HE ERRED FOR ONCE IN HIS CHRISTENING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1885, 30 April 1889, Page 4

HE ERRED FOR ONCE IN HIS CHRISTENING.

Says a Melbourne correspondent:— A good story is told of a Roman Catholic bishop who gave one of his priests in a rural district of Australia the serviceable gift of a horse. To commemorate the circumstance the young priest named the animal after the donor, and “ Saddle the Bishop,” “ Peed the Bishop,” “ Water the Bishop,” and so forth, became familiar phrases in his household Some time after the children of the parochial schools were ready for confirmation, and a day was fixed by the diocesan to confer this sacrament of the Roman Catholic Church upon them. The priest, who was the soul of hospitality, invited the principal official persons in the district to meet the bishop at dinner after the ceremony. It was a sweltering hot day in the Australian midsummer, and, just as the distinguished company sat down to table, the door slowly opened, and the priest’s groom put his head into the room and whispered, “ Might I have a word with your reverence ?” “ Oh, not now, Mick, Don’t you see Pm engaged with His Lordship ? Come to me after dinner.” ■‘lt’ll be too late then, your reverence.” The bishop considerately suggested that Michael should be heard ou the spot. “Well, Mick, His Lordship will permit you to tell what you want at once.” “It’s a horrid hot day, your reverence; I was thinking whether I oughtn’t to throw a bucket of water on the bishop !”