DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3668, 1 July 1924, Page 70

DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

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

Dot’s Little Folk's Badge with pin, for use as a brooch, obtainable on application to Dot. Price, 2s 6d in stamps or postal notes. Auto. Cards are obtainable from Dot, Witness Office, Dunedin. Price, 9d for 25

BILL. Written and Illustrated by Dorothy Law. (Copyright.—Foe the Witness.) Bill sniffed. He didn’t think he had ever smelt anything quite so good as that bacon sizzling on the hot stove. It was holiday time, and he had just arrived on this island, where mother used to stay when she was a wee girl. He hadn’t enjoyed the trip at all. Something had happened to the sea, which had all risen up in lumps, and his own inside had seemed to rise up in sympathy. It was rather a wan-faced Bill, no longer a would-be sailor, whom the captain delivered into the kindly hands of fat Mrs Thomson in the house on the hill. It was on the third day that Bill discovered Mohi. Now Mohi was a Maori, very old and very wise, and he lived at the end of the beach in a cottage, under a cabbage tree.

After that day Bill was a frequent visitor, for Mohi could talk about all the tilings that really matter — that is to say, all except motors and aeroplanes. Bill knew more about those. One rainy afternoon Bill sat by the open fire, and watched Mold’s mutton birds cooking in the pan, while the old man drawled on in his soft voice tales of the sea, of the joys of fishing, and of expeditions to the islands where the mutton birds live. The fire grew warmer, and the oily smell more powerful. Bill’s head drooped, and presently the fire and Mohi faded, and he seemed to be out on the open beach. Beside him stood a mollyhawk. “ Turn tlie little key under my right wing,” said Molly, and Bill found a little key and gave it a swift turn. Molly grew and grew, and when she was about the size of a dining room chair, “ Turn it off,” she said, “and get on my back.” Bill did so, and away they went.

“ Where are we going? ” he asked. “ You do ask stupid questions,” said Molly. “ Why, to the island where the mutton birds live, to be sure.”

Bill held tight to Molly’s neck, and presently down they swooped, just like a perfectly good seaplane, to a little island far below. Landing on the beach, they met a queer erey bird strutting about. He seemed very important. “ That," said Molly, “ is the King of All the Mub ton Birds.” No sooner had the king seen Bill than he rushed to warn his friends. ‘Hi! Come back,” shouted Molly; “ there’s no need to get your fuss up. Wo just came for the trip, and he is quite' harmless,” indicating Bill. “Do you mind if I explore?” said Bill. “ I’ll come with you,” said the king, and off they toddled towards the holes in the lumpy ground under the mutton bird trees. The Queen of All the Mutton Birds put her head out of the royal hole. “ Take him away,” she shrieked, glaring at Bill. “ Please may I see the little lambs,” sa.i d Bill. “Silly!” said the mollyhawk; “they aren’t lambs.” “ Lamb is young mutton,” said Bill stubbornly. “ Mummy always told me. By this time all the mother mutton birds were screaming in unison. “ Take him away ! Take him away! ”

Bill tried to touch a downy mutton bird baby j-ust inside a hole. Then the storm broke—shrieks and pecks, pecks and shrieks.

‘'Turn it off! Turn it off!” screamed I Molly, and Bill felt for the little key. It seemed a queer shape. He blinked, opened his eyes, and found it was a fork which had been put into his hand, and You taka the pepper and salt,” said the voice of old Mohi, the Maori, in the cottage under the cabbage tree. IMPORTANT. My Dear Little Folk, —I mentioned in “Notes” a few weeks ago, that my space was becoming so cramped that X should have to omit parts of your letters. Since then there have been so many new writers, that more serious alterations still will have to be made. For a, little time I ask you to write only short letters. Unless that is done, I am afraid I shall have to make some drastic rules, restricting the length of all letters, i should suggest that you omit anything that is not news, and give us only what i 3 really interesting. For instance, if you have three exciting things to write about, and space wall not allow you to tell all three, select the one that will be of most general interest, and write about that one. That will leave space for a reply, and also give every one of you an equal chance of a position in the page. Do you know, you are growing into such a large family, that they tell me you are threatening to over-run the whole “Witness”! Of course I should not mind at all, but there are other people to consider besides ourselves, so we must be generous, and not take more space than is our share. I am so proud of you all, that I cannot bear to lose one of you from my ranks, so if you want to let Dot’s family remain the powerful body it is at present, you will not mind agreeing with this rule. Love to all, from—DOT. LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto. —We write lor the benefit of others, not for ourselves. Dear Dot,--There are nine children in our family, and I am the oldest girl. My brother is nearly 15 years old, and is not working like I am. Do you think it is fair? I don’t! He is getting wasted. My two sisters can milk the four cows at home, but I cannot. My brother chops the sticks for the range. He is nine years old and is in Standard 11. The new teacher is hen. and the children think she is all right. As scon as I finish my night dress. I am going to knit a pair of socks for Dad. The answer to the riddle is: An e-g-g and sliegee gee. I will close now.—Yours tru’y, A WORKING GIRL. [I could not correspond with my D.L.F. privately, Working Girl The task would be too great.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Have you ever seen a bittern, Dot? There has been one about our creek for about a week now. The first time I saw it, it was flying around about two or three feet above the water in search of small fish. We have seen it every day since, but to-day. When the bird sees anyone, it rises into tlie air and flies away tip the creek for about a quarter of a mile and then lands slowly. The back of the bird is a dull brown in colour, but the breast js dark yellow with brown spots, and the tail which is very short is yellow also. I think it eats grubs as well as fish. —Yours truly, CARTON HERO. [No, I have not seen a bittern, Garton Hero. You must have studied it fairly closelv.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —iSince last writing I have two wee pigeons. That makes four altogether. The mother of the little ones does ruffle up her feathers if you go near her! My father does not like them. He says they are a nuisance. I will make this letter short. With love to all the L.F. and yourself.— Y’ours truy, LITTLE RED ROOSTER. [How lovely the wee pigeons must be, Little Red Rooster. I have never seen baby ones.—DOT.] Dea l'Dot,—llow do you like this sort of weather? It is very* cold going to school, but we are warm when we get there. We are going to have a concert- at the end of this term. Our teacher is picking a few out to say things by themselves. We are all looking forward to it. My wee sister is telling me to hurry up. Love to all the L.P. and vourself. —Yours trulj', ONLY A LILAC BLOSSOM. [lt certainly is cold weather, Lilac Blossom. But I like it if I can run about and exercise.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have just finished reading “The White Ladies of Worcester, and “The Rosary” both by “Florence Barclay.” Have you ever read either of them? Mum has been away in Dunedin, and just arrived home by the express to-day. and as usual I have been chief cook and bottle washer. They have started on a. soldiers’ memorial here now, and by all appearances are making great headway. I am working a runner just now, and am doing it in satin stitch and eyelet holes, and as I am giving it away, I hope it is a success. Well, Dot, as news is scarce, I will close. —Y’ours truly, THE MOONSHINE LADY. [I have read both hooks you mention, Moonshine Lady. They are quite interesting.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l attended the send-off to Mrs W. Sinclair, of Titri, on Wednesday night. She is a very old identity, who has been at Titri since 1850, and is now going to take up her residence at Taieri Mouth. The concert commenced at 8.45 p.m. There were a few songs sung and a comic recitation from Mr Smith. Then our minister presented an alarm clock to Mis W Sirclair and a box of stainless knives to Miss ,T. Sinclair, the daughter. Mr George Bruce responded for the recipients. Then we all sang “For She's a Jolly Good Fellow,” and then we retired to the house for supper. The evening’s enjoyment ended

