LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 70

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Motto.—We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves.

Dear Dot, —It was a fine day here one day, so we played a game of basket ball at school. We are having our term holidays, and I am sorry, as I like school and also like my teacher. There is a difference in the length of the days. I have noticed that there are different birds flying to and fro looking for nests. We all went to a social and enjoyed ourselves immensely. We played games and had dancing until supper, and after supper we had dancing all the rest of the evening. We are all going to a church social soon, and we hope to have a good time. The May Princess said she will write soon, when she has more news to tell. I am progressing very slowly with my sewing at school. I am still on the fancywork, and when I have finished that I have to sew around the edge of the linen bag. I am reading two books at present, the names being “ Gulliver’s Travels ” and “ Three Bold Explorers.” Have you read them? I received a letter from a Little Folk correspondent. and was pleased to hear from her. There are not many lambs about so far. A man not far from here has a sheep with three little lambs. Best love to all the Little 'Folk and your own dear self. — Yours truly,

FAIRY - FAN (Berwick). [I have read about Gulliver, Fairy Fan. Where did the three bold explorers go? You will appreciate school after the holidays. It is better to sew slowly and neatly than to hurry and make mistakes. How proud that farmer must be if this, his first sheep, has three lambs.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Does not time fly? It is over a year since I last wrote to you. I feel ashamed of myself. We shall soon have Christmas with us again. We are having nice weather here just now. but one night it started to rain. Are not the days drawing out? We potice a big difference in the mornings and evenings this last week. There was a send-off recently to a lady who is leaving the district. We all went and had a lovely time. They had games, dancing, and recitations until supper, and then we had all dancing until about 2 o’clock in the morning. There is

to be a church social soon, and I think we shall all be going. The May Princess was away for a holiday to our aunt in Canterbury. Last year I was up cooking for my father where he was working for about three months, and while there I had the pleasure of meeting a few Little Folk. There is a number of little lambs about. We generally have a pet lamb or two given to us.' Last year we had three. 1 have read a few books this winter, the names of the last two being “ Tales of Mystery ” and “ The Way of the Buffalo.” The letters' to the page lately are all very interesting. Love to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, SONIA (Berwick). [Will it be a fine Christmas or a wet~ one, can you guess, Sonia? These are the evenings for preparing for outdoor games. Were you not tired after your late night of dancing? Are you going to cook for your father this year? It must be good experience to keep house for him.—DOT.] ¥ * ¥ Dear Doty—l was pleased to see my first letter in print. We have a gobbler and a turkey, and the gobbler goes for us. I have another pigeon for a mate for my pigeon Snow, as a sparrow-hawk killed Snip. I call my new nigeon Snap. Love to the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly. ANNIE THE GENTLE (Nightcaps). [Be careful not to anger the gobbler, Annie the Gentle. I am sorry to hear of Snip’s death, and I am glad you have found a mate for Snow. How often do you allow the pigeons to fly out, or are they allowed to come and go as they choose.—DOT.] ¥ * Dear Dot, —As it is raining and my lessons have not come from the correspondence school, I thought I would write to you. We had a gale here, and a number of buildings were blown down, but we ivere very lucky, as we had none down. We have two young calves. One is red and white and the other is roany. We are receiving about eight eggs a day from our hens. I like reading “ Peter. Patty, and Mr Pip,” also “-Teddy and Golly.” We have our-holidays ’in a few days’ time, and I am glad.—Yours truly, WHITEBAIT (Southland).

