“Oh, dat war a tame tu’key all right,” was Uncle Ephraim’s reiterated rejoinder, “but de fac’ is, boss, I’s gwine to tell yer in confidence, dat dem ’ere shot was intended for me.”
BOOMERANG STORIES
During the Civil War a German cavalryman, Hans von Gelder by name, on coming into camp saw at a distance a squad of men who were apparently greatly interested or excited about something.
“Vat’s der matter oud dere?” asked Hans.
“Shelling,” was the laconic answer.
“Shellin’? Who was giffin’ us fits now? Whose gommand is makin’ dot shellin’?”
“It’s General R——’s command shelling corn for the horses.” When Hans finally grasped the idea, he laughed long and loud and determined to make some one else the victim of the jest. Upon returning to his tent he wakened his sleeping comrade and exclaimed:
“Say, I haf got von goot shoke.”
“You couldn’t get off a joke, Hans, to save your soul.”
“Vell, now, you ask me vat dem fellers are doin’ ofer dere, undt I vill tell you dot shoke.”