Dot's Little Folk

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 77

Dot's Little Folk

qJuljj 16, 1686.

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 the district in which they live, of their school and home life, holiday trips, etc. The letters are to be written by the little folk themselves, and addressed, " Dot, care of Editor Otago 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, Otago Witness 015 ce, Dunedin. Price, 9d for 25.

THE RIVER BABY By M. H. Poynter. ( Copyright.—For the Otago Witness ) CHAPTER VII.—THE RIVER BABY. Consultation ■with the boys proved of no avail in unravelling the mystery. They had seen nothing at all, and for . the time being there seemed little to be done. Breakfast was a hasty meal, in spite of the excellence of Phil’s trout, for the two boys and Donnie were eager to begin the excitement of searching up and down the river in the hope that they might light upon' the solution of the puzzle. Donnie was very happy in her adventure. z Evelyn stayed with Aunt Sibbie, hanging with, eagerness upon all that she did. A real baby to nurse was the height of the little girl’s ambition, and she watched with envy while Aunt Sibbie fed the baby with bread and milk, the little one nestling contentedly in her arms. When its meal was finished it fell asleep, hut still Aunt Sibbie held it, rocking it softly to and fro. Her mind was puzzling over many things, and now and again her face was full of sadness. After a long and fruitless search the boys and Donnie returned, and for the rest of the morning everyone’s interest centred in the baby. Its appearance had changed all their plans for the day. They could talk and think of nothing but it. There was nothing to do but wait for the station trap, and to take the baby home with them until someone claimed it. “ I wonder what its name is,” said Donnie. “ I think I shall call it the River Baby. You can’t call a girl Moses —and besides it’s not a pretty name. Aunt Sibbie, do you think that if no one turns up to claim it mother will let us keep it? We could adopt it, and never let it know that it wasn’t one of us. That would be just like a story.” Aunt Sibbie smiled rather wistfully. “ I don’t know at all,” she said. “ I expect we will find its owner somewhere, but if not we will have to consider the question of adopting it.” They were sitting together in a little ,' group with the flax bushes for a background. It was warm and still, and very silent, save for the murmur of the water, and the “ peep peep ” of a dotterel hovering over the shingle. Dinner was over and the dishes washed, and everything save the things that they required for their last meal at the camp was packed in readiness for the trap when it arrived. “It’s a very serious thing,” said Phil; “ one can’t make it out at all. A baby like that doesn’t drop down from the skies, and yet. there certainly hasn’t been r anyone about to bring her here. The r only person who has been here at ail has been the shepherd, and I hardly think that he can have had anything to do with it.” “Perhaps it was the baby he had in his hut,” suggested Donnie eagerly, “and that was why he wouldn’t let us in. I’m sure there is some mystery about him.’-’ Aunt Sibbie laughed, perhaps a trifle unsteadily. “You are a goose, Donnie! ” she said. “ What do you think the shepherd would be doing with a baby? It is more likely that someone travelling along the main Toad has been attracted by the sight of our hut, and that the baby has been left behind for us to care for. It seems a strange thing for anyone to do—to leave a baby on the chance of its being found and cared for, but I think that is what has happened.” “ Perhaps it’s the fairies that brought it,” said Evelyn sagaciously. “ Or a stork,” suggested Willie, still steeped in traditions of Hans Andersen. “ Perhaps so,” said Aunt Sibbie, “ who knows? If only the baby was old enough to talk it could tell us itself. But it’s ours just now, isn’t it?” And so, in idle speculations that came , to nothing, the afternoon passed away, and after tea the station trap arrived to take the camping party home, for they had stipulated that their return should be delayed as long as possible. That the driver of the trap was astonished to find the mysterious addition to the party goes without saying, but he, at least, had a ray of light to throw upon the matter which might mean a possible solution of the strange event. He had been into the township a few days before and had seen a woman with a

baby arrive by train; later, on his return home, he had passed her a short distance from the town, walking and carrying the child. He had not seen the face of the latter. It seemed to be sleeping, and was closely covered up in a shawl. The woman herself was of middle age. This was the gist of his information. “ She might have been going anywhere for all I know,” he said. “ I didn’t bother my head about her. But it’s a funny thing if she got out here, and left a kid on your hands, miss.” Aunt Sibbie clasped the little waif more closely to her. “ Yes, indeed,” she said. “ Poor little one! But perhaps we shall be able to trace the woman.” They departed from the little hut with mingled feelings. It was sad to say goodbye, but before them was the pleasurable excitement of taking the baby home and showing it there. For a moment, as they drove away, Aunt Sibbie turned to look behind her at the flax and the river, and the little hut with the strip of shingle at its doorstep, and then her eyes sought the stretch of tussocks on the opposite side of the water, and wandered over the plain until they found the patch of cabbage trees on the spur where the shepherd’s hut stood. Her mind went back to her speculations of the morning, and she softly lifted shawl about the River Baby’s face, and looked long and earnestly at it. The sun was setting when they left the river, and as they drove along over the tussocks and on the main road homeward the long, soft twilight crept up, bringing with it the delicious scents and sounds of the evening hour. Little grey moths hovered in hundreds over the grass, and now and then across the paddocks there came a gentle twitter of birds settling down for the rest of night. They were half-way home along the main road when, in the distance, they saw a man coming towards them with a small mob of sheep. “ It’ll be that new fellow of Mr Hill’s,” said the man who was driving. “ He’s been across to the station to get a fewstragglers that the boss found when he mustered for dipping. Hill’s mail boy was passing this morning and took a message out.” “ We must tell him about the baby,” said Donnie eagerly. “ Perhaps he saw the woman, too. Perhaps he knows something about it.” Aunt Sibbie said nothing, but when they drew’ near she hade the driver stop the trap, telling Phil and Donnie to get out. “ You may go and speak to him,” she said, “ and ask him if he saw anything that could explain how the baby came to the river.” The children ran eagerly forw’ard to impart their information, and to question the shepherd. He had halted his sheep some distance off, and waited dismounted for their approach, his arm through his horse’s rein, and his dogs lying idle about his feet, yet with vigilant eyes on the mob. While the children conferred with him Aunt Sibbie watched carefully, intently, though she could hear nothing of what was said. When they returned she had no need to question them. They were quite ready to give the result of their conference with the shepherd. He, too, had been in the township and had seen a woman w’ith a child; he believed that she had been seen to leave again by train without it. No, he had seen nothing of her about the river, and could not guess why she should come there to abandon the child, but that seemed the only feasible explanation of the mystery. He was bringing his mob of sheep slowly towards the trap. Aunt Sibbie took a quick resolution. “ Tell him I want to speak to him/’ she said to Phil.

