“Yes’m.” And off went the hat. “Now, then, as I was saying——”

“Take your hands out of your pockets. No gentleman ever carries his hands there.”

Good Stories from the Ladies’ Home Journal — Part 56

“Yes’m,” and his hands clutched at his coat lapels. “Now, ma’am, this work on eti——”

Good Stories from the Ladies’ Home Journal — Part 56

“Throw out your cud. If a gentleman uses tobacco he is careful not to disgust others by the habit.”

Good Stories from the Ladies’ Home Journal — Part 56

“Yes’m,” and the tobacco disappeared. “Now, ma’am,” as he wiped his brow, “in calling your attention to this valuable——”

“Wait. Put that dirty handkerchief out of sight. I don’t want your book. I am only the hired girl. You can come in, however, and talk with the lady of the house. She called me a liar this morning and I think she needs something of the kind.”

“Speaking of men falling in love and ardently pursuing the object of their affections, you needn’t make fun of any one, John. You were bound to have me, but you can’t say I ever ran after you.”

“Very true, Anastasia, the trap never runs after the rat, but it gathers him in all the same.”

A bashful cowboy, returning from the plains to civilized society after an absence of several years, fell desperately in love at first sight with a pretty young girl whom he met at a party.

On leaving the house that evening the young lady forgot her overshoes, and the hostess, who had noticed the Westerner’s infatuation, told the young Lochinvar that he might return them to the girl if he wished. The herder leaped at the chance and presented himself in due time at the young lady’s house. She greeted him cordially.

“You forgot your overshoes last night,” he said, awkwardly handing her the package.

“Why, there’s only one overshoe here!” she exclaimed, as she thanked him and opened it.

“Yes, Miss,” said he, blushing. “I’ll bring the other one tomorrow. Oh, how I wish that you were a centipede!” And with that he turned and sped away down the street.

Tommy went fishing the other day without his mother’s permission. The next morning one of his chums met him and asked: “Did you catch anything yesterday, Tommy?”

“Not till I got home,” was the rather sad response.

A visitor from New York to the suburbs said to his host during the afternoon:

“By-the-way, your front gate needs repairing. It was all I could do to get it open. You ought to have it trimmed or greased or something.”