Peg and Peg Drinking Fair.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 431, 25 December 1889, Page 6

Peg and Peg Drinking Fair.

[Bvr R. Cranwell.]

This true lalo shows how that a worthy old couple drank so fair and saw so clear, tnab ' heads or toils ' wore ah »s oae.

Away back in (-ho uaily sixties, when our bobbies were ulad in blue jumner and leathern bolt, instead ot broadcloth and white glovos ; when count 1 y people came into Queen-street for their lobacro. boote, and Vanama hats : when roads aboi.-, Auckland were such that a driver \uui need to keep t>i*> weather oye open lest ho go over the bank : when Ben NewoH was an authority on horseflesh, and upurvoybr of dinner*, and beer ; among the regular m irkct day \ i-jitois to Auckland was nn industrious, luujjh, and worthy old couple from a western suburb, who, while they loved each other well, loved their beer somewhat better ; and having on theirhomeward journeyings (ctftor disposing of thoir garden stuff and taking up their return freiyht of l)eef, baccy, bomba1 zinc, boots,, and beer), had many a capsizo, though by reason of the sobriety and long expeiicnce of their horse, so far without serious damage Their luck at length turn, d, and they woro found one night impiisoned and badly bruised under their overturned carb, the frail harness permittin the horse to get clear. (Memo. Thope who use strong beer should take care that the harness is — weak. ) Thereafter they jointly and severally agreed to tako watch about, and that each in* turn should be sober enough to keep the cart on the road, and this ageement was long and faithfully carried out. But some evil spnte at length made Tim to chtifc under the ' prohibitory clauses,' and having gammoned Biddy that on this particular occasion it being, as he positively swore, I the birthday of his tiivrince, Father P., they i ought both to celebrate the ooaasion, which i they accordingly did with thorough impartiality ; but, being mindful of former mishaps, they resolved to start for home in I good time. i Now, the site of the present lock-up was then a vacant space and much u-ed hy country folk as a pl*ee on which to leave their carts and horses'. And there stood Tim's sober old horso between the shafts |of the cart, from which he had contentedly munched his oats. Together they quietly harnessed the hoise, and j mounting the seat, Tim shook the reiub , and called to the old beast to move alony — I but the animal would not go for Tim. So the good wite thinking herself the more | competent of the two took the reins while Tim foraged out tho old whip— but all in | vain — old horse would not stir a pin, but solemnly shook his head at each ob3'irgation of the astonished couple. ! Tim now dismounted, tried the harness all round, Biddy also mdde a t«>ur ol inspection, and finding nothing wrong they again mounted the driving seat and urged the boas:t to move on ; but to no purpose. Tim then again dismounted and made the discovery that they had securely yo^ed up the old horse just as he had stood in the shafts, tail first.