IN THE LONG AGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1325, 21 April 1877, Page 21

IN THE LONG AGO.

" Ah, well do I remember," sighed the Court, as the next man passed out, " when you were a constable in the Third Ward, wore a velvet coat, carried a cane, and was looked upon as a high jinx, hoop-la, tip-top sort of a man. Men respected you, the boys feared you, and you could have got trusted for a small amount at any grocery in town. Those days have fled. The sparkling diamond of the past has become an old joint of stove-pipe thrown into the alley for cows to nibble at and wonder which end the grass grows on. It makes me sad to remember what you were, and to now see what you are." " Yes, I used to swell around a good deal," mused the prisoner. "And now you are on "the shrink. Four eyes look like pieces of turnip glued to red velvet ; your hair looks like flax gone to seed ; your nose like a greased apple, you tremble 1 all over, and no boot- black would care be seen in your company." "It's purty tuff," sighed the man, winking at hia old red boots. " Have you any ambition left ?" asked the Court. " I guess so," was the hesitating reply. " Do you think there is any chance for you to climb up again ?" " I'd rather kinder walk around and take comfort," replied the prisoner. "So we go," said his honour, as he leaned back. " When a man had as soon be the dishcloth as the dinner plate it is useless to try to wring him out. I'll have to send you up for the winter." " Well, it's kinder warm and nice up there," observed'the old relic. " I 'spoae they might give us more oysters than they do, but I'm purty well satisfied." After assuming a picturesque position, Bijah sang out : — "Adjourned once more this Station Court, The Black Maria's a-coming • A silent tear for the men in here. And up they'll go a-hnmming."