LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 69

LETTERS FROM LITTLE FOLK.

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

Dear Dot, —Please may I join your band of Little Folk? 1 am 13 years of age, and I am trying hard to gam my proficiency this year. We played basket ball all winter, and I was in the team. I must close as this is my first letter. Much love to you and all the Little Folk.—Yours truiv. THE GOLDEN GIRL (Cromwell). [Welcome to the Golden Girl. Wi.cn you are older, my dear, you may read a delightful novel by Richard le Gallienne all about yourself. I hope you pass your proficiency examination, and have no trouble in doing so. —DOT.] -Y- v Dear Dot.—lt is a very long while since I last wrote to you. i’ou remembered my birthday. I was nine. I was up on top ci a hill, and I could see all the trees blooming on the other side of the Waitaki River. It was delightful. Are then many daffodils down Dunedin way? We have a few at our place. My brother is sitting down at the organ playing music. I have no more to say, so I will close now. with love to all.—Yours truly, DOLLY GREY (North Otago). [lt is splendid to be nine, Dolly Grey, and go climbing! When I was nine I lived on a plain, and had no hills to play on. But I made up for that when we went to the beach with its hills of sand. Yes, we have many daffodils out now. They are a dainty sight.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I was very much pleased to see mj' first letter in print. We have five lambs now. Thank you very much for the name you gave my kitten. It just suits her. I spent some of my holidays with my uncle and auntie. I had better close now, with best love. —Y’ours truly, MOTHER'S MIDDLE DAUGHTER (Cromwell). [I am glad that Goldie likes her name, Mother’s Middle Daughter, and hope she is a good little puss, and does not burn her best petticoat as Pussycat Mole burnt hers. Does she ever go out to talk to the lambs?—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It is a very long time since I have written to you, but you know 1 have not forgotten you. We have 203 chickens, and over 100 hens. I received 73 eggs. I have a pet lamb that feeds out of a dish. Can you please give me a name for it? I like watching the lambs playing. I was first in my examination. I like

school, because I can see my friend, and we can learn to read, write, sew, and spell. Little Cherry Blossom and I have a garden at school. Do you like making a garden? 1 do. We have some loses at school. Do you like roses? We are milking five cows, and receive a good deal of milk. I will close, with heaps of love t.all the Little Folk and your own dear self. —Yours truiv. TINY BO.PEEP (Airedale). [M hat a happy farmyard yours must be with its 200 chickens and 100 hens, Tiny Bo Peep! Do they keep you very busy? I think that the lamb might like to be called Saucy, seeing that it feeds out of a saucer. I am very fond of making a garden though I did not make one at ; school. Congratulations on being first. — DOT.] * * ¥ Dear Dot.—May I join your happy band of Little I oik? I shall be 14 in another five months. Mj r favourite game is basket balk of which I am very fond. AVe went to Lochiel one Saturday, and played, and we won the cup. I am in Standard V at school, and I like school very much. As this is my first letter I will close, witn love to all your happy band and yourself. • —-lours truly, SAA EET ELLA (Winton). [Welcome to Sweet Ella. To be described as “sweet” is one of the best things that can happen to a girl. I am glad that you like basket ball, and congratulate you on winning the cup. Next year at this time you will be working hard for proficiency I expect.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —It seems a long time since I wrote to you. Someone has taken my nom de plume, so I will have to change it. We are having lovely weather just now. If we have a month of fine weather it will be a help to the farmers. We have our garden almost planted with everything one can think of. The peas are through the ground, and other small things are up. 1 have a niece and nephew staying with us, and the boy is a hard ease, as he chases the ducks all over the place. My three brothers are away working, and I have three sisters away. Two are married. My eldest brother plays the pipes. I have two sisters at home, and only my sister and I going to school. We are twins, and will soon be 14. I know a good many children who write to you. I will close with love to all the Little Folk and yourself.— Yours truly,

