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THE SHIRT COLLAR

HERE was once upon a time a stylish gentleman whose only goods and chattels were a boot-jack and a comb; but he had the finest shirt collar in the world, and it is about this collar I am now going to tell you a story. The collar was now old enough to think about getting married, and then it happened that he and a garter met one day in the same wash-tub.

"Well," said the collar, "I have never seen any one so slender and elegant, so soft and neat, before. May I be permitted to ask your name?"

"I shall not tell you," said the garter.

"Where do you come from?" asked the collar.

But the garter was very shy, and thought it was a very strange question.

"You are a waistband, I presume," said the collar; "a kind of inside waistband. I can see you are both useful and ornamental, my little lady."

"You mustn't speak to me," said the garter; "I do not think I have given you any encouragement."

"Oh, when one is as beautiful as you," said the collar, "that is encouragement enough."

"Don't come so near to me said the garter. "You look so masculine."

"Yes, I am quite a gentleman," said the collar. "I possess a boot-jack and a comb" (which, of course, was not true, as they belonged to his master; but he was very fond of boasting).

"Do not come near me," said the garter; "I am not used to it."

"What a prude!" said the collar, just as he was being taken out of the wash-tub. He was next starched and hung across the chair in the sunshine,

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