University of Virginia Library

NICE ARABLE LAND.

Awhile ago, the late Mr. Samuel N. Pike sold an
amphibious Jersey building lot to a Dutchman. There
are large tracts of land in New Jersey which overflow
at high tide. The Dutchman in turn sold the
amphibious building lot to a brother speculating Dutchman
as “nice arable land.” Dutchman No. 2 went
to look at it at high tide and found it covered with
salt water, eels, and leaping frogs. He came back in
a great fury, and sued Dutchman No. 1 for swindling
him.

“Did you sell this land for dry land?” asked the
judge of the sharp Dutchman.

“Yah! It vasch good try lant,” replied the Dutchman.

“But, sir, the plaintiff says he went to see it and it
was wet land—covered with water. It was not dry
arable land,” said the judge.

“Yah—Yah! It vasch good try lant. Ven I sold
it to my friend it vasch low tide!”