Page 23 - Graveyard

G r av e y ar d H u m o r | 21

12. On John So.

The following lines were some years ago found among the papers of an old
man of the name of John So, who passed the greater part of his life in
obscurity, within a few miles of Port Glasgow; and the handwriting leads
to the conclusion that it was written by himself:—

So died John So,
So so did he so?
So did he live,
And so did he die;
So so did he so?
And so let him lie.

13. On the Provost of Dundee.

Some years since a Mr. Dickson, who was provost of Dundee, in Scotland,
died, and by will left the sum of one guinea to a person to compose an
epitaph upon him; which sum he directed his three executors to pay. The
executors, thinking to defraud the poet, agreed to meet and share the
guinea amongst them, each contributing a line to the epitaph, which ran as
follows:—

First.—Here lies Dickson, Provost of Dundee.
Second.—Here lies Dickson, Here lies he.

The third was put to it for a long time, but unwilling to lose his share of the
guinea, vociferously bawled out:—

Hallelujah—halleluje.

14. From Marnhull Churchyard:—

Remember me as you pass by;
As you are now so once was I.
As I am now, so you must be,
Therefore prepare to follow me.