The Jest Book The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings
"What brought her to Buxton?"—"I came only for pleasure," answered the healthy duchess; "for, thank God, I was born before

    nerves came into fashion

   ."

    Sheridan

   was very desirous that his son Tom should marry a young woman of large fortune, but knew that Miss Callander had won his son's heart. Sheridan, expatiating on the folly of his son, at length exclaimed, "Tom, if you marry Caroline Callander, I'll cut you off with a shilling!" Tom could not resist the opportunity of replying, and looking archly at his father said, "Then, sir, you must

    borrow

   it." Sheridan was tickled at the wit, and dropped the subject.

    George III.

   having purchased a horse, the dealer put into his hands a large sheet of paper, completely written over. "What's this?" said his majesty. "The pedigree of the horse, sire, which you have just bought," was the answer. "Take it back, take it back," said the king, laughing; "it will do very well for the

    next horse you sell

   ."

    Dr. Busby

   , whose figure was beneath the common size, was one day accosted in a public coffee-room by an Irish baronet of colossal stature, with, "May I pass to my seat, O Giant?" When the doctor, politely making way, replied, "Pass, O Pigmy!"—"O, sir," said the baronet, "my expression alluded to the

    size of your intellect

   ."—"And my expression, sir," said the doctor, "to the

    size of yours

   ."

    A butcher

   of some eminence was lately in company with several ladies at a game of whist, where, having lost two or three rubbers, one of the ladies addressing him, asked, "Pray, sir, what are the stakes now?" To which, ever mindful of his occupation, he immediately replied, "Madam, the best rump I cannot


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