And all that a’n’t provided for
Had better go to Texas.
THE PERILOUS PRACTICE OF PUNNING.
Theodore Hook thus cautions young people to resist provocation to the habit of punning:—
My little dears, who learn to read, pray early learn to shun
That very silly thing indeed which people call a pun.
Read Entick’s rules, and ’twill be found how simple an offence
It is to make the self-same sound afford a double sense.
For instance, ale may make you ail, your aunt an ant may kill,
You in a vale may buy a vail, and Bill may pay the bill,