THE GREAT MARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 64

THE GREAT MARCH.

[All Bights Reserved.] No. 28.

Bv

Edith Howes.

A moth, speckled with lilack, came flying over the swampy corner of the big grass meadow. “'lTiis is a splendid place!” she said, and she laid her patches of little round white eggs on the green grass blades. Seven hundred ■eggs she laid, and then she flew away. It was indeed a splendid place, Lush grasses grew high on every side, sheltering the eggs and offering rich and tender food for the babies when they should hatch. In a fortnight they were hatched and seven hundred tiny caterpillars, smooth and white, crawled about and? nibbled at the young grass heads, turning green as they did so, and growing hourly. They ate so fast and grew so fast that their skins were soon too tight, so they split them down the back and came out in new ones. Several times they did this, and each time they became darker, till they were green-brown or almost black. Then stripes came, long pale yellow stflpao dividing the black from head to tail, down the back and sides. Under the body the skin was soft, dull green, streaked and spotted with black or brown. They looped along on their queer little legs, eating ince-santly. When they were a month old, and about an inch-and-a-half long, they stopped eating and began to burrow in the soft, damp ground. Each made a little earth-oocoon, crept into it, and there changed into a red-brown chrysalis, less than half as long as it had been. There ■were not seven hundred of them now, for wandering beetles had eaten some; but the thick grass was such good shelter /■from their other enemies that more than «ix hundred still remained alive. Three weeks later, with the help of little curved hooks at the end of their chrysalis cases, they broke open their •cocoons, pushed through the inch or two •of earth above them, and came out from their chrysalis cases. When their wings were dried they were fawn-coloured moths speckled with black like that careful mother of them all who had found “this sheltered spot and had placed them here. They flew about at night, when birds and other enemies were asleep; by day they hid in anv darkened corner. They never flew far from their old home, and the hundreds of mothers among theiji laid each her hundreds of eggs within its safety. These eggs hatched in their turn, and when winter came two hundred thousand caterpillars hid themselves away beneath the tnfts of grass to shelter till warmer days returned. When spring came round they fed and grew again, and passed from to moth and laid their eggs; and w hefty, these were hatched sixty million caterpillars looped about, eating incessantly. / The swampy comer would not feed them all, so they wandered out into the meadow, eating off its sweet spring grass, and changing there to moths. Again, and \ yet again, and eggs were laid and hatched before the winter came, and now there were billions of caterpillars looping and eating, looping and eating, through all the paddocks near. Out here, where they were not so sheltered, thev fed at night or in the dusk of evening, hiding by day under clods of earth or tufted roots of plants. So the farmer scarcely saw them, and could not understand why his grass was eaten down <SO low. Next summer there was no food left for their ever-increasing multitudes; they had eaten the paddocks bare of all those tender shoots and blades that they could tear and chew. “Push on! We must find food,” cried some, and thev butted against those in front. Now, a caterpillar cannot bear to be touched from behind; if you touch his head he will only shrink and cower, but if you touch his tail he runs and runs, filled with fear of the unknown danger at the back of him. So those who had butted bv their hungry fellows behind looped forward with a rush, butted in their turn against those ahead of them, and soon set the whole multitude on the run. Through a fence they went, over a gravelled road, through another fence, and into a field young oats, green and delicious. They tor® at the young blades and tender ears with their hungry jaws, ate all that suited them, and then went on, leaving 'til® crop a ruin. Thev were all on the march now. In. millions and billions thev came on, in ■countless hordes, crossing paddocks and Tends, climbing banks, over-running gardens. eating .everything green soft as thev c.ime to it. “Tt is the armyworm'” s°i 1 the people, for the march ■was like that of an nmiv in an enemy countrv, spreading desolation in its track. *TTiev ate oats and wheat and ha-'-ley, peas find clover and mangels, rye and beet and

turnips, and scores of less important things. They marched by daylight now, as well as by night, ana often their way was quite unsheltered; so it was no wonder that a thousand enemies found them out. Birds came from miles around to feast on them, picking them off the plants as fast as thev could swallow, or dragging them from the earth if they began to burrow; beetles hunted them; toads devoured them; four-winged flies and ichneumon flies stabbed them and laid their eggs in them, and the eggs hatched quickly "out and ate the caterpillars so that they died. Yet. with all these enemies about them, they still marched in their bullions, ruining the countryside. But now came man, their most P°"'^ T r ~ ful enemy, to their destruction. VVe must save our crops.” the farmers sai , and with a steam-plough they ploughed a ditch two feet deep and a quarter of a mile in length straight across the line 01 march. Men, following the P lon nits here and there and smoothed and made upright the sides of the ditch so that caterpillars falling into -it could ™ climb out again. On came the countless army, falling by millions over the edgeof the precipice into the ditch below, and wandering into the pits, there to be easily and quickly killed. So the great march w ao stayed and the farms were saved. letters from the little FOLK. Motto.