A Hot Potato.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 98

A Hot Potato.

At an alumni dinnor lately a professor in a Massachusetts college told a laughable story of his boyhood. His father was president of a college, and the Commencement dinner was always he'd at his house. It was a grand affair, with many disfinjfuished. guests, and the little boy had to wait until' they had finished dinner and returned to the parlour before he was allowed any ■ chance at the good things of the table. | "For days previous to the event there i was baking and brewing, and the whole i houee was .filled with savoury odors. On- ' the morning of the Commencement dinner there seemed no place in the house for a. small urchin like myself. I was sent from. . the pantry, from the kitchen, and from the dining room. So I wandered about disconsolately, growing hungry with every whiff of the roasting meats' and the 6picy pies and puddings. " At length dinner was ready, and Jane, | one of the hired girls, went to the parlour j to announce the fact, leaving the "dining [ room door ajar. I was in hiding under the hall table, and here was my opportunity. I rushed into the dining room to 1 ccc- what there was good on the table. Alas, the only thing within my reach waa s a dish of hot baked potatoes! i _ " Father and theTJompany were approach- , ing. I seized a potato, jammed it into my I trouser pocket and made a ruah for the i door. I managed to scramble past father, who led the way with n lady on his arm, I and blundered full into the Governor of I the State. ! " The Governor laughed and picked me up in his arms, while I struggled for freei dom. | " ' Ah, what a fine boy, Mr President! * ; 3aid his Excellency, as he held me firmly, against his side. ' But he's a rogue, I see, for he has stclen his father's chin.' "' I didn't steal father's chin, either,' I gasped. ' "Twa« only a potato. And, oh, it's burning me !' i " With that I gave a ringing scream, [ and to the horror of father and mother struck the Governor in the face with my hand. " Then it all came out. That hot potato had burst under the Governor's hug, and, steaming through the thin linen trousers, had made a great red burn on my leg. And so it came to pass that, until I entered 1' college, I never had anything for dinner on Commencement Day but one potato. "'" ' That is to help you remember to> keep your pockets clear of stolen goods,* father used to say, * for one never knows when ho may meet the Governor. 1 "— Youth's Companion.