In the hospital he found himself in the presence of a busy man, so burdened by responsibilities that he hardly had time to look up.
"Are you Hamlin the baker?" he asked.
"I'm Hamlin the missionary."
Dr. Mapleton lifted his head. "That's just like everything in this country," he said irritably. "I send for a baker and get a missionary! Thank God, I'm not a heathen that I should want a missionary!"
Dr. Hamlin laughed. "But I'm the baker," he said.
"You, the baker!" repeated Dr. Mapleton.
Dr. Hamlin explained how he had been forced into the baking business.
"Then will you bake bread for our hospital? What we get is not fit to eat. Our poor invalids won't touch it; they can't. We're in a tight place."
Dr. Hamlin stood with knitted brows.
"You will, won't you?" said the physician, earnestly.