Fantastic Fables

Meeting a fat and patriotic Statesman on his way to Washington to beseech the President for an office, an idle Tramp accosted him and begged twenty-five cents with which to buy a suit of clothes.

“Melancholy wreck,” said the Statesman, “what brought you to this state of degradation?  Liquor, I suppose.”

“I am temperate to the verge of absurdity,” replied the Tramp.  “My foible was patriotism; I was ruined by the baneful habit of trying to serve my country.  What ruined you?”

“Indolence.”