The Distinguished Visitor

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Distinguished Visitor

T HE distinguished visitor was to spend the night with the two plain old folk. Elaborate preparations were made for his coming. A taxi was to meet him at the station. The cook was to exert herself to the utmost. The housemaid i had instructions to take the treasured dinner servico from the china cabinet. The mayor was. to hold himself in readiness for a telephone call. .At last the great day arrived, and with it the great man. He was met at the station, but ho preferred walking. It would give him an appetite, ho said. Known the world over, he did not look particularly distinguished, and ho did not sound it. The best bedroom did not appear to impress him, and at dinner he ate only toast and butter, and drank two glasses of cold water. When he was asked if he would like to meet the mayor, he said certainly, not; and when his anxious host and hostess were baffled to know how to entertain him, he said, " Can't we just sit round the fire and talk?"

He had his wish. They sat round the lire, and presently the two plain old folk forgot that their guest was distinguished, and told him about their grown-up children, and went back to their own young days, so that it was midnight before the visitor was shown up to his bedroom. When he had gone the two plain old folk wondered, in some dismay, if things had gone very badly. But in the morning, before their guest went out to meet 'the local celebrities, ho said, " I want to thank you for last night. Almost everywhere I go people make a terrible fuss. They compel me to meet important people. I hate it. I like simple things. You gave me a rare treat by making me feel at home. It is years since 1 enjoyed anything so much as qur talk round the fire. Thank you so much.