DEATH'S PRIME MINISTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11924, 24 December 1900, Page 3

DEATH'S PRIME MINISTER.

TO THE KDTTOK. Sin,—The few lines T semi you show Hie position so correctly, I thought you might like to print them: — " Death, the King of Terrors, was deter- j mined to choose a Prime Minister, and his ' palo courtiers, Hie ghastly train of diseases, wero nil summoned to attend, when each put in his claim to the honour of this illustrious office. Fever urged the number he destroyed: : cold Palsy set forth his pretensions by shale- j ing all 'the limbs: Oont hobbled up and; alleged his great power in locking every joint; • and Asthma's inability to speak was a strong, , though silent, argument in favour of his ckim; Colic, his violence: Platrne, his rapid progress in destruction: and Consumption, \ though slow, insisted that he was sure. In . tho midst of this contention the court was disturbed with the noiso of music, dancing, \ feasting, and revelry; when immediately ; entered a lady, with bold, lascivious air, and j a, flushed, jovial countenance. She was at- ! tended on the one hand by a troop of cooks \ and bacchanalians, and on the other by a, .' (rain of wanton youths and damsels, who ■ danced to the music of the sweetest instruments. Her name was Intemperance. She. waved her hand and addressed the crowd of diseases: ' Give way, ye sickly band of pretenders, nor dare to vie with my superior merits in the service of this monarch. Am I not your parent? The author of your being? : Do you not derive your power of shortening human life almost'wholly from me? Who. then, is so fit as myself for this important office? ' The grizzly ""march grinned a, smile

of approbation, placed her ;il liis right linud, and she immediately became his prime favourite and principal Minister."—l am. etc.. I<\ Suttox.