THE TESTER CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2479, 3 May 1909, Page 3

THE TESTER CONDEMNED TO DEATH.

One of the kings of Scanderoon, A royal jester Had in his train, a gross buffoon, Who used to pester The court with tricks inopportune, Venting on the highest folks his Scurvy pleasantries and hoaxes. It needs some sense to play i\e fool, \\ Inch wholesole rule Occurr'd not to our jackanapes. Who consequently found his freaks Lead to innumerable scrapes, And quite as many kicks and tweaks. Which only seemed to make him faster Try the patience of his master. Some sin, at last, beyond all measure Incurr’d the desperate displeasure Of his serene and raging highness ; Whether he twitch’d his most revered And sacred beard, Or had intruded on the shyness Of the seraglio, or let fly An epigram at royalty, None knows; —his sin was an occult one; But records tell us that the sultan, Meaning to terrify the knave, Exclaim’d —“ 'Tis time to stop that breath, Thy doom is seal'd, presumptous slave! Thou stand’st condemn’d to certain death. Silence, base rebel!—no replying !~- But such is my indulgence still Out of my own free grace and will I leave to thee the mode of dying." “Thy royal will be done—'’tis jus*," Replied the wretch, and kiss'd the dust ; “ Since, my last moments to assuage, Your majesty’s humane decree Has deign’d to leave the choice to me, “ I’ll die, so please you, ot old age!"

“Mrs. Snithem,” said the dentist, severely, " I have pulled teeth for a great manj patients, but I never heard one holler as you do." “ Perhaps it was a holler tooth," suggested the poor woman, meekly.