—We Write for the benefit of other*. lor ourselves. No letter to contain more than 850 worto. N.DU. o^fhe^p^ dances and picnics- we before Christmas Em we went to a concert and dance “r T utuxau and had a nnd on Christmas Eve we went into wyna ham At 11 O’clock that night we set out for ho™ and then we thought we would go back and get some ice-creams After tna* one of my mates and I missed the others, and Z we had four miles *> go we nevtor stopped to look for them. Next day we found out they had spent a good deal of time looking for us, and then in a car. On the Sunday we went to Morton Mains, and had a great time there,.And on Christmas Day we went U> Edenda e sports I think t-hat was the only Christmas Day I had missed my dinner. My mate and I wanted to leave early, so were deaf to the invitations to stop for dinner. Late that afternon we went for a motor ride to (seaward Downs and Mataura Island, then home, and finished np with a dance at Mimihau. The following day we went to a picnic at Tiiturau, and that night I was thankful when bed time came, as I was tired out New Year’s week I was at four dances and two picnics, so altogether we managed to have a jolly time. The weather is just perfect, but if it is going to rain I hope there is a proper downpour before next month, as the ' school excursion is at Riverton, and we are looking forward to a fine day. Holidays will soon be over, and then we will have to settle to work again. This afternoon we are going out for a bicycle ride, but I am afraid it will be too hot and dusty. Last night we went about six miles and back again. It was half-past 10 when we got home. It was very amusing last night: we had made a good start, when my mate got her foot caught in the chain of her bicycle, and there was nothing but bike and girl in the middle of the road. For a while I could not help her for laughing. She did look comical! Well, Dot, I must not take up too much of your space. In the future I am not going to be so neglectful?* Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, - TINY. [You certainly had a round of gaiety durring the holidays, Tiny.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my letter in print. There are a great many little rabbits about here. There are grey ones and black and yellow ones. I had never seen a yellow one till I came up here. We go for many walks in the evenings on fine nights. It has been very hot of late, and it makes one feel one wantß to be in the water.—Yours truly, ORETI. [I have posted the badge, dear, and no doubt you will have received it long before you see your letter.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l will write .a few lines to the page while dinner is cooking, but it wont’ be very long. To-day is lovely and fine, and so hot. My sister, Lily of the Leith, and my mother have gone to the bush, with some friends, for a picnic. I think they will have 'a lovely time, as the C*jsh is so cool. The trees are covered with red mistletoe, which is something like the rata flower. Our sports are to be held on the 34th of January, so if it is a fine day I hope to enjoy myself. We are milking 29 cows, and will soon have some more in. I used to take the cream to the station three times a week, and I liked the drive very much. Three lorries have come into this place just now. Our oat crop is not very high this year but it is fairly thick. Most of the crops round about are very patchy—ours included. A number of the farmers have* had to sow their turnips a second and third time on account of the fly eating them. What with the rabbits and the fly», things don’t have much of a chance to grow, do they? My brother has some mangolds in the garden, and they are growing well too. Everything in the garden is coming on well now, so long as the wind does not spoil them. We haven’t many flowers in this year, but I hope to have more next. Do you ever have a chance to read, Dot? I am reading a book called “Jan and her job.” It is rather a nice one. There’s one her© I like very much, and that 18 “A Lost World,” and also another one called ‘Laddie.” I wonder what has become of Aloha s Mate ? .1 suppose he is very busy, rvfl Ul e • us - I enjoy id reading the Old Writers letters, as they weT© so interesting. Love to all the L.F., ©specially Lily of the Leith, Waipango Lassie, Diji, Rosewood Lauie, Jim’s Chum, Aloha's Mate’ and also yourself, dear Dot.—Yours truly ’ LILY OF ZEANA. Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band? I have for a long time wanted to write, and at last I have madi up my mind to do so Miss Inquisitive and Nffver Mind are my cousins. I expect them to come to Dunedin shortly. I have a cousin from Gore siaUn" with me just, now Do Forget-me-not ‘and Little Bush Maid still write? Give my kve to Miss Inquisitive, Never Mind, and Uovn-

tain Daisy, not forgetting your own self.— Yours truly, UEEN ESTHER. [When forwarding money through the post please register the letter, as we have to pay registration.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band ? I am 14 years of age, and have just left school. I did not go away at Christmas, as my mother went away and I kept house. I am reading a book called “The Heritage of the Desert,” by Zane Grey. It is a lovely story and very interesting. I do not know any L.F. excepting my sister, Bluebell, but I hope to meet some soon. As this is my first letter I wfll close with love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, BLUEBELL’S' SISTER. [You are very welcome to join us, dear.—• DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather here has been very unsettled lately. I have had a letter from Sandy, and I am going to write to A Soldier’s Boy. It is very hot to-day, but I think we will get a thunderstorm. I have my little mates up here from Mornington, and I think they are having a good time. We go back to school on the 6th of February, and I will be in the Fifth Standard. Our father is harvesting the oats just now. We have a swarm of bees, and my mother has just put a white sheet over them. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting Sandy and your own dear self.—Yours truly, FLUNKIE. Dear Dot,—The weather has been very unsettled of late. We have three cows milking at present. The cows are in very good condition, and are milking well. Our garden is looking nice after the rain. I have been in Dunedin for a holiday, and then I came out to ray sister’s place at Bdievale, where I spent the rest of my holidays. Last Sunday we all motored through to Roxburgh, where we spent a very enjoyable day. There are quite a number of orchards up Roxburgh way. On our way home from Roxburgh we called into Miller’s Flat to see our brother. We had one puncture, and that was on our way home to Edievale. Best love to The Flower of the Family, Diji, Grace Darling, Ink Pot, Music Girl, Peter the Whaler, Midnight Chimes, A Golden Shoe, and would Joan of Arc, and Sally from the Treacle Workg. please write again, as their addresses have been lost.