She watched while the boy gave her message. She could not see the man’s face, but it seemed to her that his assent to her wishes was an unwilling one. He came slowly forw-ard, and stood beside the trap without speaking. “ The children have told you of our finding of this baby,” she said, with her eyes full upon his face, which was halfhidden in the darkness. “ They tell me that you, also, saw this strange woman the other day. It seems a peculiar affair, doesn’t it? What do you think of it?” “ I can make nothing of it,” the shepherd answered in a low tone. His voice sounded forced and strange. “It is certainly singular.”

“ We are taking the child home in the meantime,” Aunt Sibbie went on, speaking in a clear, business-like tone. “ But I suppose, we must put the matter into the hands of the constable, and try to find out who she belongs to. You and this man can tell what you know about the woman’s arrival, and I suppose there will be others at the township who saw her. We will have to do all we can to find out about the affair.” “ I am ready to give my testimony that I saw the woman,“ said the shepherd quietly. “ But if she cannot be found—what will you do with the child? ’ “ Ah! ’ said Aunt Sibbie suddenly. She fancied she had heard a tremor in his voice, and her own was not quite steady. “How can I tell just yet? She is a beautiful child—one could not bear that she should be sent to a public institution, but my brother-in-law, Mr Morris, would have to give his consent before we could keep her. I shall do what I can. It is good of you to be interested in her, but, of course, a case like this will be of interest to everyone. Good night.” “ Good night,” the shepherd answered, lifting his hat and moving away. Aunt Sibbie did not turn to look at him again, but her arms were claspeu closely and protectingly about the little waif. In her heart was a tumult of feelings over which she had no control at all. (To be continued.) PEEPS OF FRANCE. (Special for the Otaoo Witness.) These articles, from the pen of a New Zealand girl who has gone to France to continue her education, have been specially written for my Little Folk. We hope that after reading them you will have a new idea of a country which, to many of you, is known only as another place to be learned about in a geography lesson.—DOT. XXXI. CANNES. Mes Petites, —You may like to hear a little more about Provence, which, as you all know by this time, means the south of France. Last time I told you something of tne beautiful legends and stories that have grown up in olden times among the simple peasant folk of the country. Now I want to tell you a little about the “grasshopper” of Provence. This may seem to you a funny thing about which to write, for you may say—- “ There are grasshoppers in most places. Why should you tell us particularly about those in Provence ? ” Well, the fact is that the Provencal grasshopper is rather special. To begin with it is not called a grasshopper, of course, by the French. It is called a cigale, and you cannot love Provence, they say, without loving the cigale also. It is very different from the ordinary grasshopper which you and I know, its body is thick, and its top is of a blackish hue. Its beauty consists largely in its delicate wings, while its croaking chant may be heard constantly throughout the hotter part of the day. Without Ae little cigale the countryside would seem very quiet, for, although small, it knows how to make itself heard, particularly the male cigale, which can creak with a will.

“ Crick-crack,” “ crick-crack.” This is the sound which goes on monotonously all the time, annoying sometimes in its very persistency, yet impossible to stop. As I told you, the Provencal people themselves are very simple folk. The shepherds of the country are great astronomers, and have many strange stories to tell—all about the stars. In the stars, we are told, they very often see reports or reminders of ancient legends of their country, amongst which is a particularly charming legend called “ Pierre de Provence.”

This story is one which appears and reappears in all sorts of different shapes. It is too long to tell here in detail, but it is very beautiful and full of passionate affection for Provence. In the old days many of these songs were sung by the troubadours, who, as perhaps you know, made Provence their home Of course you know who the troubadours were? We find beginnings of the troubadour poetry in the very early stages of French literature, hundreds of years ago, and in the old ballads and lyrics, which, properly ' speaking, dealt nearly always with the theme of love. The troubadours, in fact, were poets of love, particularly the love of chivalry and courtesy. These love lyrics are, then, the- true form of troubadour poetry, and it is this that the south of France gave the world. Provence is able to boast now that it was she who gave the lyric to Europe, founded on the early work of the troubadours. The early troubadours were ‘nobles, princes, and even sometimes kings, with the result that in most of the ppems which they wrote there is a stronglymarked aristocratic tone.

Generally speaking,' a troubadour became the servant or vassal of some high-born lady; he dedicated to her his poems, and swore to her his oath of allegiance. Chivalry, in fact, in those days was a part of religion itself, and this eleva,tion of love and loyalty had an excellent influence over the manners of the time'.

Yet the troubadour poetry was not confined to themes of love and chivalry alone. The poets sang also of war and of religion. Then there were the women troubadours, of whom there seems to have been large numbers, although they

were not so skilled in the art of versemaking as the men. In the early times Provence seems to have been ahead of most other parts of the world as regards the development of her poetry, of which the earliest form was that of the troubadours of whom I have spoken, and it - is interesting to know that Dante, who was, as you know, the famous poet of Italy, admits something of his own inspiration to the early troubadours, and spent many years in Provence. He loved the country and its people well, and a great deal of the spirit of the south crept into his work. Just at present we are having a rainy spell again, and as the season draws to an end the visitors are setting off again for the north. Soon the bigger shops and hotels will close up too for the summer, and all the inhabitants of the towns who are able to do so will go away to the hills. Already one notices the heat here, although so far it is not very excessive. Bathing has begun, and this month and June are the months for the summer flowers, which are coming bn apace.— Yours, Jeanne. LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK. Motto.—W* writ* for th* benefit of oth«i, no» for our**lT«*. Dear Dot, —Our cows are dry, and we have to buy our milk. We have about two miles to go for it. Our hens are laying well, and we receive from 26 to 30 eggs a day. I went to a hard times and fancy dress ball on August 17, and enjoyed myself very much. It was four o’clock when I arrived home. I wore fancy dress, representing Three Castles cigarettes, and my sister went as Rag-Time. There is going to be a ball in Waikaia, but I do not know whether I shall go or not. Since last writing to you I have lost my badge, and I cannot find it. I was 15 years of age on my birthday. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, NETA LYALL (Glenaray Station). [Many happy returns of the day, Neta Lyall. Have another look and you may find the badge.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in print. I do not play basket ball, but I intend joining a club next season; I have just come back from my holiday, which I spent in the

