A TALE OF A SHIRT.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 185, 17 June 1896, Page 3

A TALE OF A SHIRT.

TLe litt'e tale which we extract from To Toiea is not to be found in tbe Premier's very iiteiestipg narrative oi his trip to the Ure~

wera country. Its merit lies in its absolute truth and the naive manner m which it is related:—"Tiie Uren-era natives re aia a good ma ay of t.beic p-imuive and savage ways. Tiie bold warriors and dusky wab'aes go through l'fe with as little knowledge o" rai'jieft as ever, .Among tiie abo ig'uals to welcome the Miirste ia l . party was a dainty and handsome maiden, whose splendid form took t':e eye of everv one of the visitors. S'ie was voted a splendid specimen o" a Maori girl and was Ueated with ruaoa gallantry by tlie visit'ag white men. Tiie g'. l was scoutily clad like iho rest o* her tr'.be, but her style and manners beyond reproach A younger member of the Ministerial party took a great fancy to ber and had many a quiet and gentle ta'k with lie.-, iind enjoyed himself studying her simple ways. Now it happened t-i.it this young fe'low was charged with the duty of looking a:"cer the wr't'ng material, peus, ink and paper, wlv'ch be had put away >u b'"s trunk. By some means tbr* ed ink bottle beea-ne broke and tho imc got spread over the front of oue of his white shirts. Not l : kiug to throw the ihirt away he ofered it to the maiden for the use of one of her brothers, but requested her not, to let it bo worn while the pakehas wi-re intheeimp. She consented <o this. When the visitors took their leave there was much hand-shaking &nd waving of arms, and then there was a roar jf laughter, for a most comical sight was picsented, as the maiden suddenly appeared before them robed in a short shirt and a beaming smile covering her handsomo features. By some lettering on the edge of the shiit it was easily recognised as belonging to the young official, and the laughter became most uproar : ous, while he was chaffed most unmercifully.; and now any oue has only to ask him the price of a shirt to make him blush to the roots of his hair.