—Yonrs truly, MAHONE’S SISTER. Dear Dot, —Here is another small letter to your page. You see I am not going to keep you all so long this time. I wonder how you all enjoyed your Christmas holiday ? I for one had a very quiet, but happy time, with the excitement of the races and a couple of picnics. I was very glad that you understood what I was trying to explain in my last letter, and by your answer—“ Very often when we have the time to write the inclination is wanting, and vice versa” —I could see you understood. I am really fond of letter-writing, and have quite a number of correspondents outside your page, from which I nkye only one correspondent. Now I shall begin to find something of interest for the L.F. readers. To begin with, to-day i 3 the trade unions’ picnic and holiday, and as I am writing this you will know I have not gone. The train left for Lake Mahinapua at 9 this morning, and by this time they will be enjoying the beauties Nature has given them to gaze upon. Truly the lake there, with its wonderful surroundings, is worth the long and tedious train journey. Last Christmas a party of us motored through and spent a most enjoyable day. I have never seen any of the lakes down your way, but I have met numbers who have, and, of course, they have been compared with ours. Ours are quieter and warmer-looking, and I know people from other countries who have quite a good ’impressilon of the beauties to be found hidden away down south. Dot, what is your definition for a holiday? Mine is: a day to do just what one fuels inclined for, and you are a 3 near the sea as I am, first a dip, then spend the rest of the day reading, writing, and very often I add sleeping in the hammock. Very seldom, when I have a holiday during the week, do I go out, unless the trip is a very tempting one, and then, of course, Father’s Lassie joins in and has the time of her life. Our coast is excelling itself m its weather. We have made a very good beginning for the New Year, and our weather is out on its ,own. Both Christmas and New Year were very fine, and we have all made the best of it. Each day the rivers, lagoon, and the beach are sought after .by the bathers, who delight in the summer. I have been reading quite a lot lately, and this week have read two very nice books. One, “Cappy Ricks,” by Peter Kyne—whose books I.am_ very fond of—“ Kindred of, the Dust” and the “Pride of Polomar.” The other one was the first of the author’s books. I have lead “Snows of the Desert,” by Soutar, and I enjoyed it so very much that I got another from the Library yesterday, “The Green Orchard.” I have not read very much of it yet, so, of course, cannot form an opinion. I am very fond of Ethel Dell’s books, and have read all but “The Obstacle Race.” Other authors I take a lot of interest in are Gertrude Page. Hadn’t she rather an unusual history, Dot? I think quite a lot of her for the life she led when she might have come forward as one of the world’s novel writers, she retired to her country home and lived her secluded life One of her books, rather out of keeping with her others, was “Jill on a Ranch,” and although not her own life, was so filled with her own thoughts that she let her own life creep into it. Of course, Ridgewell Callum, Rex Beach, Zane Grey, and other such writers give us a wild and adventurous life, in which usually the hero overcomes some very great harrier and achieves success. Bertha Ruck’s books are much lighter reading, and I enjoy them very much. I have read Waverley Novels, and some other of Scott’s books, and, of course, Shakespeare is always for everyone to read. Dickens I always find very nice, and I just love his characters, but I have not read all his books yet. Of all I have read the one so well known, “Olliver Twist,” is, in my opinion, *the one that grips the imagination the most. One could imagine them thinking the things they were doing, and when he interweaves those tragedies at the end one could believe it to be real. Dickens did not forget the sad pieces, too, and as I am fond of sad things, I fell in love with the poor girl who had fallen into their powers so much she found it impossible to rise Her last act was a good one, and caused her death. That book I have read over and over again. Well, Dot, you will think I am never going to come off the book subject, and as all the L.F. will be tired reading long before now I shall close with best wishes to all.—Yours truly, FATHER'S LASSIE. [You are evidently reading on right lines, dear. One requires variation, and I am glad to see you appreciate standard literature. Intersperse a classic with a light book.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my first letter in print. I received some Jetters from Sally from the Treacle Works, she writes very nice letters. I wrote to you about three weeks ago, and got a friend of

mine to post it, and as it has not appeared in the Witness as yet I wondered if you received it or not. Yesterday I took my two little brothers down to the beach, and there was a good few down there, yesterday being a lovely day. There i 3 a rainbow in the sky, so it will be pouring again after. My brother. The Human Hatpin, is down at Weary Willie’s to-night. I thinjk this Christmas was a very quiet one. I went to Port Chalmers for a day, to some friends, but I never went anywhere else. I have a while to wait before I go back to Tech. I don’t think it starts till March, at least that was when it started last year. The O.W. letters were very and I enjoyed reading them. Did you go anywhere for your holidays, Dot? Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. -r-Yours truly, LONESOME. Dear Dot, —We are having six weeks’ holi--day. Our baby is 14 months, it can walk, and is a hard case. We have a better flower garden this year than last year. The sweet peas are out beautifully, and so are the pansies. I went to Tuatapere sports. My sister was going to run, but it was too wet. I got a sewing prize and a book. The name of the book was “Aunt Joe’s. Scrap Bag.” 1 I will be in Standard II when I go back to school. We have a little black kitten, and it is always coming inside. I am going to buy a doll when I go to Invercargill for my holiday.—Yours trulyj AMELIA. Dear Dot, —Just a few lines to let you know I am still a writer. I lost my badge on .Sunday, and I am writing for another. It is raining here like fun, and everything is so wet. It is also blowing hard. We are shearing now, but this rain will put us back. I am learning to shear, and I caln shear 20 or 30 a day. My sister, Golden Link, is away up to. Middle march. Golden Link’s Mate has just come back from Australia. There is one L.F. here, and her name is Chatterbox, but she ia an Old Writer. I have to go to a place about three miles away with a telegram. Love to Golden Link, Chatterbox, and Golden, Link’s Mate, not forgetting all the other L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, BUSH PIGEON. [I have posted the badge. Bush Pigeon, and hope it reaches you safely.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy hand of L.F. ? I am, nine years old, and ia Standard lIL I am living two miles away from school. I have three sisters and four brothers. As this is my first letter I will stop. With love to the L.F. —Yours truly, NETA LYALL. [You are very welcome to join us, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join, your happy band of L.F. ? The Old Writers’ letters were very interesting./ I am staying with my cousin, The Mushroom, anffi we have a fine time together. The other day my cousin and I were out in the cart, and the horse kicked the bottom out of it. Seeing that this is my first letter it shall be not very long. Love to The Mushroom *and An Iceland Poppy, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, TOADSTOOL. [We are very pleased to have Vou join us, Toadstool. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am spending a very enjoyable holiday. I went to the Riverton regatta, and as the day was fine I had a very pleasant time. It was raining on the day of the Tuatapere sports, so I did not have such a pleasant time. I went to the Invercargill Show, but it was not very pleasant, as the day was wet All the same it was interesting to watch the animals, which one does not see every day. I enjove ! reading the O.W. letteT3 very much, A they are al 1 so interesting. The garden\iooks very beautiful just now, with all the flSwers blooming. We have a number of pink climbing rosea, and they look very pretty climbing up the verandah posts. I have a great liking for flowers, but the violet is my favourite. The weather was lovely down hero until to-day, when it started raining again. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, STAR OF THE WEST. Dear Dot, —I was very glad to see my first letter in print. We are having beautiful weather lately. There is beautiful scenery up here. The lake is pretty to-day; one could get some good snaps. The hills are very steep; it is mostly all rock about here. The Remarkables are very high, and look nice when the snow is on them. We went to the strawberry beds yesterday. It is a nice walk, and is up hill mostly all the way. If you pay Is you are allowed to eat as many as you like. Best love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, y i DEWDROP. Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of L.F. ? We have a farm and the milking machines, 25 cows, three calves, one pet lamb, 63 ducks, and five horses. I was very pleased to see that An Iceland Poppy did so well at school. I was at Lovel’s Flat for a few days through the holidays. My cousin, The Toadstool, and I met with an accident last week: the horse kicked the bottom out of the cart, but we did not get hurt. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours- truly, THE MUSHROOM. [You are very welcome to join us, The Mushroom. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is half-past 7, '’and Nature is clothed in its beauty. Our school holidays are nearly half+vay through. To-morrow we intend to stack K>ur oats. I passed my standard, and so am in Standard VI. All the children in Standard VI got their proficiency. In fact, at one failed. Our milking machine engine has not been going well lately, but we managed to get it right again. We have 22 cows in now, so to-morrow I have to go to the factory with the cream. I read some of the Old Writers' letters, and enjoyed them. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Ycuvs truly, J 'SKIPPER. Dear Dot, —I was very pleased to see my last letter in the Witness. I have three correspondents, their names are Cordelia, Sally from the Treacle Works, and Lonesome. My sister’s name is Lucinette. We have a rabbit named Peter and two cats whose names are Tabo and Tim. With lots of love to Cordelia, Lonesome,, and Sally from the Treacle Works, and all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own self.—Yours truly. ROSELLA. Dear Dot, —At last I am writing to you after a silence of three years. I was reading the O.W.W. letters this morning, and was very interested in them. I was especially interested in Pat’s letter. It was very good, wasn’t it? I have Snow Queen staying with me now, ard we have fine times together, always getting into tricks. We are tormenting King of the Hill this evening. I am having a little pony broken in for me, and will be very pleased when it is quiet er.ough for me. Our dog had puppies last week, and one with a white ring around his ,~°ck is mine. I have named him Belshazzar, he is grown up he is to help us in

with the cowb, and oome with me when I ride for the mail. My little black and white cat, Socks by name, is a dear, and follows me all over the place. We all bad a scare to-day, for as we were all reading, sewing, or talking King of the Hill gave a yell, and pointed to a big weta crawling along the floor. It was going towards Snow Queen, who jumped up on the table and out at the door. After holding a consultation we armed ourselves with iron bars and commenced the assault. We opened the door and peered about, but no weta could we see, for it was beside a box. After we were looking at it for a while it began to jump, and we dropped our weapons and fled. We cautiously came back and looked about for it, and at last spied it behind the door. At last it jumped out of the door. As we could see no sign of it we thought all was well. We soon found it was not, for as King of the Hill was entering he gave a bloodcurdling shriek, for it was on the doorstep, and he had nearly -trodden on it. Mum went out bravely and trod on it and squashed it flat. It was 3in or 4in long without its long legs, and it had a huge sting on its tail. Of course, we thought ourselves very brave for killing an insect 4in long!—Yours truly, BOOKWORM. Dear Dot, It is now two years since I wrote, so I thought I would try to write again. It has been raining here today, so „. w Jjf .reading. I had a book given to me at Christmas, the name of which is “Winning His Wings,” by P. F. Westerman. It is about an airman of the Royal Air Force, and is very interesting. I have a pony now, and I have named her Dot, as she has a tiny piece of white on her forehead. We have 32 chickens now, large and small. I have three pet lambs this year, and I still have my year before last pet lamb. She is very big now, and had 81b of wool. I have a kitten now which I have named Yahoo, because he made a big noise when I had t rst , of , all - Snow Queen, Bookworm. Tala- ,T nt for a P lcnic yesterday afternoon.' ' ki y £L llp UDtl , l 12 °’ clock on New Year's , • y<to do the same, Dot. I must close now.—Yours truly, KING OF THE HILL. of D a Dot ’T The weather has been very wet of late, and consequently the crops have rin°e W now ery getting wfll lyQ nre oar it) 6 f Pect tbat the orchardists count™ g f ° r a , very bus y time. The elec^iom h bfri b^ a V6ry ? Vely ever s mce the election, but now, as the New Year aVttle! OnThe nth January rs AJST3 SL'J IfflE? £ truly ( CVery this yeaiv—Yours r. ANGELA. Dear Dot,—l am in Standard V at school workin- on W °Kaw g at P £l? nt - My father is rXV n chite U n my^l^Tj'lT reading the L.F. page, a/it is verl interest TT?' 1 i lav ' s five brothers and two sisters „ BEATRICE. Dot,—We are having very hot r ”i rS SZ IS two we have milking now.