DOT’S LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Volume 1851, Issue 3809, 15 March 1927, Page 83

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 tho district in which they lire, of their school and home life, holiday trips, 4c. The letters are to be written by the little folk themselves, and addressed "Dot, care of Editor Witness.”

Dot’s Bittle Folk’s Badge with pin, for use as a brooch, obtainable on application to Dot. Price, 3s Cd in stamps or postal notes. Auto. Cards arc obtainable from Dot, Witness Office, Dunedin. Price, 9d for 35

FOURTEEN PUPPIES.

By Katherine Mercer,

(Copyright.—For the Witness.)

Tessic lived most of the time in the blacksmith shop with her father, or in the wheelwright’s part joined on to it with her grandfather. When they went home for meals (her grandfather always cooked those, because he had been a sailor, but he promised to show Tessic how to do it some day) she generally rode on her father’s shoulder, because he was so big. He generally whistled “Annie Laurie” ail the time as they went, and Spot, who was as fat for a little fox terrier as Tessic was for a little girl, hurried after them to be in time to bark when they got to the gate. She barked then to tell Tessie's grandfather they were home. Then she ran up the path, a short brick one, with narrow’ beds of sweet-smelling flowers on both sides, to get in first to tell him they had gone to wash. Spot knew very few tricks, only to bark and to sit up and beg at the right time. She was really a very clever dog, but she was too busy following Tessic about to have time to learn tricks. Tessic was not four years old, with thick, little black curls bobbing about her rosy little face. As she was still quite little she needed to have Spot to play with and follow her about. Then one day Spot did not turn up. Even at breakfast, and Spot always used to sit up and beg while Grace was being said before meals, there was no sign of her. “I don’t want any breakfast,” Tessic said, when it was quite certain Spot was not coming. "It’s no good not sharing it with Spot.” “She’s not sharing tier’s with you this morning,” her grandfather said, quickly. "She’s got a surprise waiting for you outside, as soon as you’re finished yours.” — “You’d better hurry,” her father said laughing. “She very badly wants to show yon—what she’s got.” “She’s all right, isn’t she?”’ Tessic asked anxiously. “Quite all right. You hurry, and then you’ll see how much all right—if you can count how much.” So Tessic hurried. Her father and grandfather hurried too, to take her out to sec. Spot was in a corner of the washhouse, curled upon a sack in a nest of shavings, and all around her were 14 puppies. “Four, and four, and four—l can’t count them,” Tessic said. But her father and grandfather were sure there were 14, and all all right. All that day Tessic stayed home to watch them. “You mustn’t take any away from Spot yet. They’re too little. If you dropped one it couldn’t find its way back,” her father told her.

“I sec. Of course Spot’s too busy with the lot ‘to go looking for one,” Tess answered. “I wish I could help her. All I can do is tuck them up in the shavings a bit sometimes.” “Spot will look after them quite well for a day or two. You come up to the shop and see the new Maori buggy I’m painting,” said her grandfather. Perhaps you might have a ride in it.” So Tcssie went to sec that, and sat in the two-whceled buggy a lot of the morning, pretending she was driving sometimes a white horse and sometimes a black one. There were always plenty of things to do at the shop, and when she was tired she would climb up on to the'big bellows behind the fire, all black and thick soot, and lie there listening to her father whistling "Annie Laurie” till she slipped off to sleep. In betw’cen times she woull run back home to sec how Spot w r as getting on with the puppies. They all got on very well, growing as fat as could be, and they opened their eyes really surprisingly quickly, in a very few days. But in some ways they were pot as sensible as kittens. Tessic put them on the table one day to see if they were able to tell the difference bewteen milk and jam, because they would all have to drink milk, just like Spot did, very soon. But they all rolled about and tumbled off, coming thump .down on the floor. “They didn’t put their scratchers out like kittens would,” Tessic explained afterwards. “And there were such a lot of them I couldn’t catch hold of more than jg few.”

"They’re better on the floor for a while,” he said. “But look here, we’ll get grandfather to make a wheelbarrow for them. Then you can fetch them up to the shop and play with them there. Spot will like that, too.” “Of course, she will. I ’spect she wants to show them to the other dogs, too. There’s no other dog got 14.” So they made her a wheelbarrow, and she wheeled it everywhere, with Spot trotting behind, and 14 fat little puppies rolling over and over each other inside, and often out over the side. That didn’t matter much—it wasn’t nearly so far to fall as when they fell off the table.

“Spot licks them clean, and I can picK them up and put them in the middle of the others,” Tessie said.

while I’m picking up one another always crawls out. I speak (q, them, and Spot barks and growls—l "‘spect her tongue is sore with so much licking, but they won’t stay quiet. Sometimes I’m afraid I’m not bringing them up properly, or they’d know how to keep still when they’re told. 'An’ it makes us take such a long time to go anywhere, stopping all the time to pick up puppies.” So when she was in a hurry, and Tcssie often was, she would have to leave the barrowful of puppies with Spot standing on guard. Of course they scrambled out so much they kept Spot almost too busy to bark. It was not a big place, even for a village so close to the bush. Everyone knew Tcssie, and soon everyone knew those I'l puppies. Nearly everyone had found them on the road and brought them into the. shop to keep them from being run over. At last one did get run over, and his log was broken so badly that for a long time it seemed as if it really could not get better.. Of course after that Tessie had to pet that one more than any of the others. She carried it about, aud often held it in her arms while she was lying on the warm, black bellows, listening to her father whistling as he worked them, or at the anvil. "Its the spceully nicest puppy of them all,” she said, when she began to see that, with taking more care of it. All the others were growing too, bigger and bigger, till Tessie could hardly pack them in the barrow. And all of them crawled and crawled, and rolled and rolled, over and over each other and all about, worse and worse. ■ "They’re not being prop’ly brought up,” she had to own. “They’s too many for Spot an’ me.” One day she was missing, Spot and the barrow and all.

