A BOY WITH A FUTURE

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 17, 25 April 1907, Page 37

A BOY WITH A FUTURE

There is a small boy living in my neighborhood wno, if he doesn't lose his life through just retribution^ will undoubtedly grow up to become a great financier-, declared Jones. , For— some time my wife has possessed a pup that has no excuse fo-r living. But she thinks he is the finest dog in the place. Finally i Ji namal became so unbearable to me that - 1 resolved to end the nuisance. Chancing to meet the smajl^ boy in question one day I said to him : - See here, my boy, do you want to earn half-a- ' crown ? '

1 -" Rattier," "said he. , ' ' *' Well,, tjhen," said I, " you go up 'to my house, watch your chance, and steal the pup that you will find around there. When you get himj bring him to my office and get your half-crown." ,' Within two hours the boy was back wfith the animal tied to- a rope. ' " What will I do with him ? " he asked, after I paid him. ( i

' "T don't care," I snapped, " take him' home and keep him if you want to."

( That night I discovered my wife «n tears, and I was informed between , scibs that p<oor little Fido was missing.. -The next day she had an advertisement inserted in all the- papers, offering ten shillings reward for .his return. The third day she met me joyfully at the door and announced- that Fido had been found '"Where-?" I a sited, concealing a groan. '"A little -tioy brought him back," she answered. 1 " Wha|ti kind of boy ? " I asked suspiciously.

1'" A small boy with the most honest face that I ever saw on a boy. I gave 'him an extra shilling." ' Need I say who that boy was ? '