by singing “Auld Lang Syne.” I arrived home at 11 o’clock. Love to yourself.— Tours truly, AN AUCKLAND LAD. [lt must have been a good send-off, Auckland Lad. The gifts were very nice ones. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are now hack at school again ,and nearly half-way through the winter term. When we arrived back at school we found that we were going to have dance 3 and socials, but as I am only a weekly boarder, I am not allowed to enjoy them. A good many of the hoarders went to a play, “The Bells of Cornville.” It was played by the people of Timaru, and it was very good. We do have some fun at the Hostel sometimes. The other night just before lights were out, some of us had a boat race on the floor. One of the girls was turning somersaults on her bed, and for a while there was a general upheaval. Well, Dot, I will clo-se with* love.—-Yours truly, A RECTORY-ITE. [What fun you must have at school, Rectory-ite. It is a pity you miss the weekend parties.-—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote I have learned to drive a horse in a sledge. To begin with, I could not see the tank, and nearly pulled it down. I drove through four gates and did not take out one post. Sausage expected mo to learn both how to drive a horse and how to unharness it in one day. I undid the chains, and the rest remained unlearned.—Yours truly, SAVELOY. [We cannot learn everything at once, can we, Saveloy? I think you did very well. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —Football is going strong! I am playing in the third grade A at our school, so that I have to do my work in. the mornings if I want to play after school. I am playing two matches this week, one on Monday against Marist and the other on Friday against West school. Every Friday morning our class goes to woodwork, where we learn to make pieces of wood into different articles. I am reading a book called “The Children’s Encyclopaedia.” Could you please give mo a name for another? Can you answer this riddle, “Why is the Special Service Squadron like a Ford car?” —Yours truly, THE SON OF A RATE PAYER. [I cannot guess the riddle, Son of a Ratepayer. Other good books to read are “My Magazine,” and the “History of the Nations.” —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I came second in my class out of nine, but it was really out of ten, only one girl was away. I have just been putting the postcards in right order for mother and playing with the little ones. My big brother is away working over the river. Love to all the D.L.F. and your own clear self.—Yours trulj', SWEET FAIRY BELLS. [You did very well at school Sweet Fairy Bells. What a help you must Ire to mother I —DOT.] Dear Dot, —My father is building a shed for coal and wood. We have great fun sliding on the ice. I came second in my class at school. I learn music and like it very much. My brother took a photo of the sea. A Little Tinker is my brother. I told him to have that name because he is always into mischief. —Yours truly, GOLDEN MOSS. [Do all the D.L.F. names have meaning. Golden Moss? Where did you find the idea for yours?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I will tell you about the warships, which were most beautiful. Everything was polished up so that you could j sec your face in them, and the way the men ; cooked their food was wonderful. I have ! just finished reading a oook called “The King of the Golden River.” Have you ever read it? It is a very interesting book. V eil, dear Dot, I will close. Love to all ths L.F. and your own dear self.—Yours truly, THE GIRL FROM THE NORTH. [I have read the book you mention, Girl from the North, and I enjoyed it very much. —DOT.I Dear Dot,—We are getting our winter holidays soon. We are going to have three weeks. I am learning music now, and I like it very much. It was Frozen Snow's birthday on Sunday, and it is mine next) Saturday. The men killed a pig to-day; it is a big white one. I will close now.— Y’ours truly, ROSE LEAVES. [Many happy returns of your birthday, Rose Leaves. I am glad you like music.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Our winter holidays will soon ! be over, and I will be very sorry, because I have had such a lovely time. We are still milking two cows, and they are giving enough milk to keep us going. We caught 76 rabbits in the holidays with the ferrets and dogs. Well, Dot, you will be tired of reading this, so I will close. Love to ail the D.L.F. and vourself. —Yours truly, HINEMOA. [Too many hoidays would not be good for you, Hinemoa. I don't know if you will agree with me.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —About a month ago we had a hunt, up here, and it was a wet, cold, miserable day, but, however, there was a large attendance. I was away from school for r three <laj-s last week with a cold. Most of the farmers have dried all their cows off for the winter, seeing that the factories have •stopped, and there are not many turnips j about. Love to all the L.F. and your own I dear self.—Ycurs truly, ROSY’ MORN. [I hope your cold is better, Rosy Morn. You would feel so miserable whm you had it —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We plaj-ed another hockey match yesterday, and won by two goals. Our colours are navy and royal blue. I knitted my mother a pair of slippers for her birthday, and I have just finished a dress for my sister’s doll. I am going to the pictures next Wednesday night, after I come back 1 from a hockey match at Nightcaps. The name of the picture is “Oliver Twist.” Well. Dot, I will have to close, with love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, SHULAMA." [I must congratulate you on your hockey succes's, Shulama. How proud of your team you will be!—DOT.] Dear Dot,—Dad has just bought IS sheep, and wc have some hard times chasing them when they get out, for they seem never content with staying at- home. Three of them are still away, and we cannot find them. Dad and Mr White killed our pig the other day, and it was a good weight. There arc quite a number of dogs poisoned about here, and we have to be very careful not to let our dog stray too far. No one seems to know who is laying the poison, and people who have lost their dogs blame first one and then another.—Y'ours truly, GUMSUCKER. [How cruel to be poisoning dogs, Gumsucker! I hope your doggie will he quite safe.—DOT.] Der Dot, —We played a hockey match yesterday, and were all splashed with mud.

Our hockey colours are navy and royal blue. Mother is not better yet, but is getting on fine. She has to go back to the doctor only once again. I am going to the pictures on Wednesday night. There is to be a dance after the pictures, and the proceeds are to go to a soldiers’ memorial. I do not think there is any more news, Dot, so I will close. —Yours truly, WARATAH. [I am glad your mother is better, Waratah. Tell me if you have a good time at the pictures.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We spent our holidays in Dunedin at grandma’s, and had a good time with my auntie Winnie. My sister ancl 1 went to a matinee with my auntie one Saturday afternoon, and saw George t\ allace in “The Pride of the .Navy.” lie is funny, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Mother gave me some money, and I bought a little kewpie. We received a new journal at school to-day, which has a picture of H.M.S. Hood in it.—Yours truly, A BRIAR ROSE. [Give me your name and address, Briar Rose, and I’ll put an auto, in for you.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have had two weeks hoiiday. I went out to my father’s camp and stayed three days with him. He brought me home on his horse, and the next morning we went to Grandma’s in Dunedin. We stayed there a week. One Saturday afternoon we went with my auntie and uncle to a matinee, and saw George Wallace. . I had a good time. My youngest uncle is just ten years old, so we had good times together. I will stop now with love. —Yours truly, WHISTLE BREECHES. [Send me your name and address, Whistle Breeches, and I’ll put an auto, in for you. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a line to say we arrived in Wellington safely from Greymouth. I like Wellington very much, but it is very busy in the day time. We have not a house yet, but hope to buy a new bungalow out Lyall Bay way. I would far sooner have Dunedin than Wellington, for there are much newer trams there, and they are not bo rowdy. We left Greymouth and had a beautiful ride up the Grey Valley to Otira. As we went up we passed through two small tunnels and then out on to the Otira. River bed. We had to go one or two miles to reach the month of the tunnel, then, all of a sudden, we were there. It took us 13 minutes to go through. When we came to Arthur’s Pass the Christchurch train was waiting to be taken through. Soon we were out on the Canterbury plains. There were two tunnels to go through to Christchurch, and they were so near each other that we would no sooner he out of one than we were in another. When we came to Christchurch we had tea, and then waited for the slow train to take us to the boat. —Yours truly, TOM THUMB. [You are a lucky person to have had that journey, Tom Thumb. I confess that I envy you.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a few lines to tell you that I am changing my name, because I saw that Buffalo Bill is the name of another hoy. We started school last Tuesday. My birthday is on July 8. I will be 13 years of age then There is going to be a concert and dance here on July 18. I am going to the dance, and I will have a good time there. —Yours truly, AN ALLY. [I like your new name, Ally. How young you are to be going to dances!—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Mother milks only eight cows in the morning now, but in the height of the season she milked fourteen by hand. There is to be a company called the “Jubilee Bellringers” coming to Mandeville on June 11. The Birehwood Hunt will be about June 19, followed by a benedicts’ ball, then a tennis concert after that. I intend going to all but the benedicts’ ball. I am fond of dancing on a winter’s night. I play hockey and basketball now, and enjoy both games when it is frosty weather. Well, I think I will conclude this note with kind regards to my correspondents.—Yours truly, KTEMO. [You will have a busy time, Kremo. I hope you enjoy yourself.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I went to the Bellringers on Friday night, and enjoyed it very much. When my mother was away we scrubbed the floors, and one day the mill came and we had a busy day. As this is all the news, I ■will close now. Love to all the D.L.F. and your own dear self. —Yours tfiily. DAD’S PAL. [How busy you must have been, Dad’s Pal! The house must have been like a new pin.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l am gathering stamps, but I do not know where to send them. I have a few foreign ones. We have a new school now. We went into it after the Easter holidays. I have started to make a pair of slippers. I am learning music. We play hopscotch just now. My father had an asphalt court laid, and we are going to play tennis this spring. We teach our little sister rhymes.—Yours truly, LEMON HONEY. [lt must be pretty to bear your little Bister recite, Lemon Honey. Is sbe an apt 6cholar ?—DOT.] Dear Dot,—l made a crochet hat for Rose- <, leaves and one for myself. I am in Standard VI this year. I stopped learning music last year, but I have started again now. We went into the new school at Easter time. It is much better than the old one, because it is larger and we have a playshed, too. We play kick the tin and *» chain tig at school now. All of us have gardens at the school, and Lemon Honey and another girl and I are sharing two between us. We have a new asphalt tennis court, so we will be able to play tennis in the spring. I will close now with love to all the D.L.F. —Yours truly, FROSTY CENTRAL. [I should like to see your gardens, Frosty Central. I suppose you are very fond of them. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are milking one cow, and she is giving a nice drop of milk. My grandfather has gone over to England to the Exhibtion. He went in the Ruahine, and he will be about there now. We are going to have a school concert on Friday. I think I am going to it. Love to all the D.L.F. and your own dear self.—Yours truly, BUFFALO BILL. [Would you have liked to go with your grandfather, Buffalo Bill, Or do you prefer to milk the cow?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Mum has been off duty ever since last Saturday dinnertime, with ’flu., I think. So this week I made up my mind to hake some scones. I started with two cups of flour and made them too soft, and had to put some more flour in. I put them out on the bake board and tried to roll them out to cut them in four, but they beat me. They would go everywhere but where I wanted them to, so it ended up by putting them on in a wee loaf, which turned out not so badly, to mv idea. The boys teased me, and Wink said he would sooner chew the toe of an old boot any day. But that Is only a start at baking. I will surprise

