Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/The Whimsical Mal-entendre

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The Whimsical Mal-Entendre.
A poor simple foreigner, not long ago,Whose knowledge of English was simply so-so,At a shopwindow reading, "Good pickles sold here,"To the shopwoman said, "Vat is pickles, my dear?""Why pickles," says she, "is a sort of a nameLike preserves, and the meaning is nearly the same,For pickling preserves, though not quite the same way,Yet 'tis much the same thing, as a body may say."The foreigner bowed, and gave thanks for his lesson,Which the next day at dinner he made a fine mess on;Eor a loud clap of thunder caused Miss Kitty nervousTo start from her chair, and cry "Mercy preserve usWhile he, keeping closely his lesson in view,Cried "Mercy preserve us and pickle us too."

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