[Yes, you were lucky to receive no damage from the wind, Whitebait. Sometimes trees are blown down if the force of the wind is too great. What names have you given the calves? They need suitable names to match their coats. It is queer, is it not, to have to be named after an eye or a spotted paw or a pair of pointed ears? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I should be pleased if I could join your happy band .of Little Folk. I am 11 years of age. and I am in Standard V at school. We are just starting the term holidays, and I am going away to Pourakino to stay with a friend of mine. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear eelf. —Yours truly, ELFISH PETER PAN (Invercargill). [Welcome, Elfish Peter Pan. I have had to alter your name elightly. You are a lucky girl to be going away for holidays. You will be able to describe it to me in a fortnight’s time.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —My mother and I went up Flagstaff to see an old gentleman. We walked up the new road, and it was very firm and white. When -we left home there was a heavy drizzle falling, but we did not mind, because it was very refreshing. When we reached the gentleman’s home he made us a lovely cup of tea. His house is made of slabs of stone and concrete. In the kitchen there is a big open fireplace with a camp oven. There are great oak beams in the kitchen, too. The man then took us out to show us hie pet horses, and what do you think he gave them? Milk! They enjoyed it, too. When one horse had finished he tried to steal the ! other horse’s milk, but he promptly turned around and kicked him with his two feet. When we were going home we met uncle with his motor cycle, and mum sat on the pillion seat “just to try it,” and off they went, leaving me in the middle of the road two miles from home. I received a letter from Dreamy Dimples, and I was pleased. My brother was excited when he saw his letter in print. We have a new cow and calf. Could you give me names for them, please? The calf is black, with white stockings. Love

to your happy band and your own dear self.—Yours truly, BONNIE BESSIE BUNTER (Whare Flat). [You will have your badge by the time this is in print, Bonnie Bessie Bunter. What an extravagant calf to wear white stockings these days! He must think they escape the mud, but I feel sure he is wrong. Call the calf Caleb and his mother Matty. Those horses must have known milk is a very nourishing food. We do not have kitchens with large oak beams in them, do we? It reminds one of old English davs to hear of them. — DOT.] ¥ * * Dear Dot, —I am afraid I am not a very regular member. I ehall have to write my retiring letter before the end of the year, for my birthday is in January. Time does fly. It seems no time since I first wrote to you. I was at school then. I have been out working for two years, but owing to hard times I was put off. I have been home over six months now. and I have not found another situation yet. They are to be had if only one could find them. We have had a very severe winter here with falls of enow and none of them slight. One fall drifted. We had drifts over three feet deep. Generally we have only a little snow, but this winter has the record for a great many years. I do wish the weather would take up just to let us see we are having spring with us. If we had a few weeks' fine weather I should be able to have some gardening done. I like gardening. Nothing makes me more contented than to be out among the flowers. The bulbs are shooting up, and I noticed a crocus coming out in flower. The birds are beginning to sing more cheerily. Some day soon a girl friend and I are going to climb one of the hills not far from here. I like walking, but I have' not done much since I have been home. Summer is best for walking. Kind regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. — Yours truly, BLUE RIBBON (Rae’s Junction). [I shall be sorry when you write your retiring letter, Blue Ribbon, but I shall be pleased to have you as an Old Writer. Keep applying and you will be rewarded with a position. We shall welcome the warm weather all the more when it ar-

rives. Take a light coat with you when you climb the hill. Heavy ones are apt to become more and more cumbersome the higher one goes, though one needs to be warmly clad.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot. —Have you forgotten me, I w-onder? The weather here has been very rough lately, but it has cleared up now, and this is like a spring day. Even the little honey bees thought it was too good a day to stay in, and were out busy round their hive. I noticed in the garden that there are some tulips up, and that the daffodils are in bud. We gave Dick, our first pet duck, to our cousins. When my cousin goes down the yard the duck chases him and nips his heels. He also fights with their fox terrier, and when he has the chance he nips the terrier’s tail, and the terrier runs for his life. He is a big duck now. We had another pet duck, but when I arose one morning he was dead. We buried him near some other pets, and now I shall tell you what we put on their tombstones. This is what we put on the wee duck’s: Here lies the body of poor wee Dick— He died in the night and never was sick. On Peter the cat’s we put: In this grave lies Peter our cat. We mourn him and miss him from our old mat. And on the pet bird’s tombstone we put: Here lies the body of Larky, our bird, A sweeter whistler never was heard. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, .WEE LADY BIRD (Winton). [Dick must be an impudent duck, Wee Lady Bird. He must be courageous, too, if he fights with the dog. It is very sad when a pet dies. Those are suitable epitaphs for the animals. Who composed them? ■ Let us hope no mishap comes to Dick. I no not forget any of my Little Folk.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —Once again I take up my pen to write to the page. I am in bed, as it was too cold to rise. We have been having lovely weather. I had a birthday tea on August 10. I had a lovely cake with 12 candles on it. I received this paper I am writing on. The doctor gave me a lovely box of paper, too. 1

