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diff --git a/old/12836.txt b/old/12836.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbaa114 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12836.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4849 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Good Stories from the Ladies Home Journal, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Good Stories from The Ladies Home Journal + +Author: Various + +Release Date: July 7, 2004 [EBook #12836] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOOD STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +GOOD STORIES + +REPRINTED FROM + +THE LADIES' HOME JOURNAL + +OF PHILADELPHIA + + + + +1907 + + + +GOOD STORIES + +from THE LADIES' HOME JOURNAL + + + + +_Warding Off a Catastrophe_ + +A fat woman entered a crowded street car and, seizing a strap, stood +directly in front of a man seated in the corner. As the car started +she lunged against his newspaper and at the same time trod heavily on +his toes. + +As soon as he could extricate himself he rose and offered her his seat. + +"You are very kind, sir," she said, panting for breath. + +"Not at all, madam," he replied; "it's not kindness; it's simply +self-defense." + + + +_Not What She Expected_ + +A charming, well-preserved widow had been courted and won by a +physician. She had children. The wedding-day was approaching, and it +was time the children should know they were to have a new father. +Calling one of them to her she said: "Georgie, I am going to do +something before long that I would like to talk about with you." + +"What is it, Ma ?" aiked the boy. + +"I am intending to marry Doctor Jones in a few days, and----" + +"Bully for you. Ma, Does Doctor Jones know it ?" + + + +_Of Course_ + +The morning class had been duly instructed and enlightened upon the +subject of our national independence. Feeling sure she had made a +real and lasting impression with her explanations and blackboard +illustrations the young teacher began with the usual round of +questions: + +"Now, Sammy Smith, where was the Declaration of Independence signed?" + +Sammy, with a shout of glee: "At de bottom, ma'am--that's what you +said!" + + + +_He Had Certainly Met Him_ + +A traveler going to New Zealand was asked by a friend if he would +inquire, while there, as to the whereabouts of the friend's +grandfather, Jeremiah Thompson. + +"Certainly," said the traveler, and wherever he went he asked for news +of the ancestor, but without avail. + +One day he was introduced to a fine old Maori of advanced age. "Did +you ever meet with an Englishman named Jeremiah Thompson?" he asked. + +A smile passed over the Maori's face. "Meet him?" he repeated. "Why, +I ate him!" + + + +_No Place Like Home_ + +A Bostonian died, and when he arrived at St. Peter's gate he was asked +the usual questions: + +"What is your name, and where are you from ?" + +The answer was, "Mr. So-and-So, from Boston." + +"You may come in," said St. Peter, "but I know you won't like it." + + + +_She Felt Bad When Well_ + +An old lady, really quite well, was always complaining and "enjoying +poor health," as she expressed it. Her various ailments were to her +the most interesting topic in the world. One day a neighbor found her +eating a hearty meal, and asked her how she was. + +"Poor me," she sighed, "I feel very well, but I always feel bad when I +feel well, because I know I am going to feel worse afterward." + + + +_Drove Him Mad_ + +They took him to the sanatorium moaning feebly: "Thirty-nine, +thirty-nine." + +"What does he mean by that?" the attendant inquired. + +"It's the number of buttons on the back of his wife's new frock," the +family doctor explained. + + + +_Tweedledum or Tweedledee_ + +Joseph Chamberlain was the guest of honor at a dinner in an important +city. The Mayor presided, and when coffee was being served the Mayor +leaned over and touched Mr. Chamberlain, saying, "Shall we let the +people enjoy themselves a little longer, or had we better have your +speech now?" + + + +_It Was Mary's Own Idea_ + +"Did you mail my letter, Mary?" asked her mistress. "It was an +important one, you know." + +"Yis, mum, indeed I did." + +"But why have you brought back the two cents I gave you for the stamp?" + +"Sure, I didn't have to use it, mum," replied Mary. "I slipped th' +letther into th' box whin nobody was lukin'." + + + +_He Couldn't Very Well_ + +A husband was being arraigned in court in a suit brought by his wife +for cruelty. + +"I understand, sir," said the Judge, addressing the husband, "that one +of the indignities you have showered upon your wife is that you have +not spoken to her for three years. Is that so?" + +"It is, your Honor," quickly answered the husband. + +"Well, sir," thundered the judge, "why didn't you speak to her, may I +ask?" + +"Simply," replied the husband, "because I didn't want to interrupt +her." + + + +_A Coat That Wouldn't Come Off_ + +The inspector asked the boys of the school he was examining: "Can you +take your warm overcoats aff?" "Yes, sir," was the response. "Can +the bear take his warm overcoat off?" "No, sir." "Why not?" There +was silence for a while, and then a little boy spoke up: "Please, sir, +because God alone knows where the buttons are." + + + +_The Young Housewife's Latest_ + +In the cook's absence the young mistress of the house undertook, with +the help of a green waitress, to get the Sunday luncheon. The +flurried maid, who had been struggling in the kitchen with a coffee +machine that refused to work, confessed that she had forgotten to wash +the lettuce. + +"Well, never mind, Eliza. Go on with the coffee, and I'll do it," +said the considerate mistress. "Where do you keep the soap?" + + + +_He Did His Best_ + +A hungry Irishman went into a restaurant on Friday and said to the +waiter: + +"Have yez any whale?" + +"No." + +"Have yez any shark?" + +"No." + +"Have yez any swordfish?" + +"No." + +"Have yez any jellyfish?" + +"No." + +"All right," said the Irishman. "Then bring me ham and eggs and a +beefsteak smothered wid onions. The Lord knows I asked for fish." + + + +_The Power Behind_ + +At a prayer-meeting a good old brother stood up and said he was glad +to give the following testimony: + +"My wife and I," he said, "started in life with hardly a cent in the +world. We began at the lowest round of the ladder, but the Lord has +been good to us and we have worked up--we have prospered. We bought a +little farm and raised good crops. We have a good home and a nice +family of children, and," he added with much emphasis, "I am the head +of that family." + +After he sat down his wife promptly arose to corroborate all that he +had said. She said that they had started in life with hardly a cent, +the Lord had been good to them and they had prospered; they did have a +farm and good crops, and it was true they did have a fine family of +children. But she added with satisfaction, "I am the neck that moves +the head." + + + +_Easy Enough_ + +Some visitors who were being shown over a pauper lunatic asylum, says +"Harper's Weekly," inquired of their guide what method was employed to +discover when the inmates were sufficiently recovered to leave. + +"Well," replied he, "you see, it's this way. We have a big trough of +water, and we turns on the tap. We leave it running, and tells 'em to +bail out the water with pails until they've emptied the trough." + +"How does that prove it?" asked one of the visitors. + +"Well," said the guide, "them as ain't idiots turns off the tap." + + + +_He Had Left the Cards All Right_ + +The high-born dame was breaking in a new footman--stupid but honest. + +In her brougham, about to make a round of visits, she found she had +forgotten her bits of pasteboard. So she sent the man back with +orders to bring some of her cards that were on the mantelpiece in her +boudoir, and put them in his pocket. + +At different houses, she told the footman to hand in one, and +sometimes a couple, until at last she told Jeames to leave three at +one house. + +"Can't do it, mum." + +"How's that?" + +"I've only got two left--the ace of spades and the seven of clubs." + + + +_And That Settled It_ + +"If ye please, mum," said the ancient hero, in an appealing voice, as +he stood at the back door of the cottage on washday, "I've lost my +leg----" + +"Well, I ain't got it," snapped the woman fiercely, + +And the door closed with a bang. + + + +_What Do You Think the Porter Did_? + +A lady in the centre seat of the parlor car heard the request of a +fellow-passenger directly opposite asking the porter to open the +window, and, scenting a draft, she immediately drew a cloak about her. + +"Porter, if that window is opened," she snapped testily, "I shall +freeze to death." + +"And if the window is kept closed," returned the other passenger, "I +shall surely suffocate." + +The poor porter stood absolutely puzzled between the two fires. + +"Say, boss," he finally said to a commercial traveler seated near by, +"what would you do?" + +"Do?" echoed the traveler. "Why, man, that is a very simple matter; +open the window and freeze one lady. Then close it and suffocate the +other." + + + +_She Said It_ + +A visitor of noble birth was expected to arrive at a large country +house in the North of England, and the daughter of the house, aged +seven, was receiving final instructions from her mother. + +"And now, dear," she said, "when the Duke speaks to you do not forget +always to say 'your Grace.'" + +Presently the great man arrived, and after greeting his host and +hostess he said to the child, "Well, my dear, and what is your name?" +Judge of his surprise when the little girl solemnly closed her eyes +and with clasped hands exclaimed, "For what we are about to receive +may we be truly fankful, amen." + + + +_His Idea of Genius_ + +A young man once said to Thomas A. Edison, the inventor; "Mr. Edison, +don't you believe that genius is inspiration?" + +"No," replied Edison; "genius is _per_spiration." + + + +_Took the Wrong House_ + +On one of the Southern railroads there is a station-building that is +commonly known by travelers as the smallest railroad station in +America. It is of this station that the story is told that an old +farmer was expecting a chicken-house to arrive there, and he sent one +of his hands, a newcomer, to fetch it. Arriving there the man saw the +house, loaded it on to his wagon and started for home. On the way he +met a man in uniform with the words "Station Agent" on his cap. + +"Say, hold on. What have you got on that wagon?" he asked. + +"My chicken-house, of course," was the reply. + +"Chicken-house be jiggeredl" exploded the official. "That's the +station!" + + + +_And Tommy Did_ + +"And now," said the teacher, "I want Tommy to tell the school who was +most concerned when Absalom got hung by the hair ?" + +TOMMY: "Abs'lom." + + + +_The Prayer of Cyrus Brown_ + + "The proper way for a man to pray," + Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes, + "And the only proper attitude, + Is down upon his knees." + + "No, I should say the way to pray," + Said Reverend Doctor Wise, + "Is standing straight, with outstretched arms, + And rapt and upturned eyes." + + "Oh, no; no, no," said Elder Slow, + "Such posture is too proud: + A man should pray with eyes fast closed + And head contritely bowed." + + "It seems to me his hands should be + Austerely clasped in front, + With both thumbs pointing toward the ground," + Said Reverend Doctor Blunt. + + "Las' year I fell in Hodgkin's well + Head first," said Cyrus Brown, + "With both my heels a-stickin' up, + My head a-p'inting down, + + "An' I made a prayer right then an' there-- + Best prayer I ever said, + The prayingest prayer I ever prayed, + A-standing on my head." + + --SAM WALTER FOSS. + + + +_Couldn't Tell Which_ + +Jones had come home later than usual and had ready a good explanation, +but his wife gave him no chance, and immediately began to tell him +what she thought of him. He endured it patiently all evening, quietly +read his paper and went to bed. His wife was still talking. + +When he was almost asleep he could hear her still scolding him +unmercifully. He dropped off to sleep and awoke after a couple of +hours, only to hear his wife remark: + +"I hope all the women don't have to put up with such conduct as this." + +"Annie," said Jones, "are you talking again or yet?" + + + +_The Greater Calamity_ + +Two or three urchins were running down a long and very steep flight of +steps, when the foremost stumbled and fell headlong twenty to thirty +feet, and was only stopped near the bottom by doubling backward around +the newel-post. It looked as though his back was broken, and that he +was a dead small boy, but he gathered himself up, thrust his hands +anxiously in his trousers' pockets, and ejaculated; + +"B' gosh, I b'l'eve I lost a cent." + + + +_Her First Railroad Ride_ + +An old lady in Missouri took her first railroad trip last week, says +"The Butter Democrat." She noticed the bell-cord overhead, and, +turning to a boy, she said: "Sonny, what's that for?" "That, marm," +he said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "is to ring the bell +when you want something to eat." + +Shortly afterward the old lady reached her umbrella up to the cord and +gave it a vigorous pull. The train was in the middle of a trestle. +The whistle sounded, the brakes were pulled on, the train began to +slacken its speed, windows were thrown up, questions asked, and +confusion reigned among the passengers. The old lady sat calmly +through it all. + +Presently the conductor came running through the train and asked: "Who +pulled the bell?" + +"I did," replied the old lady meekly. + +"Well, what do you want?" asked the conductor impatiently. + +"Well," said the old lady meditatively, "you may bring me a ham +sandwich and a cup of tea, please." + + + +_The Parson and the "Light"_ + +A parson had had a call from a little country parish to a large and +wealthy one in a big city. He asked time for prayer and +consideration. He did not feel sure of his light. A month passed. +Some one met hie youngest son. "How is it, Josiah; is your father +going to B------?" + +"Well," answered the youngster judicially, "paw is still prayin' for +light, but most of the things is packed." + + + +_Turn About is Fair Play_ + +Last Christmas a middle-aged tinplate-worker married a widow whose +acquaintance he had made but a few weeks before while working some +little distance away from home. + +"Sarrah," he said nervously, after the guests had departed, "I 'ave a +weddin' present for ye." + +"What is it, John?" said Sarrah with a smirk. + +"I 'ope ye won't be 'fended, Sarrah," said John, more agitated than +ever, "but it is--er--er--it is five of 'em." + +"Five of wat?" asked Sarrah. + +"Five children!" blurted out John desperately, anticipating a scene. +"I didn't tell ye I 'ad children--five of 'em." + +Sarrah took the news quite calmly; in fact, she appeared relieved. + +"Oh, well, John," she said, "that do make it easier for me to tell ye. +Five is not so bad as me, watever. Seven I 'ave got!" + +"Wat!" howled John. + +"Seven," repeated Sarrah composedly. "That is my weddin' present to +ye, John." + + + +_His Only Chance_ + +"Is there a man in all this audience," demanded the female lecturer on +woman's rights, "that has ever done anything to lighten the burden on +his wife's shoulders? What do you know of woman's work? Is there a +man here," she continued, folding her arms, and looking over the +assembly with superb scorn, "that has ever got up in the morning, +leaving his tired, worn-out wife to enjoy her slumbers, gone quietly +downstairs, made the fire, cooked his own breakfast, sewed the missing +buttons on the children's clothes, darned the family stockings, +scoured the pots and kettles, cleaned and filled the lamps, and done +all this, if necessary, day after day, uncomplainingly? If there be +such a man in this audience let him rise up! I should really like to +see him!" + +And, in the rear of the hall, a mild-looking man in spectacles, in +obedience to the summons, timidly arose. He was the husband of the +eloquent speaker. It was the first time he had ever had a chance to +assert himself. + + + +_He Saw Them, All Right_ + +Two officers were sent to arrest a Quaker; his wife met them at the +door and said, "Walk in, gentlemen; my husband will see thee." + +After waiting some time they got impatient and called the woman, +saying, "You said we should see your husband presently." + +"No, friend," she replied; "I said he would see thee--he did see thee, +did not like thy looks, and went out by the back door." + + + +_An Easy Way to Stop It_ + +William Penn was once urging a man he knew to stop drinking to excess, +when the man suddenly asked: + +"Can you tell me of an easy way to do it?" + +"Yes," Penn replied readily, "it is just as easy as to open thy hand, +friend." + +"Convince me of that," the man exclaimed, "and I will promise upon my +honor to do as you tell me." + +"Well, my friend," Penn answered, "whenever thee finds a glass of +liquor in thy hand, open that hand before the glass touches thy lips, +and thee will never drink to excess again." + +The man was so struck by the simplicity of the great Quaker's advice +that he followed it and reformed. + + + +_What Brought Them_? + +A rural school has a pretty girl as its teacher, but she was much +troubled because many of her pupils were late every morning. At last +she made the announcement that she would kiss the first pupil to +arrive at the schoolhouse the next morning. At sunrise the largest +three boys of her class were sitting on the doorstep of the +schoolhouse, and by six o'clock every boy in the school and four of +the directors were waiting