Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-09
The Curate's Joke.

And think I'VE may call it a practi.
cN joke, ono OF the keenest. I tell Il
ab it was told TO ME by an old gentleman
Who claimed To- have known the parties
and who received his information az
the inn where; the incident occurred.
The bishop of Norton was, on q Ger.
tain occasion, making O tour to visit
his diocese, and, the weather being ex.
tremely sultry, and somewhat hot with.
al, he caused his carriage to be stopped
by the roadside, in a bit of woods.
while he got out and sat down upon a
messy bank to enjoy the refreshing
shade. While he sat there a poor Gu.
rate, employed in one of his parishes.
CHANGED to pass, mounted upon sorry
but serviceable beast. when the bishop
hailed him, and asked whittier he was
going.
"To Farnham, worshipful SIR"
"Then. good man, 1 wish you would
pull mp ut the first respectable inn you
come to, and ordsr the landlord to pro.
vide for me good dinner"
Will your grace dine alone ?" asked
the curate, with eager expectation in
look and tone.
"Of course will. I have no tray-
cling companions"
The poor curate bowed obsequiously.
and said he would perform the mission,
But he dill not like the manner in
which he had been treated. Here was
wealthy bishop on the road alone,
sending him, poor and hungry, to or
der a dinner of which he was not
thought worthy to partake. He was q
man of ready wit, and he was deter
mined to be revenged. He went his
way, and when he had reached the inn
he went ia and babe the landlord to
prepare the best dinner his house could
afford for a distinguished party that
would ere long arrive. Said he: Al
There is his grace the Bishop Of
Norton, the Dean of Salisbury, the
Probendary Of Winchester, the Vicar of
Kirton, the President of the College of
Wetherby,-" and he went on and
named twelve grand magnates who
would grace his board. Of course the
landlord bestirred himself.
BY and by the prelate arrived, and
upon glancing into the dining room he
was surprised by the great preparations;
but what was his establishment when,
on entering the room, he found that
wondrous bill of fare prepared for his
own party! He called for the landlord,
and demanded to know what it all
meant.
"Why, your grace" answered Boni-
rate Of Farnham gave me your order to
prepare o dinner as good as my house
could afford, for twelve distinguished
persons"
odd he tell you twelve?"
"Not exactly SO, cir; but he gave
me their names. He said, there was
the Bishop of Norton"
Aye said the bishop. "that's my
"And he said, the Dean of Sails
bury"
"Yes, land am Dean of Salisbury"
"And the Prebendary of Winches-
ter"
"That's myself again."
"And the Vicar of Kirton--"
q" Yes, yes-I must answer to ,thss
title" IY0
"And. the President Of the, College
Of"
"Stop! stop!-I know them ALL The
rascal! Where is he?"
"Do you mean the curate?"
eyes. Thank fortune, am not Gu
rate of Farnham. Bring him in here"
The landlord went out, and soon re-
turned, followed by the curate.
"Here, you false knave! For the
trick you have served me you shall help
me eat this dinner; and If find you
lacking in stomach, I'll turn You out
from your living!"
The bishop, when once unbent, could
be as jolly rs anybody; and as the GU.
rate was man of keen wit and sound
sense, and as his capacity of stomach
was ample for the duty imposed, they
made merry time Of it.-N. Y. Lsd1-
er.