QUIVERFUL'S TROUBLES.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 86, 6 May 1882, Page 121

QUIVERFUL'S TROUBLES.

Feom remote ages poets, philosophers, and minstrels have rhymed, preached, and sung, of the blessings of wedlock as the grand consum- . niation reached by faithful hearts who, in the closing scenes of romance, "live happy ever after." In Sacred Writ the reward promised to the pious and virtuous is, that his seed shall be as the sands of the sea. In the same pages we read of women who, being barren, have been, ready to "curse Grod and die," because of their unfruitf ulness ; whilst the wife, who had borne her lord goodly sons and daughters, lifted up her voice in praise and rejoicings for the Divine favour shown her. In every age and in every country, when a. young man, with the ardor of romance strong within him, wins and weds the object of his affections, he pictures in his mind's eye the pleasant fireside, with his flock of 'little ones growing tip around him. He looks upon it> and has been taught to regard it as one of the great beatitudes of this life. Up to the latest times this appears to have been the popular idea in connection with the interests of matrimony. When a baby is ushered into the world all the neighbours rejoice — the uncles, aunts, and cousins, send felicitations to the delighted parents. In the columns of our journals these events are prominently recorded ; and when such auspicious occasions as the advent of twins, or the still more interesting invasion of triplets occurs, the press does not fail to touch a tender cord in the bosom, of society in general. In the eyes of economists the strength of a nation is assured by the multitude of its healthy and vigorous children, whilst Heaven itself is described as the Horne — pure and simple — of little children, being an allegory of innocence and purity. Therefore a man with, many olive branches should be a happy and proud man, to be held in high esteem by his fellows. This much and more I said to my excellent; friend, Quiverful, who has just arrived in our northern metropolis, and whom I met, looking very dejected and haggard. "All you have been telling me with, sentiment so intense is utter rubbish," he rejoined savagely* " It is all very well to prime yourself with what you read in books, and to recite thrilling instances ' from biblical lore ; but your premises prove nothing. Miserable bachelor that you are (you always were too great a coward to look at a,, woman), what can you teach mci. of the benedic- ■; tine state. You must, forsooth, believe all you see in print ; but, also, to quote a Scriptural authority, I repeat, " All men are liars." T prefer to judge the world by actual experience than be guided by the cant of pudding-headed authors' and loose limited poets. A man witli. a family, or *» ' youngsters is highly honoured, eh ! He has performed a sacred duty to his country^ ha 3 he ? Well ! you are at liberty to apply ' those lauda- i tionsto me, for you are a\rare that wortliyi^^^ Q. has given me many pledges 5 'andFydu^^^^

Tcnow that, in the service of my country, I have liad to travel from one part of the colony to the other- with all my belongings. Thus you find us here. Now, at the first town we sojourned in for the night, we made for the first hotel with our branches spread to the right and left of us, and "were met at the door by the landlord. When I asked for a night's lodging, he glared at the kids, scowled at us both, turned on his heel and walked away without deigning a reply to my request. From one hotel and boarding-house to another, weary and hungry, we dragged our limbs with the same result, the youngsters being the Mie noir in each case. "We had just decided to return to the station and beg the loan of a railway van for the night, when I met an acquaintance who took us in, like a good Samaritan ; I cannot say Christian. When we sat in our seats in the railway train, with our flock around us, we had to face the scowls of a hundred eyes directed towards us like a battery of artillery. We began to feel we were malefactors, and that society would feel relieved if we allowed a few of the brood to be drowned, like an overplus of puppies, in a bucket of water. At Wellington we w;ent to an hotel for the night, but when the •waiter saw us his visage fell a yard, and he went for the hostess, who exclaimed on seeing us, " Grood Lord, and all those children ! No, we have no accommodation." She hurried us out of .her house without allowing us to rest our tired bodies. Here (in Auckland) house agents refuse to let their houses to us, because of the terrible lot of children. Our family number seven, but we are treated like lepers when moving abroad. We are snubbed by churlish fellow passengers, loutish hotelkeepcrs, and insolent officials alike. We are preyed upon by cabbies, porters, and servants. Condoled and sympathised with, like afflicted mortals, by your • large-minded people ; and all because we have with iis a family not. half a3 numerous as most complete ones in this and the Old Country. A good colonist, and a man to be respected by his fellows, am I ? No ! the world is only charitable in its feelings when it can be so ostentatiously and cheaply. We are social criminals, and by Q-eorge ! sir, I'll pin my faith on Bradlaugh for the future." So Quiverful departed and left me to my reflections. GrItUTIAIT.