received a gold pencil, a box of soap, and some other lovely things as well. I had a good time. There was a dear wee baby in this ward, but ehe went home, and J do miss her. What sort of weather are j'ou having in Dunedin? I have some lovely spring flowers. They came all the way from Christchurch. It is lovely to think spring is at hand. This year has gone quickly, and it will soon be Christmas again. Frankton Lass was here to see me one afternoon, and 1 was very glad to see her. The school children have holidays, so Frankton Lass and Kawarau Maid will be able to come and see me often. I ■ like reading Funny Face's letters. She has a good name. I am doing some fancy work for the D.I.C. competition. I have to complete it soon, and I have only one mat yet to do. I. am walking on crutches for the first time in six years. I can go anywhere about the hospital. I am not very good at writing. I have never been to school. I should love to go to school. I hope you and the Little Folk are well. Yours truly, MY DADDY’S DARLING (Queenstown). fl liked the pretty paper, My Daddy’s Darling. You may write to me on the doctor’s paper later on, and then I shall see it, too. What a kind doctor he is, I am sure, to remember your birthday. I am pleased to hear that you can use crutches. It will be splendid if you win a prize in the competition.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I am an American girl, 15 years old. I was born September 19, 1915. I am five feet six inches tall, and I weigh 105 pounds. I do not know anything about your country, so I shall be interested in anything you wish to write. I shall try to answer all letters I receive. I shall also try to 'tell you anything you want to know about America.—Yours truly, AMERICAN MARY (lowa, America). A [Welcome, American Mary, The Little Folk will be pleased to hear from you. We are so proud of New Zealand, that we shall have no difficulty in telling you of its beauties.. Do you go to school, or are you working?—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot.—My little baby brother is not very well, but I think he will soon be well again. I came second in the examination out of eight children. My brother came fourth out of six children, but he did not do very well this time. We are receiving over 20 eggs a day. I am going to Waimate for a week, seeing that our holidays are on. Have you ever been to Vvaimate? I have been there to stay with people who have one child, a boy. I hope you will excuse my writing, as I am m a hurry. We have had dry weather here, but we are beginning to have more rain now. y e have a good many fowls. We have a few lambs up here. Are there any down Dunedin way? Are you having any rain where you are? I have been to Dunedin often. My brothers were making a hut with a fireplace in it, and with a chimney sticking out the top. I have three big bi others and a small brother and no sisters. Love to all the Little Folk and your dear self.—Yours truly, DOLLY GREY (North Otago).

[Yes, I have visited Waimate, Dolly Grey. It is a pretty little place, and an ideal spot for a holiday. How eager you will feel about returning to school after spending a week of your holidays there. I have not seen any lambs, but I expect there are some early ones. Yes, we are haying rain, but we do not mind, because it is not cold. I hope the hut is safe with the fireplace.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have been having wet weather lately. I think wet weather has as many beauties as dry weather has, perhaps it has more, because when the sun shines on raindrops they sparkle like diamonds. We have left Otautau, and are now living in Winton. I did not like the thought of leaving Otautau, for we had been living there for over eight years. We used to live here before we went to Otautau. We left Otautau at about halfpast 6 in the afternoon, and arrived here at half-past 7, so we came in the dark. | The children’s playgrounds are near to our house, and my little brothers and sisters spend most of their time over there. Although we have no cats we still have Tiny. There is a small piece of native bush near our house, and some fine day I intend to go for a walk in it. When 1 go I shall try to write to you and describe my walk. I write to Tanin under the pen name of Moon Fairy. Although it is a long time since we had snow I have not written to you since, so I shall tel! you of some of the fun we had while it was on the ground. We made two small sledges (just big enough for two to sit on each), and went down the hills on them. Sometimes there was only one, and sometimes we had the two tied together! We had plenty of fun. Then again there ■ were snow fights. I had plenty of them, and al- I though I was hit a number of times I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Love to all the 1 Little Folk and your dear self.—Yours I truly, - MOONLAND FAIRY (Winton). [Yes, there is nothing more sparkling than a tree laden with raindrops in the sun. Moonland Fairy. You will soon grow used to the new town and grow to like it. The children here are very fond of the swings and playgrounds. I wish I could have been a spectator of the sledge ride. I expect you fell out of the sledge more than once.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I’m sorry I did not write sooner, and I hope you will forgive me. We have shifted to Winton, and I like it very much. The children’s playgrounds are just over from our place, and we do have fun. We have a good deal to do, as there has been nobody living in our house for a good while. We have to cut the hedges, and weed and dig the garden. We have a good many daffodils and snowdrops, am] I like them. My teacher at school is a dear. I did not go away for my holidays, and I should not have liked to. There was no use, because we have just come to Winton, and it is just like going for a holiday, I passed in my examination. I received 269 marks, and my teacher said it was good. At the children’s playgrounds there are four swings, one slide, and two see-saws. I weigh over six stone now, and I am 12 years 4 months old. I am about four and a-half feet high. There is always a pretty. frost ’ picture on the windows when it freezes

