http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast Letters from Little Folks - Otago Witness Otago Witness 23 November 1888, Page 35 Dear Dot, We see you are in. the habit of receiving and publishing letters from little boys and girls all up and down the country, and even sometimes from Scotland. Well, we are two little boys who have a sister gone to New Zealand nine years ago. ,She is living near Roxburgh, and she sends us a letter every four weeks, sad also a Witness, and that is where we see your little letters. She tells us what a nice country New Zealand is, and what a nice place it is where she lives. We may come and see it some day but if it is a nicer place than where we live, it must be very nice indeed. We live in the beautiful valley of the Clyde, near to Hamilton Palace and Bothwell Castle. We have such five sport at our Sabbath school trips in Hamilton Palace grounds every summer; and for miles along the Clyde it is covered with orchards. Indeed, from Hamilton to Lanark on both sides of the Clyde it may be said to be one beautiful fruit garden. And then a few miles below Hamilton we have the great city of Glasgow, with its world-renowned show going on just now. By the-way, Dot, have you been to see the great exhibition in Glasgow. If not, you have missed a treat. We have been twice to see it, and still we have not seen it all, it is so great. I suppose it would take a week to see it all. And then the shipbuilding yards on the Clyde but we must stop least we weary you, and with best wishes for your little friends and yourself, We remain, yours truly, ANDHEW AND GILBERT ROBERTSON. Earnock Colliery, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, October 4. Otago Witness 9 April 1891, Page 35 Dear Dot, It is now nearly two years since we wrote to you last. I am sure you will be wondering why we have never written again. The house was in such a confusion over the death of my poor father that we forgot about the little letters altogether. But do you know, Dot, I am the only one that is left to comfort my mother and my brother Gilbert, who has been a cripple since he was a boy, caused by fits. My dear sister that I spoke to you of before is still in Roxburgh. I wonder if she will never come home to Scotland to see us. How much we all weary to see her dear face. There is a new exhibition starting in Glasgow, and I will tell you all about it the next time I write to you, I will close now, hoping you and your little friends are all well, We remain, your truly, Andrew and Gilbert Robertson, Burnbank, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, ___________________ Cheers, Olwyn *Letters* * Every day brings a ship, Every ship brings a word; Well for those who have no fear, Looking seaward well assured That the word the vessel brings Is the word they wish to hear. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1867*