THERE'S MANY A SLIP.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 259, 24 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

THERE'S MANY A SLIP.

Jinks will never forget last Christmas Day. On the 23rd ho received two letters by the lirst post. One was from his friend. Jack Smith, asking him to play in a cricket match on Christmas morning; the other was an invitation from his employer, whose name was also Smith, to spend Christmas Day at his home.

Now, Jinks had long admired from afar his employer's daughter, so this invitation was like opening the gates of Paradise to him.

Ho promptly sat down and wrote a brief note of acceptance on an elaborate shoot ot notepaper. while to his other friend he sent a scrawl across an odd half-sheet.

On Christmas morning Jinks was surprised to see Jack Smith burst into his room, exclaiming:— "Why. aren't you readyf" "Ready? I wrote and told ,>ou I couldn't play." "Nonsense! You wrote mo a courteous note accepting my invitation. I took your excessive politeness as a joke. "Then the guv'nor got the scrawl intended for you!'' Jinks gasped. "What did it say. old man?" " 'Dear Smith.—Rats! I've got something lietter on !' " ''How happy little Tommy looked when lie sat down to the Christmas feast! The table fairly groaned under tho weight of good things." "That's very nice/'

"Yes; but after the feast it was little Tommy who groauod under tho weight of the good things.

STILL DOING IT. This planet has going strong in theeo tow ; lioiisand ye: rs : The education system's changed since Dickons wrote of Squecrs; The airship hcat.s the bullock-cart- with solid wooden wheels. And old straw ticks felt- nothing like t\ modern mattress feels. The cypress shingle roof is more protective than a thatch - Hut people still hunt g:is leaks with a match

Philosophy's progressed a h i since time of Aristotle, Siuco old Xantippo drove her Soc. to hit tho hemlock bottle. Tlio telephone, tho wireless —oh why enumerate 'em? Tho incubator's roblxsl the hen of all slio had to hatch Hut people still hunt gas leaks with a match!

Wo shall not say a word about the cheerful human coat Who takes a party rowing and jocosely rocks the lmat; We'll even fail to mention that pupremelv dotty one Who pulls tl'io playful trigger of the long-unloaded gun. Bv other things we know our race has never left the scratch— Don't people still hunt gas leaks with a match?

Jinks: "I'm stopping smoking this week." Blinks: "Throat sore?"

Jinks: "No; but I'm afraid if I don't my wife will give me cigars at Christmas.