At first nobody worried about it. Her father thought she was with her grandfather, and he thought she was with her father. When one of them called her, and she did not answer, they both thought she had gone home, with the puppies. But when they went home at dinnertime there was no sign there of Tcssie, or Spot, or puppies. “It is such a hot day, she has sat down somewhere and gone to sleep,’' her grandfather thought. It seemed very likely? but the question was. "Where?” They set off to hunt, asking all through the village.

Everyone knew Tessie, and everyone knew the barrowful of puppies, but nobody had seen anything of them. They had come back to the shop, each to see if the other had heard anything, when a dray bumped along with a load of Maoris. "Hey!” called out someone in it. “I can’t stop to see to it now, whatever it is,” Tessie’s father answered. “You’ll have to come back to-morrow.” “Hey!” the Maori called again.„ “You see what we got. You look here.” They looked. And there was Tessie, only half awake, with Spot beside her, and the puppy that limped curled up on her lap. .' “She give all the rest to us, said the Maori boy, grinning. “She come all the way to the pa” (it wasn t very far really, not much more than a mile, but he knew it had seemed a long way to fat, little Tessic. pushing her load) “an’ she say too many for her to bring up properly, so she give us one each, all ’ccpt this one. She says she keep this one for herself an’ the dog. Then we say stop, get a kai, an’ then we bring her back home. W c all know where she comes from.” They all did.’ They all still remember, and every-time a Maori sees Tessie in the shop he speaks to her in the most fricndlj way, and asks how her puppy is. Generally there is no need to ask, for it and Spot are trotting about with her all day long.

LETTERS FROM THE LITTLE FOLK. Motto.—We write for the benefit ol others, not lor curselvcs. Dear Dot,— May I join your happy band? I am eight years of age, and I am in Standard 11. " My father and mother are away for a holiday, and I do not know when they will b e back. There are only eight children going to our school. We have a new car, and I have been in it once, but 1 will have plenty of rides when my father comes home. I have two little brothers. One of them goes to school, and the other is only four. We have two lambs, and would ~you please give me- a name for them? —Yours truly, BOSE YELLOW (Mount Parker).

[Welcome, Bose Yellow. Your name was taken. Call the lambs Soapy and Suds.— DOT.] Dear 'Dot, —I suppose we will soon be feeling Jack Frost, as some say we will have an earlv winter this year. Bed Salvia was here for ’bej; Christmas holidays, and we

had great times together, as it was two I years since I had seen her, but she said that I she wouldn't care to live here again after being in Dunedin, as it is quiet here compared with Dunedin. 1 met quite a number' of Dot’s Little Folk last year when I was away, but I have not seen their letters in print since I came home. I have been in for a number of swims lately, but if I pick a day and tell my friend (who lives out near the lake) that I am goinn; out for a swim, sure enough i£ will be either too cold or raining, so now 1 don’t tell her when I am going out, but just pick a fine day, and then I am sure of my swim. I have not seen Weeping Willow’s or Buster Bill’s letters lately, and they have also forgotten me. Love to all and your own dear self.Yours truly, TYNE LASS (Arrowtown). [Weather often spoils swims and picnics, Tyne Lass. Your town is small compared with Dunedin, but large compared with some others. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Your page is growing larger every day. We are busy harvesting. The mill is in the district about here, so it will not be long befors it comes along. The game that we play at school now is rounders. Did you ever play it when you went to school? Some of the flower gardens about here are looking lovely with ths sweet peas and other kinds of flowers. The days are beginning to be shorter and the nights longer. That is a sign that winter is near. Love to your Little Folk and yourself.— Yours trulv, CINDERELLA’S SISTEB (Central Otago). [I used to play rounders when I was young, Cinderella’s Sister. Do you like winter time? —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am back at school again for my third year, and am feeling quite ancient. At present I am having a siege with the dentist. I endured toothache until

it would not be endured any longer, and then submitted to my fate, and, instead of pulling the things and being done with it, he must needs insist on filling them. We have two nice little kittens (they have names,

though). One is called Smudge, because it has a smudge of every colour ever seen on a cat, and the other Smut, because it is black with a dirty white patch just under its chin, and another on its nose, just as if it had had a white face and had put its head into some soot—most of which had stuck. —Yours truly, HAWK’S MATE (Opotiki). [Toothache is a thing to have, Hawk’s Mate. You must' have your teeth attended to before they ache.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I am back at school again, staying at my grandma’s. When I come home from school at nights I ride Ruby. I was at the flower show last week. I had a nice holiday. In the holidays I came to help my grandma while my aunts were away for a holiday. I took out the lunches every day, and my aunts bought me shoes and a hat for doing it. I won two prizes, one from the Sunday school and one from school. My aunt took me to the beach bathing. I was frightened of the waves. Another day I went to the gardens. I swung myself and my sister. Lov-e to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, RILLA (Weston). [You need not be afraid of the waves, Rilla. They cannot harm you unless you swim too far out in them. Is it a nice hat? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —My two cousins have gone home. I went to their place for a week in Timarri, and I went to the Bay. I went in for a' dip. I cannot swim. There are no calves to feed. 1 have been going to Sunday school. I am in Standard 111 at school. I am starting to save cigarette cards, and have only two so far, but I will soon have some more. Then I will buy an album to put them in, and I will keep them for a long time. My brother had three teeth out on Monday, and he said that it did not hurt him. Our neighbour's two children are staying at our place while their father and mother and two brothers are away at Gore having a holiday. They are expecting them home to-night, but I don't think they will come. —Yours truly, RATCATCHER (Mount Parker). [I suppose you enjoyed your holiday at Timaru, Ratcatcher? Perhaps you-will have more cigarette cards soon. —DOT.] — Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote we have left our farm and shifted to Clinton to live. I like living in Clinton, becaue I do not have so 'far to go to school. Both my brothers have, left school. King of the Rabbiters passed his proficiency last year. My dear dad has been away in hospital for three months, and we do miss him at home. My wee sistsr passed away on February 15 at Balclutha Hospital. Mother had a letter from one of her sisters. She had not heard of her for years, and we were all so pleased. We are anxiously waiting for her to write again. My wee sister will soon be five, and then she will have to go to school. —Our baby is 18 months old, and she is such a hard wee case. We are expecting one of my aunties on Saturday to stay with us. Love to all and your own dear self.—Y’ours truly, TOMMIE’S LITTLE MATE (Clinton).