country. We had lovely weather all the time I was there. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, RIO RITA (Dunedin). [Basket ball is a great winter game, Rio Rita. Did you have any horse rides while in the country?—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I have now left school, because I do not keep well. Our baby sister is very ill, and mother and Margaret have taken her to the doctor. We are having very wet weather down this way, and it was pouring a while ago. Our friends went with us to the cliffs two miles and a-half away, and we had a lovely time. Our baby is three months old, and the next one is eight years of age, so -we are feeling a little old now. Colac Bay and Tihaka challenged Thornbury in football, but they were not successful. Love to you and the Little Folk. —Yours truly, RIPTARE’S SISTER (Tihaka). [There are some beautiful cliffs and beaches near Colac Bay, Riptare’s Sister. I suppose Thornbury is too big a place, and has more footballers. I hope baby is soon better. —DOT.] * * «- Dear Dot, —I read the letters in every Witness, and enjoy them very much. At present I am reading a book named “ Darcy, the Young Acrobat.” I like it very much. We are milking 21 cows, and have kept eight heifer calves. They are all black and white. We milk the cows with milking machines, which are driven by electricity. . We are having our term holidays now’. We have not any little lambs yet. We have 102 chickenst and none has died yet. We have a black kitten; and we call it Nigger, because it is so black. I am riding my bicycle to school now. It is just a small one, and I ride it with my two brothers three miles every day to school. In our gardens the daffodils and some other bulbs are up, and are coming out in buds. —Yours truly. CAVE VALLEY STAR (North Otago). [The milking machines make the milking much easier, Cave Valley Star. I should like to stroke Nigger. See “ Points ” with regard to “ got.”—DOT.] Dear Dot,- —The All Blacks have had hard luck in the test matches, and it is to be hoped they will have better luck in the next test. It was a pity Torn Heeney did not win the big fight, but he did his best, and one cannot do more. Gisborne will be giving him a great reception when he comes out to New Zealand. When I look at your page every week, it seems to be growing. You must

have a large number of members now, and so many are Old Writers. I always look forward to Old Writers’ Week. There is a great scheme up at Kurow. Between 500 and 600 men are to be employed, and at present there are 120 men working at it. Love to yourself and all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, WENDY (North Otago). . [Have you been to Kurow to see the big scheme, Wendy? I suppose you hope New Zealand will win the fourth test. —DOT.] * » * Dear Dot. —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? We have finished our term examination at school, and I received 318 marks. We have four ducks, and we receive three eggs daily. I like reading the letters in the Witness. I think they are interesting. We have a little pup. Could you please give me a name for it.—Yours truly. LAZYHEAD (Balclutba.). [Welcome, Lazyhead. Your name was taken. You must have done well to obtain so many marks. Call the puppy Towsler.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —May I join your happyband of Little Folk? I am 15 years of age, and I live in the country. The flower garden is looking splendid for this time of the year, and the crocuses are in flower. I have just finished reading a book called “ The Thundering Herd,” and I liked it very much. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.— Yours truly. JIM’S COUSIN (Balclutba). [Welcome, Jim’s Cousin. I have not read “ The Thundering Herd,” But it sounds very thrilling.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —We broke up school on Friday, and this is our first day of the two weeks’ holiday. The secondary schools have three weeks’ holiday. A boy asked us if we would give him a pair of pigeons, and a man is going to buy a pair. Tangle Pate and I caught two pairs to-night. We put one pair in a box, and the other in the maize crib. My father wanted the box, so we put the ones in the crib back into their house, and the others in their place. We bought a new canary on Saturday, and we call her Biddy. We have another one called Dicky. Dicky will not whistle when Biddy is near him. When I took Biddy away, Dicky started to whistle. I have just finished a book called “ Although He Was Black,” and it was lovely. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.— Yours truly, TEA FOR TWO (Hawke’s Bay). [I hope you have a good holiday, Tea For Two. A canary is a very good whistler.—DOT.] * * * Dear - Dot, —We have been busy these last two days chaffcutting, and everything that was possible seemed to go wrong. Anyway the chaff is now both cut and carted, and we were all glad to see it in the shed. There is a dance to-night, and, as I intend going, I went to bed early last night, and had a good sleep. I think I shall go if it does not rain, but it looks as though it will. I shall have to finish this letter after tea, as the boys have come in for their bath, and I shall have to make tea. My mistress is coming home either to-morrow or Saturday, and we shall all be pleased to have her with us once again, after six weeks’ absence. As she had to undergo an operation, she will not be very strong, but all the same I would much sooner she was home than in the hospital. Early this morning it rained here, and at 8 o’clock, when I woke up, the water was flowing through the orchard and down the paddocks. It was a small flood. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, BASHFUL FIFTEEN (Willowbridge) . [Do you like the chaffcutting season, Bashful Fifteen? A great deal of rain must have fallen. See “ Points ” with regard to “ shall ” and “ will.”—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have had a heavy shower, but it did not last long. My mother and sister departed for Christchurch, where they are to spend a fortnight with my auntie. As the school has its third term holidays, my two sisters are spending the time in Clyde. My sister has many things in her box—too much, I think. I received my auto cards, and thank you - very much for them. Have you seen the picture “ The Happy Warrior ? ” My sister and I went to see it last Saturday, and it was very good. I had some violets given to me the other day, and they are lovely. We have asters and sweet peas planted. Last year we planted pansy seed, but it did not come up. Love to yourself and the Little Folk.—Yours truly. THE BUTCHER’S SWEETHEART (Alexandra). [I suppose you would like to go to Christchurch also, The Butcher’s Sweetheart. I hope your seeds grow this year.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —Would you please enrol me as one of your members? I have been reading your page.for a while now, and some of the letters are very interesting. Every week there are new members joining. I am 17 years of age, and have three brothers and one sister. They are all older than myself, and are all out working. I have not been out to service yet, but I am hoping to one of these days. Love to all the Little Folk and -your own dear self.—Yours truly, WHERE’D YOU GET THOSE EYES (Orepuki). [Welcome, Whcre’d You Get Those Eyes. I wonder whether you will like going out to service.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —There have been many children absent from school lately with bad colds. We have a cat which has -no name, so would you kindly give it one? -Pincushion and I were out rabbiting to-day, and we caught four small ones, and one big one. We gather five eggs a day. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, GREY MORNING MIST (Waikaia). [Call the cat Mercury, Grey MornW many hens are there?—

Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 13 yJais of age, and I am in Standard V. I see a number of my cousins are writing to your page. Their names are BrownEyed John, Bruce Bay Boy, Buttercup, and Queen Telephassa. My eldest sister is going to -write to your page, and also my second youngest sister. My sister Alice has a pet calf, and she rides it around. It is funny to watch her. She has also been breaking-in a young foal, and the last time she was on the foal it bucked her off. My father is in Hokitika spending a holiday, and hopes to be home on Monday. The people here are short of provisions, because they have to depend on the boat, and it has not been down this way for nearly three months. We were going for a picnic to-day, but my cousins did not come, and we were greatly disappointed. My sister and brothers are having a game of cards. They are going to have sports about 42 miles away from where we are, and my eldest sister is going.—Yours truly, PRETTY POND LILY (Bruce Bay). [Welcome, Pretty Pond Lily. I should like to see the calf. He must be a humorous kind of steed. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I have left primary school for nearly a year, and have been going to the technical college in Dunedin, but owing to bad health. I have had to come home. Sometimes when I had nothing to do but think I felt very homesick. There are fortnightly euchre tournaments, and my mother won the ladies’ first prize at the last one. Love to the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly. STAR OF THE EAST (Bannockburn) . [Do not change your name. Star of the East. What was mother’s prize?—DOT.] » ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am nine years of age, and I am in Standard 111 at school. My baby sister was one year old in August. We have had electric light in our district for nearly a year. It was turned on here the day before my eldest sister’s birthday. The trees are all in bud, and the cherry plums are almost in blossom. We have five cows and three calves, but only two cows are milking. _ Love to yourself and the Little Folk. —-Yours truly, PRAIRIE BLOSSOM (Otago Central). [Welcome, Prairie Blossom. Your name was taken. Have you heard the “ Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ” from the famous “ Nutcracker Suite? ” —DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —Next week is to be “ sunshine and business” week in Napier. I have entered for the painting competition. Mum, Jack, and I were gardening yesterday and this morning. I have a small flower garden. The A basket ball team has lost one match, and the B team has lost one, too. We may win the shield, as we have only three more matches to play. I play for the B team as a centre wing. Next Thursday week the Girl Guides are going to have a picnic. A few weeks ago there was a Scout social, and it turned out a great success. I am going as “jolly girl ” to the fancy dress ball which was postponed from August 16 to September 21. I have just finished a bodk called “ Honour is My Guide,” and I liked it. Dad and mum are going to a card tournament to-night. My grandmother from Sawyers’ Bay has been staying with us for a few weeks. Love to all.—Yours truly, ERIN-GO-BRAGH (Hawke’s Bay). [You will be sorry when grandmother has to go home again, Erin-go-Bragh. I hope you win the basket ball shield. — DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I was glad to see my last letter in print. We are having our term holidays. I am reading the book called “ The Red Book of Romance,” and I like it very much. Our playmate is Lady Jane Grey. She lives over the road from us. We have a little dog we call Sandy, and he runs away with any boots and shoes he can find.—Yours truly, MOUNTAIN LILY (Round Hill). [lt is a good thing Sandy does not live in a bootmaker’s shop, Mountain Lily. Which story did you like best in the “Red Book?’’—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —Queen of Daunt and her brother are away from our school. We are having term holidays. We had half a holiday from school on Friday. A bus of picnic people was at the bush on Sunday. The other day when Grey Morning Mist and I were out rabbiting, we caught two young rabbits on the beach. We killed one and kept the other. When we were looking for some more burrows to dig out, the rabbit ran away, and we had to chase it. We had to chase it a long time before we caught it, as every time we caught up on it, it dodged around us. We found a nest in the garden with II hens’ eggs and seven ducks’ eggs. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, PINCUSHION (Glenaray). [Would you not rather know that the rabbit was happy frisking on the beach than moping in a cage, Pincushion? Do you often find nests of eggs?—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 10 years of age, and I am in Standard V. I read the Little Folk’s letters every Wednesday. Do you like reading bo -s? I have just read a book called The Sunshine Shop.” Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, PALE ROSE (Herbert). [Welcome, Pale Rose, but your name was taken. I like reading. Have you read about Brer Rabbit?"—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —We are having our term holidays. Mountain. Lily and our big sister and I are at home on our own, as mother is away for a holiday, and will not be back for nearly a week. Our hens and ducks have just begun to lay lately, but we are not receiving many eggs, as we have only a few hens and ducks. The days are more pleasant, as the winter is over. My eldest sister is working in the post office, and we have a little shop attached to it. My father does not come home from work’ till half-past 5 at night. He is -working about a mile from home, but he has

