SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev | Current Page 225 | Next

L'Estrange, Alfred Guy Kingan, 1832-1915

"History of English Humour, Vol. 2 (of 2)"

Bodkin, the Secretary for the
Society for the Suppression of Mendicity--
"Hail! king of shreds and patches, hail!
Dispenser of the poor!
Thou dog in office set to bark
All beggars from the door!
* * * * *
"Of course thou art what Hamlet meant
To wretches, the last friend;
What ills can mortals have that can't
With a bare _bodkin_ end."
Mr. M'Adam is apostrophized--
"Hail Roadian, hail Colossus, who dost stand,
Striding ten thousand turnpikes on the land?
Oh, universal Leveller! all hail!"
In a sporting dialogue in "Tylney Hall," we have--
"'A clever little nag, that,' said the Squire, after a long
one-eyed look at the brown mare, 'knows how to go, capital action.'
"'A picture, isn't she?' said the Baronet. 'I bought her last week
by way of a surprise to Ringwood. She was bred by old Toby Sparks
at Hollington, by Tiggumbob out of Tolderol, by Diddledumkins,
Cockalorum, and so forth.'
"'An odd fish, old Toby;' said the Squire, 'always give 'em queer
names: can jump a bit, no doubt?'
"'She jumps like a flea,' said Dick, 'and as for galloping, she can
go from anywhere to everywhere in forty minutes--and back again.'"
We may also mention his description of an old-fashioned doctor.


Pages:
213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237