MAKING SURE.

New Zealand Tablet, 2 October 1919, Page 45

MAKING SURE.

The cousins, aunts, and still more distant relatives of the newly-arrived infant were gathered to admire the little stranger and to indulge in the usual wrangle regarding the name to be bestowed upon it. Jiffies, the baby’s proud papa, . declared for plain John, hut the rest of the gathering pooh-poohed the i notion, and

suggested every name from Robertson Haig Jiffies down to Jellicoe Marno ditto. Jiffies at last proposed that each should place a name in a hat and draw for it. He fetched ■ his second-best bowler from the hall, allowed Aunt Martha to shake the 23 slips, and claimed the right to do the drawing. "Now, then, first name out o' the hat is the one," he said, turning his hand to show there was no deception. Then he reached into the hat and leisurely drew out a slip. "Hanged if it ain't 'John'!" lie exclaimed. "Hooray!" And 22 assorted relatives sighed disappointedly. "George," remarked Mrs. Jiffies, when the last of the guests had departed, "wasn't it funny that the name you wanted should be the very one to come out first?" "It would have been, Eva," smiled Jiffies, "if I hadn't planted my slip under the lining."