The grouchy fisherman relaxed slightly.
"Oh," he explained, "it wasn't as bad as that. You see, I didn't have any bait on my hook."
* * *
A G. A. R. veteran told to some members of the American Legion the story of a private in the Civil War, who during the first battle of Bull Run found a post hole into which he lowered himself, so that only his eyes were above the level of the ground. An officer, noting this display of cowardice, darted to the spot, and with a threatening gesture of his sword, shouted fiercely, "get out of that hole!"
But the skulker did not come out. On the contrary, he put his thumb to his nose and waggled his fingers insultingly.
"Not on your life," he retorted. "Hunt a hole for yourself. This belongs to me."
* * *
The woman hesitated over buying the silver service.
"Of course," she said, "I take your word for it that it's solid silver, but somehow it doesn't look it."
"A great advantage, ma'am," the shopkeeper declared suavely. "That service can be left right out in plain sight, and no burglar will look at it twice."