Old Jack Ringbolt
Had been spinning old Mrs. Tartaremetic any quantity of salty yarns; she
was quite surprised at Mr. Ringbolt's ups and downs, trials, travels and
tribulations. Honest Jack (!) had assured the old dame that he had
sailed over many and many cities, all under water, and whose roofs and
chimneys, with the sign-boards on the stores, were still quite visible.
He had seen Lot's wife, or the pillar of salt she finally was frozen
into!
"And did you see that--Lot's wife?" asked the old lady.
"Yes, marm; but 'tain't there now--the cattle got afoul of the pillar of
salt one day, and licked it all up!"
"Good gracious! Mr. Ringbolt!"
"Fact, marm; I see'd 'em at it, and tried to skeer 'em away."
"Well, Mr. Ringbolt, you've seen so much, and been around so, I'd think
you would want to settle down, and take a wife!"