for her to arrive. + + + +_Give and Take_ + +An English statesman on one occasion, when engaged in canvassing, +visited a working-man's house, in the principal room of which a +pictorial representation of the Pope faced an illustration of King +William, of pious and immortal memory, in the act of crossing the +Boyne. + +The worthy man stared in amazement, and seeing his surprise the +voter's wife exclaimed; + +"Shure, my husband's an Orangeman and I'm a Catholic." + +"How do you get on together?" asked the astonished politician. + +"Very well, indade, barring the twelfth of July, when my husband goes +out with the Orange procession and comes home feelin' extry +pathriotic." + +"What then?" + +"Well, he always takes the Pope down and jumps on him and then goes +straight to bed. The next morning I get up early, before he is awake, +and take down King William and pawn him and buy a new Pope with the +money. Then I give the old man the ticket to get King William out." + + + +_Too Much of a Good Thing_ + +"I've got the very thing you want," said the stableman to a ruralist +in search of a horse; "a thorough-going road horse. Five years old, +sound as a quail, $175 cash down, and he goes ten miles without +stopping." + +The purchaser threw his hands skyward. + +"Not for me," he said, "not for me. I wouldn't gif you five cents for +him. I live eight miles out in de country, und I'd haf to walk back +two miles." + + + +_Had Missed It_ + +"What are you crying for, my poor little boy?" said a man to a crying +boy. + +"Pa fell downstairs." + +"Don't take on so, my boy. He'll get better soon." + +"That isn't it. Sister saw him fall--all the way. I never saw +nuffen." + + + +_Denied the Only Shade_ + +It was a broiling hot day in the park, and those walking therein were +well-nigh exhausted, when a very stout old lady came bustling along +one of the paths, closely followed by a rough-looking tramp. + +Twice she commanded him to leave her, but Still he followed just +behind. + +At last the old lady, quite disgusted, turned angrily around and said: + +"Look here, my man, if you don't go away I shall call a policeman." + +The poor fellow looked up at her with a tear in his eye, and then +remarked: + +"For goodness' sake, mum, have mercy and don't call a policeman, for +ye're the on'y shady spot in the park." + + + +_Wanted to Make Her Happy_ + +In one of the many hospitals in the South a bright, busy-looking and +duty-loving woman hustled up to one of the wounded soldiers who lay +gazing at the ceiling above his cot. "Can't I do something for you, +my poor fellow?" said the woman imploringly. The "poor fellow" looked +up languidly. The only things he really wanted just at that time were +his discharge and a box of cigars. When he saw the strained and +anxious look on the good woman's face, however, he felt sorry for her, +and with perfect sang froid he replied: "Why, yes; you can wash my +face if you want to." + +"I'd be only too glad to," gasped the visitor eagerly. + +"All right," said the cavalier gallantly, "go ahead. It's been washed +twenty-one times already to-day, but I don't mind going through it +again if it'll make you any happier." + + + +_Easy Enough_ + +A noted mathematician, considered by many a wonder, stopped at a hotel +in a small town in Missouri. As usual, in such places, there were a +number of drummers on hand; there was also a meeting of some medical +men at the place, who used the hotel as headquarters. One of the +doctors thought it would be quite a joke to tell the mathematician +that some of the M.D.'s had concluded to kidnap him and take out his +brains to learn how it was he was so good in mathematics. He was then +asked by them what he was going to do about it. He replied: "Why, I +shall simply go on without brains just as you doctors are doing." + + + +_Not a Complaint at All_ + +The good priest had come to his parishioner after the funeral of the +latter's mother-in-law to express condolences. + +"And what complaint was it, Pat," he asked sympathetically, "that +carried the old lady off?" + +"Kumplaint, did yi ask, father?" answered Pat. "Thir wuz no kumplaint +from anybody. Everybody wuz satisfied." + + + +_He Caught It, But_---- + +The ferry-dock was crowded with weary homegoers when through the crowd +rushed a man--hot, excited, laden to the chin with bundles of every +shape and size. He sprinted down the pier, his eyes fixed on a +ferryboat only two or three feet out from the pier. He paused but an +instant on the string-piece, and then, cheered on by the amused crowd, +he made a flying leap across the intervening stretch of water and +landed safely on the deck. A fat man happened to be standing on the +exact spot on which he struck, and they both went down with a +resounding crash. When the arriving man had somewhat recovered his +breath he apologized to the fat man. "I hope I didn't hurt you," he +said. "I am sorry. But, anyway, I caught the boat!" + +"But, you idiot," said the fat man, "the boat was coming in!" + + + +_He Didn't Mind_ + +A certain railway in Michigan has a station entitled Sawyer's Mills, +but usually entitled, for short, Sawyer's. + +A rural couple on one of the trains attracted much attention by their +evident fondness for each other until the brakeman thrust his head in +the doorway of the car and called out, "Sawyer! Sawyer!" + +"Reuben" suddenly assumed the perpendicular and indignantly exclaimed, +"Well, I don't care if you did; we've been engaged three weeks." + + + +_He Announced His Intentions_ + +Young man and his lady-love attended a protracted meeting which was +being held in the village church. Arriving late they found the church +filled, but a gentleman arose and gave the lady his seat, while the +young man was ushered far away to a seat in another part of the +building. + +The service grew warm and impressive. + +"Will those who want our prayers please stand up?" said the preacher. + +At this juncture the young man thought it was getting late and he +would get his sweetheart and go home, but not just knowing where she +sat he rose to his feet and looked over the audience. + +The minister, mistaking his intentions, asked: "Young man, are you +seeking salvation?" + +To which the young man responded: "At present I am seeking Sal +Jackson!" + + + +_As a Last Resort_ + +"Well, doctor," said the patient who was an incessant talker, "why in +the world don't you look at my tongue, if you want to, instead of +writing away like a newspaper editor? How long do you expect I am +going to sit here with my mouth wide open?" + +"Just one moment more, please, madam," replied the doctor; "I only +wanted you to keep still long enough so that I could write this +prescription." + + + +_He Got the Information_ + +At a country fair a machine which bore a sign reading, "How to Make +Your Trousers Last," occupied a prominent position in the grounds and +attracted much attention, says "Harper's Weekly." A countryman who +stood gaping before it was told by the exhibitor, a person with a long +black mustache, a minstrel-stripe shirt, and a ninety-four-carat +diamond in a red cravat, that for one cent deposited in the slot the +machine would dispense its valuable sartorial advice. The countryman +dug the required coin from the depths of a deep pocket and dropped it +in the slot. Instantly the machine delivered a card on which was +neatly printed: + +"Make your coat and waistcoat first." + + + +_After Many Trials_ + +He WAS a sad-faced American tourist, and as he seated himself in a +London restaurant he was immediately attended by an obsequious waiter. + +"I want two eggs," said the American--"one fried on one side and one +on the other." + +"'Ow is that, sir ?" asked the astounded waiter. + +"Two eggs--one fried on one side and one on the other." + +"Very well, sir." + +The waiter was gone several minutes, and when he returned his face was +a study. + +"Would you please repeat your border, sir?" + +"I said, very distinctly, two eggs--one fried on one side and one on +the other." + +Oppressive silence, and then a dazed "Very well, sir." + +This time he was gone longer, and when he returned he said anxiously: + +"Would it be awsking too much, sir, to 'ave you repeat your border, +sir? I cawn't think I 'ave it right, sir, y'know." + +"Two eggs," said the American sadly and patiently--"one fried on one +side and one on the other." + +More oppressive silence and another and fainter "Very well, sir." + +This time he was gone still longer. When he returned his collar was +unbuttoned, his hair disheveled and his face scratched and bleeding. +Leaning over the waiting patron he whispered beseechingly: + +"Would you mind tyking boiled heggs, sir? I've 'ad some words with +the cook." + + + +_It Was His Only Tie_ + +One morning, as Mark Twain returned from a neighborhood morning call, +sans necktie, his wife met him at the door with the exclamation; +"There, Sam, you have been over to the Stowes's again without a +necktie! It's really disgraceful the way you neglect your dress!" + +Her husband said nothing, but went up to his room. + +A few minutes later his neighbor--Mrs. S.--was summoned to the door by +a messenger, who presented her with a small box neatly done up. She +opened it and found a black silk necktie, accompanied by the following +note: + +"Here is a necktie. Take it out and look at it. I think I stayed +half an hour this morning. At the end of that time will you kindly +return it, as it is the only one I have?--MARK TWAIN." + + + +Playing Doctor + +BILLY: "Gentlemen, before we begin to operate, if you will hold the +patient's hands and feet I'll get that four cents out of his +right-hand pocket." + + + +_The Feminine Point of View_ + +The Willoughbys had said good-by to Mrs. Kent. Then Mr. Willoughby +spoke thoughtfully: + +"It was pleasant of her to say that about wishing she could see more +of people like us, who are interested in real things, instead of the +foolish round of gayety that takes up so much of her time and gives +her so little satisfaction, wasn't it?" + +His wife stole a sidewise glance at his gratified face, and a +satirical smile crossed her own countenance. + +"Very pleasant, George," she said clearly. "But what I knew she +meant, and what she knew that I knew she meant, was that my +walking-skirt is an inch too long and my sleeves are old style, and +your coat, poor dear, is beginning to look shiny in the back." + +"Why--what--how----" began Mr. Willoughby helplessly; then he shook +his head and gave it up. + + + +_He Had Faith in the Doctor_ + +A young English laborer went to the register's office to record his +father's death. The register asked the date of death. + +"Well, father ain't dead yet," was the reply; "but he will be dead +before morning, and I thought it would save me another trip if you +would put it down now." + +"Oh, that won't do at all," said the register. "Why, your father may +be well before morning." + +"Ah, no, he won't," said the young laborer. "Our doctor says he +won't, and he knows what he's given father." + + + +_What He Used the Milk For_ + +A clergyman had been for some time displeased with the quality of milk +served him. At length he determined to remonstrate with his milkman +for supplying such weak stuff. He began mildly: + +"I've been wanting to see you in regard to the quality of milk with +which you are serving me." + +"Yes, sir," uneasily answered the tradesman. + +"I only wanted to say," continued the minister, "that I use the milk +for drinking purposes exclusively, and not for christening." + + + +_Nothing if Not Polite_ + +An interested visitor who was making the final call in the tenement +district, rising, said: + +"Well, my good woman, I must go now. Is there anything I can do for +you?" + +"No, thank ye, mem," replied the submerged one. "Ye mustn't mind it +if I don't return the call, will ye? I haven't any time to go slummm' +meself." + + + +_Her Little Game_ + +As a married couple were walking down one of the main thoroughfares of +a city the husband noted the attention which other women obtained from +passers-by, and remarked to his better half: + +"Folks never look at you. I wish I had married some one better +looking." + +The woman tartly replied: "It's your fault. Do you think a man will +stare at me when you're walking with me? You step behind and see +whether men don't look at me." + +The husband hung back about a dozen yards, and for the length of the +street was surprised to see every man his wife passed stare hard at +her and even turn around and look after her. + +"Sure, lassie!" he exclaimed as he rejoined her, "I was wrong and take +it back. I'll never say aught about your looks again." + +The wife had made a face at every man she met. + + + +_A Case of Adaptation_ + +Two dusky small boys were quarreling; one was pouring forth a volume +of vituperous epithets, while the other leaned against a fence and +calmly contemplated him. When the flow of language was exhausted he +said; + +"Are you troo?" + +"Yes." + +"You ain't got nuffin' more to say?" + +"No." + +"Well, all dem tings what you called me you is." + + + +_What Would Happen_ + +A woman agitator, holding forth on the platform and presenting the +greatness other sex, cried out: "Take away woman and what would +follow?" + +And from the audience came a clear, male voice: "We would." + + + +_Couldn't Fool Him That Far_ + +Years ago, when telephones were still a novelty, a farmer came to town +one day and called on a lawyer friend of his whom he supplied with +butter, and who had had a telephone recently put in his office. + +"Need any butter this morning?" asked the farmer. + +"Well, I don't know," answered the lawyer. "Wait a minute. I'll ask +my wife about it." + +After speaking through the 'phone he went on; "No; my wife says no." + +The farmer's face was a study for a moment. Then he broke out with: +"Look-a-here, Mr. Lawyer, I may be a 'Rube' and have my whiskers full +of hay and hayseed, but I'm not such a big fool as to believe that +your wife is in that box!" + + + +_And They Wondered_! + +At a banquet held in a room, the walls of which were adorned with many +beautiful paintings, a well-known college president was called upon to +respond to a toast. In the course of his remarks, wishing to pay a +compliment to the ladies present, and designating the paintings with +one of his characteristic gestures, he said: "What need is there of +these painted beauties when we have so many with us at this table?" + + + +_She Had Him That Time_ + +It was the same old story of a man who refused to tell his wife the +outcome of a business transaction in which, naturally, she took a deep +interest. + +"No," he sneered, "I won't tell you. If I did you'd repeat it. You +women can never keep a secret." + +"John," said the woman quietly, "have I ever told the secret about the +solitaire engagement ring you gave me eighteen years ago being paste?" + + + +_Necessity: Not Choice_ + +A woman hurried up to a policeman at the corner of Twenty-third Street +in New York City. + +"Does this crosstown car take you down to the Bridge toward Brooklyn?" +she demanded. + +"Why, madam," returned the policeman, "do you want to go to Brooklyn?" + +"No, I don't want to" the woman replied, "but I have to." + + + +_Mr. Beecher's Prescription_ + +A country clergyman once called on Mr. Beecher and asked his advice +about what to do with persons who go to sleep in church. + +"Well," said Mr. Beecher, "I'll tell you what I do. When I first came +to Plymouth Church I gave the sexton strict orders that if he saw any +person asleep in my congregation he should go straight to the pulpit +and wake up the minister." + + + +_A Recipe for a Bridal Couple_ + +It was on a train going through Indiana. Among the passengers was a +newly-married couple, who made themselves known Co such an extent that +the occupants of the car commenced passing sarcastic remarks about +them. The bride and groom stood the remarks for some time, but +finally the latter, who was a man of tremendous size, broke out in the +following language at his tormentors: "Yes, we're married--just +married. We are going one hundred and sixty miles farther, and I am +going to 'spoon' all the way. If you don't like it you can get out +and walk. She's my violet and I'm her sheltering oak." + +During the remainder of the journey they were left in peace. + + + +_Both of the Same Kind_ + +A lady stepped from the Limited Express at a side station, on a +special stop order. To the only man in sight she asked: + +"When is the train for Madison due here, please?" + +"The train went an hour ago, ma'am: the next one is to-morrow at eight +o'clock." + +The lady in perplexity then asked: + +"Where is the nearest hotel?" + +"There is no hotel here at all," replied the man. + +"But what shall I do?" asked the lady. "Where shall I spend the +night?" + +"I guess you'll have to stay all night with the station agent," was +the reply. + +"Sir!" flashed up the lady, "I'd have you know I'm a lady." + +"Well," said the man as he strode off, "so is the station agent." + + + +"_Follow the Leader_" + +A young curate was asked to take a Sunday-school class of girls of +eighteen or nineteen years each, which had formerly been taught by a +lady. The young clergyman consented, but insisted upon being properly +introduced to the class. The superintendent accordingly took him to +the class for this purpose and said: + +"Young ladies, I introduce to you Mr. Chase, who will in future be +your teacher. I would like you to tell him what your former teacher +did each Sunday so that he can go on in the same way. What did she +always do first?" + +And then a miss of sixteen said: "Kiss us." + + + +_Very Easily Explained_ + +A neighbor whose place adjoined Bronson Alcott's had a