"And I you a happy New Year," responded the Second Blighted Being,
with the accent of a penitent accordeon.

They then fell upon each other's neck and wept scalding rills down
each other's spine in token of their banishment to the Realm of
Ineffable Bosh. For one of these accursed creatures was the First
of January, and the other the Twenty-fifth of December.



The Austere Governor



A GOVERNOR visiting a State prison was implored by a Convict to
pardon him.

"What are you in for?" asked the Governor.

"I held a high office," the Convict humbly replied, "and sold
subordinate appointments."

"Then I decline to interfere," said the Governor, with asperity; "a
man who abuses his office by making it serve a private end and
purvey a personal advantage is unfit to be free. By the way, Mr.
Warden," he added to that official, as the Convict slunk away, "in
appointing you to this position, I was given to understand that
your friends could make the Shikane county delegation to the next
State convention solid for - for the present Administration. Was I
rightly informed?"