WEATHER PROGNOSTICATIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 2 May 1884, Page 2

WEATHER PROGNOSTICATIONS.

President Lincdhl'Was onco pestered by a man named Burko for o situation in the Custom House. Tlio President requested him to take breakfast: with him noxt morning, Burko did so, and after the meal the President slapped him upon the knee in a friendly manner, ,n.nd said,;' : ' Burke, you want an office. I can't give yon one, but > I'll tell you a story. Once upon a time a king in' Eastern climes kept an astrologer, named Smith, The astrologer used to tell the king when it was going to rain and when it was not, and for this ho got the tallest kind of pay and good keeping. One day the king | was going to hunt buffaloes ontho eastern prairies, and said he to Smith J' What kind of a day will it be? Will it be safe for my complexion to go out?" "Heaven preserve your majesty," said Smith, ", it will be a splendid day. It will not rain for a day or a month to come," So the king went on his road to tho buffalo pastures. On his way he met a iountry fellow riding on a jackass, who said to the king, "Turn about, your majesty, if you don't want to get wet, for it's going to rain like pitchforks." " I know better," replied tins "king; "I keep a private astrologer, and ho says it won't rain." Tho king kept on, but began to rain a young deluge. "This is really dolightful," said tho king, as ho hurried back to town to his palace, wet to the skin, and looking more like a halfdrowned rat than a decent king. " Smith, what do you mean V said tho king to tho astrologer, "The stars and things said it would not, rain," said poor Smith. "Vacate," was his majesty's only rejoinder, and ho nt once sent for the man who rode the ass. "What is your namefheasked, " and how did you know it was goin« to rainf "My name is Johnson, and i I knew it was going to rain because my jackass lowers his whenever it is going to do so!" '^'Ae king ! ordered his secretary to the papers appointing the jackass to" the • vacated office; aud, Burke," added the joking President, looking his visitor full in the face, "ever, since that day tho jackasses'of a country think they havo equal claims to get office, and I '• am bothered to death with them, I don't want you'to be regarded as a jackass, aud so I won't appoint you,"