Breaking Bad News.
It is always an unpleasant and painful task to have to be the bearer of ill-tidings, but occasionally one
conics across a case where some rugijed and untutored nature has solved the problem of -‘breaking the news” in a manner which would never have occurred to a person of higher sensibilities. For example, a railway porter had been killed whilst on duty, and after much consultation one of his “mates" volunteered to carry the sad news to the unfortunate man’s wife. Arriving at the bereaved home, the messenger accosted tin- mistress: “Does Widow B live here?" Inasked. “I’m Mrs. B but I'm not a widow.” replied the woman. “Ain’t you
said her interrogator, putting on a look that was meant to he nt onee knowing and sympathetic. “I’ll bet you five bob you are.” In another and a similar ease the bearer of illtidings rapped at the door, and on the wife appearing asked. •‘Does Mr. Blank live here?" “Yes. hut he's not at home,” was the reply. To which he answered. “No, 1 know he ain’t, 'cause I've got him dead on this 'ere handcart."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZGRAP19010831.2.41
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue IX, 31 August 1901, Page 413
Word Count
189Breaking Bad News. New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue IX, 31 August 1901, Page 413
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Acknowledgements
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