Too Much Proverb

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 5

Too Much Proverb

While the prisoners in the Auckland gaol were out in the yard a few days ago, two of them who were under sentence to Mount JMen, were heard comparing notes about themselves as follows : *I don't believe in proverbs,' said: prisoner number one, *\t ia believing in proverbs that brings me here.' 'How so ?' said number two. ' Well, you see when I was a boy, I often ■een folks pick up pins, and when I asked them why they did it they said ; 'If you see a pin and let it lay, You will have bad luck all tho day.' ' •Yes, that's so. I've heard that myself,' . * Well, it don't. I have picked up a pin, and I've had bad luck ever since. I was arrested the very same day, and now I'ye got to go to the penitentiary for three years.' 1 What has that to do with picking up DJns ?' asked number two. 1 Well, you see the pin picked up was * diamond pin worth £600. ' 1 believed in the proverb about having good luck, so I picked up the pin in a show case, but they telephoned for a policeman, and here I am,' and he winked at the gaoler. The other prisoner thought for a moment, and then he said : * When I come to think of it, proverbs are what have brought me into this fix.' ' How so V asked the man who had picked upthe pin forgood luck. * Well, I heard abouthorseshoes bringing you luck, bo I picked up horseshoes. Horseshoes are my weakness.' 'Them horseshoes you went oft' with were fastened unto another fellow's horse, weren't they ? ' queried number one. * Jess so.' * When J ges out I'm. not goinjr to tamper \fith any more proverbs,' remarked number two, * Me neither,' responded number one. * Fall in, boys,' said the gaoler, and they 5 went back' to their co/v retreats on the I inside of the gaol.