"LAMBING DOWN."

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 179

"LAMBING DOWN."

Such, might be the title of the affecting tale which is told of a woeful tragedy which has recently been enacted in the Waikato country. It is a tale of blighted affections, blasted hopes, and empty pockets, all through the seductive charms of a bewitching syren who lately was the light of a Waikato township, but who has now (as we are somewhat prosaically informed) "gone up country farming." A young and impressionable man of good family and aesthetic tastes was among the latest victims of the deadly charms of this fair maid. Mr Sunflower (as we will call him) was dreadfully "mashed" upon the alluring charmer who smiled sweetly upon him, while " par " and " mar " lent their countenance to his suit, and encouraged his visits. He lavished presents upon the object of his adoration, which

were all coyly accepted, -without the susceptible fellow being one whit the richer by any return of love from the cruel fair one. As a sample of how he was " bled " by the iiappy family combination, we are told that at a recent sale of a bankrupt's drapery stock Mr Sunflower was induced to be present along with his innamorata, her mother, and ier sister. They encouraged the infatuated youth to spend his money on various articles offered for sale, and the upshot was that his pockets were swept clean, while mother and daughter had splendid new dresses bestowed upon them. The drooping Sunflower, "dead-broke," came to Auckland for a short season to recuperate, intending to return shortly and marry the fair enslaver upon whom all his money had been lavished.

When lie returned, lie found that his lady-love was wondrously changed. She seemed to know that she had sipped the last drop of honey, and that henceforth he was nothing to her. Then came the removal of the family to follow bucolic pursuits in the back country, and young Sunflower was left sadlj to reflect on the proverb which refers to a fool and his money, and on the words of the poet — " Woman ! thy vows are traced on sand I" The story we have told thus, under fictitious names, and with a few embellishments, is said to be a literal narration of the dreadful doings of a desperate Waikato jilt, who is alleged to have served more than one or two young men in similar fashion. It discloses a heartlessness on the part of the girl which is happily rare, and a depth of immorality and grovelling greed on the part of the parents which we would fain hope is rarer still. Of course, there are people who will not have much sympathy to spare for the young Sunflowers who have over and over got " crushed again "by thi3 terrible lady ; but though their fate serves them, right in a sense and ought to give them a useful lesson for the future, this does not in any way palliate the meanness and depravity of the father and mother, who are stated to make capital out of their daughter's charms at

the expense of susceptible mankind. Fortunately (or unfortunately for them and their daughter) there is a Nemesis that never fails to hunt down and punish such conduct, and they need not expect to escape retaliation in kind for their heartless deeds. The affair is said to be the talk of the township in -which the scene took place, and those who know the parties are loud in their execrations of the designing parents and daughter.