The Whetstone

The Whetstone

Here is a whetstone, used, as you know, to sharpen scythes. In the olden times they used to present a whetstone to a man who was reputed a great liar. "Why?" say you. It was supposed that he must have used his wits so much in the last lie he told, that they would require sharpening up a little. May we always keep to the truth, and never want a whetstone for our wits.

Whetstone and Scythe.

I never heard but one lie that I liked. "Now, Pat," said a man of very doubtful character, to an Irishman, "if you can tell me the very biggest lie you ever told in your life, I'll give you sixpence." "Sir," replied Pat, "you're a gentleman and a Christian!" I think that this whetstone is very like Mr. Rogers. The scythes that come into the College often get blunt, because they have a deal of mowing to do; and I like to hear Mr. Rogers sharpening them up. Tink-a-tink, tink-a-tink: you know the sound of the scythe against the stone.