First Traveller. “Man!—that’s a pety!—ye’ve gr-r-raund accaummodation for’t!”
Mr. Boswell. Sir, if I do not trouble you, will you explain to me why Her Majesty should avoid Edinburgh at Christmas time?
Dr. Johnson. Why, sir, the very branches put up in honour of the festive season would treat her with disrespect!
Mr. Boswell. Indeed, sir!
Dr. Johnson. Sir, if Her Most Gracious Majesty visited Edinburgh at Christmas time, would she not find Holly-rood?
Mr. Boswell. Another pun, sir!
“It was another pun, sir!” cried the Doctor, very wrathfully, and I said no more.
The next day we visited Stirling. We walked up to the Castle, and admired the magnificent view we there obtained of the surrounding country. We next examined the ramparts.
“These old walls, sir,” said I, “must weigh many thousand tons avoirdupois.”
“Sir,” replied the Doctor, “you should have said pounds Stirling!”