When His Turn Came.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 83

When His Turn Came.

Tha story is told of an Irishman who bitterly resented the prejudice against Hs race that he belioved constantly militated against -him. On one occa&ion. when he applied for -a place -on a .sailing vessel, the captain asked :lor: Ior a reference. I "VA" V A reference !" exclaimed the Irishman. ! "For a common , sailor's job!" 3ut thc_-.captain insisted, and the reference -had to be obtained before he wes < ergaged. When presently another applicant, an -Englishman, was engaged for a similar .place, but without demand for reference, >naturally the Irishman was indignant. "He .was, of. course, obliged to smother -Jiis. .anger,, tut lie .cherished his grudge both .against the other sailor and the captain. One day the* two .sailors were- at work msar each oilier, each «vith a pail of foapsuds scrubbing the deck. The Englishman was resting his pail on the rail for an unguarded moment, when £ sudden lurch of

the -vessel »ent~him overboard with his im- -. lilftments. - ", _ . _ , The ■ irishman arose shoijting lustily : then reeoll-ectinir himself, he suppressed the "man overboard" .that cani<3 to his lips. As 'the captain and others came running to see what ihe hubbub meant, the Inshjuan -waved his larms dramatically towards ;thc unfortunate sailor struggling- in -the' water. " The Englishman that ye took without a riferenc?. sor," he said, "is gone oft ;vid yer pail I" >