those boys yet, and then I will laugh at them. —Yours truly, HEART O’ GOLD. [You did very well, Heart o' Gold, and I am sure you are a great help to mother.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are building a new house, and there are three carpenters here. Ye will be very glad when they are away and we get in our new house. We have school in the church. News is very scarce here at present, so you must excuse me this time. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, LITTLE NURSEGIRL. [How nice to be having a new house. Little Nurse-girl. You will like it, won t you?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —There is a presentation to-night in the hall; but I am not going. I would sooner stay beside the warm fire than go out. on such a cold night. The spinsters’ and benedicts’ annual ball is to be held here on July 10. and the bachelors’ on the 24th. We are going to play basketball matches, so I hope we will win. If we are successful we will be proud of ourselves, because we have played only one since wo started. Well, dear Dot, as news is scarce, I will close now. —Yours truly, VILLAGE BELL’S COUSIN. [The new name you wanted is taken, Village Bell’s Cousin, so I have not altered your own. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have just come back from my holiday in Gore, and had a lovely time. 1 went to two dances and enjoyed myself. I went to see the monument with a friend, and thought it was lovely. Gore is a much quieter place than Dunedin, but of course it is not nearly as big. I also went to a football match, hut it was very cold standing about. I will close now with love to all my correspondents and yourself.—Yours truly, ESMA. [I have never stayed in Gore, Kama, but I am sure it must be a good holiday place. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —My father is away to Invercargill, and we don’t expect him home until ten or eleven o’clock to-night. I am knitting myself a pair of slippers, and I am on my second one. I am giving yoit a riddle to guess. What is the difference between an old gentleman who goe3 to church and goes to sleep, and a young lady who goes to church to see what new dresses the other girls have on ? I will give the answer next time I write. I must close now, as I have three more letters to write.— BAMBINO. [I shall look foiwvard to your next letter. Bambino, as I cannot guess your riddle.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—Many thanks for so kindly welcoming me to your band. I will be seventeen next month, so have a few more y< ars left to write to you. I did go to see the Winter Show, and particularly liked the knitted exhibits. I am very fond of knitting, and have just finished a dress for myself. I have just been for a ride on my bicycle, and the roads are so smooth and dry. Well, I must close now.—Yours truly, POSTMISTRESS. [You must write to me often, Postmistress. How you would enjoy' your ride! —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have just searched house and grounds for my belongings, which Patrick O’Flyn, my fox terrier, has hidden in some hiding place of his. You can well imagine the dismay with which I beheld the scene of Patrick’s destruction, on entering my room. Vases lay broken' on the floor; exercise books, some chewed, others hearing the print of a dog’s foot, were scattered everywhere. A dirty bone lay on my bed. Through the French window, I saw a gymnastic shoe and several note books lying on the verandah, but nowhere could Patrick O’Flyn be seen. Round the house and through the garden I ran, calling him, and yet he did not come. I went back to restore my room to order, and while sweeping up the broken glass, I felt a cold nose on my ami, and there stood Patrick, wagging his tiny tail as if to say, “Wasn't that fun?”—Yours truly, LORD TONY’S WIFE.

[He must be a darling doggie, Lord Tony’s Wife. I am sure you forgot to scold him. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —On June 3 my sister and I went to Timaru to the seven-a-side football tournament, and had a lovely time. We did not stay at the grounds very long, hut went to the Bay instead. It was very nice down there, and I was quite sorry when it was time to go. The Bible class girls gave a drawing-room conversazione yesterday, and I hear that the sum of nearly seven pounds was realized. The money is towards the fund they are starting to enable them to get a new Bible class room, as at present classes are held in the church. On Sunday each of the ladies of the congregation was given a tiny apron with a pocket containing a note of instructions in it. They were to measure their waists and give a penny for each inch, and not to let the tape pinch. Quite a novel way of getting money, isn’t it? —Yours truly, BUTTERFLY' GIRL. [What a novel way to raise money, Butterfly Girl! It must have caused much amusement.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —How are you getting on? I am in Standard 111, and I am learning to play the piano. I have a little pup called Nell, who can catch rabbits and mice. We are near a big forest which we often visit, and take our lunch to eat up there. How many badges have you? I like the one that you sent me. I will close now, as it is time to go to bed. —Yours truly, A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY'. [I have a badge for every L.F. who wishes to buy one, Tipperary. I am glad you liked yours.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have no train to-night, so we have the evening to ourselves. I slept in the other morning till half-past seven. That is the time we are supposed to be there, so we had to bustle about. V'e arrived there at a quarter to eight, so that was running late all right. Mother is away to town to-day, so The Moonshine Lady is chief cook and bottle washer, so I hope she proves as good as the last time, don’t you? Well, Dot, I will close, wishing you and the L.F. the best of health in the future.—Yours truly, BETTY JO. [I am sure The Moonshine Lady will do her best, Betty Jo. You must tell me about it.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It was about this time last year when we had the severest snow-storm experienced in this district for over 60 years. A good many of our sheep were snow-bound on the run. We noticed about 20 of them on the edge of a cliff about 4000 feet above sea level. They remained there for four weeks. It was pitiful to see them pacing to and fro day after day, with so little hope of rescue, as my father did not think it Bafe to try and save them. But one day a fine sturdy young Scotchman ■ volunteered to fetch them down and, with

the help of his good dog named Fly, he succeeded in getting them down safely. Don’t you think it was very brave of him, Dot? —Yours truly, MUSTERER OF THE MOUNTAINS. [lt certainly was brave of him, Musterer of the Mountains. How pleased the sheep would be!—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I do not like wet weather, as I have to feed my rabbits when it is wet, just the same as if it i§ dry. They always seem to be hungry, no matter how much I feed them. There are four of them. They are white with pink eyes. Their names are Snow White, Lily White, Fluffykins, and Pinky. Sometimes on a fine day I let them out for two or three hours, and they enjoy it very much. Mother is teaching me to bake. One day I made a ginger cake, and another day I made a sultana cake, and they were both very nice. I will be 10 years old -on Thursday.—Yours truly, SWEET DAPHNE. [I am glad to hear that you are good to your rabbits, Sweet Daphne. They certainly need kindness. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been left school two years now, and I like being at home. My father has been very ill lately. He was taken into the hospital on New Year's night in the ambulance, and was in there eight weeks. He had pneumonia and pleurisy, and is not better yet. I have a bicycle, and I think it is just lovely cycling when the roads are good. Love to all the D.L.F. and your own dear self. —Yours truly, TOPSY. [You must take good care of your father, Topsy. It must be distressing for him to be so ill.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I thought the story about Lindy and the Driads very nice. Last Friday' there were only three children at school, as it was a very wet day. We have Sunday' school three Sundays a month. I have four brothers and one sister. We have a good view of the Dunedin lights from here _ at i ight, I will close now, as it is getting late.—Yours truly, LUCY LOCKET. [I am glad you liked the story, Lucy Locket. Tell me what you think of the others.—DDT.] Dear Dot,—We have just started school after the term holidays. Since I wrote last the post office has been shifted to our place. In the winter time our school hours are from half-past nine till half-past three, and in summer from nine till three. I will now close with a riddle, Dot. “Why did the razorbill raise her bill?”.—Yours truly', BRER RABBIT. [I cannot guess the riddle, Brer Rabbit. Pleas© tell me the answer, as it sounds in teres ting.—DO T. ] Dear Dot-, —Last week we had a fall of snow, and we also had one this week, and we did have fun making snow men, etc. On Saturday there was a hare drive, and Dad was at it. I do not know how many hares they shot, but I suppose it was close on a hundred. They send the hares to the Dunedin hospitals for the sick people. I think it is a good plan to send them to Dunedin. My brothers both have cameras, and I have had my photo taken several times. I will have to try and give you one sometime, Dot, if you would care for one. —Yours truly, A SCOTCH GIRL. [I should very much like a photo, Scotch Girl, and if you have a spare one, do let me have it. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —There was a hare drive up here to-day, and Dad and my brother Donald went to it. Dad shot five hares, and Donald rode around on a horse and took the hares from the men who were shooting them. There was snow here a few nights ago, and we had good fun in it. We made snow men, but it was pretty cold' on out hands. Do you like snow, Dot? I think it is lovely. There are only twelve children going to the school up here. Love to yourself and all my correspondents.—Yours truly, ROYAL DEESIDE. [I love snow, Royal Deeside. But w© see it so seldom in Dunedin. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am going to Middlemarch to-day with A Scotch Girl and my brother, and I am glad, because I don’t like sitting in the house on a cold day'. Do you, Dot? Kerni Gorm and I went for our horses this morning, and I could not get over the creek. I managed only after a long struggle. My brother John was playing the pipes this morning, and I was dancing to them. He can play beautifully.—Yours truly, A LITTLE HEATH MAIDEN. [lt is much better to be up and about on a cold day, Heath Maiden. Then one can get warm. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since last writing to the page we have removed to Dunedin. I obtained my Proficiency certificate at the end of last year, and I am now working When I start a trade I am going to learn cabinet making. The Capping Carnival will soon be around again, and then there will be some fun. I was at the Winter Show and saw Mr Massey. I will close now with love to the Little Folk and yourself.—Y'ours truly, FIND ME OUT. [We all look forward to Capping, Find Me Out. It certainly will be good fun.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am writing this time to congratulate Red Ragger, A Lass from the Land of Logs and Tyne Lass for winning the prizes. I read their letters with great interest, especially Red Ragger’s and A Jjass from the Land of Logs. Those who did not win a prize will perhaps win one in the next competition. Red Ragger and A Lass from the Land of Logs had a good chance, living near a bush. I wish I were living there, as it is getting rather dreary living on a farm. I will close now.—Yours truly, MICHAELMAS DAISY. [Thank you for your well wishes, Daisy. Tell your little sister her letter was delightful, and give her my love. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —My father is down at Te Tua trapping rabbits, and be is getting a great number of skins. The trees are looking very bare just now, as they have lost all their leaves. I was at the pictures last night and they were very good. Well, dear Dot, as my news has run down, I will conclude with love to yourself and all the L.F. —Yours truly, ALTON LAUREL. [lt must he interesting to sell rabbit skins, Alton Laurel. Can you trap?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I managed to secure first place in our term examination by 12 per cent. My sister, wlio works in Fairlie, has been down for a holiday, and she had a friend with her. I am going up to the football match next Saturday—Kelso v. Heriot. — Yours truly, DIAMOND PRINCESS. [Congratulations, Diamond Princess. You did excellently in the examination.—DOT.] Dear Dot,, —I was very pleased to see my first letter in print. It is very cold here to-day. I cannot write with the pen veTy well. This will be just a short letter this time, eo I will close. —Yours truly, OUR BABY.

