Judy. No, I won't, (hits him)
Punch. Very well: then now come my turn to teach you. (he snatches at, and struggles with her for the stick, which he wrenches from her, and strikes her with it on the head, while she runs about to different parts of the stage to get out of his way) How you like my teaching, Judy, my pretty dear? (hitting her)
Judy. O pray, Mr. Punch—no more!
Punch. Yes, one littel more lesson, (hits her again) There, there, there! (she falls down, with her head over the platform of the stage; and as he continues to hit at her, she puts up her hand to guard her head) Any more.
Judy. No, no, no more, (lifting up her head)
Punch. (knocking down her head) I thought I should soon make you quiet.
Judy. (again raising her head) No.
Punch. (again knocking it down, and following up his blows until she is lifeless) Now if you're satisfied, I am. (perceiving that she does not move) There, get up, Judy my dear; I won't hit you any more. None of your sham-Abram.[1] This is only your fun. You got the head-ache? Why, you only asleep. Get up, I say! Well then, get down, (tosses the body down with the end of his stick) He, he, he! (laughing) To lose a wife is to get a fortune.[2]- ↑ This is a very old English word; not, however, inserted and explained by the Rev. H. J. Todd. Sham is said to be derived from the Welch, and Abram is from what were formerly called "Abram," or Abraham men," who pretended to be poor and sick, and therefore objects of charity. (See "Dodsley's Old Plays," new edition, vol. 2, page 4, note 2.) To sham-Abram is a term in daily use:
"Sham-Abram you may
In any fair way,
But you must not sham Abraham Newland."
"T. Dibdin's Song."
Bank-notes were formerly signed "Abraham Newland."
- ↑ The English proverb is, "he that loses his wife and sixpence, loses a tester." It is put into the mouth of Sancho, in Act 2 of Durfey's "Don Quixote," Part 1.