-Youm teuly _ PINK ROSE.’ weather 6 , are having very wet ClMtet i r went down ■<*> Oamaru for my holiday, and two cousins came back with me We have Six weeks’ holidays from but only two weeks are left. We have three cows milking We have four ducks on « on 13 eggs, but she died before the ducks tiTn tly u We have four ducks, one sat ting now We have a lot of chickens. I will be in Standard 111 when I go back te school. I have a little black fup with a white head; he will be a sheepdog. Love to all the little D.L.F not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, b y 1 A FARMER'S SON. Dear Dot,—l have -been reading with interest the numerous letters which appear in your column, and I would very much like to be a member of your happy baud. 1 am staying in the country with my cousin—The Masked Rider, who is now an old Unemter J- 4 ' l And it very quiet, as I belong to Dunedm. , VVe l1 ’ Dot, as this is mv first letter 1 will close, wishing you and the members of the page the comphinent sof the season Yours truly, THE ' JAZZER. [You are very welcome to join us. The Jazzer.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am having a happy holiday at Bookworm’s. I left Kahukura on tbe 9th of this month. I came by car to Bookworm’s letter-box, and Bookworm met me with a pony which she calls Meg. She is a nice, quiet little pony, and I am glad, because I cannot ride. I am having a splendid time here, we milk the cows, and Bookworm and I are always squirting King of the Hill with milk, and he gets wild, and threatens to throw dirt at us. One day we were teasing King of the Hill, and he got angry and threw dirt at us, and Bookworm got as angry as anything, and picked up a billy of water and threw it all over King of the Hill’s head. We went for a bathe one day, and we were diving and splashing. I have two sisters and one. brother, and 1 am always teasing him, and lie does not like it. I am learning to ride all right, s and I think I shall be able to ride very soon'. One night we thought we would play a trick on King of the HiH, so just before tea time Bookworm and I got some bidy-bids and put them in the pillow-case and got some shells and put them- under the sheet, and we made some excuse so wo could hide the shells.— Yours truly, SNOW QUEEN. [I have posted the badge. Snow Queen, and hope it reaches you safely.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your band of D.L.F. ? I have one sister and one brother; my sister’s name is Rosella. I am nine years old, and I am in Standard 111 at school. As this is my first lttter I will not write much. With lots of !ove to aH the D.L.F., not for-o-etting your own self. —Yours truly, “ LUCINETTE. [You are very welcome to join us, Lucinette. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—We are having very rough weather up this way at present. Last Wednesday the thunder and lightning were something awful, then towards evening the rain came down in toirenta. The school excursion is to be to Queenstown again this year, ao

I hope the weather will be settled by then. There- was a concert and dance here last Friday night, and it was very good. Have you seen the picture named “Over the Hill”? it is coming here on the 2nd of February. Those who have seen it think a lot of it. The farmers around here are all busy with the binders now, cutting down the fescue and oats, it was a very quiet Christmas up here this year. Milkmaid ll’s Mate and I were out for a long bicycle ride to-day, and we had a great time. We had to go through a small stream, and we must have had too much speed up; at any rate we stopped in the middle and got our feet wet. Heat love to Teddy Woodbine, Tickle Me Quick, and yourself.—Yours truly, IiOVDY. Dear Dot, —I have not written to you for quite a long time, so I think it is up to me to write in my spare time. It has been very hot these last two days, but to-night it has started to rain a little bit. We have three dear little calves. Their names are Princess, Nora, and Buttercup. I have been picking strawberries for a day or two, and I have to go again. I like picking all right. The poppies in our garden are very pretty in the mornings, but they don t last very long. We got our four sheep shorn a few days ago. I received a prize for good attendance and sewing. The name of toe book I got was The Hose Hook for Girls.” There are all sorts of stories in it. I have read part of it, and I enjoyed it very much. We had DO pet lambs given to us last year. We umT 6 tl o wee P'f> 3 an d a big one ready to kill. The big pig is very good to them. 1 nope you had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Dove to all the Little no t forgetting your own dear self. — Yours truly, BLUE RIBBON. D°, —If is very hot up here just now. Ihe creeks are very low now, for there lias been no rain to flood them. I was in for a swim to-day, and the water is just like ?! j il *?ad been boiled. I passed from Standaru IV into Standard V. I also got eecond prize for marks. I am setting traps take U P school again on the 6th of February. We are milking six cows now, but are expecting another one in Jv?* We are starting shearing any day this month. There are plenty of difhinds of birds about, and we chase them, and if they are near their nest they go away up in the air and then swoop down and touch our head and then fly up again K& Folk - BIDDS-S SON. Bencp T I D ?hr° nCe a = ain ’ after a long abijl , take U P ™y pen to write a few puge ’ JMst to let my comrades to m. * I T a “ Btlll aliv3 - It seemTages to me Since I last wrote, but I have been thl i SOmething to wrlte about, and there is Waits the less news to-dav raining very heavily here 7 L a s d ll ? €ems , a hit hard having to j P inside and watch the rain pattering down, especially on a Sunday. We had I i°a^B r TcUd nY yeS r r , ay for the Wairio laces, l did not go, but some of mv mates went, and when I met them at the pictures last night they all had the same cry P “I am pa hv n L\ r h ” ? eally 1 [ lad not “uch symmces y wf ’ b ®? ause the night before the home on Christmas Eve but 1 S ame out of the house all the holidays, £? d 18 * a S °, workm f? away from We missed him Sft' what has happened to you? *il ItlSss Branclien. and the r-st of Z T p 1 G ! ld not forgetting yourself.-Yours truly, * ds ’ FIONA 11. thought write °a”' lines“rh 1 were some very nice letters from t-h e T Old T n»» 3 h WhlCll 1 enjoyed rea ding“ e ™ much I passed my exam., ana came third in mv again. hare a Tittle B btby“other 8 now! name is Maurice, and no doubt h/will r! "if 1 !! 11 ? to you aonie day. By that tlm. T shall be amongst the O W T am i ln } e - * The weather is very showery at present nJj i. to Jrs : keeping while mother wiT.way I fe W and ToVff t^ > thiL™ 8n ’ t 80rrj : when m °ther camehoinm* as things were only middling with us T r^v the and W K 2A sr&c rsri’hVS T^ r ’ W ' Shi ? fr all the hittfe Folk C , U ndudino -You a rs Ve t r rui? PPy proe P er °u 3 New Year! JERRY JOY. . JT. “ m , sure you are , keen for the little brother to grow up, as he will be such com pany for you.—DOT.] I w' wr*t " qUit ® lonß time since and T y° u .— r i" Arly ei ght months, and I am thinking it is about time I put ap f, earance - We have been having Lr reath?r ’- not a *"* hke summer It eVery but has been mvariTt? o- f ° r t “; V i. 81 ? te ’i’ s * me friends, and g< ? to the haths nearly every day, and we do have some fun. Boxing Dav T rhe^Wairau h tU€r “* $ W to in© Wairau Valley races. My eldest is staying in Christchurch LahoMa/ and A June Rose is m Kekeranqui. There is a-picture to-morrow, it is called “Why Girls llTtle f > hink 1 will go. Love to luttle Dorit, not forgetting yourself-foura . LOVE AND LUCK. [What a picture the pear trees were Love of them?-DOTQ U “ the gr ° UP beneath <>n«

