A STORY WITH AN APPLICATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1680, 20 July 1887, Page 3

A STORY WITH AN APPLICATION.

To the Editor of the Star. Sib, — Will you kindly publish this. — I am, &c. X. ANOTHER LINCOLN STORY. There was a local politician who went on to Washington to get an office that he felt sate only awaited hia application to be given \o \mn. In a co-apie of weeks be came back. 11 Well, did you get yonr office ?" his friends inquired. " No," 6aid be. " Did you see the President ?" " Yea, of course." * What did ho cay ?" "Well, we went in and stated our errand. He heard us patiently, and then said — " Qentlemen, I am sorry that I have no office for Mr. , but, if I can't give you that, I can tell you a story." " We thought best to hear the story and let biin gp on. Once there was a certain king who kept an astrologer to forewarn him of coming events, and espepially to tell him whether it was going to rain when he wanted to go on hunting expeditions. One day he bad started off for the forest with his train of ladies and lords for a gtaadthunt, when on the road the train mtfc avUurmer driving a donkey. " Good, morning, farmer," said the king. "Good morning, Km?;.. Where are you folks going ?" said the farmer^ . " Hunting," said tbe king. 11 Lord, you'll get wet," said tbe farmer. The king trusted to hie astrologer, of eoacse> and weaC Co the forest ; bad bj imiltimt there catqe oa a terrific storm that. drtnetMtt «wt boffete^ the whole party. Wrhwr. th»_ king- returned to. the palace he bad tbe astrologer decapitated, and sent for tbe farmer to take bis place. " ' Law's sake,' said the farmer, when be arrived ; 'it ain't me that knows when it's going to rain ; it's my donkey. When it's going to be fair weather, that donkey always carried bis ears forward, ■o. When it's going to rain, be puts 'em backward, so." " Make the donkey tbe Court astrologer," shouted tbe king. "It was done. But tbe king always declared that that appointment was the greatest mistake he eyer made in his life." " ' Why did you say it was a mistake ? we asked him. Didn't tbe donkey do bis V ' Tes,' said the President ; ' but after that time every donkey in whole country iranted an office." "The shouts of laughter that echoed from tbe hotel corridor at the telling of the narrative would bave made tbe fortune of two or three entirely new ■toriet;"