[lt is good for you that you have not to walk a long way to school, Tommie's Littls Mate. I am sorry you lost your wee sister. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been home for over a month now, but may be going away again any day. I am very thankful to say wo arc all better of the measles now, and the children will be starting school again next Monday. Last Sunday A Bed Red Rose and I ’ thought w c would start to learn, to ride a bike. We had a visitor here who brought his bike, so he and two of my brothers went out ehooting, and we thought we had a good opportunity to try and ride the bike. We took it out to a level piece of road and started off. I laughed so much

that I couldn’t ride it. We came a few “spillers” for a time, but I thought the hardest part was putting my leg over the bar, as it was a man’s bike. After a while wc thought wc would go home, so we started off trying to., ride the bike. When we thought we would go home, so we started off, trying to ride the bike. When w-e were over the track a bit I said, "Look, we have lost a nut off ths pedal." So A Red Red Rose said. “We had better push it home the rest of the way.” So we pushed it home and told the owner that we had lost a nut-off the pedal, but he set our mfeds at re%t and told us it had been for some time. We didn’t try to ride the bike again that day. The next two days I was fairly stiff, as I had never tried to ride before, but I prefer a horse every time. Best wishes to all and your own dear self. — Yours trulv, SOMEBODY’S SWEETHEART (Otiake).

[You are certain to fall a few times till you are used to tho bicycle, Somebody’s Sweetheart; I am pleased you are better of the measles.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —As I am very much taken up with your page, I would like to join your happy band. I have a great many cousins and one brother who writes to the page. We have just come home from gathering mushrooms. There are not any about yet, but if

there were more rain they would soon pop up. The farmers are busy harvesting up at this part of the country. Wc live four miles from the nearest town, and my brother and sister walk to school every day. I did not mind it when I was going, especially in the winter time -when there was so much ice to slide on. There is going to he a bit of excitement on the 19th of this month, as the Duke and -Duchess are going through to Cromwell from Dunedin by train, so I hope to see them at the station when they go through. I have four sisters and three brothers. I have a married sister at Ohai and two other sisters engaged. My brother and faster have a pigeon each. They made a great fuss when they started to fly. 1 think they expected them to fly away, as they were only about a week old when we first found them in a rabbit’s hole under a bridge. I was making a dress to-day, and when I had finished sewing the skirt on to the top I found that I had them sewn on wrong, so I unpicked it, but I have not touched it since. The other day when I was at home all by myself I made some peanut toffee, but it has all disappeared now, but I can tell you I suffered enough the day after with toothache. The swimming has just about ceased now, as the sun is not heating the water so much. I have just learnt to dog paddle, and my brother says it is great to watch me. He stands on the bank of the creek and laughs at the different faces I make; but he cannot even dog-paddle himself. Do you like swimming? I do if it is in a nice clear creek. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear seif. —Yours trulv, BILLY-CAN (Lauder).

[Welcome, Billy-Can. Have you ever tasted Billy-can biscuits? It was too bad to sew the dress on wrongly.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is lovely weather for bathing here. My brother’s little rabbit is quite tame. It will eat out of my hand sometimes. Do you like rabbits? Your band of Little Folk is growing larger every week. You will be kept busy finding names for their pets. The “Chums’ Summer Sports’’ are very interesting, they have some great times together. Best love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours trulv, STAR GLEAM (Kabuika).

[I like rabbits, Star Gleam. The Chums would be All Blacks if they lived in New Zealand,—DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I become one of your happy members to the page? I have passed my 18th birthday, and have read the Little Folk letters for nearly 10 years. I am one of a family of six. I have four brothers and one sister, and I am the second oldest. My brother will be 21 in Julv. He is in the hospital with appendicitis. He is doing well. I am busy listening to «. wireless concert in Dunedin. I think wireless is most, wonderful. I think the stations in Australian give better concerts than the New Zealand stations. Ours is a five-valve set, and we have a loud speaker. At present we. are busy harvesting. February and March ar?, the two busy months on a farm. Wc have a M’Cormick-Deei ing tractor, and it does go over the ground in a short time. I spent my Christmas holidays up Central Otago and enjoyed every hour of ten days to my utmost, as it was my first trip on that line. —Yours truly, ■IY’A (North Taicri). [Welcome, 4YA. You, Wireless, and Wireless Fan are the only three Little Folk to represent the wonderful invention. Central Otago is a splendid place for a holiday.— DOT.] Dear Dot, —Wc are harvesting, and I help to make the lunches ready. Mother and I milk the cows, because father is away harvesting. I love riding horses. Can you ride? Mother is busy making jam. and I cover the jars. I am in Standard VI, and I think it is pretty easy so far. I don’t know what it will be a little further on. I am going to see the Duke and Duchess of York when they come to Timaru. I like reading, Dot’s Little Folk letters. They are very interesting. Do you like basket ball? I do. I also like football, though I am not a boy. I have a shingle, and I like it very much. We have an orchard and sell quite a lot of fruit. I have a black calf, and will . you please give me a name for it?—Yours truly, SCHOOLGIRL’S MATE (Waihao Downs). [Call the calf Cyclops. I think I should fall off if I tried to ride. I think basket ball a good game.—DOT.]

