Too Positive.

Otago Witness, Issue 1910, 29 June 1888, Page 37

Too Positive.

Caught at Last. " It must be very lonely sitting all by yourself in the office balancing your books at night, John," said an affectionate wife. " It is, my darling." "I have been thinking about it for some time, and, now I have a delightful surprise for you." ; «'A delightful suprise 1" . " Yes, dear. I sent for my mother yester,day, and I expect her every minute. I mean to have her, stay with us for awhile., She . will take care of the blouse at night and look after the children, and I can, come and sit in your office with you while you work." ' ' • ,;«iY— c—s—but—l —l couldn't think, of your walking down there all alone, you know, dear,'' v'" 16 my duty, John, dear.' I ought ,tq have tb'ought of it before, but it never caWe tt> my mindjtill yesterday. Oh, John, forgive me V me for not thinking of your comfdrfr sooner. 1. But I will go with you tonight." ...,'.-•• , ' "To-night ? , Why, I— I—the fact is I got through with my bookslast night." : * >Qh,youdid! How delightful! And you can" now stay at home every evening:! lam so glad!/' *,\ * , ■ !'!, And the delighted\wife ran off -to make . preparations'fpr the reception of her mother, while!her husband with sombre.,brow sat staring at the cpajs in the grate, in^wliich , he could see the picture of a mother-in-law's reproving face and of a whist party with' a vacant-chair. 1 _ - ' ' „ ; , •

:.-', ~ The) other day an omnibus, full of passengers, drove up to, its, suburban terminus. ,Side by side sat a commercial traveller arid a lady temperance lecturer. The commercial seizedjhis Dag and made a move tofge't out. The lady made a snatch after, him, arid he halted..-r,; ' ' t , /,-,,- H "I beg your pardon," she iaid,," but you have my bag." V ' \ l ' („ • '.'You .are certainly mistaken, mkdam," , the.traveller, said,, courteously, but firmly ""'Thislis mirife." ', , l *i „, ;7; 7 lady, replied,-firmly;-" it is, mine. \ I should know it among a thousand. •You must'nc»t.take it." ( " ; r _ _ sßutjthe traveller persisted arid Ithe lady insisted, andtth^ey; came ,very near quarrel„Ung v i r » <■ *, ' -• r: <:'.', '-,"-., 'i^res'ently.one of the passengers pointed to a twin';bag,in- the omnibus, and asked-^-s , "fflhpse is ibhat ?," >."•,;• ."-' \'.-'.\'.-'. , "It isn't mine," said the traveller. «? It is. % ,"And% isn't mine;';'said 1 the-lady^ "'He