The Foolish Dictionary

Chapter 19

=NOTE= (=PROMISSORY=) "The substance of things long hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

=NOVEL= A fabric that is often (k)nit in print, though the yarn be well spun.

=NURSE=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

One who keeps setting up the drinks after you"re all in.

Out of the frying-pan into the face--Mothers" doughnuts.

O

Many hands make light work--also a good Jackpot.

=OAR=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A popular device for catching crabs.

=OATS= England"s horse-feed, America"s breakfast and Scotland"s table-d"hote.

=OATH= A form of speech that has many trials in court, but is never tried in Sunday School.

=OBESITY=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A surplus gone to waist.

=OCEAN= An old toper who is always soaked, has many a hard night along the coast, floats many a schooner, lashes himself into a fury because so frequently crossed, and has his barks in every port. At sea, the king of the elements; on sh.o.r.e, a mere surf.

=OLEOMARGARINE= The White Bread"s Burden. From Eng. _olio_, a mixture, and Grk. _margino_, to be furious. A furious mixture.

=OMNIBUS= A test for Patience, still popular in England. From Grk.

_oneiros_, dream, and _baino_, to go or move. A dream of motion.

=ONION= The all-round strength champion of the Vegetable Kingdom, garlic and cabbage being close rivals.

=OPERA= A drama that has taken on airs and refuses to speak, yet always sings its own praises. =GRAND OPERA= An excuse for displaying several boxes of jewelry and peaches with pedigrees.

=OPINION= The prodigal son of Thought. =PUBLIC OPINION= The world"s champion pugilist, who has knocked out Law in many a hard fought bout.

=OPIUM= The real author of "The Dream Book."

=OPTIMISM= A cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea-kettle to sing though in hot water up to its nose.

=ORCHARD= The small boy"s Eden of today, in which the apple again occasions the fall.

=OSTRICH= The largest and heaviest bird on earth, yet rated by his owners only as a featherweight.

=OUTSKIRTS= The only garments which clothe many a metropolis with decency.

=OVEN= The only sport who enjoys an equally hot time with or without the dough.