Chapter XII: A Prisoner of War (3)

"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