A GEM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A GEM.

We commend to the notice of the publisher ofquaintand curious native Indian petitions the following specimen, the authenticity of which is vouched for by a trustworthy correspondent : —" Respectfully Sheweth .—That your hononr's servant is poor man in agricultural behaviour, and much depends on season for tho staff' of life, therefore he prays that you will favour upon him, and take him into yoursainty service, that he may have some permanently labour for the support of his soul and his family ; wherefore he falls upon his family's bended-knees, and implores to you of this merciful consideration to a damnable miserable, like your honour's unfortunate petitioner. That your lordship's honour's servant was too much poorly during tho last rains aud was resuscitated by much medicines which made magnificent excavations in the coffers of your honourable servant, whose means arc circumcised by his large family, consisting of fire female women, aud throe masculine, the last of which are still taking milk from mother's chest, and are damnably noisful through pulmonary catastrophe in their interior abdomen. Besides tho above named, an additional birth is, through grace of God, very shortly occurring to my beloved wife of bosom, who has got baby in womb. That your honour's damnable servant was officiating in several capacities during past generations, but has become too much old for espousing hard labour in this time of his bodily life ; but was not drunkard, nor fornicator, nor thief, nor swindler, nor any of these kind, but was always pious,affectionate to his numerous family consisting of the aforesaid five female women, and three males, the last of whom are still milking the parental mother. That your generous honour's lordship's servant was entreating to the Magistrate for employment iu Municipality to remove filth, etc., but was not granted the petitioner. Therefore your generous lordship will give to me some easy work, in the Department or something of this sort. For which act of kindness your noble lordship's poor servant will, as in duty bound, pray for your longevity and procreativeucss. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant. , Candidate."