The Too Honest Bootblack.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 290, 15 August 1888, Page 3

The Too Honest Bootblack.

' Look hcic, mistti ! Did you drop this hcie sovereign?' The ]>arty addicsscd turned aiound and looked at, tho bootblack, as the latter held oul a soveieign in his hand. ' Why, good gracious ! lot me &co — why, yes ; you'ic ti fine boy, you aio ; hero-hoic'ri a couple of .shillings for you. Thai's light, my boy : be hone&t — it pay^.' So fraying, the delighted man .slipped the so v eicign into his pocket and walked ofl. 'And you hadn't lost the money at all?' inquired a companion of the fortunate poshc&boi, as the two comfoi tahly jested their elbow& on the bar and pioceedcd to hide the respective cnd.s of their noses in a couple of glas-bCP. 'Of course not. But you f-ce, E gave Ihe kid two shillings, which was certainly fair. And I'm ju.st eighteen .shilling?., to the good,' exclaimed thoindhidual, a 1 - ho to&pcd the coin under difceussion on to the counter and called for change. Tho baimaid picked til) the coin, gave it a cniolos glance, and quietly pushed it back. ' Counterfoil !' she .said. For the next minute it Avas so quiet you could hear I/ho beer foam. ' And this the highly moral city of London !' biltcily exclaimed the duped man, us ho passed out into tho cheerless street. *To think that the very bootblacks arc dishonest V His feelings were- too deep for further utterance.

' Well, Wear,' said u Washington lius band, ' .shall wo go to t he theatie thib even' ing V ' What sort of a play is it V 'Comedy.' ' JJLow many aots ?' 'About five 1 Ihmk.' ' No, I don b think I'll go. Five drinks is more than you'd better take in ono ovening.' The oldest armchair in the world ib the throno of Queen Halafu, who lloun&licd in Egypt 1,600 years before Christ . It is made of ebony, and is beautifully carved. It is now ono ot the ticasures of the British Museum.