Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
JBSTER JAMES.

NO. OF THE NEW SERIES OF 'BAB BAL
LADS" BY W. s. GILBERT
In all the merry land that spreads from Humber to
You couldn't find Jester who could rival Jester
His ante Jokes were modelled on severely classic
And all g qups passed muster at the strictest Ia
More in tia ed actors like this fascinating roo,,e.
His corlic songs eajoyed a most extraordinary
And no ore laughed so heartily at this engaging
As Lady Isabel. betrothed to Hugh de Barbican.
Now. GOOD Sir Hugh." said Isabel. IF fond of me
Engas ssa merry fellow, for he hugely pleassth
And good SIR Hue,, de Barbican ENGAGED him. i.
To poke his fun a. any one for seven certain years
For half year or theTeabouts he did extremely
His GT pa ps remarks oon'used Sir Hugh and Lady
Ard crowds droprei in each afternoon to hear his
Including P-rson,ges of the v-ry H CHEST Rink
But, alb. there came a day when i. patent to Sir
That James had uttered nearly all the decent jests
He dclel them ont at Intervals, and much impaired
By dwelling ON their merits at unnecessary length
His qgirs grew very feeble and his runs fel at ant
His Riddles were easy you could do them on your
And though his imitati ons were by far the best Of
Yet even limitations all day long, are apt to pail
Poor Letter James grew anxious when he foand he
And VIII: n they guessed his riddles (Which they dil
with perfect easel
He used to groan and weep, and beat his bosom with
Which isn't what you look for in private humorist
At length got to such pitch that thus outspake
The ractice of your calling seems to give you pain
I'll caneel your agreement Go to Margate. and re
Said James. "a kinder offer have never never
But bargain is bargain: I'm Jester of my word
I've signed bond by which undertake to furnish
With seven years of merriment, and will do it
The wretched knight he writhed beneath the dismal
And much as Lady Isabel loved Hugh de Barbican.
10 marry a1i,ya nun she firmly but respectfully. de
Unless his Jester altered for the better or xned
At last Sir Hugh took heart and said: 'I've borne
Your Jokes are much too weak, except when they
Be of and don't come back you'll have no reason
For I'll sadly pay your wages but you dom. joke
But James, though dull, was proud and scorned the
- bread of idIeness:
My contract is for seven years-no more and moth
II you have rights why sohave 1. know what I'm
And must insist on joking till the seven years are
out"
Sir Hugh gave in and tried another plan tor he was
He Ient his nights inventing decent Jokes for
And each day at James's breakfast. with his rolls
Came batch Of blameless riddles and of inoffen-
siye puns.
For instance, Hugh would bid him Sit his head be
~ ,r tween his his feet, ., ..,,. ,o., and.
On which shout of merriment would echo through
Which must have been goodnature. for the joke
was very small.
And sometimes James was told to climb venerable
That he might say, I'm up a tree"-an irritating
But stu his audience pleasant smile upon
For they saw the Dawn of Reason in these gruesome
little quips
One day James had to tumble down a well and break
To warrant him in saying, Better far let well
That he wouldn't hear of meddling with that well ct
James persevered Let well alone" necessarily to
Ut was the cue for good Sir Hugh to go and pun
him out).
He cried, LET well alone-let well alone!" as he was
bid:
But Sir Hugh he only answered. $50 wiil!"-and
SO he did.
Loud rang the merry castle bells from battemented
walls
And gayiy hummed the wassail in those proud an
cestral halls:
And merry were the nuptials of Sir Hugh and Isa-
bel,
For no one ever thought of interfering with that
well.