A 'POSSUM STORY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4970, 13 December 1884, Page 4

A 'POSSUM STORY.

" Uncle Mose, why does your boy not go to work ? He seems to be idling away his time. This'il never do, you know at his age."

•'Oh no, Marster Gawge, he ain't no idle boy, Pete ain't. He's gittin' larnin pow'fiil fast up at de 'cademy. I'm makin' a scholard ob him. Yo' Pete, come here, and show de ge'man how yo' kin spell; bring him yo' gogerfy book till he *xes yer some spellin' outeh it." The gentleman asked Pete how to spell cow, mule, ostrich, horse, etc., all of which he spelled correctly. Then, closing the book, he asked Pete to spell " 'possum," Pete made several attempts, but failed.

"Heah, yo' Pete," said Uncle Mose, "yo' good-far-nuffin, wuffless boy, what yo' mean py spellin' de la'ge animulea, sich as de boss, an' de mule, an' de hostrich, an' not bein' able to spell a po' little insignificant bird like de 'possum. Yo' better study pQw'ful quick on de 'possum, or first ting yo' know yer'llbe hoein' inde cotton patch."

Carlyle says "laughter means sympathy." This will bring comfort to the man who has inadvertently trodden on an ppftDge or banana peel.

A matrimonial adage— If yon cannot marry the girl you want, wed the girl who wants you.

Catabbh of the Bladdeb.—-Stinging irritation, inflammation, all Kidney and similar Complaints, cured by " Bucbu-paiba." At druggists. Kempthorne, Prosser & Co., Agents, Auckland