A LESSON FOR THE COVETOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1191, 3 November 1882, Page 2

A LESSON FOR THE COVETOUS.

Samuel Shinn has learned a lesson which will remain fresh in his mind if he lives to be ten thousand years old. As he entered the lodge to arrange the chairs and benches for the opening of the regular Saturday night meeting, he discovered a big water-mellon on the stove. Samuel is not always a respecter of the rights of property. His everyday theory is : 'To the finder belongs the water-melon.' Having no doubt that this fruit had been left behind by some member at the last meeting, and hoping that he had time to devour the whole of it before anyone should come in, now proceeded to business. Scarcely had he laid hands on the melon before there was an explosion which upset everything in the room and landed Samuel under the lavender bench forty feet away. He received three cute on the nose, two on the chim, had his wool badly frizzled, and it will be seven weeks before he will be able to wink with his left eye.

' Genvlen. I trust dat dis lesson will sink deep into yer hearts, an' be tooken for a solemn warning,' said Brother Gardner, as he opened the meeting. 'Inde fust place de pusson who lets his curiosty lead him aroun ' by de nose will trabbel in de swamps as often as on de .highway. In de nex place, he who has no respects fur de rights of odders often find a dangerous thing. Had Brudder hinnstoodofa distance of ten feet, an ' bin content to gaze on dat mellen an' let his mouf water ober de ideah what was inside, he would not at dis minit be lyin ' on a bench inde ante room wid his head on a paint keg an ' his heart grievin ' fur de long ago. Envy am de fodder on which a small-minded man exists. Jealousy am de weapon of a man who hasn't brains 'nuff to pull himself up. Avarice am a feelin ' borrowed from de hog.' — Detriot Free Press,