.Dear Dot, —I am just ..writing to ask you it I can join your happy band of Little Folk. I am nine years old and am in Standard ,11 at school. I am writing this letter at Scotch Tiistle’s Mate’s place. She is an Old Writer. I go to her place every night, because she helps me with my homework. We have a little baby four months old. He is such a dear wee thing. I often sit and nurse him. Hoping all the Little Folk and yourself are well. —Yours truly, STAR TWINKLE (Alexandra). [Welcome, Star Twinkle. Your name was taken. I am cure the baby is a dear. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have a white rabbit called Daisy, and 260 pullets which have laid Over forty eggs, although they are only five months old. We went to Timaru in the excursion train on Februry 3. and had a good time. I„ have left school now. My sister ie going to Oamaru to see the Duke and Duchess of York on the 16th. We have eight calves and four cows. We have a good few asters and French marigolds and autumn crocus out. Love to ail and your own dear self. —Yours trulv. CHARMARY (Otekaike).

[You have a large number of pullets, Charmary. Arc you' helping at home now you have left school?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I have been very interested in the Dot’s Little Folk .Page, and have at last thought of joining. The busy time of the year is now beginning, for the oat crops are nearly ready for cutting. Tennis will soon be over and winter games started. We go for a game of tennis nearly every evening, and it serves as a great pastime. All the picnics and sports are over, and everything is quiet for a while, with the exception of a few dances now and then. There have been two weddings in this district latelv, one of which caused much excitement. There are a few mushrooms about, and they are very nice when one hasn’t had any for a long time. The water is becoming too cold for bathing, and I am very sorry, as I was in quite a number of times this summer. There are quite a number of Dot’s Little Folk in this district, but I have not seen any of their letters in the page for a while. Love to all.— Yours truly, VERY COMMON (Southland).

[Welcome, Very Common. I see you are a keen tennis player. Do you play for a team? —DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote to you my sister and I went for three days in Invercargill. We spent Christmas and New Year at home. The ground is so dry that the farmers would gladly like rain. We have a pup called Nip. He is a collie pup. IVe milk eight cows and feed six calves. We have three pet lambs, but we don’t feed them. We are looking forward to seeing ths Duke and Duchess of York. My birth-

day was last Thursday. I am 12, and fit Standard V. There are a good many pic< turcs of the Duke and Duchess in the Wit-

ness. Love to all and your own dear eelf. —Yours trulv, FAR-AWAY AMERICA (Southland). [Tell mo more about Nip, Far-Away America. Do you feed the calves every night?—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is a busy time, as it is harvesting season. Pictures are held onca a fortnight, and I attend them as often as possible. I spent a week-end with a friend in Glcnham, and enjoyed myself very much. The blackberries are ripening, so we will ba able to go for picnics picking them. I hope it does not rain, as I want to take some snaps (to-morrow. The Churns are very interesting to follow every week. Do you like reading? I like reading, especially the Little Folk’s letters. Some are very interesting. The Standard V and VI girls and boys go to Invercargill Manual Training College for cooking and woodwork. Those will be a great help to them when they grow older. The Royal visitors are bringing great excitement into 1 do not think I will be able to see them. Kindest regards to all and your own dear self.— Yours trulv, A BUNCH OF BLUE VIOLETS (Southland). [I am fond of reading, Bunch of Blue Violets. Are vou fond of schoolgirl stories? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We are cutting our crop. My sister, Far-Away America, and I have not, written for some time. We are having a new house built, and wc expect to be in it at the end of March. Our teacher is going away after being fourteen years in this district. We are looking forward to seeing the Duke and Duchess of York, and we are going into town to see them. I did not go to see the Prince of Wales. Our hall is being added to. There is to be a. kitchen party on Friday night, and I m?v be going to it. I have just finished a book called “Angel Pig.” It was a nice book. Have you read it? My sister and I go to Manual Training School every Wednesday, and I like it. We have a pup called Nip, and he likes chasing the hens, but sometimes the black rooster turns on him and gives him a fright. This week Captain. Jackson Barry’s Daughter and her husband’s (Black Watch) photos were in the Witness. Love to all and your own dear self. —Yours trulv, WHITE LILY OF THE MOUNTAIN (Southland).

[I have not read the book. White Lily of the Mountain. What a peculiar name it has. Were veu interested in the photograph ?-DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Ida Valley station and the goods shed are just newly painted, and tho Government houses are going to Ire painted next. The other night wc had a friend spending the evening with us. He brought his gramophone with him, and we all had an Al time. I saw Milk Maid Jean and Baby’s Nurse Girl had a large washing out to-day. Daddy’s Little Help is doing his homework for Monday. Empire is homo staying with us until mother comes back from Dunedin. Empire and I are home all day by ourselves until the children come home from school. All the same, wc have good fun. We have a few little chicks out

this year Some of the. hens set themselves, so that was lucky, wasn’t it? I am very tired to-night, as I went to bed very late, and I rose early in the morning. Lazy Empire slept in, so she should not be tired. My youngest brother is running around in his big brother’s boots, and he is making quite a noise. We had all our cousins over to-day, and they have just made tracks home. Two of my cousins write to the page. I know one of their names, and tho other won’t tell me hers. Our cousin took our photos to-day, and Empire took theirs. The children are very anxious to go to Ranfnrly to see the Duke and Duchess on the 19th of this month. I suppose you will bo going to see them when they arrive in Dunedin. Empire was trying to learn to drive our friend's car. She steered it all right. She didn't put anybody _ over the bank, so that was one good thing. Can you drive a car? I cannot. I hope all tho Little Folk are in the best of health and your own dear self, also. —Y’ours truly. DOT'S SWEETHEART (Ida Valley). [I - cannot drive a car. Dot’s Sweetheart. It was lucky about the hens. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We get the Witness every week, and I enjoy reading the Little Folk letters, so I thought I should like to join, too. I am thirteen years of age, and have left school lam just working at home and setting a few traps. Rabbits are a shilling a pair here, so I hope to make a little money. I intend buying a bicycle. We keep fowls, and they are very tame. We milk two cows and keep seven calves. My mother used to write to your page about twenty years ago, and knows most of the Old Writers. I know Tire Butler very well. We spent many happv days together last holidays. I have some photographs to send him when he writes to me. This is a very quiet place, but was very lively during the gold rush, when there were over two thousand people and fourteen hotels. It was quiet enough after all the gold was gone, but the bringing through of the railway brought more crowds, but they did not last very long. Love to all the Little Folk, aud vourself.—Yours truly, HERBERT STRANG (Otago Central). [Welcome, Herbert Strang. Have you read any of the "Boys’ Annuals” by Herbert Strang? I hope you make enough money to buy a bicycle.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since going back to school I have been in Standard IV. I am still staying at my grandma’s, and am going to school from there. To-day we all went to the beach for a picnic, and we took mv sister and brother - with us. My grandfather has nearly finished his harvest, as nearly all his crop is in the stack. I have my lessons to learn. Love to all the Little Folk and vourself.—Yours truly, .CARELESS BIDDY (Maheno). [Learn your lessons well every night. Careless Biddy. Did your sister and brother enjoy the picnic?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have started to cut the oats now. The men did two days’ cutting, but it is not stocked up yet. They have cut all that is properly ripe. If we have much more weather like this it will soon ripen. It is tangled with the rain. Great patches are lying right down on the ground, and the heads are twisted round and round each other. This has all to be cut with the scythe, and wastes time. It is time the sheep were dipped, too, but all the work comes at the one time, and harvest must bo finished first. It is a bad year for fruit. We have not a pear, and I think there were four plums altogether on the two early plum trees, so, you see, we are badly off for jam this season. I will have to make three or four boilings of apple jam and jellv, --or we will bo out of jam too soon. Little Wooden Shoes, my brother, and I went into Lawrence to the pictures last Saturday night, but were disappointed, as the crank shaft of the engine broke, and they couldn’t screen the picture. I had read the book, "The Mine with the Iron Door.” There was a picture, “The Sporting Chance/*-

on Friday night in aid of the Flunketeens for the relief fund for the babies at Kaitangata. Fifty pounds were taken at a bring and buy fair in Lawrence for the fund a week or two ago. Love to all and best love to yourself.—Yours truly, A READER (Lawrence). [Write out your auto on a separate piece of paper, Reader. I do not- know the nom de plume of the Little Folk you inquired about. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —We have been four weeks at school now. and have started work. I had a most enjoyable holiday at Christmas. I ■Went to Temuka for two weeks, and Green Hills for the others. Nearly all the girls at our school have their hair off, but I have not. I seem to be left out of everything; We are going to have swimming baths at our school. A very enjoyable evening was spent last Thursday night at the Municipal swimming baths, the fund being in. aid of our Waitaki Girls’ High School. Last Saturday our Sunday school picnic was held at the Old Mill. Love to all and your own dear self.—Yours truly, LADY BOADICEA (Oamaru). [Do not worry over your long hair, Lady Boadicea. You will rejoice in it when shingle fashion ceases.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Since writing to you ' last I have been having great times at picnics. I had ray long-looked-forward-to trip to Evansdale. I had a real good time. I went to the Warrington beach one day, and thought it was lovely. Another day we went up the Evansdale Glen. I think ib was even nicer :, than .the beach, as all the foxgloves were ent, and they did look pretty. I was at Clinton for another week just before the schools took up again, and had a great time. ■ -15 was lovely weather all the time I was up there. On New Year's Day I was . at Port Molyneux sports, and had a good time. ' tqo. Last Saturday I had the greatest day of all. I was at a picnic at Tahakopa. A big train took most of the people. There were about 736 people on it. I was more luckv than them, as I was taken in a car. It was about forty miles from here, so it was just a nice trip. We arrived there just about half-past 11, just a while after the train. The sports were held in a paddock at the edge of the bush, iuat close to the Tahakona River. The Pipe Band was there, also‘the Balcliitha, Boys’ Brass Band, which was very good. We didn't leave the snorts ground until a-quarter past four, but then the most exciting trip started. We thought we would like to be near the railway line when the train passed, as we had met a good few that day who were on it, so we hurried on for a while. • When we arrived at Owaka, ■we found we had to wait a-quarter of an hour before the train came in. After we had waved they all good-bye, we started off again, but were ahead of them; so we waited lialf way up the tunnel hill, and saw them into t.he -tunnel.. -We arrived at Glenomaru JtuA . as they were pulling opt. and we . did got expect to see them again. We iust ••me to Romahapa in time to give them

a last wave, as we did not follow the railway line any more. It was an exciting trip home. We were so anxious to see round each corner to see any smoke of the train. I a,m sure we had the best of it, aS we could stop and take snaps, and enjoy the scenery as we passed along. I was a little tired next day, but I did enjoy every minute of my trip. Kindest regards to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, SYLVIE (Waitepeka). [You must have had an exciting ride home, Sylvie. “Foxgloves” are “little, folks’ gloves,” or “fairy gloves.”—DOT.] Dear Dot, —Paddy was reading a sailoi story, which she says is “a ripping good yarn,” but I reminded her that she had not written to you for a long time. She solid, “I want t<i finish this book,” but then, when I gave her a tap on the back (she said it was a thump) and spoke to her again, she said, “Oh, well, I’d better write.” The Duke and Duchess of York 'are expected to arrive in Greymouth some time this month. Have they been to Dunedin yet? I have five pen friends now.. They are Tipperary Shoes, Joyce D-orita, Juliet, Gilpen's Wife, and The Silver Princess, and they all write lovely letters. I had a letter from Quasi Una Fantasia a long while ago, and I answered it, but didn’t receive a reply. We have another black kitten, so could you give me a name for it.—Yours truly, TWINKLETOES (Greymouth).

