A little Too Much

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 87

A little Too Much

She had a small child with her, and there was no vacant seat in the car.

"We'll have to stand, dearie." she said

Now, a woman standing alone is bad enough, but when she has to steady a child it is infinitely worse. In this case two men started to offer a seat, but one being a little quicker than the other, the latcer settled back con^OTtablty. "Here is a seat, madam," said the one who had risen.

" Thank you," she said, and, stooping, she lifted the child into the vacant scat. Then she looked hard at the other man.

"Why rlon't you sit down, mummy?" asked the child.

"I ha^e no scat." she replied, and again she looked at the man who had started to get up.

The other passengers began to "take notice." The man who had given up his seat had expected she would toke the chikl in ber lap, but it was evident that she wanted tvs o spats. Would she get them ? Somehow he felt a little provoked, but he could still enjoy the dilemma of the other man. The latter had been equally ready to give up his seat when it appeared to be necessary, but now he seemed, to descry an imposition.

" Can't you get a seat, mummy?" persisted the child.

" No, dearie," the woman "mamma will have to stand."

But her eyes A - ere on the man. So were , the eyes of others in the ear. They were 1 curious to note the result, and they noted I it. The man reached over, picked up the child, ■sat it on his knee, and remarked pleasantly, "There's a s«ft for you, madam."

The woman's face grew red, but she took thi seat — and the child. And she knew the other passengers were laughing.