hard. We live in the town, but I should rather be on a farm. We have not so far to go to school. Instead of having to walk three miles and a-half to school we have only to run down the footpath. Deepest love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, RING-A-DING (Winton). [I like to make a house and garden neat when it has been in a state of wilderness, Ring-a-Ding. There is a great satisfaction in seeing a transformation scene in such a place. Try and be top of the class next term. Frost flow'ers are most delicate in texture. You are a lucky person to live so near the school. You will be able to help mother in the' mornings before you go.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —How are you keeping this dull winter? We are looking forward to a good summer this year to make up for the winter, but I suppose we are better off than some countries where there are floods, earthquakes, and famines. We still have a fire at school. I am going to dig my garden this week. I have a vegetable garden, but I may have some flowers this year. I can sew on the machine, and find it much quicker- than sewing by hand. I have broken two needles learning to sew. I have not had a letter from My Best Girl and Jolly Glad for a long time. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly. THE RED BUTTERFLY (Southland) [I enjoy the winter if it does not rain too much. Red Butterfly. A fire makes the school room cosy if it is lighted some time before the scholars arrive. Machine sewing is much more handy than hand sewing. One needs to keep a straight seam, however, for there is nothing more untidy than a crooked hemline or a jagged pleat.—DOT.] ¥ ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in print. We are having our school holidays. We have five dogs, and their names are Tike, Dan, Frisk, Rowdy, and Toss. We have a black and white cat called Jim. I have a cart, and I cart wood for my mother. One day I brought ten loads in to the coal shed. I am going rabbiting with my father. I burnt my hand on the shovel, and it is very sore. I am going to dig my garden, as it is very dry. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, JACK OF CLUBS (Southland). [Keep that burnt hand well wrapped up, Jack of Clubs. It would be unfortunate to allow mud or dust to go into the sore place. Does Jim approve of the dogs? I like their names. Was not it worth mother’s praise to carry in the ten loads of wood? —-DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We have our term holidays at last, and I hope we have better weather. It has been a long winter, and we are recovering from whooping cough. We have about two dozen hens laying, and our two ducks lay if we close them up at night. I think they have a nest, but we cannot find it. Two of my cousins are coming to stay with us for a few -weeks. We have a new' blue cow, and we call her Nellie. I am very fond of music. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truly, GOLDEN SYRUP (Southland). - [I have not had W’hooping cough, Golden Syrup, but I know' how painful it is. I am lucky, am I not? What fun you will have with the cousins. If they are your own age you will all be sorry when the holiday is over. —DOT.] ¥ ¥ » Dear Dot,- —I should have liked to have seen the snow' in your city. My little sister writes to your page. Her nom de plume is Buttercup Princess. I like having left school. I have two correspondents, Tui’s Mate and Star Gold. They both owe me letters. I am sure you must have a great time reading all the Little Folk’s letters. What a difference the twopenny stamps have made to your page. The last I books I have read are “ Kirsty at the Manse ” and “ A Girl of the North Land,” and they were very interesting. I see by the papers that you have been having rain in Dunedin lately.—Yours truly, TINY FAIRY QUEEN (Oainaru). [I remember that Buttercup Princess is your sister, Tiny Fairy Queen. Yes, the stamps have made many people write less. Were the books about adventures? We are now having finer weather.—DOT.] •£ Dear Dot, —It is a long time since 1 wrote last. We have had a very severe winter, and have had three or four falls of snow, which were about six inches deep every time, and also some very hard frosts. The ice was so thick that anyone could walk on it. I have not missed a day from school yet. I was dux of my class last year, and this year I came- top both terms. We have a wireless set in, and I like listening to the children’s hour and concerts. I had four guinea pigs, but a ferret went into the cage and killed three. We set a trap and caught the ferret next morning when it came for the other one. I have had 10 teeth out since Christmas, as they were decaying so badly. Best wishes to you and your happy band.— Yours truly, PUSSYCAT WILLOW (Mossburn).