[Call the kitten Fibby, Twinkletoes. The Duke and Duchess have not been to Dunedin yet.'—DOT.] Dear Dot, —This is my first letter for 1927, so it is about time 1 put in an appearance. We are busy dipping, so I hope it doesn’t rain, as it will spoil the dip. I see there are a number of Little Folk joining every week. Isn’t there great excitement at the Royal visit? I may go to see them when -they arrive in Dunedin. We have very little fruit this year. Our gooseberries were very scarce, and we haven’t any plums or pears, but have a few apples. Peggy has been in bed with measles, and was looking very ill. Most of the school children have had them. We have sixteen little chickens, and sijx young turkeys. We had some little ducklings, but they all died. I was at a dance last week, and had an enjoyable time. I hope you and all are in the best of health. —Yours truly, KEEP SMILING (Waiheno). [Tec, there is excitement over the Royal visitors, Keep Smiling. I hope Peggy is soon well again.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —It is such a lovely day to-day, and I’m hoping it will be fine for the Royal visit. We have a holiday on the 15th, but I think it will be wet. The Salvation Army Band is playing at the end of our street. Isn’t winter coming quickly. We want to 'be up early in the summertime, but in the winter we want to. lie abed. I am going to have a birthday. party soon. Mum said I could have 18, but there are that number of girls alone. The flowers are all gone except

sunflowers, asters, and daisies. When’ I go to bed of a night, I sometimes think that life is only a moving picture. It is hard to explain, but that is how I feel. Last night my girl friend and I went to Fullers’, so did mum, and we enjoyed ourselves, I can tell you. I went to see Johnny Hines in “The Brown Derby” last week, and it ended up where he is married on board ship in his “Port Chalmers,” as we call them. It was a scream. There are quite a number of sailors in town off H.M.S. Laburnum. I will tell you all about my party. My Mother’s Darling happens to be one of my brothers, and the life he leads me is like all brothers. If you’ve any you’ll know what they are like. Love to all and yourself. —Yours truly, VALENCIA RAISIN (Christchurch).

[The photographs are good, but not good enough for printing, Valencia Raisin. I am keeping them, but if you want them write for them.—DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was reading a sailor story called "Hurrah, for the Life of a Sailor," which Jersey Lily sent me, when Twinkletoes thumped me on the back and said, “When are you going to write to Dot?” I didn’t answer her, but went on reading, so she gave me another thump and said in my ear, “I’m going to write to Dot tonight, aren’t you?” I looked at her, gave a grunt, read my book for another five minutes, and then said, “All right.” I went to the pictures on Saturday night to see Hoot Gibson (one of my favourite cowboy actors) in “Chip of the Flying U,” and I .thought it was good. I like a good, laughable picture, don’t you? I’m not the only one who would like to be a sailor, for three or four of my letter-pals say that they’d love to be sailors, too, so why can’t there be girl sailors as well as boy sailors? My friends tell me that I’m like a boy. We Girl Guides are busy practising marching, for we are in the guard of honour when the Duke and Duchess of York come here. We have to practise in Victoria Park next Friday night, and I don’t like the idea of it, for I know we will have an audience of Boy Scouts. They love to see us Guides and call us the “Girl Skites,” so we politely call them the “Boy Sprouts.” Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. — Yours truly, WHIRLWIND PADDY (West Coast). [I am sure the Scouts are really proud of the Guides, Whirlwind Paddy. You should like the sailor books 1 mentioned. — DOT.] Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band 9 I am eleven years of age, and I am in Standard VI. I have two sisters and three brothers. We are milking three cows. Most of the flowers are dying. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, RED WALLFLOWER (Central Otago). [You must send your private name and address, Red Wallflower. You may join. Do you milk the cows? —DOT.] Dear Dot,' —The weather here is very fair, although it looks like rain to-day. We had pictures here on Friday night,. “The Thundering Herd,” and it was fairly good. . We have built a new cow byre, as we are having the machines in. It will be a change from milking by hand, although it means more cows. We are having our oats cut to-day. The mills are all busy. There is to be a euchre party here on Friday night in aid of our new hall. Do you like tennis? I have started this year, and I like it very much. I suppose hockey will soon be in full swing again. I am just looking forward for it to start. Love to all.—Yours truly, MARY, THE WILD SWAN OF FAIRY- ■ LAND (Balfour).

[Machines will help with the milking, Mary. I think tennis is an excellent game. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I met. a ; Little Folk to-night, but I did not like, to ask him his nom de plume. Muni asked for me, but he would not say? We gave away all Mifl’s kittens, so that has lessened our number of cat's. "-My cousin and I have some very good rides lately, for she has a ginger pony called Kitty. I went (o tennis yesterday, as it was- club day. Betty Jo was there. Esme’s father lost his best dog last night with distemper. On Friday, an old man who is very fond of his dogs had. a little pup killed. It was run over by a loaded motor lorry. One. day he .told us. that Tiger, as. he called the dog, had chewed his pyjama swings, and had them in knots, and he li'ad a task to undo them to bath him. Out garden is looking very nice at present. < Love to all and your own dear self.—Yours ..truly, NORAH HAYSEED (Clinton).