CHARLES THE GREAT (Riverton). [This is undoubtedly a very delightful spring. Charles the Great. Does your Majesty work in the garden and help to cultivate the vegetables for the royal table? I hope your little nephew does not

frighten the ducks when he chases them like that. You seem to belong to. a large family, and arc very lucky to have a twin. —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —I hope you and all the Little i Folk are well. It will not be long till h Christinas now. The months are flying t past. We are having our term holidays. » but I am not going away from home. 1 t am not going away till the Christmas f holidays. Would you please give me a 1! name for our little kitten. He is a fluffy I wee fellow, and sits up and begs for his 1 food. I enjoy reading the Little Folk's c page very much. What a number of ecr- ' respondents you have! There are crowds r of little white lambs about. Love to all 1 the Little Folk and your own dear self.-- f Yours truiv. f DOLLY DIMPLE O (Heriot). 1 [I think we are all well thank you. t Dolly Dimple O. It is kind of you to in- ‘ quire. You must tell me about your ‘ Christmas holidays, for 1 am sure they ' will be very happy ones.' How delightful ! to have a kitten that sits up and begs. Call him Mr Faws.—DOT.] ‘ Dear Dot.—When I think of how long : ago it is since I last wrote to the page , it makes me feel ashamed of myself. I do not keep up our motto. “ We write for the benefit of others, not for ourselves." Well, here I am again, just like a bad pti'iiy | which always turns up. [ see that SoimI one s Sweetheart is in bed with jaundice. That is not a very pleasant complaint ic have, is it? Sime writing to you i hive been at Wyndham for a few days' ho.. Jay. I and while I was there 1 went to the river ; to see the numerous gold mines, which ire situated in the creek that runs out o', the river. They work the mines with tin. oldfashioned cradle, ami it is very interesting to watch them at work, but it is a v--ry • monotonous job. We have been having re- I markably fine weather lately, but '• -’.'.p- ■ pose it will soon break again. The prim- I roses and daffodils look prefix m the garden now. We have a girl ft lend staying here just now from Tiinaru. and my father and she go away to the Matauia River whitebaiting. I am going to Mossburn for a holiday soon, ami hope to enjoy myself. Well, I have tried to write a long letter, but I find 1 have no more to; say. so I will close, with much love to the i Little Folk and your own dear seif.— : Yours truiv. • GORGE ROAD PRINCESS I (Gorge Road;. ■ [Jaundic:? is i-ertain'y not a pleasant ] complaint. Gorge Road Princess. Have; I you ever had it? You would enjoy jour ; I visit to the gold mines, and have an in- . • foresting time seeing the miners at work You must tell me all about the holiday you \ intend to spend at Mossburn. Thank you for the riddles ami. stories, which amused . me greatly.—DOT.] * * * ... . ! Deal- Dot.—As my work is finished I i i think I shall write to your page, as it is ‘ ' nearly a year since I last wrote to you. 1 ■ I have started my garden ami have planted j j a few flower seeds, so I hope they will be j ;up ready for Christmas. I think a flower I i garden looks so charming about a home. ■ I The Rose of No Man’s Land is home now i i for a few months' holiday. She has been ' , staying at Henley with her friends for a | few days. She likes out there very much. las tiny are very kind people. The Girl from Pine Hill was married just recently, am! we all had a lovely time as the sun shone brightly, and made things very pleasant. Meadow Sweet was home for the wedding, but she is back in Dunedin agam working now. The Oddfellows held a bad I in Pembroke about three weeks ago. and it was a great success. My woe cousin is growing up a hard wee case. She is just a nice age. Well dear, as this is all the news. I will close, with love to all the Little Folk and your own dear self. — Yours truly, I STORM COUNTRY POLLY .1 (Cardrona) 1 [When om-e you begin gardening you " cannot leave off. Storm Country Polly, for - there is nothing more entrancing than t watching things grow. You will be glad ■- to have The Rose of No Alan's Land stay'i ing with you, and will miss her when she goes away. How delightful that the I- weather was fine for the Girl from Pine Hill's wedding day. Tell me some of the things that your wee cousin does.— DOT.

Dear Dot. —l have hail a cut Inumli, and no pen. so I could not write. How are you and your little ones? I am quite well. 1 found the key of my money box. and guess how much money I have in it? Eleven and six! School will be over now in another two and a-half months. [< it verywarm in Dundin just now? It is warm up here. Are not the spring dowers delightful? I was in such a hurry to send the last letter away, that I forgot to put my private address in. I must close now for the night, with love.—Yours truly, MOTORIST BILL (Oamatu).

