"How do you like your stepmother, Bob?"
"Like her! Why fellers, I just love her. All I wish is I had a stepfather, too."
"Well, Bobby, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
BOBBY (remembering private seance in the wood-shed)--"A orphan."
Little Eleanor"s mother was an American, while her father was a German.
One day, after Eleanor had been subjected to rather severe disciplinary measures at the hands of her father, she called her mother into another room, closed the door significantly, and said: "Mother, I don"t want to meddle in your business, but I wish you"d send that husband of yours back to Germany."
The lawyer was sitting at his desk absorbed in the preparation of a brief. So bent was he on his work that he did not hear the door as it was pushed gently open, nor see the curly head that was thrust into his office. A little sob attracted his notice, and, turning he saw a face that was streaked with tears and told plainly that feelings had been hurt.
"Well, my little man, did you want to see me?"
"Are you a lawyer?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
"I want"--and there was resolute ring in his voice--"I want a divorce from my papa and mama."
PARROTS
Pat had but a limited knowledge of the bird kingdom. One day, walking down the street, he noticed a green bird in a cage, talking and singing.
Thinking to pet it he stroked its head. The bird turned quickly, screaming, "h.e.l.lo! What do you want?" Pat shied off like a frightened horse, lifting his hat and bowing politely as he stuttered out: "Ex-excuse me s-sir, I thought you was a burrd!"
PARTNERSHIP
A West Virginia darky, a blacksmith, recently announced a change in his business as follows: "Notice--De co-pardnership heretofore resisting between me and Mose Skinner is hereby resolved. Dem what owe de firm will settle wid me, and dem what de firm owes will settle wid Mose."
Pa.s.sWORDS
"I want to change my pa.s.sword," said the man who had for two years rented a safety-deposit box.
"Very well," replied the man in charge. "What is the old one?"
"Gladys."
"And what do you wish the new one to be?"
"Mabel. Gladys has gone to Reno."
Senator Tillman not long ago piloted a plain farmer-const.i.tuent around the Capitol for a while, and then, having some work to do on the floor, conducted him to the Senate gallery.
After an hour or so the visitor approached a gallery door-keeper and said: "My name is Swate. I am a friend of Senator Tillman. He brought me here and I want to go out and look around a bit. I though I would tell you so I can get back in."
"That"s all right," said the doorkeeper, "but I may not be here when you return. In order to prevent any mistake I will give you the pa.s.sword so you can get your seat again."
Swate"s eyes rather popped out at this. "What"s the word?" he asked.
"Idiosyncrasy."
"What?"
"Idiosyncrasy."
"I guess I"ll stay in," said Swate.
PATIENCE
"Your husband seems to be very impatient lately."
"Yes, he is, very."
"What is the matter with him?"
"He is getting tired waiting for a chance to get out where he can sit patiently hour after hour waiting for a fish to nibble at his bait."
PATRIOTISM
General Gordon, the Confederate commander, used to tell the following story: He was sitting by the roadside one blazing hot day when a dilapidated soldier, his clothing in rags, a shoe lacking, his head bandaged, and his arm in a sling, pa.s.sed him. He was soliloquizing in this manner:
"I love my country. I"d fight for my country. I"d starve and go thirsty for my country. I"d die for my country. But if ever this d.a.m.n war is over I"ll never love another country!"