One night a brother of mine, knowing that there
would shortly be a Division, succeeded in purloining the offending
boots by covering them with his "Order paper," and got them safely
out of the House. He hid them behind some books in the Division
Lobby, and soon after the Division was called. The House emptied,
but the discalced legislator retained his seat. "A Division having
been called, the honourable Member will now withdraw," ordered Mr.
Speaker Peel, most awe-inspiring of men. "Mr. Speaker, I have lost
my boots," protested the shoeless one. "The honourable Member will
at once withdraw," ordered the Speaker for the second time, in his
sternest tones; so down the floor of the House came the
unfortunate man--hop, hop, hop, like the "little hare" in Shock-
headed Peter. The iron ventilating gratings were apparently
uncomfortable to shoeless feet, so he went hopping and limping
through the Division Lobby, affording ample glimpses of his
deplorably discoloured woollen footwear. Later in the evening an
attendant handed him a paper parcel containing his boots, the
attendant having, of course, no idea where the parcel had come
from.
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