THE POET DID NOT CONTRIBUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11403, 21 April 1899, Page 3

THE POET DID NOT CONTRIBUTE.

'.'I am quite willing to contribute to the— er—aiiiutenieiit of the 'evening," interposed the* amateur poet, who was bursting to read hi* latest, and couldn't get anybody to take the hints he threw out. ■■ .

There was a sound like_ a' groan from a corner of the room, and a guest went out. The others prepared for the wgrst, except one elderly man, who pulled down his waistcoat with an unnecessary show of determination. "The title of this little effort." the poet vent on, drawing, a roll from an unsuspected pocket, "is '.The1 Raindrops on. the Roof.'" "Well, of course it. does," exclaimed the elderly man. " Where would you expect it to drop? When the rain drops on any wellregulated house, it naturiilly chooses the roof. Vorhapa you expect people to take the roof o!V when it rains?- Or you,; think that we imagine that it drops on the'foundation,, or in the umbrella stand? . Everybody else knows that rain drops'on. the, roof, young man, and they'don't-want you to write a poem to tell 'em. . If you can write one that will explain why it always rains when it, man goes out in.a new hat and without an umbrella, we're open to hoar it." The "poet did not contribute any further to the amusement of the evening.