vegetable +garden in which he took a great interest. Mr. Alcott had one also, +and both men were especially interested in their potato patches. One +morning, meeting by the fence, the neighbor said, "How is it, Mr. +Alcott, you are never troubled with bugs, while my vines are crowded +with them?" + +"My friend, that is very easily explained," replied Mr. Alcott. "I +rise very early in the morning, gather all the bugs from my vines and +throw them into your yard." + + + +_Proved His Teacher Wrong_ + +Little Willie's father found his youthful son holding up one of his +rabbits by the ears and saying to him: "How much is seven times seven, +now?" + +"Bah," the father heard the boy say, "I knew you couldn't. Here's +another one. Six times six is how much?" + +"Why, Willie, what in the world are you doing with your rabbit?" asked +the father. + +Willie threw the rabbit down with disgust. "I knew our teacher was +lying to us," was all he said. + +"Why, how?" asked his father. + +"Why, she told us this morning that rabbits were the greatest +multipliers in the world." + + + +At the Department Store + +A man with a low voice had just completed his purchases in the +department store, says the "Brooklyn Eagle." + +"What is the name?" asked the clerk. + +"Jepson," replied the man. + +"Chipson?" + +"No, Jepson." + +"Oh, yes, Jefferson." + +"No, Jepson; J-e-p-s-o-n." + +"Jepson?" + +"That's it. You have it. Sixteen eighty-two----" + +"Your first name; initial, please." + +"Oh, K." + +"O.K. Jepson." + +"Excuse me, it isn't O. K. You did not understand me. I said 'Oh'." + +"O. Jepson." + +"No; rub out the O. and let the K. stand." + +The clerk iooked annoyed. "Will you please give me your initials +again?" + +"I said K." + +"I beg your pardon, you said O. K. Perhaps you had better write it +yourself." + +"I said 'Oh'----" + +"Just now you said K." + +"Allow me to finish what I started. I said 'Oh,' because I did not +understand what you were asking me. I did not mean that it was my +initial. My name is Kirby Jepson." + +"Oh!" + +"No, not O., but K. Give me the pencil, and I'll write it down for +you myself. There, I guess it's O. K. now." + + + +_The Worst Death There Is_ BY BILL NYE + +It is now the proper time for the cross-eyed woman to fool with the +garden hose. I have faced death in almost every form, and I do not +know what fear is, but when a woman with one eye gazing into the +zodiac and the other peering into the middle of next week, and wearing +one of those floppy sunbonnets, picks up the nozzle of the garden hose +and turns on the full force of the institution, I fly wildly to the +Mountains of Hepsidam. + +Water won't hurt any one, of course, if care is used not to forget and +drink any of it, but it is this horrible suspense and uncertainty +about facing the nozzle of a garden hose in the hands of a cross-eyed +woman that unnerves and paralyzes me. + +Instantaneous death is nothing to me. I am as cool and collected +where leaden rain and iron hail are thickest as I would be in my own +office writing the obituary of the man who steals my jokes. But I +hate to be drowned slowly in my good clothes and on dry land, and have +my dying gaze rest on a woman whose ravishing beauty would drive a +narrow-gauge mule into convulsions and make him hate himself t'death. + + + +_A Long-Lived Family_ + +A "dime museum" manager, having heard of a man 123 years of age, +journeyed to his home to try and secure him for exhibition purposes. + +"Well, my friend," said the museum manager, "the proofs of your age +seem to be all right. Now, how would you like to come to my place, +just do nothing but sit on a platform and let people look at you, and +I will pay you $100 a week ?" + +"I'd like it all right," answered the aged man. "But I couldn't go, +of course, unless I had my father's consent." + +"Your father!" gasped the manager. "Do you mean to say your father is +alive?" + +"Yes, indeed," replied the man. + +"Well, where is your father? Home here?" asked the manager. + +"Oh, yes," was the answer. "He's upstairs, putting grandfather to +bed!" + + + +_Silenced the Ringleader_ + +The head teacher in a Sunday-school was much worried by the noise of +the pupils in the next room, At last, unable to bear it any longer, he +mounted a chair and looked over the partition. Seeing a boy a little +taller than the others talking a great deal, he leaned over, hoisted +him over the partition, and banged him into a chair in his room, +saying: + +"Now be quiet." + +A quarter of an hour later a smaller head appeared around the door and +a meek little voice said: + +"Please, sir, you've got our teacher." + + + +_Got Out of That, All Right_ + +"My dear," said a wife to her husband, "do you realize that you have +forgotten that this is my birthday ?" + +"Yes, dearie, I did forget it," replied the husband. "Isn't it +natural that I should? There isn't really anything about you to +remind me that you are a day older than you were a year ago." + + + +_He Simply Looked That Way_ + +The man in the smoker was boasting of his unerring ability to tell +from a man's looks exactly what city he came from. "You, for +example," he said to the man next to him, "you are from New Orleans?" +He was right. + +"You, my friend," turning to the man on the other side of him, "I +should say you are from Chicago?" Again he was right. + +The other two men got interested. + +"And you are from Boston?" he asked the third man. + +"That's right, too," said the New Englander. + +"And you from Philadelphia, I should say?" to the last man. + +"No, sir," answered the man with considerable warmth; "I've been sick +for three months: that's what makes me look that way!" + + + +_What She Would Like_ + +A little girl stood in a city meat-market waiting for some one to +attend to her wants. Finally the proprietor was at liberty, +approached her and said benignantly, "Is there anything you would +like, little girl?" + +"Oh, yes, sir, please: I want a diamond ring, and a seal-skin sacque, +a real foreign nobleman, and a pug dog, and a box at the opera, and, +oh, ever so many other things; but all Ma wants is ten cents' worth of +bologna." + + + +_The Highest Price in the Store_ + +A rich American woman visited a Japanese art shop in Paris. It +happened to be a dull, dark afternoon. She looked at the bronzes, +jewels, drawings and other things, and finally, pointing toward a +dusky corner, she said to the polite young salesman: "How much is that +Japanese idol over there worth?" + +The salesman bowed, and answered: "About five hundred thousand francs, +madam. It is the proprietor." + + + +_From Different Points_ + +"Father, you were born in California, you say?" + +"Yes, my son." + +"And mother was born in New York ?" + +"Yes." + +"And I was born in Indiana?" + +"Yes, my boy." + +"Well, father, don't it beat the Dutch how we all got together!" + + + +_So Son: So Father_? + +A small boy who had been very naughty was first reprimanded, then told +that he must take a whipping. He flew upstairs and hid in the far +corner under a bed. Just then the father came home. The mother told +him what had occurred. He went upstairs and proceeded to crawl under +the bed toward the youngster, who whispered excitedly, "Hello, Pop, is +she after you, too?" + + + +_How Could He_? + +"Papa" was becoming impatient at the lateness of the hour when he +remarked: "I can't see why that young fellow who is calling on Minnie +hasn't sense enough to go home. It's near midnight." + +"The dear little brother" of the family just then came in, heard his +father's remark, and ventured some light: + +"He can't go, father. Sister's sitting on him." + + + +_Couldn't Leave Town_ + +A lawyer had a horse that always balked when he attempted to cross a +certain bridge leading out of the village. No amount of whipping or +urging would induce him to cross it, so he advertised him for sale: +"To be sold for no other reason than that the owner would like to +leave town." + + + +_He Knew His Father_ + +"Suppose," said a father to his little boy, "you have half an apple +and I give you another half. How much have you?" + +"A whole apple," said the boy. + +"Well," continued the father, "suppose you had a half dollar and I +gave you another half dollar. What would you have then?" + +"A fit," promptly answered the boy. + + + +_A Valuable Office Boy_ + +The employer was bending over a table, looking at the directory. The +new office boy slipped up quietly and poked a note into his hand. The +surprised employer opened it, and read: + +"Honored Sir--Yer pants is ripped." + + + +_She Had a Question to Ask_ + +A certain prominent dry-goods merchant is also a Sunday-school +superintendent. Not long since he devoted the last few moments of the +weekly session to an impressive elucidation of the parable of the +Prodigal Son, and afterward asked with due solemnity if any one of the +"little gleaners" present desired to ask a question. Sissy Jones's +hand shot up. + +"Very well," he said, designating her with a benevolent finger and a +bland smile, "what is it you would like to know, Cecilia?" + +"Please, what's the price of them little pink parasols in your +show-window?" + + + +_The Only Time When He Does_ + +A "Subscriber" once wrote to an editor and asked: "Please tell me, +does a man in running around a tree go before or behind himself?" + +The editor answered: + +"That depends. If he is trying to catch himself, necessarily he +follows himself, and consequently goes behind. If, on the contrary, +he is running away from himself, the deduction leads to the very +obvious conclusion that he precedes himself, and consequently goes +before. If he succeeds in catching up with himself, and passes +himself, at the moment of passing he neither precedes nor follows +himself, but both he and himself are running even. This is the only +case where he does not go before or behind himself." + + + +_In the Absence of a Tip_ + +"Excuse me, madam, would you mind walking the other way and not +passing the horse?" said an English cabman with exaggerated politeness +to the fat lady who had just paid a minimum fare, with no fee. + +"Why?" she inquired. + +"Because if 'e sees wot 'e's been carrying for a shilling 'e'll 'ave a +fit," was the freezing answer. + + + +_Her Father Didn't Like It_ + +A young man told his girl the other night that if she didn't marry him +he'd get a rope and hang himself right in front of her house. "Oh, +please, don't do it, dear," she said; "you know father doesn't want +you hanging around here." + + + +_He Didn't Mind His Going Once_ + +An elderly gentleman, a stranger in New York and not sure of his way, +stopped a young man on Fifth Avenue and said: + +"Young man, I would like very much to go to Central Park." + +The young man became thoughtful for a moment, and then, looking the +old gentleman in the face, said: + +"Well, I don't mind your going just this once, but don't ever, ever +ask me to go there again." + + + +_Never Again_ + +It was a pitiful mistake, an error sad and grim. I waited for the +railway train; the light was low and dim. It came at last, and from a +car there stepped a dainty dame, and, looking up and down the place, +she straight unto me came. "Oh, Jack!" she cried, "oh, dear old +Jack!" and kissed me as she spake; then looked again, and, frightened, +cried, "Oh, what a bad mistake!" I said, "Forgive me, maiden fair, +for I am not your Jack; and as regards the kiss you gave, I'll +straightway give it back." And since that night I've often stood upon +that platform dim, but only once in a man's whole life do such things +come to him. + + + +_A Kiss in the Rain_ by SAMUEL MINTURN PECK + + One stormy morn I chanced to meet + A lassie in the town; + Her locks were like the ripened wheat, + Her laughing eyes were brown. + I watched her as she tripped along + Till madness filled my brain, + And then--and then--I know 'twas wrong-- + I kissed her in the rain. + + With raindrops shining on her cheek + Like dewdrops on a rose, + The little lassie strove to speak, + My boldness to oppose; + She strove in vain, and quivering, + Her fingers stole in mine; + And then the birds began to sing, + The sun began to shine. + + Oh, let the clouds grow dark above, + My heart is light below; + 'Tis always summer when we love, + However winds may blow; + And I'm as proud as any prince, + All honors I disdain: + 'She says I am her _rain beau_ since + I kissed her in the rain. + + + +_What He Had Re(a)d_ + +An Irishman, says "The Rochester Times," recently went before Judge +Stephens to be naturalized. + +"Have you read the Declaration of Independence?" the Court asked. + +"I hov not," said Pat. + +"Have you read the Constitution of the United States?" + +"I hov not, yer Honor." + +The Judge looked sternly at the applicant, and asked: + +"Well, what have you read?" + +Patrick hesitated but the fraction of a second before replying: + +"I hov red hairs on me neck, yer Honor." + + + +_Apostle and Epistle_ + +A man riding through the mountains of Tennessee stopped one evening to +water his horse before a little cabin, outside of which sat an old +colored woman watching the antics of a couple of piccaninnies playing +near by. + +"Good-evening, Aunty," he called. "Cute pair of boys you've got. +Your children?" + +"Laws-a-massy! Mah chillun! 'Deed, dem's mah daughteh's chilluns. +Come hyah, you boys." + +As the boys obeyed the summons the man inquired their names. + +"Clah to goodness, sah, dem chilluns is right smaht named!" said the +old woman. "Ye see, mah daughteh done got 'ligion long ago, an' named +dese hyah boys right out de Bible, sah. Dis hyah one's named Apostle +Paul, an' de uddah's called Epistle Peter." + + + +_More than Enough_ + +An eight-year-old boy went to a church picnic, and, being a favorite +with the ladies, had been liberally supplied with good things to eat. +Later in the day one of the ladies noticed the boy sitting near a +stream with a woebegone expression on his face and his hands clasped +over his stomach. + +"Why, what's the matter, Willie?" she kindly asked. "Haven't you had +enough to eat?" + +"Oh, yes'm," said the boy. "I've had enough. I feel as though I +don't want all I've got." + + + +_His Only Request_ + +A pretty young girl was walking through a Richmond hospital with +delicacies for the sick and wounded. She overheard a suffering young +Confederate officer say, "Oh, my Lord!" + +Wishing to rebuke him slightly she came to his bedside and said: + +"I think that I heard you call upon the name of the Lord. I am one of +His daughters. Is there anything that I can do for you?" + +He looked upon the lovely face. + +"Yes," he said, "please ask Him to make me His son-in-law." + + + +A Good Majority + +A well-known English surgeon was imparting some clinical instructions +to half a dozen students, according to "The Medical Age." Pausing at +the bedside of a doubtful case he said: "Now, gentlemen, do you think +this is or is not a case for operation?" + +One by one each student made his diagnosis, and all of them answered +in the negative. + +"Well, gentlemen, you are all wrong," said the wielder of the scalpel, +"and I shall operate to-morrow." + +"No, you won't," said the patient, as he rose in his bed; "six to one +is a good majority; gimme my clothes." + + + +_Ready to Accommodate Her_ + +Attorney-General Moody was once riding on the platform of a Boston +street car, standing next to the gate that protected passengers from +cars coming on the other track. A Boston lady came to the door of the +car, and, as it stopped, started toward the gate, which was hidden +from her by the men standing before it. + +"Other side, please, lady," said the conductor. + +He was ignored as only a born-and-bred Bostonian can ignore a man. +The lady took another step toward the gate. + +"You must get off the other side," said the conductor. + +"I wish to get off on this side," came the answer in tones that +congealed that official into momentary silence. Before he could +explain or expostulate Mr. Moody came to his assistance. + +"Stand to one side, gentlemen," he remarked quietly. "The lady wishes +to climb over the gate." + + + +_A New Name for Them_ + +One rainy afternoon Aunt Sue was explaining the meaning of various +words to her young nephew. "Now, an heirloom, my dear, means +something that has been handed down from father to son," she said. + +"Well," replied the boy thoughtfully, "that's a queer name for my +pants." + + + +_He Wanted to Know_ + +A bishop in full robes of office, with his gown reaching to his feet, +was teaching a Sunday-school class. At the close he said he would be +glad to answer any questions. + +A little hand went up, and he asked: "Well, my boy?" + +"Can I ask?" said the boy. + +"Certainly," said the Bishop; "what is it ?" + +"Well," asked the boy, "is dem all you've got on, or do you wear pants +under dem?" + + + +_Woman's Love and Man's Love_ + +"There's just two things that break up most happy homes," observed a +philosopher. + +"What's them?" inquired a listener. + +"Woman's love for dry goods an' man's love for wet goods, b'gosh!" + + + +_Much Simpler_ + +At a country fair out in Kansas a man went up to a tent where some elk +were on exhibition, and stared wistfully up at the sign. + +"I'd like to go in there," he said to the keeper, "but it would be +mean to go in without my family, and I cannot afford to pay for my +wife and seventeen children." + +The keeper stared at him in astonishment. "Are all those your +children?" he gasped. + +"Every one," said the man. + +"You wait a minute," said the keeper. "I'm going to bring the elk out +and let them see you all." + + + +_One Button was in Use_ + +A school principal was trying to make clear to his class the +fundamental doctrines of the Declaration of