Met His Match.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 49

Met His Match.

In one of the Midland counties there is a religious house belonging to the Institute of Charity. The religious folk coutinue the good works of the medieval monasteries in dispensing food and clothing to all poor applicants. Some time ago a man presented himself afe the door minus boots, and begged for an old pair. Now, it happened that a brother had seen him, before approaching the monastery, remove and hide in the grounds his own boots. So the applicant for bounty was asked to waits while a pair was found for him.

The brother aforesaid went to the shrubbery, and entering by another door, brought the man his oxon boots, saying : " I hope these will fit you ! " The man's face was a picture, but he bad noalternative but to accept his own again as though he had never seen them before.

The artful dodger recognised the fact that if the brethren were as gentle as doves they were also considerably wiser khan the serpent, and made off as quickly as possible.