[I am sorry the pup was killed, Norah Hayseed.- He must have been a mischievous pup.—DOT!] Dear Dot,—Every time I read the Witness the happy band seems to grow larger. I went to the railwaymen’s picnic and -had a great time, despite the. fact that it was a Sunday and the 13th of February. I think Dorothy Dimple’s Pal half expected the train to run off tile rails. I was helping my brother to cut the hedges, and my hands were all blistered, although there is onlyone tiny one that burst - left to prove it. What a pity Luna Park was partly destroyed, Tomboy Molly. Do not catch cold long before our Royal visitors are here. I am looking forward to their visit, and also to the holiday we hope to have for it. As I have not written for >a while I ought to have had plenty of news, but it is rather a cold night to be sitting up in bed writing for very long. My foot has cramp. Love to all.—Yours truly, ' ’ . ' TOMBOY MOLLY : (Dunedin).

[lt is a pity Luna Park was partly destroyed, Tomboy Molly. Do not catch • cold sitting up in hed.—DOT.] ■■ • ! Dear Dot,—Harvest is in full 'swing here. We have ours cut and stocked. I think harvest is a nice time’ of the year. I love to hear the hum of the binder. There was a social evening and dance in the hall on Monday night for two of our local young men, who are going to compete in the bush craft events at the Duke of York’s carnival in Wellington. A very enjoyable evening was spent. Two of my cousins were here to spend the new year with us from the Taieri. They are both Dot’s Little Folk—namely, Topsy and Wompy. We had quite a number of outings while they were here. One dayj my two brothers, Topsy, WoPapy, and myself went through to the Slope Point picnic, where we spent a very enjoyable day. It is a lovely trip from Tokanui to Slope Point. The scenery is most beautiful, there being native bush on either side of the road. It is an ideal place for picnic parties. Two of my schoolmates are in the Park Hospital, Invercargill, both having undergone an operation.' I was at a Sunday School picnic at Tokanui. and came second in a race and won a nice box of soap. I also ran at Quarry Hills picnic, and won a nice pocket companion with a mirror and comb, in it. I was in luck’s way, don’t you think? Kind regards to—all and your own' dear self.— Yours truly, "■> HEART O’ GOLD (Tokanui).

[You deserved the; presents if you won the races, Heart o’ Gold. Native bush is very picturesque.—DOT]

Dear Dot,—Tomboy Molly and I have just been to buy-the Witness, and whilst reading it I remembered I had not written this year. The town ought to look pretty with all the coloured lights and decorations for the Royal visit. I am looking forward to the visit and also the holiday from work we hope to have for it. My mother, sister, and little brother went to Harrington Point last Sunday and had a good time, arriving home at 6 o’clock .sunburnt and tired. Tomboy Molly thinks she has done much work cutting, or trying to cut, hedges, but if she were to mow the lawn a good few times like I have clone, she’d something to write about. I am writing this letter in bed, so' I will close now, as my back is sore. Love to everyone and yourself.—Yours truly, DOROTHY DIMPLE’S PAL (Dunedin). [Picnics are excellent for sunburn, Dorothy Dimple’s Pal. Blisters come to all hedge cutters. —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I was not sorry when school opened again. I am in Standard IV this year. We did not go anywhere for our holidays. A Rabbiter’s Mate has not gone out rabbiting for a long time. Last time they caught no rabbits, so they were disgusted. A Rabbiter’s Mate is a quick writer. Last Sunday week my mate and I went for a walk over the hills. We scrambled through manuka, lawyers, and many other rambling bushes. When we reached the top of the hill we went on over towards the river. We did not reach the river when my mate said she was tired and would like to turn back. I tried to persuade her to go on, but it was no good. I asked her why she wanted to go' back, and she said that we would not be in time to set tea. We set off back towards home. On our return journey we passed a big birch tree with mistletoe growing over it. We pulled a piece to show the ones at home where we had been.—Yours truly, MOTHER’S ANGEL (Southland).

[Perhaps they will catch more rabbits next time, Mother’s Angel. Mistletoe is a parasite. and sucks the life from other trees.— DOT.]

Dear Dot. —I went to the Lumsden sports, and the day was spoilt by rain. After the sports I went through to Wendon- by car, and enjoyed it immensely. On the following Saturday I went to the swimming carnival, and it was a beautiful'day. Mother's Angel is wondering what to put, and is asking, “What will I put next?” My mate and I cycled to Lauderdale one day. ’ We left home at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, and arrived there at dinner time (not to miss our dinner). After dinner we decided to go trout fishing, so our first thought was where we could find worms. My mate’s father told us if we pulled up some ragwort we would find worms there at the bottom, but, of course, we were not taking the hint, so with a spade and tin we went and dug until we found enobgh to catch as many fish as we would need. We took rod and tackle, and set off for the river. On reaching there we put the rod together (what 1 we thought was the correct way), and then threw it in waiting for a fish to bite, I fear we would still be there if that was the case, so after waiting and walking no the river we decided to go back with no fish, so.that ended our fishing. Like the Chums, we will try our luck at pig hunting, deer stalking, or perhaps duck shooting. I’ll. not give up hope and. leave everything alone. After that we were shown around Lauderdale, and had our cup of tea. We returned home, reaching home' a little before six. I thought I would be a “stiffy” after it, but it treated me better than that, in fact, I Would go again to-morrow .if possible. Love to all and yourself.—Yours truly, A RABBITER’S MATE (Five Rivers).

[Fig hunting, deer stalking, and duck shooting will be as hard as fishing, Rabbiter’s Mate. I’see you enjoyed your dav. — DOT.] . Dear Dot, —I have been working in a shearing shed during my holidays. It was very interesting watching the men shearing. I have two pigeons. Please give me names for them. They- fly very high in the air. I did not go to school to-day. The grass was very wet. It was raining last night. When I was coming hom’e from school last night I filled my school bag full of mushrooms. We went for a car ride. Coming home we ran out of petrol. A man kindly gave us a bottle. It took us to a shed. We bought some there. It took us home. We went down a big hill. I am in Standard -VI at school. The children from this school are going to see the Duke and Duchess of York. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, TOM THE RABBITER. (Otago).

