a woman, and particularly in boys or girls. The following story may
teach us something even if we do not necessarily believe it to be true.
It appears that in Japan not long ago three men broke into a dyer's
house while he was away. They were surprised at their work by the dyer's
wife, who asked them what they wanted. One of them replied by gently
asking the wife how much money there was in the place. She answered that
there was just a little in the house. The robber laughed and said:
"You are a good old woman, and we believe you. If you were poor, we
would not rob you at all. Now we only want some money and this," placing
his hand on a fine silk dress.
The old woman replied: "All my husband's money I can give to you, but I
beg you will not take that dress, for it does not belong to my husband,
and was confided to us only for dyeing. What is ours I can give, but I
cannot give what belongs to another."
"That is quite right; we certainly have no wish to deprive you of what
does not belong to you. Be so good as to give us the money, and we will
go," said the robber. The old lady having complied, he immediately
withdrew with his confederates.
* * * * *
MR. JOHN BULL (of England). "Why do the boys talk so hexcited?"
MRS. BULL. "They're at sixes an' sevens over some happles they 'ave."
MR. BULL. "Hat sixes an' sevens! They'll soon be at _hates_ if they keep
hon."
* * * * *
It is not to be supposed that the missionary's lot is always the
happiest in the world, but there are times when there are incidents in
it so full of humor as to make up for the troubles and trials which are
more common. Among the stories in illustration of this point is one that
comes from a recent British Consul to Samoa, who states that a
missionary there was one day visited by a gentle-looking youth, who
asked, "Please, sir, may I get married?" A day was appointed for the
ceremony, when, at the time named, appeared the youthful bridegroom,
looking neat, shy, and guileless; he was asked to take a seat and did
so, blushing vigorously. A quarter of an hour elapsed, and there were no
fresh arrivals; yet there sat the young man without the slightest show
of that anxiety usually attributed to gentlemen about to take the fatal
plunge. At last the missionary became impatient, and asked him where the
young woman was.
"Who?" said the youth.
"Why, the girl you want to marry!"
"Oh, she's at Safata!"
"What!" cried the minister. "Have you come here for me to marry you to a
woman sixteen miles off on the other side of the island?"
"Yes," replied the innocent; "I didn't think you would want her!"
He was sent away to fetch her, and in the course of a week returned to
go through the marriage ceremony in due form.
End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, January 12, 1897, by Various