HE WOULD SPEAK.

Kumara Times, Issue 1388, 14 March 1881, Page 3

HE WOULD SPEAK.

The Other night, when a certain club had gathered in its hall, a member announced the serious illness of one of the officials. A second member at once moved to the platform and said : tt Gentlemen, —No one can regret this Bad news more that I do, It seems to toe that the Occasion calls for a few Remarks expressive of sympathy and Condolence. Ido not wish to occupy your valuable tide, but I feel it a duty to.' say of the ailing brother——.” Here a member came up stairs and announced that the person was dead. He had just heard the news on the street. xt Yery well) then/ 5 continued the Speaker, “ remarks eulogistic of his toany virtues are certainly in order after this announcement, and I can go ahead without fear of transgressing upon the time of the club. We all knew the deceased. We were all familiar with his many noble traits of character. A brother has died, and a kihg has fallen. ; It . will he long ere wjßrr-—” Here another dilatory member put in an appearance and annonneed that the person referred to was not deid or even ill, but Was in perfect health. Without the least change of countenance the speaker continued : “ That being the case, I deem it my duty to. indulge in a few remarks on the happiness we all most feel at knowing that our dear brother still lives. Life is but a span, and man cometh up like a flowter and is ciE down. The familiar faces besides us today may ttest,in the grave to-morrow. Death CCmes so silently and swiftly that ” Here the person himself entered the hall, having been detained beyond his usual time by some occurrence in the Street. The speaker didn’t seem in the least put o\it, but wavedhis hand around the hall and said:—“l certainly an nbt trespassing upon the valuable time df the club when I say that we all rejoice to see our brother here. I am now more than ever convinced that I should indulge in a few remarks. I •frill go back to the beginning, But the club rose as one man and choked him off, and the meeting opened for the despatch of business.—American Traveller.