 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
A LITERAL CONSTRUCTION.
“PREACHERS,” said a reverend gentleman, “should
be careful, in doing their Master's service, never to exceed
their commission, or take anything but the Bible into
their mouths.”
“Bless me!” thought Mrs. Partington, as he said
this; “I don't see how he could find room for anything
more very well; though some mouths are a great deal
larger than others. I remember my poor Paul and his
brother were digging a cellar once, when Paul threw
some dirt in his brother's mouth. ‘Paul,’ says he,
‘you've filled my mouth half full of dirt.’ His brother
had a very big mouth. ‘Have I?’ said Paul; ‘well,
just spit it outside, and we shan't have any more to
dig.’ Ah, Paul was such a queer man! He was the
beatermost creatur.”
What a joyous gleam shot from her specs as this reminiscence
crossed her mind, giving the very iron of the
bows the semblance of gold in its light! But the reflection
cost her the whole of the fourthly.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |