A GOOD STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 2620, Issue XXXII, 27 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GOOD STORY.

A local gentleman, the captain of a passenger steamer trading between England and the East, says the Newcastle Chronicle, tells a good story in a letter to his friends of a mystery connected with his vessel. The ship had been at sea for several days when complaints began to be made that passengers could not obtain the use of the bath. At a certain hour of the morning the bathroom was found to be locked inside; somebody wan evidently within it, and at times for an hour or more, no one could obtain admittance. This mysterious occupancy of the bathroom began to create comment, and doubtless some of the passengers became possessed of the idea that there was something' uncanny ' about the ship. The complaints at length reached to such a degree that the skipper requested to be informed when the bathroom door was next found locked aud he would take means to obtain an entrance. On the following morning the unknown visitor was found to be within the room, for a uoise was heard and admittance could not be obtained. The captain proceeded to the spot aud demanded admittance. There was no reply. Then he proceeded to reason with the person he could not see, and finished with an angry threat that lie would break the door open. The bolt was then heard going back inside, the door opened, and the mystery was explained. The offender wan found to be a small boy— the sen of a lady passenger, who, morning after morning, unknown to his mother, had slipped into the room, bo'teii; the door, and, fi.ling the bath with water sailed Ilia toy boat upon it ! He had his craft upon his own miniature sea when he was bo unceremoniously disturbed. The elucidation of the mystery, it need scarcely be added, created a great deal of amusement on board the ship.