SILENCE!

NZ Truth, Issue 170, 19 September 1908, Page 6

SILENCE!

A Library ' Room Playlet.

Christchurch Public Library readihgr^om, which harbors more religious publications to the square inch than any othei:;"]ibriry on the face of the globe, is prbfusclv placarded; with warnings of "Silencer!?" and I;hei stillness that, pervades;' the atmosphere is like unto tire prevailing- noise? of the tom'o. So that when i : mother; 7 Cissic;, and . the morose youth 'of the jamily cnteredV v thel sacred pfecien'tsv all talking; -loudly 'at once, the oldest out-of-work/.frequcnter of the room nearly doubled up m a fit. The boisterous invaders made, for, the Wellington pnflers; and yelled at the top of their voices, something like this : — Cispie : Here'thev are. Mother,: Yes, dear. Morose Youth : That's them there, v . Cissie : He says, "Get the 'New Zealand Times' of ,\ last Thursday.". .-.'•. Morose Youth; ' ■ Wot's this ? Cissie : Paugh '- that's the ratty old "Dominion."! ■.» . . . ■-. Cissie (reading "Times") ' "A 'young man from Germanyy- >." Mother (contemptuously) : Yes, I think it is from Germany. Cissie: ■ -JVhat paper Is -it? The '•Times." What a mad; paper; i What is to-day ? Mother : This is the 12th 7 Cissie : He says, "Get the 'Evening Post 1 of last Wednesday, or the 'Times' of Thursday.-' Where's 4he "Post ■?" • Morose Youth : You ; are looking all over the shop, for it. Cissjje^-. Silly. • .. Morose Youth : Silly yorffself. Cissie : Look /m the advertisements, Mum. ,•■ Mother : Money to len<*i. ■ Cjssie : Thursday's "'Rimes'' or ' Wednesday's "Post." It.-a Thursday the 3rd. Go away, Fre ft, and let mother Jloo'k. '■ . Mother : That's not^ right ; turn- over. Cissie : It's no good looking -on the back of .the paper-, .iPred. Morose Youth : .< - ■■'•'_-. OH Y/)U -SHUT UP or, you'll get your nose pullsd. Cissie : You.'H get, your nose pulled presently.' ./ Morose Y,6uth : Bah! • Cissie '. ,/ljb isnM; m Friday's "TimeV you big fool; .■: -'■'■■ Morose' Youth (reading): ;"NoXious Weeds-."/ ■' " ,' '■'■'■ ■ . .'.., Mbth/c (despairingly) : They're noxious weeds/ who write m this paper. Morose Youth (shouldering "girl pffj ' l<c#im% aloßej -* ' ■ — —

Cissie * Give him a smack "* m the j mouth, mother. Mother (grimly) : I'll leave you to do that. ' . Morose Youtli : Yah. .. Cissie.:-' Smallrpox scare That isn't ! it- What a mad paper. Ah; now moth- I er ; wasn't I right ? Mother (reading) : fA will case. An important matter: ." Oh, that' isn't it. . Cissie 'Here's .a little bit. m Thursday of September- Oh I've read this. Don't you remember I told you, ,there was a fire m Tuam-street. (After a pause) ' Wellj •he must have' been dreanfing. Mother made a funny remark, and Cissie laughed uproariously while the crowd gathered "round the strange people, The morose youth remained morose. " * ' Cissie : Isn't it sickening? ■ Mother: I can't' see it. : Cissie ' He wasn't m Wellington when he saw' it. What "are you reading (to Morose. Youth). Oh, football (disgustedly.). *f..;.i . ♦Morose Youth, whistles "My Irish Molly." ■ ■>'! .. Mother : Hush. . ■Morose Youth: Wait, a minute • till I turn it over. Cissie : Stop it. Morose, Youth : Oh, yHong Kong. Where's the advertisements ? • Cissie : Fred, you are a, nuisance; \ (Left wrangling).