[Y’ou write quite nicely, Bab}', and soon will be very good, I am sure. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are getting through the win tec very quickly, are not we. Dot? Yesterday was the shortest day. We had an organising teacher here for one week, and he was strict. This will be just a short letter this time, as news is scarce and time is flying.—Yours truly, APPLE PIE. [lf the summer conies as quickly as the autumn has passed, Apple Pie, it will be splendid—DOT.] Dea'r Dot, —My little sister at present is amusing herself with a pen and ink, and you can imagine the mess she is making. She is always wanting to -write to you, but I am afraid you would get ratber a shock if you received a letter from her. The violets are beginning to come cut now, and they are such sweet little flowers. My sister has a little grey kitten, and whenever Mack (the dog) is about, there is a great old fuss. Mack delights in teasing the kitten, ■although he really never means any harm. Love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, LYON ROSE. [I shall be pleased to hear from your little sister, even if it is only a. scribble letter, Lyon Rose. Tell her so.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I expect the citizens of Dunedin will be having a grand time next week, but I do not think it will be better than Invercargill. It is to be hoped that the weather is fine. We are having a taste of winter here in Southland, and not being yet hardened to it, we have all got colds, or, at least, most of my acquaintances. I will tell you a story for the funny column, Dot. A little girl who was taking dancing lessons, was apt to turn her toes in, and so one day her mother found her with her shoes on the wrong feet, because she thought it would look as if her toes were turned out. —Yours truly, PLAIN ANNE. [The story is a very good one. Plain Anne. It is always a trial for children to turn their toes out.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —There was a nice play held here last week in aid of the boy scouts' bugle band. As I am one of the scouts, I took part in it. The younger hoys gave an exhibition sword exercise, under the captain, Mr W. Burgess. We are having bad ■weather here at present. It w'ill test the dam at the Monowai electric works. One of the bridges over the Waiau River is getting pretty frail, and will have to be rebuilt, which will cost a great deal. As I have to go to bed early, I will close now with love to the D.L.F. and yourself.— Yours truly, SILENT, THE SAHIB. [I am glad your concert was a success, Silent. It must have been interesting to watch.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my last year at school, and I hope I pass. I learn music, and I like it very well. We milk four cows and feed two pigs, one black one and one white one. I did not get down to see the battleships. I would have liked to see them. My grandma and grandfather were up to see us, and they had a dear little dog called Betty. Bubbles has a very bad cold, and she will write again. I will close now.— Yours truly, lIONGI. [I hope Bubbles’ cold is better soon, Hongi. I should have liked to see Bettv. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have a journal at school with the pictures of the H.M.S. Hood and the H.M.S. Dauntless and the Repulse. We had a hen sitting- on thirteen chick 3, but on© bad a broen leg and it died, and she has only twelve. My father is ploughing just now. He has eighteen horses on the farm.—Yours truly, SNAP. [I used to like the days when school journals cam© round, Snap. I suppose vou do, too. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was pleased to see my letter in your page, and thank you very much for letting m© join. Our baby’s name is Gladys Rosaline, and she likes us to take her out and see the animals and hens. She likes to crawl out herself when nobody is looking. lam the only one in my class —Y'ours truly, LITTLE DOT. [What a pretty name, Little Dot. Are you going to call her Gladys or Rosaline? — DOT.] Dear Dot, —It was my birthday the other day, and I was ten years old. I always go for the cows in my dinner hour. " I always take the cows off the turnips in the middle of the day and put them in a little paddock. Th© Old Man Range is covered with about ten feet of snow, and it is a very beautiful picture, and so are the Blue Mountains. I feed th© show horse every morning and at night.—Yours truly, KURD [The srow must look beautiful, Kuri. Many happy returns of your birthdav.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —We are milking three cows now. We killed our pig yesterday. The hills around here are just covered with snow, and they are a beautiful picture. Our apples ar© nearly finished, but it is getting late now to have apples. The hen that was sitting is out, and has twelve dear little white fluffy chickens. I like them very much. Do you, Dot?—Yours truly, PIEI-PIRI. [I am very fond of chickens, Piri-Piri. They make me want to kiss their downilittle heads. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Yesterday I saw the process of the felling and cutting up of a huge pine tree. First it was sawn down by a saw, which took a considerable time, as it was so large in circumference. Then ABC and Waxeye began with the cross-cut saw and sawed it into three foot lengths which were split by an axe into thin pieces. After this was finished, it was stacked into piles to dry. This wood makes a very hot fire when it is burning. The branches from the end of the tree are always burned. The fire was so large that it burnt from Saturday morning till Sundav. —Yours truly, EAMONT. [lt must have been a great sight, Eamont. But how sad to think such a beautiful tree had to die. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have left school now, and arn very sorry. I gained my proficiency, and passed at school fairly well. I am working at home for my father on his milk-run and on the farm. It is very interesting work, although during, winter it is rather muddy. We ’are milking 25 cows, and they are milking very well. I am going to a euchre party on Wednesday night, and I am looking forward to having a good time. Last Saturday night there was an initiation competition at the Oddfellows’ Lodge; there were five teams-., competing, and the Loyal Queen of Otago (ladies’ lodge) won the competition. They were all very pleased with th earnsalves. A social evening was held afterwards. Love to all the L.F.. and yourself.—Yours truly, RAINBOW. [You did well at school, Rainbow, but it is not pleasant to have to leave.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —-The hills look beautiful, as they are snow-clad almost to the bottom

Football is all the rage just now. I think I will be going to the pictures on Wednesday. The name of it is “The Man They Could Not Hang.” I think it will he a good one, as my sister has read the book. The school girls are going to play basketball against Otautau soon, and I hope they win. As news is scarce, I will close now. Love to all the L.F. and your own dear self. Yours trulv, WHITE DOVE OF AMBITZIE. [You do not need auto cards. White Dove. They are only a polite and formal means of introducing- yourself.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —My sister has been al home from school for two days, as slie is sick. Our mid-winter holidays are over now, and we had good weather- for them. My mother took my sister and myself lo Dunedin Winter Show, and while we were in the show my sister wanted mother to buy her a bag of floss candy, and when mother bought it for her, she nTU not like it. Love to all the Little Folk, especially my correspondents and v ou.-.-elf.—Yours truly, D.O.D. [I do not like floss candy, D.O.D. It seems tasteless, somehow. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I suppose you will think I have given up writing to the page, as I have not written for so long. I think we are going to have a very mild winter this year, for the trees are beginning to bud already. We are having an Anglican bazaar here shortly, which I hope will be a success. Love to all the L.F. and yourself. —Yours truly, LITTLE SON ERIC. [Are you a good weather prophet, Little Son Eric? I hope so, at any rate. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—l was staying at my aunt’s place for a fortnight. My eldest brother scalded his hand very badly. We have otuy two cov.-s milking just now. My brother was away from work for three weeks with his sore ’ hand. My eldest sister was sick for two days. Well, Dot, I will close now with love to all the D.L.F and your own dear self. —Yours truly, LILY BLOSSOM’S NIECE. [How sad about your brother’s bard, Lily Blossom’s Nieee. I hope it is better by now.—DOT.] Dear Dot—Do you enjoy reading stories about tbs wolves of North Canada? I love reading them, and am in the middle of reading “Swift Lightning.’’ It is so exciting, but I think "Kazan, the Wolf Dog” is nicer. There are groat changes going on here just now. The outside of the hostel has been plastered, and now the inside is getting done. Yesterday the mantelpiece was taken off and a new one put in, and a queer collection of things was found, one girl recovering some money that had fallen down behind it.—Yours truly, BROWNIE BEAVER. [I am quite fond of Wild West stories, Brownie Beaver. Have you read Jack London’s “Cali of the Wild” and “White Fang?”—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I will say a few words about a pet we have had for a good many years. He is a sheep which we reared from a lamb. He is quite unlike- other sheep, for he used to pel-ch with the fowls, but now he has found some new friends; he follows the pigs about wherever they go, and will not mix with his own whit© woolly race. The creek over which I live becomes flooded* in winter, but since the last flood a huge pine tree was stranded across the creek and f crimed a very serviceable bridge.—Yours truly, A RO-'E IN SPRING. [I think the sheep is a very quaint pet. Rose in Spring. Are vou very fond of him?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your li-appv band of L.F.? I am eleven rears old, and am in Standard IV at school. I live at Roxburgh, which is a very pretty place in summer hut I think it is at its prettiest in the spring time, when the orchards are a mass of pink and white 'blossoms. If ever you think of coming to Roxburgh for a holiday, just let all of us L.F. know, and we will show you round. —Yours truly, DELICIOUS APPLE. [You are welcome, Delicious Apple. Thank you for your kind invitation.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I would like to join your happy b.and of Little Folk. I am ten years of age, and am in Standard 111 at school. I have four sisters and one brother. Vie have about two miles to go to school. There is no road, only a tramway, and it is very muddy just now. My mother is teaching us girls to dance the Highland fling. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter to the page, ■I will close with best wishes to all.—Yours truly, DYNAMITE 11. [Your wish is granted. Dynamite II I am pleased to have you in my hand.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F.? We have four cats; their names are Spot, Topsy, Johnny, and Tommy. We have a goose, and it goes out into the paddock and feeds with cne of the horses. One day the horse kicked it over, but it went back again.—Yours truly, SPRING. [Certainly you may join Spring. The' goose evidently did not know how to take a snub.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am nine years of age and in Standard I at school. I have three sisters and one brother. My brother is away down to stay with my father to-night, and it feels lonely without him at houus. I must close now with love to all tire L.F. and vour own dear self.—Yours truly, FANNY THE ORGAN GRINDER. [Of course you may join, Fanny. Write as often as you can.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 15 years of age, and I am working on a chaffcutter. I hav.e a pup, and I n-m asking you a name for it. He is a good rabbiter. The poles are up and the wires are on. but we have no lights yet. I must close now, with love to all the Little Folk and vour own dear self. — Yours truly, H.M.S. REPULSE. [Welcome, PI.M.S. Repulse. You. chose a boat that had been taken, so I gave you another of the Squadron.-—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I air. eleven years old. and I am in Standard IV, and I have a good school teacher. 1 have three miles to go t» school, and I have to walk nearly every day except when I get a ride. I have gone to school every day this year yet, and we are getting a new school teacher to-morrow. We had six diffeient school teachers last year 1 must close now with best love.—Yours truly, JACK THE HAPPY. [You are welcome Jack the Happy. I altered vour name because you had taken somebody clse’s.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—The men about here are all doing their winter ploTaghing, eo as to have the ground broken up by the frost, and well aiied. Our hens are laying now, and their eggs come in handy at this time of year. The ducks, too, will soon be laying. I Bee the All Black team is picked to go home, and I wish them luck. Well, Dot, I think