Dear Dot, —Will you please accept me as one of your Little Folk ? I am 12 years of age, and in Standard VI at school. I am just staying here for a holiday, but I live at Winton. We have had very bad weather lately, but it seems to be clearing up now. My brother has a dog, and he calls her Trixity.—Yours truly, SILVER MOSS. [You are very, welcome to join us, Silver Moss.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Now that the Christmas holidays have come to an end, I thought 1 would let you see I had not forgotten you altogether. , The weather is very bad here just now, and things are looking very dreary to-night. Ragtime has gone for a holiday, she left here to-day, and we expect to see her back in a week’s time. Ragtime, Frightened Isaac, and I were at a dance last Thursday, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely, but were very tired next day. We go in for a bathe every day, and sometimes it is very cold. How did you enjoy Christmas and New Year, Dot? I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did. Love and the compliments of the season to Ragtime, Frightened Isaac, and all the other D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, A DIXIE DANCER. Dear Dot, —Christmas has come and gone with all its joys and sorrows, and also the 0.W.W., and what a pleasure it is to read their letters. I wonder if all the L.F. now will be able to write such interesting letters when they become O.W. Well, Dot, it is raining here to-night, so writing is made easier, because when it is lovely and warm I would rather be out playing games or wandering through our little bush. We are very busy just now making hay, thinning turnips, and making a new crossing, then there are always the cows that you can’t leave. I tried thinning one day, but knocked them nearly all out, so was sacked. I managed to score a ride for the cows, which suited me better. I have had a good many rides lately, and one day thought I would have a change of horses, and went off on Nora. I got on all light, but when she was lii the yard at the store she broke the bridle, and I oouldn’t ride home without any, but I soon found the one to mend it, and so got on all right. Since last writing I have been away at Edendale for a holiday, and I did enjoy myself. It is the first time I have ever been at Edendale, and I did think it strange without the hills; but I wouldn’t mind living there for a while, because it is nice to flee all the different oat paddocks, turnips, and grass all on the flat. Then the lovely large houses look nice too. At night we could hear the bagpipes, not very far away, but down here you only hear them once a year at the sports. Besides being the first time I have been at Edendale, it was the longest time I have ever been away from home. They used to say I was gettings home-sick because I used to send out an extra piece at lunch time, but I was only going to be good to them. What made the holiday so nice was it not being all work and no play, but an equal share. I went to meet one of their aunties one night, but didn't like the noise of the train, because I am ijpt used to it, but the drive to and from the station was nice. They all cam© down to the beach the day I came home, and we went in bathing, after boiling the billy and having lunch on the beach, which was just lovely. Billy Unlimited is busy painting away at the copies for the Kewpie painting competition, and one thing she is getting plenty of colour on, even if she does make a muddle of it and puts it in the -fire. The flowers are nearly all past now, but soon there will be plenty of nice gladiolus out that will brighten the flower beds np again. Oh, yes, if you see this letter, Dynamite, you might try and send along a few Knes even if it is only your address. You didn’t even remember O.W.W. this year. I always keep a look out for Honey Pot’s letters, but she must not have been out eeling again. Lady Elmore, what happened to that cat? Did it really die, or only faint? Dot, I have a little kitten just now, and it is a little trick; it would play for hours if I had the time to -fraste with it; but I must teach it some tricks before it gets Too old. The school children had their annual picnic here, to which I went and enjoyed myself. The young ladies had a relay race, and two girls and I came first. The children received their prizes after the afternoon tea was over, and I am sure everyone went away pleased. The sports were rather spoilt by the rain, but the dance at night was all right. We have a fairly good vegetable garden this year, only a bit late, and the apple trees are just loaded, but the wind knocks a good many off. My uncle has been rather unfortunate lately; his stable caught fire while the horses were in. and he got kicked while getting them out. He can’t think how it caught fire, because there was nothing nor nobodv near it. He was getting his cows in at. the time or just going for them, I think, when he saw the emnke rising, and thought it was from a passing car, but on looking a second time he saw it was too near his stable to be a car. He is getting well again, and will mss his stable and all his harness very much indeed. One horse was pretty badly burnt about the bead, and won’t be worked again for a while, if he ever gets better again. I suppose I had better stop now arid leave space for the better writers, because this won’t interest manv D.L.F.. but Si know some who are looking out for this letter although they are not D.L.F. Wishing you a prosperous year. Dot, and a larger gathering of O.W.’s next. year. With love to Crimson Taniger, Crimson Rata.. Buffalo Bill, and C. J. B. D.—Yours truly, JUST SOMEONE. Dear Dot, —You will have forgotten that there is such a person as Sweet William writing to the page, but although I have not written I have not forgotten you. I gained my proficiency last year, so this year I am going to the Technical School. Did you receive the cards from) ns? Nowadays I find the evenings very long, as the euchre parties and dances have not started yet. We are milking 25 cows now, but it is by no means pleasant work. Dot, be sure not to live on a farm and milk cows, as it is beastly work. We are having horrid weather here now—nothing but rain, and such a lot of people have their hay out. On Monday, 15th, the rain came down in torrents in Palmerston, and although we live only eight miles out we never got a drop. The water was flowing down the stairs of one of the hotels, and the water tables could not take all the water, and it went into the shops. Love to A Stray Sunbeam, A Girl from Kio Kio, Skipper, and Sirius, and all the other L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, SWEET WILLIAfI. [I suppose you should know,, but really, Sweet William, I would like to be on a farm and milk cows. I suppose it is human nature not to be satisfied with what one has —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have been having glorious weather of late, and it is to be hoped it shall continue. Picnicers are enjoying many days by our sweet little river. Rowing is in full spring now, and many a pleasant row I have had this summer. I did, not go

