PUNGENT JOKING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 135, 29 September 1871, Page 3

PUNGENT JOKING.

Some years ago a gentleman living in one of the frontier towns of a far Western State had some friends staying with him, to whom he gave a little dinner—the best the place could furnish—and invited to meet them a few half civilised Indians. Of course the " noble red men " were treated to delicacies they had not seen before, and displayed a perhaps excusable inclination to "go through " the bill of fare A young chief who had partaken of nearly everything on the table, had been eyeing the mustard for some time, no doubt thinking that such a prenty paste would taste as good as it looked. At length, opportunity appearing, he reached forth in a dignified manner, took a liberal spoonful, and swallowed it without moving a muscle of his countenance, but in spite of his utmost exertions, the tears soon streamed down his cheeks. An aged chief opposite him, who had been watching the whole proceeding, leaned forward and enquired what he was crying for. He replied, " I was thinking of my poor old father, who died a short time ago." Soon afterwards the " aged," being unable to restrain his curiosity, also solemnly took a dip from the mustardpot, and swallowed it without the quivering of a muscte ; but his eyes were not as strong as his will, and the little tears soon trickled down his cheeks. It was now the young red man's turn. Leaning forward he enquired the cause of the grief, to which the elderly red party replied, " I was thinking 'twas a pity you hadn't died when your poor old father did."