[Of course you could not write w.th a cut thumb and no pen. Motorist Bill. Arc you better now, and is the pain quite gone? How splendid that you found the key of your money' box! But how much more splendid that when you opened it you found all that money! Dunedin weather is delightful just now.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —One of my brother’s dogs has seven dear little pups, which look like, and also feel like little balls of flutfiness or down. There is not much news that I think would interest you or any other writers to this page. It was a lovely' dav here recently—very hot indeed, a most unusual occurence, so hot in fact, that as soon as I reached home I changed from a warm dress into a thin summer one. I am sorry' this is such a skimpy letter, but as I said before, there is no news to teil you just now. Love to you.—Yours truly. RAINBOW BUBBLES (Gisborne).

[Those seven small balls of fluffy mischief, Rainbow Bubbles! What darlings they must be, and how I should like to see them staggering about on their fat little legs! The day' you describe was certainly a hot one. I do not want you to change your name, and anyway’ the new one you want belongs to another Little Folk.— DOT.] S * *

Dear Dot, —Thank you for printing my letter as one that obeyed the motto most. This week it will be about a snowstorm we experienced a fortnight ago. Aly sister and myself stayed down at the cottage with my grandmother to keep her company. it did thunder that night, and was so very cluse. The lightning was ex-

tremely bad. In the morning when we woke up the ground was covered with white, glistening snow, which made the place much lighter. It was about four inches deep. On the gate post it was six inches deep, and on the fence post also. I had mj’ gumboots, so I walked up the path to the stile, and it was very slippery. I made a little snowman, but it was too cold to make him too big. After wc had breakfast my two brothers came down to have a good look round. Aly second youngest brother made a snowman, and said that he was Uncle Ned. He got Uncle Ned.out ot one of the records for little folk. j went up to the house to sec if I could help mother, and it was hard work to keep on my ieet. After dinner we went to get some wood for the night. It was bitterly cold, and there was a little sleet. The skylooked very- black, and I thought we were going to have another fall, but we did not. Aly’ youngest brother loved being out in the snow; he threw some snow at me, and thought it was great fun to see me run away. Alaiiy lambs died in the snow tor the poor animals could not find any food. Some branches came off the titoki, six willow trees, and the wattle with the snow. Aly little pony has been ver.v busy at present. I wonder what has become ot tiiat boy who writes from France to our most welcome page. The more folk we have to join our page the bettor, as vou welcome them so lovingly. Aly pen frit:’.,ds are very loyal to me. Their names are Lincoln Green. Aloimtain Rose, and Blue Eyes Beauty. 1 also had another, but did not receive an answer. Wei] dear. I v ill close imw.—A'ours trulv