Independence. + +"Now, boys," he said, "I will give you each three ordinary buttons. +Here they are. You must think of the first one as representing Life, +of the second one as representing Liberty, and the third one as +representing the Pursuit of Happiness. Next Sunday I will ask you +each to produce the three buttons and tell me what they represent." + +The following Sunday the teacher said to the youngest member: + +"Now, Johnnie, produce your three buttons and tell me what they stand +for." + +"I ain't got 'em all," he sobbed, holding out two of the buttons. +"Here's Life an' here's Liberty, but mommer sewed the Pursuit of +Happiness on my pants." + + + +_He Remembered_ + +A restaurant-keeper hung out this sign: + + "Coffee: + Such as Mother Used to Make." + +A customer asked, pointing to the sign: + +"Is your coffee really such as mother used to make?" + +"It is," replied the proprietor. + +"Then," said the man with a reminiscent look, "give me a cup of tea." + + + +_Wasn't Delicate at All_ + +A young man, not regarded as a very desirable suitor, had called upon +a young lady a number of times, each time to be told by the maid that +"Miss Florence was not well today." + +One day, in response to his card, the young lady's mother, who was a +recent accession to the newly-rich ranks, and whose education was not +as sure as it might be, appeared and explained once more to the young +man that the daughter was not well. + +"I am very sorry, indeed," said the young man as he rose to go, "that +your daughter is so delicate." + +"Delicate?" sniffed the mother; "Florence dell'cate? Not at all. +Why, she is the most indelicate girl you ever met." + + + +_A Live Topic_ + +A member of the faculty of the University of Chicago, according to +"Harper's Weekly," tells of the sad case of a young woman from Indiana +who was desirous of attaining social prominence in Chicago. + +Soon after her arrival there she made the acquaintance of a student at +the university to whom she took a great fancy. + +Evidently it was at this time she realized for the first time that her +early education had been neglected, for she said to a friend: + +"I suppose that, as he is a college man, I'll have to be awful careful +what I say. Whatever will I talk about to him?" + +The friend suggested history as a safe topic. To her friend's +astonishment she took the advice seriously, and shortly commenced in +earnest to "bone up" in English history. + +When the young man called, the girl listened for some time with +ill-concealed impatience to his talk of football, outdoor meets, +dances, etc., but finally she decided to take the matter in her own +hands. She had not done all that reading for nothing; so, a pause in +the conversation affording the desired opportunity, she suddenly +exclaimed, with considerable vivacity: + +"Wasn't it awful about Mary, Queen of Scots?" + +"Why, what's the matter?" stammered the student, confused. + +"My gracious!" almost yelled the girl from Indiana, "didn't you know? +Why, the poor thing had her head cut off!" + + + +_The After-College Girl's Complaint_ + +A lady was calling on some friends one summer afternoon. The talk +buzzed along briskly, fans waved and the daughter of the house kept +twitching uncomfortably, frowning and making little smothered +exclamations of annoyance. Finally, with a sigh, she rose and left +the room. + +"Your daughter," said the visitor, "seems to be suffering from the +heat." + +"No," said the hostess. "She is just back home from college and she +is suffering from the family grammar." + + + +_It All Seemed So Unnecessary_ + +A city man once had occasion, says "Lippincott's Magazine," to stop at +a country home where a tin basin and a roller-towel on the back porch +sufficed for the family's ablutions. For two mornings the "hired man" +of the household watched in silence the visitor's efforts at making a +toilette under the unfavorable auspices, but when on the third day the +tooth-brush, nail-file, whisk-broom, etc., had been duly used and +returned to their places in the traveler's grip, he could suppress his +curiosity no longer, so boldly put the question: "Say, Mister, air you +always that much trouble to yo'se'f?" + + + +_Overdid it a Bit_ + +A famous statesman prided himself on his success in campaigning, when +called upon to reach a man's vote through his family pride. + +On one of his tours he passed through a country town when he came +suddenly upon a charming group--a comely woman with a bevy of little +ones about her--in a garden. He stopped short, then advanced and +leaned over the front gate. + +"Madam," he said In his most ingratiating way, "may I kiss these +beautiful children?" + +"Certainly, sir," the lady answered demurely. + +"They are lovely darlings," said the campaigner after he had finished +the eleventh. "I have seldom seen more beautiful babies. Are they +all yours, marm?" + +The lady blushed deeply. + +"Of course they are--the sweet little treasures," he went on. "From +whom else, marm, could they have inherited these limpid eyes, these +rosy cheeks, these profuse curls, these comely figures and these +musical voices?" + +The lady continued blushing. + +"By-the-way, marm," said the statesman, "may I bother you to tell your +estimable husband that ------, the Republican candidate for Governor, +called upon him this evening?" + +"I beg your pardon," said the lady, "I have no husband." + +"But these children, madam--you surely are not a widow ?" + +"I fear you were mistaken, sir, when you first came up. These are not +my children. This is an orphan asylum!" + + + +_One on the Doctor That Time_ + +A prominent physician, whose specialty was physical diagnosis, +required his patients, before entering his private consultation-room, +to divest themselves of all superfluous clothing in order to save +time. One day a man presented himself without having complied with +this requirement. + +"Why do you come in here without complying with my rules?" demanded +the doctor. "Just step into that side room and remove your clothing +and then I'll see you. Next patient, please!" + +The man did as requested, and after a time presented himself in +regular order duly divested of his clothing. + +"Now," said the doctor, "what can I do for you ?" + +"I just called," replied the man, "to collect that tailoring bill +which you owe us." + + + +_Anxious About Him_ + +One winter's day a very bowlegged tramp called at a home in Ontario +and stood to warm himself by the kitchen stove. A little boy in the +home surveyed him carefully for some minutes, then finally approaching +him, he said: "Say, mister, you better stand back; you're warping!" + + + +_The Only Way He Could Help_ + +Chief Justice Matthews, while presiding over the Supreme Court at +Washington, took the several Justices of the Court for a run down +Chesapeake Bay. A stiff wind sprang up, and Justice Gray was getting +decidedly the worst of it. As he leaned over the rail in great +distress, Chief Justice Matthews touched him on the shoulder and said +in a tone of deepest sympathy: "Is there anything I can do for you, +Gray?" + +"No, thank you," returned the sick Justice, "unless your Honor can +overrule this motion." + + + +_He Was Willing to Oblige_ + +A young North Carolina girl is charming, but, like a great many other +charming people, she is poor. She never has more than two evening +gowns in a season, and the ruin of one of them is always a very +serious matter to her. She went to a little dancing-party last week +and she wore a brand-new white frock. During the evening a great big, +red-faced, perspiring man came up and asked her to dance. He wore no +gloves. She looked at his well-meaning but moist hands despairingly, +and thought of the immaculate back of her waist. She hesitated a bit, +and then she said, with a winning smile; + +"Of course I'll dance with you, but, if you don't mind, won't you +please use your handkerchief?" + +The man looked at her blankly a moment or two. Then a light broke +over his face. + +"Why, certainly," he said. + +And he pulled out his handkerchief and blew his nose. + + + +_Not All the Time, But_---- + +A man saw a waiter in a restaurant spill a tureen of tomato soup over +a young lady's white gown. + +The young lady, instead of flying into a passion, smiled. She said it +didn't matter. She continued to eat and to talk as though nothing had +happened. + +This so impressed the man that he got an introduction to the young +lady, proposed to her at the end of a month or so, and was accepted. + +Some time after the marriage he spoke of the tomato-soup accident. + +"I shall never forget it," said the bride. + +"Your conduct," said the man, "was admirable." + +"I remember," she said, "that I did behave very well at the time; but +I wish you could have seen the marks of my teeth on the bedpost that +night." + + + +_Necessity and Invention_ + +A mother with her seven children started away on a journey. After +entering the car the largest child was laid out flat on the seat, and +the remaining six then sat upon him in a row. + +When the conductor came around to collect the fares the mother counted +her money, handed it over, smiled, and suavely said: "Sir, the oldest +is under six." + + + +_Taking No Chances_ + +An epileptic dropped in a fit on the streets of Boston not long ago, +and was taken to a hospital. Upon removing his coat there was found +pinned to his waistcoat a slip of paper on which was written: + +"This is to inform the house-surgeon that this is just a case of plain +fit: not appendicitis. My appendix has already been removed twice." + + + +_Too Much Curiosity_ + +A dangerous operation was being performed upon a woman. Old Doctor +A------, a quaint German, full of kindly wit and professional +enthusiasm, had several younger doctors with him. One of them was +administering the ether. He became so interested in the old doctor's +work that he withdrew the cone from the patient's nostrils and she +half-roused and rose to a sitting posture, looking with wild-eyed +amazement over the surroundings. It was a critical period, and Doctor +A------ did not want to be interrupted. "Lay down, dere, voman," he +commanded gruffly. "You haf more curiosity as a medical student." + + + +_They Were Both Charged_ + +A little girl, brushing her hair, found that it "crackled," and asked +her mother why it did. + +"Why, dear, you have electricity in your hair," explained the mother. + +"Isn't that funny?" commented the little one. "I have electricity in +my hair, and Grandmother has gas in her stomach." + + + +_Could Use the Other Kind, Too_ + +"Here," said the salesman, "is something we call the 'lovers' clock.' +You can set it so it will take it two hours to run one hour." + +"I'll take that," said Miss Jarmer with a bright blush. "And now, if +you have one that can be set so as to run two hours in one hour's time +or less, I think I'd like one of that kind, too." + + + +_A Regard for Appearance_ + +A milliner endeavored to sell to a colored woman one of the last +season's hats at a very moderate price. It was a big white +picture-hat. + +"Law, no, honey!" exclaimed the woman. "I could nevah wear that. I'd +look jes' like a blueberry in a pan of milk." + + + +_Rapid-Fire_ + +A frivolous young English girl, with no love for the Stars and +Stripes, once exclaimed at a celebration where the American flag was +very much in evidence: + +"Oh, what a silly-looking thing the American flag is! It suggests +nothing but checker-berry candy." + +"Yes," replied a bystander, "the kind of candy that has made everybody +sick who ever tried to lick it." + + + +_Kipling at a Luncheon_ + +At a tea the other day, says "The New York Sun," a woman heard the +following remarks made about her favorite author. She turned to +listen, amazed by the eccentricities of conduct narrated. + +"Yes, you know," the hostess was saying, "Kipling came in and behaved +so strangely! At luncheon he suddenly sprang up and wouldn't let the +waitress come near the table. Every time that she tried to come near +he would jump at her. + +"He made a dive for the cake, which was on the lower shelf of the +sideboard, and took it into the parlor to eat it. He got the crumbs +all over the sofa and the beautiful rug. + +"When he had finished his cake he simply sat and glared at us." + +The visitor finally could not control herself, and asked: + +"Excuse me, but are you speaking of Mr. Rudyard Kipling?" + +"Mr. Rudyard Kipling?" echoed the hostess. "Oh, no; Kipling is our +dog!" + + + +_Getting His Trousseau Ready_ + +The kindly 'Squire of the neighborhood was just leaving from a +friendly social visit to Mrs. Maguire. + +"And your son, Mrs. Maguire?" said the 'Squire as he reached for his +hat. "I hope he is well. Busy, I suppose, getting ready for his +wedding tonight ?" + +"Well, not very busy this minit, 'Squire," answered the beaming +mother. "He's upstairs in bed while I'm washing out his trousseau." + + + +_There Was a Chance_ + +"Going to send your boy on an ocean trip, are you?" said a friend to +a father. + +"Yes," replied the father. "You see, if there is anything in him I +think a long sea voyage will bring it out." + + + +_Deserved to be Tried_ + +The Judge was at dinner in the new household when the young wife +asked: "Did you ever try any of my biscuits, Judge?" + +"No," said the Judge, "I never did, but I dare say they deserve it." + + + +_End of the Honeymoon_ + +An old married man happened to meet a beaming bridegroom on the +latter'S first day at business after the wedding trip. + +"Hello!" said he; "finished your honeymoon yet?" + +"I don't know," replied the happy husband, smiling. "I have never +been able to determine the exact meaning of the word honeymoon." + +"Well, then, has your wife commenced to do the cooking yet?" + + + +_If You Have a Mole_ + +No one is said to be without a mole or two, and these are some of the +prognostications that mole-wearers may draw from their brown +ornaments; + +A mole on the right side of a man's forehead denotes wonderful luck; +on the right side of a woman's forehead, gifts from the dead. + +On the left side of a man's forehead a mole denotes a long term in +prison, on the left side of a woman's forehead, two husbands and a +life of exile. + +A man with a mole in the middle of his forehead has a cruel mind; a +woman with such a mole is foolish and envious. + +A mole on the neck in man or woman promises a long and happy life, +wealth and fame. + +A man with a mole on the left side of the upper lip rarely marries, +and such a mole in the case of a woman denotes suffering. + +On the right side of the upper-lip a mole promises great good fortune +to both sexes. + + + +_Her Own Eyes Good Enough for Him_ + +A little Scotch boy's grandmother was packing his luncheon for him to +take to school one morning. Suddenly looking up in the old lady's +face, he said: + +"Grandmother, does yer specs magnify?" + +"A little, my child," she answered. + +"Aweel, then," said the boy, "I wad juist like it if ye wad tak' them +aff when ye're packin' my loonch." + + + +_How Did He Know_? + +After dinner, when the ladies had gone upstairs, the men, over their +coffee and cigars, talked, as men will, of love. + +All of a sudden the host cried in a loud voice: + +"I will tell you, gentlemen, this is the truth: I have kissed the +dainty Japanese girl. I have kissed the South Sea Island maiden. I +have kissed the slim Indian beauty. And the girls of England, of +Germany, even of America, I have kissed, but it is most true that to +kiss my wife is best of all." + +Then a young man cried across the table: + +"By Heaven, sir, you are right there!" + + + +_So Mother--So Son_ + +Vincent was altogether too garrulous in school to please his +teachers. Such punishments as the institution allowed to be meted +out were tried without any apparent effect upon the boy until at last +the head Master decided to mention the lad's fault upon his monthly +report. + +So the next report to his father had these words: "Vincent talks a +great deal." + +Back came the report by mail duly signed, but with this written in +red ink under the comment: "You ought to hear his mother." + + + +_An Endless Wash_ + +In one of the lesser Indian hill wars an English detachment took an +Afghan prisoner. The Afghan was very dirty. Accordingly two +privates were deputed to strip and wash him. + +The privates dragged the man to a stream of running water, undressed +him, plunged him in, and set upon him lustily with stiff brushes and +large cakes of white soap. + +After a long time one of the privates came back to make a report. He +saluted his officer and said disconsolately: + +"It's no use, sir. It's no use." + +"No use?" said the officer. "What do you mean? Haven't you washed +that Afghan yet?" + +"It's no use, sir," the private repeated. "We've washed him for two +hours, but it's no use." + +"How do you mean it's no use ?" said the officer angrily. + +"Why, sir," said the private, "after rubbin' him and scrubbin' him +till our arms ached I'll be hanged if we didn't come to another suit +of clothes." + + + +_Once Dead Always Dead_ + +The hero of the play, after putting up a stiff fight with the +villain, had died to slow music, says a storyteller in "The Chicago +Tribune." + +The audience insisted on his coming before the curtain. + +He refused to appear. + +But the audience still insisted. + +Then the manager, a gentleman with a strong accent, came to the front. + +"Ladies an' gintlemen," he said, "the carpse thanks ye kindly, but he +says he's dead, an' he's goin' to stay dead." + + + +_Had to Get it Done Somehow_ + +A little boy bustled into a grocery one day with a memorandum in his +hand. + +"Hello, Mr. Smith," he said. "I want thirteen pounds of coffee at 32 +cents." + +"Very