So it Might Have Been.

Manawatu Herald, 31 March 1894, Page 3

So it Might Have Been.

■- - . — : » lie was an eminently companionable old gentleman, and the flask that ho carried was as capacious as. . tho quality; of 4ts contents was good, lie • beguiled, the railway journey between Bourke and Sydney with a wealth of . narrative reminiscent of, the early days of the mother colony, for he was a very old colonist. Frank) too t and communicative, without the slightest hesitation about the ship that he came out in. " Yes, the Government provided me with a free passage, But, let me tell ye, young feller, that wur no disgrace in them days. It win 1 the game laws, an' they don't send men out for that nowadays." He told us all about his early career, and how he had prospered " after doin' of his time." His five boys too were frequently; mentioned. " Fine, boys they are, lad;; fine boys as ever, stepped: I ,' " Haye they also done as Well a# their father?" was asked. "No," he' regretted to say, c ' They had been rather unfortunate ; one of 'em was in politics, and four in gaol." General commiseration,, and as the flask went round again J one of the ■party; who, it was observed, travelled pn a member's pass, remarked sympathetically that " that was bad," "Yes, bad ; bad enough, no doubt" (this briskly and cheerfully), '*%it !; bless ye jfmiglit abeen worse." '" how ?'' "Well, it might abeen the other way about, and four of 'em might ab^en in politics.".