SOME GOOD STORIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 125, 18 May 1908, Page 4

SOME GOOD STORIES.

A MODEST REQUEST. A little tot of five who was very ■weary was being put to bed one night and as she knelt, to say her prayers, turned to her mother and said sleepily: "Oh, mamma, I'm so tired, may f only B ay 'Amen' to-night V OIL ON THE WATERS*. Two little girls, Lily and Violet, were playing iji a yard, where they had strung some twine for a clothes line, and were washing their dolls' garments in a diminutive tub, and hanging them out to dry. Aloii'r came Lily's brother, Master ■lack, the juvenile tease, and with one sweep of his hand jerked the whole day'a washing from the line, and scattered it on the grass. Lily bubbled over in teat's at once to sec the dolls' dresses all soiled.

Violet was saddened, but the necessity of playing peacemaker in the impending family quarrel Wlls the first thought in her mind, so she said soothingly: "-Never mind, Lily; let's play Jack! was a high wind."

JUST i,IKK A MAX. An old gentleman was present at the reading of the will of a distant relative. lie had hardly expected to lind himscll remeinliereil in il; but pretty soon a clause was read in which a certain held was willed to him.

That was good. Hut the document went on to bequeath the old grey mare 'ii tin- said field to someone else —a man whom the old gentleman hated. This was too much for hi s cijunnimily. and he interrupted the solemn proceedings and brought a smile to (he faces of the company by exclaiming: " Then she's eating my grass."

ONI- OF 111 1C WOHST. ill*. Swiuliuriic, tin", famuli- poet, iolls tlic following dolcl'ul anecdote of liis Hi-st ■•half" ill. Ktoii. His father. Admiral Swinburne, in—l—i<-<! 11 |ioii going down to escort his -mi home. They chanced tu ■.■ liter 1 tie s:iini' railway t-jirriiijfis as that in which Dr. Hoodford, the- headmaster of Eton, was comfortably scaled, reading the Times. "Isn't that Dr. (ioodt'ord?" whispered the Admiral, staring- curiously in that direction. '•■ "- v, *i " 1 believe it is," stammered Algernon! with much einhai-russiiient. " lic.linvc it is!'' repeated liis fiithcr. "Surelv yon must knoiw your own schoolmaster';" Then, willi sulilime ignorance of (lie oli.piclle of I he great school, the olllcer accosted the Presence ill the. corner. "Dr. Hoo.lford, I believe, sir."

The doctor, annoyed at the interruption of a stranger, angrily admitted liis identity with, "\es, sir; at your serliee," in tones that made the young Algernon l|ll!lil. "Well, sir," continued the bluff Admiral. " inv liov here has just finished his first term 'at Eton, and I should like to know what account you can give me of him." The doctor, n-lio had never seen the future pool, and who had probably never even heard of him, enraged at v.lniirnl Swinburne's unconventional inleiiuption. Hushed an angry scarlet, glanced ill the miserable boy, and said with frosty deliberation: " Your hoy, sir—your boy is one of J the very worst in the school!" lie intrenelied himself once more be hind the Times, and an unpleasant silence reigned in the carriage until ['adding! mi -was reached. II was then [hat the viols of Hie Admiral's wrath were poured over his son's head. Vainly the latter protested that the duel or knew nothing about him. "Do you think." angrily questioned his father, "that I'm going to take your word before vnnr headmaster's?"

i And so no.>r Algernon was sentenced I to deprivation of every Christmas pleasure and festivity during the coining holidays.