"Because," said the Man Leaning on a Spade, "I belong to the
Gravediggers' National Extortion Society, and we have decided to
limit the production of graves and get more money for the reduced
output. We have a corner in graves and propose to work it to the
best advantage."

"My friend," said the Undertaker Who Was a Member of a Trust, "this
is a most hateful and injurious scheme. If people cannot be
assured of graves, I fear they will no longer die, and the best
interests of civilisation will wither like a frosted leaf."

And blowing his eyes upon his handkerchief, he walked away
lamenting.



The Crew of the Life-boat



THE Gallant Crew at a life-saving station were about to launch
their life-boat for a spin along the coast when they discovered,
but a little distance away, a capsized vessel with a dozen men
clinging to her keel.

"We are fortunate," said the Gallant Crew, "to have seen that in
time. Our fate might have been the same as theirs."

So they hauled the life-boat back into its house, and were spared