DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 62

DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

Dot wvite* short letters from her yocßg friends throughout the IT’lWilTi'ea cd matters oi interest to themselves, the result at their observations in the animal world, descriptions oi anything they are interested in, o! the district is which they live, of their school and horn© life, holiday trips, cbo. The letters are to bn written by the little folk tiiemlei-.es, and addressed “Dot, oars of Editor Witness-”

Dot's Little Folk’s Badge with pin, for nee as $ brooch, obtainable on application to Dot. Prica* 8s Sd .In fctanjps or postal notes. Aaio. Cards are obtainable from Dot, Witness Office, Dunedin. Price, 9d lor 25

[All Eights Reserved.]. No. 2. TOPSYTURVY TOWN.

Bt

Edith Howes.

CHAPTER IT. All that clav the two children bubbled with excitement. At playtime Kenneth explained the plot to n crowd of the bigger boys, while Isabel told as many of the girls as she could reach. The news spread like wildfire. By mid-day the whole school knew it. By home time Kenneth had the petition drawn up and a committee formed; he sat in the playshed w ith the petition and a fountain pen, and the committee acted as scouts to waylay all the children as they came out and send them to the playshed to sign. All were to-sign who could write their names, and none refused. The Petition was plainly printed in Kenneth’s best printing, so that even the little ones could read it, .and the wording, he felt, was a decided success : TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. We, the undersigned children of this city, do hereby humbly beg for freedom. We are pure slaves, going when thou sayest go, and our desire is to govern ourselves. We pray the Mayor and his councillors to make a by-law that all children in this city shall have the say as to what they shall eat and wear, and what, they shall do or not do, and where they shall go or not go, and all such things. Please put the children at the top instead of at the bottom. Signed: Kenneth Graham. Isabel Graham, etc., etc., etc. By Friday afternoon it had been signed by every child in the school who could write; by the following Friday it had been passed round every other school in the town and signed by all who could write. That afternoon it was deposited on the Town Clerk’s desk by Kenneth, ready for the meeting in the evening. The meeting was held. When the Clerk read out the petition the Mayor and Councillors first stared at him in amazement, then cried: “Absurd!’’ then leaned back in their chairs and roared with lau "liter. “Never heard anything like it in m- life!’’ cried the Mayor, and “Ha, ha, ha!"’ he roared again. “Next business!” he said when he had recovered, and so the petition was passed by with ho discussion whatever. It was a joke. Councillors who looked it over after the meeting and found their own children’s names among its thousands muttered: “The young rascals! What do they mean by it?’’ and went home rather puzzled. That was all. But a reporter had been present at the meeting, and next morning big headlines appeared in the paper: REVOLT OF THE CHILDREN. DESIRE TO GOVERN THEMSELVES. FIVE THOUSAND SIGN A PETITION. WHAT NEXT? Below was printed a copy of the petition, and an account of the hearty laughter of the council. The whole town' was soon agog with it; mothers and fathers stared at their children and asked what they meant by it, and what was the matter with the treatment they were receiving “You have far too good a time, thaFs what is the matter!” they said. “We do all we can for-you, don’t we?’’ Thats just it, ’ the children replied “We want to do things for ourselves.” “And a nice muddle everything would soon be in !” said the parents. “Be off to school, and don’t be ridiculous.’’ But they had not heard the last of it, for at 5 o’clock that afternoon a monster procession of children wound through the town and lined up in ranks in the central square. Every child, instead of a hat wore round its head a wide paper band,’ on which was printed in more or loss upright letters: “We Want Liberty.” At tne head of the procession walked Kenneth and his cnum, Clive Banks, carrying a paper banner with “Children’s Rights” in big black letters across it (printed at much expense of ink and labour by Kenneth himself). A crowd soon gathered. Ladies homeward bound from their shopping, men and gnls from the closing offices, workers from warehouses and factories, ail clustered round the children, and soon t,lie square was blocked. And now the Mayor and some of his councillors, returned from an inspection of works alighted from a motor car and went up the steps of the town hall, staring in astonishment at the great crowd.

At a word from Kenneth, passed quickly down the ranks, the children followed and the crowd went with them. Into the great hall they poured, children and grown-ups side by side, till every inch

of space was packed, and the great entrance and wide steps were thronged with those who eculd not squeeze their way inside. I he Mayor stood on the platform and faced the crowd. “What wild notion has taken the children of this town?” he demanded. “You Graham boy, come uo here and tell us all about it. You seem to bo the leader in this nonsense.” Kenneth was not daunted. He slipped through the side door and up on to the platform, and stood looking up at the Mayor. “Please sir, all we want is freedom,” he said clearly and loudly. “We always have to do what we are told, and so we can never do what we want to do, but always what somebody else wants. V> on’t you please tell cur fathers and mothers to let us have the say?” He was so earnest that the Mayor did not laugh, but stood looking at him in -a perplexed silence, while the people turned to one another and said : “Did you ever? What boldness!” Then a voice from the end of the hall (and Kenneth knew it gladly for the conjuror’s voice), called out: “Discuss the question. Give the children a hearing.” Mavis Clark's rich uncle lumped up. “The whole thing is sheer absurdity,” he cried. “Sheer impudence ! We ■ ive children such a good time nowadays that they don't know when to stop asking for more. ‘Children’s rights,’ indeed ■ Their rights to-night are a spanking and bed without any tea. That’s what I’d give them!” He was very red and hot. for lie was extremely annoyed to see Mavis, after the party lie had given her last week, standing calmly in the ranks of the rebels. (“I am very disappointed in A fa vis’s rich uncle,’’ thought Kenneth.) “Tne last sneaker scarcely understands children, having none of his own, but I am convinced no impudence is meant.” It- was Air Graham speaking. He was bound to oppose the rich uncle, but Kenneth, not knowing this, listened fascinated. (“Fancy Father being such a brick!” he thought, “I never cbould have believed it.”) "If our children think they have a grievance it will do us no harm to talk it over and put things reasonably before them,” Air Graham went on. “It will do them no harm either, but probably a great deal of good. I move that we discuss this matter.” “I second that,” came the voice from the back. (To be Continued.) PROTECTION OF BIRD LIFE. D.L.F. COMPETITION. The following letter is commended to the careful attention of L.F., especially in country districts: Dear Dot, —Let us make a humble start on our bird crusade. We want to interest our Little Folk in our native birds —teacb them what they are like, what interesting habits they have, and, above ail, to love and protect them. We want our children to know that many of these birds, only a few years ago quite common, ale now becoming very scarce, and we are anxious that each and every child should learn to use his or her eyes, tell us about these birds and where they are Some of us will select, say, three best letters from June, 1923, to June, 1924, and award a prize accordingly. Each competitor should mark his letter “Competition Letter, No. I,” etc. Of course common sense would tell you to select your descriptions at fairly wide intervals of the year, so as to include winter feeding, changes in plumage, mating of bird 3, nest-building, young birds, natural enemies, tricks or schemes of mothers to protect their young, etc., summer feeding. frizes. We have much pleasure in notifying L.F. that we are carrying out the suggestions pronosed by Dr Pulton, and arc offering the following prizes: First prize, £2 2s and the book prize donated by Mr Oscar Ceilings, entitled "Animals of New Zealand,” by Hutton and Drummond. Second prize, £1 Is and a book prize “Wild Life in Australia,” by Le Souef. Third prize, 10s 6d. COMPETITION LETTER No. 1. Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you about the little goldfinch, as there are a great number about here. A pair in particular built their nest in a- lilac hush by our front door. I watched the pair of goldfinches building their nest, which occupied them for about four days. It appeared to mo as if -the mother bird built the nest, while the father gathered the material] which consisted of twigs and grass stems intertwined to form a foundation. It was lined with thistledown and very small pieces oi wool. In about a week’s time when I looked at the nest again, there were five eggs in it, and very cosy and neat it looked. I noticed that the eggs were very small and spotted with brown and red spots. As I approached the nest the mother fluttered off, but did not go very far away, and returned when I left, and settled so close in the nest that one. oould hardly see her. After a few days she got quite used to us passing, and did not take any notice, and we could almost put our hand on her before she would fly off. On looking again into the nest about two weeks afterwards there were five little babies in it, and such little fluffy mites. The mother appeared to sit on the nest for about a week after they were hatched. After they were a week old they grew verv fast and very soon filled the nest. We could always tell when the parents were feeding them by the twittering noise. They remained in the nest until they were fully feathered. One morning we heard the parents making an unusual noise, and on looking at the r.est we found it was empty, and we could hear the young ones in the tree close by and the parents appeared to be having a very anxious time, as if afraid something would happen to them; but we saw the parents feeding them until they were fully grown. Love to all the D.L.F., especially Lady of the Lake, Lady of the Lake’s Mate, Lilac, Alabama, and Lady Morelle, not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, AUTUMN LEAF (Ranfurly). COMPETITION LETTER No. 1. Dear 'Dot-,—l am keenly interested in birds and their habits, especially the little sweet-singing bird called the goldfinch, whch looks very pretty flitting about our garden lawn. It is a little smaller than

