickly for the boys in ih© Dardanelles. What beautiful weather we have been having! but it was lovely to have the refreshing rain, because it did such a lot of good both ir the country and in the town. Now 1 must close. With kind regard to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Lours truly, PEARLS OF DEW (Dunedin). [You will appreciate the town after your sojourn in the country. Pearls of Dew. I hope you have received the badge safely. DOT.] Dear Dot,—We are having some fine weather down here, and I think that it will make the crops of oats grow all the better. We are milking 10 cows now, and feeding seven calves. I took the milk to the factory', and we got 2051 b of milk. On Friday morning, when I was going to the factory, my horse shied and nearly threw me out of the cart, and before I could get up the horse started to gallop. I am in the Fourth Standard at school, and am 12 years old. We have a football at the school; the first one wo had was a 3s 6d one, but we did not have it long before it was punctured. After a while we collected 10s 6d, end got the teacher to got it for us. Sometimes we have some fun with it. I had to disc on Saturday, and I had to disc along’ the side of the hill, and I had a hard task to keen my seat. I nearly fell off once, but X grabbed my -seat. I must close now. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, BEAUFORT (Morton Mains). [Your life is not devoid of adventure, Beaufort—you seem to have plenty of narrow escapes; but I am glad you have so far escaped unscathed.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—lt is nearly six months since I last wrote to your page, and I must write more regularly. We are having lovely weather. Do you like reading. Dot? I have read several book", among which are “The d". Wide World” and “Castle Dangers of Canada.” We have only one pig. We are milking 10 cows, and I milk three every morning and night. I feed the calves also. There are about 33 children going to our school. Love to till the D.L.F. and yourself. —Your-s truly, LYDIA (Morton Mains). [You will have to rise early to get your cows milked in the morning, Lydia.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—The weather here is very beautiful. It has been very nice for the past week, but I think It will rain soon. I have been ill a. few days, but am all rigdit now. One of my uncles was wounded at the Dardanelles the other day, and we have neverheard where he was wounded. Our oats are about 3in high, and our garden plants are beginning to show themselves. My mother and three of my brothers went away this morning to the Lakes district for a holiday. My father and brother are out working just now, so there is just myself and our servant here. I was at a concert at Long Bush on Thursday night, and had a good time. I have no news to tell you, so I will close. Love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly ALLAN-A-DALE (Woodlands). [This is ideal weather for a holiday, Alan-a-dale, and I suppose you wish you were away also.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—-We have a hen with 13 chickens, and they are such dear wee things. You should hear the old mother calling them—it is so nice. We had our examination not long ago, and I passed, and now am in Standard V. To-day, when my sister and I cr.mo home from school, we cleaned our mother’s pictures, and we both earned fid each. Wasn’t it a funny thing. Dot, the first badge you sent to Hawkeshaw must have got lost in the mail, because he received only an empty box; but next time there was one in the box, and he is wearing it now. Wo play rounders at school, and I think it is a nice game. There was some rain last night. I am sure it will bring on the grass all right. All the daffodils are finished now. Xjovo to Aunt Nell, Mauve Queen, Toddie Bear, May Blossom, and all the other D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, DAY LOVE. [The badge should not come out of the box, because it is wrapped in paper; but I hardly suppose they receive the most gentle handling in the post.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—We-have 25 chickens out now, and I have another hen sitting on 11 eggs. Our examination will soon be on, but I don’t think I will pass. 1 was out for a drive last Thursday with my mother. I will have to stop row. Boat love to all the L.F., not forgetting vourself.—Yours truly, MOUNTAIN LILY (Glenorchyh [You must work hard now. Mountain Lily, bo ns to surprise yourself bv passing well. — DOT.] Dear Dot.—Wo have been having some lovely rain lately, which we have been wanting for some time. There is a little rab’&it in our garden which we often tried to catch, but it is such a cunning little thing that it just dodges us and goes under the house. My bro'her has two pet pigeons, which he is" very fond of, and feeds them before he goes to work. There was an open-air concert in the square, and they wore also soiling flowers for the wounded soldiers. They also had a pony, which you had to pay Is to sec waltz; and a dog, which would run up one ladder and Irving down from n loft in a basket a little white kitten. Two of my sisters were rolling flowers, and I was selling and collecting also. There were pictures shown at night just where the stage was erected, and there was a very big crowd, and I saw only ouo D.L.F. badge aa well as my own, but did not speak to the wearer. The roses are bell Inning to look lovely after the _ rain. Last Friday they were selling buttons in live square for the wounded soldiers at the frono. My sister, who is an old D.L.F., was married

