MISS KELLOGG'S MISTAKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1462, 22 November 1879, Page 23

MISS KELLOGG'S MISTAKE.

During the visit of Miss Clara Louise Kellogg to the Hub, says the Boston Times, she was suddenly called down into -Maine' Ho sing at a college commencement or some similar jubilee. The town in which the festival oocurred was Oronoj and einguKrly enough, it was tbe first time it had ever been favoured by the presence of the fair cantatrice. Naturally enough, the inhabitants were "somewhat excited over the advent of the illustrious stranger, and the tallest kind of preparations were made for her entertainment at the principal hotel. The first objection which Louise made to the accommodations of the hostelry waa the quality of the water. The delicate little darling turned up her nose and asseverated with more than ordinary vehemence that unless something better was provided Bhe would be obliged to cut the engagement and the village simultaneously. In this Spartan-like resolution Clara was warmly supported by Mamma Kellogg, who declared that 'one note of her daughter's voice was worth more than the whole State of Maine. The landlord was in a dreadful dilemma, but fortunately bethought of Mr Abraham Coburn, a wealthy citizan of the town, who had upon hii estate a spring of .marvellous purity. To Mr Ooburn he went and stated the case, and that gentleman gladly consented to f urniah the donna with the famous water, and to give the courtesy an especial emphasis, proposed to bring it with his own hands The offer was gladly accepted, and several times a day did'Mr Ooburn fetch the sparkling beverage to the divine C!lara, who declared it to be absolute liquid ! perfection, and ' seriously entertained thoughts of having it bottled and sent with her over, the couutry. . The funny part of the- , story is to come. Mr Ooburn, although, aa we previously stated, one of the wealthiest citizens of the place, was decidedly careless about his personal attire. In short, not to put too fine a point upon it, he usually looked pretty rough. This fact in connection . with his exceedingly respectful demeanour and the ,familiar way in which everybody called him Abe, totally deceived the celestial Louise as to the gentleman's' social status. So, on the last day of her stay as she, waa packing up to leave, she called the landlord and expressing her gratitude for the trustworthy attendance he had provided, she gave him a half dollar which she begged of him to give to " Abo," as he, Bhe, said, was the best man that had waited upon her. The landlord managed to keep his face till he got out of the room, and then exploded. He, however, concluded it would be hotter to keep the joke until the diva left town and then give the' half-dollar to " Abe " in fche presence of his crowd. With this idea in his mind,' the landlord sauntered down to the depot to see the nightingale safely off. A good many of his fellow-townsmen were there on the same errand, and in the midst of a group of village magnates was Mr Ooburn. Miss Kellogg and her mother were safely seated in a drawing-room car, the whistle had sounded and the engine was just getting ready to move, when suddenly the quick eyeof Olara Louise discerned Mr Ooburn in the midst of hia friends. Not a moment was to bo lost, as the train was already moving "Abe," she screamed, "Abe!" and Mr Ooburn camo blusliingly forward. "Abe, my man," she continued,' " I'm sorry you didn't come up to say good-by, but I left half a dollar with the landlord to give to you for

bringing-me the water." The\;tratajinov,e^ <\ out, and the shout of laughter that went up from the friendsjof the luckless * ! Abe "verily shook the depot. And the funniest, thing is, . . that until Olara Louise reads this article, she ' will never, know what those people were ', laughing at. ■ , „-!_ . . „,' ,