The Jest Book<br />The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings by Mark Lemon (christmas read aloud TXT) 📗
- Author: Mark Lemon
Book online «The Jest Book<br />The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings by Mark Lemon (christmas read aloud TXT) 📗». Author Mark Lemon
Theodore Hook, about to be proposed a member of the Phœnix Club, inquired when they met. "Every Saturday evening during the winter," was the answer. "Evening? O then," said he, "I shall never make a Phœnix, for I can't rise from the fire."
MCLXXIV.—A GOOD APPETITE.A nobleman had a house-porter who was an enormous eater. "Frank," said he, one day, "tell me how many loins you could eat?" "Ah, my lord, as for loins, not many; five or six at most."—"And how many legs of mutton?"—"Ah, as for legs of mutton, not many; seven or eight, perhaps."—"And fatted pullets?"—"Ah, as for pullets, my lord, not many; not more than a dozen."—"And pigeons?"—"Ah, as for pigeons, not many; perhaps forty—fifty at most—according to appetite."—"And larks?"—"Ah, as for that, my lord—little larks—for ever, my lord—for ever!"
MCLXXV.—SHORT-SIGHTED.Dean Cowper, of Durham, who was very economical[Pg 255] of his wine, descanting one day on the extraordinary performance of a man who was blind, remarked, that the poor fellow could see no more than "that bottle."—"I do not wonder at it at all, sir," replied a minor canon, "for we have seen no more than 'that bottle' all the afternoon."
MCLXXVI.—AN ADVANTAGEOUS TITHE.A'Beckett once said, "It seems that anything likely to have an annual increase is liable to be tithed. Could not Lord S——, by virtue of this liability, contrive to get rid of a part of his stupidity?"
MCLXXVI I.—TRUTH versus POLITENESS.At a tea-party, where some Cantabs were present, the lady who was presiding "Hoped the tea was good."—"Very good, indeed, madam," was the general reply, till it came to the turn of one of the Cantabs, who, between truth and politeness observed, "That the tea was excellent, but the water was smoky!"
MCLXXVIII.—A NEW VIEW.Some people have a notion that villany ought to be exposed, though we must confess we think it a thing that deserves a hiding.
MCLXXIX.—THE ONE-SPUR HORSEMAN.A student riding being jeered on the way for wearing but one spur, said that if one side of his horse went on, it was not likely that the other would stay behind.
[This is, no doubt, the original of the well-known passage in Hudibras,—
As wisely knowing, could he stir
To active trot one side of 's horse," &c.]
MCLXXX.—A PHILOSOPHICAL REASON.
A scholar was asked why a black hen laid a white egg. He answered, "Unum contrarium expellit alterum."[Pg 256]
MCLXXXI.—A PLAY UPON WORDS.A poacher was carried before a magistrate upon a charge of killing game unlawfully in a nobleman's park, where he was caught in the fact. Being asked what he had to say in his defence, and what proof he could bring to support it, he replied, "May it please your worship, I know and confess that I was found in his lordship's park, as the witness has told you, but I can bring the whole parish to prove that, for the last thirty years, it has been my manner."
MCLXXXII.—JEMMY GORDON.Jemmy Gordon, the well-known writer of many a theme and declamation for varmint-men, alias non-reading Cantabs, having been complimented by an acquaintance on the result of one of his themes, to which the prize of a certain college was awarded, quaintly enough replied, "It is no great credit to be first in an ass-race."
MCLXXXIII.—SETTING UP AND SITTING DOWN.Swift was one day in company with a young coxcomb, who, rising from his chair, said, with a conceited and confident air, "I would have you to know, Mr. Dean, I set up for a wit."—"Do you, indeed," replied the Dean; "Then take my advice, and sit down again."
MCLXXXIV.—A SETTLED POINT."A reformed Parliament," exclaimed a Conservative the other day, "will never do for this country."—"No! but an unreformed would, and that quickly," replied a bystander.
MCLXXXV.—JOLLY COMPANIONS.A minister in Aberdeenshire, sacrificed so often and so freely to the jolly god, that the presbytery could no longer overlook his proceedings, and summoned him before them to answer for his conduct. One of his elders, and constant companion in his social hours, was cited as a witness against him. "Well, John, did you ever see the[Pg 257] Rev. Mr. C—— the worse of drink?"—"Weel, a wat no; I've monyatime seen him the better o't, but I ne'er saw him the waur o't."—"But did you never see him drunk?"—"That's what I'll ne'er see; for before he be half slockened, I'm ay' blind fu'."
