The Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and SayingsLemon, Mark
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The Jest Book: The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings
Lemon, Mark
Anecdotes -- Great Britain; English wit and humor
IT was a strange instance of alleged obedience to orders in the case of
a father's will, which a brute of a fellow displayed in turning his
younger brother out-of-doors. He was vociferously remonstrated with by
the neighbors on the gross impropriety of such conduct. "Sure," said he,
"it's the will; I'm ordered to _divide_ the house betune myself and my
brother, so I've taken the _inside_ and given him the _outside_."
MCXCV.--A WINDY MINISTER.
IN one of our northern counties, a rural district had its harvest
operations seriously affected by continuous rains. The crops being much
laid, wind was desired in order to restore them to a condition fit for
the sickle. A minister, in his Sabbath services, expressed their wants
in prayer as follows:--"Send us wind, no a rantin', tantin', tearin'
wind, but a noohin' (noughin?), soughin', winnin' wind." More expressive
words than these could not be found in any language.
MCXCVI.--READY RECKONER.
THE Duke of Wellington, when Premier, was the terror of the idlers in
Downing Street. On one occasion when the Treasury clerks told him that
some required mode of making up the accounts was impracticable, they
were met with the curt reply: "Never mind, if you can't do it, I'll send
you half-a-dozen _pay sergeants_ that will,"--a hint that they did not
fail to take.
MCXCVII.--A "DISTANT" FRIEND.
MEETING a negro on the road, a traveller said, "You have lost some of
your friends, I see?"--"Yes, massa."--"Was it a near or a distant
relative?"--"Well, purty distant,--_'bout twenty-four mile_," was the
reply.
MCXCVIII.--TYPOGRAPHICAL WIT.
"HO! Tommy," bawls Type, to a brother in trade,
"The ministry are to be _changed_, it is said."
"That's good," replied Tom, "but it better would be
With a trifling erratum."--"What?"--"Dele the _c_."
MCXCIX.--A NAMELESS MAN.
A GENTLEMAN, thinking he was charged too much by a porter for the
delivery of a parcel, asked him what his name was. "My name," replied
the man, "is the same as my father's."--"And what is his name?" said the
gentleman. "It is the same as mine."--"Then what are both your
names?"--"Why, they _are both alike_," answered the man again, and very
deliberately walked off.
MCC.--AN INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFICULTY.
BOOTH, the tragedian, had a broken nose. A lady once remarked to him, "I
like your acting, Mr. Booth; but, to be frank with you,--_I can't get
over your nose_!"--"No wonder, madam," replied he, "the bridge is gone!"
MCCI.--NON COMPOS.
IT is remarkable that ---- is of an exceedingly cheerful disposition,
though the _very little piece_ of mind he possesses is proverbial.
MCCII.--TOO LIBERAL.
A WRITER in one of the Reviews was boasting that he was in the habit of
distributing literary reputation. "Yes," replied his friend, "and you
have done it so profusely that you have _left none_ for yourself."
MCCIII.--A LITTLE RAIN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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