A CUTE LONDON GAMIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 87, 1 August 1876, Page 2

A CUTE LONDON GAMIN.

The other day (says a London letter) a rustic individual came to London by train to witness the reception of the Prince of Wales. A man who had come in the same third-class carriage with him admonished this rustic, when they were parting just outside the London station, that he should be very careful of his money, as many thieves would be in the crowd. " Oh," said the rustic, " nobody'U get my money ; I liave only one pound, and I mean to' keep that in my mouth." This remark was overheard by one of our small but clever street boys, who watched his opportunity, and when the honest countryman had got a few hundred yards on his way, suddenly scattered a few pennies on the ground before him, and began to pick them up again, crying to the rustic as he did so : "You gimnVe that sovrin !" The rustic looked bewildered. "You gimme that sovrin," shouted the small boy. " I seen you pick it up and put it in your mouth." A crowd began to collect, and asked the boy what was the matter. "Why," cried the little rogue, "I was agoin' 'long with one Pun sixpence in my hand, carryin' it to mother, 'n somebody run agin me an' knocked it all on the ground, 'n this man lie took up the sovrin' an' I seen 'im put it in 'is mouth." The astounded rustic attempted to explain, but his voice was thick ; something plainly was in his mouth, and an honest British public forced him to disgorge. The poor rustic was glad to get oft without his pound and with whole bones ; the boy went off with the gold in his pocket; 'and the honest British public distributed itself, each member thereof satisfied that a scoundrel had been defeated in his attempt to rob a small boy engaged in filially supporting his aged mother.