[Call the pigeons Swoop and Swerve, Tom the Rabbiter. Did you fry the mushrooms or eat them raw? —DOT.] Dear Dot, —I spent three weeks in Orepuki for holidays, one week in Invercargill, and five days in Port Chalmers. If I were to describe the whole of my holidays it would take maitf pages. I suppose tlie Dunedin people are busy preparing for the visit of the Duke and Duchess. Our company of Guides is about the only one in Maniotot'o, and we are to be in uniform when the 'Royal visitors arrive in Ranfurly. While I was in Orepuki I enjoye’d one of the best trips I have ever had. It was a trip from Orepuki to Lake Monowai, about 52 miles. A party of about 22 people left Orepuki at 9.30 a.m., and; passing through Tuatapere and several smaller townships, arrived at Lake Monowai about 12.45 p.m. The scenery was very pretty in places on the way out, especially outside Tuatapere, where the road wound through beautiful native bush. We had not very much time to dbend before we set out for home, so we made most of.it. Some went for a row on the lake, while the • rest went to see the flood gates. Early in .the afternoon we left, for, home, and stopped first at the Southland power house, over which we were shown, and then at the old Blackmount homestead, where we had afternoon tea. The homestead appeared to be a stopping place for tramps, judging by the odds and ends strewn about. It must be rather ancient, as the following incident will show: One of my cousins was standing before what had been an attic window, seemingly watching the preparations for tea, which -were going on down on the grass below, while a few of us were investigating. Someone turned to speak to her, and she had disappeared, while the particular spot on which she had stood was a . gaping hole. We rushed down the stairs and intc the room below, where we found her seated in an old stretcher, unhurt except for a.few bruises, and looking rather dazed. We arrived home about 6.30 p.m. Best love to yourself and all.—Yours truly, MONICA’S MATE (Waipiata). [I am pleased that there are Guides to meet the Duchess at Ranfurly, Monica’s Mate. You must have had an excellent holiday. It is a wonder your cousin', was not badly hurt.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have two dear wee baby kittens, and will you please give me names for them? My sister, Joyous Rider 11, and I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon. We went to the beach, and just as- wb were going on to; the rocks we saw some people fishing, so we turned back. We climbed to the top of a steep hill and watched them

fish, and a wave came up and they were wet. I have had a very bad cold. We have 13 oats, and four are mothers of nine kittens, so we have quite a number to feed. I have been helping Joyous Rider II to cover the jam by writing the names of the jam on top. We did 23 bottles, but 1 wish we had another 23, as I like the task. Our next door neighbours have milking machines, and I went to see them work. I was told to put my -finger in the cup, and I did, and it did feel funny! It sucked just like a calf, lie have five cows milking, and grandmother and I milk them. I have not been for many swims this year. There are a few mushrooms about. Do you like mushrooms? I like them a bit. Fondest love to all the Little Fqlk and your dear self.—Yours truly, RIPTARE (Slope Point). [I like mushrooms, Riptare. Call the kittens Fib and Fuss. Milking machines are great helps to the farmers.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We had our photos taken at school the other day, and 1 bought one of our class yesterday. My brother is away at Cub’s to-night, and it is a bad night to venture out. Our Sunday school picnic was about a fortnight ago, and I had a delightful time. My young brother is writing to a friend who has just gone to Auckland, and he is all the time repeating in his letter the word Auckland. Kindest regards to all and your own dear self. —Yours truly,

THE OFFICE BOY (Dunedin)

[Did you come out nicely in the sthoe! photographs, Office Boy? Auckland is, of course, as interesting to Aucklanders as Dunedin is to Dunedin people.—DOT.] NOTES. Monica's Mate. —The address you. asked for is W. Collings, Mount Barker.—DOT. AUTOS. Norah Hayseed (Bertha Collins, Collinwood, Popotunoa, Clinton) wishes to correspond with Samson Sawdust and any other Little Folk willing. Will they please write soon? Monica’s Mate (Mona Johnston, Waipiata, Otago Central) wishes to correspond with Green Shamrock of Ireland and American Friend. Will they please write first and soon ? Whirlwind Paddy (Rosaleen Baker, Blake street, Blaketown, Greymouth) would like any North Island, Nelson, and oversea- Little Folk from 15 to 18 to write to her. Please will they write first and soon ? She would also like Paddy the Next Best Thing to write, and Colleen of Old Ireland. Twinkletoes (Dawn Baker, Blake street, Blaketown, Greymouth) would like Cherry Plum to write, and also any Little Folk 9 to 11 years old. Dorothy Dimple's Pal (Roma Sheehan, 5 Eton street, Kaikorai, Dunedin) wishes to correspond with The Arab Sheik’s Cobber and any other Little Folk from 17 to 19 willing. Tommie’s Little Mate (Annie Fletcher, Clinton) wishes io,correspond with any Little Folk willing. Will Black Bess pleise write soon?

Mary the Wild Swan of Fairyland Mary M’Math, Balfour) would like to’ correspond with any Dot’s Little Folk 17 to 18 years of age. - ■ Somebody’s Sweetheart (Jean M'Kay, Strachan’s Siding, Otiake) wishes to. correspond with Tamara, Helen of Troy, West Coast Nugget, and any other Little Folk between the ages of 16 and 20. Will they please write first and soon? ■ - 4 Y.A. (Annie Boyd, Glenfalloch, North Taieri) wishes to correspond, with any .Little Folk between 18 and 20 years of age. ..Will they please write first? Berberis Darwinii’s Cobber (M. Green, Waianakarua, via Oamaru) wishes to correspond with the Starlight Ranger, Beautiful Mayblossom, Cook's Cobber, and any Little Folk 18 to 20. Will they please write first?