"Shining Lights."

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3942, 17 August 1881, Page 2

"Shining Lights."

[By x Schoolboy.]

About three years ago, ohe of the influential members of a certain church not a hundred miles from Shortland, was very much annoyed. It came about in this way. Mr Twinkle was in the habit of regularly attending his place of worship, and was noticeable among the giddy maidens and their babbling lovers who held sweet converse in the chapel, while the prayers of the devout ascended to the Heavenly Throne. Ido not mean to say that Mr Twiokle was noticeable for his giddy and thoughtless behaviour in church —by no means. He was conspicuous for the devout manner in which he conducted himself while at service, and was generally considered as an angel in earthly garb. •

The eyes of Mr Twinkle never rested ,on the young ladies in the clioir, but were always fixed with wrapt attention on the preacher.

Unfortunately, for the eyes, an avenue of blazing gas lights intervened between the shepherd and his pet lamb, much to the annoyance and discomfort of the latter.

How could he fix his attention on his pastor, without injury to his optics ?. But Mr Twinkle has a gigantic miad, and he determined to " get things righted." Accordingly, he gave notice to the Committee of the Church, that £if they would provide globes, he would pay the damage.

.Now, Hit elders of the church met in solemn conclave, and Mr Twinkle's proposition was discussed; but, lo ! the fates were unpropitious, and nothing was done.

Twelve weary months passed, and the glare of the gas caused weekly discomfort to Mr Twinkle, and each Suuday, as he sat in his accustomed seat, lie anathematised the aud swore he would leave the church.

At length, after loug patience, he made a vow to attend the church for the oenj last, time.

He did so. What was it made his eyes glisten as he entered the sacred edifice? Every jet was covered with a globe ! The globes were of a dirty white, but still they icere globes; although, as he remarked to himself, " they appeared to have been purchased at an auction of old crookeryware." The globes and their mysterious donor were ever a source of curiosity to the congregation, yet, opine what they would their inquisitiveness remained unanswered and unabated.

Eighteen months elapse, during which time Mr Twinkle has retrularly attended the church, and has closed his usual sabbath prayer, with a benediction on the donjr af the grotesque eye protectors. A.t length he is trudging, with his aocustoraed elasticity of step to business one morning, when he is thus accosted by Mr Graspall:— " Dear me, Mr Twinkle, I think there is a little account between us ? "

Mr Twinkle said he didn't remember ever having any business transactions with Mr Graspall. Mr Graspall said: "Oh. yes! lou remember the globes in the church. I supplied 'em and you promised to pay for

em, Mr Twinkle eyed the sharp and keen man of business and said, " Ob, that was three years ago, wasn't it ? But you might have let me see the globe-s firs';." Mr Graspall commenced a long-wiuded statement, and in despair Mr Twinkle pulled out his cheque book, wrote a cheque for the amount, and left.

He was very wrath, and by some curious process of reasoning mistook the oliureli for his plaoe of busiu&es. He

procured the key, entered the church, and carried away his globes—all but one for the parson.

Truly "my lord hath given, and my lord hath t'iken away." Sharp man, that Air Graspall.