He Fell Lonely.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 49

He Fell Lonely.

At a sale of animals from Barnum's hippodrome in the American town cf Bridgeport a tiger was being offered. The highest bid was made by a man wbo was a stranger, and to Lim it was knocked down. Birnum, who hud beeu eyeing the ttrauger uneasily during the bidding, then went up to him end said:

" Pardon me for askirg Inequation, but will you tell me where you are from ? " "Down South," responded the man. "Ate you connected with any 6how ?" " No." "And are you buying this animal for youreelf?" " Yes."

Barnum shifted about for a few moments, locking alternately at the man and the tiger, evidently trying his belt to reconcile the two together.

"Now, young nun," he finally said, "you need not tako this animal unless you want to, for there are those here who will take it off your hands." " 1 don't want to sell," was the quiet reply. Then Barnum said iv his desperation : " What on earth are you going to do with such an ugly bea»t if you have no show of your own, and are not buying for someone who is a showman ? "

" Well, I'll tell you," said the purchaser. '• My wife died about three weeks ago. We had lived together for 10 years, and— and I miss her."

He paused to wipe his eyes and steady his voice, and then added :

" So I've bought this tiger."

"I understand you," said the great showman in a husky voice, as he turned to hide his emotion.

An Old Sougr to New Words*

The audacity of the British Folditr i<* proverbial. One of them, pafsii'g (he canteen of a Highland regiment during tho progress of a " sing-song,' 1 went in. He was heartily welcomed, and, making himself at homr, vo'uutee.rt?d to sing.

Hia proposal was gladly accepted, and he stoppid oj .he Btage amid applause, vigoroufly r n-jwei wheu, niter whispering a few words to the pianist, tho latter struck up the familiar tune of " Soots wha hae wi' Wallace bl-d."

With an indescribably Cockney accent he S'uig the following :—: — Fcota wha hae on haggis fed, Scots wha line tra Flortden tied ; y ols ivha sold King Charlie's head, For a base bawbee.

Then, with a rush, he was through the door, and nod a moment too soon, for the infuriated Highlanders, till then spellbound with amazement, now roße, and, with a yell of fury, went iv hot pursuit, which only terminated when the audacious southerner was cafe within his barrack gates.