Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-11-12
Joe EIillers

As il is not generally knowns perhaps, among our
readers, who Joe Miller was, will enighien them
little on the subject. Joe was copyist by profess
sion. and worked for The lawyers in the English Inns
of Courts and fourished in The reign of Queen Anne
If bare subsistence earned by his horse-ke labors
may be termed Furnishing. for he had to work never
less than sixteen out of twenty -four hours just to sup
ply the wants of nature, and the wherewhal to pay
for lodging in mean house, where he had TO share
with three other young men. Joe was kind hearted
and simple minded man, who had never been suspec
pected even by his best friends of having had Sc
cond idea in his head and from his extreme good ma
ture had become butt, at which one and all were
constantly throwing their shafts of successful rdicue.
But, we have already said. his perception of the
ridiculous were OF too obuse nature for him TO have
imagined for single moment that he himself was the
object of their ridicule
Many the practical jokes play FED off upon poor
Joe. He was in the habit of taking his daily meal,
which invariably consisted of two penny loaf, slice
of single Gloster cheese, sometimes ganshed with
onion, and half pint of porter, AT house in Shire
Lane. near Temple Bar. This house was, and had
been from time immemoral. the resort of the wits OF
the day in the early part of the last century These
registers had long made ii their practice 10 bese1 poor
Miller, but fuch was his imper,urhabe immobly,
that he bore al! and every impernence with perfect
good humor This singular forbearance elected their
admiration and inquiries set foot to ascertain
who and what he was, and what his employment was.
His routine OF life had not varied for several years
His person was meagre his dress always thread bare,
hung loosely upon his aenuaed frame yet Joe who
was never known 10 borrow shilling, but TO have
often lent one. The result of the inquiries set on foot
concerning Joe were every way quite satisfactory
They ascertanPd that he had, together with his par
ents, who were from the northern counties, come to
London when Joe about seven years of age
Things had taken adverse turn they TO pow
ery and sickness, and at last died. leaving poor Joe
entirely destitute But the kind hearted neg hbors
looked 10 the poor boy, and. as far as in their power
l, fo.to nj nlI 1ho1h
willing all times to do their errands, and thousand
little services for which he emnently fitted, being
kind love itself in his nature. In this shess kind
of manner the poor fellow lived until he near six
teen-slim hurdle and tall Maypoe. He
found that he must DO something else for livelihood
for that his friends began TO slack off in their willing
ness to serve him. now that nature had transferred
| him into man. Joe had contTived among his asso
ciates to pick up small knowledge of writing and
reading, with smaterng- of arithmetic An old laun
dress who had been of Joe's best friends, got hin
into lawyers office, to try TO do some copying. He
soon became expert and for long time worked earl,
and late, but so mean the remuneration, he coulc
hardly make salt for his porridge. Having thus as
sured themselves by the result Of their inquiries o
Joe's worth, they determined TO assist him by raising
a small annuity for him, and The means employed were
as follows: They formed themselves into sort of lit
erary club, each member binding himself to contribute
periodically laug liable tale or Jest, of which Joe wa
10 be the reputed father. They succeeded in pro
ducing a good sized volume: it was entitled = Ricl
and Racy TESTS, by Joseph Miller, Esq of the lime
Temple London 1t run through three editions tn
first year, and the profits amply sufficient to en-
able his patrons to allow hum the very comfortable
sum of guinea per week. Joe. its being presen
ted 20 him the first week, and told what had bee
done for him, was grateful as his nature permllte
him 10 be: but he, becoming thus independent
made little or no change in his mode OF life. He wa
certainly trhe more respectable in The way of appa
rel, and occasionally INDUCED in meat dinner an
this was the OIL apparent innovation of his econom
ical expenditure. He saved enough TO start
, book stoIe and after time became publisher; ant
singular to tell, he ultimately the publisher of III
- Rich and Racy Jests of Joseph Miller, Esq
Thus did those mad wags in those days indulge in
spirit of mischief. that redounded in the end. TO the
honor and personal benefit, many of them afie
wards experienced, and raised friend in Joe for the
own day of need, for the grateful Joes house an
purse (afer he became wealthy always in III
service of those of his early patrons who had perform
ed the part of the good Samarilan TO himself And,
the sequel shows, Joe actually proved himself W
of The first water, for he secured TO himself forum
: while many OF his bright and intelligent friends hs
been dlssl pating theirs.