The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)Ward, Artemus
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The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)
Ward, Artemus
American wit and humor
Do you know a eppylit from a piece of chalk?
If I trust you with a real gun, how many men of your own company do
you speck you can manage to kill durin the war?
Hav you ever heard of Ginral Price of Missouri, and can you avoid
simler accidents in case of a battle?
Have you ever had the measles, and if so, how many?
How air you now?
Show me your tongue, &c., &c. Sum of the questions was sarcusstical.
The company filled up rapid, and last Sunday we went to the meetin house
in full uniform. I had a seris time gittin into my military harness, as
it was bilt for me many years ago; but I finally got inside of it, tho'
it fitted me putty clost. Howsever, onct into it, I lookt fine--in
fact, aw-inspirin. "Do you know me, Mrs. Ward?" sed I, walking into the
kitchin.
"Know you, you old fool? Of course I do."
I saw at once she did.
I started for the meetin house, and I'm afraid I tried to walk too
strate, for I cum very near fallin over backards; and in attemptin to
recover myself, my sword got mixed up with my legs, and I fell in among
a choice collection of young ladies, who was standin near the church
door a-seein the sojer boys come up. My cockt hat fell off, and sumhow
my coat tales got twisted round my neck. The young ladies put their
handkerchers to their mouths and remarked: "Te he," while my ancient
female single friend, Sary Peasley, bust out in a loud larf. She
exercised her mouth so vilently that her new false teeth fell out onto
the ground.
"Miss Peaseley," sed I, gittin up and dustin myself, "you must be more
careful with them store teeth of your'n or you'll have to gum it agin!"
Methinks I had her.
I'd bin to work hard all the week, and I felt rather snoozy. I'm 'fraid
I did git half asleep, for on hearin the minister ask, "Why was man
made to mourn?" I sed, "I giv it up," havin a vague idee that it was a
condrum. It was a onfortnit remark, for the whole meetin house lookt at
me with mingled surprise and indignation. I was about risin to a pint
of order, when it suddenly occurd to me whare I was, and I kept my seat,
blushin like the red, red rose--so to speak.
The next mornin I 'rose with the lark (N.B.--I don't sleep with the
lark, tho.' A goak).
My little dawter was execootin ballids, accompanyin herself with the
Akordeon, and she wisht me to linger and hear her sing: "Hark I hear a
angel singin, a angel now is onto the wing."
"Let him fly, my child!" sed I, a-bucklin on my armer; "I must forth to
my Biz."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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