A SMART CHILD.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3519, 6 April 1880, Page 2

A SMART CHILD.

The following sample of the smartness, of colonial children^~»-Hr--?rh0lj», and .Timara-cirildren in partiealar, we can, vouch for. A gentleman whom we will call Mr A., was taking a constitutional wajk along one of the suburban roads of this, town the other day, when he noticed^girl about ten 'years old ahead of him. On overtaking her he found she was * examining the ground very carefully, and i crying as if her poor little heart would break. Being of a sympathetic nature, he" ! enquired the cause of her distress. "I— ~ I—l've 101-10-ost a shil il-lil-ling," the • sobbed, " and muth-thuth-thuther will whip me when-en I geget home." "Oh, ia that all," exclaimed the- gentleman; ; " well, here's another shilling, now you're all right," and, without waiting for thanks, passed on. A few moments afterwards "' he was overtaken by his friend 8., who , immediately informed him he had been acting the good Samaritan. "How's that ?" asked A, « Why, I came across a youngster who had lost a shilling and f was afraid to go home because her mother would whack her, so I gave her half-a-orown to balance her cash." ■ " The; deuce you did," replied A. " Well you were an ass. Why Fre just advanced her a shilling on the same account" Then you are as big a fool as me," exclaim* ' ed B. " I vote we go and hunt'her up."': •'No I'm hanged if I do," ejaculated A; " That child deserves to live. She ought to have been a he, and then she would have made a first-class bank, clerk or lawyer, or some other businessman. By Jove next time I meet her I'm hanged if I don't give her another shilling for her smartness." B did not see the matter ia the same light as his friend, and at first threatened to follow the child; then to acquaint the police; afterwards to write to "■> the papers, and finally, but not least wisely to go home to dinner and think over it* The. trick played by the child was undoubtedly a cunning one, and, as far as our knowledge goes, almost if not quite; an original one.—>Timaru Herald. '" '