The best American humorous short stories, edited, with an introductory note, by Robert N. Linscott.

Includes index.

"First Modern library edition, 1945."

Swallowing the oyster alive / John S. Robb -- How Daddy played hoss / George W. Harris -- The Shakers / Artemus Ward -- Mrs. McWilliams and the lightning ; Journalism in Tennessee / Mark Twain -- Brother Rabbit takes some exercise ; How Brother Rabbit frightened his neighbors ; How Mr. Rooster lost his dinner / Joel Chandler Harris -- Colonel Starbottle for the plaintiff / Bret Harte -- A piece of red calico / Frank R. Stockton -- Mr. Dooley on the game of football / Finley Peter Dunne -- Pigs is pigs / Ellis Parker Butler -- The ransom of Red Chief / O. Henry -- Little gentlemen / Booth Tarkington -- Three without doubled ; Mr. and Mrs. Fix-it / Ring Lardner -- Death of Red Peril / Walter D. Edmonds -- Travel is so broadening / Sinclair Lewis -- The crazy fool ; Mr. and Mrs. Haddock abroad / Donald Ogden Stewart -- Benny and the bird-dogs / Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings -- The Legislature / James M. Cain -- The little hours ; But the one on the right / Dorothy Parker -- The snatching of Bookie Bob / Damon Runyon -- An interesting cure / Frank Sullivan -- Gendarmes and the man / Donald Moffat -- Carnival days in sunny Las Los / Robert Benchley -- The guest / Marc Connelly -- Primrose path Sally Benson -- The secret life of Walter Mitty ; The night the bed fell ; The night the ghost got in ; University days ; The man who hated Moonbaum / James Thurber -- Father and his hard-rocking ship / Clarence Day -- The prince / Ruth McKenney -- Chocolate for the woodwork / Arthur Kober -- The terrible vengence of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N / Leonard G. Ross -- Hand in nub / St. Clair McKelway -- Down with the restoration ; Kitchen Bouquet ; Dental or mental, I say it's spinach / S.J. Perelman.