ORIGINAL FABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 44

ORIGINAL FABLES.

By D. G. No. 12.-UNDER THE LADDER. Whilst walking down Princes street one lovely winter's day two friends were busily engaged in conversation and looking at the many pretty shop windows, when suddenly they came up to a building which was undergoing a spring clean. The painters were busy upon it, and their ladders standing in the road and leaning on the front of the building formed an arch across the whole pavement. As the two friends came up to it one remarked : " Oh, don't go under the ladder, that's awful bad luck. I'd sooner step up to my ankles in mud by treading in the road." "Well, well," replied the other, "what nonsense. I really did not expect to hear such rubbish from jou." But his remarks were cut short by his friend suiting his action to his words by stepping off the footpath into the road. Just as he did so an expressman, trying to pass a tram, pulled in co close to the kerb 'that the wheels came rubbing up against the gentleman, giving him a great shock besides besmearing his clothes with mud. He hastily stepped on to the pavement, and, as might have been expected, his friend greeted him with a hearty burst of laughter and, "Well, where's the bad luck now, old man, eh 1 I don't think you'll be so stupid again for a while." " Stupid," replied the bemired one, "it was not I who was stupid, it was that confounded expressman, who ought to be ' run in ' for his carelessness." " Of course I know he was to blame, old man, but still if you had not been so much possessed with that old woman's superstition it would not have happened, would it 1 " " I suppose not," he rejoined, as he sought to rub the mud off his coat, " but something worse might." "Now 1 don't mind telling you," said the strong-minded ouc, " that I get so much annoyed at people giving way to such ideas that I make it a practice to do all those things that are said to be unlucky, and I would lather go under a ladder than not, even if it gave me a little extra trouble to do so." " Would you ? " replied his friend. " Well I don't see anything particularly wise about that, and notwithstanding my unfortunate experience just now I would rather abide by my ideas than yours." They now turned the conversation toother topics, but after walking a little further it happened thatthey came upon another building that was undergoing repairs and redecoration, when of course each friend mentioned his resolve to do as he had been saying. " Look out for the express," said the strong-minded one, as his friend made a step out into the road, at the same time passing under the ladder, when, lo I just as he was speaking down came a lump of cement, falling right on his belltopper. " The laugh is on the other side now, my boy, isn't it ? " said the superstitious one, as he smiled at his friend's attempt to put his hat back into shape. " I hope you will see that mine is the wiser plan after all." " Indeed if it had not been for looking after your nonsense I should have avoided this accident to myself by getting out of the way when the lump was falling. So that really you are to blame for my mishap as well as your own." "Well that's cool, indeed," replied his friend; "though I must say that your style of reasoning is just about on a par with your action in this matter." It now looked very much as though they would get to high words over their opinions, when they were joined by a third friend whoat once wanted to know what all the argument was about. He was soon in possession of all the facts, and after he.irtily laughing at the misadventures of each, told them he did not think there was much to chose between tbem. Moral : There is no more sense in mere bravado than in timorous superstition. — Bob (trying to grow a moustache) : " I say, Tom, does ifc show at all 1 " Tom (seriously) : " Well, yes, a little ; but never mind, I don't think anyone will notice it." Advice to Mothkrs 1 —Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Winslow's Soothing Svhup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediaely. It is perfectly harmless, and pleasant to the taste ;_ it produces natural quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes "ns bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, elieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best knowD remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea whether arisj ing from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothintr Syrup is sold fcv medicine dealers everywhere at Is lid per bottle fAnvr.l