the common sparrow, its wings are black tipped withw yellow, ts tail blac and white, a white breast and a red head. It is not a destructive bird like the common sparrow, which delights in destroying ) the farmers’ crops; but it eats the thistle and ragwort seed when it is ripe. It has a very soft nest, which consists of fine materials such as wool, dried grass, and thistledown, which is interwoven together. The mother bird usually lays five dainty little eggs that are while with reddish spots. When the little birds are hatched both birds are busily employed in gathering food for the young birds, that are always ready for the rich morsel. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, ETHEL'S FRIEND (Woodlands’). [You may certainly write again.—DOT.] COMPETITION LETTER No. 1. Dear Dot, —Among some of the birds about, this locality is the white thrush. I think it is an uncommon colour for a thrush. They are white on the back and top of the wings, but underneath life wings they j arc greyish-white in colour. Mother thinks | there must be « pair of them, but it is ] very rarely that one sees a pair of thrushes 1 sitting together. The “whitie,” ns we call | him (or her), sings many different notes; j they sound like “ver-a-dict” or twee-twit, I twee-tee,” and many other sweet notes. ! We have watched the “whitie” for over 12 | months. Whitie lives on grubs, insects, or j dead bees. AYlicn Mother “'Whitie” was ; feeding her young ones she used to feed ] them oil drone-grubs that father had cut ■ from the combs. Father put them on the | top of the hire every evening, and we would see Mother “Whitie” gathering the grubs and taking them to the nest. One evening father missed putting the grubs on the hive, and what do you think happened, Dot? The very next morning we found a. pair of wee dead baby thrushes. We do not know how they got there, but mother thinks "whitie” must have put them there just to show us how her babies hud died through not gelling the young grubs. It is a wonderful thing for a thrush to carry her young babies. Have you ever known thrushes to carry their babies before, Dot? We are sure no one put them there, because no one knew where the nest was. Will this letter be suitable for printing. Dot? Have we to write only four letters on “Bird Life”? Love to all the DL.F., not forgetting ycur own dear self.—Yours Irulv, HONEYSUCKLE (Island Block). [The L.F. are not restricted to the number’’ of letters they write, dear, so you may write as often as you like, as the letters about birds are certainlv more interesting than the usual run of subjects written a bout. —DO T. ] COMPETITION LETTER No. 1. Dear Dot, —I am going to tell you something about the starling. The starling is one of the most useful birds to a farmer. Its plumage is black with shining tints of green and purple. The starling makes i rcugh nest of gress end straw. In winter the starling may be seen in large numbers with flocks of sheep. It lays from four to seven eggs. Although the sterling is a “perchor” it does not “hop” like a sparrow, but it walks. 1 have seen a starling on a sheep's back. One day Vast week I sew a starling digging for g.'nbs in cur vegetable garden. Best wishes to all the L.F., not forgetting ycur own dear self.— Yours trulv, REXONA GIRL (Kavarsu Falls). [You may write about any bird or number you wish. —DOT.] COMPETITION LETTER No. 2. Dear Dot, —In this letter I shall try and describe some more of our native birds about my home. In the paddocks the lark is common, also the gulls, and the harrier or common hawk. Will, there are no pheasants or parakeets or parrots about here, but other common birds are plentiful. The pigeon is beginning to get scarce now. but there are still some in tire bush about here. I shall tvv and describe the pigeon in this letter. This bird is not verv large in srie, but it has a beautiful plumage, the back being a bluish colour, while the breast is white with a reddish beak and legs. The tail consists of 12 feathers, cud they fly tolerably well These birds are invariably monogamous. nestle in trees or the holes of rocks, and Jay but few eggs—ordinarily two, —though Ihov breed often. Both sexes incubate, and they feed their young bv disgorging grain maceerated in the crop. They form but one rent genus, which naturalists have attempted to divide into three sub-genera from (he greater or less strength of the bill and the proportions c-f the feet. Seeing that tin’s is winter time, the pigeon is closely feathered. The nest, consists of sticks and leaves—net a very appropriate nest for this bird to make. Well, Dot I think I have told yon all about the pigeon, at least as much as I can remember at present. Now I shall trv and attempt to say something about (he ducks These have a bill broader than high at its base and wider at the end than towards the head. The nostrils are more approximated towards its back and base. The shorter and backward position of their legs render their gait upon land more difficult than in the case of geese, and they have also a. shorter neck, and their trachea ia inflated at its bifurcation into carti’agenous labyrinths, of which the left is generally the larger. They subsist to a greater or less extent, on animal diet, and the sexes are always different in colouring immediately after the breeding season. The snocies of the first division, or thr.se in which the hind tee is bordered by a membraue, have a larger head and a shorter neck, the feet placed backward, smaller wings, a more rigid tail, the tarsi more compressed, and the toes longer, with more complete webs. They walk with more difficulty, and live almost exclusively on animal food, diving very often. The plumage is generally moulted once only in the year, the change of colour of the males (about midsummer) taking place without a renewal eS the feathers. Tliev lay eggs cf different colours, some being of a bluish-green colour, while othera are pure white. The eggs vary in number. The other clav we killed a duck to eat, and when we took the gizzard out I found there were two growths on it—ono iarge and the other small. I took a knife and opened these. In one was a half of a nail, and in the other was the head of a nail. The duck must ■ have swallowed the nail seme time ago. because it was beginning to decay; but how in the world it got ou the outside of the gizzard I do not know, but it must have gone right through it, and formed a growth there. Please could Dt Fulton tell us whether it did or not? Well, Dot, this is all I shall write just now. Love to ail the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, IRENE FLOE IS FROM RAINY HOLLOW (Wyndham). COMPETITION LETTER No. 2. Dear Dot, —I will try and describe the little bird called the fantail. There are two different coloured fantails iu our bush.

and Xan for a minute or so, and then discovered them in a carriage, which was packed. We squeezed in, however, and as the train was an express it went to Uddingston without a stop, and arrived there in 15 minutes. Well, Dot, this finished our day, so I will close and hope this isn't too long and dry and musty. Best love to yourself, also Dorothy Cook, Unex, Vivienne, Prairie Rose, Maiden of Dreams. Gold Branchen, Rose Pink, and Freckles. — Yours truly, BLUE GOLLIWOG (Uddingston). [My own opinion is I always consume more sweet 3 and “eats” generally on a holidav than at anv other time, Blue Golliwog.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —At last the “great day” is over. We changed our minds at the last minute and went to Millport instead of Saltcoats. The old “weather clerk” was good to us; we had not a spot of rain the whole day, but when we arrived Home the streets were wet, and I was told it had been raining all day. Great preparations were made the night before. I unearthed my la-st summer’s “glad rags,” and mother treated me to a new pair of silk stockings. The two grown-ups. Blue Golliwog, and I met at the station at 9.15. The train left Uddingston at 9.27, and we arrived in Glasgow Central at 10. We had half an hour to wait for our next train, so we strolled about buying papers and sweets. We boarded the train for Wemyss Bay at 10.30 sharp. I cannot describ the journey, it was too beautiful for words. In 20 minutes, the town was left well behind, and for miles we viewed nothing but green fields and pretty woods, with a little white-washed farm dotted here and there. Sometimes we saw a river shining through the trees, and the hills with their white tops glistening in the sun supplied a startling background. We also passed many beautiful old houses, but one especially impressive was standing on that grim old Dumbarton B~ck. I wonder how it feels like to have the sound of ilie sea always in your cars and stranded miles away from anywhere. We reached Wemyss Bay about 12 o’clock, and we stepped cut of the train on to the boat. The bell rung, the siren shrieked, and away we went over the foamy sen. The grown-ups found a cosy seat on deck, but Blue Golliwog and I marched up and down the boat, peeping into every nook and cranny. We were even down locking at the engines. How they did fascinate us. We l:-tencd to the band for some time, and it fairly made our toes tickle, but if we had started to dance the eagle eyes of the other messengers would have quelled us at once. We proved ourselves good sailors, being not oven a tweeny bit sick. It was almost 1 o’clock when we arrived at Millport. The growiFups searched for a place to take dinner, while we bought post-cards. We partook of dinner, not wisely but too well, especially Blue Golliwog, who has an extra large appetitte; indeed she was so limp she had hardlv enough strength to write a few words of greeting on her post-cards. After the feast w°.s over we went for a short walk, but the “tabor” was put on climbing hills, especially as the hills looked even crazier than the one at Gourock. Of course the good old camera was to the fore; it is a wonder it has not collapsed ere this under the strain. We went another walk round West Bay. Walk! did I say? We simply flow round the corner, as the wind was terrific. When we turned to come back, “My hat!” The storm scene in “Way Down East” faded into insignificance compared with this. I forgot to mention that when we went to post our cards we couldn’t find the post office. A man told us it had a holiday, if you please, and pointed to r. slit in the wall, which was supposed to be the letter-box. We dropped in our cards, but I wonder if our friends received them. The grown-ups sat on the rocks while Blue Golliwog and I stepped out on the rocks to see how far we could'go I nearly fell into the water, being startled bv an exc.fcd soueal from Blue Golliwog, ‘Come quickly; I have found a mermaid’s dress.” Xot being romantic, nil I saw was a long piece of seaweed. I told her to throw it away and not dirty her ha els. We had some ices to cool us down, and found the °T r wn-ups waiting for us to come for tea. V hen tea was over we bought sweets to munch in flie boat. We were among the first arrivals on the boat. ?o we rushed down to the saloon and “bagged” the cosiest seats. The sun vns shining, but the sea uns very rough, and the bent was heaving. One of the grown-ups felt ill, so we left the stuffv salo-n and went on deck. The wind soon revived the sick one, and to tell vou the truth Blue Golliwog and I were feeling rather Queer inside. I was wishing I hadn’t eaten such a let of sweets The wind was very cold, so we looked about tor a cosv seat. Blue Golliwog and I threw our dignity to the winds, and sat down on the deck. We were sheltered from the wind, and vet we got a splendid view of everything. We caught the train at Wemyss ->av, and were soon puffing into the Central Station. We had only 10 minutes to catch the train for Uddingston, but I insisted on rushing nut to get sweets for mv little sisters. They would have been broken-hearted if I had disappointed them AVe just managed to get into the train by +be skin of our teeth; it was full to overflowing. but we managed to get a seat all right. Tt was about half-past 7 when we reached Uddingston. The train bad covered the journey in 13 minutes, which is a Teeord time. I was very tired, so after I had tea I sought dreamland. Love to Freckles. Rosepink, Motor Jim, Bevlis, Lover’s Dream. Bluebird. Blue Eyes. Patriotic Paul. A Fallen Soldier’s Niece. Dorothy Dale, and Cutty Sark, not forgetting vourseif and all the other L.F.—Yours truly. A SCOTCH LASSIE.

