English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various SourcesVarious
General
English Jests and Anecdotes, Collected from Various Sources
Various
Anecdotes -- England; English wit and humor
An English stock-jobber, known for his unexampled parsimony, although
possessed of an immense fortune, one day met a poor man, one of his
own relations. “Come hither, George,” said the miser, “do you know I
have just now made my will, and remembered you handsomely, my boy.”
“God bless your honour,” said the grateful man, “you will be rewarded
for so charitable an action, for you could not have thought of a more
distressed family.” “Are you indeed so very poor, George?” “Sir,
my family’s starving!” said the man, almost crying. “Harkye, then,
George, if you will allow me a good _discount_, I will pay your legacy
immediately.” We need not add, that the terms were accepted of, and
that they parted equally pleased with the bargain they had concluded.
A BONNE BOUCHE.
An elderly lady, on a visit at Margate, went into the market, having
made up her mind to buy a goose. There were but two in the market, both
in custody of a little cherry-cheek’d lass from Birchington, who, to
the surprise of her customer, positively refused to sell one without
the other. Recollecting that a neighbour had also expressed a wish for
one, the lady was, without much difficulty, prevailed on to take both.
When the bargain was concluded, however, she thought proper to inquire
of the vender, why she had so peremptorily declined selling them
separately? “If you please, my lady,” was the _naïve_ answer, “Mother
said as how the geese had lived together _fifteen years_, and it would
be cruel to part them.”
EQUITY.
A gentleman, resident at Harrow, made frequent complaints to the
masters of the great school there, of his garden being stripped of its
fruit, even before it became ripe--but to no purpose. Tired of applying
to the masters for redress, he at length appealed to the boys, and,
sending for one to his house, he said, “Now, my good fellow, I’ll make
this agreement with you and your companions: let the fruit remain on
the trees till it becomes ripe, and I promise to give you half.” The
boy coolly replied, “I can say nothing to the proposition, sir, myself,
but will make it known to the rest of the boys, and inform you of their
decision to-morrow.” To-morrow came, and brought with it this reply:
“The gentlemen of Harrow cannot agree to receive so _unequal_ a share,
since Mr. ---- is an individual, and we are many.”
RESULT OF A QUARREL.
A vicar and curate of a village, where there was to be a burial,
were at variance. The vicar not coming in time, the curate began the
service, and was reading the words, “I am the resurrection,” when the
vicar arrived almost out of breath, and snatching the book out of the
curate’s hand, with great scorn, cried, “_You_ the resurrection? _I_ am
the resurrection:” and then went on.
WELSH GENEALOGIES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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