working there only three weeks, Before he went there he worked five miles from home. I have a brother 16 years of age, and he goes to work with dad, Bove to all your Little Folk and your-self.—-Yours truly, MOUNTAIN ROSE (Round Hill). [lather will bo pleased to work nearer home than five miles, Mountain Rose, DOT ] s ' s^el " Bke post office work? —- * * * Dear Dot, —The school children are having holidays. I hope it is fine tomorrow. as I want to go to Bruce Bay Beach for a ride. We are busy at present making a garden for the crops. I i k n gardening. Mum has half a dozen drills of potatoes in. f?he put them in about a month ago, and they are just about through the ground. We hope to nave early potatoes. My father is away in Christchurch for a holiday, and he hopes to be home in about three days’ tune. Our geese are laying. My little brother is frightened of the geese. He nearly fainted the other day because the gander called out, and he was standing near. We have great games playing ping pong and snakes and ladders. We sit up till all hours of the night playing. —Yours trulv, QUEEN TELEPHASSA’S MATE (Bruce Bay). [Geese are big and fierce to a small boy, Queen Telephassa. Tell me about your beach. Is it good for bathing?— DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,—l am very glad to belong to the Dot’s Little Folk page, for through that medium I have secured some excellent correspondents. When one is a long way from town, it is not really surprising how very welcome letters are. Next month there is to be a young people’s ball at Miller’s Flat. I should love to go. but I am not certain yet whether I shall be able to or not. Do you dance? I have not done much, but I like it, though I think a waltz is about the best. I am interested in the two serials at present running in the Witness, but I am puzzled to think of an ending for the “ Mystery Maker.” The plot seems very intricate, and it is next to impossible to unravel it. I also appreciate very much “ Patchwork Pieces ” and “ The Sketcher," but there is not much of the Otago Witness which escapes my perusal. It is bitterly cold here this morning. It is hard to keep warm some mornings when the wind seems to pierce right through one. I am working a tray cloth. The design on it is a bowl of lilac, and it is beginning to look better now that it is nearing completion. I am not specially good at fancywork, but one must do something to fill in time these long evenings. Best wishes to all the Little Folk and vourself.—Yours trulv, AVENAL LASS (Otago). [Thank you for the poem, Avenal Lass. I have corrected it and will send it back to you. I should like to know your opinion concerning the end of “ The Mystery Maker.” —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band? I am eight years of age, and I am in Standard II at school. I live at Waiwera, and I am at Owaka for my holidays. I belong to the Breakfast Club. Every morning I help my uncle to feed the cows on turnips. My father is at home all by himself, so I wonder how he is. My grandfather has many sheep and three wee new lambs. Love to all. —Yours trulv, TRACTOR BOY (Waiwera). [Welcome, Tractor Boy. Were you excited to see the wee lambs? Tell me about your holiday.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —One of my friends is in the hospital with a sore leg. We have finished our tests, and we are having our spring holidays. I have two miles to walk to school. We have two lambs already. I have just planted some seeds. I think I shall come and see you if I am in Dunedin at Christmas time. I was born in Dunedin. We went to the beach one Sunday, and I saw five caves. When we arrived there the tide was in. We waited a while, and we went round the beach. The birds will soon be laying their eggs. We have 23 ducks and 15 hens. The ducks are not but the hens are laying a few eggs. —Yours truly, NEW ZEALAND FERNERY (Ratanui). [I shall be pleased to see you, New Zealand Fernerv. Which seeds have you planted?—DOT.] _ * * * ~ Dear Dot, —I am now 15 years of age, and I am in the fifth form at high school. I thought I would find the work hard, but so far I have encountered little difficulty. I like science very much, but not so much as French. It is very interesting to watch all the different chemical actions taking place, and it is also interesting to hear about the theory of them. Of course some people find it dull, but that is either because they really have no inclination towards the subject, or becajise they are too lazy to bother about it. I find French the most interesting of all the subjects. The language seems to have a pleasant sound about it that one cannot find in English or Latin. I detest having to translate French poetry, however, especially if it has to be rendered into good English. Mathematics is my second most disliked subject, though it used to be a favourite with me. English I find the least attractive of all, though it is the subject in which I gain the highest marks. I suppose I shall manage to gain matriculation this year judging by my examination marks. I really should not sign myself as I do, seeing that matriculation candidates have a deep aversion to professors of any sort. At present I am busy jputting in a garden, taking advantage of the fine weather we are having. I have the bigger part still to do, but there is quite enough time left before school recommences to put in a fair amount of vegetables. I find as much pleasure in looking after the garden and in watching- the little plants appear as some people would find at a football match. Perhaps I shall tire of my job, but if conditions continue as they are at present, the digging will not be very hard. I am looking forward to spending my next holidays in Dunedin, a place which always interests me. People may talk about the joys of country life, but I prefer the city. I like to see the people and the shops,

p.nd to wander round some of the beauty ppots .there are around Dunedin. My grandfather always used to like to walk up Signal Hill whenever he was staying with us, and look down upon the harbour and city, which is the best view about Dunedin. It is nearly 80 years ago since he was born in a hut where Rattray street now is, and it must have been wonderful for him to stand there and think over the changes that had taken place. I hope you will not think too hardly of my writing—they say good writing is an art, and that one is born to it. I believe them. I wrote to Le Mpntmartrois in French, and I have received an answer. I hope he writes again soon, as I have answered his letter.—Yours truly, PROFESSOR (Stirling). [I am pleased to hear about your fondness for high school, Professor. Perhaps if you work hard you will one day own the degree that your nom de plume signifies.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —We have our school holidays once again, and last Tuesday evening the Waimate Salvation Army Band, songsters, and orchestra went to Willowbridge, and gave a concert. On Thursday evening we went to Arno, where we gave the same programme. At both places we had only a few people as an audience, but we . are hoping that we shall have a more successful evening next Thursday, when we go to _ Morven. The programme consisted of items from the band, songsters, and orchestra; also a few dialogues, the chief one being “ Mischevous Tommy,” which caused great amusement. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, MISCHIEF MAY (South Canterbury). [You must be having a busy time, Mischief May. _ “ Mischievous Tommy ” sounds very amusing. I congratulate you on • your handwriting.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 12 years of age, and I am in Standard IV at school. Last week we had a concert in aid of funds for our school, and it was a big success, the hall being packed. We are now having our term holidays. I live on a dairy farm with my father, brothers, and sister. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.-—Yours truly, DAISY CHAIX (Catlins). [Welcome, Daisy Chain. I suppose you help your father with Hie cows.—-DOT.] Dear Dot. —We are having three weeks for our holiday. We are milking three cows. I have been learning to milk lately. It is a long time until bathing time comes again. Our uncle motored up from Gore, and stayed for a few days and went away again on Tuesday. Our brother is away for a holiday, and is coming home to-morrow. We collected seven eggs yesterday and four to-day. We have not many hens. It is my turn to go for the mail on Saturdays, and Rose Flower’s on Thursdays, and my brother’s on Tuesdays. We have been tracing this afternoon. I like painting in books. — Yours truly, PRETTY POLLY (Fairlie). [lt will be fine when the warm weather brings back the swimming, Pretty Polly. Painting is a good hobby.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dpt,—On July 25 the Waimate Salvation Army Silver Band, songsters, and orchestra and young people went up to Temuka and gave a concert. It is 40 miles to Temuka. About 76 people went by buses and motor cars. We had a good trip. It was 1.30 a.m. when we arrived back to Waimate. We are practising for a Band of Hope concert to be held in September. I think it will be very good. The 45th anniversary of the Salvation Army in Waimate is next Sunday, and the Temuka members of the Salvation Army are coming to Waimate on the 2Sth to give a concert.—Yours truly, PURPLE PANSY (South Canterbury). [I suppose you were extremely tired when you arrived home from Temuka, Purple Pansy. I hope the anniversary is successful.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —We are having very windy weather just now, and it is raining to-day. We have our’ school holidays now, and are having three weeks’ holiday. It was very windy last night. About 5 o’clock it began to rain, and there were lightning and thunder. We found seven eggs yesterday. We receive the mail three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. We have been tracing out of books which mum bought us yesterday.—Yours truly, ROSE FLOWER (Fairlie). [The wind must have been terrifying, Rose Flower. Your hens must be laying well.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in print. I am at home from school to-day with a cold. My little brother is two years and a-half of age, and he is always making yards with the chairs and cushions. I went to a football match on Saturday to see my brother playing in the school team. Our team was beaten by 6 to nil. Love to you and all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, . GREY BOY (Central Otago). [I suppose you will play football soon, Grey Boy. Your little brother will grow up to be an engineer.—DOT.] ' * * * Dear Dot, —I was very glad when I saw my first letter printed. I am the only one in Ashburton who writes to this paper, but one of my schoolmates said she would love to join your phge, but the trouble is she does not know what to put. We have finished our second term examination, and have our term holidays. The days seem to fly, and it will be Christmas soon. Our Dixieland carnivals have ended, but we shall soon have the Ashburton Competitions, which will start on Monday. Best love to all. —Yours truly, IRISH COLLEEN (Ashburton). [Did you do well in your examinations, Irish Colleen? You will have plenty of amusement with the competitions.— DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —We are having our term holidays now, but I am not going away. My mother went down to Dunedin for ‘a' tew days, and she allowed the girls to