Dear Dei, —It is raining very hard tonight. There are quadrilles held hpro tonight, but I am not going. The mill close to us will be closing soon, so it will he very quiet about here then till the other one opens. The glass is very low to-day, so I think we are going to have some rough weather. My birthday is to-morrow, and my mother’s is the next day. There are three of us writing to the page now. I know a few D.L.F. writing from here. '->est love to all the D.L.F., especially The Girl from the Bush. A Welsh Maid Princess of the Forest. Fairy Bings. Sea Queen, and your own dear self.— Yours truly, DANCING DAYS. . Dear Dot,- Y\ e are having terrible weather just now. There has been snow on the ground for over a week, and now the snow, is frozen. The school here has been closed for a few days, because the children who were not ill could not go to school for the snow. I was at a ball last night and I enjoyed myself very much. Nearly all my friends here write to your page, so wo always have something interesting to talk about when we meet. Love to .Sweet Blossom, Plain Joe, A Little Hard Case, Water Lily, Princess Natalie, and your own dear self. —Yours truly, BOSE MYRVEN.

the rufous and the black fantail. The black one is the hen bird, because it is always on tbe nest. Small native birds are fairly plentiful about here, and occasionally one will see bell-birds and tuis. Last year a pair of fantaiis built their nest in an elderberry tree close to our house. It was about Stt off the ground and rigrt out on the tip of a branch. It was very hard to see it from the ground, because it was placed in a clump of leaves. It was a very pretty little rest. The inner circle is about the size of an eggeup and the outer part the size of a small teacup. The formation of the nest was very fine roots and small pieces of wood joined together with cobwebs. The nest was lined inside with horsehair and thistledown. The two fantails built this nest within a week. The next week four eggs were laid in the nest. They are the same colour as the green linnet’s eggs, but much smaller. Three weeks passed by and four veung fantaiis were hatched out. The parent birds were kept very busy collecting moths end flic? for their young. The fantaiis never went far away from their nest. The mother bird sat on the nest to keep the young ones warm, as they don’t get any feathers until they are about a. fortnight old, and their eyes don’t open until they are a week old I saw the father fantail catch a moth, and hi 3 little beak closed with a distinct snap which could be heard a few yards off. He flew about and kept opening and shutting his fan-like tail, which looked so pretty. AY hen he landed on a twig he would keep his wings and tail moving, and one would wonder if he would ever get tired, because lie was never still. I will write about the blue heron or crane in my next letter.— Yours truly, LOCHEND (Tomahawk). NOTICE TO SOUTHLAND LITTLE FOLK. Dear Dot, —Invercargill Girl and I have thought of getting up a social and donee for the Invercargill and surrounding district L.F. Those who are prepared to enter into the scheme and support it are invited tu write to either of us, when we will call a committee meeting to put arrangements in hand. This should be. ar. excellent way of encouraging comradeship, and give the L.F. a chance to meet their pen friends. All who are willing to help are asked to communicate with either of the undersigned. - Yours truly, A FALLEN SOLDIERS’ NIECE. Addresses: Invercargill Girl—Miss AY. Young, c/o Mr Brown, corner Duke street and North road, Invercargill. A Fallen Soldier’s Niece —Miss A. Glass, 27 Baird street, Lindisfarne, East Invercargill. LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Kctto.- We write for the benefit of others, out tot ourselves Kt letter to contain more than 360 wordo. Dear Dot,—This is the letter that I promised I would write to you and tell you about our day’s outing to Saltcoats. Well, first before I start, I shall have to tell you that we disagreed about Saltcoats, so we changed our minds and voted for Millport. AVe left Uddingston shortly after 9 a.m. in the train, and arrived at Glasgow before 19 o'clock. The train for Wemyss Bay didn’t leave until 10.30, so Scotch Lassie and I skipped out of the station for some “sweeties.” AVe hurried back to the station, and found cur train waiting for us, so we settled ourselves comfortably in cither corner with papers and sweets until the time of our departure. The scenery from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay was just lovely—so cour.tryficd uni picturesque. AA'e v.-erc-fully an hour in the train, but we enjoyed it immensely. AVhon we landed at Wemyss Bay we had to take the pleasure steamer across the water to Millport. The name of the boat was the Marchioness of Breadalbane, and it was all freshly painted and spotlessly clean. Scotch Lassie and I couldn't sit at peace on the deck, so we left tbe other two girls who were with us and wandered down below. AVe wore very interested in the engines even although we were girls, but we had to come up on deck again, because it was too hot to be healthy. AVe passed the time by watching the water being churned into foam by the paddles, and didn’t feel the least bit sick. AA'e were entertained on the boat bv three gentlemen, who played the harp, violin, and cornet; but we faded away into the dim distance when they parsed round the hat. I was intending to take a few “snaps” on boardship, but as it was verv dull I didn't waste the film. I declared that it was Scotch Lassie’s gloomy countenance that made t-lie atmosphere dull, and she nearly “scragged” me; but really she has the cheeriest face I ever saw any bod v possessing. When we arrived at Millport, Scotch Lassie and I bought a few postcards to send to our loving relations, and then we made a bee-line for the nearest eating-house. Tbe restaurant we were in was a nice cosy place, and we had a good

“tuck in” in fact, Scotch Lassie ate so much that she- couldn’t bend. Greedy girl! By this time Old King Sol h ad begun to shine, so we all took a- stroll along the sands and I "snapped” Scotch Lassie and the other girls among the rocks. AA'e all went for a long walk right along the waterside for quite a distance, and when we were returning we spied an ancient cannon, so nothing would do but that Scotch Lassie and I would get “snapped” sitting on it. I'm just waiting on the film being doveloped till I see what kind of results I shall have. The other two girls, Kate and Nan, who are of maturer years than Scotch Lassie or I, wanted to sit in a eosv nook among the rocks and read, so Scotch Lassie and I meandered along ourselves. We jumped over rocks and pretended we were wrecked on a desert isle. Altogether we were acting like 10-year-olds, but when on holiday I always like to frisk about. While Kate and Nan were still reading Scotch Lassie and I went off, and had some icecream to ourselves, and while we were licking it along came Kate and Nan and carted us off to the restaurant again. There we had a. wash-up. and again we had tea. I enjoyed it very much; of course, when I’m eating I always enjoy myself. The time soon passed, so we bought another supply of confectionery and hied ourselves to the pier. The boat was in, so we just went aboard and found a seat in the saloon, as it was getting too cold to be on deck! The boat started to heave horribly, and I felt and looked rather green. We all had to go on deck, and even although it was cold the wind was fresh and helped to blow the cobwebs off us. AA'hen we were in the train going back to Glasgow we were kept in great amusement, by a little boy who would persist in wanting to dance with all the ladies in the compartment. He helped to pass the time, and we soon reached Glasgow'. The train for Uddingston -was to leave in 10 minutes, so Scotch Lassie and I flew like the wind for sweets to take home, and then ran hack. We missed Kate

Dear Dot, —We have been having terrible weather; it has been raining heavily since Friday, but it has cleared up to-day. We had a bit of a flood on Sunday night. The water came rushing down the paddocks and over our road line, but in the morning it was all away again. Six of my sisters used to write to your page, Dot, but I only know three of their N.D.P/s —Gorton Oats, Happy Queen Bess, adS D.K.G. We are milking only 11 cows now. The factory will soon be closing down, as there is not very much milk being sent to it. There is to be a bazaar in Wyndham on Thursday, but I don't know if I am going or not yet. My sister and brother-in-lav/ went away for a wedding nearly a fortnight ago, but have not relumed yet, so I am head cook. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own self. —Yours truly, LAUGHING MASK. [I remember Happy Queen Bess, though she was an Old Writer when I took charge. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? It seems to be very pleasant to be writing to you. AA'e are having very rough weather down here I suppose you are having the same. It has been raining and snowing every day. Love to all the L.F. —Yours truly, THE SHAMROCK OF DIPTON. [Will you please enclose your own name as well as your N.D.P. in vour next letter, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I did not go to school to-day. There was ice on the water this morning, but it was not thick enough to slide on. I' am reading a book; the name of it is “Knights of the Bed Cross.” It lias 137 pages in it. We have four hives of bees, but I have not been stung yet. With love, — Yours truly, DAISY IN THE FIELD (Dipton). Dear Dot, —AVe are experiencing very wintry weather now—snow, rain, sleet, and, as usual, heavy frosts. This is not very nice, especially if there i 3 a cold wind, which there often is. I have reached the age of 16, and although it does not seem long since I _left school it is nearly two years ago. AA'e are practising for a social at Sunday School, and have learnt quite a number of hymns. Kindest regards to all the D.F., especially Helen Keller and Daddy’s Girl, not forgetting your own self.— Yours truly, PRINCESS VALERIE (Island Cliff). Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F. ? I am nine years old. AVe have a black and white calf “and a dark brown calf. I have a pet lamb, and it is seven weeks old. Love to all the L.F —Yours truly, DADDY’S GIRL (Island Cliff), arc very welcome to join us, clear. — Dear Dot, —This winter has been very wet so far, and has made the ground very soft and muddy—-often over cur boot tops. On Saturday night a very hard frost came. A c can harctly walk on the ground. In a wet winter we get a lot of foggy weather, and often in the morning one can hardly see one s way about. The snow has been very heavy all round the hills, and the sheep are snowed up on most runs. The men have to go snow-raking to get them out. This morning when I got up I got a surprise, as there was about lin of enow ad round the horse. Our new master came on 1-nday night by train] I have tlwe.° miles to walk to school, and I am in Standard 111. AA'e get six hen eggs a day. He are milking 10 cows just how. Love to all tile D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly. CUDDLE CLOSER [AA'e are glad to hear from you again alter such a long absence, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, I have three correspondents f wrote to one to-night. Mv brother is away to Dunedin. My father is still poisoning and he is getting a number of rabbits. I have a bad cold, and I have not been at school for about a week. I was no't.it school to-day. AA e have been having very bad weather, and the roads are very muddy. My mother and sister went to Middlemarch to-day.—Yours truly THE BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. [I think if you took a little time and care you would be quite a good writer dear. Just try and see how well vou can do, will you?.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Now that you have allowed me to become a member of the D.L.F. page I must try to be a frequent writer, although I am sure you must have a loud impression of me, as there has been such a / on & interval between my last letter and tms. AA'e have to buv milk now, as our cows have gone dry. Although one does not nave to go out in the cold to milk, one cannot now use as much milk es one likes. I was walking round the house a while ago, and I stood on a garden rake. It want through my shoe and into my foot, and the wound was very sort for a while, but it is all right now. My brother is waiting to post this letter, so I will close. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself—Yours truly, AYILLOW. Dear Dot. —AA'e have been experiencin'"wretched weather at Maheno. The roads are covered in mud and slush, and the ground is quite soft. But the weather has been the same all over the country lately. The influenza is prevalent in Dunedin, so I hope you do not get it. Dot, as it is not very pleasant. I had a' party on Monday night, and some of the L F present wore Thrupp, Deidra, and Carri Boo". Dove to Carri 800, Thrupp, and Douglas, not forgetting your own dear self. Yours truly, HAZEL. Dear Dot,—l am going to tell you of a very funny thing that happened a while ago. I had invited A AA'ood' Fairy over to our place, and shortly after breakfast she arrived. As it was a glorious dav, we decided to go to the beach, which is ’quite near, so we set off. As it happened onr cows were grazing in the paddock which we had to pass through, and as A AA'ood Fairy is rather timid I started to drive the cows away, but instead of going away from her one of them started off in her direction. Tliis particular cow is very quiet, but, of course, my friend did not know this,’ so she ran screaming off to the house as fast as she could go. I followed, hut I was laughing so much that I could hardly walk. Poor AVood Fairy was dreadfully frightened, but as -she does not live on a farm j excused her. Except for her fright in the morning, I think she enjoyed herself. If I get my proficiency this year I shall he going to Archerfield, so I am trying hard for it. AA'e are going to lose our head master shortly, because he is going to St. Clair to be head master there. My brother writes to you, and I have persuaded one of my mates to write to you also, but I don’t know if you have received her letter yet. I was at a fancy-dress ball the other night, and I had great fun. I was dressed as a king’s jester in brown velvet and green silk. My mate was dressed as a balloon girl in pink silk and all coloured balloons,

