Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Repartee

by Charles Follen Adams

REPARTEE.

One Mr. B--

A joker he,

While in a jovial mood,

Tried to explain

To neighbor N

A joke which he thought good.

His hearer, Neff,

Was very deaf,

And couldn't catch the joke;

Whereat B smiled,

Though slightly "riled,"

And thus to him he spoke: —

"'Tis plain to me

As A B C,

My dear friend, Mr. Neff!"

"Oh, yes! but then,"

Says Mr. N ,

"You know I'm D E F!"