I’ABBLING BROOK (Gisborne). [Whenever I receive letters describing actual doings I rejoice. Babbling Brook, for it shows me that some day some ot my Little Folk may even write a book, so good are their present powers ot description. What you tell me about the snow is very vivid indeed. From the point of view ot a really good letter. However. you would have been better to end with the sentence about the branches of the willow and wattle trees, instead of bringing in new ideas. Thank you nevertheless lor the kind words von sav ai.out me.--DOT.] Dt-ai- Dot, —1 am going to tell you aoout the day when we went on top of the hill. It was a Sunday afternoon, and we ittt about 1 o clock. It was delightfully fine, and we stalled off with an apple and a piece of cake. The hill, as I think my sister explained before, is at the back of tae house. Ihe first paddock, or as we cali it. the creek paddock, had some cows in 11. and two or three new-born calves, wliicn were all black. When we went through the next paddock it began to cloud over, and by tile time we were into the next paddock mist was everywhere, but we were determined to go on. Wlieu we reached the top of the hill, we wandered about, but we could not see very far a wav. because it was too misty. AVe saw a Intie lamb all by J tself between two logs, whien looked as if the.v were hurting it. so we i carried it. and put it in a sheltered place. ; V\ hen we were nearly home we saw a cow ; m the bog. and my two brothers ran home ■ as fast as they could to tell the others. I and we all pulled it out. AVhen it was ■ out the cow was too weak to stand up I Robin and I gave inmn a wooden spoon ; and a kettle holder. We have had some ; beautifully fine days. I hope von and your Little Folk are well. —Yours'truly, LALGHING STREAM (Gisborne). [A ou, too, arc good at description. .Laughing Stream, and make me see each step of the wa.v to the top of the hill. You would be glad to be able to help the lamb ; and the cow. and feel that your daj' bad ; been well spent, despite the mist. ' How I glad mother would be with vmir <’ifts' I DOT.] ‘ i Dear Dot, —It is about a jear since last i I wrote, so now I am penning vou a few j lines. It was my birthday on October 2. | - Y aS J" }cnrs a K e - I have not nns.-ed I a day from school yet. I am hoping to go for the second year. AVe have daffcdils and primroses out in our garden. Al] of the seeds dad put in the garden arc up. A few weeks ago we received some lx ads and Easter eggs from a foreign eountiy. Now that we belong to the Junior Rml Cross we are receiving a portfolio from Bulgaria. I will close now, with love.— Years truiv. SWEET CINDERELLA (South Uanterbu; .v ). [I hope you bad a happy birthday. Sweet Cinderella, for 12 is an important age, and should be ushered in with joy and jollity. AVhat a good attendance record yem have! Y’ou must be very proud of it. i I should have liked to see the beads and i Easter eggs, especially as thej- came limn a foreign country. Did vou eat the eggs?—DOT.] : - * Dear Dot, —Here I am once .-.gain penning a few lines to the dear old page. The weather has been verj' changeable, but lias ‘ cleared up a little, and is delightful’y hot. , I have not heard from some of my yor- ; respondents for ages. I have been work- ' ing in the flower garden a good deal lately. .. and I have put a number of different " plants in. At present I am fancyworking a toilet set. It has four bluebirds on it and four sprays. It should look nice when finished. As news is scarce. I will s close. Love to all the Little Folk and your , own dear self. —Y’ours truly, s FAIRY OF THE GOLDEN LILY L (Port Alolyncux).

[Y’ou are another Little Folk who likes gardening. Fairy of the Golden Lily, and hence are a girl after my own heart. This ■weather is excellent for gardening, especially if, now and then, it is broken by a soft shower of rain. Your toilet set shoold look verj' pretty.—DOT.]

Dear Dot.—l am going to tell you of some of mj' pets. I have a pet rabbit. It was very' small ■when my’ sister and I found it. Dad said it would not live, but we taught it to eat by' holding its _ nose in the milk. Then we gave it bread- and milk. We have several cats, but my pets are Alilkey and Fluff. I like riding our horse Ladv. I also have a bantam, who is a great little mother to its chickens. I was away from school for four days, but I am glad that I am well enough to be back now. I wish to thank you for enrolling me as one of your Little Folk. Fond love to you and all the Little Folk.—Y’ours truly. SHINY SUNSHINE (North Otago). [Y’our pets sound delightful. Shiny Sunshine. and I should very much like to make

their acquaintance. I see that you are good anil kind to them and make their lives pleasant. That is as it should be. 1 am glad that you are able to be back at school, for it is annoying to have to miss days through sickness. —DOT.

Dear Dot, —I have not written for some l weeks, because there has been such a lot to do, but now I have a great deal to tell you. 1 hoped that Kingsford Smith would beat the record to England. I had been reading all about it in the papers. 1 think ' it was ever so exciting. I did not like going back to school a bit. because this is proficiency term, and 1 shall have to work hard. I.am reading a splendid book just now called "The Lion's Son/’ It is all about India, and very exciting and good. We played our first cricket match recently. and we lost. The game was a gou.l one, however, and cricket is the game I like best. Swimming has started, too. and I dived for the second time from the high board at the baths. It is easier every time I do it. We had a game of water polo, and it was great fun. There is an old shed in our garden, and it has a lot of dead creepers hanging over it. Jill and Allan and I thought we would burn it away, but the shed took fire too, and the fire brigade came up. and it was very interesting, but dad was angry and gave m< a whacking, and Allan’s father was ang-y too. Allan twisted his ankle the other day, and is laid up in bed. I am going to stay with my cousins during Labour week-end. They live at Portobello, so 1 hope we have some bathing. My birthday is passed now, and uncle gave me a new cricket bat. and so I am longing to use it. All the serials have ended in Chums now, and a new lot start next month. I do not think I have any more to tell vmi. Much love to yourself and the Little Folk. ■—Yours truly. THE FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (Dunedin) [Proficiency is a sort of sword hanging over the heads of Standard VI pupils, Flight Lieutenant, and yet. as soon as it is gained, it becomes a key opening all kinds of doors into the future. I see that you have learnt a great lesson with regard to diving. "It is easier every time I do it.” you say. Such can apply to everything. Regarding the shed I must say that I am on your father's side. You and Allan and Jill were three scamps to burn it down.— DOT.] A.* Dear Dot, —Was it a nice day in Dunedin on October 1? It was snowing up here. We did not go to school that day, as it was too wet. We are making pictures at school, and are edging them with passe partout. Some of them are very good. We have one wee pet lamb. It is in the coalshed, because it is too. cold for it outside. It is a cheeky wee thing. Wo have no name for it. My mother is inak-

