THIS WAS A GOOD ONE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10479, 3 December 1895, Page 4

THIS WAS A GOOD ONE.

Did I tell you the last bright thing my little boy got off ? asked Mcßride, as he joined a group of friends at the club. Yes, you did, replied all, in concert with discouraging unanimity. That's where I've caught you, retorted Mcßride, for it only happened last evening, and I haven't seen a soul of you fellows since. Besides, this was really a good one.

Then you haven't told it to us, replied Kilduff, speaking for the crowd. Go on.

Yes, tell us quickly, added Skidmore, and let us have the agony over. Thus encouraged, Mcßride began : You know, boys, little people have sharp ears, and they are not at all backward about telling any little scraps of information they pick up. This peculiarity has led a good mauy parents to resort to spelling words when their young children are present. Of course that sort of thing is of no avail after the youngsters learn to spell Well, Mrs Mcßride and I are in the spelling stage now, and little Freddy i 3 often very much mystified by our remarks to each other. Last night we had our new minister to dinner, and Freddy watched the good man helping himself very liberally to biscuits. Ho thought it a good opportunity to put into use the family verbal cipher, feeling perfectly certain that the minister would find it unintelligible. So he called out Mamma 1 'What is it, Freddy? asked my wife. Mamma, isn't the m-i-n-i-s-t-e-r a p-i-g? spelled out Freddy triumph antly.

The fellow* had to admit that this story about Mcßride's boy was really a good one.