The Wit and Humor of America, Volume II | Page 3

chiny plate en cup, Kaze he 'fraid
his po' relations come en eat his wittles up; I spec' he had two 'possums
on de table long en wide, En a jimmyjohn er cane juice wuz a-settin' by
his side.
En he say: "Dis heah des suits me, en I gwine ter eat my fill; But I'll sic
de dogs on Laz'rus, ef he waitin' roun' heah still." En de dogs
commence dey barkin', raise a racket high en low, En when Laz'rus see
'em comin' he decide 'twuz time ter go.
So, he limp off on his crutches, en de rich man think it's fun, But I
reckon Laz'rus answer: "I'll git even wid you, son!" De rich man so
enjoy hisse'f he laugh hisse'f ter bed, En, brotherin', when he wake up
he wuz stiff, stone dead!
En den he raise a racket, en he holler out: "What dis? De place is
onfamiliar, en I wonder whar' I is?" Den Satan, he mek answer: "I'm de
man ter tell you dat: You's in de fire department er de place I livin' at!"
Den de rich man say: "Whar' Laz'rus dat wuz beggin' at my gate?" En
Satan tell him: "Yander, wid a silver spoon en plate; En he eatin' fit ter
kill hisse'f! He spendin' er de day Wid good ol' Mister Abra'm, but he
mighty fur away!"
"Will you please, suh," say de rich man, "ax him bring a drink ter me,
Wid a li'l' ice ter cool it? Kaze I hot ez hot kin be!" But Satan fall ter
laughin', whilst he stir de fire roun':-- "De ice would melt, my brother,
'fo' it ever hit de groun'!"

Den he fill a cup wid brimstone--fill it steamin' ter de top; But de rich
man say he swear off, dat he never tech a drop! But Satan grab his
pitchfork whilst de rich man give a squall, En in 'bout a half a second
he had swallered cup en all!
Now, dat's erbout de story er de rich man at de feas', What wouldn't
pass de 'possum roun' when Laz'rus want a piece. De 'possum means
yo' pocketbook, de moral's plain ez day: Shake de dollars in de basket
'fo' you go de rich man's way!

THE TWO SUITORS
BY CAROLYN WELLS
Once on a Time there was a Charming Young Maiden who had Two
Suitors.
One of These, who was of a Persistent and Persevering Nature,
managed to be Continually in the Young Lady's Company.
He would pay her a visit in the Morning, Drop In to Tea in the
Afternoon, and Call on her Again in the Evening.
He took her Driving, and he Escorted her to the Theater. He would take
her to a Party, and then he would Dance, or Sit on the Stairs, or Flit into
the Conservatory with her.
The Young Lady admired this man but she Wearied of his
never-ceasing Presence, and she Said to Herself, "If he were not
Always at my Elbow I should Better Appreciate his Good Qualities."
The Other Suitor, who considered himself a Man of Deep and
Penetrating Cleverness, said to himself, "I will Go Away for a Time,
and then my Fair One will Realize my Worth and Call Me Back to
Her."
With a sad Visage he made his Adieus, and he Exacted her Pledge to

Write to him Occasionally. But after he had Gone she Forgot her
Promise, and Soon she Forgot his Very Existence.
MORALS:
This Fable teaches that Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, and
that Out of Sight is Out of Mind.

THE RECRUIT
BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: "Bedad, yer a bad 'un!
Now turn out yer toes! Yer belt is unhookit, Yer cap is on crookit, Ye
may not be dhrunk, But, be jabers, ye look it! Wan--two! Wan--two!
Ye monkey-faced divil, I'll jolly ye through! Wan--two! Time! Mark!
Ye march like the aigle in Cintheral Parrk!"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: "A saint it ud sadden To
dhrill such a mug! Eyes front! ye baboon, ye! Chin up! ye gossoon, ye!
Ye've jaws like a goat-- Halt! ye leather-lipped loon, ye! Wan--two!
Wan--two! Ye whiskered orang-outang, I'll fix you! Wan--two! Time!
Mark! Ye've eyes like a bat! can ye see in the dark?"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: "Yer figger wants padd'n--
Sure, man, ye've no shape! Behind ye yer shoulders Stick out like two
bowlders; Yer shins is as thin As a pair of pen-holders! Wan--two!
Wan--two! Yer belly belongs on yer back, ye Jew! Wan--two! Time!
Mark! I'm dhry as a dog--I can't shpake but I bark!"
Sez Corporal Madden to Private McFadden: "Me heart it ud gladden To
blacken yer eye. Ye're gettin' too bold, ye Compel