Josh Billings on Ice, and Other ThingsBillings, Josh
General
Josh Billings on Ice, and Other Things
Billings, Josh
American wit and humor
_Saturday, 8th._--Horce more easier this morning; mint julips offered,
but no takers. About these days expect wind; wind from the northwest; a
good day for wind mills. Half-past 5 o'clock, P.M., the following notis
appears on all the bulletin boards. "Doctor Pug thinks the horce, with
the most skillful treatment at the hands ov the attendant physicians,
may possibly be rendered suitable for a clam waggon, and Doctor Bug
corroborates Pug, _provided_, the oleaginous dipthong that connects the
parodial glysses with the nervaqular episode, is not displaced; if so,
the most consumit skill ov the profeshion will be requisite to restore
a secondary unity." Later--"The horce has been turned out tew grass."
_Sunday, 9th._--This is the Sabbath, a day that our fathers thought a
good deal ov. Mutch wind (in sum ov the churches); streets lively,
bissiness good; prize fight on the palisades; police reach the ground
after the fight is aul over, and arrest the ropes and the ring. Wind
sutherly; a lager-beer spring discovered just out ov the limits ov the
city; millions are flocking out to see it.
_Monday, 10th._--A gale, mile stuns are torn up bi the rutes; fight for
700 dollars and the belt, at Red Bank, Nu Jersey, between two well
known roosters; oysters fust eaten on the half shell 1342, by Don
Bivalvo, an Irish Duke; sun sets in the west.
_Tuesday, 11th._--Roosters still fighting; indications ov wind;
counterfeit Tens in circulashun on the Faro Bank; look out for them;
milk only 15 cents a quart; thank the Lord, "the good time," has
finally come; Don Quixot fights his first wind mill, 1510, at short
range, and got whipped the second round; time 14 minnits.
9:30 P.M.--Torch-lite procession at Red Bank, in honor ov the winning
rooster.
_Wednesday, 12th._--Sum wind, with wet showers; showers smell strong ov
dandylions and grass; gold 132 17-16; exchange on Brooklin and
Williamsburgh, one cent (by the ferry boats.)
_Thursday. 13th._--Bad day for the alminak bissiness; no nuze, no wind;
no cards; no nothing.
_Friday, 14th._--Wendal Phillips tares up the constitushun ov the
United States; "alas! poor Yorick;" rain from abuv; strawberries,
watermillions and peaches, gitting skase; rain continners, accompanied
with thunder and slight moister; mercury abuv zero.
_Saturday, 15th._--Grate fraud diskovered in the custom house--3
dollars missing; fifty subordinates suspended; a wet rain sets in;
robbins cum, and immediately begin tew enquire for sum cherrys.
_Sunday, 16th._--Henry W. Beecher preaches in Brooklyn by partickular
request; dandylions in market only 15 cents a head.
_Monday, 17th._--Plant sum beans; plant them deep; if yu don't they
will be sure tew cum up. Robinson Cruso born 1515, all alone, on a
destitute iland. Warm rain, mixt with wind; woodchucks cum out ov their
holes and begin tew chuck a little.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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