Part 1 (2/2)
SIR WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNNE talking to a friend about the antiquity of his family, which he carried up to Noah, was told that he was a mere mushroom of yesterday. ”How so, pray?” said the baronet. ”Why,”
continued the other, ”when I was in Wales, a pedigree of a particular family was shown to me: it filled five large skins of parchment, and near the middle of it was a note in the margin: '_About this time the world was created_.'”
III.--A BAD EXAMPLE.
A CERTAIN n.o.ble lord being in his early years much addicted to dissipation, his mother advised him to take example by a gentleman, whose food was herbs and his drink water. ”What! madam,” said he, ”would you have me to imitate a man who _eats like a beast, and drinks like a fish_?”
IV.--A CONFIRMED INVALID.
A POOR woman, who had attended several confirmations, was at length recognized by the bishop. ”Pray, have I not seen you here before?” said his lords.h.i.+p. ”Yes,” replied the woman, ”I get me conform'd as often as I can; they tell me it is _good for the rheumatis_.”
V.--COMPARISONS ARE ODIOUS.
LORD CHANCELLOR HARDWICK'S bailiff, having been ordered by his lady to procure a sow of a particular description, came one day into the dining-room when full of company, proclaiming with a burst of joy he could not suppress, ”I have been at Royston fair, my lady, and I have got a sow exactly of _your ladys.h.i.+p's size_.”
VI.--AN INSCRIPTION ON INSCRIPTIONS.
THE following lines were written on seeing a farrago of rhymes that had been scribbled with a diamond on the window of an inn:--
”Ye who on windows thus prolong your shames, And to such arrant nonsense sign your names, The diamond quit--with me the pencil take, So shall _your shame_ but short duration make; For lo, the housemaid comes, in dreadful pet, With red right hand, and with a dishclout wet, Dashes out all, nor leaves a wreck to tell Who 't was that _wrote so ill!--and loved so well_!”
VII.--NO HARM DONE.
A MAN of sagacity, being informed of a serious quarrel between two of his female relations, asked the persons if in their quarrels either had called the other ugly? On receiving an answer in the negative, ”O, then, I shall soon make up the quarrel.”
VIII.--BEARDING A BARBER.
A HIGHLANDER, who sold brooms, went into a barber's shop in Glasgow to get shaved. The barber bought one of his brooms, and, after having shaved him, asked the price of it. ”Tippence,” said the Highlander. ”No, no,” says the shaver; ”I'll give you a penny, and if that does not satisfy you, take your broom again.” The Highlander took it, and asked what he had to pay. ”A penny,” says Strap. ”I'll gie ye a baubee,” says Duncan, ”and if that dinna satisfy ye, _pit on_ my beard again.”
IX.--CHANGING HIS COAT.
A WEALTHY merchant of Fenchurch Street, lamenting to a confidential friend that his daughter had eloped with one of his footmen, concluded, by saying, ”Yet I wish to forgive the girl, and receive her husband, as it is now too late to part them. But then his condition; how can I introduce him?”--”Nonsense,” replied his companion; ”introduce him as a _Liveryman_ of the _city of London_. _What_ is more honorable?”
X.--GOOD ADVICE.
LADY ---- spoke to the butler to be saving of an excellent cask of small beer, and asked him how it might be best preserved. ”I know no method so effectual, my lady,” replied the butler, ”as placing a barrel of _good_ ale by it.”
XI.--NEW RELATIONs.h.i.+P.
A STRANGER to law courts hearing a judge call a sergeant ”brother,”
expressed his surprise. ”Oh,” said one present, ”they are brothers--_brothers-in-law_.”
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