Stood the Test.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 September 1914, Page 2

Stood the Test.

„___„__ * Dr. McTavish, of Edinburgh, was something of a ventriloquist, and it befell that he wanted a lad to assist in the surgery, who must necessarily be of strong nerves. He received several applications, and when telling a lad what the duties were, in order to test his nerves, he would say, while pointing to a grinning skeleton standing upright in a corner, " Part of your work would be to feed the skeleton there, and | | while you are here you may as well ■ I have a try to do so." i A few lads would consent to aj ] trial, and received a basin of hot ' I gruel and a spoon. While they ' were pouring the hot mess into the skull, the doctor would throw his j voice so as to make it appear to ! proceed from the jaws of the bony . customer, and gurgle out, "Br-r-r----gr-h-uh ! that's hot !" .This was too much, and, without exception, the lads- dropped the basin and bolted. The doctor began to despair of ever getting a suitable , helpmate until a small boy came, and was given the gruel and spoon.

After the first spoonful the skeleton

appeared to say : "Gr-r-r-uh-r-hr ? that's hot !"

Shovelling in the scalding gruel as fast as ever, the lad rapped the skull and impatiently retorted : "Well, blow it, can't yer, yer ould bony ?"

The doctor sat down in his chair and fairly roared, hut when he came to he engaged the lad on the spot.