good," said the grocer, and he noted down the sale, and put his +clerk to packing the coffee. "Anything else, Charlie?" + +"Yes. Twenty-seven pounds of sugar at 9 cents." + +"The loaf, eh? And what else?" + +"Seven and a half pounds of bacon at 20 cents." + +"That will be a good brand. Go on." + +"Five pounds of tea at 90 cents; eleven and a half quarts of molasses +at 8 cents a pint; two eight-pound hams at 21 1/4 cents, and five +dozen jars of pickled walnuts at 24 cents a jar." + +The grocer made out the bill, + +"It's a big order," he said. "Did your mother tell you to pay for +it?" + +"My mother," said the boy, as he pocketed the neat and accurate bill, +"has nothing to do with this business. It is my arithmetic lesson +and I had to get it done somehow." + + + +_A Personal Demonstration_ + +Chatting in leisurely fashion with Prince Bismarck in Berlin Lord +Russell asked the Chancellor how he managed to rid himself of +importunate visitors whom he could not refuse to see, but who stuck +like burrs when once admitted. + +"Oh," replied Bismarck, "I have my easy escape. My wife knows people +of this class very well, and when she is sure there is a bore here +and sees them staying too long she manages to call me away on some +plausible pretext." + +Scarcely had he finished speaking when the Princess Bismarck appeared +at the door. "My dear," she said to her husband, "you must come at +once and take your medicine; you should have taken it an hour ago." + + + +_Not for Him_ + +A quiet and retiring citizen occupied a seat near the door of a +crowded car when a masterful stout woman entered. + +Having no newspaper behind which to hide he was fixed and subjugated +by her glittering eye. He rose and offered his place to her. +Seating herself--without thanking him--she exclaimed in tones that +reached to the farthest end of the car: + +"What do you want to stand up there for? Come here and sit on my +lap." + +"Madam," gasped the man, as his face became scarlet. "I beg your +pardon, I--I----" + +"What do you mean?" shrieked the woman. "You know very well I was +speaking to my niece there behind you." + + + +_Such a Pleasant Room_ + +"It ain't ev'rybody I'd put to sleep in this room," said old Mrs. +Jinks to the fastidious and extremely nervous young minister who was +spending a night at her house. + +"This here room is full of sacred associations to me," she went on, +as she bustled around opening shutters and arranging the curtains. +"My first husband died in that bed with his head on these very +pillers, and poor Mr. Jinks died settin' right in that corner. +Sometimes when I come into the room in the dark I think I see him +settin' there still. + +"My own father died layin' right on that lounge under the winder. +Poor Pa! He was a Speeritualist, and he allus said he'd appear in +this room after he died, and sometimes I'm foolish enough to look for +him. If you should see anything of him tonight you'd better not tell +me; for it'd be a sign to me that there was something in +Speeritualism, and I'd hate to think that. + +"My son by my first man fell dead of heart-disease right where you +stand. He was a doctor, and there's two whole skeletons in that +closet that belonged to him, and half a dozen skulls in that lower +drawer. + +"There, I guess things'll do now---- + +"Well, good-night, and pleasant dreams." + + + +_Giving a Woman Her Rights_ + +The car was full and the night was wet. The bell rang, the car +stopped, and a lady entered. As she looked tired a nice old +gentleman in the corner rose and inquired in a kind voice, "Would you +like to sit down, ma'am? Excuse me, though," he added; "I think you +are Mrs. Sprouter, the advocate of woman's rights." + +"I am, sir," replied the lady calmly. + +"You think that women should be equal to men?" further queried the +old gentleman. + +"Certainly," was the firm reply. + +"You think that they should have the same rights and privileges?" was +the next question. + +"Most emphatically," came from the supporter of woman's rights. + +"Very well," said the kind old gentleman, sitting down again, "just +stand up and enjoy them." + + + +_A Riddle to Willie_ + + I asked my Pa a simple thing; + "Where holes in doughnuts go?" + Pa read his paper, then he said: + "Oh, you're too young to know." + + I asked my Ma about the wind: + "Why can't you see it blow?" + Ma thought a moment, then she said: + "Oh, you're too young to know." + + Now, why on earth do you suppose + They went and licked me so? + Ma asked: "Where is that jam?" I said: + "Oh, you're too young to know." + + + +_Under Her Bed_ + +Mrs. Hicks was telling some ladies about the burglar scare in her +house the night before. + +"Yes," she said, "I heard a noise and got up, and there from under +the bed I saw a man's legs sticking out." + +"Mercy," exclaimed a woman--"the burglar's legs?" + +"No, my dear, my husband's legs. He had heard the noise, too." + + + +_Didn't Think He Was Polite_ + +They were on their honeymoon. He had bought a catboat and had taken +her out to show her how well he could handle a boat, putting her to +tend the sheet. A puff of wind came, and he shouted in no uncertain +tones: + +"Let go the sheet." + +No response. + +Then again: + +"Let go that sheet, quick." + +Still no movement. A few minutes after, when both were clinging to +the bottom of the overturned boat, he said: + +"Why didn't you let go that sheet when I told you to, dear?" + +"I would have," said the bride, "if you had not been so rough about +it. You ought to speak more kindly to your wife." + + + +_He Had a Large Reach_ + +President Eliot, of Harvard, on a visit to the Pacific Coast, met +Professor O. B. Johnson, of the University of Washington, says "The +New York Tribune." In the course of the conversation President Eliot +asked the Westerner what chair he held. + +"Well," said Professor Johnson, "I am professor of biology, but I +also give instruction in meteorology, botany, physiology, chemistry, +entomology and a few others." + +"I should say that you occupied a whole settee, not a chair," replied +Harvard's chief. + + + +_When Fighting Really Began_ + +An aged, gray-haired and very wrinkled old woman, arrayed in the +outlandish calico costume of the mountains, was summoned as a witness +in court to tell what she knew about a fight in her house. She took +the witness-stand with evidences of backwardness and proverbial +Bourbon verdancy. The Judge asked her in a kindly voice what took +place. She insisted it did not amount to much, but the Judge by his +persistency finally got her to tell the story of the bloody fracas. + +"Now, I tell ye, Jedge, it didn't amount to nuthn'. The fust I +knowed about it was when Bill Saunder called Tom Smith a liar, en Tom +knocked him down with a stick o' wood. One o' Bill's friends then +cut Tom with a knife, slicin' a big chunk out o' him. Then Sam +Jones, who was a friend of Tom's, shot the other feller and two more +shot him, en three or four others got cut right smart by somebody. +That nachly caused some excitement, Jedge, en then they commenced +fightin'." + + + +_The Wrong Kind of a Baby_ + +In a certain home where the stork recently visited there is a +six-year-old son of inquiring mind. When he was first taken in to +see the new arrival he exclaimed: + +"Oh, mamma, it hasn't any teeth! And no hair!" Then, clasping his +hands in despair, he cried: "Somebody has done us! It's an old baby." + + + +_A Poser for the Salesman_ + +"It's not so much a durable article that I require, sir," said Miss +Simpkins. "I want something dainty, you know; something coy, and at +the same time just a wee bit saucy--that might look well for evening +wear." + + + +_Not in the Army, After All_ + +A Methodist negro exhorter shouted: "Come up en jine de army ob de +Lohd." + +"Ise done jined," replied one of the congregation. + +"Whar'd yoh jine?" asked the exhorter. + +"In de Baptis' Chu'ch." + +"Why, chile," said the exhorter, "yoh ain't in the army; yoh's in de +navy." + + + +[Transcriber's Note: The copy of this book I was working from was +missing pages 71-74 inclusive.] + + + +_Her Literary Loves_ + +A talented young professor who was dining one evening at the home of +a college president became very much interested in the very pretty +girl seated at his left. Conversation was somewhat fitful. Finally +he decided to guide it into literary channels, where he was more at +home, and, turning to his companion, asked; + +"Are you fond of literature?" + +"Passionately," she replied. "I love books dearly." + +"Then you must admire Sir Walter Scott," he exclaimed with sudden +animation. "Is not his 'Lady of the Lake' exquisite in its flowing +grace and poetic imagery? Is it not----" + +"It is perfectly lovely," she assented, clasping her hands in +ecstasy. "I suppose I have read it a dozen times." + +"And Scott's 'Marmion/" he continued, "with its rugged simplicity and +marvelous description--one can almost smell the heather on the heath +while perusing its splendid pages." + +"It is perfectly grand," she murmured. + +"And Scott's 'Peveril of the Peak' and his noble 'Bride of +Lammermoor'--where in the English language will you find anything +more heroic than his grand auld Scottish characters and his graphic, +forceful pictures of feudal times and customs? You like them, I am +sure." + +"I just dote upon them," she replied. + +"And Scott's Emulsion," he continued hastily, for a faint suspicion +was beginning to dawn upon him. + +"I think," she interrupted rashly, "that it's the best thing he ever +wrote." + + + +_How Grandma Viewed Them_ + +"I'm glad Billy had the sense to marry a settled old maid," said +Grandma Winkum at the wedding. + +"Why, Grandma?" asked the son. + +"Well, gals is hity-tity, and widders is kinder overrulin' and +upsettin'. But old maids is thankful and willin' to please." + + + +_So Easy When it is Explained_ + +A woman riding in a Philadelphia trolley-car said to the conductor: + +"Can you tell me, please, on what trolley-cars I can use these +exchange slips? They mix me up somewhat." + +"They really shouldn't, madam," said the polite conductor. "It is +very simple: East of the junction by a westbound car an exchange from +an eastbound car is good only if the westbound car is west of the +junction formed by said eastbound car. South of the junction formed +by a northbound car an exchange from a southbound car is good south +of the junction if the northbound car was north of the junction at +the time of issue, but only south of the junction going south if the +southbound car was going north at the time it was south of the +junction. That is all there is to it." + + + +_Sixty Girls Not One Too Many_ + +A New York firm recently hung the following sign at the entrance of a +large building: "Wanted: Sixty girls to sew buttons on the sixth +floor." + + + +_One on the President_ + +When the President alighted at Red Hill, Virginia, a few months ago, +to see his wife's new cottage, he noticed that an elderly woman was +about to board the train, and, with his usual courtesy, he rushed +forward to assist her. That done, he grasped her hand and gyve it an +"executive shake." This was going too far, and the woman, snatching +her hand away and eying him wrathfully, exclaimed: "Young man, I +don't know who you are, and I don't care a cent; but I must say you +are the freshest somebody I've ever seen in these parts." + + + +_No Doubt of it_ + +The lesson was from the "Prodigal Son," and the Sunday-school teacher +was dwelling on the character of the elder brother. "But amidst all +the rejoicing," he said, "there was one to whom the preparation of +the feast brought no joy, to whom the prodigal's return gave no +pleasure, but only bitterness; one who did not approve of the feast +being held, and had no wish to attend it. Now can any of you tell +who this was?" There was a short silence, followed by a vigorous +cracking of thumbs, and then from a dozen little mouths came the +chorus: "Please, sir, it was the fatted calf." + + + +_The Lesson Stopped_ + +The teacher was taking a class in the infant Sabbath-school room and +was making her pupils finish each sentence to show that they +understood her. + +"The idol had eyes," the teacher said, "but it could not----" + +"See," cried the children. + +"It had ears, but it could not----" + +"Hear," was the answer. + +"It had lips," she said, "but it could not----" + +"Speak," once more replied the children. + +"It had a nose, but it could not----" + +"Wipe it," shouted the children; and the lesson had to stop a moment. + + + +_The Wrong One_ + +A young man had been calling now and then on a young lady, when one +night, as he sat in the parlor waiting for her to come down, her +mother entered the room instead, and asked him in a very grave, stern +way what his intentions were. + +He turned very red, and was about to stammer some incoherent reply, +when suddenly the young lady called down from the head of the stairs: + +"Mamma, mamma, that is not the one." + + + +_A Good Pair of Boots_ + +"You know," said a "smart" young man to a girl, "some one has said +that 'if you would make a lasting pair of boots take for the sole the +tongue of a woman.'" + +"Yes," replied the girl, "and for the uppers you ought to take the +cheek of the man who said it." + + + +_Not Just the Right Place_ + +A bashful young couple, who were evidently very much in love, entered +a crowded street car. + +"Do you suppose we can squeeze in here?" he asked, looking doubtfully +at her blushing face. + +"Don't you think, dear, we had better wait until we get home?" was +the low, embarrassed reply. + + + +_What Else Could He Be_? + +There is a man who is the head of a large family, nearly every member +of which is a performer on some kind of musical instrument. + +A friend who was visiting the house of this man referred to the fact, +remarking that it must be a source of great pleasure to the family, +but to this observation the father made no reply. + +"Really," continued the friend, "it is remarkable. Your younger son +is a cornetist, both your daughters are pianists, your wife is a +violinist, and, I understand, the others are also musicians. Now +what are you, the father of such a musical combination ?" + +"I," replied the old man sadly--"I am a pessimist." + + + +_He Had to Stand Up_ + +An American doctor built an elegant home, says the "San Francisco +Chronicle"; his bathroom was exceptionally beautiful, being of white +marble with silver hardware; a music-box was concealed in the room. +After completion of the home an Englishman came to visit the doctor. +Now the English always show great respect for their sovereign and +their country, and this one was no exception. + +After showing his home to the Englishman the doctor remembered the +fondness English people have for the bath, and escorted his guest to +the bathroom, and while there turned on the music-box, wishing to +give his guest a pleasant surprise as he bathed. Then he left his +friend in the bathroom. + +About an hour later the Englishman joined his host in the +drawing-room. The doctor immediately asked what his guest thought of +the bathroom. The Englishman replied: "It is beautiful, beautiful." + +"Well," said the doctor, "how did you like my music-box?" + +Said his guest with great disgust in his tones: + +"Bah! That music-box! The old thing played 'God Save the King,' and +I had to stand up the whole time I was trying to bathe." + + + +_His Heartbreaking Task_ + +"Darling," said the bride, "I had a terrible feeling of sadness come +over me this afternoon--a sort of feeling that you were doing +something that would break my heart if I knew of it. Think, sweet, +what were you doing, now, this afternoon at four o'clock?" + +"Dearest," replied the husband tenderly and reassuringly, "at that +hour I was licking stamps and pasting them on envelopes." + + + +_Easily Accounted For_ + +An Irishman, upon arriving in America, was asked his name at Ellis +Island. He gave it. + +"Speak louder," said the officer. + +He repeated it. + +"Louder," again said the officer; "why, man, your voice is as soft as +a woman's!" + +"Well," said Pat, "that might be. Me mother was a woman." + + + +_The Retort Courteous_! + +A merry party being gathered in a city flat made such a racket that +the occupant of a neighboring apartment sent his servant down with a +polite message asking if it would be possible for the party to make +less noise, since, as the servant announced, "Mr. Smith says that he +cannot read." + +"I am very sorry for Mr. Smith," replied the host. "Please present +my compliments to your master, say that I am sorry he cannot read, +and tell him I could when I was four years old!" + + + +_When He Left_ + +A prominent man called to condole with a lady on the death of her +husband, and concluded by saying, "Did he leave you much?" + +"Nearly every night," was the reply. + + + +_A Popular Store_ + +The salesman in a large department store wore a troubled look. "You +must be severely tried," said a man standing by. "There are all +sorts and conditions of people in the world," + +"Yes, there are," said the salesman, "and they're all here, too!" + + + +_He Couldn't Bend_ + +A young man engaged board and lodging in a private family who were +extremely devout. Before each meal a long grace was said. To their +dismay and horror the new boarder sat bolt upright while the others +at table reverently bowed their heads. When the second day passed +and the young man evinced no disposition to unbend, the good lady of +the house could endure the situation no longer. + +"Atheism?" asked she sharply. + +"No, madam," humbly responded the new boarder; "boil." + + + +_Really, All the Same_ + +As the railroad train was stopping an old lady, not accustomed to +traveling, hailed the