What a Drink of Water Did.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 52

What a Drink of Water Did.

A child, six years of age, had dove'oped a bad habit of rising in the night to drink from the water-bottle, and had been forbidden in vain, Ou the night of a recent storm, his parents being away, his aunt tucked him eafely in bed.

"'Now, Dicky," she said, " remember I can tell if jou go to the water- bottle."

" Oh, no, aunty," lie smiled slyly, " how can you ? " " I can tell," she said with conviction. "But how ? " said Dick sceptically-.

" I can," she repeated ; " and since you won't promise, you naughty boy, I shall empty the bottle.",

And shtf did so, to the young reprobate* consternetion. In the middle of the night the gable of the house was blown down, and crashed like thunder through the ceiling of Master Dick's room.

As his aunt and the servants rushed in, a terrible sight met their gsze. The bed was almost hidden by masses of bricks and masonry, the two iron feet at the head being driven completely through the floor. With a shriek his aunt fell on her knees.

" Oh, Dicky, poor Dicky ! " ehe cried* " He's beeuskilledi"

The wprds had?hardly le F t her. lips when there came a lighf,. pattering step from the bathroom, and as theyt turned there stood Dicky, his teeth chattering with cold, a candle in one band and a fall waterbottle in the o'her. For a moment he surveyed the bed, wibh Rb ton. or two of debris,, and then shook hi» head with torrowful admission, .

" Ytth, aunty," he declared., "you theal you could tell if I did."