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336 Punch, Brothers, Punch
" I do not think I get your drift, Mark. There does not seem to be any relevancy in what you have said, certainly nothing sad; and yet — maybe it was the way you said the words — I never heard anything that sounded so pathetic. What is—"
But I heard no more. I was already far away with my pitiless, heart-breaking ■' blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare, buff trip slip for a six-cent fare, pink trip slip for a three-cent fare; punch in the presence of the passenjare." I do not know what occurred during the
other nine miles. However, all of a sudden Mr.-------
laid his hand on my shoulder and shouted:
"Oh, wake up! wake up! wake up! Don't sleep all day! Here we are at the Tower, man! I have talked myself deaf and dumb and blind, and never got a response. Just look at this magnificent autumn landscape ! Look at it! look at it! Feast your eyes on it! You have traveled; you have seen boasted landscapes elsewhere. Come, now, deliver an honest opinion. What do you say to this?"
I sighed wearily, and murmured:
"A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare, a pink trip slip for a three-cent fare, punch in the presence of the passenjare."
Rev. Mr.-------stood there, very grave, full of concern, apparently, and looked long at me; then he said:
" Mark, there is something about this that I cannot understand. Those are about the same words you said before; there does not seem to be anything in them, and yet they nearly break my heart when you say them. Punch in the — how is it they go?"
I began at the beginning and repeated all the lines. My friend's face lighted with interest. He said:
" Why, what a captivating jingle it is ! It is almost music. It flows along so nicely. I have nearly caught |
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