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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5290, 9 March 1878, Page 3

' The following amusing story from Bathurst comes to us through the M. A, Mail One of those thrifty 'females, of whom crusty bachelors say that the breed is fast dying out, resolved upon 1 converting a scarlet article of her apparel into a black one. The dye provided, amid which there was a quantity of nitrate of silver, and the article duly scaked therein by means of -a washing-ba-in, the good lady retired to her couch. Not being one of the Mrs. Gamp class, so fearfully known by some husbands as “ naggers,” this lady fell asleep. Her husband having returned after working very late, thought, in the excessive dusty and warm weather with which Bathurst has recently been so favored, that a good sluice would do him good. Accordingly, on going to the washingbaun he found some water already there, and duly washed himself prior to turning in. The next morning was Sunday, on which day it is said that people do not rise so early as on other days. Turning ini bed, as folk will do, the wife saw a face as black as a coal. With a scream and a spring she was soon out of bed and the whole house alarmed. She thought some son of Africa’s soil had occupied her husband’s half of the bed, and thus continued to scream the louder as her husband advanced to pacify her. Now most people are aware that nightshirts do not fall much below men's ■knees. Looking at the man as he approached her, this thrifty woman saw at a glance that though the face and hands were those of E-au, the legs were Jacob's. An explanation followed, and when Mr. G. beheld himself, as his wife held the mirror up to nature, his exclamations may not have been loud, but they were deep. " :