IRONY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6514, 17 June 1899, Page 6

IRONY.

She( no longer young) was walking home, . grave "and depressed, -from an animated temperance meeting, ..at , which she, had pleaded for the example of total abstinence among her fellow workers, and declaimed against the wickedness of permitting children to fetch and carry from the public house, y As she moved slowly down the village street | she came upon a group of excited children, i the centre one weeping pitifully? and gazing on the fragments of a broken bottle/arid the wandering pools of beer on the pavement. To inquiries as to the trouble, came tho answer — "Mother gave me tuppence for the beer — I dropped it." Here, a fresh burst of tears. "Will mother he angry with you for the accident?"- A sad shrug of tho shoulders and a nod was all the answer. There was a long silence, broken only by two sobs from the child. "Wellr-here— are— two pennies, go and buy some beer, and be more careful, and then mother won't be angry." ' " They charges a ha'penny for the .bottle," said one of the older children.. : The -half -penny, too; was; produce^' tears were lost ih smiles, and tho. temperance advocate, grave, but light-heir'ted, pursued •her-way." ■•'•"■'-'■'■';' ■■>".•'-.'■.