ing my brother a jumper, and he will not keep still while she is trying it on him. Alter she has finished his jumper she is going to make me a summer dress, so I hope I like it. As there is no more news 1 will stop, with, love to all the LittleFolk and your own dear self.—Yours PRE2JIER BLOOM (Queenstown). [lt was a calm, rainy day on October 1, Premier Bloom, and all the gardens rejoiced in it. Fancy your having snow in j Queenstown! It must have been very] cold. lon are lucky to be making passe j partout pictures, and may be able to send some away for Christmas. Would you like Trotty as a name for the lamb? — DOT.] Y ¥ Y Dear Dot.—l was pleased to see my first letter in print, but it was such a long time ago. that I suppose you have forgotten me. I had a birthday the other week, and snout it in bed, where I usually spend my birthdays. As I am often sick. I can go about only half the year. I went to Waitaki Hydro for my term holidays, and had a very happy time. One of my friends was up there, too, and we went to most places of interest. It's a struggle to get any plants to grow well in our garden, as it is so dry. but this year mum is putting in plants suitable for a dry climate, so maybe we shall have a better garden this time. We have some apricot trees, and the blossom is very pretty just now. but I like when the fruit is ready best. A few Little Folk go to school here. I sleep on' our veranda, and I like it very much. I have slept inside only about throe times this year. I am very fond of music, and I-play the piano by ear. I am also fond of dancing, but I do not go to dances yet. We play tennis at school now. and I like it very much. My mate and I are going for a picnic the first fine Saturday we have, and we hope to have a good time. I have a cousin in Canada. When I write next I am going to tell her about your page, and see if she will join it. I like reading the letters of your page, because I think they are interesting. Every time when I finish reading the letters I say to myself. I will write to Dot the first time I have any spare time, and I sit there and plan out a nice letter, but it never becomes written down. Alum and her brother used to write to your page when they wore young, but they do not write now. Al] the boys are flying kites around here. I think they are great to watch, but I would not like to fly one. I am glad that daylight saving has come in, because we can go out and play after tea. Well, as news is scarce I will bring this to a dose, with kindest regards to all the Little Folk and your own dear self.—Yours truly, SCEPTRE (Duntroon). [No. I had not forgotten you. Sceptr'n. but I had forgotten that you were not strong, so to know that you spend half

your year in bed came as a shock to me. What is the matter with you. dear? You seem to lead a very healthy life, and sleep out of doors, too. Perhaps you will grow stronger as you grow older. When von have your picine you must tell me about it, for I shall be delighted to hear. Will your mother and uncle write for Old Writers' Week? —DOT.]

Dear Dot, —We started school on September 8, and I am sorry, as I like the holidays. You may have forgotten me, as it is nearly a year since I last wrote, I was 11 years of age on August 1. ami I received a pair of stockings, a toothbrush, and two tubes of paste, a handkerchief, and three cakes of scented soap. There are seven children in our school. I am alone in Standard Y. We have a woman teacher. I am making a raffia bag nt school. I lead all the Little Folk's letters. There are a good many very interesting ones. We have 41 lambs, and there are four black ones, which are funny little things. This is not a very interesting letter, but I do my best. It is- very cold sometimes ami seems as if we are going to have more show. We have about three miles to go for our mail. The bush in front of our house will soon be felled. I think. It will be a pity, as it is pretty in the summer with the rata and clematis in flower. Well. I must draw this to a close, hoping you and all the Little Folk are well. Love to all and yourself.— Yours truly.

