Soon afterwards there came another chance. The editor of the _Dispatch_ wanted a series of short complete stories. I asked to be allowed to try if I could do them. Under the title of 'The Social Kaleidoscope,' I wrote a series of short stories or sketches, and from that day no week has passed that I have not contributed something to the columns of a weekly journal. When the sketches were complete, the publisher of the _Dispatch_ offered to bring them out in book form for me and publish them in the office. 'The Social Kaleidoscope' was my first book, and that is how it came into the world. Years afterwards, my chance came with the dear old fellow who had said that it was a pity I scribbled so. Fortune had smiled upon me in one way then, and I was earning an excellent income with my pen. But my health had broken down, and it was thought necessary that I should place myself in the hands of a celebrated surgeon. I had not seen my old doctor for some years, but my people wished that he should be consulted, because he had known me so well in the days of my youth. So I submitted, and he came, and he shook his head and agreed that so-and-so was the man to take me in hand. 'I think he'll cure you, my dear fellow,' said the doctor; 'he's the most skilful surgeon we have for cases like yours, but his fee is a heavy one. Still, you can afford it.' 'Yes, doctor,' I replied, 'thanks to my _scribbling_, I can.' That was the hour of my triumph. I had waited for it for fifteen years, but it had come at last. The dear old boy gripped my hand. 'I was wrong,' he said, with a quiet smile, 'and I confess it; but we'll get you well, and you shall scribble for many a year to come.' And I am scribbling still. '_DEPARTMENTAL DITTIES_' BY RUDYARD KIPLING [Illustration: THE NEWSPAPER FILES]