anywhere for my Christmas holidays, but I am looking forward to a good trip in the spring. My chief companion is unable to come now, so we have decided to go then. Wild Clematis and her pal are also going, so we are sure to enjoy ourselves. The perfume of the flowers can be smelt throughout the house on a good day. District picnics are coming to an end, or at least should be, but they seem later this year than they usually are. I am going to one on February 7, and also to the dance afterwards, which I hope will be a- success. Best love to Queen of Thorns, Pearls and Diamonds, Maid of the Valley, Wild Clematis, and all the other L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, GLADIOLA. Dear Dot, —We will be going back to school in about a fortnight. I got the first prize in my class. I got 14 rabbits and two ferrets last night. We u.sed .to go in for a swim nearly every day, but. the last week or so we have not been in because the pond is too low just now. It rained here pretty, heavily last night. We have, nine little ducklings now, and I hope they all live. Dad will be home from shearing soon. My Bisters got the sewing prize fog the school needlework. —Yours truly. KEA. [I am glad you had such a successful year at school, Kea, and hope you do as well this year. —DOT.J Dear Dot, —I enjoyed reading the O.W. letters, as they were interesting. I hope that all the Little Folk enjoyed their holidays, as I enjoyed mine. The other day I got a letter from Farm Lassie. It won’t be long before we go back to school again, and I will be in Standard IV. We go in for dips when the river is np, but it has gone down, so we can’t go in. I got a lcvely work basket for first prize in senior, and my sister got a lovely pair of crushed beads for first prize in junior. We have two lerrets now, and one is white and the other is black. My brothers set about 22 traps last night, . and caught Id rabbits, two ferrets, and a stoat. It is. a lovely day up here to-day. We have nine little ducklings, and they are growing veiv fast. Cur flowej garden is lovely, and so is our vegetable 'garden. I wish the weather would keep fine for dad to get his shearing finished, so as he can come home again. I got third prize in my class at school, and the name of it is called “Grannie’s Girl.” I like it very much. We have a good few bottles of jam this year, so we are not so bad, but we hope to get more. Best love to D.L.F. —Yours truly, ROBIN REDBREAST. Dear Dot, —I wish to join your happy band of D L.F. I am staying up Central Otago for my holidays. I live in, Nightcaps. I am 12 years of age, and in the Sixth Standard. Last year I got the first prize in my class. The name of it was “The Empire Annual for blew Zealand Girls.” I was at a picnic on Wednesday with The Warm Girl, Princess Olga, Queen of the Fairies, and several others, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, EVENING STAR. [You are very welcome to join ns, Evening •Star.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—iSeeing that the Christmas and New Year Holidays are over, there ought to be more news, but I don’t think that I shall be able to tell you much. However, I shall do the best I can. There have been quite a lot of people down at the ooast this season. On New Year’s Day my cousin got his shoulder fractured, and is in Dunedin at present attending the doctor. We had a school concert on the 22nd of December, and we had such a nice time. We all received a prize after the concert was over. My book is “From Billabong to Loudon.” On the day of the concert it was wet, and Colleena and I. had to pick “Lacapodium” and take it up with us. But it wasn’t very wet getting it. In the afternoon some of the oommitteemen brought a piano and a stage. After we got everything pretty well fixed up the teacher sent me over to the school on my pony for Borne books, so she gave me the key, and it wasn’t very many minutes until I was there. After I got what I wanted I started off, and my horse was a bit silly, hut anyway I had to make the best 'of it. When I reached the end of my short journey I put my hand in my pocket and found that I had lost the key. I went straight back, but I couldn’t find it. When I was coming back I thought I had better walk, and then I would have a better chance of finding it. Well, I was just round a sharp corner when I found the key. I can tell you I jumped on to the pony mighty quick, and off we went. I have been having some fun a horse and a little sledge, which I made partly myself. With love to all my correspondents, not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, SILVER SHOE. Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk ? I have often read the letters in the Otago' Witness, and have often wished to join, to I have now taken the opportunity. I have been to two picnics lately, both in the same week, but I must say the last picnic was better than the first. I am just up here for my holiday, but I do not want to go away now. Our school starts in a fortnight, but I am not very keen to return. Well, Dot, this is all to-night, so I will close with heaps of love to all the L.F., especially to Evening Star, Daphne Bird, Princess Olga, Queen of the Fairies, The Warm Girl, Rose Red, and Snow White.— Yours truly, JOHNNY BOY. [One is always loth to conclude a happy time, Johnny Boy, but it can’t last always" —DOT.] Dear Dot, —-Seeing it is two years, more or less, since I last wrote, it is high time I put in another appearance, for I have only a few weeks left before I reach the retiring age. Sad, isn’t it, Dot?—but we will grow up. Silver 'Shoe took me for a ride on her sledge to-day, and it was the roughest ride I ever had. The “sledge” is composed of one petrol case on its. side, with runners nailed on, so you may guess there is precious little room for two to sit on—good job we are not very big, Dot; but you should have seen the road we went over! It was a mere track in places, and all bumps and hollows, and tussocks, and Silver Shoe drove the horse so fast we struck the bumps, etc. with awful thuds. Twice Silver Shoe ’ came off; I don’t know how I managed to stick on. We received some snaps to-day, taken at Christmas. I was specially interested in one of myself, taken on the pony, and you can imagine my disgust, Dot, when I looked at it to find myself headless. It was a beautiful snap otherwise, but accidents will happen. I am going for my holidays soon, and intend going to see Mae Marsh first. She is still in the land of the living yetj though she hasn't put in an appearance for a long time. I was talking to Lady Eleanor on the ’phone to-night, I am to go down to see her on Friday, as she is leaving here soon. She lost her mother recently, so they sold out. Both her sisters are teaching now. Carroyllie and Colleena are still in the land of the living. Jack Symons had the misfortune to fracture his shoulder on New Year’s Eve, and is still attending the hospital. It was a bad beginning for the New Year, wasn’t it, Dot? The Flower of the ' OU •“■»* t- * rfcwi-i..—,

