The American Joe Miller: A Collection of Yankee Wit and Humor
Philosophy
The American Joe Miller: A Collection of Yankee Wit and Humor
American wit and humor
An ingenious down-easter, who has invented a new kind of "love-letter
ink," which he has been selling as a safeguard against all actions
for breach of promise of marriage, in so much as it entirely fades
from the paper in two months after date, was recently "done brown" by
a brother down-easter, who purchased a hundred boxes of the article,
and gave him his note for 90 days. At the expiration of the time, the
ink inventor called for payment, but, on unfolding the scrip, found
nothing but a blank piece of paper. The note had been written with his
own ink.
A ROUGH BEDFELLOW.--518.
A man in Arkansas had been drinking until a late hour at night, and
then started for home in a state of sweet obliviousness. Upon reaching
his own premises he was too far gone to discover any door to the
domicile he was wont to inhabit, and, therefore, laid himself down in
a shed which was a favourite rendezvous for swine. They happened to
be out when the new comer arrived, but soon returned to their bed. The
weather being rather cold, they, in the utmost kindness, and with the
truest hospitality, gave their biped companion the middle of the bed,
some lying on either side of him, and others acting the part of quilt.
Their warmth prevented him from being injured by exposure. Towards
morning he awoke. Finding himself comfortable, in blissful ignorance
of his whereabouts, he supposed himself enjoying the accommodation of
a tavern, in company with other gentlemen. He reached out his hand,
and catching hold of the stiff bristles of an old hog, exclaimed:
"Hallo, my good friend, you've got a deuce of a beard! When did you
shave last?"
NEW, IF NOT TRUE.--519.
In one of the Northern States of America, according to
veracious authority, the pious young women established
an association which they styled "The Young Women's
Anti-young-men-waiting-at-the-church-doors-with-ulterior-objects
Society." (We suppose this must be founded on the model of "The
Anti-poking-your-nose-into-other-people's-business Society," in
London.)
TRUE, IF NOT NEW.--520.
A burnt child hates the fire, but a man who has been singed by Cupid's
torch always has a sneaking kindness for the old flame.
CURING TWO AFFLICTIONS.--521.
An American secretary of state had two afflictions--an obliging
doorkeeper and a pertinacious office-hunter. Day after day the
latter called, and the former was too polite to shut him out. The
secretary, when he could stand the nuisance no longer, said to the
doorkeeper: "Do you know what that man comes after?" "Yes," replied
the functionary, "an office, I suppose." "True, but do you know what
office?" "No." "Well, then, I'll tell you; he wants your office." The
bore was admitted no more.
PLAIN SPOKEN.--522.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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