and she looked very dainty. Her cousin was dressed as a cowboy, with a red silk jumper, etc. I have not been into town for ages, but I expect old Dunedin is still the same. Last time when we were down at cooking class our teacher showed us how to make Cornish pasties with rough puff pastry so, you see, we are learning something. AVe are having a concert shortly at school, and I am Pollyanna. Perhaps vou have heard of the book from which it' is taken. Love to Lochend, A AA'ood Fairy, and your own self.—Yours Duly, LADA’ OF THE LAKE. [I don’t think you are missing very much by not- coming into town, dear, as it is rather dreary in bad weather. —BO i.] Dear Dot,—Mav I join your band of Little Folk? I am nine years old and in Standard 111. AA'e have he.d a week's holiday on account of influenza. My cat is very fat now. It catches a lot- of mice, and its name is Spot. Every morning I make it beg for some meat. Its colour is "rev and white, —Yours truly, RED POSE OF DIPTON. [You are very welcome to join us, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is awful. There is still Tin or Sin of snow on the flats. It froze the other night, so I went seating with some of my schoolmates. The express from Kingston to Invercargill took two aaA to get to its destination. For example, it was six hours getting from Kingston to Athol, a distance of 16 milesand from Kingston to Lumsden it took 15 hours, it should have taken only two hours at most. One of my schoolmates saw it crawling alonv. Ke said lie could have ran as fast as it was going Oi course, the train could r.ot be expected to travel fast, as there was lft of snow on the railway line. Did you have nny snow down your way, Dot? I havo just finished my home work. I “d m\ feet wet every day walkiug to school, Lie snow is so deep and wet. I still learn music, but I do not practise much. 1 like tile piano music very much. Our white ramus do not like the cold and snow. 1 think this has been about the most severe winter I have ever felt. Let us hope that we shall have a better spring. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting yourself—Yours truly, MOTHER’S HELP. [The hills surrounding the town havo been white, but there ha 3 been none m the town itself. —DOT.] Dear Dot-,—Mav I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am seven years old and in Standard I. I have five brothers and one sister. I play scallywag gt _ nights. AVe drive to school. AA’e- play tig and Brack Peter at school. —Yours truly, BLUEBELL. (Dipton). [AA'e are very pleased to have you join us, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was vary in the description of the motor ride by The Han AA'ife ‘ I hope she was favourably impressed with the little bit of Te-muka she saw as she passed through. The Maori Settlement which she saw we call the pa. I hope that next time she will have tune (o stop here and see a bit more of our _ little town. I agree with her that Geraldine is a pretty township. I have been there on two or three occasions for basket-bail matches. I would very much like to correspond with The- Hen AA'ife, and I would like her to write first. AA'e are having better weather here just now, and it is very welcome after the rain we have just experienced. I see by Ill's and last week s letters that nianv of the L.F. have mild attacks of the “flu.” I was unlucky enough to catch it, so that I had to go to bed for three days I may' try' to- -write a competition letter next time- if I am able to find something to write about. Last -week when I went t-o tbe river, not far from our place, I noticed a bird which I have never seen before. It was of a beautiful greenish-bine on the top and wa-s tinged with red underneath Tt had a verv long, curved beak and rather long legs. I think it must have been a kingfisher, although I did not know there were any about here. AA'hat do you think it might have been. Dot? It was very short in the body’, being about the size of a blackbird. The only birds we see about here are the common kind, such as the fantail. the thrush, the bell-bird, and tbe- larks. I have often heard the cuckoo, too, but I have never actually seen it myself. Mother is busy getting ready' for a. big dance to ie held here to-night. It is in aid of the Fire Brigade, and I believe it is going to be a grand affair. There was to have been a big picture here to-night, too, but it- was postponed because of the dance. It is called “Under Two Flags,” and it is to be shown in August instead. I am very fond of pictures, and I was looking forward to this one, but now- I will have another month to -wait before I can see it. I am also very fond of seeing football. There is a football match here every- Saturday afternoon, and I never miss seeing them. In August a representative match is to be held here, AA’airara.pa v. Canterbury, and as the shops are all closing for two hours I hope w-e will be allowed out from 'school to see it. I must close now, Dot, as I have home work to do. Love to all the L.F., especially to yourself The Hen AA'ife, and May" Flower. — A'ours truly,

ZI.SKA 11. [I think the bird was a kingfisher. Ziska, judging from your description.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 15 years old, but I hope you will not think I aru too old to join. My mother used to write when she was e girl, but she lias never written to G.AA'.AY. AA’e live in the country near the river and the bush. In summer the scenery is most exquisite. It is delightful to go for a ramble on a hot day and gather feni3 and bush flowers. Although I have lived here- for a fairly lonkg time new I have not- grown tired of the bush, for it seems t-o have so many beauties. As this is my first letter I will close. Love to all the L F not forgetting yourself.—-Yours truly, ’ ” MIRANDA. [I hone you will remain interested in (he page, Miranda, and you might be able to persuade mother to write this commaChristmas—DOT.] Dear Dot,—AA’e had a very light E kiff c f snow on Thursday, but it is all away amain' I do not know whether we are finished with the snow or not- yet for I think it, will come down again. The cow is not givingmuch milk, as she is going drv. We have not, had any school till to-dav, as our teacher has had a very bad cold. Love to Farm Lassie, Lonesome, Dorothy 11, Milkmaid 11, Palm Lily, Fescue Queen, and all the other L.F. —Yours trulv, ROBIN REDBREAST. Dqar Dot, —It has been very bad weather ont here. My mother went away on Tuesday for a month or two. AVe have a little dog called Trixie, and she is a funny little thing. AA'e have 25 pigs, and they "take a lot of feeding this muddy weather. I was at a bachelors’ ball last Friday night, and I am going to a fancy-dress " ball on the 13th. I was thinking of going as “Old

England.” AA’e have one cat, and her name is Fluffy. My brother (Spare the Crows) had his first letter in the AY it ness tliis week. Love to The Toadstool. An Iceland Poppy, and all the other L.F., not forgetting vour dear self. —Yours trulv. THE MUSHROOM. Dear Dot, —May I jcin your large band of Little Folk? I am eight years old and in Standard 11. It is very cold these mornings. AA'e do not get very many eggs, the most being 10. AA'e have great fun snowballing the men. The men made a snowwoman at the gate. There has been snow on the ground all this week. I have just been reading a book entitled “Red Riding Hood.” There are colds going round. I have not one, but my sister has. AA'e have had a fire on all day, because it is so cold. I have been learning music for a year. Lcve to all the Little Folk, especially Lemon Honey, Frozen Snow, Frtstv Central, Pigeon, and Evening Star.—Y<Vrs truly, ROSE LEAVES. [You are very welcome to join us. Rose Leaves. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Mav I become a member of your happy band? I will be 11 on the sth July, and I am in Standard A'. AYe have a little brown retriever pup, and his name is Billie. My sister makes him take the reins in his mouth, and he trots along in front of her just like a horse. There are about 37 children going to our school, and we have to walk three mile?. It "(3 not very nice in winter, but it is lovolv in summer. Love to all the L F —Yours truly, LADA' LOO. [AA'e are very pleased to have vou join us dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The river is going down. My sister is writing to the page. AA’e have" a, little puppy, and every time the cat goes near it the pup puns away, because it is frightened. The trees are beginning to get their new leaves. I have just been reading a book called “Little AA'omen.” I was sliding on the ice to-day, and I fell. Love to all the L.F.—Yours truly. SILVER POPLAR (Albert Town). Hear Dot,—l have had a sore knee. Mr Murray is our teacher at- school. I havo missed only one day at Sunday School and church. A lot of people have the “flu.” down here. I made a pillow-case at school. I got 226 marks in the examination. I have not had the “flu.” yet, but Mum’s Nurse has it. She went home from, school on Friday afternoon. I have a nice big doll. It lies been very wet down here. My brother is going to v-rite too. Love to Mum’s Nurse, A'erandah Fairy, and A AYce Scotch lassie.—Yours trulv, SAYF.ET APPLE (Limchills). Dear Dot,—AA'e arc having terrible weather down here just now—nothing else but rain; but it looks as if it is going to clear up now. One night about two weeks ago I made out I was a burglar, and started to run round the front- cf tue house as my sister was in her room. As soon as shs heard mo site went and told dad thore was some one outside her window. They listened for a while, and they could hear me running about. I couldn’t keep still, as I was frightened someone would pop round tbe corner and see me. They waited for a while, and then out came one cf my cousins (who was stopping at our place that nigati armed with a hockey stick and my brother with nn air gun. My father wont one way end the two bov-s went tbe other way, but just a? they were going round the corner of the house my brother suotted me hiding behind the tank stand. They had a good laugh when they found cut who it- was. 1 was down town the other night to see a picture called “Lorna Deere,” and it was very good. My cousin from Pukrma -ri was down here about six weeks ago. I think I will be going tc- town to-morrow, if it is fine. A great number of peoole have influenza round about Invercargill. The schools in tue town were rluit down for over a week. Lore to Hard Case Harry’s faster, Musical Maid, Penelop.“, Rainbow Fairy, A Lonely Giri, Mutn. Mavflowei-, and your own dear self.— Yours truly, . _ LAA'INA (Invercargill). [I have posted the hndvo. dear, and hope you receive it safely.—DOT.] Dear Dot.—May I join your happy hand of LF.? I am 12 years of age and m Standard A' at school AA'e a.re three m-lcs from school, but I vide to school with my mate, Pin, on ponies. AYo have holidays from school iust now, as there are such herd frosts. I have a sister and a brother. I had two goats, but one died. The fro3ts up here arc very hard, so we can slide on the ice. Love to all the L.F. and your own dear self—Aouvs truly, SILA’ER LINING II (Omakau). [You will notice you are the second, so to avoid confusion perhaps you will choose another N.D.P.. dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot.— Seeing I have taken someone else’s N.D.P. (Mother’s Darling), I have chosen a different, name. The weather has been horrible down here, so we have not been going to school very regularly. AAe have begun school for two weeks, as we bad whooping ccugb for eight weeks. At the time of the ' flood there was a lot of damage done. AA’e did not have to leave our house, as the water was not. very high. Our brother took us in the boat lor a row. It was very exciting to watch the animals and people passing on the road. AA’e have only a few cows milking, so we do not go t-o the factory. AA'e bought three little black pigs from our neighbour, who has 18 running in the bush. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly. MOTHER’S JEAYE-L (Pert Molyneux). Dear Dot, —Last, rear there were only 19 going to cur school, but wo number only 13 now. On frosty mornings when we ai-rive at school we are always warm, as we have -one mile and a-half to walk on the frozen ground. Last week we had very heavy rain, and tli-e river has been high. AA'e have only had about one day of snow, but it was cold while it lasted. My little sister, who has been ill, seems much better to-day. About two weeks ago she recovered from the whooping cough, which s!h? had for about eight weeks. Our flower garden was all right after the flood except for a fe-.v London Prides, which were broken off and (loafed away. AYhile the ground was still very wet our horses managed to open tho pate, and were soar, in "beside the house. They trampled on the garden till tho flowers were nearly spoilt. Just now. instead of rain, the wind is blowing bard. Love to all tbe Little Folk, net forgetting your own dear self. —A'oure trulv, NIGGER'S SISTER. Dear Dot, —To-day it has been very cold. There was a very hard frost this morning, and the ice in the paddocks was half sn inch thick. Most of the people about here have the “flu.” My brother bought a gramophone the other day, and we play it every night. AA'e have 26 hens, and are getting six and seven eggs a day. I waa

