HOW IT STRIKES A STRANGER

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 2, 16 July 1874, Page 3

HOW IT STRIKES A STRANGER

(To the Editor of the Clotha Leader) (BY PBO3-EBSOR JOWUER.)

Sie,—~l am a stranger in these parts. I may say that I am very much struck with Balclutha; I like it. I admire your noble river, and, upon my word, I give you credit for considerable courage in settling' down so close to it. I admire your bridge; and I am prepared to admire anything else you like to mention : terms, &c, on application, of course. Walking , through your main street the other day with a friend who knows your little ways, I was considerably struck with the attitude of the citizens. Here and there they were gathered in knots, evidently discussing , some weighty matter. "What's up?" T inquired of my friend j " Are the}' agitating , the repeal of the whisky tax—or what ?" " No," he said, as he lit his pipe ; i( Election of Mayor, you know." "Election of Mare?" quoth. I • " going , to decide about sending one to a show, I suppose ?" : " Get along, you dunderhead," said he; May-or Civic Magistrate; man that sports the bell-topper, and. bosses* it over "us poor fellows. Do you understand?" ■ .. Just then we overhead tbe followingconversation: " What! an' yell no fote for Mactonal, Mr. Macfairshon,?" , '•-. " " No, she'll no fote for Mactonal." . . " An , you a Hielan'man, Mr. Macfairshon ?" "Ay, a Hielan'man,-Mr. Mactavish." " Go Tarn !" said Mr.' Mactavish, and passed on.' Go Tarn," I remarked. " Evidently," said J, priding myself on my knowledge of tbe Scotch language, which is very considerable, " evidently lie wishes .Ws friend Thomas to go. somewhere particularly." . My companion withdrew.. the pipe from his mouth, and looked at mc steadily for two minutes. - ■ Finding that I did not evaporate ;under his glaring , eye, he smiled scornfully, and replied : . " Mr. Jowler," said he, " If it were'nt for the honesty and childlike innocence that beams through- these spectacles "of yours, I'm Mowed if "I - could believe you to .be.a learned professer'after all.. Why, man, you are only on the threshold of knowledge ; you are like a little 1 boy playing* on the sea shore of. the'.idead iangu.ages. What he meant was.—"'. K .=7,:■:'','.':"..'. ; <( Kimmer, haw shee dqo ?"i= • ;>.- : -» • , ' This interruption camefi'onrjapassingcitizen, and was addressed., to rftf : friend;;; ; ■. ".Ah," > said.;,he,, slyly! shading:-*&£.". head-at nirn,^;!'hear.you've been and l gone and done itj-yo^r^se^lj'f-?^' 3 I At this "the'i-es p<66 teid rat^payertossed, ihearty : rattling , .; peat- 'of f tliat very metal on the street rang again. ' • JH v e ;then sprang , over a gutter/, took

'I'lhWd- tithe^tq ; r'oUnd :; aEd' take his measure,-'He wasOitt of sigiit.'^

'- /" What's the matter with him -now T\ I inquired. r , ;..., : . ->. -..; ; r ;/-x ," Oli Both'ing ; he's "justTgpfe andlie likes it, , *'was the reply. ;* Well^ , •sai.d;, l> as:lam, if that's how matrimony, works, I don't mind having a shy- at it myself." - f ji "Well, shy away old h.orep," said ray friend.

■■: Presently a*gentlemen of portly mien came down the street, and -as ;he 'approached us, he swajed- from .side,to side like a lbad of hay. He reminded 5 mc of what T fancy the late Dr. Samuel Johnson must have been in his palmy days, only there was in- this man's countenance a stare of self-complacency and good humor which. I fear the rolling lexicographer sadly lacked. Some great man, , I thought; probably Brogden &.Go. rolled into one. " Who is he ?.", I,inquired. '" Hush', ,, said my companion, with an awe-struck whisper, at tho same time politely saluting , the great man as he passed, " that's-the—'- , ' '"'■ "The what," I eagerly asked; ". not the Governor of New Zealand." " Pooh," said he, " the Governor; who cares' 1 ' fov. him ? No sir. Regard him well; make a note of him : that's the Baillie of Balclutha."

I turned round and looked at him. I took off my spectacles, for I could see this man with tlie naked eye. I was deeply moved, anrt when I strove to spsak, language quite failed mc, and I could, only ejaculate .with the the ,late respected Dominie j Sampson.

Prodigious (To bs oonchiderf in our hevt.)