half-crowns, while the unsuccessful rhymers were to settle the bill among
them. According to Cunningham, Burns obtained the stakes by writing:

"Here am I, Johnny Peep;
I saw three sheep,
And these three sheep saw me.
Half-a-crown apiece
Will pay for their fleece,
And so Johnny Peep goes free."


15. STERN LOGIC

[Probably this boy would have seen the necessity of avoiding such rich
banquets as this.]

"Say, ma, do they play base-ball in heaven?"

"Why, no, my dear; of course not. Why do you ask?"

"Huh! Well, you don't catch me being good and dying young then; that's
all."


16. MISTAKEN BREVITY

["Brevity is the soul of wit;" and calculation and economy are very
commendable; but they may be carried to extremes. This may be used when the
last speaker has closed a little abruptly.]