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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 28 December 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

Mungo Park served an apprenticeship in a doctor's shop, in Selkirk, and during his study of physic compound-!, the following little episode, -* r hich we had from a venerable doctor of medicine, occurred ; — An old well-known burgher stepped into the shop one day, and looking in an excited manner at the boy, said, " Mungo. is the doctor in?" "No, sir." "Oh, dear ! nnd I'm nearly dead wi' the toothache." "But Vll draw the tooth for you .ff j;ou widh it drawn." " You ! callant ? Diit you ever draw ony teeth before I" "Yes, I have, sir." " Troth, I'll rather coljie back again, and see the doctor than lippen ye." The old gentleman went off, add, ere long, returned with the old question, " Mungo, my man, is the doctor in nho V " No, sir, he's not come yet " " W hat am I to do \ I'm nearly daft wi' the p^iin. Mungo, are yau perfectly downright sure ye've drawn teeth before this ?'* " I really have, sir," said the boy. " Then g-et the nippers and tak' out mine. Now mind '.-—talc 1 care-— be canny*" The youth extracted the tooth, and after the old gentleman got over the shock it caused, and found himself relieved, he complimented him on the skill he had shown, and then asked him how many teeth he had drawn before operating on himself. •• Only thirty two," said Mungo, " thirty-twa \ troth I think its a a quid only. Wlaere in the world did a' the folk come frae?" "Oh I took them all out of one man's mouth." "That was dreadfu' ! I wonder that the man let you pull them." "He could not prevent me." "How?" "Because he was dead." The old gentleman sprang from his seat, ejaculated •' Mercy on us I" and hurriedly left the shop. A Proper Distinction. — What is the difference between occupation and business? Thus expounded by Lord Palmerston ; The French are in occupation of liome, but they have no business there. A. Good Hint. — Send your little child to bed happy. Whatever cares press, give it a. -warm good-night kiss as it goes to its pillow. The memory of this, in the stormy yeaiy which fate may have in store for tlis little one will be like Bethlehem's star to the bewildered shepherds.