Kept His Word.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 91

Kept His Word.

Ho \\a? a swtllish-looking little man, but he had a loud voice, and evidently- wanted e\ ' ryone to know what he said. He and ,i companion — who, be it said to his cTcdit. scorned ashamed of the company he was in — «tood in the hotel rohinda one Saturday night. The little follow was talking

about Ireland, and lio said many hard things concerning the country and the people. A great big man stood by listening to the little fellow's vapourings. He merely smiled, until the little fellow said, in a very loud tone :

"Show me an Irishman, and I'll show you a coward." ~~ Then the big fellow slipped up and, touching the little fellow on the fehoulder, said, in a heavy bass voice : "What's that you said?" "I said show me an Irishman, and I'll show you a coward," said the little fellow, whose knees were shaking under him. "Well, I'm an Irishman," said the big fellow. "You are an Irishman? Well," and a smile of joy flitted over the little fellow's countenance as he saw a hole through which he could crawl, "I'm a, coward," and he set off at a run.