The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)Ward, Artemus
General
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)
Ward, Artemus
American wit and humor
I said, "not at all, Marm. Not on no account. I have heard the
boatswain pipe to quarters--but a voice in my heart didn't whisper
Seu-zan! I've belayed the marlin-spikes on the upper jibpoop, but
Seu-zan's eye wasn't on me, much. Young woman, I am not you're Saler
boy. Far different."
"Oh yes, you are!" she howled, seizin me round the neck. "Oh, how I've
lookt forwards to this meetin!"
"And you'll presently," I said, "have a opportunity of lookin backwards
to it, because I'm on the point of leavin this institution."
I will here observe that I come of a very clever family. A very clever
fam'ly, indeed.
"Where," I cried, as I struggled in vain to release myself from the
eccentric female's claws, "where is the Capting--the man who was into
the Crimea, amidst the cannon's thunder? I want him."
He came forward, and cried, "What do I see? Me Sister! me sweet
Adulaide! and in teers! Willin!" he screamed, "and you're the serpent
I took to my boosum, and borrowed money of, and went round with, and was
cheerful with, are you?--You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
Somehow my coat was jerked off, the brest-pocket of which contained my
pocket-book, and it parsed away like the brest pin. Then they sorter
quietly hustled me into the street.
It was about 12 at night when I reached the Green Lion.
"Ha! ha! you sly old rascal, you've been up to larks!" said the
lan'lord, larfin loudly, and digging his fist into my ribs.
I said, "Bigsby, if you do that agin, I shall hit you! Much as I
respect you and your excellent faml'y, I shall disfiger your beneverlent
countenance for life!"
"What has ruffled your spirits, friend?" said the lan'lord.
"My spirits has been ruffled," I ansered in a bittur voice, "by a viper
who was into the Crimea. What good was it," I cried, "for Sebastopol to
fall down without enwelopin in its ruins that viper?"
I then went to bed. I come of a very clever fam'ly.
Artemus Ward.
_______________
VI.
THE TOWER OF LONDON.
MR. PUNCH, My dear Sir,--I skurcely need inform you that your excellent
Tower is very pop'lar with peple from the agricultooral districks, and
it was chiefly them class which I found waitin at the gates the other
mornin.
I saw at once that the Tower was established on a firm basis. In the
entire history of firm basisis I don't find a basis more firmer than
this one.
"You have no Tower in America?" said a man in the crowd, who had somehow
detected my denomination.
"Alars! no," I ansered; "we boste of our enterprise and improvements,
and yit we are devoid of a Tower. America, oh my onhappy country! thou
hast not got no Tower! It's a sweet Boon."
The gates was opened after awhile, and we all purchist tickets and went
into a waitin-room.
"My frens," said a pale-faced little man, in black close, "this is a sad
day."
"Inasmuch as to how?" I said.
"I mean it is sad to think that so many peple have been killed within
these gloomy walls. My frens, let us drop a tear!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account