MAGIC BELL (Gatlins)

[I have not forgotten you. Magic Bell, even though it is nearly a year since you wrote, and I wish you many happy returns of August 1. Your birthday greetings are too late for this year, but will appear next year. What delightful presents you received! I am sorry to bear about the bush, and know how its going will affect you. If only that sort of destruction need not take place!—DOT.]

Dear Dot. —I thought the answer to my letter very kind. 1 wonder if what you said will come true. However, time will tell the story. Since last writing 1 have been out a good deal. About three weeks ago one Monday morning at 9 a.m. I left for Okum. When 1 reached the beach the tide was coming in, and the seas were very rough. I went on to the beach, but in two places the waves washed round the horse’s legs, and she was frightened of them. As the sea had made a bank I could not go back on the old track. After 1 went some distance along there was no bank, so I went back. 1 intended to ford the river, but when I reached there the tide was very high, so I had to ferry. I left the horse on this side of the river, as it was not necessary to swim it. One of my cousins was catching whitebait on the south side of the river. We watched them going into the net. and saw some come up to it. and then go away again, or out round it. I spent most of the time with my aunt, and about 3 p.m. I left to come home. Then on Wednesday my aunt and cousins asked me to go fishing with them, so I did. I left home about 9.30 a.m. On the way down I saw some kowhai in blossom. When I got about halfway down I saw some sheep. I had the horse trotting along, and two little lambs came running out of the bush, but only one passed the horse, so I thought that the other must have fallen over a log, and could not get up. I went back just to see. and at the side of the road in a hole was the little lamb, so I lifted it out. and it could not got away soon enough as it raced along the road and into the bush where its mother and mate were feeding. After this I hurried along and reached my destination, put the horse in a sheep yard, and crossed over the river in the boat to fish. We had not been fishing long when we saw the boat coining in the distance. When it came in we left the fish, as we had caught only two herrings and one flounder. When I came back to the horse she had two holes pawed in the ground, so she was glad to get away. I did not travel quickly, although it looked as if rain was near. By the time I turned in a black cloud had gathered in the north, and next thing down came the rain and hail. The horse did not like the hail, and wanted to go. so I let her trot along. The hail soon went over, but the rain continued. When I arrived home 1 was pretty wet. but after I changed I was quite all right. Although it had rained I bad a pleasant day. The other Sunday week I went to the mouth of the Haast River to spend the day fishing. As the tide was high in the lagoon and the boat was in rhe river I rode the bicycle down to the beach. The beach was soft, so I had to wheel the bicycle up the beach, as I thought the tide would be out by the time I wanted to come home. There was a good deal of driftwood on the beach, and two trees must have had a long rough passage in the sea. as one was covered in barnacles, and the other had pieces of rock in its roots. It seemed to take me a long time to reach the ford, so when I did. I left the bicycle there, and walked along to the bar." I took fresh meat with me for bait, as I thought perhaps, that shell bait might be scarce. There was no shell bait at all, so I was glad that I had taken meat, although the shell bait is better than meat for fishing, as the fish will bite better. However. I got the line ready, and set it. There was a north wind blowing, and it was a bit cold, so I thought of lighting a fire, but I had forgotten the matches. I thought I might have one or two in my blazer pocket, so I felt there, and found three. I thought “ Surely it won't take three matches to light a fire, as there is a lot of driftwood! ” I gathered some little sticks, and then struck the first match on a stone. I was sure the fire would be blazing in a few minutes, as the wood was so dry, but no. the match Xvent out. Then I struck number two. and it did the same. Now it was number three, the lucky last, so I got extra small dry pieces of wood, and the wind happened to catch the blaze, and away wont the fire, thanks to the lucky match. In no time there was a big fire, so then I went back to the line, but nothing had been there. After a while I had my lunch, and then went back to the line. I fished there till about 3.30 p.m.. and as I had caught no fish I left, for home leaving the fire to burn out and the .fishes at rest. I think why I did not get the fish was that the bank went out too far before going down. I went back to the bicycle, but the tide was not out enough for me to cross, so I took the bicycle along near the lagoon instead of out near the sea. I saw 10 big black swans on the. lagoon, but when I came close they took to the wing, as they were

