Joe Miller's Jests, with Copious Additions — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Joe Miller's Jests, with Copious Additions
John Stuart Mill · en
1168. A gentleman being entreated to stand godfather to one of his
tenant’s children, granted the request, having no children of his own.
The child, growing up, he was sent to visit his godfather, in the hopes
he would do something for him. Upon his arrival his godfather asked him
how his father and mother did? Very well in health, replied the child,
but my father has so many children, he can hardly provide bread for us.
Child, was the answer, God never sends mouths but he sends meat. It may
be so, godfather, answered the child, but I think God has sent the
mouths to our house, and the meat to you. This witty answer so pleased
the old gentleman, that he took the child and brought him up as his own.
1169. Glovers get their living by cutting purses, and yet are never
punished for it.
1170. King James removing once from Whitehall to Greenwich house, to
take his pleasure, the constables were commanded to guard several
passages, to hinder the concourse of people flocking thither: amongst
many gentlemen stopped was one rather meanly dressed, who was asked to
what lord he belonged? To the Lord Jehovah, he readily answered. The
wise constable not catching the meaning, asked his companions if they
knew any such lord. To which they replied, There is none such belonging
to the court. The constable, unwilling to give offence, replied, Well, I
believe it is some Scotch lord or other, so let him pass.
1171. A person holding an argument with a grocer concerning matters of
trade, the grocer’s wife bid him give over arguing, for she was sure her
husband could show a thousand reasons [raisins] to his one.
1172. One said painters were cunning fellows, for they had a colour for
everything they did.
1173. Mr. Derrick being asked his opinion of a young rake at Bath, who
went under the denomination of a knowing one, said, he did not pretend
to any great skill in physiognomy, but he believed he could venture to
pronounce that the young gentleman would one day be fixed in a very
exalted station.
1174. At a general hunting in Cornwall, which is still observed twice a
year, when also there is great wrestling and cudgel playing, a clergyman
happened to be among the multitude, and for reproving a fellow for
swearing, got his head cut by a stone flung at him by the man, which
some that stood by seeing, said, Come, sir, we’ll go along with you to a
justice. No, said the minister, truly I think there is much more need to
go with me to a surgeon.
1175. A gentleman of good estate, who, it seems, hated tobacco, and
hearing that his eldest son did take it, though not in his presence, he
told him, if he knew that he took tobacco he would disinherit him.
Truly, father, said he, they that told you so were mistaken; for before
I will take any tobacco I’ll see it all on fire. Sayest thou so, my boy!
cried the old gentleman, I’ll give thee five hundred a year the more for
that.