The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-03 00:00:00

MENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STAN

pistol into the water, and decamped. Shenstone
ordered his footboy to pursue the robber at a distance,
and observe whither he went. In a short time the
lad returned, and informed his master that, having
traced the man to his home, he peeped through the
keyhole of the door, and saw him throw the purse to
his wife, and then, taking up two of his poor children,
one on each knee, said to them that he had ruined
his soul to keep them from starving, and immediately
burst into a flood of tears. Having learnt that he was
a labourer, reputed honest and industrious, but
oppressed by want and a large family, Shenstone went
to his house, when the man, kneeling down at his
feet, implored mercy. The poet not only forgave him,
but provided him employment as long as he lived.
True repentance is rewarded here or hereafter.
A NEW ZEALAND " LADY"--A young gentleman
who left Preston above four years ago thus writes
home from Wandanui, in New Zealand, to a friend :
Needlewomen are much wanted in a double capacity ;
in the first and most important as wives, in the second
as dressmakers, &c. All young men should marry
before emigrating. Many who come out here form
matrimonial connexions with the natives. My partner
is a native, and, though faultless in form, her com-
plexion is not more fair than black—in plain language
she is a lady of colour, the exact shade approaching
much nearer to polished brown paper or mahogany
than anything else I can remember. She cannot speak
English, and is much addicted to what you would call
smoking, but what she elegantly terms kai tupeka—
Anglice, food tobacco. Her hair hangs in negligent
gracefulness, and is of a beautiful and brilliant black.
Her eyes are brown, her person tall and erect, and her
carriage faultless, and as dignified as that of any
European. From one ear is suspended a shark's tooth,
and the other is embellished with a bit of coloured
worsted. Her feet were never tortured by shoes, nor
concealed by stockings ; they are as free as when
nature formed them. She swims to perfection, can
manage a canoe in a sea that would appal a London
waterman, and is such an adept at catching fish that
Izaak Walton would have shrunk in competitip with
her. I have been induced to make these remarks, as
they will apply to the whole native race. European
women are so scarce that English and Maori connexions
are little noticed. The practice is common ; and the
dark complexions, naked feet, and kai tupeka become
as familiar as possible.
FICTON AT WATERLOO.—I once heard an anecdote
of Picton ( says Curling, in his " Recollections of the
Mess Table,") from an officer who was himself at Wa-
terloo. Picton, I was told by this officer, was wounded
the day before Waterloo, but had concealed his hurt,
and with the most heroic fortitude remained in the
field. During the night, however, the agony of his
wound obliged him to send for a surgeon, who re-
mained with him until dawn ; and, on his leaving,
Picton thus addressed him:—' You say that my wound
is dangerous—mortal ; that I am unfit for duty, and
must be represented so to the Duke ?" Such is my
opinion,' said the medical man. ' I think it would be
impossible for you to take command of your division.'—
Leave me to judge of that, sir,' said Picton, and in
the meanwhile, allow me to ask you a question,—From
your long knowledge of me, do you consider me capable
of strictly keeping my word ?" I have every cause to
believe so,' returned the surgeon, but, why the ques-
tion, Sir Thomas ?" Simply for this reason,' returned
Picton, that I have made up my mind to be in the
field with my brigade ; and I give you my word of
honour, both as a gentleman and a soldier, that if you
place my name in your report as unfit for duty, I will
shoot you with my own hand.' The surgeon shrugged
his shoulders, shook Picton by the hand, and with-
drew. The gallant general's name was accordingly
omitted amongst the wounded; and, as his wish had
often been expressed, that he might die amidst the
blaze of battle, he was gratified.
A FEVERISH DREA.3l.—Reader, were you ever
stricken with fever ? If so, you cannot fail toremember
the hideous, bizarre, grosteque shapes which haunted
you during the hours of delirium, with a distinctness
and pertinacity positively appalling. Never can we
forget the monstrous old hag who nightly glided into
our apartment, saluted us with a low mocking laugh,
and then kept us spell-bound for hours by the fascina-
tion of her glittering eye. Then came the Haverel,
in the shape of an ancient and garrulous gentleman,
who persisted in telling us everything that we knew