"A HAPPY CHRISTMAS, SIR."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 5

"A HAPPY CHRISTMAS, SIR."

A GRATEFUL PRISONER

A wizened little old woman, who lias had more than three score years experience of this world, took her place in the dock of the Magistrate's Court a, position • not altogether unfamiliar to her. . She was gaily dressed in heliotrope, and a rolic of a picture hat.of. the same hue surmounted her head. -It appeared a great act of condescension 011 her part when she entered a pica of guilty on a charge or 'drunkenness, but when it came to tho charge of n broach of her prohibition order, she lifted her head a littlo higher, and pleaded not guilty—she had entered tho premises, it was true, but not for 'drink. "I thought it was a bonrdmgbouse," she said. 'Indeed, I did; ifind I asked for- a drink of water. If I knew it was an hotel, I would not have gone in there. lam sure I will watch my footsteps in future." . She repeated this explanation two or llircc times, together with a statement that a certain Justice of the Peace had been kind enough to give her 4S. a week for a room. > The Magistrate, however, was even more kind than this Justice, and ho gave' the accused the uso of a little room for a month without any charge whatsoever, except that he imposed a line of 40s. ou : tlm ; other charge nf going into tho "boardinghouso for water." ' Perhaps i the -accused was pleased at the liberality of the Magistrate, for as she left the dock she dropped a littlo curtesy, and murmured "A ■ Happy Christmas, Sir!"