WASHING THE WRONG CHILDREN.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 149, 10 June 1892, Page 6

WASHING THE WRONG CHILDREN.

A capital story is told of a certain commercial traveller, and whether true or notit is good enough to publish. He is a bold, bad travelling man by profession and is oft on the road many months in the year, so that he gets little chance to be in the bosom of his family. Being a loving husband and the father of five very interesting offspring, it is only natural that he should long for a chance to have ?. frolic with them. Now, as the story goes, he happened to strike town very unexpectedly on a recent afternoon, and immediately started for home to give his wife a surprise. Much to his disappointment upon reaching the house he found that his wife was out and had taken the children with her. This was very discouraging and iu order to keep up his spirits, he got out his old briar pipe and sat down on the front step for a quiet smoke. Imagine then his pleasure, upon beholding his two youngest children playing in front, of the house next door. He called the little tots to him and was wondering what he could do to amuse them tviien it occurred to him that his wife was in the habit of giving them a bath about that time every evening, and putting them to bed. It also occurred to him that it would be a good plan for him to take time by the forelock and give the children iheir bath, thus relieving his wife and giving her a chance to visit with him on her return. A short time later he had the babies up in the nursery and in spite of their protestations, removed their garments and gave them as thorough a washing as a child ever had. He was giving them the third coat of lather and having a high old time with the strug gliug darlings, when his wife came into the room and nearly had a fit, ‘ Why Charley ! she exclaimed, ‘ when did you come ?’

/This afternoon,’ he replied, as he released her from Ids grasp, and gazed proudly upon ids work. ‘ But what dues this moan V she asked, pointing at the shivering children, ‘ Whv,’ he replied, ‘ You always give them a bath in the evening and I thought I would relieve you of the bother for once, that’s all.’ During the next lew moments, the good wife could not speak for laughing, but when she finally gained control of her risables, she turned to the bewildered and somewhat annoyed husband with the startling announcement ;

‘ Those are n-e our children, Charley, they belong to the Jones family next door.’ It is safe to say that when Charley again tackles a job of washing the balm s he will get someone to identify them.