ALMOST A TRAGEDY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 125, 24 December 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

ALMOST A TRAGEDY.

The man stood and gazed spell-bound into the eyes of the lion. The glittering orbs held him as in a trance, and he tried in rain to throw off the horrible influence.

There was death lurking deep down in those baleful depths, and he was so young yet —quite a j'outh! The sinewy brute took a step nearer, and a ghastly set of fangs came into view. What a shocking death, thought the. man, to be torn and mangled by tho=e two rows of yellow teeth! Would there be much pain? j Perhaps the first crunch would end everything, and yet the agony might be prolonged indefinitely, according to the humour of the brute.

The tawny shape was nearer now, and he ::ould almost feel the hot breath upon his face! Frantically he fought against the hypnotic power of those eyes and turned away. Fear left him and he laughed aloud. "Ha! ha!" he exclaimed, "What a good job the bars are there!" Then he walked on to the next cage, for the zoological gardens closed at six o'clock. "

A TRIER.

The physician had been treating a man for dyspepsia for a long time, and finally wishing to know how hiy patient was coming on, he told him to take a certain medicine, which he had made up in the form of a pill, just before, going to bed, in order to see if he could retain it on his stomach during thenight. - \. The next day the man called, and tn■ physician asked him the result. "Obg it was all right, doctor," he said, "a* long as I was awake, but when I wen* to sleep it rolled off." THEN NURSE WAS CALLED. Tommy: "Do you go to bed verj early, Mrs. Graymare?" Mrs. G.: " Yesfi Tommy, sometimes —when 1 feel tired."

Tommy: " You wouldn't go mi earl.t if you were married to my pa, woulc you ?"

Mrs. G.: "Oh, Tommy, you funn, boy; why not?" Tommy: " 'Cos my pa told my m that if ho were your husband, he'i make you sit up!"

A motorist, who was touring in Ire land, one day met a native who wa driving a donkey and cart. Thinking he would like to have a lit tie fun at the Irishman's expense,, h l>egan : "What is the difference, Pat, be tween your turnout and mine?" "Oh, not a great dale," promptly r« plied Pat. ,r Shure, the donkey s i the shafts in the wan, and on the sea in the other."

Robert, aged four, the chubby an pretty son of a (scientist, had lived i; the country most of his short life, 0. Christmas Day a caller from the neai by city, wishing to make friends witi the little fellow,-took him on his kne

and asked, "Are there any fairies your woods here, Robert!"' "No."' responded Robert prompt! " but there are edible fungi."