Gleanings.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XII, Issue 1, 4 January 1893, Page 4

Gleanings.

When Children Grow.

The year of greatest growth in boys is the 17th ;in girls the 14th. While girls reach full height in their 15th year, they acquire full weight at the age of 20. Boys ure stronger than prirls from birth to the 11th year, then girls become physically superior until the 17th year, when the tables are again turned, and remain so.

A Bad Practice.

Waiter : I see they are trying to put a stop to all betting in Manchester. Excursionist: I’m glad of it. Betting is a pernicious practice. I hope thev will stop it. Waiter : But they can’t do it. Excursionist t Can’t do it ? I’ll bet you £lO they can.

Tit for Tat.

An old story which will bear repeating is that of a farmer’s daughter who bad agreed to elope with a lover whom her parents refused to admit to the house. She descended the ladder in the night, and started with him on horseback. ‘ Now, you see how much I love you,’ she said ■ ‘ you will be always a true and kind husband, won’t you ?’ He answered gruffly, * Perhaps I may, and perhaps not.’ She rode in silence a few minutes, when she suddenly exclaimed, ‘ Oh ’ what shall We do 5 I have left my money behind me in my room ? ‘ Then,’ said he, ‘we must go back and fetch it.’ They Were soon again at the house, the ladder was again placed, the lady re-mounted, while the ill-natured lover remained below. But she delayed to come, and so he gently called, ‘ Are you coming ?’ when she looked out of the window, and said, ‘ Perhaps I may and perhaps not,’ and then shut down the window.

Columbus and St Patrick.

During the recent celebrations at New York an Irishman is said to have stated to a compatriot bis conviction that Columbus was a greater man than St Patrick. His friend at first expressed iuaiirnation at. this disloyal view, but laughed at the explanation : “ Sti Patrick discovered a country which Irishmen have never been able to rule. Columbus discovered a country that has always been ruled by Irishmen.”

“Captain, 1 Must Burn Your Ship.”

An incident, related in the recent biography of Sir Provo Wallis, admiral of the British fleet, brings home to the reader the cruel nature of war. It occurred during the war of 1812. An American captain had taken a fine ship to Lisbon, where he had sold her cargo for the use of the British army under Wellington, and received several thousands of dollars in return, which were on board. Meantime war had been declared, and nn her homeward voyage she fell a victim to the British squadron. One of the principal objects of her cap-

tors w-as to obtain information. The American captain was sent on board the Shannon—which afterward captured the Chesapeake—but was kept in ignorance of tbe war and of the fact that he was a prisoner. He answered unreservedly all rhe questions put to him, and Captain Broke, who greatly disliked the deception he had been obliged to practice, now felt it difficult to make the prisoner acquainted with the next step which must be taken. At length he forced himself to say : ‘ Cantain, I must burn your ship? The American, overcome hy surprise, faltered, ‘ Burn her ?’ ‘ Indeed, I must? ‘ Burn her for what ? Will not money save her? She is all my own—and all the property I have in the world, la it war, then ?’ ‘Yes? said Broke. Both parties were painfully moved and the scene did not end without a tear from each; but duty was duty, and theprize was destroyed.