HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 9038, 30 December 1907, Page 8

HALCOMBE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

So far the holidays have been quiet, though sociable ; many of onr residents have sought larger and more distant fields for their frolics. What has marred the full enjoyment of the festive Reason is the fact that death has claimed both young find old. My sympathy is with the bereaved, to whom a “merry Christmas” is a mockery. The silent and sudden death of Mr H. Sommerville lias been reported in your columns. When the manner of it is shown in print it appears dreadful and tragic to the general public; to one who feared a lonely and lingering death for him the end was merciful. I had known the deceased for many vears, and knowing his habits and infirmities feared the probable. The reports that got into the papers are correct in three particulars —he was an old-age pensioner, very deaf, and was killed by the cowcatcher of a passing engine catching his head; but he was unmarried, he never had a horse killed under him, the train never knocked a tin from his shoulders, nor did it ever nearly run over him, and he was not a total abstainer. He was a man of many parts, one of those who have always interested me, and who often offend others for the reason that they fail to discover’ in a possibly unattractive exterior traces of sterling stuff beneath. The deceased had received what in his dav was considered a “liberal education,” which in itself may be accepted as an indication of the position of “his people,” and the nature of his early environment. He sometimes propounded problems in Euclid, etc., that made his audience “sit up.” I have complimented him upon his piano playing, and received in reply—“ Not now; one time, yes; hut I have a S 2 S t er . ’ ’ Relying upon his deafness, I accepted his challenge at chess, but he soon discovered that I was receiving instruction from a spectator; but that knowledge did not disconcert him or check his winning game. In a hundred up at billiards he could give me fifty and a flogging. In his business hargaini ugs I found him honest and exact. Politics had no charm for him, and rears ago, before knowing particulars, I tried to secure his vote. With one hand gripping his nose, the other encircling his ear, he listened patiently; then he confessed his lack of interest in such things; he would like verv much to oblige me, but the other man has always been good to me, and . Nuff said. “I did not know; give'him your vote,” I shouted, “and 50 more if you can,” and once again the stuffing was knocked out of me by the late Henry Sommervile, who had forgotten more than many know, and like those lonely Arctic explorers, lie in his loneliness sometimes failed to remember that society and its usages had still a claim upon him. Rest in Peace! Santa Glaus’ wet was warmly welcomed bv all of us, and the splendid rain on Christmas eve and mom will prove a valuable Christmas box to our farmers. Hogan had the tip from the stable, “Tin-can can’t lose the first race,” and ho persuades Dooley to accompany him to the races. Hogan puts his ten on Tin-can. Bookie, who has been blowing on his diamond ring to keep it cool, drops the ten on "the heap and calls, “Thirteen thousand to ten Tin-.can, Maxey.” He went up in the grandstand to see the race. “They’re at the post,” says Hogan. “Where?” says I. “Over there,” says he, pointing to where a group of horses were kickjner Ocicii other. 1 ‘ That Vicin ugevt the fiuoe is Tin-can; he’s in good spirits,” says he. “He is that,” «avs I.” “'How happy he seems. Look, he thinks the race is the other way round. Now that fellow has caught him, an’ is towin’ him np to the start; another man is beltin’ him wid a whip; now he’s thried to bite bis jockey’s leg ott; now lie’s kicking the horse nixt to him,” “Glory be, but lie’s the foiue mettlesome! crather. Did je ever think iv bayin’ him, an’ tapin’ him in the house?” says I. Hogan made no reply, but give a low painful moan. “They’re off!”’ I'rom that time on I was savin’ me new hat from the purple parasol iv the lady sittin’ nixt to me. I he moment the race started she threw qtt jiR reserve, an’ many of her hairpins, an’ began batin’ at me new hat. “Como on,” says the lady, ‘come on. you, Finkydo. Come on your seal. Oh, you liukydo, says she, lashiu’ away at me new luit. Aud then she swooned away. Thatd's all I seen in the race. I looked over at Hogan. His face was light green in colour; he was up his programme with hand, an’ twistin’ a button on wid the other. “Money is tiling to have, an W6 have to assodelightful household icin’ early in arr bliu . y me. -is ree to 'uey visitor out I’yee

heerd it said that all life’s Ba gamble.” ‘“lt is,” said _Mr Dooley, ‘“but it ain’t a bad idee whin ye set into th’ game to larn how to play it, an’ to cut th’ cards On behalf of the Halcombe invalid I have to thank Miss Elida Eng for box of stamps.