Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, April 30, 1892Various
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 102, April 30, 1892
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
["Sir JAMES FERGUSSON does not hesitate to declare his opinion
that rudeness or incivility on the part of a Post-Office
servant is, next to dishonesty, one of the worst offences
he can commit. This notice is not addressed to men alone.
Of the young women employed by the department, there are, he
says, some, if not many, whom it is impossible to acquit of
inattention and levity in the discharge of their official
duties. It is Sir JAMES FERGUSSON's intention to ascertain, at
short intervals, the effect of this notice on the behaviour of
Post-Office officials generally."--_Daily Paper_.]
SCENE--_Interior of a Post Office. Female Employees engaged
in congenial pursuits._
_First Emp._ (_ending story_). And so she never got the bouquet, after
all, and he went to Margate, without even saying good-bye.
_Second Emp._ (_her Friend_). Well, that was hard upon her!
_First Member of the Public_ (_entering briskly and putting coppers on
the counter_). Now then, three penny stamps, please!
_First Emp._ (_to her Friend_). Yes, as you say, it _was_ hard, as of
course the matter of the pic-nic was no affair of hers.
_Second Emp._ (_sympathetically_). Of course not! They are all alike,
my dear!--all alike!
_First Mem. of the Pub._ (_impatiently_). Now then, three penny stamps
please!
_First Emp._ Well, you are in a hurry! (_To her Friend_). And from
that day to this she has never heard from him.
_Second Emp._ And it would have been so easy to drop her a postcard
from Herne Bay.
_First Mem. of the Pub._ Am I to be kept waiting all day? Three penny
postage-stamps, please.
_First Emp._ (_leisurely_). What do you want?
_First Mem. of the Pub._ (_angrily_). Three penny postage-stamps, and
look sharp about it!
_First Emp._ (_giving stamp_). Threepence.
_First Mem. of the Pub._ (_furious_). A threepenny stamp! I want three
penny stamps. Three stamps costing a penny each. See?
_First Emp._ (_with calm unconcern_). Then why didn't you say so
before? (_Supplies stamps and turns to Friend._) Then MARIA of course
wanted to go to Birchington.
_Second Emp._ Why Birchington? Why did she want to go to Birchington?
_First Emp._ Well--_he_ of course was at Herne Bay.
_Second Emp._ Ah, now I begin to understand her artfulness.
_First Emp._ Ah, there you are right, my dear! She _was_ artful!
[_Enter Second Member of the Public, covered up in cloaks and
only showing the tip of his nose._
_Second Mem. of the Pub._ (_in a feeble voice_). Can you tell me,
please, when the Mail starts for India?
_First Emp._ Well, the sea air _is_ the sea air. And that reminds me,
what do you think of this tobacco-pouch for--
_Second Emp._ (_archly_). For I know who! Why, you have got his
initials in forget-me-nots!
_First Emp._ I think them so pretty, and they are very easy to do.
_Second Mem. of the Pub._ (_in a rather louder voice_). Can you tell
me, please, when the Mail starts for India?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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