that I had better close with love to all the L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, PRINCE ATHURA. [When you are old, Prince Athura, perhaps you will be an All Black, too. Would you like to?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have a new teacher now. Our other teacher went away to-day. Before he left we gave him a farewell social. My father has taken him over to Arrowtown. We haven’t had our winter holidays yet. When we do get them, I am going to spend them with my cousins down at Wanaka. I have a little sister, and she is a hard case. — Yours truly, THE ROSE .OF NO MAN’S HAND. [I hope you will like the new teacher, Rose. Tell me if you enjoy your winter holidays when they come.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am going to try and tell you something about my favourite hobbies. My chief pastime is painting, but I am not an adept at it. I would simply love to have lessons, but I never have the opportunity. I am also fond of sewing. I am going to start knitting a jersey next week, but I am sure I don’t know when I will finish it, because I am very slow. I am always fond of reading, so I am a bit of a book-worm. I am fond of school girls’ stories, and I think I prefer them to most books. Swimming is also a very interesting sport, but we cannot indulge in it during winter, but have to take to snow balling instead.—Yours truly, PRINCESS OLGA. [Your hobbies are good healthy ones, Princess Olga. I hope you excel in whichever you adopt seriously.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Everyone thinks that Wellington, being the capital city, must be the best one. I don’t, as I would rather have one of the South Island towns any day. I told you I was living with my aunt, but I did not say she kept a lollie shop, and I am chief assistant in it. That may be an all right job, but I am tempted to eat too many-, as a result of my weakness, I have had six teeth out. One Sunday I and some others went a motor drive to Day’s Bay. It was a lovely drive, and I enjoyed myself. I will have to stop now, so I will close with love to all my correspondents and D.L.F., not forgetting yourself.—Yours truly. BONSPIEL. [What does your name mean, Bonspiel? And which would you rather have, the sweets or your teeth?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have shifted since I wrote to you last, and are now living at Woodlands. We have four miles to go to school, and I drive the horse. We go to Invercargill for cookery classes every second Friday, and we made raspberry buns last Friday. We play hockey at school, and the school team has won every match they have played this year. Love to all, not forgetting your own dear seif.—Yours truly, LILBURN LASS. [I hope you' like your new home, Lilburn Lass. I have heard that Woodlands is a good place to live in.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We had a football dance here three weeks ago, and it turned out a great success. I am looking forward to another one which is to be held on the 27th of this month. The Bannockburn footballers played Lowburn to-day, and beat them by 20 to 5. They have won three matches and lost one so far. We have a few violets out at present, but I think they are much nicer when they flower in the spring. Don’t you, Dot ? Best love to all the L..F. and your own dear self. —Yours truly, BUNNY TRAPPER. [Spring violets are the loveliest of all flowers, Bunny Trapper. That is my opinion of them.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I become a member of your happy band? I have one sister and three brothers, all of whom write to you, so I thought I would join. I left school nine months ago, and I am not very sorry either, as I had about four miles to go. this is my first letter, I shall close with love to all the L.F. and your own dear self.— Yours truly, 1 AIN’T NOBODY’S DARLING. [Of course you may join, Nobody’s Darling. I am very pleased to welcome you.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F.? My sister-in-law was up, and she told me to come down to Dunedin '.v ho never I can, so I am going down in September for a fortnight, as it will be much warmer then. My sister is coming up in August from Dunedin, and my mother is going to Christchurch when she comes in August, and I have to stay at home and help my sister' till my mother comes hack. Yours truly, MISS SALLY.

[You may certainly join, Miss Solly, but please send me your private name and address. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am fourteen years of age, and left school last year, having won my proficiency. I am making a jersey for myself just now. I live at Omakau, and it is very cold up here just now There is a hockey team up here, but I do not play. The hockey girls played a match in Alexandra, Omakau winning by two points to one point. I won two races at the sports at Easter time, and received £1 for the two. I will close now, as this is my first letter.— Yours truly, LOVER OF LAVENDER. [Welcome, Lover of Lavender. I altered your name to prevent your using somebody else’s.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy hand of Little Folk? I left school last year, and am 13 years old. We are milking two cows at present. We have a few geraniums, but have to take care of them this frosty weather. I have six brothers and three sisters. Well, Dot, as news is very scarce I will close with love to all the D.L.F. and yourself.—Yours truly, CHARMING IRENE. [Of course you may join, Charming Irene. What a nice large family you belong to DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F.? Have the Jubilee Bellringers been round your way yet? They were acting in the hall on Friday, and I saw the Punch and Judy pantomime; I liked it very much. As this is my first letter, I will close now. Love to all the D.L.F., but mostly to your own (Tea rself.—Yours truly, A FLOWER OF SPRING. [The name you chose was taken, Flower of Spring, so I altered it a little.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F.? I am seven years old, and am in Standard I at our school. My brother has a curly little puppy. We washed him the other day, and he did not like it. I went to the Jubilee Bellringers on Friday, and saw the Punch and Judy pantomime’. Love to all the D.L.F., but mostly to yourself. —Yours truly, THE DREAM DAMSEL. [I have -called you Dream Damsel, dear, because the name you chose belonged to another D.L.F. You are welcome.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy hand of L.F.? I am in Standard II at school.

I have one brother and one sister. I like leading the letters in the Witness. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter, I will close. —Yours truly, WEE WALNUT. [Welcome, Wee Walnut. I changed your name because you had taken somebody else’s.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your band of L.F.? I am six years old and am in Primer IV at school. We might go to live in Dunedin soon. I like Dunedin, because my dear grandma lives there, We have good times down at her place. I have a wee kewpie. I make wee dresses for it. I went to Forbury school one day with a wee mate of mine. I liked there, because I had story books to look at. Grandma lives in Cargill road near the swings.—Yours truly, ROSE MAY. [Of course you may join, Rose May. What a darling your grandma must be I—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of L.F. ? I am fourteen years of age, and I have left school. I sat for my proficiency at the end of 1923, and I passed, so I did not go back to school any more alter the Giiristmas holidays. I have two sisters and three brothers. My father works in the printing office up here. I must close now, as I am only a new writer.—Yours truly, GOOGLE BARNEY'. [Of course you may join, dear, but as your name was taken, I have changed it to Google Barney.—DOT.] * Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am ten years old, and 1 am in Standard 111. AVe have a pig with eight young ones, and they are very funny little chaps. We have a football, and have good times playing with it. Love to all the L.F. and youDSelf.— Yours truly, A BULLOCK PUNCHER. [Welcome, Bullock Puncher. What pets the wee pigs must be!—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of D.L.F. 1 am a little boy of six, and in Primer II at school. I cannot write very well. I have a little brother. AVe have a new heifer. Please will you give us a name for it. — Yours truly, LITTLE TINKER TAILOR. [I altered your name to Little Tinker Tailor, dear, because it was taken. Why not call the new heifer Pansy?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am eleven years of age, and am in Standard IV. We have a long way to ride to school. We live on a small farm and milk one cow and graze sheep. Lately I have been helping my father to poison rabbits. Wo have been having hard ’frosts here just now. As this is my first letter, I shall close now. Love to all the Little Folk, not forgetting your own dear self.—Yours truly, KINO OF THE RABBITERS. [Your name was taken, so 1 altered it, King of the Riabbiters. 1 hope you will not mind.- —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am twelve years of age and in Standard IV. I am setting a good m.any traps and catching a few rabbits. We go to school on horse back, and have a long way to go. As this is the first letter I have written, 1 will close now. Love to , all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, THE OPOSSUM TRAPPER. [Of course you may join, Trapper. I suppose you enjoy riding to school.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy hand of Little Folk? I am 11 years of age, and am in Standard IV at school. I came second in my examination at school. I catch a number of rabbits with my ferret and dogs. I get enough money for the skins to keep my brother and myself in clothes. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter to the page, I will stop.—Yours truly, CHARLIE OF ALL TRADES.

