Black Beetles in Amber - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 16

THE SPIRIT OF A SPONGE

I dreamed one night that Stephen Massett died,And for admission up at Heaven applied."Who are you?" asked St. Peter. Massett said:"Jeems Pipes, of Pipesville." Peter bowed his head,Opened the gates and said: "I'm glad to know you,And wish we'd something better, sir, to show you.""Don't mention it," said Stephen, looking bland,And was about to enter, hat in hand,When from a cloud below such fumes aroseAs tickled tenderly his conscious nose.He paused, replaced his hat upon his head,Turned back and to the saintly warden said,O'er his already sprouting wings: "I swearI smell some broiling going on down there!"So Massett's paunch, attracted by the smell,Followed his nose and found a place in Hell.