cook. I have been playing with my Meccano, and I made a crane. I took it up to the school and the teacher made us draw it. The ploughman we have here now can make a noise just like a cat. He made it at tea once, and we looked under the table for the cat. Love to you and all the Little Folk.—Yours truly, CAPTAIN CUTTLE (Waitaki). [I suppose yon will not like returning to school, Captain Cuttie. It must have been hard to find where the cat was. —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I like reading the Little Folk’s letters. I am eight years of age now. My sister was in Owaka Hospital with a sore knee, but she is out again. My birthday was on August 1, and I was given a pair of stockings and gloves. We ■have two cows milking now. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, MAGIC BELL (Catlins). [What a great birthday you must have had, Magic Bell. Have you any little calves?—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —My two sisters have gone out to work, and I have to stay home and help my mother. I am in Standard VI, and I am going up for my proficiency this year. I am milking two cows now. We are having our term holidays now, but are going back to school on September 3. Love to all the Little Folk and ycurself.—Yours truly, THE YELLOW PUP (Southland). [You must be a good milker, Yellow Pup. The work at home keeps you busy, I suppose.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I have been working in the garden lately. I think it is too pleasant outside to stay in on the lovely spring days. I have not seen any lambs yet. I went to the pictures on Thursday night to see “ The Missing Link,” but did not think it was as good as " The Better ’Ole.” Dad was in Balclutha Hospital for a while, and had been home only a few days when he had to go back to bed again for nearly a fortnight. He was up a little while yesterday for the first time. One day the gate of the calf pen was left open, and I sent the dog after the calves, and one calf was in such a hurry to be back in the little yard that it copied the dog, and jumped through the fence. I belong to the ladies’ lodge here, and last lodge night we had a euchre tournament —boys and girls—and the boys beat us by one game. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly. WHISPERING FAIRY’S MATE (Owaka). [I suppose there was some excitement when the calves were out. Whispering Fairy’s Mate. The boys did not win the tournament by many points.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot,- —I was glad to see my first letter in print. Our parrot is out just now, and he is a nuisance to us. We are having our school holidays now. I am learning a pretty piece of music. It was taming here for a while to-day. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, DREAMY HAWAII (Oamaru). [Surely your parrot cannot be a nuisance, Dreamy Hawaii. I hope you progress with your music.—DOT.] * k- * Dear Dot, —We have holidays from school just now. School starts again on September 4, and we shall not have any more holidays till Christmas time. My brothers play in the Salvation Army Band. I shall learn, too, when I am older.—Yours truly, VALERIAN (South Canterbury). [Holiday time is very j011y,., Valerian. I hope you soon learn to play for the Salvation Army Band.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my last letter in the Otago Witness. We JuT’-L, ev^ y „Y eek ’ and 1 enjoy reading the Little Folks letters. Perthshire lives close to us. I was at her birthday party the other week. We had a good time, and when it was time to come home, my mate gave me a ride on her horse. There is going to be a dance here this week, but I am not going, as I do not dance yet. 1 have been reading some books lately, and the one I liked best was Masterman Ready.” It was about a shipwreck. The one I am reading now is Up the Creeks.” We have early potatoes up, and many other vegetables. I like reading the stories in the Otago Witness, especially “ Golden Flower ” and The River Baby.” Many of my flowers are out now. . I have borders of shamrock and daisies, and they look very pretty when they are all out. I shall be glad when the warm weather comes and ■we can go swimming. We go to the creek nearly every afternoon when our work is finished, and have great times. — lours truly. EULALIE (Georgetown). [The flowers will flourish now' that spring has come, Eulalie. Do you ever growing ve B e tables as a hobby? * * * Dear Dot, —I like reading the Little Folk s letters. The hotel has electric light in it. I have a ruler, a lead pencil, and a new story book named “Noel and His Star.” Molly has a string of shells. We are having our term holidays. I have a Holy Bible. We have some snow- e drops out. I have a pencil case and a" new schoolbag. One of our hens is sick. Molly and I help mummie with the dishes and go the messages. Our father is working on the chaffcutter, and he does the feeding.—Yours truly, BALDER THE BRIGHT (Patearoa). [Do you go and watch the chaffcutter, Balder the Bright? You are lucky to have a new schoolbag.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —The little lambs are making their appearance now, and we have six or seven. There is one lot of twins. The hens are laying well now, and we receive from 14 to 18 eggs a day. We are milking three cows, Betty, Janet, and Beatrice. We call the calf Royal Grand. I milk Betty and Janet at night, and Betty only in the- morning. The primroses and anemones are in flower, and the daffodils are about 2in high. The anemones are bright red. My little brothel Hughie is a great mischief, and if he finds a stick he can give a hard hit. I always get up and light the fire

in the morning. The willow trees are out in leaf. We are having a very early spring. We have all our vegetable garden dug, and mother has planted cabbages and a few lettuce. I am making a raffia basket in school. Rebecca is putting the red raflia round the top of her basket. The basket is white and red. —Yours truly.

