Wellington Items

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3430, 8 February 1890, Page 2

Wellington Items

(From Our Own Correspondent) He DisappearedFizgoe Toddle iot was a young gentleman of small stature, likewiuof small intellect; in fact the only big thing about him was his own opinion of himself, but, as the said youth was a native of modest

Auckland this is not. surprising,] Had Toddlodot been born a duke or a prince, there is not the slightest doubt but that some people would have had an excessively kot time of it, but owing to an unkind fute decreeing otherwise, he was only the underpaid hireling oi a big monopoly. -Sneabingly subservient at Iris busineus toi those in authority, at home he was as snarly and ill-tempered as a little «ur. never taking the slightest thought for others, so long as his own selfish and wliianioal wishes were gratified. Of course when he was out visiting he put on quite another race, and so far misled some not very discerning people, that they never tired of singing bis paises and saying to every one they met, •' Oh, dear me, what a little gentleiiian Mr Toddlodot is." Then (lit) knowing ones would wink and cough and change the subject, thinking 'hat some day there would he a different tale. Now by om) of those unaccountable freaks of the artful oupid, it came about that a young lady of good family became passionately fond of the little peacock, who became so puffed up with pride at the conquest he had made that if ui)one had stuck a pin into him he would have gone off like a gun. lint nobody thought about.it, bo he live! on lo a fate more dark. After a very . short courtship Toddledot, became engaged, and things were to al! outward appemuees giiug on swimmingly, wl;en a blow full bitter lad unexpected on the head of Fizgeo. Una bright summer morning Toddledot rolled up as usual iu the oltico, and it is stoutly inuiui tuiiied by some of his fellow employees that he was actually jmiling when he entered, a thing of stwh 1 rare ocsurrence as to be worthy of 1 note, mors especially us-it w.is tiio ; very last smile he ovnr manage!, ' By and bye the manager urnved, ad ■ Inukiug round he enquired lor Mr i Toddledot. " Hera, sir," sq leaked I the little fellow from behind a big i counter. "Come into my room 1 ' - said the mm ijer, an I in lis toj lle.l. " Well -er Mr Tolllelot, I regroi to inform you that-er in ooiisjquence of several of the instoiiieM complaining that-er they oamvit see >ou over the oounter, the-er. Company have decided tint unless yon oan manage to grow six inches during thi—er coming month wo shall have U dispense with your services. That-er will do Mr Toddledot. Good' morning." How he got citsi le L'olWot iuv>>r knew. For fully half an hour ha Btood perfectly Btupified.wonderiuj! whether it could be possible, or whether it was simply a hideous dream. Got lo grow six inches in a month I Why, the idea was preposterous. He couldn't do it, Then he thought of dismissal, ruin,and (here he dropped one pearly tear), above all the loss of his lady love, for if he lest his situation where was the money lo ooiub from for the eupply of chocolate oreamn and Frenoli confections, which are necessary to preserve the sweetness of lovn, No use to rely on frieiidß, they were very, very scarce, He must make an effort somehow, how could those inches bo obtained ? that was the vital question, and bo lie thought, and rucked his brain, and worried about it all day long. To make nuttera worsetho affiir leiksl oit, aid for some lime every post broiglit him anonymous letters purposing to contain advice, till at last.tlie very sight of the jovial postman made his flesh creep. One oi them 6aid . stuff yourself with self-raising flour, take a drink of soap suds, mid sit perfectly still on the kitohen stove for two hours every morning. Another advised procuring a block and pulley and hoisting himself up to the ceiling by the feet, then allowing himself to ourae down with a ■ run '■' he would add to his length by, raising bumps on his eoooanut." Of course, ho didn't do it. All he did was to worry, and fret, and rage, and fume till he actually got smaller and more diminutive every diy, 8n the timo went on till the last morning of the fatal month arrived, and ho who from his pillow haggird. and unrefreahed. Bark and mysterious now becomes this authentio history, for strange and awful as it may appoar, from the time he went tu( in the morning to the present day, the eye of man hath not beheld him. The only oluu his rejoicing enemies have, is that foi several mornings after his disappearance an evil looking bulldog, bloated and bleary eyed, was seen prowling round the garden gate. .The conclusion is that Toddledot has joined the angels; that by performing the vanishing trick he evaded trouble, and took a single ticket for the belter land via the bull pup, This may not be thocaso, the popular iaipressino may ho "wrong, as it often is (as witness Dudu and the Wellington Cup), but to maka everything sure the burial servioe hai beu reai ovar the online, and the broken hearted damsel has gone into mourning,

- Notwithstanding the fact that soma time ago a good deal was said against the influx of Chiuesej and oortiiin restrictions were imposed against their entering the comitry.it is very evident that they aro rapidly gaining ground in the City of Wellington, whioh shows, thai although people ory out ngijnst the Celestial and Ins wayv they are not above patronizini? hia cheap fruit and vegetables, The nnniber of Bhops opened by Chinese dealers in Wellington during the la<t twelvo months is astonishing, and a visit to 6ome of the City auction niartf, where fruit is sold in, large quantities, wouldsurprjsp mostpeople very much, Nothing but Chinamen, somo gut up in the latsst European Btyle,otheM in a nondescript dress of native oloth I Tlio auctioneers seem well acquainted too, with their yellow olients, calling thorn by theirunpronounceable names with ease and fatniliarurity, although for my part, Chinamen are so muoli alikoitwould bo difficult to distinguish ouo from another.

In certain quarters a report in being circulated that a, well-known Chinkey in very shortly/to marry a State 6chool reaobe'r. .It seems hardly likely that it young lady of eduoation would form such an alliance, but still there is no accounting for taste, and the 3tory; may be true. - Truly' tbia would be offering encouragement t0... the ftiinoiidieyel one to pome and make himsJf at home.

Moonlight harbour excursions are being walliatronißel, "lie weather coutiuoiaj Lao autj

Yesterday, between'two and.tLtreaj hundred children bolonging jtp- : St. Peer's..AiijlioM' B-iniay ■ v SvhooK accompanied by their teacher's and; friends, where taken to Kliandiilluh" f»r their annual .treat. A uioat enjoyable' day was spent. The success of tie affiur was mainly due to the enuring exertions of Mr R. P. Johnston; auperintihdant, aud Mr A. J, Beck,rJeoretary.

The cricket match of the season Midland v. Phoenix, will bo played tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon on the Basin reserve. -' Ureac interest seems to be taken by everyone in tin result. The Midlands are slightly; the favorities.