“How comes it, then, that a big, strong fellow like you is not in the firing line?” asked the visitor.
“Vell, sir, it’s like this,” replied the knight of the napkin, pointing to a brother waiter a few tables off; “you see that man? Vell, he’s a Serb, and we have vat you call paired.”
CAUSE FOR HOME-SICKNESS
The recruit walked into the barrack-room and inadvertently left the door open. An old soldier immediately yelled:—
“Shut the door, you fool! Where were you born—in a barn?”
The youngster closed the door, then, dropping down on his cot, buried his face in his hands and began to weep. The old soldier looked somewhat uncomfortable, and, rising, finally walked over to the weeper and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Look here, boy,” he said, “I didn’t intend to hurt your feelings. I just wanted the door closed.”
The weeper raised his head and grinned.
“Comrade,” he said, “I’m not crying because you hurt my feelings; but because you asked me if I was born in a barn. I was, and every time I hear an ass bray it makes me feel home-sick.”