LOVE LAUGHS AT PARENTS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 297, 19 June 1909, Page 6

LOVE LAUGHS AT PARENTS.

A man named Gamble, up at Uputa'pot, N.S.W., was very angry when the mail left (says Melbourne Punch). Gamble is a widower. He has a fine farm and a. handsome daughter. Wo g-nthor that quite a number of promising agriculturists in the vicinity wanted the * fine daughter— whose najno. by . the way, is Annie — but Gamble had other views foY licr, and stalled them off. Gamble's methods wore very severe, and had not his daughter's sanction,, as they tended ■to make her unpopular with- the yoni)i of the, disk-rich, and no iiiee girl likes to become unpopular. We trace in Gamble's programme of resistance all the familiar methods of the reluctant parent. He bought two horrid dogs, he kept a gun, lie shod himself with hard, heavy boots, and ho had a hose attached to the large iron tank, aiid would turn a stream on any aspiring suitor who would not be dislodged by tlie dog, the gun, and boots. The most persistent of Miss Gamble's admirers was a young man named Jimmy Beach, a surveyor, and a fine sample of the Australian goods wo are raising nowadays. -He defied Gamble's dog, he scoffed at his gun, he evaded the Tetribiitive blucber, and soldered up the tap of the big iron tank. But Gamble is 'a i?eree ; -hard, inan, and fought. Jiinmie j 6n\ tootli and" nail. 'Beach put it j about Uputapot that he would Have Annie in spite of her father and all her relatives, and in defiance of ail tho Gamble dogs and utensils, of war, a lid Miss Annie seemed to think the

bettor of him on account of bis persistence. In Australia, when it comes to settling on a husband, girl children do not respect the opinions of- their parents. However, Gamble kept Beach away from bis girl, or bis girl away from Beach, which is the same, thing. Then came a wire from Sydney, calling Gamble to the capital on most urgent business. Gamble hastened to Sydney and found that'there was no iirgent businesss, and that the wire was a wretched fake. Full of forebodings, lie took train back to Uputapot next morning, and was consumed with rage and dread through a wearisome seven hours' ride. Ho found his house in possession of a rejoicing crowd. There had been a swagger meal and great merry-making. Gamble raged through the assembled guests, clamoring for his daughter! "Why, don't you know,"' inquired a neighbor. "She's gone on her honeymoon." "Wha-a-t!" shrieked Gamble. "She was married to Jimmie Beach in the house here this morning, and ' they've gone to Melbourne on their honeymoon." Gamble is still raving up at Uputapot, but Annie .seems quite reconciled to* the cßange, and do doubt all will come right when Gamblo caoi forget the way he was lured from his home. Love laughs at many things besides locksmiths. It is often very hilarious towards parents. -