RAISING THE WIND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 9

RAISING THE WIND.

The Gulgong " Guardian " narrates the following : — It appears that an enterprising resident had tried many ways to keep the pot boiling, from shepherding on the Star to teaching a school, even running a coffee shop, where hot pies -aud a parch could be had at all hours of the night. In the last effort to live he failed, as the landlord seized his coffee can and fixtures for rent, and sold him off. Being determined to make tracks for a fresh opening for his hitherto unsuccessful abilities, a happy thought struck him. He would sell his wife for what she would fetch, and with the purchase money be able to clear out comfortably. The lower end of Her-bert-street is now almost wholly occupied by Chinese, who deal in almost everything. One of these Celestials soon became an intimate acquaintance with the vendor of coffee, and openly expressed his admiration for Mrs Coffee shop, and, as is not uncommon with the heathen Chinee, he asked, " You seller me your wife 1 " It was then the happy thought came, and after a protracted negotiation, a sale was effected for £20 of good and lawful British money. A sale not was written out, and duly signed and stamped, and one-half the money paid .down, the remaining half to be paid the vendor when on the coach for Mudgee. The wife was told that the Celestial vendor of fruit and greengrocery was to be her future lord and master. She appeared rather glad than sorry at her change of owners, and did not resent John's clumsy attempts at showing his devotion. Everything being arranged for a departure, the seller and purchaser walked upjlerbftrt street to meet the coach, leaving the sold one in charge of John's shop. The seller having got into the coach, he received the remainder of the purchase money ; the coach.started, and John, with hurried pace, hastened buck to his little shop to enjoy the company of his "luapean wife." A las for the frailty of women and the vanity of hopes ! the Celestial entered his shop, searched all the premises, but no wife was to be found. A caucus of his countrymen was held, but resulted in nothing practicable being, done, except that search and inquiries failed to find the bought one, and when night fell, Johnny f«lfc he was a sold one, and quietly submitted to his fate. No sooner had John left his purchase in charge, while he went to see her late lord safely off, than she took her departure, taking with her a pnekage of John's green tea, and meeting the coach a mile out of town, rejoined the partner of her bosom, and no doubt enjoyed with" him the success that had attended their novel method of making a rise.