Oor ain folk times

158 ATTENDING TO HER COMFORTS
a very small liqueur glass in which was dimly discernible
a very small modicum of fine old whisky, whose delicious
aroma diffused itself through the atmosphere, still
further provoking Johnnie's thirst.
Johnnie eyed the minute prescription very discon-
solately, and fingered the tiny glass rather gingerly.
His hostess, misunderstanding his mien and attitude,
said encouragingly :
' Oh, tak' it up, Johnnie ; it'll no hurt ye.'
With a look of disgust Johnnie tossed the mouth-
ful down, saying at the same time, ' Deed no, mem, it
widna hurt me 'gin it was veetrol.'
Some time afterwards poor Johnnie's wife drew near
to death's door, having been for a long time a poor
weary invalid. In fact, the doctors had pronounced
her case hopeless. Dr. Laurence had called, and in
reply to Johnnie's lachrymose inquiries, had simply told
him that the poor woman was past human aid.
' But is there ony thing I can do for her V said Johnnie.
' Well,' said the Doctor, ' medicine can do her no
good. She is very near death's door ; all you can do is
to attend to her comforts, and you might give her a
little stimulant.'
Away went Johnnie to fulfil the worthy Doctor's
instructions. Having purchased the prescribed quantity
of spirits, he ' treated his own resolution ' to a dram,
and then, two or three more cronies coming in, they
shared ' a mutchkin or twa ' between them. This was
sufficient to rouse Johnnie's fatal appetite, and when he
got home he found his poor wife much worse. Re-
membering what the Doctor had told him, he listened
to the Satanic promptings of his evil genius, and sent