An Astonished Ticket Agent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1793, 3 April 1886, Page 27

An Astonished Ticket Agent.

The Honesdale (Pa.) Despatch relates that a few days ago a neatly dressed, fresh-looking woman, about 30 years of age, applied to Harry Foster, the Erie ticket agent in that place, for information as to the lowest rate of fare for herself and her family to Warren, Pa. " How many persons?" asked the agent. " Myself and eleven children," she said. As soon as agent Foster could catch his breath he exclaimed : " Eleven children ! Great Scott, madam ! Not all yours." . . . "Certainly, siv," replied the woman, evidently surprised at the agent's question and manner. " Whoso would they be if not mine i* « In the name of goodness then, how old are they ?" asked ihe agent, mopping the perspiration from his forehead. » Well, sir," said the woman, after a short mental calculation, " <hrce of them are 9 three of them are 7, two of them are o, and three of them are 3 years old.'' Agent Foster dropped into a c nur as though some one had hit him with a club. " Madam," said he, " you deserve to have a pass for twelve,

Come in again in a few days and I'll see what can be done."

The agent ascertained that the woman's name was Cullen, and that she had presented her husbaud with eleven children at four births.