A GROWLING MACHINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8375, 22 July 1905, Page 3

A GROWLING MACHINE.

Mr Yipsley was just on the point of | leaving his house for his place of busij ness when there came a ring at the front} door bell. .He opened the door. A canvasser stood outside. " I beg your pardon," said the canvasser, " but I'd like to show you a sam- ! pie of our improved talking machine." "I think I don't care to see it," r«plied Mr Yipsley. '•' You are not interested in talkingmachines, perhaps," ventured the othor. " I can't say that either. But I have one already. Talks all day long. Never, needs winding up. Never runs down." At this moment a high-pitched voice from somebody at the top of the stair broke into the conversation. "It isn't so!" exclaimed the person with the, high-pitehed voice. "It isn't so! But I've^got a growling-machine that runs whenever it's in the house!" TAKING NO RISKS. The cheap-jack was exerting all his delicate subtleties in drawing a crowd, and he wound up by offering a bright new half-crown piece for sale by auction." "Now, gentlemen/ he cried,r"hero is the chance of a lifetime! What will you bid for this half-crown? Don't waste time, now." Pretty soon bids came thick and fast, till at last the childish treble of a small boy's voice was heard. "A shilling for it I" he cried. And no one seemed inclined to go any, higher. ' "Very well," said \ho cheap-jack, "it's yours, my little lad. Where's your shilling?" .. , „ "Take it out of the half-crown, and hand us over the change I" piped the little lad, who was not taking any; chances.