A COOL WIDOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 911, 31 January 1882, Page 3

A COOL WIDOW.

ZBgles is responsible for the following mendacious anecdote ;—Near Monindie, on the Darling, one of the gentler sex is to be found who has had the misfortune to loose her belter half, on three, different occasions. Travellers say that she is by no means the most amiable of women, and this may account for the heavy rate of mortality among those unfortunates who venture to woo and win the widow, the roadside shanty, and the bit of other property. It is remarkable that each husband shuffled off the mortal coil in a different way—the first in the orthodox fashion, after a long illness ; the next succumbed from the effects of exposure in the bush, where lie had wandered after a drinking bout ;. and the third sent his ghost to that bourne from whence no traveller returns, by suspending himself by a rope to the branch of a gum tree in the neighborhood of the bush shanty. The deed w,as. done in the darkness of the night, and amidst the noise and confusion of a general carouse the landlord was not missed until the morning, when one of the more sober guests discovered him hanging, where the beef or mutton needed for the table of the tavern at other times was hung. The landlady was duly informed of the matter, and quietly had a sheet of paper placed around the remains of the departed (or suspended), and left them swaying to and fro until toe arrival of the trooper who was sent for, and had to come some distance. In the meanwhile, two wayfarers arrived at the place, and had their stock of tea, sugar, and flour replenished by the hostess, who informed one of them, in answer to his enquiry whether she had any meat that she was just out of that article. Noticing the enshrouded carcase hanging, the visitor naturally mistook it for a sheep just slaughtered, apd directed her ladyship’s attention to it. ‘‘Oh,” said she; “ w’.y, that’s mv Charlie ! Didn’t you hear that he had hung himself ?” as she weighed out another stone of sugar.