[I am pleased to welcome you, Charlie. You do well with your rabbit-skin money.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am writing to see if I can beg admittance to your happy band of Little Folk. I am sixteen years of age, and have left school for three years now. Are yon fond of dancing, Dot? Dancing and reading are my favourite winter pastimes. I am also very- fond of dogs and cats. My mother is away from home at present, and it doesn’t seem like home without her. Well, Dot, as this is my first letter to the page, I will stop. With love to all the L.F., not forgetting your dear self.—Yours truly, LADY CARNATION.

[I am very fond of dancing, Lady Carnation. * You are welcome to the band. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am ten years old, and I am in Standard 111. I live on a farm, and I have two yellow and brown rabbits. Could yon give me names for them. I have two brothers and no sisters. I did not go to see the H.M.S. Hood, because it did not come to Timaru. I ride to school on a little black pony called Nigger. He is very tricky, but he does not buck. I must end now with love to all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, THE KING OF THE GOLDEN WEST. [You are welcome, King of the Golden West. Call the rabbits Bobtail and Lo-pear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years old, and am in Standard 111. I have two dogs with which I go rabbiting. As this is my first letter, I will draw it to a close. —Yours truly, CHARLIE THE FOOTBALLER. [Of course you may, Charlie the Footballer. I should like to see the dogs.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your band of D.L.F.? A creek runs through our farm. It has been dry for a long time, but it has a foot of water in it now. I’m not going to school on Monday, as we have some holidays. I think I will close now with love to all the D L.F. —Yours truly, COOK BOOTS. [You may certainly join, Cook Boots. Please send me your private name. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join the D.L.F. I have been ill for a week now. I am in Standard IV now, and I am 11 years of age. There are 20 children in our school. It is starting to snow. Give my love to D.L.F. and your dear self. —Yours truly, SNOW PRINCESS. [Your name was taken, Snow Princess, so I have altered it slightly. You are welcome. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I borrowed my neighbour’s Witness, and since reading the letters and their answers, I have found out who were the winners of the Bird Competition, also something else, which I hope you won’t bo annoyed at my asking, if I am not right. The question is: Are you a new Dot? To me it seems there is a different tone about the page now, and you have an answer for ©very letter, which I think is v©Ty encouraging for the L.F. Well, Dot, I will close now.—Yours truly MYSTERIOUS PAT.

[lt is perhaps like Mysterious Pat to want to solve mysteries. Anyhow, I think each of the letters of my L.F. is entitled to an answer.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Our big- sister cam© home two weeks ago, and she makes us mind oqr p’s and q’s. Our baby can walk round chairs and walls. I am knitting a blue woollen dress for my sleeping doll. Can you knit, Dot? I can. AA 7 e have two cows and three dogs. One of the dogs is named Mick, and another Tiger, and another Pompie.—Yours truly, CHEEKY SPARROW'. [Big sisters must be good fun, Cheeky Sparrow. I should like to have one, myself, but have only little ones. —DOT.] Dear Dugget,—l am not at school, so I thought I would write a few lines. I have not been well for a long time. I have not been at school for two months, so I hope to get back eooa. I have been reading some very nice storybooks. Love to yourself and the Little Folk.—Yours truly, NUGGET. [Poor AVee Nugget! I hope you are better again soon, dear. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I can kick my football over the goal posts. Our hens are laying now. Our cow is not giving much milk. My father works in a blacksmith shop at Ryal Bush, Dot. It is very interesting to read the letters of the page. The girls play basketball, and the boys play football. I will close.—Yours truly, PAINT AND PATCHES. [What are you going to be when you grow up, Paint and Patches? A farmer or a blacksmith like your daddy?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —AVe have started school again. \A r hen I was half-way to the train on Friday I had an accident. I fell in the mud and had to come home and stay at home, as I was all muddy. There was a football match up here to-day, and I went up to it. Sea-cliff and Mornington were playing, but Seacliff won by 7 goals to 0. Seacliff is a very good team, and it has won all the matches except one, which it drew. I like “soccer” football very much, and understand it far better than Rugby. Best love to the D.L.F. and your own dear self. — Y'curs truly, A LITTLE RAMBLER. [W.hjat an unfortunate accident, Little Rambler. You would he a mess!—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have had my holidays and am back at work again. I had a lovely time at Invercargill. I was there six weeks and had beautiful weather all the time. What a terrible day! You will know what it is, being in the same place as myself. I mu£t say it is awfully cold handling the fruit this weather. Well, Dot, I will close. —Yours truly, AVHITE CLEMATIS. [I am glad you liked your holiday, White Clematis. Are you still cold?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am working in Dunedin now, and I must say I like my work very much. I am getting quite used to the train journey between Port and Dunedin, though at first I took badly to it. I was at a club ball on Friday last, it being a most enjoyable dance. I did enjoy myself! Some beautiful dresses were worn, the array of colours blending very well. There is a fancy dress ball this coming Friday, but I haven’t decided yet what I shall wear, if I do go. My little sister is able to walk now, and is a real hard case, she is so frightened to step out. Well, dear Dot, news is scarce, so I think I will stop now. —Yours truly, SAVEET MARIE. .[You must tell me about the fancy dress dance, Sweet Marie. They are always good fun.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am- going to tell you some more news about the little village of Glenavy. We have a library at our school now, and some of the books are very interesting to read. I thought that the last story that was in the Witness was very nice, and I enjoyed it very much. Our teacher is getting up a play for the concert which is to be held about the end of August.—Yours truly, SCOTTY. [School libraries are good ideas, Scotty. I hope you read a great deal when you have [he chance. —-DOT.] Dear Dot, —Polar Bear and I are spending our holidays in Dunedin. Mother and baby are coming, too. Our baby is a dear wee thing. She pulls herself up by the chairs and walks round them. She can say “ta ta” and “dad dad da.” AVhen she is going to be part to bed, she says “ni, ni.” We have a lot of fun in keeping things away from baby, as she puts everything in her mouth. I will close now with love to all the L.F. and your own dear self. —Yours truly, BUSTER CUT. I should love to see your baby sister, Buster Cut. I think she must be a little pet.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —AVe have a basketball team in Kurow, and I have joined. We play every Saturday now, and do enjoy ourselves. I have played only twice since I joined, and as it was three years since I had played before that, you will guess I wasn’t feeling very active after my first game. However, this time I am experiencing no aches and pains as I was before. I have been away up M’Kenzie Country for the last five months at work. I was cook up there, and never had such a job I liked so much. My mater and some of my sisters are going to town for Capping Carnival, and I envy them! I have heard so much about it, but have never seen it, but hope to do so before I’m many years older.—Yours truly, A LONELY LOVER. [Capping Carnival really is fun, Lonely Lover. I am sure you will enjoy it when you see it.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years old, and in Standard 111 at school. AVe have a new Dort Six motor car. It is lovqly, so you will see from where I took my name. My aunty lives one mile from us. She has a dear wee boy, five months old, and he has such big blue eyes. I love to nurse him, as he laughs and crows away. AVell, dear Dot, I will close now, with love to all D.L.F. and your -own dear self.—Yours truly, A DORT GIRL. [You are a lucky girl to have such a beautiful car, Dort Girl. Welcome to the page. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Last week I went to a ping pong party, and I enjoyed myself very much, as lam just learning to play. Next month is my birthday, and I will be 14 years old. I still have my seven cats, and they all look very sad now, as they do not any milk since the cows went dry. I did not go to the Murchison Sports, although I would hav© liked to, as it was such a lovely day.—Yours QUEEN CATHARINE.. [Poor pussies, Queen Catharine. Won’t they rejoice when the cows ane able to Ire milked again!—DOT.] Dear Dot, —AA r e have just returned from a lovely little walk up the road. Red Ragger took her camera, and we used a film—eight snaps during our walk. AVhen walking home we saw a delightful place to take a photograph. It was in a paddock just off the road. We were going to ait on a newly felled

