The Peaches Vanished.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 5, 5 August 1905, Page 42

The Peaches Vanished.

At a garden party to which a friend of mine was invited a few summers back the host, thinking he would improve the occasion. arranged a table covered with tracts near a shady part In the grounds where he knew the guests would pass. In order to draw their attention to the tracts he hung up in a conspicuous place just over the table a placard, on which he had written in large letters:—“Please take one. They may do good, and cannot possibly do any barm.” The first guest to <*oinc along that way was a young man whoso sense of fun was somewhat largely developed. Seeing a wall covered with tim* peaches in the neighbourhood, lie took away the placard, and stuck it up there instead, in the very midst of the ripe ffnlt. When the guests bail all departed the host came round by his shady walk to see how many tracts had been taken. Alas! they were all then*, not a single one gone; but. on glancing nt his favourite peach tree, great was his const (*rnat ion (.<» see it entirely denuded of Its deliclouß fruit, in which he had taken so much pride and pleaaurt.