UNCLE PETER'S ESTATE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 4

UNCLE PETER'S ESTATE.

To the Editor. Sir,—l must say that "Slack Rein has taken some trouble and time to write the letter headed "Honesty is the best policy." "Slack Rem" I call him, because, no doubt, he must have held a very slack rein when he allowed his trap to tip over. He got up and looked round half dazed, I suppose, _to see if he could make any one pay for his bit of carelessness. His eyes caught sight of the fallen sign board. "111 have," says he, "a try to make uncle pay for this ; that's his signboard, and he has plenty of money, and no one will know whether it caused the accident or not." Of course, he saw father, and he and father tried to persuade us boys to pay the damage, arid at the same time father had another claim coming against uncle,,if we paid this one. Father, you know, is always a bit against us-boys because we wont consent to his being Chairman of the Director* of uncle's estate. You know it's not right for father to tell people all we boys do • and say. That's the worst of father ; everything we do he tells it. Well, Mr Editor, I don't wonder at father and "Slack Rein" sympathising with each other. When Uncle Peter was choosing directors to manage his estate, father and "Slack Rein" were , two candidates. "Slack Rein" ivas considered second rate, and father not first rate, but, nevertheless, lie managed to. get in by the skin of his teeth. Although "Slack Rein" was rejected as unfit, he still takes a keen interest in uncle's affairs, and tries very hard to advise us boys to give him some of uncle's money. Well, Mr Editor, when the motor car ran over the' sheep it did not kill it. And really if you had seen "Slack Rein" after the case was heard, you would have pitied him. He was crying bitterly. One of the boys saw him the day the case was heard, and with, tears in his eyes, he said "Things look very black for me ; I will have, when all is paid, little left as profit." He ,gave Jerry fits, said, "Anyone would think the case was against you, Jerry." ONE OF THE BOYS. June 16, 1909.