Family is up at Oamaru for a holiday, and as far as I know Erotaka and Lickle Tickle are at home. Well, Dot, I’ve given all the news for this time, I think, but will try and write again before the 17th of next month. Love and best wishes to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, GRACE FISHER. [lt is wonderful how quickly the young people seem to grow up, Grace. It seems quite a short time ago that you were quite a young writer.—-DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am nine years of age, and in Standard 111 at school. Our teacher’s name is Mr Smith, and I like him very much. We have to go back to school on the Ist of February. My father is going to drive us down to Port Molyneux before we go back to school again. I have a little Persian cat and a bobtail one. My sister has two ringdoves, and one young one. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— ■Yours truly, SILVER BELLS. Dear Dot,. —I was very interested reading Old Writers’ letters. At present we are having fairly good weather, but a while ago it was real winter. The farmers are very busy just now, working up the ground for grass and autumn crop. The man we have working for ns just now has been thinning turnips. Our school resumes again on the Ist o-f next 1 month. I received the prize for best-behaved child in the school, and it was a writing-case, and the best-behaved boy received a fountain pen. We finished shearing our sheep about a fortnight or three weeks ago, and the chaffcutter is coming in at the end of this week. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting- your own dear self.— Yours truly, SLEEPING BEAUTY. Dear Dot, —I went to Wyndham for my 'Holiday This year, and had a good time. Our picnic is to be on Wednesday, and I hope to have a good time there also. I am going into the Sixth 'Standard this year. We have been having some very hot days. My brother, sister, and myself set traps round the oats, and we catch a good many hares. We are still milking five cows, and we were feeding eight calves, but we weaned four of them. It has been so hot that we have been going in for a swim every day. We have three cats, their names are Tom, Susie, and Spottie. This is all the news just now, so I will close. Best love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, MISTLETOE BOUGH. Dear Dot, —As it is nearly time school is starting, and I am in a higher standard, my lessons shall be harder, so I thought I had best write a few lines before school takes up. I hope, . Dot, you and all the members of the page have spent an enjoyable Christmas and New Year, and all have enjoyed your holidays to their full, and are in the best of spirits to start the New Year. I have enjoyed my holidays very much, and I think I will not take too well to going back to school again. I have been for two picnics lately, and I enjoyed myself immensely at both of them. I went in for a bathe with Daphne Bird, Queen of the Fairies, and one of my other mates the other day, and we had a lovely time. We might be getting another teacher this year, and then we will have a head master and an assistant. My mother is away at our friend’s place for the night, so my sister and I are at home by ourselves. Evening Star is staying up here now, and she often plays with us. We had some pretty flowers out a while back, but they are all dead now, and our garden is looking very bad. Father has just gone around his traps, and lie found a sparrow in one of them. Love to all the L.F., especially May, Daphne Bird, Evening Star, Queen of the Fairies, The Warm Girl, and your own dear self.—Yours truly, PRINCESS OLGA. Dear Dot, —May I join your band of Little Folk? I am nine years old, and am in the Third Standard at school. I did not go anywhere for my holidays, hut I went to the sports, and we have had quite a lot of nice picnics. We were at a concert here the other night, and it was very good, we had quite a lot of visitors who helped to make it a success. Our school is starting in a fortnight, and I am very sorry, as I do not like school. We have had only one teacher before but We are to have a lady teacher as well after the holidays. One of my brothers is in bed with a sore arm, but I hope he will' soon get better. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, DAPHNE BIRD. [You are very welcome to join us, Daphne. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have enjoyed my holidays. We have nine little ducklings, and they are growing very fast. The river is very low just now, and we cannot go in for a swim. I got a lovely set of crushed beads for the first sewing prize in junior girls, and my sister got a lovely work basket for first sewing in senior girls, and I got second prize in my standard. I do wish it would keep fine, so as dad could finish shearing and come home, as we all miss himi so much. Our flower garden is lovely, and so is the vegetable garden. Our cow is dry, and we do miss the milk. We have two little pups and two ferrets. Best love to all the D.L.F. not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, SILVER POPLAR. AUTOiS-. Queen Estha (Beth Hughes, 14 Glencairn street, Dunedin) wishes to correspond with any L.F. 15 to 17 years. Mahone’s Sister (Totty Larsen, Longridge P. 0., Kingston Crossing) wishes to correspond with Funny Feather and Railway Joe. Beatrice Irene Kavanaugh, Lower Shotover care of Mrs Harri#, wishes to correspond with Mermaid and Pink Rose. Tiny (Margaret Hart, care of Mrs D. Christie, Menzies Ferry) wishes to correspond with Ladybird, Merry Mischief, and Billo, and any L.F. 17 to 20 years. The Jazzer (J. A. M’Kerrow, care of J. Fitzgerald, Belfield, South Canterbury) wishes to correspond with Lady Evelyn, Morning Star, or any L.F. 17 to 20 year^M Lonesome (Lizzie Freeman, 322 King Edward street, South Dunedin) wishes to correspond with any L.F. willing. Sweet William (Maggie Frew, Watershed road, Ashhurst) wishes to correspond with Coco Nut Palm and any L.F. about 14 years willing. Love and Luck (Miss Mick Campbell) wishes A Wyoming Ranger, Ivy Terena, and Paloona Fish to write again. Fiona (Miss Todd, Ohai, via Nightcaps) wishes to correspond with any L.F. willing between 15 and 20 years. Gladiola (Vera Crengle, Willow Bank, Grove Bush) wishes to correspond with any girls 14 to 16 years.