[We have all thought the winter was severe, Pussycat Willow-. ‘ I have not skated on ice. Have you? There are some interesting things to be heard in the children’s hour. It is bettej- to lose the teeth if they are decayed.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is a long time since I last wrote to your page. We have had a long cold winter with plenty of rain and snow. We were sliding down the hillside on a small sledge with a rope on the front to guide it. Spring is here, and the little lambs are beginning to appear. We have only one so far. Some time ago I sent Poppy Fairy a photograph of myself holding the kitten, which I hope she received, because she has not written since. The flower garden is looking very bare, as there are no flowers out. The spring flowers are just coming up. We have just had .our second term examination, and I came third in my class. Love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.— Yours truly, FAIR JUNE ROSE (Waitahuna). [Sumer is nearly here. Fair June Rose. Your namesake the rose will soon be appearing. Probably Poppy Fairy will write soon and thank you for the letters. Try and be top this term. —DOT.] * ¥ ¥ Dear Dot, —I was pleased to see my first letter in the Otago Witness. I expect to be a Boy Scout next year. Tabby is rather a mischievous kitten, and is very fond of a game. We have had a great deal of rain, but finer weather has set in. We are having our second term holidays, so I hope the weather keeps fine. I went to a football match. Wairarapa Primarj' Schools against Wellington Primary Schools. It was a very exciting game, and ended in a draw, 5 all. I like reading about the Chums on their exciting adventures. My father has been digging the garden, and making it ready for the vegetables. I went to the pictures to see Charlie Chaplin in “ City Lights.” It is a silent picture, but is very good. Have you seen it? Best wishes to all the Little Folk and yourself.—Yours truly, MISCHIEVOUS MICKEY MOUSE (Wairarapa). [No, I have not seen the picture, Mischievous Mickey Mouse. I can reinember

laughing heartily at Charlie last time I saw him acting. You will enjoy being a Boy Scout, and you will be doing a good deed every day. It is generally an exciting game if it is a draw. The teams must have been very even. This is the time for preparing the garden.—DOT.] OUR NEW MEMBERS. Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time this week: — Elfish Peter Pan (Invercargill). MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to— My Daddy’s Darling, who was 12 on August 10. Mother’s Middle Daughter, who will, be 7 years on September 8. AUTOS. As the Little Folk inserting the following autos do not know the addresses of the companions with whom they wish to correspond, it is necessary that those whose names are mentioned in the autos should send the first letter.—DOT. * ¥ ¥ Sonia (E. Weatherall, Berwick) wishes to correspond with A Wild Red Rover, Apia, Do All, and any Little Folk who are willing. She would like all old correspondents to write again, as she has lost their addresses. Ring a Ding (Annie Thompson, Park street, Winton) wishes to correspond with Acorn Elf. ¥ v Fairy Fan (Ethel Weatherall. Berwick, Tajeri) wishes One of the Dauntless Three to write again, as she has lost his address. ■ . A’ The Red Butterfly (Hazel Terry, rural Delivery, Waipounamu, via Gore) wishes to correspond with A Fairy Lady and any other Little Folk willing. Will they please write soon ? Golden Syrup (Vera. Terry, rural dedelivery, Waipounamu, via Gore) wishes to correspond with Oatmeal Joy). ¥ ¥ ¥ Tiny Fairy Queen ’ (Doreen Meikle, 27 Leith street, Oamaru) wishes to correspond with any overseas correspondents. ¥ * The address of the’new American correspondent,_ American Mary, is Mary Verna Gleim, 80 Clay street, Arlington, lowa, U.S.A.