a few weeks back, and it was a very pretty wedding. She wore a white satin dress trimmed with lace, and u lace veil trimmed with orange blossom. The bridesmaid’s dress was white Indian muslin with a pink belt and rose streamers. The bride’s and bridesmaid’s bouquets were of lilies and maidenhair ferns. The bridesmaid wore a large white hat trimmed with little pink roses. The bouquets were sent specially from the North Island. Some of the presents were ap, afternoon tea set, silver coffee service, an oil painting, and a pair of salt cellars, as well as many other presents. Three of my cousins have been wounded, but only two are being sent back to Now Zealand because they were badly wounded. Mother and I spent the day on the beach, and we had a lovely time watching the children bathingand paddling - . I was quite sorry when wo had to leave to come into town again. My brother Lucky Bean wishes to bo remembered to the page. Ho has passed his exams at school well, and is now in the Third Standard. Ho says he is to play a game of cricket against the Fourth Standard at school, and T do hope they win. Next Saturday there is to be a big display of school childr - n in the park over the river from here. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, APRIL FOOL (Christchurch). [Tlier© is always something on those days in the various towns.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have not written to you for a long time, so I am making a start again. Well, it is raining here to-day, and we can’t go out to play, and it is no joke either. I have a brother at the Dardanelles. Ho lias been in the trenches- for nearby four months; blit wo got word a week or two ago to say ho was slightly sick in Malta Hospital, so I suppose he will bo having a spell there. Isn’t this terrible, Dot! I wish it was over. We have 10 little goslings, eo we will have roast goose for Christmas; but I don’t know about peas, as the pigs got in the garden to-day and ate them all. They were Sin or 4in above the ground. Wc have a few potatoes in also, so I suppose we don’t need to growl. Dear Dot, I think I will bring this letter to a- close. Love to Mother’s Sunshine and all Dot’s Little Folk, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, VE.EILLA. [lt makes one fed most annoyed when an animal runs riot in the garden.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wo have 18 chickens, and they have a good mother. Isn’t this war terrible, Dot! I know a good many boys. There is a man leaving here to-morrow, and is sailing flora New Zealand during the first week of November. Dad is putting a new floor into the -stable. I was scuffling potatoes, and I broke a _ swingle-tree. The rabbit buyers have a sick horse, and they gave it to dad, and be gave it something to cure it. The crops are corning up, and they will bo ready to cut a little while after Christmas. It has been very hot hero to-day. Dot. I did not know what to do with myself. On© of our horse-s kicked out at me, but I stepped out of his way in time. I must close now. Love to Hawk ah aw the Detective, not forgetting ycurseif.—Yours truly, FISHERMAN. [The crops are evidently going to be early this year, Fisherman—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The Railway and Shipping Princess has got in for Southland. My brother left for Trentham camp; he is in the Rifle Brigade. The people of West Plains gave him a send-off on Friday night. I felt a little tired next day, as I was at a concert and dance the night before. Wo made over iSIO on Thursday night, as it was in_ aid of the wounded soldiers. The war is still going on, and I do not think it is near an end. What sort of weather are yon having in Dunedin, Dot ? Ydo have been having very good weather here lately; but it lias been raining very heavy to-day, and I think there will be a flood before it stops. Weil, Dot, I will bring this letter to a close, as it is getting late. Love to all the D.L.P., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, SUNFLOWER (West Plains). [I am sure you would feel The departure of your brother, Sunflower.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather up here has been very pleasant, but we are having a little rain just. now. I am reading a book called “The Deserted Palace," and I find it very interesting. To-day was the opening - of the bowling green; but it started to rain. On Saturday I dressed up all my dolls and sent them for a ride on Topsy’s back; but just as I had them all nicely packed or;, the cat started to run, and they all fell off on the stones and broke one of the doll’s head off, so that was the end of their ride. The flowers in the garden are nearly all dead now. I planted some peas in my garden, and they are growing splendidly. Is not this war dreadful! Love to Rod Wing, Somebody’s Sweetheart 11, Little Miss Perky’s Mate, Queen Mary, Queen Mary’s Mate, and all the other D.L.P., not forgetting j-ourself.—Yours truly, LITTLE MISS PERKY (Orepuki). [That was quite a disastrous ending the to the dolls’ outing, Miss Perky. I am sure you must have felt very sorry for the one whose face was broken.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—This is my first letter to your page, and I hope you will let mo join your happy band. A. lot of Little Folk write from here. We had om- examination some time ago, and before that we had our essay. The essay was on the Life cf Nelson. It was not so very hard. Aren’t motor cars getting common.. Dot? A good many people here have them. Isn’t this war .awful! I do hope it will end soon. It is awfully hot to-day: but there was a lot of rain last Saturday. I will now bring my letter to a close. Kind regards to all, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, THE RISING- SUN (Miller’s Flat). Dear Dot, —This is my first letter to your page; my mate is writing too. I hope you will let me join your happy band. There are a good many Little Folk living here. Tin’s is a terrible place to live in;’ one cannot go outside the back door but everybody knows about it. Our examination is over now, and I a m very glad. We have our flower gardens at the school all done up, and there are a good few flower seeds up. Not very long ago there was a bazaar here for the wounded soldiers, and they made a lot. of money. I will bring my letter to a close now with kind regards to all, not forgetting yourself. —-ours truly, THE SETTING SUN (Miller’s Flat). [I am very pleased to welcome both The Rising Sun and yourself to the page, dear, and hope to hear from the pair of you from time to time. —DOT.]