A NEW ZEALAND DICK WHITTINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 39, 27 September 1890, Page 18

A NEW ZEALAND DICK WHITTINGTON.

T’S so tiresome said the stepmother. yfU' ‘ Heie are »e, with hardly bread In _ enough for ourselves, forced to keep a ~ lazy’ lout like that Dick at school. I’d soon sack him if I had the chance.’ 'wr-MSI Mrs " Idttington No. 2 leaned over t ' le f ence "hich divided her little front ft’' garden from that of her neighbour, Mrs Smelt. __JJ ‘ Well, you’re not over kind to him — now,’ said Mrs Smelt, * but if you were to tell him times was too bad with all these strikes to do anything for him in the feeding line, and if you were to send him out with Susie in the perambulator every day (biggish boys hates wheeling children), I shouldn’t wonder if he struck and went off,’ and she laughed heartily at her joke. ‘I 11 try it,’ said Mrs 'Whittington. ‘To see that voracious boy tuck a whole loaf inside him, and all my own children almost wanting bread ! But there, I’ll say no more, I’ll just act now.’ And she did act. She worried poor Dick as only a woman can worry, and Dick’s father, who had recently married her, a widow with four children, did not interfere. For one thing, he was very miserable, though he would not own it, for he was out of work ; so when Mrs Whittington complained bitterly that Dick had refused to wheel her little girl for more than an hour, he turned sharply round and said, ‘ If you and your stepmother can’t hit it better than this, you must find someone who can manage to get along with you, that’s all.’ ‘ Must I go away, dad ?’ asked Dick. He was really ‘fond of his father, and did not at all like the idea of being turned adrift to find a living for himself. ‘ Don’t bother’ me,’ said his father, crossly. ‘ You and your new mother must settle it.’ And Mrs Whittington did settle it; at least she worried Dick into taking his cap, tying up a few cherished posses-

sions in a bundle, putting his pet black kitten in his pocket, and banging out of the house. He made his way to the nearest city, and strolled down to the wharf. ‘ Want a job?’ asked a gentlemanly looking fellow in white shirt sleeves. ‘ Yes,’ answered Dick, shortly. ‘All right, help me with these boxes then.’ Dick put his bundle in a safe place, took off his coat, tied the kitten safely in it, and placed it by the side of the bundle. He worked well, and went on fioard the steamer for a meal with a very hearty appetite when his new friend invited him. ‘ Would you like to go to sea’’ asked the friend. ‘ Yes, I should very much,’ answered Dick. So Dick went to sea, and fell in on his first voyage with various adventures. His second voyage was taken as a midshipman, and some ladies who were getting up theatricals and tableaux determined he should pose as the real Dick M hittington. They thought his name and his history so suitable. He was soon arrayed in the traditional costume, and looked so nice that an amateur photographer at once took his photograph, which we were enabled to get for the readers of the New Zealand Graphic. Dick was in some danger of being spoiled, but he was, fortunately, met on arrival in New Zealand by the friend

who had been instrumental in obtaining for him his present position. He talked to Dick very wisely about the folly and absurdity of conceit, and succeeded in impressing the lad with the wisdom of his words. All this time he had stuck to his cat. He often said afterwards that when he was utterly weary, and despaired of ever getting on in the world, the cat always whispered in his ear, ‘ Patience and perseverance Made a Bishop ot his reverence,’ and * For fame and fortune, Dick, you will win In Auckland, Christchurch, or Dunedin.’ And sometimes he mewed : ‘ Work hard, Dick Whittington. Thrice Mayor of Wellington,’ which prophecy was fulfilled when he attained middle life. So he climbed steadily up the ladder of fame, giving upthe sea, and settling down, with his kind friend’s help, to a clerkship in one of the four chief cities. He soon became senior clerk, then partner, and at length found himself in a. most comfortable position. Then he spared time to journey up to Auckland, and try to find out what had become of his relations. His stepmother was dead, but his father was still alive, and welcomed him warmly. He found the little Susie whom he had wheeled in the perambulator grown into a sw'eet maiden, and he asked her to marry him. So they went down to Dunedin with old Mr Whittington, and as the old story says, lived happy ever after. The black cat also lived to a good old age, and was cremated by her master, much to his landlady’s disgust. Dick keeps her ashes in a neat little tin box inlaid with choice New Zealand wood, on the mantelpiece in his smokingroom, and his wife always dusts it herself.