tnee, and have the spreading branch** and leaves for a background. After errambb nii through tlio wire fence w<> nettled ouratlvra nicely on the trees, when all of a midden 1 saw a bull with a ring in its none, which I knew to be wild. I exclaimed, "Ob, there’s that wild bull.” Of course al! tye* were centred on tho bull, and May caul : “Oh, AVinnie, here it comes “ With that Winnie, Ruthie and 1 made a bolt for th* fence, followed by Red Ragger and A LiU!» Bush Maid. Wo naturally did not got tho nice snap we were anticipating, but went further along and sat in the rushes, who to there were no wild bullß to bo neon.- ¥oui» truly, A LASS FROM THE LAND OF LOOS. [lt must have been an exciting moment. Lass From the Land of Logs. I think f am not fond of bulls, because it is fashionable to be so.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —AVinnie and 1 had a go at developing the other night. The film Winnie did tunned out all right, but mine was. a failure. AVe also tried our hands at printing photographs, and were quite successful. How proud we werel It is a very interesting hobby, and we have been printing quit* a, number of photopraphs to send to our L.F. pals. The othen day. Dot, I was sitting on a bench outside peeling the potatoes, when Terence came and jumped right up on my lap, and there he -sat trying to balance himself on my knee while I peeled potatoes. I had to put him down, and he walked inside looking for someone else to nurse him. There was AA’innie sitting crocheting with a crochet book on her knee. Terence made a flying leap and landed on her lenee, scattering book and cotton, and straight away cunled himself up and went to sleep.—Yours truly, RED RAGGER. [AVe shall never be tired of hearing about Terence, Red Ragger. Yes, photography is a splendid hobby.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —We had another basketball match last Friday, and won again. AVe are going to play Fuha next Friday. I think Terence must be doomed to be locked up in the car shed, for he was locked up again last night. I read a book called "John Halifax Gentleman,” and I liked it very much. My brother Keith has just arrived home with a new motor cycle. I was down at AVinnie’s place for dinner to-day, and am also going to stay all night. Love to all my correspondents. —Yours truly, A LITTLE BUSH MAID. [I hope you do well in youn next match, Little Bu'sh Maid. You certainly are being successful so far.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Just a few lines to let you know about the Murchison Sports. I went to them in the spring-cart. AVe left home at eight o’clock, and arrived at Murchison, at half-past eleven. The chopping events were the best. The best chopper was Mr Gibbs, who chopped one twelve-inch log through in 45sec, and another in 43sec. When we arrived home the time was ten o'clock. Love to all the D.L.F. —Yours truly, FARMER HAYSEED. [Thank you for telling me about the Bport3, Farmer Hayseed. How well the chopper must have chopped.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —One morning it was awfully cold when we arrived at school. So we lit a fire in the school ground and grew nice and warm. But when the teacher came we were caught nicely, anil had to put it out. We were made "to write out a hundred times: “I must not be disobedient.” Do yorq think we deserved it, Dot ? I cannot tell you about the Murchison Snorts, because I did not go. I have no more news, so I will close now. —Yours truly, FATHER’S CURLY LOCKS. [Well. Father’s Curly Locks, from youn point of view you certainly did not deserve the punishment, but from the teacher’s you did.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am ten years old and I am in Standard lU. AVe live about three miles from school, and the road is very muddy in the winter time. It was snowing here yesterday, and now everything is very wet. We are milking two cows just now, but my sister milks them. —Your 9 truly, THE FOOL OF THE FAMILY. [Welcome, Fool of the Family. It is a pit? that snow has to melt, isn’t it? —DOT.] Dear Dot,— May I join your happy band? I am seven and a-half years old. I have a nice little dog. She is called Fairy. She brings the cows in and sometimes she catches a rabbit. My mother has six little chickens. They are all white. I have six rabbit traps, and I caught 120 rabbits this year, and have nearly four pounds. I will now close with love to all —Yours truly, FITZROY. [You are welcome, Fitzroy. I should like to see Fairy, for I am very fond of nice little dogs.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy hand of Little Folk? I am nine years old and in Standard 111. AVe have a new school teacher, and he is very nice. I have a little pony, which I ride every week. We are having rain up here now. There is snow on the hills. We play football at school. I will close now, as it is my first letter. Love to all the Little Folk. —Yours truly, A.J.S. [Of course you may join, A.J.S. I am glad you like your new teacher.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been in the wars to-day, and have my right hand all tied up. To start with, I stuck a nail into the palm of my hand when I was breaking a piece of board. Then when I was opening a gate, * a piece of the barbed wire went into my fore-finger. Herbert and Company’s shop was burnt down in Lawrence to-day. My word, ttlere was a blaze, and crowds and crowds of people came to see it. Well, Dot, I will' close.—Yours truly, PERSEPHONE. [You have been most unfortunate, Persephone. I hope you don’t come to serious grief.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It will be seven weeks tomorrow till I leave this dear old country. How time does fly, I’m afraid when the day conies I will not want to go. How would you like to visit the Empire Exhibition, Dot? I think the sea voyage would attract me most of all. This is just a short letter, and I don’t suppose I will write again till I have crossed the “herring pond,” but I will let you have an account of my voyage, Dot, if you think it would be interesting. Best love to all my correspondents and your own dear self. —Yours truly, A SCOTCH LASSIE. [AVhat an adventure you are going to have, Scotch Lassie. Yes, do tell me about the voyage.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been taking mu6ie lessons, but had to leave off till after winter, as the roads were so heavy for cycling. I am sorry as I used to see my sister Carol Dempster every week, and will miss her, as she is my only sister, but spring won’t be long now, as wo are over the shortest days. We have had a very mild winter so far, and

I hope it continues so. Well, Dot, I will close now, and promise to write soon. —Yours truly, RAVENNA. [I hope vou will practise hard Ravenna. It will make up for your lack ot lessons. —DOT.] Dear Dot,—As I was answering- some of my letters, X thought X would, write o 16 page also. There is a football match here on Saturday between Naseby and Eaniur.y, and we are going down if it is a hue ay , as Dad said he wanted to go because it will be a good ne. Our school teacher. wer« away the other day, and we have a relieving teacher at present.—Yours truly, LADY MORELL. [I wonder how the match fared. Lady Morell. Do tell me about it.—DOT.] Dear Dot,—There was a ball here on Thursdav night, but I did not go. There is one on July 3. I am going to it, as it is a spinsters’ ball. Football is all Die g here just now. There is a match between Naseby and Ranfuriy next Saturday, and l think it will be a very good match. I have quite a. number of correspondents now-, and they all seem very nice girls. Love to all the D.L.F. and your own dear self.— Tours truly, AUTUMN LEAP. [Do you call yourself a spinster. Autumn Deaf? I hope you enjoy your ball. DOx.] Dear Dot,—XV e have finished the term examination, and I was top of my class with 497 points out of 625. There were five pupKS in my class, but now there are seven. V\ e had two black and one yellow one, but Yellowboy died a few weeks ago, so now we have only Dass and Flcss. h loss had four pupa a while ago, but we only kept two, a brown one and a black, whose names are Toy and Snapper. When I get some more photos printed, I will send vou a. photo of a little pony I. used to have. Notice his feet. I am getting a cold, Dot, so I think I will close.—Yours truly, A CARRICK LASS. [You did very well at school, Carriok Lass. I hope vour cold was only a false alarm. DOT.] Dear Dot, —I spent a wonderful week in Dunedin, and met girls that X had forgotten existed. We were all very much like the schoolgirls we used to be, except at the dance, where eYening dress seemed almost a d'sguise. Some, very beautiful gowns were worn, and Tudor Hall is the most exquisite building I hare £ver been in. It was very exciting to be stopped several times during one dance, when a girl would suddenly recognise me and 6av “I know you, you stole my bath one night,” or “I know you, but not your name,” and many other similar greetings. While, at the College, we visited our old beds, and I must sav that the Whvte dormitory is kept very tidy compared with what it was in 1920. My mother and sister left some time ago for a trip Tound the South Sea Islands. Although I miss them very much, I am glad that they are in sunshine and missing this cold weather. — Yours truly, ‘ DONNA ROMA. [I heard all about the reunion, Donna Roma. It must have been' splendid, and you are lucky to have been there.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —XVe causrht a little chestnut pony to-day, and could you please give me a name for it. It is very cold croing to school these frosty mornings. When we get to school the girls play hockey, while the hoys play football. —Yours truly, SUNNY OAK. [Perhaps the por.v would like to he called Rufus, or Dainty Lady, or Vinegar, Sunny Oak. Do you think so?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is raining up here to-night, and there is thunder and lightning. AX 7 e have finished our holidays now, and I am very sorry. XVe play rounders and other games at school. On Saturday I went for a slide on the ice, and the ice broke, and I tumbled in. Paradise and Routeburn took me over to their home to get my clothes changed I will close now. Dot. Love to all the L.F. and vour own dear self.—Yours truly, " FAIRY FALLS. [Are you afraid of thunder, Fairy Falls? I suonose vou like looking at the lightning. —DOT.] “ «

Dear Dot, —A very pretty wedding took nlace at two o’clock on June 4 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, when Canon Nevili joined together in matrimony Annie Victoria M‘Kay (N.D.P. Queen Sunbeam) to David Gillespie. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a dainty white dress with a veil of silk net caught in a band of orange blossoms aevoss her brow. She carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and maiden-hair fern. Miss Rosa M‘Kay, cousin of the bride, acted as bridesmaid, and looked charming in a white dress trimmed with lace and. a pink and white hat to match. Her bouquet was of pale nink chrysanthemums. George M‘Kay (N.D.P. Rhodendron). brother of the bride, acted as best man. They all retired to the Strand Tea Rooms, where the wedding breakfast was spread. After the toasts and congratulations were honoured, the happy couple left for Timaru. where the honeymoon is being epent. The bride’s travelling frock was a navy blue costume trimmed witii gold and navy braid, and a hat of navyblue felt with henna trimming.

