The Gouty Shoe


JAMES SMITH used to tell, with great glee, a story showing the general

conviction of his dislike to ruralities. He was sitting in the library

at a country-house, when a gentleman proposed a quiet stroll in the

pleasure-grounds:--



Stroll! why, don't you see my gouty shoe?



Yes, I see that plain enough, and I wish I'd brought one too; but they

are all out now.



Well, and what then?



What then? why, my dear fellow, you don't mean to say that you have

really got the gout? I thought you had only put on that shoe to get off

being shown over the improvements.



More

;