THE DOCTOR'S MISTAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE DOCTOR'S MISTAKE.

A certain good-natured doctor whose doorbell rang late one Christmas Eve, supposing that the- summons was from someone who needed his services, rose from bed, put on his dressing-gown, and went to the door. A working man stood there, holding a huge paper package, from which buds and leaves were protruding. "Is Miss Caroline Ward in?" asked the man. " She has retired," returned the doctor. i Miss Caroline Ward was his cook. '• I'm sorry, sir, to call so late. Something went wrong with the tramcar I was in. I'll leave this for her, sir, if you will kindly give it to her in the mornjjig." " Certainly," said the doctor. He took the flowers into the kitchen and placed a dishpan in the sink, drew a few inches of water in it, carefully pressed the base of the package into the water, and went back to bed, thinking how pleased the cook would be. The next morning he found the cook holding a dripping bundle. She was angry. "If I'ud the pussons 'ere wot did this," said she, "I'd empty the kettle on 'em! I'd let 'em see if they could put the 'at what mv young man bbught me in a dish-pan, 1 would." The doctor left the kitchen somewhat hur. ricdly.