Put crape upon the door,
Or hint to John that I am gone
To stay a month or more.
I do not tremble when I meet
The stoutest of my foes,
But Heaven defend me from the friend
Who never, never goes!
Henry Wheeler Shaw, creator of the character of Josh Billings, was a philosopher and essayist as well as a funny man.
Doubtless his work has lived largely because of its amusing misspelling, but there is much wisdom to be found in his wit.
The following essays are given only in part.