A BUNCH OF CHERRIES (Hawea Flat). [Thank you for your photograph, A Bunch of Cherries. Spring flowers are appearing everywhere now'. —DOT.]

Dear Dot,—Our school football team played the Albany Street Boys yesterday, and beat them by 20 points to nil, but it was a fair game. The Albany Street School held a concert in the hall last night. We had our examination about a week or two ago,, and now we have our _ holidays. My cousin is here for a holiday just now', and she is enjoying herself. One of our hens has eight little chickens, and we have four calves. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, pretty Primrose (Otago). [Your holidays will go only too quickly, Pretty Primrose. Did you do well in your examination? —DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, — We are having our spring holidays now', but we shall soon have to go back to school. My big sister has three pets—a calf, a lamb, and a cat. Some of my friends are coming here to spend the week with us, as I have no one to play with._ We shall soon have some wee chicks, as we have one hen set. We are working out in the garden a good deal just now', and have planted a good many flowers. We live close to the beach, and go down often and play a long time. The hens are laying better lately, and granny’s hens laid 55 eggs one day. Dad was poisoning rabbits, and he poisoned 100 on one morning. We had a good many primroses and snowdrops in bloom this spring. I am very fond of flowers, and my favourite one is violets, but we had no violets this year. I am knitting a doll’s scarf now, and I hope it will be nice when it’s finished. Our teacher teaches us a new' song nearly every day. My friend brought her skipping rope to school the day before the holidays, and we had a lovely time with it. I am very fond of playing cards, and I can play a few' games. Can you play? I like reading “Golly and Teddy.” We have had our examination, and I came second. Love to all your Little 1* oik and your own dear self.—Yours truly, PINKY ROSE (Taieri Beach). [lt must be good in warm weather to live so near to the beach, Pinky Rose. I suppose you worked hard for your examination.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —I should like to join your merry band of Little Folk. I am eight years of age, and I am in Standard II at school. We are milking two cows. Could you give me a name for my doll, please. I have a sister and three brothers. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, FERNLEA (Maclennan). [You are welcome, Fernlea. I should call the doll Shona—DOT.] m * * Dear Dot, —May I be a correspondent to your page. I am 14 years of age, and I am in Standard VI at school. We have our old school teacher staying with us at present. I was down on the beach the other day fishing, but had no luck, so I went home and dug the garden, and put in some seeds. I took some turf from the garden and threw' it over the fence into the orchard. On Saturday we saw a trawler boat just about a ’mile away from the beach. It was fishing. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself. —Yours truly, KORADI (Kuri Bush). [Welcome, Koradi. Did the men in the trawler seem to be catching manv fish?—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —May I join your happy band of Little Folk? I am 12 years of age, and I am in Standard V at school. I came second top in our examination. We have four dogs and three cats. I read your letters, and enjoy them very much. The Chums are very interesting. I shall be very sorry when our holidays are over. I like basket ball. Love to all.—Yours truly, VIOLET VALE (Southland). [Welcome, Violet Vale. Do the cats and dogs like one another?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Since I last wrote to you I have been up to my old home for three weeks’ holiday. I had the good fortune of nieeting all my old schoolmates and talking over old times with them. I had a big bundle of news to tell them, and naturally I received plenty from them. Last night my sister and I went to a meeting of the ex-pupils of the Palmerston School. They are thinking of holding the 62nd anniversary of the school, and the date has been fixed for November 30 and December 1. The ex-pupils of the school are scattered all over New' Zealand, and, as two of the roll books are missing, some difficulty will be met in finding the names of some of the exteachers and pupils. Love to all and your own dear self.—Yours truly, MOTHER’S PRIDE (Palmerston). [You will have a busy time w'hen the anniversary is held, Mother’s Pride. Are in the preliminary work? * * * Dear Dot, —We have finished our examination at school, and are now' having our holidays. I enjoy reading the storv about “ The River Baby.” We play hockey at school now, and find it a very good game to make ourselves -warm. The boys sometimes play football. It is daylight now until 6 o’clock, but it used to be dark by 5 o’clock. My two younger sisters are away for their holidays, so it is very quiet without them. Love to ail the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, MARIGOLD (Milburn). [I suppose you play in the hockey team at school, Marigold. It will not be loii" till it is daylight till 9 o’clock.—DOT.] * * * Dear Dot, —Our term examination finished, a week ago, and we all did very well. I am making an afternoon apron at present. It is a blue linen one, and

I am working it with black. My eldest sister is away nursing at Invercargill, and we miss her. We are milking four cows and feeding two calves. I like reading “ The River Baby ” and “ The Chums very much. I have sown some seeds, and I hope to have a nice garden in the summer. I am very fond of flowers.. My wee brother has had severe neuralgia lately. I am studying for my proficiency certificate this year, and I hope I obtain it.. I am teaching myself to play the piano, but I am not succeeding very rapidly. Love to all the .Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly PARADISE BIRD (Lake Wakatipu). [I am also very fond of flowers, Paradise Bird. I hope you pass your proficiency.—DOT.]

Dear Dot—l am going to Picton on Tuesday. It is our nearest town, and is five miles away. My brother is reading a comic. Jean learns music now. Our house is made of brick, and we have the hot and cold water laid on. It is very handy to have. We are having our school holidays now. Could you please name my brother’s pet cow for him. I will soon be 13 years of age. My birthday is on February 24. Jean is staying with grandma at present. I shall write another letter to-night. I am reading a book called “ Daddy Long Legs.” The books I have read are “My Story Book,” “ Cleo’s Conquest,” “ Stories for Boys and Girls,” “ The Little Listener,” and “ Home and Abroad.” Have you read any of them? I shall read “Greyfriars ” next. —Yours truly, KOROMIKO (Marlborough). [I have not read any of the books you mentioned, Koromiko. Tell your brother to call the cow Peggy. See “ Points ” with regard to “shall” and “will.”— DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is holiday time, as you will know. Mother is awav at present. Every fine Wednesday afternoon we have a basket ball match with the ladies. I am in the centre, marking rather a short lady, who is ever on the move. Last match we played we were beaten 28 to 18. The match begins at a quarter past 3 and finishes at a quarter past 4. After that time we retire happy, and sometimes a little tired. But we school girls always look forward for the next Wednesday.—Yours truly, ROSY WINGS (Rotorua). "‘[The school team must be very good, Rosy Wings. Does each match last a whole hour?—DOT.]

