One Thousand Guineas.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 5

One Thousand Guineas.

Lord Pelham lived almost the whole year at a country-house on the Thames, a fewmiles from London, and was accustomed to go frequently to town on foot, and without attendants. Being one day passing throueh a small wood, he saw a shabbily-dressed man with a basket on his arm coming towards him. " My lord," said the man, " will you buy my white rabbit ?" Lord Pelham shook his head, and walked on without uttering a word. The unknown followed him, and in a singularly expressive tone, he resumed — "My lord, you, however, won't refuse to buy my little white rabbit ?" " I don't want your rabbit," replied Lord Pelham, rather surprised, "so leave me, my friend." " Yet, my lord, I am convinced you are going to buy my little white rabbit, and that at once," so saying, he presented a pistol to his lordship's breast. " Yes, I plainly see I must buy it; but why didn't you explain yourself as clearly at first ? Well, then, what price do you ask for your rabbit ?" " A thousand guineas." " A thousand guineas for a rabbit?" " Not a shilling less ; and you are going to give me them, are you not, my lord"?" He had cocked the pistol, and his finger was on the trigger. "Without a doubt you shall have your thousand guineas, but I have not that sum about me." " I don't expect it ; but your signature is sufficient — I know your banker." "My signature! but for that I should want " " Nothing but paper, a pen and ink ; here they are, my lord— I have thought of everything." Lord Pelham, seeing but too well he had no other means of getting rid of that singular rabbit-dealer, drew a note for the required sum, and payable at sight to the bearer, and then prepared to continue his way. But the unknown threw himself before him, the pistol still in his hand. "Where, then, are you going to, my lord ?" "To London." " You make a mistake ; it's me who am going to London to draw the thousand guineas from your banker, and you must feel I have no need for your presence to finish the business. You are going to return to your seat. Good day; that is your road, and this is mine." Lord Pelham didn't think fit to prolong the discussion, but returned in no pleasant mood, to his mansion, and never confided to anyone how much the little animal had cost him. Ten years after that adventure, Lord Pelham was walking in the streets of Bath, uhen his attention was caught with the splendid display in a jeweller's shop. Struck with the figure of the master, he considered him attentively, and the man with the rabbit immediately recurred to his mind. Going into the shop, he asked to look at some of the rings, when, at the first word uttered by the jeweller, all his lordship's doubts vanished, and he perfectly recognised his old acquaintance the footpad. But how was he to act ? How inform against, or accuse him without witnesses, and without proof? His lordship retired without manifesting the least suspicion, and dreamed all night how best to recover his money. Next morning, plainly dressed, and carrying a small basket, he presented himself at the shop as soon as it was opened, and inquiring for the master, was shown into the back shop, where he found the jeweller. " Sir," saii Lord Pelham to him, " would you like to buy a little white rabbit?" The jeweller stared with all his eyes, and looked earnestly at him. "lam convinced," resumed his lordship, " that you will at once purchase this white rabbit," at the same time presenting a pistol. "Oh, most willingly," said the terrified jeweller ; "how much for your rabbit ?" " The cost price— a thousand guineas." "Ah, my lord, double and triple the sum, but, in Heaven's name, don't ruin me." Moved by his prayers and his repentance, and still more at the sight of a young wife and two children he saw in the shop, Lord Pelham contented himself with notes to the amount he had been robbed of, which was immediately given to him. " I can well afford the interest as well," said the jeweller. "With the money I ' borrowed ' of you in so singular a manner, I set myself up in business, and my success has surpassed my hopes." Lord Pelham then took fifty more guineas, which he sent to the Foundling Hospital* pledging his word of honour never to reveal the adventure. He kept his word, and it was only discovered by a memorandum found in hia papers after his death.—* Rare Bits.'

IN THE GOLDEN GLOW. Lo ! broken up and molted is the sky Into an ocean of immensity, Where goldp islands swim in. golden light. Too vast and shining clear for mortal sight ; A^ ay , is ebbing far ' but » CT Q it goes, All the deep passion of its splendour flows About thy beauty in a, willing tide jjftrified heavett%& 8 ates « and thou art PA toe bhishing sunset could but speak Ihose buitimg thoughts for which all words are weak— Cowa tell how my whole love to thee is given, vjwenohless and pure as very fire from heaven. Ah, lift tho wonders of that amber hair And turn on me thine cyos, oh, sweet and fair! And let their pity meet the love in mine^ Pity and love akin and both divine ! —all tiie Year Round.

Mr Bunny is asked to "stand" for Thorndonfseat. On homoeopathic principles, he's the man to legislate against the rabbit plague. Wesleyans in these parts each contribute on an ayemge one?eighth of a penqy *^eekly for the to .version of the heatnen; '" - ■