wild. When I reached the road I had the bicycle going quickly, as I thought it was about 5 o’clock, but when I arrived home it was only 4.30 p.m., thus ending my day’s outing. I enjoyed the day. although I had no luck with the fishing. I have caught a good many herrings there at times. I think fishing is good sport. Is it not delightful to see . the spring flowers in bloom? The wild flowers are coming into bloom, too. I think it is early for them. Kimber Lee must be a thoughtful Old Writer to send the spring flowers to you. The mail was a day late this time, so we did not get it till yesterday. When it comes once in two weeks only, one looks forward to it. I have read some of the Little Folk's letters, and thought them interesting, too. Golden Sunbeam menioued about an earthquake. I think that .would be the one that was felt here, as the others said it was fairly sharp. Although I was inside I did not feel it. I must have been walking when it occurred. Just the night before I had been dreaming of an earthquake. Now, I will close, as in the Otago Witness a while back I saw that 15 members had joined, so there may be 15 this time. If my letter is too long I do not mind if only a corner is printed, as one of interest could take its place. A Little Folk whose nom de plume is True Blue wished to correspond with me. I answered the auto, but the letter came back from the Dead Letter office. With love and best wishes I shall close. — Yours truly, GOLDEN STAR OF WESTLAND (Haast).

[You are very fond of being out of doors, are you not. Golden Star of Westland? I envy you the times you have with your horse on the beach! Going about as you do must let you discover that Nature is always beautiful, and that weather, whether wet or dry. is always delightful if one will only think of it as being so. People fall into the habit of saying that wet weather is horrid weather, but that is all nonsense, is it not? I am glad that you went back to help the lamb. What an exciting moment when vou lit the last match!— DOT.]

Dear Dot. —I think I am a very bad Little Folk for not writing sooner, and 1 hope you will forgive me. How are you and your Little Folk getting on? L hope they are all 0.K., as the Americans say. There are a few people working on the beach for gold now, as times are hard. One day I was going for the cows. I went up a short track. Then I followed the river bank up until I could go no farther, so 1 turned back in the bush again, until I discovered another track, which I followed, until I had to take the river bank again. Just as I reached the end of this track I found one cow, and followed it up till I found the others. I set the dogs on to them, and they went bucking and kicking. and left me there, so I had to follow them. I went through tall flax bushes and scrubs everywhere, and it was late before I got out of the bush. I was going north instead of south. Well, as I think I have told you all the news. I will close, with heaps of love and kisses to you and your Little Folk. —Yours truly. SILVER STAR OF HEAVEN (Bruce Bay).

[You are not a bad Little Folk for not writing. Silver Star of Heaven, but you are certainly not so good a Little Folk as you could be, seeing that you write your letter in pencil. You will use ink next time, will you not? Pencil is so trying for the printer's eyes. I was interested to read of your adventure with the cows, and was really anxious, until I knew that you were safely out of the bush.—DOT.] Y Y Y

Dear Dot.—Time seems to fly so quickly that it does not seem three weeks ago since I last penned you a few lines. I saw my first letter in print, and now take the pleasure in writing my second letter to your page. My word, what a happy band you have! Every week your page increases. so that you must be kept busy in giving each one an answer. We are having such glorious days here now. that one likes to go out in the flower gardens. We have a number of flowers out at present. I think anyone could have a beautiful garden if they liked to spend most of their time out in it. Tennis has started once again, and the court at times is crowded. Although I do not play. I should think it would be a very interesting game. Yes. I have stayed with my married sisters. My last stay was very enjoyable, as it was in bush country (Ratanui). It is delightful to hear the different kinds of native birds. I have a camera, and delight in taking photographs, as there are such lovely backgrounds to be had. We have a very large vegetable garden in this year, the seeds of which are all up. Once they are up it seems as though one can see them growing day by day. Is not it a pity to see so many people unemployed. About here it seems as though they are trying to get them to go into camps for 10s a week. I see where they are doing it up at Wellington. I am very fond of fancywork, and would never grow tired of it. At present I am knitting myself a pair of slippers for next winter. I know what you will be thinking, that I am looking well ahead. I am also very fond of music, especially the piano and the Hawaiian guitar. We have a gramophone and several records. One soon grows tired of records. unless there is a large assortment to pick from. What a shame that Kingsford Smith's record flight to England should have been unsuccessful! Here we receive our mail by the rural delivery. Lately a Bible class, has been held in the hall, and I think it is going to continue on each week. It betois at 7 and ends at 8 o'clock. So it will be nleasant to go (o after a while when the days draw out. I

will now draw this letter to a close, with kindest regards to all. —Yours truly, LINING OF SILVER (Lowburn Ferry). [Yes, my band is a very happy one, Lining of Silver. Every week it seems to be more so, and, as a result, I am very happy, too. You are right in what you say about gardening. If only he could give time to its cultivation anybody could have a beautiful garden. Do you ever take photographs of your flowers? Not everyone who possesses a camera thinks of doing that. I like to hear that you are fond of fancywork, for it suggests to me that you are a womanly girl. I hope the Bible class is successful.—DOT.]

Dear Dot, —Once again I write to the page. I spent a very happy term holiday, and had some delightful rambles in and through some bush where all the little buds were beginning to burst on the trees. The songs of birds were so cheerful, and there was such a chorus, that there must have been hundreds of little throats bursting with joy To listen to the clear silvery notes of the bellbird made me wonder if anything in the way of other music is so accurate as their high clear sweet notes. I was sorry my holiday was not one month later, for I could see what a fairy place the bush would appear when all the beautiful white clematis bursts into flower. There were hundreds of tiny buds, and its vines were so entangled amongst the different shades of green shrubs, that I could just picture the beauty of the quiet cool bush when all its silvery white flowers open to the sunshine. There are so many things in the bush that I would like to describe to you. but I am such a poor, writer, and although I feel the great depth of Nature’s beautiful scenes I cannot sufficiently describe their pleasant effect.. I am very sorry to tell you that my friend. Shakespeare’s Portia, has gone to live in another part of Invercargill, and I do not see her so often, but she will write again to the page when she is properly settled in her new home. The Quaker Scholar sent the Otago Witness for September 8 to me. and I think you had a record number of new writers. My mother thinks that was splendid: and as an Old IV riter she wishes to send a welcome to the writers Erminio Turcotti from Italy, and Bonny Blooming Heather from Edinburgh. Scotland. I think my letter is long enough, and I offer mj- kindest thoughts for your welcome to the page and the acceptance of my first letter. Kind regards to all the Little Folk and all older people interested in the page.—Yours truly, ROMOLA (Invercargill). [Your holiday seems to have impressed you very much, Romola. and to. have left you with some delightful memories. It is a pity that you missed the sight of the clematis, but, never mind, you heard the bellbird, and that would make up for a great deal. I am sorry to hear that you are separated from Shakespeare’s Portia but. if you are true friends, such a separation will not keep you apart for long. Please thank your mother for her good wishes.—DOT.] A LITTLE FOLK COMPETITION. Dot s Little Folk are invited to write a letter of between 200 and 250 words (no more and no less) on the subject, “ Why I am Looking Forward to Old Writers' Week.” Entries close on November 21. 1 he writer's nom de plume, private name and address (not for publication) and age must be given, and the word “ Competition ' put in the top left hand corner of the letter. A book prize for originality of thought will be given.

OUR NEW MEMBERS. Dot extends a special welcome to the following Little Folk who have written to the page for the first time tills week: — The Golden Girl (Cromwell). Sweet Ella (Winton). MANY HAPPY RETURNS. Dot wishes many happy returns of the day to — Sweet Cinderella, who was 12 on October 2. Seaside Girl, who will be 13 on October 15. Byrgerette, who will be 13 on October IG. NOTES. Houdan. —Now, are you not the kindest and most thoughtful person to send me such a delightful present of spring flowers! They looked so fresh when they arrived. I put the pansies in a flat brown’ bowl and the daisies in an orange-coloured vase with some sprays of greenery to relieve their whiteness. The primroses demanded crystal. so I secured all the vases I had as well as a shallow crystal bowl, and arranged them one by one—the sweet things —until they were all accounted for. It was charming of you to send them to me, and I am extremely grateful. Your loving —DOT. 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. A," Dolly Dimples O (P. Morrison. Heriot) would like to correspond with a Little Folk 10 or 12 years old. Y Y Y Rainbow Bubbles (P. Thomson, “Taupai,” Motu. Gisborne) wishes to correspond with Lincoln Green. Silver Star of Heaven (Lena Wilson, Bruce Bay) wishes to correspond with Golden Star of Westland.