A Refractory Pauper.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 408, 5 October 1889, Page 3

A Refractory Pauper.

Mary Akk Sibley has been with justice entitled a 'refractory pauper.' The story of her achievements, as told at the Marlborough-streetpolicecourt, is proof that the materials for tragic comedy are to be found in a workhouse now as well as in the days of the contemporaries of Mr Bumble Mary Ann seems to have been off and on a guest of the ratepayers all her life. ' I was picked up in the atreets,' &he said to Mr Newton, • when j a baby, and I don't know, and never did, who my parents were.' On Saturday last she discharged herself from Poland-street Workhouse, only to return near midnight on Tuesday. Though ' a greyheaded old woman,' she was as * boisterously active in her demand for entry into what may be regarded as her home as any unrepentant youthful prodigal. She rang the bell violently, hammered at the door, and in stentorian tones commanded the porter to let her in. That functionary, judging, to upe the language of Burns, that Mary AnD had just ' a drappie in her cc,' had her taken to the police-station. Next day, acting on the advice of Mr Hannay, she went back to the workhouse, but not in a nice frame of mind. Yesterday, at an early hour, her suppressed emotions sought a vent. Mary Ann made faces at the official reading morning prayers, and then knocked over the form on which she had been sitting. Remonstrance was of no avail ; Mary Ann 4 became defiant, and remained so until prayers were ended.' ' Sweet is revenge ' is a sentiment shared by Mrs Sibley with the great Lord Byron. From 'pious ori«ons' Mrs Sibley adjourned to the room of Miss Sarah Jones, labour-mistress, and her performance there cannot be better described than in the language of that lady. ' She smashed,' bays Mips Jones, 'my two beautiful teapots— my fine old-fashioned china teapot lying all in pieces, and that was worth five pounds — my handsome clock and any chimney ornaments, and tried to wrench away the .glass over the mantel. She had also turned out the contents of my handbag and pur&e.' Miss Jones more briefly, but not less eloquently, pointed out to fche magibtrate what physical injury Mary Ann 'had done her. • What did she do to you f .asked Mr Newton. f Just look at .my nose,' replied Miss Jone« with "Spartan brevity ; ' it's all scratched down/ M»ry Ana's attitude towards tbe labour-

mistress was unsoftened by contemplation of the wounded organ. • I won't talk to her,' she remarked indignantly, • she has behaved so badly to me ;' and for her offences, this veteran and vindictive pauper goes to prison for two months. — * Daily Chronicle.'