. -Dear Dot, —I am having a pleasant time out of doors. When we are not going somewhere we play in our own yard, as we are not allowed on the street. The play we are in is called “To-mor-row,” and is to be played on Saturday week, so it will not be long row. The competitions start the week after, so we shall be Inisy. The holidays will soon be over. Love to all.—Yours truly, LITTLE JEAN (Dunedin).

[lt is lovely weather to have for your holidays, Little Jean. Are you entering for any of the competitions?—DOT.]

Dear Dot.—Our holidays will soon be oyer, and I shall be sorry, as I like playing in the sun. I think the time passes too quickly in the holidays. My brother made a see-saw yesterday, and we had lovely fun. My big brother lent me his fountain pen to write a letter last night, and I think he was a very good boy. With love.—Yours truly, MOTHER’S GOLDIE (Dunedin). [You must be enjoying your holidays, Mother’s Goldie. Perhaps you will have a fountain pen some day.—DOT.] NOTES. Light Star.—As you wrote on both sides of the paper I could not print your letter.- —DOT. Little Moon Fairy.—You wrote in pend 6t S ° 1 coul<l llot Print the letter.— AUTOS. "Violet Vale (Jean Macaulay, Store, Mossburn) wishes to correspond with any Girl Guide from 12 to 13 years of age. Will they please write first? ” Paradise Bird (Eileen Al. Bryant, Kinloch, Lake Wakatipu) would like to correspond with Charmary and any other Little Folk willing, about 13 years of age. Will they please write first and soon ? Light Star (Miss D. Copeland, “ Cloverdale,” Stony Creek, via Balclutha) wishes to correspond with Little Black Pussv and Snowdon. Will they please write first ? Queen Telephassa’s Mate (Annie Wilson, Bruce Bay) would like to correspond with Valencia Raisin. Will she please write first? Pretty Pond Lily (L. Wilson, Bruce Bay) wishes to correspond with Wild Rose Bush. Irish Colleen (Eileen Wilkinson, 54 Beach road, Ashburton) would like to correspond with any Little Folk willing from 12 to 15 years of age. Will they please vrite first and soon? Tangle Pate (A. Burns, Meeanee, Hawkes Bay) would like Gordon (Herbert) , to write to her if she is willing. Will she please write first and soon? Riptare’s Sister (Mavis Kelland. Tihaka) wishes to correspond with Maid of the Violets, Haldane Lass, and anj' others between 14 and 16. Will they please wr’t° goon and first? Rio Rita (Daphne Parsons, 123 St. Andrew street, Dunedin) would like to correspond with any Little Folk will in", between the ages of 13 and 15. Will they please write first and soon? The Butcher’s Daughter (Rita Riaeh, Caledonian Hotel, Box 45, Alexandra) wishes to correspond with Somebody's Sweetheart and any Little Folk from 15 to 16 years of age. Tea For Two (Miss O. Burns, Riverbend road, Meeanee, Hawke’s Bay) wishes to correspond with Aunt Jemina, Maid of the Misty Gorges, Billy Sailor Bov. and any other Little Folk if they are willing. Will they please write first and soon? POINTS IN GRAMMAR, The following notes are made in order to help Little Folk to write purer English:—

Got —get.—These are two words which are better left unsaid. There is always

another word more preferable, and that is the one to use. For instance: “I caught a cold,” not “ I got a cold.” “We found or received five eggs,” not “We got five eggs.” Quite.—Almost everybody uses this word wrong ,y. It means “complete!}',” not very.” . For instance, you may say “ I was quite covered with soot when I fell > own the chimney,” because you mean that you were completely covered. But you may not say “ I was quite cold without my coat,” because you men “ very cold,"’ which is a different matter. Only.—This word must always come immediately before the word it is describing. Say “We are milking only one cow,’ not “ We are only milking one cow.” „ T S ,bah. —Every time you use the pronouns I or “we” use the verb “shall” instead of “will.” Use “will” with the pronoun “you.” For instance: "We shall be pleased if you will come to tea.” Very.—Strangely enough “ very ” cannot be used by itself before a past participle —that is, a word ending in “ed.” Say: “ I was so pleased ” or “I was very much pleased,” but not “I was very pleased to see my first letter in print.” . Nice.—The real meaning of this word is a mixture of “ dainty,” “ precise,” “delicate,” “perfect,” and manv other similar adjectives. Most of us' use it quite wrongly. We may say “It was a nice piece of embroidery” if we mean that it was exquisitely done. But we may not say, “It was a nice piece of embroidery” if we mean that it was “ pretty,” or “ becoming.” Hence it is wrong to talk of food as being “ nice.” We should say “ tasty ” or “ delicious ” instead. Paragraphs.—A separate paragraph is not required for each sentence. In one letter received recently there were 16 sentences and 15 paragraphs. None.—This means “no one,” and so refers to only one person. Hence it must have a singular verb. Say: “None of us was an expert at dancing,” not “ None of us were experts.” Number.—This word also takes a singular verb. Say either “ A number of visitors was coming to see us,” or “ Numbers of visitors were coming to see us.” For. —If you become confused with this word, take the sentence to pieces, and you will soon seen the right Way to use it. “ Mother bought some wool for Golden Hair and I.” Would you say “ for I”? No. So you see that the sentence should be “ Mother bought some wool for Golden Hair and me (for me).” Everyone, everybody.—Each of these words stands for only one person, so it has to be used with a singular verb. Do not say: “ Everyone (or everybody) was able to make their own amusements,” but “ Everyone (or everybody) was able to make his (or her) own amusement.” They are sometimes awkward words to use, so, if you wish to speak of more than one person and to use a plural verb, say “ all of us,” or “ people,” or some other word or phrase which conveys jour meaning. Lot.—This, like “got,”.is a word for which there is generally a substitute. Often we use it when we mean " a considerable number or amount,” or “ a good or a great deal,” and in this sense it is better to say something other than “lot.” For example:—“l have read a number of books,” not “ I have read a lot of books.” Crepe de chine.—Do not spell the last word of this name “ chene.” which means “ oak.” Say “ chine,” which stands for China, and makes the name of the cloth “ Chinese crepe.” And.—The verb following a group of words joined by “ and ” must be plural. Therefore, you should saj' “ There were a concert and dance.” not “ There was a 1 concert and dance.” DOT.