at the pictures on Monday night, and enjoyed them very much. —Yours truly, TOM MIX. [Plea3e remember to write on only one sido of the paper, Tom. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am eight years old and in Standard I at school. I have one little brother and one. baby sister. I love about one mile from Arrowtown. and I have to walk to school. There is about 12in of snow on the ground at present. My daddy has 30 cows and seven pigs. Could you tell me how much a private telephone line for one mile would cost ? Kind regards to all the D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.— Yours truly, MUM’S GIRL. [The Telegraph Engineer, Dunedin, would be able to give you full information, dear.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —My sisters are going t-o a farewell social for one of the residents of the district. Three of his boys attend our school, so it will make a difference to our small school. One of my sisters has just recovered from a very bad cold. Our ploughman has also been in bed for a ween: with one. I saw Silver Aloon’s Pal s letter in the Witness, and thought it was very interesting. There has been a little snow on Kauru Bill lately. My sister, A Country Kid. goes t-o the High School, hut she does not like it verv much. I am very fond of reading books like “Pickwick Papers My father is now carting the grain to the flourmill. It takes him a good while to cart it, a-s the paddocks and roads are very muddy. I got three prizes last year —ono for sewing, one for most marks in. home work, and the other one for first in my class. Tim got second in the same class. We have four pigs—three black and one white one. We have about a dozen draughthorses and three hacks We are milking only one cow now. There are one or two lambs about here, and I think it will be very cold for them some of these frosty mornings. Love to all the D.L.F., especially Squib, not forgetting vourself.—Yours truly', A LITTLE GIPSY (Maheno). Dear Dot, —May I join your band? I am 12 j'ea-rs old and in Standard V. I go to Nightcaps Public School. Winners of the West got her aubc-s safely, Dot. You have quite a nice band of Little Folk, and I have always been wanting to join them. The weather lias not been very good lately. I went to Gore for my term holidays, and I enjoyed myself very' much. Beet wishes to your L.F.—Yours trulv, BLACK SWAN. TYou are verv welcome to join us, dear.-—■ DOT.] Dear Dot.,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 12 years of age, and my birthdav is on the 15th of April. My sister and I have a- bicvcle, and I cycle to school. I learn the violin, and like it veiv much. Do you like music. Dot? I do. I like reading the school library books very much. We are going to get our school nhctc-s on Monday, and I think they will be good. We have a football team at our school, but we cannot play just now, as the playground is covered with water. I hope that, it will dry up soon, as I like playing football. Love to all the D.L.F., especially A Night Owl. A Wee Scotch Lassie, and The Wonderful Land of Nod, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours trulv, DUKE WILLIAM (Limehills). [I do like music, and am especially interested in the volin, Duke William. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l see we have come to the end of “Silver Island,” and I am very sorry-. I would like to have had some more of it as I did enjoy reading it. We are expecting to have our examination soon, and I will he pleased when it i 3 over, as it is always an anxious time. The influenza is prevalent in town, and a good many people are very bad with it. Have you had it, Dot? I have not had it yet, although I have had a very bad: cold. Our school closed for a w-eek, and I was very glad, as it was dreadfully wet all t-he time. Love to all the L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, WILFUL ALICE (Invercargill). [Like you, I escaped with a cold, dear DOT] Dear Dot, —There have been a good many frosts here lately, and it is very cold in the mornings. I hope you have not got the “flu.,” Dot. It was queer that I should sav that 1 had not seen Little Maid Marigold's letters in the Witness for a long time, and she should have a letter in the week.before mine was printed. When we go to school in the mornings there is a lot of ice on the puddle holes on the road. There is a sheet of ice in a paddock, but I do not know if it is any good for skating °n. . I have finished the book which I was reading, and finished one called “A Thorny Way.” Now I am on “Gerda in Sweden.” Or.® day we saw a chaffinch on a dock outside; the next day' w® saw two. and today we saw three sitting on the same dock. Love to all the Little Folk, especially Little Maid Marigold, Honeysuckle, A Highlander Lass, Little 80-Peep/ and Cox’s Orange, not- forgetting your own dear self.— Yours truly, BLUE RIBBON. Dear Dot, —We are having bitterly cold weather just now, and it is miserable, for one cannot get warm or keep warm. When I arrived home on Friday night n°arlv every on® of those there had the “flu.” and colds. They are very prevalent about here just now. I am knitting a scarf for mvself at present, and it is sum a> contract, for I cannot get it done as quickly as I want to. Nevertheless it will be warm when I finish it. I h"ve take.! about a week to do nearly half, but I cannot tit down and do a lot. I have plenty of lessons to do. as I am to sit for my Civil Service this year. I don t mind doing lessons, but I hate doing French, for I find it hard’ to get rignt: but I suppose perseverance makes perfection. Love* to- ~ Milkmaid Beautiful Star, Jinks’s Comrade, Cnrowlie! Milkmaid’s Mate, and all the L.F., not omitting your own self. —Yours truly,' JINKS

Dear Dot, —We have been having lovely we-ather hero lately. About a week or so ago them was ice everywhere on the ground, and I can tell you that we didn’t find it Very hot when going to “tech.” We are all having our term examinations at “tech.” just now, and we arc kept quite busy revising all our work. Our form ha? just about finished everything, and we will be very glad when it is over. There was a fire here last night-, and it caused a great commotion, two shops being just about burnt to the ground. There was £3OOO worth of stock destroyed, and the owners found that it was «. great loss. Hardly anyone in Grcymouth has the “flu.” yet, and I hope that it just keeps the same. I like watching football very much, and this last two or three weeks there have been some very interesting games played. They play for the shield here, and they play a hard game before they win it. I went to a social about a week ago, and had a very enjoyable evening playing games and listen-

ing to songs, etc. It was a quarter to 11 when I left, but as I don’t' live far away from the hall I didn’t take long to get home. We had our photos taken at “tech.” not so very long ago, and some of us came out as funny as anything; but lot’s hope for better luck next time. Love to all the L.F., especially Cloverdean, Nirvana, Fescue Queen, and Wallaby Joe, not forgetting your dear self.— Yours trulv, RITA OF MELVEEN.

Dear Dot, —We are having our term examination now, and it is not very easy. We will be finished on Monday, and I am very anxious to see my report. I see in the papers that the people in Chnstchurcn are getting the "flu.” pretty badly, but there are only a few cases in Greymouth. 1 hope there will not be much of it. There was a big fire here at 4.31 a.m., and the losses amounted to £8000; but the shops were insured. I go home only bhee a montn now, as the nights are closing is and tile express is always about two hours late. 1 have just been in for a Sunday School examination, and I succeeded in getting 216 marks out of 300. I have four correspondents now, and they write very nice letters. I write to a person in Australia-, and I enjoy receiving his letters, for they are so interesting Love to Nirvana, Crimson Rambler, and Mother’s Only Girl, not forgetting yourself. Yours truly. JESSIE THE FLOWER OF „ DUNBLAINE.

