A GRAMMATICAL PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 25 July 1891, Page 212

A GRAMMATICAL PROPOSAL.

Bo rn were young and handsome. Both had only recently graduated—one from a female and the other from a male institution of learning. Both had been silent admirers for over a year. Both were inexperienced in the art of lovemaking, which, although practised by college students, is not taught in colleges. He wanted to propose ; she wanted him to do so. He did not know how to do it; she did not know how to teach him. But the conversation happened upon grammar—nouns and verbs, etc. He saw his opportunity. This is how he improved it and how she snapped at it:— He : ‘ Can you decline “ love ?” ’ She : ‘ I cannot. ’

He : ‘ Can you conjugate ’ She : ‘ Certainly. I love, you ’ He : ‘ Stop. Can you form a conjunction ?’ She: ‘Just ask pa. He is not much of a grammarian, but I’ll go and teach him his lesson.’ Pa was an apt pupil, and in half an hour all the apparenty insurmountable obstacles had been overcome.

‘ Do you think those shoes are worth mending ?’ ‘ Well, yes ; if I sole them, and put new uppers on them. The strings are still good.’