It is a fact that Mr. Graball has resigned his very lucrative situation,
and that he thus relinquishes a thousand a year—_but_ he has received
another appointment with a salary of fifteen hundred.
It is a fact that Mr. Skinflint put half-a-crown into the plate at the
last charity sermon—_but_ it was a bad one.
It is a fact that the once dissipated and extravagant Mr. Meltall
remained at home every evening last week—_but_ he had no money to go out
with.
It is a fact that the improvident and faithless Mr. Squander took up a
bill for ten pounds—_but_ he gave one for twenty on the previous day, in
order to accomplish the object.
It is a fact that the master of one of the Union Workhouses shed a tear—
_but_ he was standing near the cook who was scraping horse-radish.
It is a fact that Mr. Overhead can place his hand upon his heart, and
declare he does not owe a shilling in the world—_but_ he has just taken
the benefit of the Insolvent Act.
It is a fact that Lord Stingy patronised the performances at Covent
Garden Theatre twice last season—_but_ he went with an order on each
occasion.
It is a fact that the benevolent Mr. Bountiful gave his watch and purse
to a miserable object on Hounslow Heath—_but_ he perceived a stout
bludgeon peeping from beneath the rags of the mendicant.
It is a fact that the coffer-dam of the Hungerford Suspension Bridge was
drained completely dry—_but_ it was full of water a week afterwards.
It is a fact that Oxford Street is at last paved with wood—_but_ the
alteration has caused much annoyance to the heads of the parish.
It is a fact that the Society for the protection of life against fire
were on the spot with their apparatus—_but_ it was two days after the
conflagration had happened.
It is a fact that Mr. Feeling _expresses_ great sympathy for the poor—
_but_ he was never known to _feel_ in his pocket for their relief.
It is a fact that some of the low-priced bakers give full weight—_but_
they are very liberal of alum.