‘A shilling’s worth of quinine, please,’
The customer demanded.
The druggist went down on his knees
And from a cupboard handed
The waiting man a tiny flask:
‘Here, Sir, is what you ask.’
The buyer paid and went away,
The druggist rubbed his glasses,
Then sudden shouted in dismay:
‘Of all the silly asses!’
And out into the street he ran
To catch the speeding man.
Cried he: ‘That quinine that you bought,
(Since all may errors make),
I find was definitely not,–
I sold you strychnine by mistake.
Two shillings is its price, and so
Another bob you owe.’
(Robert William Service)
More Poetry from Robert William Service:
Robert William Service Poems based on Topics: Man, Cry, Error & Mistake- Fighting Mac (Robert William Service Poems)
- If You Had The Choice Of Two Women To Wed (Robert William Service Poems)
- (The sunshine seeks my little room) (Robert William Service Poems)
- Prelude (Robert William Service Poems)
- Spanish Peasant (Robert William Service Poems)
- The Lunger (Robert William Service Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Man Poems, Cry Poems, Error & Mistake PoemsBased on Keywords: customer, asses, definitely, shillings, druggist, quinine, strychnine