A gentleman in America, riding in an eastern railroad car, which was rather sparsely supplied with passengers, observed, in a seat before him, a lean, slab-sided Yankee; every feature of his face seemed to ask a question, and a little circumstance soon proved that he possessed a more “inquiring mind.” Before him, occupying an entire seat, sat a lady dressed in deep black, and after shifting his position several times, and manœuvring to get an opportunity to look into her face, he at length caught her eye.
“In affliction?”
“Yes, sir,” responded the lady.
“Parent?—father or mother?”
“Child, perhaps?—a boy or a girl?”
“No, sir, not a child; I have no children.”
“Husband, then, I expect?”
“Yes,” was the curt answer.
“Hum! cholery? A tradin’ man may be?”