He Accepted the Present.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 65

He Accepted the Present.

' A well-known professor, who shall be nameless, sometimes became so much intere-led in his lecture that when the noon bell rang he kept the class five or ten minutes over the hour. Ceriain restless spirits; amongst the students . thought they would gh c the professor a ' pentle hint, so they bought a small alarm clock, set it to go off precisely at noon, and placed it on the professor's desk when they came in to the not lecture. They knew that lie was a little absent-minded, and expected that he would not notice it. I As the noon hour struck the alarm went off with a rattling crash, and tho&e of the class not in the secret started, and look in ti~ic joke at once. There was a round of applause. The professor waited until the alarm and the applause were over, and then said, deliberately : — "Young gentlemen, I thank you foi this little gift. I had forgotten thai, it was my birthday. An alarm clock is something my wife has needed for our servant for some time. It is a very kind remembrance on your part." i The professor then went on to finish a de- | monstration interrupted by the alarm.