Humour.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 37, 8 December 1894, Page 3

Humour.

NBKVE ENOUGH FOR ANYTHING-

Dr. M’Tavish, of Edinburgh, was something of ventriloquist, and it befel that he wanted a lad to assist in the surgery, who must necessarily be of strong nerve. 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 the corner, ‘ Part of your work would be to feed the skeleton there, and while you are here you may as well have a try to do so.” A few lads would consent for a trial and received a basin of hot gruel and a spoor. While they were pouring the hot mass into the skull the doctor would throw his 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 scalds ing 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 on his chair and fairly roared, but when he came to he engaged the lad on the spot.