Dear Dot,—On the last occasion on which I wrote to you a mishap occuireo. I was feeling rather lazy when writing, and the result was that I produced a very, very dull letter indeed. On reading through that epistle I thought “That will never do, so set to work and wrote a much more intereating letter. That finished, I po®tea my letter. You may imagine my astonishment when, on reading through the L.h. page in the following week’s Witness, to see tne rejected letter storing me in the face I had posted the wrong one! Since I last wrote our head master has resigned on account of bad health. He received a solid leather suitcase and a suede dressing-case from the school children and a- travelling rug from the staff. The Standard \ maeter gave an evening for the staff at his house, and we had a most enjoyable time. A firstaid class ha<* been formed again this winter, and several of the pupil-teachers attend it. I find it very interesting work, as well as very useful. Harry Lauder visited Oamaru a few weeks ago, and received a great hearing. He is supposed to have raised £4OO while in this town. I did not hear him, but they s>ay he was excellent. A pantomime, produced almost entirely by local talent, was staged in Oamaru for four nights last week. The play “Cinderella” was tne chief feature. It was a hug* success About 150 school children took part in it. During the four days of the season children were trooping into school with red-rimmed, with hair done up in curlers or rags or else hanging in “corkscrews.”’ All the performers had their faces “made up with grease-paint, etc. Some of them either rose too late to wash before school or else diu. not succeed in scrubbing off the colours, for they came to school with rather hectic complexions. Officials usually appear when they are not wanted, don’t they/ As you may well believe, m-any of the children did not attend school regularly during those four euys. Well, oue day (Thursday, I tlunk it was) the truant officer happened along and demanded a reason for the absence of those scholars. Of course, the teachers had to put the blame on to the pantomime. The talk of the day is still the weather, which continues to be frosty and unpleasant. However, we may expect a change for the better, seeing that we have passed the shortest dav. Well, as time rolls onward, I shall draw this to a close, with best wishes to your self and to all the D.L.F., especially May Flower, Revlis, King of the Veldt, and Kaka.—Yours truly, MAID MIGNONETTE. [I did not know the news you send, and am very sorry to learn it. Strange to say, you posted an unfinished sheet of one letter, so I concluded something had gone amiss.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are having fairly good weather up here lately. As I have nothing else to do these nights I read. I have just finished reading a book called “A Dog with a Bad Name.” The “Cinderella” pantomime finished up last night after four nights of great success. Wasn’t it sad about that train accident at Ongarue ? I went to the pictures to-day, but I didn’t like them much. The girls play basket-ball at school now, and the boys play football. The drill instructor came to our school last week and examined us in drill. The German measles are going about up here. My little sister is five months old, and she is a. dear wee thing. On Saturday morning the firebell rang, but the fire was only a heap of paper. On Friday afternoons at school we have debates, which are very interesting. There are not many flowers out yet. Mv favourite flowers are roses and violets. We are over the shortest day now, so we can look forward to sunny days soon. There was a little baby christened at Sunday School a few Sundays ago. Our head master has resigned from the school, so we are getting another one. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, PRINCESS TOKIO (Oamaru). Dear Dot. —I sometimes read the letters in the Witness, and I would like to write sometimes, if I may. I live in Central Otago, near Mount Ida, and in winter time it is very cold, but in summer time it is very warm. Last week we had a heavy fall of snow, and it is now freezing hard. We have some fine fun sledging down a hilly road. The curlers are now playing every day, and I believe they are going to St. Balkans to play the bonspiels there next week. There was a large crowd of skaters on the ice all day yesterday. I hear that the ice is 3in thick. Our school was second in the. vegetable collection at the Winter Show-, and it also took several prizes for other exhibits. I like sraiTiening very much. Love to all the Little Folk. —Yours truly, ICICLE. [lt is a very interesting sight watching a bonspeil. Icicle, and the game has a peculiar fascination, I think.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I become a member of your happy band of Little Folk? I am in Standard 111. I have four brothers and one sister. My youngest brother was in the hospital for five weeks, and he has not been very long home. There has been snow on Maungatua, and it is not away yet. Love to your friends, and don’t forget- yourself —Yours truly, BELLBIP.D 11. [Will you please enclose your own name as well as your N.D.P. in your next letter. You will notice that another writer is already using the above pen-name.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have had very rainy weather lately, and till the creeks are very high. We also have had some very hard frosts, too. We had our playground gravelled about a fortnight ago. I had a cold Inst week, but am quite better now. Wo start school at half-past nine, and have only half an hour for dinner, and got out of school at 3 o'clock instead of

half-past 3. I ride about a mile and ahalf for the cows every night on the horse. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own deay self.—Yours truly, HONEYSUCKLE.

Dear Dot, —I received the badge quite safely, and I was very pleased with it. At school we were going to play two basketball matches, but we had to put them off because of the rain. It has been raining a lot here lately, and it has been very frosty in the mornings. In my first term examination I got 379 marks, and came fifth in my class. We are going to have another examination soon, and I hope I do better in it. Love to all the Little Folr, not forgetting your own dear self. Yours truly, DIMPLES (Oamaru). Dear Dot—We have been having dreadful weather here lately. I have been working in Gore for three weeks. My mistress took ill, and had to be taken to the hospital. I was not old enough to look after the baby and two children and do all the housework besides, so an older girl was nut in my placa, and I came home. Grandmother’s Girl is going amy to ", OL ' k morrow to a place two miles the other side of Gore I. have a chilblain on my bipr toe, and it has burst, so I have a rag on it i cannot put any of my boots on that foot, as it hurts mv chilblain too much, so I g about outside with dad’s gumboots on as they are soft. Our liens arc laying from three to six eggs a day. We have 13 ducks, but they have not. laid an egg since we bought them. We ore milking three cow., and one is the mother of the other tv.o. Love to Vivo and yourself. —Yours trulv, RED GHEEKS (Waimumu). [I hop- the chilblain is better, dear, as they are so very painful, especially when th°y break. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —This week the weather has been very rough. I have three brothers and three sisters—the eldest 13 17 and the youngest four I am reading a very interesting book called “Teddy’S Party Lost wishiSi to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.-Yours LAURIE Dear Dot,—The weather has been awful for it bas been raining for over a week 1 played football against High School yesterday; but we were beaten. Tom Mix and I went for a ride on our bicyclc3 last Sunday, but we did not get as far as we intended going, for the Waikaka River was in flood, and it crossed the road in several places. Tom Mix attempted to go througn it but he got into a hole, and went knee deep in it I have five correspondents iom Mix is my best mate. My father lias a draught board, and I play with him «t night. He is good at it and generally beats me, although sometimes I get a draw. Lest wishes to Weary Willie. Little Meg. Taieri Lass, and Poor Little Rich Girl, not foi-get-ting yourself. Yours JQXEg Dear Dot,—We have been having awful weather here lately—ram for a fortnight. There were floods over the road between here and Winton. Everything has been divine- uu these last two days, as we have had hard frosts. We had a week s holiday from “t-ech.” on account of th*v nu., ana I haven’t been back yet. There was a Celtic concert at Browns last Friday night. It was an awful-night—raining and snowing. I thought the ground would be white in the morning, but it was not, /lie Winton competitions begin on the 24th of this month, and they are on four nights. The entries are not out yet, but I suppose there will be a good few enter for the different sections. All the factories about here are closed now, but I suppose it won t be long before, they open again. There is a new factory built at Winton, but it isn t opened vet. I always have a lot of news when I start to write, but it all seems to venisli, and I can’t think of anything till I finish. Wasn’t that a terrible accident on the Main Trunk lins lest, week? I don’t think spring will be long coming now, because the trees, are beginning to make leaves. It isn t so bad now that the shortest day is over. One can notice a difference in the length of the davs already. Love to all the L.kuot for<Hting yourself.—Yours truly. ° KISS ME AT THE GARDEN GATE. Dear Dot,— May I join your happy band of DLF.? We have had very wet weather lately but the last few days have been very frosty. There are four men putting the wires on the pole® about here now. I think that we will soon be getting the electric light. We have our house wired up, but have not got the light yet. Many of the people around here are getting it in. Some of them are getting electric ranges. It was an awful flood that you had lately; I hope that, you were safe from it. As news is scarce I must close now. Yours ti'hlv. COWBOY. [You r.re very welcome to join us, Cowboy.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—My friend answered my letter the other dav. It is awfully cold weather up here. I like reading a journal called the School Girl. I have been away from school a week with the “flu.,” and went back to day. I was glad to get back to school again. I have sent some books away for a friend of mine to read. I see by the pa.pcr we are getting a new school. Our school is in a very cold place. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own true self.—Yours trU i ’ SCHOOL GIRL (Waipori Falls). Dear Dot; —The weather is very warm here inst now. Our flower garden is looking very bare at present. My mother hos nine pullets, and not one of them has started to lay. We have escaped the “flu.,” and hope you have, too. My sister has left school now, and she is not sorry either, Love to June, Cherry Blossom, Doreen, and Little Miss Lilv. and yourself.—Yours truly, YELLOW PANSY (Centre Bush). Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of L.F. ? I am 18 years of age, and I work on a station. I have caught nearly 700 rabbits in my spare time. We are having great frost up here, and the waterlioles are oil frozen over. I am having great fun sliding, but as I am only a learner I come some terrible “croppers” on the ice. My father owns a big station in Canterbury, and I am down here for a while for mv health. Mossburn possesses a brilliant football team, and they are out to win the banner, and have won every game so far. My cobber has just finished off three cups of cocoa, so I think ho will be talking in his sleep to-night. I am going back homo next month some time. Love to all the D.L.F., not forgetting your own dear self.— ' OU ' 3 WILD ARIZONA JOE (Mossburn). [Rabbits must bo plentiful when you have been so successful in your leisure time.- DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? We are having terrible weather up here — snowing for about two weeks or more, and now it is freezing hard, and the snow will not melt away for some. time. One good thing we have plenty of slides. We have got two Ingoons at the place I am at, and they are about 100 yards long, and we have

