Humor.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1973, 28 February 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Humor.

Tiihnn is a woman residing on Croghan-street who lias been owing a down-town firm a matter of §14 for three or four years past. One collector after another has worked every sort of game to get hand* on the money, but in Tain. To one th« widow was "up the lakes ; " to another " gone South for her consumption ; " to r third " would pay next week," and soft talk or threats failed to reduce the amount by one ungle cent. The other day a collector, noted for his cast iron cheek and silver-plated perseverance, took the bill with the understanding that he was to have half for collecting. He gained admittance tv the home under pretence that he was a censui-taker, and when lie inquired for the widow was told to walk up stairs. Ho had asc nded about half way, when a voice commanded him to stop, and he dii~ covered the widow and an old bureau at the top •top. The widow wa» behind the bureau, being; evidently about to "tote " it down itain. " What do you want? " she asked. "Ahem—w ell—l called, madam, to— to " "To what?" " About a — a little bill, madam." " Can't pay it this week." "But, madam, this bill has atood for several " " Can't pay it, I tay, and I'm getting awful tired of holding this bureau ! " " Madam, the bill is for $14. If you could pay me half to-day 1 would call next ." "Can't hold it moro than a minute more!" she interrupted. * " While our house aims to deal in the moit lib ." She let go of the bureau, and his first jump landed him in the hall. He was about a second ahead of the furniture as he shot out the open front door, but it caught up with him on tha stops and took a heel off his boot and rolled him over on the grass. He thought; the bureau would stop there, but it didn't. It pursued him down to the gate, bumping his back at every jump, and he thought h.« was half a mile away Ix-fore the knobs and casters quit whizzing pa«t his eari. Ficc Pi ess.