passing conductor and asked: + +"Conductor, what door shall I get out by?" + +"Either door, ma'am," graciously answered the conductor. "The car +stops at both ends." + + + +_He Had a Good Excuse_ + +"Good-morning, Mrs. Stubbins," said the parson; "is your husband at +home?" + +"'E's 'ome, sir, but 'e's abed," replied Mrs. Stubbins, who had just +finished hanging a pair of recently-patched trousers on the +clothesline. + +"How is it he didn't come to church on Sunday? You know we must have +our hearts in the right place." + +"Lor', sir," retorted the faithful wife,"'is 'eart's all right. It's +'is trouziz!" + + + +_One of Lincoln's Little Notes_ + +President Lincoln once wrote to General McClellan, when the latter +was in command of the army. General McClellan, as is well known, +conducted a waiting campaign, being so careful not to make any +mistakes that he made very little headway. President Lincoln sent +this brief but exceedingly pertinent letter: + +"_My Dear McClellan_: If you don't want to use the army I should like +to borrow it for a while." + + "Yours respectfully, + A. LINCOLN." + + + +_Fair Play_ + +A group of drummers were trading yarns on the subject of hospitality, +says "Lippincott's Magazine," when one of them took up his parable +thus: + +"I was down in Louisiana last month travelin' cross country when we +kinder got lost in a lonesome sort of road just about dark, and when +we saw a light ahead I tell you it looked first rate. We drove up to +the light, findin' 'twas a house, and when I hollered the man came +out and we asked him to take us in for the night. He looked at us +mighty hard, then said, 'Wall, I reckon I kin stand it if you kin.' + +"So we unhitched, went in, and found 'twas only a two-room shanty and +just swarmin' with children. He had six from four to 'leven years +old, and as there didn't seem to be but one bed, me an' Stony was +wonderin' what in thunder would become of us. + +"They gave us supper, and then the old woman put the two youngest +kids to bed. They went straight to sleep. Then she took those out, +laid them over in the corner, put the next two to bed, and so on. +After all the children were asleep on the floor the old folks went in +the other room and told us we could go to bed if we wanted to, and, +bein' powerful tired out, we did. + +"Well, sir, the next morning when we woke up we was lying over in the +corner with the kids, and the old man and the old woman had the bedl" + + + +_Cold Comfort That_ + +A country minister who lived quite a distance from his church was +overtaken on the way over one Sunday morning by a heavy shower. The +rain poured in torrents, and by the time he arrived at the church he +was almost drenched. Shaking the water from his hat and coat he +remarked: + +"Really, friends, I am almost too wet to preach." + +"Oh, never mind," replied one of his congregation; "you'll be dry +enough in the pulpit!" + + + +_A "Billet-Doux"_ + + She was a winsome country lass, + So William on a brief vacation, + The time more pleasantly to pass, + Essayed flirtation. + And while they strolled in twilight dim, + As near the time for parting drew, + Asked if she would have from him + A "billet-doux." + Now this simple maid of French knew naught, + But doubting not 'twas something nice, + Shyly she lifted her pretty head, + Her rosy lips together drew, and coyly said, + "Yes, Billy--do," + And William--did. + + + +_When Pat Laughed Last_ + +A short time ago two Englishmen on a visit to Ireland hired a boat +for the purpose of having a sail. + +One of the Britons, thinking he would have a good joke at Pat's +expense, asked him if he knew anything about astrology. + +"Be jabers, no," said Pat. + +"Then that's the best part of your life just lost," answered the +Englishman. + +The second Englishman then asked Pat if he knew anything about +theology. + +"Be jabers, no," answered Pat. + +"Well," the second said, "I must say that's the very best part of +your life lost." + +A few minutes later a sudden squall arose and the boat capsized. Pat +began to swim. The Britons, however, could not swim, and both called +loudly to Pat to help them. + +"Do you know anything about swimology?" asked Pat. + +"No," answered both Englishmen. + +"Well, be jabers," replied Pat, "then both of your lives is lost!" + + + +_Could Eat, but Couldn't See_ + +A farmer who went to a large city to see the sights engaged a room at +a hotel, and before retiring asked the clerk about the hours for +dining. + +"We have breakfast from six to eleven, dinner from eleven to three, +and supper from three to eight," explained the clerk. + +"Wa-al, say," inquired the farmer in surprise, "what time air I goin' +ter git ter see the town?" + + + +_How She Got It_ + +A little girl was sent by her mother to the grocery store with a jug +for a quart of vinegar. + +"But, mamma," said the little one, "I can't say that word." + +"But you must try," said the mother, "for I must have vinegar and +there's no one else to send." + +So the little girl went with the jug, and as she reached the counter +of the store she pulled the cork out of the jug with a pop, swung the +jug on the counter with a thud, and said to the astonished clerk: + +"There! Smell of that and give me a quart!" + + + +_What the "Grip" Is_ + +Asked what made him look so ill, an Irishman replied, "Faith, I had +the grip last winter." To draw him out the questioner asked, "What +is the grip, Patrick?" + +"The grip!" he says. "Don't you know what the grip is? It's a +disease that makes you sick six months after you get well!" + + + +_Wouldn't Have Been Strange_ + +Two women were strangers to each other at a reception. After a few +moments' desultory talk the first said rather querulously: + +"I don't know what's the matter with that tall, blond gentleman over +there. He was so attentive a while ago, but he won't look at me now." + +"Perhaps," said the other, "he saw me come in. He's my husband." + + + +_A Place for Jeremiah_ + +A certain prosy preacher recently gave an endless discourse on the +prophets. First he dwelt at length on the minor prophets. At last +he finished them, and the congregation gave a sigh of relief. He +took a long breath and continued: "Now I shall proceed to the major +prophets." + +After the major prophets had received more than ample attention the +congregation gave another sigh of relief. + +"Now that I have finished with the minor prophets and the major +prophets, what about Jeremiah? Where is Jeremiah's place?" + +At this point a tall man arose in the back of the church. "Jeremiah +can have my place," he said; "I'm going home." + + + +_The One Thing He Wanted_ + +After waiting the usual five or ten minutes the new arrival was +served with the first dinner course of soup. Hesitating a moment as +he glanced at his plate, the guest said to the waiter: + +"I can't eat this soup." + +"I'll bring you another kind, sir," said the waiter as he took it +away. + +"Neither can I eat this soup!" said the guest a trifle more +emphatically, when the second plate was served. + +The waiter, angrily but silently, for the third time brought a plate +of soup. + +"I simply can't eat this soup!" once more said the guest, in a low, +emphatic tone. + +By this time the waiter was furious and called the hotel proprietor, +while the guests at the nearby table looked over that way with +curious glances. + +"Really, sir, this is unusual. May I ask why can't you eat any of +our soups?" demanded the proprietor. + +"Because I have no spoon," replied the guest quietly. + + + +_Why He Would Like It_ + +The little son of the minister, at Sunday dinner, said at the family +table: + +"Father, I wish I could be 'a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord,' +as you said this morning." + +"Indeed," said the minister-father, with a pleased look across the +table at his wife. + +"Yes," said the boy, "for then I wouldn't have to listen to the +sermon." + + + +_Why Mr. Duffy's Nose was Red_ + +The late Mr. Duffy, of Keene, New Hampshire, says "The Boston +Herald," was well known for his life-long total abstinence from +intoxicants, which seemed somewhat at variance with the fact that his +nose was very red. + +On one occasion, when on business in a liquor saloon in his +neighborhood, a drummer came in to sell cigars. To gain the good +graces of the bartender he invited all in the place to drink, to +which invitation all readily responded save Mr. Duffy. + +The drummer went to him, and slapping him on the shoulder, said: "I +say, old man, what are you going to have?" + +"I thank you, sir-r, but I niver dhrink," was Duffy's quiet reply. + +"What, you never drink?" said the drummer with a sarcastic laugh. +"Now, if you never drink, will you please tell me what makes that +nose of yours so red?" + +The impertinence of the questioner at once aroused the irascibility +of the old gentleman, and he replied: "Sir-r, it is glowing with +proid because it is kept out of other people's business." + + + +_Why He Knew_ + +A prominent Judge, who was an enthusiastic golfer, had occasion to +question a boy witness in a criminal suit. + +"Now, my boy," said the Judge, "are you sure that you know the nature +and significance of an oath--that is, what an oath really means?" + +The boy looked up at the Judge in surprise, and then answered: + +"Why, of course I do, Judge. Don't I caddy for you at the Country +Club?" + + + +_Her Idea of Remembrance_ + +Two negroes were talking about a recent funeral of a member of their +race, at which funeral there had been a profusion of floral tributes. +Said the cook: + +"Dat's all very well, Mandy; but when I dies I don't want no flowers +on my grave. Jes plant a good old watermelon-vine; an' when she gits +ripe you come dar, an' don't you eat it, but jes bus' it on de grave, +an' let de good old juice dribble down thro' de ground!" + + + +_Did He Win Her_? + +Conversation lagged for a moment, according to a "Life" story, then, +as he sipped his tea, he remarked quietly, but with a meaning +emphasis, "You are to be married." + +"Mercy me! To whom?" was the startled reply. + +"To me; I came today on purpose to tell you." + + + +_The Dog wasn't Touched_ + +"Madam," said the conductor as he punched a ticket, "I am very sorry, +but you can't have your dog in this car. It is against the rules." + +"I shall hold him in my lap all the way," she replied, "and he will +not disturb any one." + +"That makes no difference," said the conductor. "Dogs must ride in +the baggage-car. I'll take and fasten him for you." + +"Don't you touch my dog, sir," exclaimed the young lady excitedly. +"I will trust him to no one," and with indignant tread she marched to +the baggage-car, tied her dog and said: "Remember, please, I don't +want a soul here to touch my dog or untie him: you understand?" + +The baggage crew said they did. + +As the train approached her station the young lady, hailing the +conductor, asked: "Is my dog all right?" + +"I don't know, miss," replied the conductor. + +"Don't know?" she replied. "Why don't you know? It's your business +to know. You haven't touched him or untied him?" + +"No; we didn't touch or untie him, and that's just it. You tied him +to a trunk checked for two stations back. The trunk had to be put +off, and so we threw the dog off with the trunk!" + + + +_Not the Kind She Wanted_ + +"Which way, please, to the corset department?" she asked of the +floor-walker. + +"Straight back, madam." + +"No, not straight back," was the reply. "I want a straight front." + + + +_His Last Request_ + +JUDGE (to prisoner just condemned to death): "You have the legal +right to express a last wish, and if it is possible it will be +granted," + +PRISONER (a barber): "I should like just once more to be allowed to +shave the District Attorney." + + + +_Why He Really Wanted to Go_ + +"Would you mind if I went into the smoking-car, dear?" asked the +bridegroom in a tender voice. + +"What! to smoke, sweetheart?" questioned the bride. + +"Oh, dear, no," replied the young husband; "I want to experience the +agony of being away from you, so that the joy of my return will be +all the more intensified." + + + +_No End to This Game for Two_ + + Said He: "It is sweeter to give than receive. + Of a whipping this doubtless is true, + But of kissing I cannot believe + It holds good, till I've tried it. Can you?" + Said She; "I don't know; let's each give and receive, + And so come to proof of the prop. + Now you give, and I'll take, and we'll leave + The one to decide who cries 'Stop!'" + + + + +_And This in Boston_! + +A man who has just returned from Boston is "chortling" over a good +joke on that correct and literary city. He says that in the +reading-room of one of the most exclusive clubs in the Hub there is a +sign that reads: + + ONLY LOW CONVERSATION PERMITTED HERE + + + +_Man Wants but Little, etc_. + +"Please, mum," said a tramp, "would you be so kind as to let me have +a needle and thread?" + +"Well, y-e-s," said the housewife at the door, "I can let you have +that." + +"Thankee, mum. Now, you'd oblige me very much if you'd let me have a +bit of cloth for a patch." + +"Yes, here is some." + +"Thankee very much, mum. It's a little different color from my suit, +I see. Perhaps, mum, you could spare me some of your husband's old +clothes that this patch will match." + +"Well, I declare! You're clever, my man, and I'll give you an old +suit. Here is one." + +"Thankee greatly, mum. I see it's a little large, mum, but if you'll +kindly furnish me with a square meal, mebby I can fill it out." + + + +_It Certainly Tickled Them_ + +An amateur artist contributed a painting to the academy for the first +time. With natural curiosity he said to the carrier, "Did you see my +picture safely delivered?" + +"Indeed I did," replied the man, "and mighty pleased they seemed to +be with it--leastways, if I may jedge, sir. They didn't say nothin', +but, Lor'! how they did laugh when they got a light on it!" + + + +_Cured Without Medicine_ + +A clergyman has had in his employ for so long a time a colored man +named Julian that the latter has come to regard himself as something +of a confidential adviser to the divine. + +Early one Sunday morning the pastor awoke feeling decidedly ill. +After a futile attempt at breakfast, he summoned his old and faithful +servitor, saying: + +"Julian, I want you to go to my assistant, and tell him that, as I am +unwell, he will officiate for me in this morning's service." + +At this Julian demurred, and, after some argument, persuaded his +master that he would feel better if he officiated as usual. This the +latter did, and, as predicted by the servant, he did return home +feeling much better. + +"Youse better, sah ?" asked the man, meeting his master at the door. + +"Very much better, thank you, Julian." + +The servant grinned. "What did I tell you, sah? I knowed you'd be +all right jest as soon as you got that sermon outer your system." + + + +_Enthusiasm Squelched_ + +An enthusiastic citizen, about to visit Europe, was rejoicing over +the fact and the pleasures to come. + +"How delightful it will be," he said to his wife, "to tread the +bounding billow and inhale the invigorating oxygen of the sea, the +sea, the boundless sea! I long to see it! To breathe in great +drafts of life-giving air. I shall want to stand every moment on the +prow of the steamer with my mouth open----" + +"You probably will, dear," interrupted his wife encouragingly. +"That's the way all the ocean travelers do." + + + +_Definitive_ + +The schoolmaster was trying to explain the meaning of the word +"conceited," which had occurred in the course of the reading lesson. +"Now, boys," he said, "suppose that I was always boasting of my +learning--that I knew a good deal o' Latin, for instance, or that my +personal appearance was--that I was very good-looking, y' know--what +should you say I was?" + +Straightforward Boy; "Sure, sir, I'd say you was a liar, sir!" + + + +_Wanted to Give Her Every Chance_ + +The clerk was most obliging, but the young woman customer was hard to +please. Roll after roll of blankets did he patiently take down and +show to her; nothing suited. + +For some fifteen minutes this mock sale went on, then the young woman +said condescendingly, "Well, I don't intend to buy. I was just +looking for a friend." + +"Wait a moment, madam," cried the clerk. "There is one more blanket +left on the shelf. Maybe you will find your friend in it." + + + +_Murder Will Out_ + +The newly-graduated daughter who had decided to become an artist had +returned to her Boston home. "I am glad that your mind has taken a +turn toward art, for you know that more is expected of you now than +if you lived in Chicago," said her proud parent. + +"Yes, Father," she replied dutifully, with downcast eyes. + +"And I hope that you will distinguish yourself in more than one way." + +"Yes, Father." + +"I particularly desire that you become noted as an essayist also," +continued the ambitious parent. + +"Yes, Father," was the still modest reply. + +"I have spared neither pains nor expense in your education thus far, +but notwithstanding this immense outlay of time and money, if you can +think of anything which you believe will add to your equipment for +the career which you are about to begin--if you can suggest some +other way of refining your taste, please do so. Do you know of +anything else, my dear?" + +"Yes, Father," and this time the downcast eyes were raised and looked +hopefully into his. + +"Speak out; never mind the expense." + +"Well, Father, I'd like to go this afternoon and see Sullivan thump +that yap from the country." + + + +_Taking Mamma at Her Word_ + +MOTHER: "Ethel, you naughty child, what have you been doing to make +Charlie cry so?" + +ETHEL: "I've only been sharing my