Curious Consolation:

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 6926, 8 October 1889, Page 3

Curious Consolation:

A Homo Rule M.P., with some sense of humour, tells c. characteristic story about Colonel Saunderson, on whose Irish estates there have been "ructions" lately, lhe row was of the usual sort — unpaid rents — pressure — evictions — and the order of tho gun issued to the unfortunate agent. The latter wrote, with a good deal of feeling, to the colonel on the subject, declaring that ho expected every hour to be shot at. 'The gallant Orangeman replied promptly : "Dear sir, you may say to the tenants that any threats to shoot you will not intimidate me.' Consolatory, wasn't it ?

Another somewhat similar yarn relates how a cultured Bostonian, who turned cowboy and ttent out West, consoled himself for a rather unfortunate mistake. Riding one afternoon in a reputedly wild and lawless part of the country, the young man came across a stranger, who, after talkiDg for a bit, suddenly made a very suspicious movement towards his revolver pocket. Thinking to be beforthand with the rascal, the Bostonian whisked out his own pistol and shot him. The man fell off his horse like a log. "I think I'd better confirm my suspicions," said the Bostonian, and dismounted. On turning the body over, however, he found the man's hand on a halfextracted whisky flask. " Dear me ! " quoth he, " I'm afraid I've made a sad mistake. The fellow was not a robber, hut a gentleman ; and he was not going to shoot me, but to offer me a drink. Well, well" (here he drow his sleeve suggestively across his mouth and took up the fla>k), "the last wishes of the deceased shall be respected " (a long pull) — " indeed I may say Jiave been respected ! "