"Very well," said the Colonel, "make it a tenner."

"With pleasure," was the rejoinder. "The bet is that I can't name a
single thing which has not either increased in price or decreased in
quality since the War?"

"Yes," said the Colonel.

We all sat up and waited, as though for the maroons in the old, old
days.

"Well," said the meek voice, "the cost of pulling a communication cord
is I still five pounds, and you can have just as good a pull as ever."

* * * * *

ON THE SAFE SIDE.

"Why, what's this, Ben, they're telling me?--
Eighty and going to get a wife!
Gaffer, I thought you'd surely be
A snug old bachelor for life."

"Well, Sur, ye see I allus meant
To take ole Martha some fine day;
But 'wed in haste and then repent'
I heer'd as many folks did say.

"But now, thinks I, there's sure no fear