cod-liver oil with him, mamma. You +said it was so nice." + + + +_It Was Worse Than Bigotry_ + +A prisoner was brought before a police magistrate. He looked around +and discovered that his clerk was absent. "Here, officer," he said, +"what's this man charged with?" + +"Bigotry, your Honor," replied the policeman. "He's got three wives." + +The magistrate looked at the officer as though astounded at such +ignorance. "Why, officer," he said, "that's not bigotry--that's +trigonometry." + + + + +_A Devotional Turn of Mind_ + +As the new minister of the village was on his way to evening service +he met a rising young man of the place whom he was anxious to have +become an active member of the church. + +"Good-evening, my young friend," he said solemnly; "do you ever +attend a place of worship?" / + +"Yes, indeed, sir; regularly, every Sunday night," replied the young +fellow with a smile. "I'm on my way to see her now." + + + +_Poor Little Chap_! + +A little boy from the slums had been taken out into the country for +the first time. After a bit he was found sitting, all by himself, on +a high bank, and gazing wistfully out over the hills. + +The woman who had made the little excursion possible quietly seated +herself at the youngster's side. To her the child turned a radiant +face and asked: + +"Say, it's dern pretty, ain't it? Is this all in the United States?" + + + +_The Horse Had a Habit_ + +At an annual series of races "for all comers," the sun was blazing +down on a field of hot, excited horses and men, all waiting for a +tall, raw-boned beast to yield to the importunities of the starter +and get into line. + +The patience of the starter was nearly exhausted. "Bring up that +horse!" he shouted. "Bring him up!" + +The rider of the refractory beast, a youthful Irishman, yelled back; +"I can't! This here's been a cab-horse, and he won't start till he +hears the door shut, an' I ain't got no door!" + + + +_She Won Her Uncle_ + +Uncle Harry was a bachelor and not fond of babies. Even winsome +four-year-oid Helen failed to win his heart. Every one made too much +fuss over the youngster, Uncle Harry declared. + +One day Helen's mother was called downstairs and with fear and +trembling asked Uncle Harry, who was stretched out on a sofa, if he +would keep his eye on Helen. Uncle Harry grunted "Yes," but never +stirred from his position--in truth his eyes were tight shut. + +By-and-by wee Helen tiptoed over to the sofa and leaning over Uncle +Harry softly inquired: + +"Feepy?" + +"No," growled Uncle Harry. + +"Tired?" ventured Helen. + +"No," said her uncle. + +"Sick?" further inquired Helen, with real sympathy in her voice. + +"No," still insisted Uncle Harry. + +"Dus' feel bum, hey?" + +And that won the uncle! + + + +_Still He Wondered_ + +One of the physicians at a popular winter health-resort was looking +over his books one day, comparing his list of patients. "I had a +great many more patients last year than I have this," he remarked to +his wife. "I wonder where they have all gone to?" + +"Well, never mind, dear," she replied. "You know all we can do is to +hope for the best." + + + +_A Lesson In It_ + +"The trouble with you ladies of the W.C.T.U. is," said a man to a +member of that organization, "that instead of opposing the +christening of a vessel with champagne, you ought to encourage it and +draw from it a great temperance lesson." + +"Why, how can we?" asked the "white ribboner." + +"Well," was the reply, "after the first taste of wine the ship takes +to water and sticks to it ever after." + + + +_It Was His Privilege_ + +As an express train was going through a station, says "Tit-Bits," one +of the passengers leaned too far out of the window, overbalanced and +fell out. He fortunately landed on a sand heap, so that he did +himself no great injury, but, with torn clothes and not a few +bruises, said to a porter who was standing by: + +"What shall I do?" + +"You're all right, mister," said the porter. "Your ticket allows you +to stop off." + + + +_Still Hopeful_ + +"Well, Jimmy," said his employer, "I don't see how you are going to +get out to any ball-games this season; your grandmother died four +times last summer." + +"Oh, yes, I can, sir," answered Jimmy. "Grandpapa has married again, +although it was very much against the wishes of the family." + + + +_He Thought She Ought to Know It_ + +"No, I haven't anything for you today. You are the man I gave some +pie to a fortnight ago?" + +"Yis, lidy, thank you; I come back because I thought p'r'aps you'd +like to know I'm able to get about again." + + + +_A Possible Substitute_ + +"What have you in the shape of cucumbers this morning?" asked the +customer of the new grocery clerk. + +"Nothing but bananas, ma'am," was the reply. + + + +_One on the Preachers_ + +The preachers in a certain coast town noted for its Sabbath +observance were greatly incensed over the fact that printed cards +bearing the name of a well-known shipbuilding firm had been received +by prominent citizens, inviting them to attend the launching of a +vessel on the next Sunday afternoon, the reason being given that the +tide was highest on that day. + +Sunday came and in every church the launching was widely advertised +and denounced, and it was not until late in the day that some one +remembered it was April the first. + + + +_Charlie Remembered Her Well_ + +A young married woman of social prominence and respectability was to +unite with the church in her home town and desired the ordinance of +baptism by immersion, preferring the primitive custom of going to the +river. Among the number that gathered to witness the baptism was a +little boy friend, Charlie, about four years old. The proceedings +were entirely new to the child, and he looked on with strange +curiosity as the candidate was led into the water. The spring +freshets had made the river somewhat turbulent, and it was with +difficulty that the minister maintained his footing. During the +following week the young woman called at the home of this family, and +after the usual greetings said to the little boy as she extended her +hand: "Come here, Charlie, and see me. You don't know who I am, do +you?" she continued. "Yes, indeed I do," said the boy. "You's that +woman who went in swimmin' with the minister on Sunday." + + + +_Couldn't Follow Him_ + +"John," said Farmer Foddershucks to his college-bred son, who was +home on a vacation, "hev ye noticed Si Mullet's oldest gal lately? +Strikes me she's gettin' ter be a right likely critter, hey?" + +"She's as beautiful as Hebe," agreed John enthusiastically. + +"Aw, shucks!" grunted Farmer F. "She's a blame sight purtier 'n he +be. Why, he ain't no beauty. She gits it f'm her mother's folks." + + + + +_Frivolity of Outward Show_ + +Dear old Aunt Jane was making a visit in the early spring at the home +of her newly-married niece, and spring clothes was the all-absorbing +topic of conversation in the family. + +"I feel sure this hat's not broad enough in the brim, Aunt Jane," +said the worldly niece, who wanted to appear just as bewitching to +her young husband as she did in her going-away costume. + +"What does it matter, child! Look at me!" replied Aunt Jane, in a +comforting tone. "I put on anything! Don't I look all right?" + + + +_Just as Well_ + +A Scotsman went to a dentist with a toothache. The dentist told him +he would only get relief by having it out. + +"Then I must hae gas," said the Scotsman. + +While the dentist was getting it ready the Scot began to count his +money. + +The dentist said, somewhat testily, "You need not pay until the tooth +is out." + +"I ken that," said the Scotsman, "but as ye're aboot to mak' me +unconscious I jist want to see hoo I stan'." + + + +_The Same, Only a Little Different_ + +They were newly married, according to "The New York Sun," and on a +honeymoon trip. They put up at a skyscraper hotel. The bridegroom +felt indisposed and the bride said she would slip out and do a little +shopping. In due time she returned and tripped blithely up to her +room, a little awed by the number of doors that looked all alike. +But she was sure of her own and tapped gently on the panel. + +"I'm back, honey; let me in," she whispered. + +No answer. + +"Honey, honey, let me in!" she called again, rapping louder. Still +no answer. + +"Honey, honey, it's Mabel. Let me in." + +There was silence for several seconds; then a man's voice, cold and +full of dignity, came from the other side of the door: + +"Madam, this is not a beehive; it's a bathroom." + + + +_For Him to Decide_ + +"Well, well," said the absent-minded professor, as he stood knee-deep +in the bathtub, "what did I get in here for?" + + + +_A Large Corporation_ + +An old lady, traveling for the first time in a large city, saw a +glaring sign on the front of a high building which read, "The Smith +Manufacturing Company." + +As she repeated it aloud slowly she remarked to her nephew: "Lawsy +mercy! Well, I've hearn tell of Smiths all my life, but I never knew +before where they made 'em." + + + +_Accommodating Man_ + +One day, after the brakeman had been pointing out the window and +explaining the scenery, says the Denver "News," one of the passengers +whispered to the conductor: "Conductor, can you tell me how that +brakeman lost his finger? He seems to be a very nice fellow. It +seems a pity he should be crippled." + +"That's just it, ma'am. He is a good fellow. He is so obliging that +he just wore his finger off pointing out the scenery along the line." + + + +_The Early Bird_ + +The card "Boy Wanted" had been swinging from the window of a +publishing house only a few minutes when a red-headed little tad +climbed to the publisher's office with the sign under his arm. + +"Say, mister," he demanded of the publisher, "did youse hang out this +here 'Boy Wanted' sign?" + +"I did," replied the publisher sternly. "Why did you tear it down?" + +Back of his freckles the youngster was gazing in wonder at the man's +stupidity. + +"Hully gee!" he blurted. "Why, I'm the boy!" + +And he was. + + + +_No Wonder He Asked "Why?"_ + +Edward had just returned from foreign service, and his brow was +troubled. + +"I gave you that parrot as a birthday present, did I not, Amelia?" he +asked. + +"Yes; but surely, Teddy, you are not going to speak of your tokens as +if----" + +"It was young and speechless at the time." + +"Yes"--with increasing wonder--"and it has never been out of this +parlor." + +"There are no other young ladies in this house?" + +"No; there are not." + +"Then why--why, when I k-kissed your photograph in yonder album, +while waiting for you, did that wretched bird imitate your voice and +say: 'Don't do that, Herbert, please don't!'" + + + +_The Safest Place_ + +A city gentleman was recently invited down to the country for "a day +with the birds." His aim was not remarkable for its accuracy, to the +great disgust of the man in attendance, whose tip was generally +regulated by the size of the bag. + +"Dear me!" at last exclaimed the sportsman, "but the birds seem +exceptionally strong on the wing this year." + +"Not all of 'em, sir," was the answer. "You've shot at the same bird +about a dozen times. 'E's a-follerin' you about, sir." + +"Following me about? Nonsense! Why should a bird do that?" + +"Well, sir," came the reply. "I dunno, I'm sure, unless 'e's 'angin' +'round you for safety." + + + + +_An Inspiring Model_ + +Little Johnnie, having in his possession a couple of bantam hens, +which laid very small eggs, suddenly hit on a plan. Going the next +morning to the fowl-run, Johnnie's father was surprised to find an +ostrich egg tied to one of the beams, and above it a card, with the +words: + +"Keep your eye on this and do your best." + + + +_When the Honeymoon Began_ + +A minister in a Western town was called upon one afternoon to perform +the marriage ceremony between a negro couple--the negro preacher of +the town being absent from home. + +After the ceremony the groom asked the price of the service. + +"Oh, well," said the minister, "you can pay me whatever you think it +is worth to you." + +The negro turned and silently looked his bride over from head to +foot, then, slowly rolling up the whites of his eyes, said: + +"Lawd, sah, you has done ruined me for life, you has, for sure." + + + +_And She Kept on Smoking_ + +"Aunt Chloe, do you think you are a Christian?" asked a preacher of +an old negro woman who was smoking a pipe. + +"Yes, brudder, I 'spects I is." + +"Do you believe in the Bible?" + +"Yes, brudder." + +"Do you know there is a passage in the Scripture that declares that +nothing unclean shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?" + +"Yes, I'se heard of it." + +"Well, you smoke, and there is nothing so unclean as the breath of a +smoker. So what do you say to that?" + +"Well, when I go dere I 'spects to leave my breff behind me." + + + +_Doubtful Assurances_ + +"Do you think they approved of my sermon?" asked the newly-appointed +rector, hopeful that he had made a good impression. + +"Yes, I think so," replied his wife; "they were all nodding." + + + +_A New Use for an Apple_ + +The tailor's sign in a little inland town was an apple, simply an +apple. The people were amazed at it. They came in crowds to the +tailor, asking him what on earth the meaning of the sign was. + +The tailor with a complacent smile replied: + +"If it hadn't been for an apple where would the clothing business be +today?" + + + +_It Looked That Way_ + +"Is Mike Clancy here?" asked the visitor at the quarry, just after +the premature explosion. + +"No, sor," replied Costigan; "he's gone." + +"For good?" + +"Well, sor, he wint in that direction." + + + +_Music Touched His Heart_ + +A thief broke into a Madison Avenue mansion early the other morning +and found himself in the music-room. Hearing footsteps approaching, +he took refuge behind a screen. + +From eight to nine o'clock the eldest daughter had a singing lesson. + +From nine to ten o'clock the second daughter took a piano lesson. + +From ten to eleven o'clock the eldest son had a violin lesson. + +From eleven to twelve o'clock the other son had a lesson on the flute. + +At twelve-fifteen all the brothers and sisters assembled and studied +an ear-splitting piece for voice, piano, violin and flute. + +The thief staggered out from behind the screen at twelve-forty-five, +and falling at their feet, cried: + +"For Heaven's sake, have me arrested!" + + + +Some Amusing Blunders + +A divine in drawing the attention of his congregation to a special +communion service on the following Sunday informed them that "the +Lord is with us in the forenoon and the Bishop in the evening." + +A Scotch minister innocently, perhaps, hit the mark by telling his +people, "Weel, friends, the kirk is urgently in need of siller, and +as we have failed to get money honestly we will have to see what a +bazar can do for us." + +There is a certain amount of excuse to be made for the young curate +who, remarking that some people came to church for no better reason +than to show off their best clothes, finished up as he glanced over +his audience, "I am thankful to see, dear friends, that none of you +has come here for that reason." + +A negro student when conducting the prayers at one of the great +missionary colleges, said, "Give us all pure hearts, give us all +clean hearts, give us all sweet hearts," to which the entire +congregation made response, "Amen." + +The giving-out of church notices has often proved a pitfall for the +unwary. "During Lent," said a rector lately, "several preachers will +preach on Wednesday evenings, but I need not give their names, as +they will be all found hanging up in the porch." + + + +_They Come High--But_ + +A stranger in New York asked a newsboy to direct him to a certain +bank, promising him half a dollar for it. The boy took him about +three doors away and there was the bank. Paying the fee, the man +said, "That was half a dollar easily earned, son." + +"Sure," said the boy, "but youse mustn't fergit that bank directors +is paid high in Noo Yawk." + + + +_At Any Cost_ + +A darky preacher was lost in the happy selection of his text, which +he repeated in vigorous accents of pleading. + +"Oh, bredern, at de las' day dere's gwine to be sheep and dere's +gwine to be goats. Who's gwine to be de sheep, an' who's gwine to be +de goats? Let's all try to be like de li'l white lambs, bredern. +Shall we be de goats, sisters? Naw, we's gwine to be de sheep. +Who's gwine to be de sheep, bredern, an' who's gwine to be de goats? +Tak' care ob youh souls, sisters; tak' care ob youh souls. Remember, +dere's gwine to be goats an' sheep. Who's gwine to be de sheep an' +who's gwine to be de goats?" + +Just then a solitary Irishman who had been sitting in the back of the +church, listening attentively, rose and said: + +"Oi'll be the goat. Go on; tell us the joke, Elder. Oi'll be the +goat!" + + + +_Where Was Bill_? + +Bill Jones is a country storekeeper down in Louisiana, and last +spring he went to New Orleans to purchase a stock of goods. The +goods were shipped immediately and reached home before he did. When +the boxes of goods were delivered at his store by the drayman his +wife happened to look at the largest; she uttered a loud cry and +called for a hammer. A neighbor, hearing the screams, rushed to her +assistance and asked what was the matter. The wife, pale and faint, +pointed to an inscription on the box which read as follows; + +"Bill inside." + + + +_All That Glisters is Not Gold_ + +One day an Irishman was seated in the waiting-room of a station with +an odorous pipe in his mouth. One of the attendants called his +attention to the sign: "No smoking." + +"Well," said Pat, "I'm not a-smokin'." + +"But you have a pipe in your mouth." + +"Shure, an' I've shoes on me