The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 101,
December 12, 1891, by Various

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Title: Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 101, December 12, 1891

Author: Various

Release Date: November 26, 2004 [EBook #14165]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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PUNCH,

OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOL. 101.

December 12, 1891.

LETTERS TO ABSTRACTIONS.

NO. VIII.--TO LAZINESS.

BEST (AND BEST-ABUSED) OF ABSTRACTIONS,

My heart positively warms to you as I write. At this precise moment I
can think of a hundred different things that I ought to be doing. For
instance, I have not written to TOM, who is in the wilds of Canada,
for months. His last letter ended with a pathetic appeal for an
answer.

"Never mind, old chap," he said, "about not having any news. Little
details that you may think too insignificant to relate are bound to
interest me in this deserted spot. I am sure you occasionally meet I
some of our friends of the old days. Tell them I often think of them
and all the fun we used to have together. It all seems like a dream to
me now. Let me know what any of them are doing. I heard six months ago
from a fellow who was touring out here that JACK BUMPUS was married.
If it is really our old JACK, congratulate him, and give him my love.
I don't know his present address. But, whatever you do, write. A
letter from you is like water in the desert."

[Illustration]

When I read that letter I became full of the noblest resolutions. Not
another day should pass, I vowed, before I answered it. So I prepared
a great many sheets of thin note-paper, carefully selected a clean nib
and sat down at my writing-table to begin. As I did so my eyes fell
upon _Martin Chuzzlewit_, which was lying within easy reach. The book
seemed positively to command me to read it for the tenth time. I took
it up, and in another moment _Mrs. Gamp_ had taken possession of
me. My writing-chair was uncomfortable. I transferred myself into an
arm-chair. Is it necessary to add that I did not write