lovely times on them. There are a good many D.L.F. up here. I know nearly them all. Seeing this is my first letter, I will not take up too much of your valuable space. Love to all the D.Li.F. —Yours truly, MANAPOURI (Mossburn). [Please send in your own name with your next letter.—DOT.] Dear Dot—We have been having awful weather here lately. We were lucky to get off with only about 2?;in of snow, as in Arrowtown thev had 22in. There is going to be a football' match here to-morrow between Lowburn and Alexandra. It is not very nice weather just now for playmjr football, as the ground is so slippery. 1 have not read many books lately, as I have been knitting a lot. We have only one cow milking now, cut she keeps us going m milk and butter. There are not many cases of influenza about here as yet, but T suppo3e it will spread. Whooping cough is also going about, and it is not a very nice complaint, as my little brother had it very severe last year. My four-vear-old sis.er burnt her leg, and it is a very nasty burn. She was sitting on a chair by the nre, ana mv little- brother was walking backwards, and he unfortunately went too far back and knocked the chair over. She 101 lup against the grate, and burnt her leg in four places. Kindest regards to all the D.K.L'., especially Margaret, Wee Muff s Mate, Queen o. the Valley, rnd A River of Dreams, not forgetting vonr own dear self.—Yours truly, WHITE ROSE (Lowiourn Ferry). [I hope your small sister’s leg is better. Burns are so painful in cold weather. It is almost impossible for ffis to keep o. check on all the names, as it would take hours to go fight through the address book: but if you were the first you need not change veur pen-name. That is for the newcomer to do. —DOT.] Bear Dot,—l thought I would write tonight, as I have no lessons to learn. Ye have not time enough other nights to write, as we do our lessons for school. AAe have been having a lot of snow her© lately. At school we have snowballing and also make snowmen. Our teacher told us to take slippers to put on on rainy days at school. We made a good snowman at home. There were pieeps of carrots for its eyes, nose, nnd mouth, and it had an old liat on and a waistcoat. We need to have two pigs, but they have both been killed lately. We have two lady teachers at our school now, and one is very nice. My mother is knitting our little sister a dreS3; it is in red and biscuit, r.nd she has done a lot of it. Influenza is going about now, and I hope I do not get it. Some of the children at school had it. Best wishes to Kittle Miss Muffet’s Mate, Queen of the Valley, and not forgetting your own dear seif.—Yours truly, TASMA. Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Kittle Folk? lam 10 years old, and in Standard 111 at school. We have two cows to milk, and I milk one of them sometimes. My mother is making a dress for my sister. Kindest regards to all, not forgetting yourself. —Yours truly, SNOWY lIIKKS (Kowbura Ferry). [We are very pleased to welcome y©u among us, dear.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have a bad cold, and was away from school on Friday. The weather has been very wet. These last few days it has been very frestv, hut nice days afterwards. The Warepa bachelors’ ball was on Friday night, and my mother and father went to it. Our hens are not laying well. We have four ducks, and one sometimes lays. We are only milking one cow, and we liave four altogether. There are some L.l ■ who go to our school. The boys play football at school. TV© have two big My mother went to Dunedin for Winter Show week, and enjoyed herself. I have some books lately—“ Cast Up by the Eea, “A Storv of TTufct Getting,” and "The Tailor and the Giant,” and they are very interesting. I wrote to Flower Kover s -Mat© a while ago, and I hope she writes again soon. With kindest regards to Athene, Sliiela, Michaelmas Daisy, Xmas, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, FLOWER DOVER. Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of D.K.F. ? It has been very cold- and frosty up here, but on the whole very fine da vs lam twelve vears of age this month, and am in Standard IV. My father is ablacksmith here. I was born here, but when I was one year old we went to live in tne North Island for two years, and then'came back again. Kove to all the D.K.F. and vourself.—Yours truly, TE RAUPAEAHA (Maheno). [You are very welcome to join us, Te Rauparalia. Will you please tell a Blacksmith’s Daughter to write in ink, as we do not publish letters written in pencil.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am sorry to say Tired Tim is in the hospital, so he will not be able to write for some time. He is suffering from pleurisy and pneumonia, and has been on the dangerously ill list since he was admitted to the hospital on July 1, but he is improving now. I hope his correspondents will notice this letter and understand why he lia3 not answered their letters. We have ail been down with the “flu,” too. I hope Billy M’Goosely will write when he sees this. I think ltosella has forgotten we exist. I had a letter from a correspondent of hers, and she said that Rosella has not written to her for some time. Kove to Lonesome Kover, Bally from the Treacle Works, Autumn Fancies, Dewdrop, Dija. Kenora M‘Kav, Trooper Tom, Robin Red Breast, Billy M’Goosely, Rosella, Vanilla, Raphine, Plain Joe, Weary Willie, Tiny Tot, Hose Mervyn, Nobody Knows, Nobody Cares, and all the rest of my correspondents (if I have omitted an}'), also yourself.—Yours truly, KONESOME (Dunedin).

[I am sincerely sorry to learn of Tim’s illness, dear, and hope he continues to' improve and will soon be completely recovered. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? Mv friend Kady of the Lake asked me to write, so I thought I would take the opportunity of doing so to-night. I have read some of your members’ letters in the Witness, and I thought I should like to he one of your number. I should like to write a long letter to you, but unfortunately it is getting late, and I hear mother telling me to go to bed,—or I shall not l)e able to get up in time for school in the morning. Good night, Dot. Kove to Kady of the Kake and yourself.—Yours truly, A WOOD FAIRY (Anderson's Bay).

[V ill you please enclose ycur name and address in your next letter, Wood Fairy.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —May I become a member of the D.K.F.? I am ten years of age, and am in Standard 111. In the term examination I came second after first equal. I like reading the Otago Witness very much. My father owns an orchard of 23 acres, and 33 acres of other land besides. We won the Otago Witness at the Winchester Show for most points in fruit. Wc liave all our apples picked except the latest varieties —Rokewoods

and Sturmers, We are milking five cows m the morning and two at night. I have read in the papers that it has been raining down your way. Up here we had enough to make the orchard a bog. The men were kept behind in the work, so when it cleared up we had eight extra men picking apples. —Yours truly, RIBSTON PIPPIN.^ [The badges are half-a-crovvn, dear. We are very pleased to have you join us. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been very interested in your page, and I thought I would like to become a member. lam in Standard VI at school. There are quite a number of D.K.r. about here, and I know nearly all of them. There used to be pictures here, but on account of the cold weather they have stopped. We have a gas lamp, and it gives a splendid light. Kove to Silver Moon’s Pal, Patches, Patches’ Kittle Mate, Joker, The River Princess, Polly From the Country, and The Blacksmith's Daughter, not. forgetting your own dear self. —Yours truly, BLUEBIRD IK [lf you decide on another pen name, since th© one you have chc-sen is already in use, will von please send in your name with the new N.D.P.?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy hand of K.F. ? I am in Standard IV, and am 13 years old. I have four brothers and three sisters. At school we play basketball and rounders. We have eight cows and one calf. Igo to Sunday School every Sunday. Vv_e have a dear little dog named Spot. Ye are having very frosty weather ai present. I go to the dances occasionally. I knew Silver Moon very well, and was very sorry to hear of her death. I also know Silver Moon's Pal. She has shifted to Mataura. My sister learns music, and plays very well. Kove to Patches, Patches’ Kittle Mate, Silve Moon’s Pal, Joker, The River Princess, and The Blacksmith’s Daughter, not forgetting your own dear seif. —Yours truly, BLUEBIRD'S MATE. [You are verv welcome to join us, dear. — DOT.] 1 Dear Dot, —Don’t turn faint when you see who this is from, as it is such a long time since I wrote you. Sometimes I make a resolve that I will write once a. month, but somehow my good resolutions receive a check, and the letter gets posted in the fire. However, it is one lees for you to read. Y 7 e have had dreadful weather here lately. About a fortnight ago ws had a slight, fall of snow—about a couple of inches, —but a nice heavy rain fell a day or so after end cleared it away. Then a week later we had a further fall of snow, and this time is was 22in. It is still on the ground, and shows every indication of remaining, as we are having very severe frosts. Kast night it registered 24deg. All the sports and dances, etc., had to be postponed. There was to be a match played between Country Pirates and Arrowtown last Wednesday, but it had to be put off on account of the snow. Then the Pavilion Committee were going to have a carnival and concert and dance at night, but it is sharing the fate cf the football match. The local . schools have been closed down for a fortnight, as several cases of diphtherial have been reported. However, tiny have been conveyed to the Frankton Hospital, and are doing splendidly. The schools reopen again to-morrow. I am still at my old place, and have no wish to leave my (situation, as I haven’t far to go to my home. Kast week I was sick in bed, and couldn’t go to- work. However, my mistress managed, "as there was not much to do. My sister, Pearl White, has nearly reached the retiring age. She is r..ot vt -v well at present, as she has a very bad cold and also a sore throat. Arrow has a very good hockey team this year, and they have won every match played so far this season. I would have ] iked to join this year, but it was ton inconvenient. Our school team is very good too. They played against Queenstown about three weeks ago, and won. I wilt close now, with kind regards to all the K.F. and yourself.—Yours truly. KUSPIRIA. [lt is a pleasure to get your nice cliattv letter, dear.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —You have an interesting little band, and I woi.derel if you would have room for me. I am 10 years old and in Standard IV. There are seven in my class. We are milking four cows. I have two sisters and two brothers. We ride to school, as we have a long way to go. I am learning music, and like it very much. AYe had a good many apples this year. Wc lost.a little calf in the flood. Kove to all the D.K.F.. not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly,

A FROSTY NIGHT (Romahapa). [You are very welcome to tain us. clear. —- DOT] Dear Dot, —I am reading a book called “Bosom Friends,” by Angela Brazil, and I think it is very nice. A few of the children are away from our school just now with influenza. It has bear frosty nearly every day for about a week, and it is very cold going to school. My sister and I have been away from school for about six weeks, as my sister hacl scarlet fever. We liad a bazaar here about a week ago, but we were not able to go, as the Health Officer had not been. Kove to Golden Daffodil, Ponto, and all the other K.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly, MOANA (Glenomaru). [I hope your sister is better 'again, Moana. You had a long holiday from school.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather lia.s been very frosty down this way lately. There are not many flowers out just now, as the frost has killed most of them. Nearly everyone has had the influenza about here, and I can tell you it is not a pleasant thing to have. Y’e have gone out. for one game of basket-ball, but we lost. The other side had four scores and we had three. Delightes has left school now, and I am very sorry, too, as she was one of my best schoolmates. Kindest regards to all the D.K.F., especially Our Bessie, A Hen Wife, Kilv of the Valley, Bridget, Dorothy 11, and The Pride of Kildare, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly,

KIKY OF THE NIKE. Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.K.F.? I have three brothers and one sister. The weather up here has been awful. Our three teachers have been down with the “flu.,” so we had a week’s holiday from school. Kove to A Dark Damsel, An April Girl, Egyptian Marigold, and Beautiful Kand of Nod, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly.

