53

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN AN AUTHOR AND HIS FRIEND

Author. Come; your opinion of my manuscript!

Friend. Dear Joe! I would almost as soon be whipt.

Author. But I will have it!

Friend. If it must be had--(hesitating) You write so ill, I scarce could read the hand--

Author. A mere evasion!

Friend. And you spell so bad, That what I read I could not understand.