The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
Bright chandeliers the room adorn,
Each thing's arranged with care,
And gayest smiles and silks are worn
This night to catch the Heir.
With a heigho! Letty!
Hark forward, you forward Miss Betty
To-night we hunt the He-e-e-i-r—
To-night we hunt the Heir!
Poor Heir! you feel our sport a bore,
We read it in your face;
If you'll propose to one—no more,
You'll find us give you chase.
With a sigh from Letty!
Or forward, too forward Miss Betty!
No more we'll hunt the He-e-e-i-r—
No more we'll hunt the Heir!
THE LANGUAGE OF VEGETABLES.
We do not think there is in the whole history of letters anything more
beautiful than the two following specimens. Any one acquainted with the
vegetable vocabulary cannot fail to be touched deeply by them.
The first was addressed to Sigismond by his devoted wife
Toot-sichfootsich, when he was imprisoned by Kalbskopf II. in the
impregnable fortress of Dummerkerl, in the Spitzbübe mountains, in
Moldavia.
The originals, and the monuments of Sigismond's wonderful escape, are
still preserved, with the greatest reverence, by the proud descendants
of his wife's noble family. Admirers of conjugal affection have been
known to journey to the Spitzbübe Mountains purposely to look at them.
The first letter was scratched with a pin on a large cabbage leaf, and
sent into the castle wrapped round a pound of butter:—
"Beloved Greens!—Dry thy Onions. There is Cabbage in the horizon.
Suppress thy Spinage, there's a darling Bean. Support thy Haricots with
Beetroot, and never let young Radish leave thy dear Asparagus. May
Pickled Gherkins watch over thee, and Early Peas strew Mashed Potatoes,
with Blessed Chickweed, over thy suffering Turniptop! Where is thy
boastod Sourkrout? Have a little Brocoli, my own sweet Bean; and put thy
Chickweed in Parsley. There is Tomata yet for both of us, so pray hide
thy Cauliflower for a few short Sprouts, and Capers must soon be ours!
Confide in Mangel-würzel. I enclose thee a hundred Greens from the
bottom of my Green Stuff, and remain, my fondest Beetroot,
"THY OWN DEAR MARROWFAT."
The answer, though in a humbler strain, was not less eloquent. It was
rolled up in little crumbs of bread, which were made into the shape of
pills, and thrown out of the prisoner's window:—
"My sweetest Marrowfat!—My Asparagus is well nigh bursting. My Salad is
overflowing, and I cannot rest at night from too much Mustard seed. Send
me, an thou hopest hereafter for Asparagus, a Scarlet-Runner, and a
small Cow Cabbage. Trust in Sage, and throw thyself fondly on
Watercress.
"THY UNFORTUNATE GREENS."
[Illustration]