AN IRISH MAID (Dipton). [You are very welcome to join us, dear.— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I correspond with Bunty 11, and get very interesting letters from her. Every night I go to the station in the hope of getting a- letter from her. An April Girl is getting a few correspondents, and I suppose she has a busy time answering them. We have had the most dreadful weather here lately. It has been so bad that some of the people are wondering if the sun will ever shine again. Our three teachers have been down with the "flu.,” so wo had to “break the ranks” for a week. I have

not had it yet, and I don’t want it, as the people who had it looked pretty miserable. There was a hunt held here a few weeks ago, and the photos were in the Witness. The story in the D.K.F. page is very interesting, isn’t it? I am dying to see how it will end. I am reading a good book called “Munition Mary,” and what makes it more interesting is that it is a war romance. One of my cousins writes to the page under the name of Mimosa 11, but I think she must have forgotten you, as it is ages since she wrote. Best wishes to An April Girl, Beautiful Kand of Nod, Egyptian Marigold, A Yellow Sunflower, Bunty, and yourself.— Yours truly, A DARK DAMSEK. [Yes, dear; the number is not limited. DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am going to describe this little town to you. At one time it was a gieat gold miring centre, bat now it has gone back a good deal. There are skilly two claimp, but they do not do much. The town is situated between two lulls, and some of the houses are up on the hills. The traveller's say it is one of the prettiest little towns they visit in the summer time; and it is very healthy, because the doctors order X>eople who are ill up this way. AAhen the daffodils are out it is very pretty. We send boxes of daffodils down to to soil in aid of the disabled soldiers. At e have three grocers’ shops, two fruit shops, and two drapers, and three boarding-houses. In winter it is very c-oid, and in summer it is j very hot. Y’e are having very cold'weather just now. It was a very hard frost up here. It was fun watching the boys sliding. Some of them were showing off, and the ice went ! through, and thc-y got their feet wet. Kove to Coupons for Kisses and Freckles, not forgetting your dear self. —Yours truly, TRUE TO ONE BOY (Kawrence). Dear Dot,—Since I last wrote we have removed from our former residence, and living where the flood waters cannot touch us. W e were nearly flooded out in the other plaee, with 2ft of water around the house and a couple of inches in side. However, we were able to keep a fire going, so that wasn’t so bad. The very night the flood was at its height my father arrived home, and, of course, no one could meet him, so when an express brought him along that night the horse ploughed its. way through water which came up to its girth band. I think clad is Railing next week on the Moeraki, so we will not see him for another long while. I have managed to get over this pent of the winter with one cold that I must have contracted one frosty night last week. I notice Erin’s Girl has the same ambitions practically as I have—to travel round the world; so I think 1 shall stow away in amongst my father’s luggage for India; then perhaps I may be seasick. I have been wondering what is wrong with hover’s Dream lately, as I have not heard from her. Perhaps she has the “flu.” I would like to see next Saturday’s match, Maoris v. Otago, at Carisbrook. If should be an interesting game. AYell, Dot, it is growing late, and I must close. Kove to hover’s Dream, Primula, and yourself.— Yours truly, BURMA (Dunedin). [Yes, and if I remember correctly, you will find reference to the writer in one of Ihe letters in this week’s issue.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —The weather is very unsettled at present. It has been snowing for the last two or three days, and now it is awful, beca-use it has started to thaw. All the traffic nas been stopped, as it is impossible to travel cn the roads. On AYednesday there was very little work done, as the people ■ were so excited over snowballing. The telegraph line o-ver to Nevis was broken, and they did not find it until last Friday, as the snow was so deep. The railway accident on the Main Trunk line was terrible. It seemed quite thrilling to some people,, but it didn’t to me. Everybody is getting the “flu.” up this way. which is the after-effects of the Winter Show. I saw in the Otago Daily Times that a great many people in Dunedin have the “flu.” also, but it is worse than what we have up country. Kove to all the Kittle Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, ANGELA.

Dear Dot, —You will he wondering who this letter is from, as it is so long since I last wrote to you. I really ought to be ashamed of myself, as it seems years ago, and you must have long since scratched rue off your list. If yon have, would von kindlv enrol me again, and I will make a fresh start. AYe have had a good deal of snow in these parts lately. There must have been nearly a foot altogether. I was in Dunedin for a few days not long ago, and I had a glorious time.. The weather was not very good, for it rained most of the time, I had a touch of the influenza, but am all right now. It seems to be going about this district just now. Kove to all the D.K.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly.

MAGPIE (Poolbum). [I am delighted to learn you intend making a fresh start, Magpie.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are going t-o play basketbail at school. I went on a visit to my aunt (Kily Blossom) for a day or two. My sister bought a rack of cards, and we have such fun with them. My two sisters and I are making a raffia basket each. AA’e have only two ferret 3 now. Their mother died a few weeks ago. One of the young ones is blind in one eye. B-esf wishes' to Kily of the Keith, Jim’s Chum, and A Lassie from AYyoming.—Yours truly, KIKY BLOSSOM'S NIECE.

Dear Dot,—My mother is spending a holiday at Bleeding Heart’s place. Two of my sisters and brothers went to a dance and just got home as mother was going to get up. I don’t think I would like to be a big girl and go to dances and lose my night’s sleep. . Our teacher reads us nice stories at school in the afternoons. There are a lot •of birds in onr bußh. There is one funny little fellow called Tom Thumb. He is light green in colour and has no tail. I had been watching a pair of Tom Thumbs for a few days, and they were starting to build their nests. One day my little brother saw the birds bringing straw for their nests, and when they flew away he went and pulled some of it out, so they never came back to it. AYith kind regards to Jim’s Chum, Kily Blossom’s Niece, and Bleeding Heart.—Yours truly, WE ARE’ SEVEN. Dear Dot, —My mother and .auntie are spending a few weeks at Tuatapere. AA’aipango Lassie and I wdll be going away then for a holiday. I wonder when Kily Blossom is going to join the Old Writers; it is her birthday next month. I have finished one pair of slippers, and am waiting for soles to finish the other two pairs, so I am starting another pair while I am waiting. AYaipango Kassie has started herself a hat. It is her first attempt, and I think it will be a success. I am housekeeper again this year for my aunt, and AYaipango Kassie is helping me. AYith kind regards to all the Kittle Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, JIM’S CHUM. Dear Dot, —May I join the D.K.F. page? I am nine years of age, and in Standard 11. AYe have a cow and a heifer, which I feed

every night. AA’e have about 15 hens and three ducks. AA’e have a dog, anci when we tease him he bites us. He used to belong to cur grandfather, who died last year. The weather is very cold just now’. It is two degrees below zero. A lot of taps have burst with the frost. AVe take our slippers to school every day. My sister, Red Salvia, is writing, too. Kove to all K.F. and yourself. —Yours truly, HANDY JACK. [lt is a wise plan to take your slippers to school. There is not the same danger of taking cold from sitting with damp feet. DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Kittle Folk? I am seven years of age, and in Standard I. My birthday is on Sunday. AA’e have two little kittens —-one s name is Tabby and the other is Ginger. Every morning when daddy is milking the cow they wait for their drink of milk. Y’e have a. little baby, and she is five months old. Y'e went to Betty Bonnet’s place to hear the King's message on the gramophone. Kove to all the D.K.F., not forgetting yourself. —Yours truly, RED SAKA’IA. [You are very welcome to join us, Red Salvia. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Kittle Folk? lam seven years old, and in Standard 11. AYe had 22 inches of snow here. Y’e are going to have a week s holiday in September. All our taps are frozen. AVe have all our cows dry except three. AA e have very hard frosts here now. There are not very many children coming to school now. Kove fio all the Kittle Foik, not for getting voursc-lf. —Yours truly, ° ’ BETTY BONNET. [AA r e -are very pleased to have you join us, Betty. It must be very cold m Arrowtown at present.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Since last writing to you I have left school, and I like working at home. A\e have had a few hard frosts here lately, ana the ice has been hard enough to bear us for a few slides. AA’e have had two small falls of snow, and one time it froze and the main road was just like glass. I had a week s holiday in Oamaru, and I enjoyed myself very much. AA’e have nearly a-1 got co here just now. AYe are just milking hie cows, but in the summer we have 14. 1 nan very lucky, as I do not have to go out ana milk. I have a wee black kitten, and he w verv playful in the morning and at night. AYe” have just had the mill, and we dia no. cot very good weather. They took as lon,, shifting a's they did to do the threshing The little wax-eyes have come Imck to r again, and they are very tame. They come hopping up to any crumbs we put.out t° them. I have never seen a wax-eyes i.est, but I don’t think they nest about her-. Ngapara, never had any of the severe Dunedin and other towns had, but it - enough rain, as the ground is sail too wet to plough. Hockey is m full -• now; but I have not joined the club. ™eie was a hockey match here on June *>o. kk, a

Dear Dot,— May T become a member of your ‘iSTf'k’?. .t * l ‘’ff bSJ» Persian cat and a dog which can do qm ? number of tricks. Before' we came .to live in AYairoa we used to live in Dunedin, and we were very glad to be away during the time of the floods. .AVe have been bavin, very miserable weather lately, and scarcely any flowers are out in the garden. As uus is my first letter to the page i will now close. Kove to all the K.F not forgetting your own dear self. Yours tiu

rAY© aTe delighted to have you join us, dear and triad to hear you still Juke an interest in tilings pertaining to Dunedin. DOT.]

AUTOS. Dancing Davs (Bertha Crow, Fine A lew. Pallia Southland) wishes to correspond with A Farmer’s Daughter rwksl-n) Rose Myrven (Miss Edna Todd, Crookst ml wishes to correspond with Lonesom, 1..< Leaves, Tired Tim, and any other K.F. from 13 to Iff years of age. ' sr. vu Daisy in the Field (Ena Hall, c,o Mi • G Hall, Dipton)) rushes to correspond, witn anv K.F. nine to 11 years. The Beautiful Butterfly (Jean Kenned}, Sutton) wishes to correspond wub Biown Eves and any K.F. 31 to 13 years. Willow (Annie Fisher, Galloway. CKK..I Otago) wishes to correspond with '-Aits Fleece and Verandah Fairy Karina (Iris Marshall, Oteramika read. Invercargill) wishes to correspond with Cloverdean and any Drinedm LJ. Jinks (Miss Gladys Bishop, Harrington place, Kawrence) wishes to correspond with Milkmaid 11, Fescue Queen, A Ploughnian from the Bogs of Ireland, A Kittle* Hard Case, Sweet Blossom. Coupons for Kisses, King of the Veldt. Freckles, Rose Myrvon. Silver Kining. White Rose, Swift Creeled©, A Highland K-p.ss, Tea Leave?, and any K.F. willing from 15 years. Annie Kauri© (Annie Cullen. Mary street, Gore) wishes to correspond with any D.K.F. seven to nine years. Lonesome (Lizzie Freeman, 322 lyng -Edward street, Dunedin) wishes to notify Tired Tim’s correspondents of _ his illness and subsequent inability to write. Buck Jones (Fred Cullen, Marv street. Gore) wishes to correspond with Sheila or anv K.F. of 13 te 14 years willing. Magpie (Ada AYeir, Poolburn, Central Otago) wishes to correspond with Whom Am I? and Brown Eyes, and would they please write first Moana (Vera Havard, Glenomaru, South Otago) washes to correspond with any K.F. 10 to 12 years of age. Kily of the Nile (Doris Hart. Round Hill, via. Colac) wishes to correspond with A Scotch Kassie and N.D P.