Anxious To Oblige

From Judge: A 'mirnber of ladies were standing nofc long since in the hall of a hotel in New York. They were all Boston women, but the fifth (who came down stairs) was from the west. She said, "Mrs. M- , will you kindly let me pasa?" "Certainly," replied Mrs. M- , "on condition that you will pronounce P-a-s-s as we do in Boston." "That would be impossible," replied the western woman in perfect good humor, "but you are too many for me Robert will have to be my Champion " Turning to the tall darkey whose place was at the door, she said, "Robert, do you think you could pronounce p-a-s-s as these Boston ladies do?" "Yes'm- yes'm. I reckon I could if I was told to, but " he hesitáted in his desire to please both parties. "Yes'm, I reckon I could- but it would be powerful unhandy."