A STORY FOR YULETIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 7403, 24 December 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

A STORY FOR YULETIDE.

" Did you say you had read all tho nursery stories—all—every one ?" " Yes, and those I have not read I have seen in the pantomimes." " But that would not give you much idea. Listen to mine; it is a new one, and will please you, I am sure." " I am all attention ; begin," "Once upon a time there were two big islands. One was ever so much bigger than the other, and on the big island there were twenty-one people, most of whom worked hard all day, and at night slept the sleep oi the just." "And on the smaller island ?"

" There were three people only, of whom one worked hard like those on the big island. The other two loafed about, and did nothing but grumble from morning till nightfall." " And what became of them ?"

"Tho people on the big island bought their land ; but when they asked them for their rent the loafers threatened them and snapped their fingers at them." " Were not the twenty-one inhabitants very angry at all this ?" " Yes, the respectable portion, viz., fourteen of them were ; the other seven said it was quite the correct thing to do.'' " They must have been arrant fools, those seven."

"Presently the two loafers said: 'We must have all the management of the island to ourselves, and then wo shall be able to seize on this industrious idiot's belongings." " And did they do so ?" 1 ' You shall hear. Once every year during a certain season the three men from the small island used to repair to the large island to hold a palaver, at which all vexed questions were settled, The twenty-four had always allied themselves together in case of a quarrel breaking out with the inhabitants of the mainland, and so when tho two loafers proposed that thoy should manage their island in their own fashion and separato themselves from tho large island, they were opposed tooth and nail by the fourteen respectable men and their own illustrious colleague. Then these two loafers said: ' Very well, if you won't do this thine we will, at every palaver you hold, kick up such a shindy and hullabulloo that no one else shall be heard but ourselves.' "

" What disgusting behaviour !" " Was it not ? Yet it was allowed to go on for years. The two loafers always consumed the entire time of tho grand palaver, and the fourteon respectable big islanders could never be heard." " And what did the seven big islanders do?" " That was the most strange sight of all. They backed up the demand of the loafers." "Whydid not the fourteen respectable men, aided by the industrious Natives of the small island, thrash the others ?" " Ah ! that is a problem my nursery story does not go into." "But were the loafers hanged at the finish?" " Little boys should not be so impatient; you will find out all in good time." "But what is the end of the story, please ?" " There is no end to the story, my little lad, at present; but it's coming this side Christmas, please goodness."—' Moonshine.'