MCLXXXVI.—PAYING IN KIND.A certain Quaker slept at a hotel in a certain town. He was supplied with two wax candles. He retired early, and, as he had burned but a small part of the candles, he took them with him into his bedroom. In the morning, finding he was charged 2s. in his bill for wax candles, instead of fees to the waiter and chambermaid, he gave to each a wax candle.
MCLXXXVII.—A FULL HOUSE."What plan," said an actor to another, "shall I adopt to fill the house at my benefit?"—"Invite your creditors," was the surly reply.
MCLXXXVIII.—RATHER THE WORST HALF.On one occasion a lad, while at home for the holidays, complained to his mother that a schoolfellow who slept with him took up half the bed. "And why not?" said the mother; "he's entitled to half, isn't he!"—"Yes, mother," rejoined her son; "but how would you like to have him take out all the soft for his half? He will have his half out of the middle, and I have to sleep both sides of him!"
MCLXXXIX.—FORCE OF HABIT.A servant of an old maiden lady, a patient of Dr. Poole, formerly of Edinburgh, was under orders to go to the doctor every morning to report the state of her health, how she had slept, &c., with strict injunctions always to add, "with her compliments." At length, one morning the girl brought this extraordinary message: "Miss S——'s compliments, and she de'ed last night at aicht o'clock!"[Pg 258]
MCXC.—A WONDERFUL SIGHT.A jolly Jack-tar having strayed into Atkins's show at Bartholomew Fair, to have a look at the wild beasts, was much struck with the sight of a lion and a tiger in the same den. "Why, Jack," said he to a messmate, who was chewing a quid in silent amazement, "I shouldn't wonder if next year they were to carry about a sailor and a marine living peaceably together!"—"Aye," said his married companion, "or a man and wife."
MCXCI.—BURKE AND FOX.Mr. Burke, in speaking of the indisposition of Mr. Fox, which prevented his making a motion for an investigation into the conduct of Lord Sandwich, said, "No one laments Mr. Fox's illness more than I do; and I declare that if he should continue ill, the inquiry into the conduct of the first Lord of the Admiralty should not be proceeded upon; and, should the country suffer so serious a calamity as his death, it ought to be followed up earnestly and solemnly; nay, of so much consequence is the inquiry to the public, that no bad use would be made of the skin of my departed friend, (should such, alas! be his fate!) if, like that of John Zisca, it should be converted into a drum, and used for the purpose of sounding an alarm to the people of England."
MCXCII.—TRYING TO THE TEMPER.Lord Allen, in conversation with Rogers, the poet, observed: "I never put my razor into hot water, as I find it injures the temper of the blade."—"No doubt of it," replied Rogers; "show me the blade that is not out of temper when plunged into hot water."
MCXCIII.—HAVING A CALL.Mr. Dunlop, while making his pastoral visitations among some of the country members of his flock, came to a farm-house where he was expected; and the mistress, thinking that he would be in need of refreshment, proposed that he should take his tea before engaging in exercises,[Pg 259] and said she would soon have it ready. Mr. Dunlop replied, "I aye tak' my tea better when my wark's dune. I'll just be gaun on. Ye can hing the pan on, an' lea' the door ajar, an' I'll draw to a close in the prayer when I hear the haam fizzin'."
MCXCIV.—A WILL AND AWAY.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[Pg 260] it a near or a distant relative?"—"Well, purty distant,—'bout twenty-four mile," was the reply.
MCXCVIII.—TYPOGRAPHICAL WIT."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.For thus upon their tombs it might be chiselled;
As long as George the Fourth could reign, he reigned,
And then he mizzled!
[Pg 261] MCCIV.—TRUE DIGNITY.
P—— had a high respect for the literary character. At a great man's house a stranger stopped that P—— might enter the room before him. "Pass, sir," said the master of the house, "it is only Mr. P——, the author."—"As my rank is mentioned," cried P., "I shall claim the preference"; and accordingly took the lead.
MCCV.—HOW TO GET RID OF AN ENEMY.Dr. Mead, calling one day on a gentleman who had been severely afflicted with the gout, found, to his surprise, the disease gone, and the patient rejoicing on his recovery over a bottle of wine. "Ah!" said the doctor, shaking his head, "this Madeira will never do; it is the cause of all your suffering."—"Well, then," rejoined the gay incurable, "fill your glass, for now we have found out the cause, the sooner we get rid of it the better."
MCCVI.—SEVERE.A lady asked a sailor whom she met, why a ship was called "she." The son of Neptune replied that it was "because the rigging cost more
Comments (0)