ng intricate lines on a
map of the State, and being weary sought repose in a game of poker. At
the close of the game the six Republican members were bankrupt and the
single Democrat had all the money. On the next day, when the Committee
was called to order for business, one of the luckless six mounted his
legs, and said:

"Mr. Chairman, before we bend to our noble task of purifying politics, in
the interest of good government I wish to say a word of the untoward
events of last evening. If my memory serves me the disasters which
overtook the Majority of this honourable body always befell when it was
the Minority's deal. It is my solemn conviction, Mr. Chairman, and to
its affirmation I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honour, that
that wicked and unscrupulous Minority redistricted the cards!"

The Sportsman and the Squirrel

A Sportsman who had wounded a Squirrel, which was making desperate
efforts to drag itself away, ran after it with a stick, exclaiming:

"Poor thing! I will put it out of its misery."

At that moment the Squirrels stopped from exhaustion, and looking up at
its enemy, said:

"I don't venture to doubt the sincerity of your compassion, though it
comes rather late, but you seem to lack the faculty of observation. Do
you not perceive by my actions that the dearest wish of my heart is to
continue in my misery?"

At this exposure of his hypocrisy, the Sportsman was so overcome with
shame and remorse that he would not strike the Squirrel, but pointing it
out to his dog, walked thoughtfully away.

The Fogy and the Sheik

A Fogy who lived in a cave near a great caravan route returned to his
home one day and saw, near by, a great concourse of men and animals, and
in their midst a tower, at the foot of which something with wheels smoked
and panted like an exhausted horse. He sought the Sheik of the Outfit.

"What sin art thou committing now, O son of a Christian dog?" said the
Fogy, with a truly Oriental politeness.

"Boring for water, you black-and-tan galoot!" replied the Sheik of the
Outfit, with that ready repartee which distinguishes the Unbeliever.

"Knowest thou not, thou whelp of darkness and father of disordered
livers," cried the Fogy, "that water will cause grass to spring up here,
and trees, and possibly even flowers? Knowest thou not, that thou art,
in truth, producing an oasis?"

"And don't you know," said the Sheik of the Outfit, "that caravans will