A Biblical Chapter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3758, 13 January 1881, Page 2

A Biblical Chapter.

1. Now ij; came to pass that the prophet went up into a high mountain, and when. he was set he opened his mouth and thus spake :

2. •'• Now there liveth among you a bird of Passage, whose name ye all know, and so therefore it booteth not that I should disclose it unto ye. This man war tall and slim as the poplar, yea, and his limbs were so long that he had the appearance of being split too high up. 3. And lo ! he was a trafficker in electric apparatus, and was employed by the Sannedrin to send the words that fell from the mouth of the wise men.

4. And yea, he was very fond- of a certain game of chance which is called ecarte.

5. And it came lo pass that one night he happened to meet an acquaintance of his, yea, a man after his own, heart r who had beea taking too much pf the wine. 6. Then said the electricianyto the man of the Pump, 'Come now let us beguile the hours with ecarte,' ati'd b>hold.he had a wicked wink in his eye as/te said so. 7. And they did even as pie electrician had said.

8. And they played for some time, yea, far into the darkness of the night. 9. And it came to pass that a man passed by the house,in which they were, and he heardjgrievous noises which made' his heart sick. \

10. And he looked in at the window and did listen, and behold he saw the man of the Pump and the electrician arguing in a high tone of voice. >

And lo! the Pump" man said: ' Give unto me the gold and the silver to the amount of £5 10s which thou hast lost, thou rascal." :t: * ' - *

12. Then did the electrician, say: • Nay, but pry thee. stay thine hand; how much will thou lake an I give it thee in cash?'

13. And the Pump man returned :— "I will c'en chastise thee with my faot an thou doest not anty up." ' 14. " Nay! cease thy unchristian threats. Hold, I will c'en give thee £4 15s Od for the debt an thou wilt .not make me timid by looking so fierce."

15. And lo! the Pump man took the £'115s Od as he said he ,was afraid of getting none at all.

16. "Friends beware of that man who loseth £5 and then requires a discount. Yea, give him a discount friends."

17. And the people did even as the prophet said, they presented him with a steerage ticket to Auckland, which was of the ralue of five shillings.

18. Now these things came to pass in the Ist year of the reign of J. E.C—— over the Postal and Telegraph Departments. '..'. .'.•'■-.'■.■','