WHY HE LIVED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9786, 26 August 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHY HE LIVED.

"Yes," said the man, who was wearing the green goggles, " I've never had anything but bad luck. I've worked hard all my life, and only made a bare living. My health broke down years ago, most of my friends bave died off or moved uway, I've got literary and artistic tastes, nnd can't gratify them, everything 1 undertake to Jo is a failure, and I don't seem to bo of any use iv the world."

"Have you nj frieuds with influence enough to get some kind of easy job for you?" inquired the man in tho shaggy alster.

ff I've tried that. Every time I get a ber'b I find myself thrown oat of it." ''Can't you start a commission agenoy or something of that kind ?" asked the man in the slouch hat, "That sort of thing does'n't require aay ci.pital." " I've tried that, too. Got burnt out in one case, and a partner ran off with the profits in the other. No ÜBe."

" Ever try book canvassing ?" inquired the man who had bis feet on the windowsill.

"Yes, «ften. Hud a good suit of olotheß ruined in thutbUßinoes once, dog. Thrown dowastairs once or twice, man. No ure. I'm not in it. Last week my pet cat died ; yesterday I lost my knife; and to-day I've got an ear-ache. Thut's tho way it always goes. If it isn't one trouble it's another. There s oaly ono thin* that beeps rae from committing suicide and ending the w»iolo business." "Well?" " Curiosity to know what blessed mis fortune is likely to be coming next."