The American Joe Miller: A Collection of Yankee Wit and Humor
John Stuart Mill · en
A gentleman crossing one of the New York ferries was accosted by
one of those peripatetic vendors of cheap literature and weekly
newspapers, who are to be found in shoals about such public places,
with "Buy Bulwer's last work, sir? Only two shillin'." The gentleman,
willing to have a laugh with the urchin, said: "Why, I am Bulwer,
myself!" Off went the lad, and whispering to another at a distance,
excited his wonderment at the information he had to impart. Eyeing the
pretended author of "Pelham" with a kind of awe, he approached him
timidly, and, holding out a pamphlet, said, modestly: "Buy the 'Women
of England,' sir? You're not Mrs. Ellis, are you?" Of course, the
proposed sale was effected.
DINNER, BUT NO BREAKFAST.--501.
A gentleman was stopping at the plantation of a friend in Georgia,
and for his benefit a social fishing party was got up to go to some
river, a few hours' drive in the country. The party made a very early
start in the morning, and it so happened that a venerable old "uncle"
of extreme African descent, who was selected to drive them out, missed
his breakfast in the hurry and bustle of departure. This disagreeable
circumstance rendered the old darky very crusty and melancholy during
the entire morning; but at early noon the party adjourned to a country
tavern on the river bank, and had a good dinner, and the old "general"
was not slow to seek some alimentary compensation for the loss of
his matin meal. It was taken for granted that the old gent's good
humour would be restored by the dinner, but it was soon noticed that
he continued to remain "blue" and sorrowful, and, being surprised
thereat, his master asked him why he was still so cross, since he had
had so good a dinner. The old darky replied: "Yes, massa, me know I'se
had me dinnah, but me habn't had no brekfuss yet, nohow."
THE LOAFER'S HAT.--502.
"I say, John, where did you get that loafer's hat?" "Please your
honour," said John, "it's an old one of yours, that missus gave me
yesterday, when you were in town."
THE DEBT OF NATURE.--503.
An impertinent editor in Alabama, says a paper, wants to know when we
"intend to pay 'the debt of Nature?'" We are inclined to think that
when Nature gets her dues from him it will be by an _execution_.
A BLACK BULL.--504.
At a coloured ball the following notice was posted on the
door-post:--"Tickets, fifty cents. No gemmen admitted unless he comes
himself."
A NEW DISH.--505.