Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-13

before he recollected that he could swim. -
New York paper gives the following story
L u. tration of the absent-mindedness of
the great jonathan Edwards. When out rid
ing one day. little boy very respectfully
bowed and opened the gate for MIN. Whose
boy are you, my little man Z he asked.
Noah Clark's boy, sir, was the answer. On
the return OF Edwards, the same boy appear
ed and opened the gate for him. He thanked
the little fellow, and again asked, Whose
boy are vou." Noah Clark 5, sir the same
mans boy | was Il quarter OF an hour ago,
sir"
Some blunders arise from misapprehension.
A bishop of Oxford sent round to the church.
wardens in his diocese a circular ofinquiries,
including the question docs your otlicia-
ting clergyman preach the gospel, and is his
conversation and carriage consistent there
with 2" The church-warden of Wallingtori
replied He breaches the gospel, but does
not keep carriage"
\ doctor. who had one day allowed himself
to drink too much, was sent for, to see a fash
ionable lady VINO was ailing. lie sat down
by the bedside, took out his watch, and be-
gan to count her pulse as well as his Obiusca-
ted condition would permit lie counted
lone, two, three = then he got confused,
and began again lone, two three : then
IG hbl anu abhih tHts
two, three. four" Still confused, he began
again Zone, two" No he could not do
it. Thoroughly ashamed of himself, he shut
up his witch, muttering "Iiosy, | declare
-tipsy :" Staggering to his f.y;, he told the
lady to keep her bed and take some hot lem
onade, to throw her into perspiration and
he would see her the next day. In the morn
ing he received the following note from the
lady. marked Private =
''DEAR DocroR, were right. dare
not deny it. But am thoroughly ashamed
of myself, and will be more careful for the
future. Please accept the inclosed fee for
your visit Ia ten-pound note). 'and do not,
entreat of you, breathe n word about the
state il: which you found me"
The lady, in fact had herself been drinking
too much, and. catching the doctors muir
INJURED words, thought they referred to her.
He was too far gone to see what was the mat
ter with his patient and she was too far gone
to observe that the doctor was i'll the same
The Rev. Mr.. MDougall of Paisley used
to tell the following story One day he was
taking simple friend from the country to
see Gartnavel but passing the Exchange on
their to the Asylum, he took him to the door
TO look IN. The man, who thought they hnd
got TO their destination, stood behind Mr..
MDougall. and staring eagerly over his shoul-
der at the merchants stepping up and down,
and gathering in eager groups, exclaimed
with surprise not unmingled with awe list
safe man they're a loose -
There are some good stories about mis-
takes as 20 person, and with two specimens
of this class of blunders We will close our
paper 1t is said that William ". was once !
kept waiting outside certain part of Wind |
sor Castle, owing to private entrance being
that evening in charge of substitute, who
did not know the king in his plsn clothes
"lOu cant ras-, old un,' said the man
cheeriully. No ono is allowed t. pass here
after dark, except the king and the lamp
lighter"
4 mutual mistake WAS once rlaj5 bv Lord !
Guiliord, and lady OF quality in the house
of Lord Melville. There was dinner partv.
at which Lord Seaforlh was to be present.
As Seaiorth was deaf and dumb. Lady Mel
vile, before the company arrived sent lady
friend vino WAS familiar with the dumb alpha
bet into the drawing room to be ready against
his lordships arrival. 1t happened, however,
that Lord Guitord was the first to make his
appearance ; and the lady, taking him for
Lord Seatorth, began TO sign to him nimbly
with her fingers; His lordship happening to
he an adept III the deaf and dumb alphabet
replied in the same way &; and so they went
on talking i'll this noiseless manner on their
fingers till Lady Melville entered, when her
friend said aloud :: well, | have been talk
ing my best to this dumb man - Dumb
cried Lord Gulltord, in unteigred surprise ;
why, my good lady, | thought yop were
dumb -