SHE WASN'T A WIDOW.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 332, 23 September 1879, Page 3

SHE WASN'T A WIDOW.

" My son," said an old Main street gentleman as he kindly putted the head of a ragged, d'rty urchin, who was playing marbles with a companion in the park ; ."my.son, do you enjoy the blessings of a. father's protection ?" " Guest, not !" was the savage reply of the vagrant, as he suffered the intrusion. " What, you have no father ?" the good old man : asked with sympathy. "Nary a dad." ''Poor boy! Perhaps your poor widowed mother labors and toils wretchedly for the scanty sustenance you and her enjoy ?" " Hold on, boss, she ain't a widder !" " Ah, I'm glad," and here the old man delightfully rubbed his hands, and continued, " Yes, I am pleased to think that she has shown such deep commiseration for you, and that you may have a home ; married again—" " Say, old duffer, she ain't married agin." ... " What not married again ! Ah, I see, faithful'to him that died, she* "prefers* to remain single. But she is a widow." "And'l tell yer she-ain't-a widder!" yelled the boy, with the persistence of a hotel porter. l f . . " Why, my son ?" > " ( Cause, she died fiast. Jimmy, knuckle behind your hole." And the' game and the philanthropist wept on. ~ .