A New Dish
A shoemaker in Dublin, getting on well in the way of business, became proud. One day there were customers in the shop when the shop-boy came in to say that the mistress bid him say dinner was ready. “What’s for dinner, sir?” asked the shoemaker. “Herrings, sir,” answered the boy. “All right,” said the shoemaker, and when he went up to dinner he reprimanded the boy for not mentioning something decent and big, telling the boy always to mention a good feed when there were any people in the shop. A few days afterwards the boy came to say that dinner was ready. “What’s for dinner, sir?” asked the shoemaker. “Fish, sir,” answered the boy. “What sort of fish?” asked the shoemaker. “A whale, sir,” answered the boy.