feet an' I'm not walkin'." + + + +_Her Affectionate Brothers_ + +It was Commencement Day at a well-known girls' seminary, and the +father of one of the young women came to attend the graduation +exercises. He was presented to the principal, who said, "I +congratulate you, sir, upon your extremely large and affectionate +family." + +"Large and affectionate?" he stammered and looking very much +surprised. + +"Yes, indeed," said the principal. "No less than twelve of your +daughter's brothers have called frequently during the winter to take +her driving and sleighing, while your eldest son escorted her to the +theatre at least twice a week. Unusually nice brothers they are." + + + +_The Voice of the Lady_ + +"Life" recently printed this extremely clever sketch by Tom Masson: + +It was a quiet Sunday rooming on a side street. A playful breeze had +lifted off the tarpaulin that covered the newsstand, and the +magazines were enjoying a quiet hour by themselves. + +"Harper's" took occasion to edge away from "McClure's." + +"Your cheapness makes me dizzy," it observed, with a superior sniff. + +"My cheapness is as nothing to your dullness,", exclaimed +"McClure's," with some heat. + +"Nonsense!" replied "Harper's." "Why, I once published an +interesting story." + +A chorus of groans greeted this admission. + +"The trouble with you fellows," observed "The Century," "is that you +do not understand the really serious side of life." + +"How can we," observed "The Metropolitan," "for we have not, like +you, a humorous department? We----" + +There was a commotion. While these observations were going on +"Munsey's" and "Everybody's" were having a dispute. + +"I publish sillier stuff than you," said "Munsey's." + +"I defy you to prove it," said "Everybody's." + +"Let's form a ring and have them fight it out," suggested a rank +outsider--"The Clipper." + +At this, however, there was a protest from one hitherto silent. A +soft soprano voice spoke. + +"Gentlemen," it said, "would you fight in the presence of ladies?" + +Whereupon the rest of the magazines took off their hats, and one by +one lapsed into respectful silence, as THE LADIES' HOME JOURNAL, +arranging its skirts anew with gentle precision, passed out on its +way to church. + + + +_Cheer Up, Everybody_ + +The visiting missionary at an almshouse stopped for a moment to speak +to a very old lady and inquire, after her health and welfare. "Thank +you, sir," replied the old lady. "Yes, indeed, I've a great deal to +be thankful for. I've two teeth left and they're opposite each +other." + + + +_A New Kind of Bait_ + +After weeks of waiting and longing for the sport, rods, reels, gaff, +creel--everything was in readiness for a week's trout-fishing. + +The young wife, smiling joyously, hurried into the room, extending +toward her husband some sticky, speckled papers. + +"For goodness' sake," he exclaimed, "what on earth are you doing with +those old fly-papers?" + +"I saved them for you from last summer, dear," she answered. "You +know you said you always had to buy flies when you went fishing." + + + +_He Could Supply Specimens_ + +"And what did my little darling do in school today?" a mother asked +of her young son--a "second-grader." + +"We had Nature study, and it was my turn to bring a specimen," said +the boy. + +"That was nice. What did you do?" + +"I brought a cockroach in a bottle, and I told teacher we had lots +more, and if she wanted I would bring one every day." + + + +_Was It His Ghost_? + +A well-known publisher has the entrance to his private office guarded +by one of his editors, a small man, who, as the day wears on, sinks +down in a little heap in his high-backed chair under the weight of +the manuscripts he has to read. The publisher was exceedingly proud +of his friendship with a prominent Congressman, who usually called +when he was in New York. + +One day the huge form of the Speaker of the House of Representatives +loomed up before the little editor, with the evident intent of +bearing down upon the private office. + +"Back!" shouted the little editor, waving a slender arm with much +vigor. "Back! Go back to the offith and thend in your card." + +The Congressman paused, inclined his head to view the obstacle that +opposed his progress, and smiled. Then he turned on his heel and did +as he was directed. + +Of course the publisher bustled out personally to conduct the great +man into the private office. When his visitor had departed the +publisher came forth in a rage. The little editor shriveled before +him as he began: + +"What do you mean by holding up one of my oldest friends in this +fashion? Don't you know he's at perfect liberty to walk into my +office at any time without so much as knocking?" + +"Yeth," admitted the little editor feebly. + +"Then what do you mean by holding him up and subjecting him to such +discourtesy ?" + +"I thought he wath Dr. John Hall." + +"Dr. John Hall!" exclaimed the exasperated publisher "Don't you know +that Dr. John Hall is dead?" + +"Yeth," returned the little editor with earnest sincerity. "That'th +what bothered me." + + + +_Willie's April Fool on Mamma_! + +Little Willie had a very pretty governess, and on April first he +rather startled his mother by rushing in to her and saying: + +"Mamma, there's a strange man upstairs who has just put his arm +around Miss Wilson's waist, and kissed her several times----" + +"What?" said the mother, as she jumped up to pull the bell for the +butler. + +"April fool, Mamma!" said Willie, in great glee. "It wasn't a +strange man at all. It was Papa!" + + + +_Full Particulars Given_ + +A small boy who had recently passed his fifth birthday was riding in +a suburban car with his mother, when they were asked the customary +question, "How old is the boy?" After being told the correct age, +which did not require a fare, the conductor passed on to the next +person. + +The boy sat quite still as if pondering over some question, and then, +concluding that full information had not been given, called loudly to +the conductor, then at the other end of the car: "And mother's +thirty-one!" + + + +_News for the Bishop_ + +A newly-rich woman, who was anxious to make a favorable impression in +her neighborhood, decided to show her collection of antiques to the +Bishop when he called. The time came, and one by one she displayed +the whole collection, giving him the history of each piece. Finally +she pointed to the most prized article in the lot. "There," she +said, pointing impressively to an old yellow teapot. "That teapot +was used in the Boston Tea-party." + + + +_A Case of Mutual Application_ + +MR. WOOD, a man very fond of playing jokes, met his friend, Mr. +Stone, and at once inquired jocosely: + +"Hello, Stone, how are Mrs. Stone and all the little pebbles?" + +"Fine," said Mr. Stone, "all well, thank you," and then, with a +twinkle in his eye: "How are Mrs. Wood and all the little splinters?" + + + +_She Didn't Sleep Well_ + +A woman who lives in an inland town, while going to a convention in a +distant city spent one night of the journey on board a steamboat. It +was the first time she had ever traveled by water. She reached her +journey's end extremely fatigued. To a friend who remarked it she +replied: + +"Yes, I'm tired to death. I don't know as I care to travel by water +again. I read the card in my stateroom about how to put the +life-preserver on, and I thought I understood it; but I guess I +didn't. Somehow, I couldn't go to sleep with the thing on." + + + +_They Planned a Little Surprise for Him_ + +On a west-bound train scheduled for a long trip a very large, +muscular man fell asleep and annoyed all the passengers by snoring +tremendously. Reading, conversation or quiet rest was an +impossibility. Finally a drummer, carrying half a lemon in his hand, +tiptoed over to a little boy who sat behind the snorer. + +"Son," said the drummer impressively, "I am a doctor, and if that man +doesn't stop snoring he'll die of apoplexy. Watch your chance, and +as soon as his mouth opens a little wider, lean over and squeeze this +lemon into it." + + + +_He Knew Only One_ + +A teacher had been telling her class of boys that recently worms had +become so numerous that they destroyed the crops, and it was +necessary to import the English sparrow to exterminate them. The +sparrows multiplied very fast and were gradually driving away our +native birds. + +Johnny was apparently very inattentive, and the teacher, thinking to +catch him napping, said; + +"Johnny, which is worse, to have worms or sparrows?" + +Johnny hesitated a moment and then replied: + +"Please, I never had the sparrows." + + + +_He Proved It Was Logical_ + +A lawyer was defending a man accused of housebreaking, and said to +the court: + +"Your Honor, I submit that my client did not break into the house at +all. He found the parlor window open and merely inserted his right +arm and removed a few trifling articles. Now, my client's arm is not +himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual +for an offense committed by only one of his limbs." + +"That argument," said the judge, "is very well put. Following it +logically, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. +He can accompany it or not, as he chooses." + +The defendant smiled, and with his lawyer's assistance unscrewed his +cork arm, and, leaving it in the dock, walked out. + + + +_The Old Man Knew Best_ + +"I took three bottles of your medicine, and I feel like a new woman," +read the testimonial. "John," she said in a shrill, piping voice, "I +think this is exactly what I need. I have been feeling bad for quite +a spell back, and the lady was symptomated just exactly as I feel. I +believe I will try three bottles and see if it will make a new woman +out of me." + +"Not much, Maria," said John, with tremendous earnestness. "Not if I +know it. I don't mind spending three dollars on you if you feel bad, +but I ain't a-goin' to have you made into any of these here new +women, gaddin' about the city to women's clubs and savin' the country +that don't need savin'. You jest mix up some sulphur and molasses +and take it, and you will feel better, but don't let me hear no more +of this new-woman nonsense." + + + +_Watch and Pray_ + +A pompous old Bishop was one morning breakfasting at a country inn +where it had been his lot to spend the night. As he approached the +table he found at his place a fine trout well cooked and tempting. +He closed his eyes to say his grace before meat, not noticing a +Quaker gentleman seated opposite, who, with a mischievous smile, +reached over quickly and scooped the fish over to his own plate. + +Having finished his prayer the Bishop opened his eyes and prepared to +enjoy the trout, but to his surprise and dismay it had disappeared. + +The jolly Quaker, eying the Bishop, at the same time demolishing the +trout, said with feigned solemnity: + +"Bishop, thee must 'watch and pray'--'watch and pray.'" + + + +_No Doubt About That_ + +The fresh spring breezes were blowing through the open windows of the +schoolroom, and George Washington was the momentous question in hand. + +"Why do you think George Washington was the first man?" asked the +teacher. + +"Because he was 'first in war, first in peace, and first in the +hearts of his countrymen.'" + +Another boy then raised his hand. + +"Well, Johnny, who do you think was the first man?" said the teacher. + +"Don't know his name," answered Johnny, "but I know George Washington +was not the first man, 'cause my history says he married a widow, so +there must have been a man ahead of him." + + + +_All's Fair in Love_ + +A poor couple went to the priest for marriage, and were met with a +demand for the marriage fee. It was not forthcoming. Both the +consenting parties were rich in love and in their prospects, but +destitute of financial resources. The father was obdurate. "No +money, no marriage." + +"Give me l'ave, your riverence," said the blushing bride, "to go and +get the money." + +It was given, and she sped forth on the delicate mission of raising a +marriage fee out of pure nothing. After a short interval she +returned with the sum of money, and the ceremony was completed to the +satisfaction of all. When the parting was taking place the +newly-made wife seemed a tittle uneasy. + +"Anything on your mind, Catherine ?" said the father. + +"Well, your riverence, I would like to know if this marriage could +not be spoiled now." + +"Certainly not, Catherine. No man can put you asunder." + +"Could you not do it yourself, father? Could you not spoil the +marriage?" + +"No, no, Catherine. You are past me now. I have nothing more to do +with your marriage." + +"That aises me mind," said Catherine, "and God bless your riverence. +There's the ticket for your hat. I picked it up in the lobby and +pawned it." + + + +_An Addition to the Catechism_ + +An enterprising superintendent was engaged one Sunday in catechizing +the Sunday-school pupils, varying the usual method by beginning at +the end of the catechism. + +After asking what were the prerequisites for the Holy Communion and +confirmation, and receiving satisfactory replies, he asked: + +"And now, boys, tell me what must precede baptism?" + +A lively urchin shouted out: "A baby, sir!" + + + +_No Two Ways About It_ + +A colored preacher who had only a small share of this world's goods, +and whose salary was not forthcoming on several occasions, became +exasperated. At his morning service he spoke to his church members +thusly: + +"Bredern and sistern, things is not as should be. You 'must not +'spects I can preach on u'th an' boa'd in Heben." + + + +_The Maid Knew a Thing or Two_ + +"Madam," said the book-agent as the door was opened by a very comely +maid, "I am selling a new book on etiquette and deportment." + +"Oh, you are," she responded. "Go down there on the grass and clean +the mud off your feet." + +"Yes'm," and he went. "As I was saying, ma'am," he continued as he +again came to the door, "I am sell----" + +"Take off your hat! Never address a strange lady at her door without +removing your hat." + +"Yes'm." And off went the hat. "Now, then, as I was saying----" + +"Take your hands out of your pockets. No gentleman ever carries his +hands there." + +"Yes'm," and his hands clutched at his coat lapels. "Now, ma'am, +this work on eti----" + +"Throw out your cud. If a gentleman uses tobacco he is careful not +to disgust others by the habit." + +"Yes'm," and the tobacco disappeared. "Now, ma'am," as he wiped his +brow, "in calling your attention to this valuable----" + +"Wait. Put that dirty handkerchief out of sight. I don't want your +book. I am only the hired girl. You can come in, however, and talk +with the lady of the house. She called me a liar this morning and I +think she needs something of the kind." + + + +_Under Similar Conditions_ + +"Speaking of men falling in love and ardently pursuing the object of +their affections, you needn't make fun of any one, John. You were +bound to have me, but you can't say I ever ran after you." + +"Very true, Anastasia, the trap never runs after the rat, but it +gathers him in all the same." + + + +_His First Move_ + +A bashful cowboy, returning from the plains to civilized society +after an absence of several years, fell desperately in love at first +sight with a pretty young girl whom he met at a party. + +On leaving the house that evening the young lady forgot her +overshoes, and the hostess, who had noticed the Westerner's +infatuation, told the young Lochinvar that he might return them to +the girl if he wished. The herder leaped at the chance and presented +himself in due time at the young lady's house. She greeted him +cordially. + +"You forgot your overshoes last night," he said, awkwardly handing +her the package. + +"Why, there's only one overshoe here!" she exclaimed, as she thanked +him and opened it. + +"Yes, Miss," said he, blushing. "I'll bring the other one tomorrow. +Oh, how I wish that you were a centipede!" And with that he turned +and sped away down the street. + + + +_His "Catch" Was Delayed_ + +Tommy went fishing the other day without his mother's permission. +The next morning one of his chums met him and asked: "Did you catch +anything yesterday, Tommy?" + +"Not till I got home," was the rather sad response. + + + +_Using His Friends_ + +A visitor from New York to the suburbs said to his host during the +afternoon: + +"By-the-way, your front gate needs repairing. It was all I could do +to get it open. You ought to have it trimmed or greased or +something." + +"Oh, no," replied the owner, "oh, no, that's all right." + +"Why is it?" asked the visitor. + +"Because," was the reply, "every one who comes through that gate +pumps two buckets of water into the tank on the roof." + + + +_He Did--After That_ + +A young man who persisted in whispering loudly to the lady who +accompanied him to a symphony concert, telling her what the music +"meant," what sort of a passage was coming next, and so on, caused +serious annoyance to every one of his immediate neighbors. Presently +he closed his eyes and said to his companion: + +"Did you ever try listening to music with your eyes shut? You've no +idea how lovely it sounds!" + +Thereupon a gentleman who sat in the seat in front of the young man +twisted himself about and said gravely: + +"Young man, did you ever try listening to music with your mouth shut?" + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Good Stories from The Ladies Home +Journal, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOOD STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 12836.txt or 12836.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/3/12836/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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