A PRETTY PRESENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3597, 15 August 1873, Page 3

A PRETTY PRESENT.

(Pall Af all.Gazette.)

I There is nothing which women appreI ciate more than unexpected little presents from their husbands or lovers, selected and bestowed with that tact which is the offspring of true tenderness. Sometimes, however, the utmost care on the part of the giver f.als to give satisfaction, and woman, "uncertain, coy, and hard to please," receives coldly the tribute of affection and in a very different spirit from that .in which it is laid at her feet. From a case which came before the High Court, Edinburgh, on Monday, it seems that a certain Mr David Macrae, a contractor at Tain, lately met \yith a disappointment in this line. Having despatcheel by railway train a box addressed to his wife, who lives at Saughton Hall, near Edinburgh, he playfully indited a letter purporting to be from that lady's mother, intimating that a box containing wearing apparel would be found by her at the railway station. Mrs Macrae appears to have been fully awake to her husband's affectionate ruse, and, suspecting the box was sent by him, obtained the assistance of the l'ailway officials to open it carefully ; and, indeed, some carefulness was advisable in handling the precious cadeau, for on being opened, its contents were found to be as follows:—One loaded pistol, 4-ilb of blast-ing-powder, 2|oz of gunpowder, and a liberal supply of broken bottle glass.

To prevent the possibility of the value ot these gifts being overlooked in a hurry, the pistol was set at full cock with a cap on the nipple and there was a string fastened to the trigger m such a manner that whoever attempted to open the lid could scarcely fail to pull the string, and thus, by firing the pistol, cause the powder to explode! Mr Macrae would doubtless have given a lull explanation on Monday of the reasons which prompted him to make this touching display of conjugal affection, but he unfortunately failed to appear to answer to a charge of attempting to murder his i e 'j HIS ail bond was accordingly declared forfeited, and sentence of outlawry was pronounced against him. Although perhaps he may not be much missed in his domestic circle, it is impossible not to teel a passing regret that, owing to hia having been let out on bail, justice was not allowed the pleasure of further cultivating the acquaintance of this loving husband. °