Dear Dot,—Since I last v.-rote, I have been to XVaiwera. I went to the concert, and it very nice. That night was the first time I ever danced in' a hall. One day the sea is rough down here, and another day it is fine. When the sea is fine, the fishermen have been having rather good hauls. My father and step-mother have shifted to Dunedin, and Dad is working in a quarry *.up the North-east A r al!ey.—Yours truly, RAMBLING KID. [Do you like the sea. Rambling Kid? I wonder if vou enjoy seeing it when it is Tough.— DOT.] Dear Dot,—May I join your happy banc! of Little Folk? I am fifteen years of age, and have two sisters and three brothers! Mv father is living on a farm, and we are milking twenty-three cows. We have three horses, and one of them belongs to my sister. She rides it to school. I was out deer stalking last night with my friend; we 6hot three stags and kept their heads. One of them had eight points, one eleven, ar.d the other fourteen.—Yours truly, CHON DUBARRIE. [You are welcome, Chon Dubarrie. It “DOT I™ ' 3ePn excitirl 8 t° go deer-stalking. ®f ar Bot, There was a football match at Duntioon yesterday between Duntroon and Kunow when a Kurow man broke his leg. hootball is a very rough game, is it not?" 1 have seen Away Down the Swanee River’s ?° a H' J, hey k-avc my brother’s horse a fright. They- were over in the school ground and she was taking them home. The hills are lovely; they are just white. I live not very far from Mount Domet, and it is white —Youns truly, TAFFY. [You were lucky to see the goats, Taffy. I should very much like to see them myself" —DOT.] J Dear Dot, —We went for a picnic up the mountain, and we enjoyed ourselves very

much. AYe had a paper-chase. Two boys went, and two girls went out with food foil them. My brother has a black-and-white pup, aud we call it Rover. It gets hold of the cat and starts to play- with it. My mother had to hit it the other day because it started to bite the cat. XVhen mother hangs out the clothes the pup gets hold of them and tears them. —Yours truly, DAPHNE BIRD. [How exciting the paper-chase must have been, Daphne Bird. The pup must be a dear wee mischief. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I become a member of your Little Folk? lam nine years old, and in Standard 11. XX r c are in a new school. AA r e have one cow, six pullets, and a pup. lam going to the hunt on Saturday. Love to all your Little Folk and yourself. —Yours truly, SAILOR BOY. [Of course,. Sailor Bov, I shall be pleased to have you in my D.L.F. band. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —There is a railway ball here on July 23, and lam going to it. There was to be a football match hene last Saturday, but the other team did not arrive, so our team won by default. Dunedin will be busy when the Exhibition is set up, but that is a good way off yet. Have you managed to escape a cold, Dot? All our family have one. and every-one round about. —Y-ours truly, HAPPY. [I think I am lucky, Happy, for I never have colds. But lam "touching wood’’ as 1 say it. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Last Monday High School C hockey team played East Gore School, and won Bto 1. All right for our first match, do you not think? To-morrow we are going to play Gore School, and I do not think we stand such a good chance against them. On Friday- night I went to the pictures, and after them the Campbell boys performed. XVhile they were playing two little pups wandered on to the stage and made the audience laugh.—Yours truly-, ORESTA. [lt was very good for the first match, Oresta, and gives good promise for the future—DOT.] NOTES. Conway.—Your new name will do ex cellently.—DOT. Bonspiel.—The address you ask for. cannot be given unless I have the permission of the person whose address it is.—DOT. Marietta Eliopoulas.—Your letter was really not suitable for printing, dear, and as it was nearly all verse, I omitted it altogether.—DOT. Mum's Nurse.—l cannot print your letter because it is written in pencil.—DOT. Fairy Falls.—l think the address you want is Woodlands Bag, Otautau. —DOT. AUTOS'. A Rose in Spring (Beatrice Swainson, To Karaka, Gisborne) wishes to correspond with A Country Girl and any D.L.F. from 15 to 1G years of age, and requests that they please write first. Charming Irene (Joan M'Laren, Fern Bank, Romahapa) wishes to correspond with Siki and A Lass from the Land of Logs. AVill they please write first? Silent, the Sahib (Maurice Benneworth, Tuatapere, Southland) wishes to correspond with Red Ragger and Scotch Cathie. AA 7 ill thev please write first? Miss E. Irving, Wairuna Bush, Clinton, wishes to correspond with any Australian D.L.F. from 16 to 20 years of age, and requests that thev write first. Sally-an-Floor-C!oth wishes to state that his name is Maurice Drummond, Five Rivers, and not A 7. Drummond, as was put in his last auto. Kremo (Miss Evelyn J. J. Moffatt, Mandeville, via Gore) wishes to correspond with the Lass from the Land of Lo<?s, A Bolt from the Blue, and any L.F. willing, from 13 years to 1G years of age. “W ill they please write first? Miss K. XX 7 . Young, care Dr Gibson, Don street, Invercargill, wishes to correspond with .Shepherd, who is an O.AA 7 ., and lives in XYinton. Would he please write, as by- a big mistake liis letter was miscarried into the fire

Diamond Princess (Florence Barclay, “ToroTrake,” Kelso) wishes to corresnond with Murray Tartan, True to One. and Miss Sally, and requests that they please write first.

Little Son Eric (Phyllis M. Hesson, Box 96. Alexandra South) wishes to correspond with Buster, Silent—The Sahib, Thistle Oatmeal, and any L.F. 16 to 17 years of age willing. X T v 7 ill they please write first? A Lonely Lover (Miss Y T ork, Hakataramea, via Oamarn) wishes to correspond with Princess Olga. Will she please write soon? Brer Rabbit (George Joseph, Taieri Beach) wishes to correspond with any D.L.F. boyfrom ten to twelve years of age.

The Girl from North (Phyllis Gilliand, Ronaldsay street. Palmerston South) wishes to correspond with the following: ABC Mum’s Pet., .Gas Bag, A Trim Up. Mail Girl, Pussy, and Scotch Jess. AVill they please write first ? Jack a’ Lantern (Jack Jones, Milford Rural Delivery, Temuka) wishes to correspond with ■any boy 3 12 to 15 years of age. Will they please write first? Golden Moss (Ethel Jones, Milford, Temuka) wishes to correspond with Sirring Fairy-. Please will she write soon? Golden Moss (Ethel Jones, Milford Rural Deliveny, Temuka) wishes to correspond with any girl from 10 to 12 years. YYould they please write first? Miss K. Steel, 23 City road, Roslyn, Dunedin, wishes to correspond with any Dunedin L.F. over 16 years old. AVill they please write first? Gaiiton Hero (William Watson, Glenledi, Milton) wishes to correspond with’ As Bright as Gold and Prince Athura. Lucy Locket (Frances Joseph, Taieri Beach) wishes to correspond with any D.L.F. from eight to ten years of age. AVill theyplease write first? Lady Morell (Lorua Glenn, Ranfuriy) wishes to correspoiiS with A Lass From the Laud of Logs and Tyne Lass. Will they please write first? Sweet Fairy Bella (Kathie Jones, Milford, Temuka) wishes to correspond with Moon Beam, and requests that she write soon. The Rose of No Man’s Land (Annie Scurr, Cardrona) wishes to correspond with the Rose of No Man’s Land II arid any D.L.F. girls aged 13 years. Michaelmas Daisy (Coiln- M'Kenzie, Fleet Bank,” Waiwera South) wishes to correspond with Blue Golliwog, Bahs, An Australian Lassie, and A Scotch Lass. Pensephone (Miss M. J. Bartlett, Mount Stuart, Waitahuna) wishes to correspond with A Bonnie Hindoo. Brownie Beaver (Winnie M'Cutcheon, 93 Moray place. Dunedin) wishes to correspond with Wire Whiskers, Handsome Harry, A Taranaki Cowpuncher, Queen Heather, and any D.L.F. over 14 years old. Marietta Eliopoulos (Miss Lily G. Davis, 66 Catherine street, Invercargill North) wishes to correspond with Bonnie Belle Princess Natalie, A Lonely Indian Princess, Phoebe, -Sunny Looh, White Doye of Arruit-

zir, Girleen, Patty Patricia, Sylvia, and any D.L.F. willing, between the ages of 15 and 18. Will they kindly write to her. first? Heart o’ Gold (Dorothy Thomas, Tokanui P. 0., Southland) wishes to correspond with Auntie-Pinkie’s Girl. AVill she please write (first. Autumn Leaf (Phyllis Glenn, Ranfuriy, Otago Central) wishes to correspond with A New Forest Gipsy. Will she please write first ? Edna A. Claughton, Tiverton street, Palmerston South, wishes to correspond with Edna. \Yi ] 1 she please write first ? Secret Writer (AX'. Buttar, Clydevale, wishes to correspond with Buster, Bidi Bidi, Princess Olga, and An Office Gill. Please will they write first ?