[JustAmy]

AUTUMN FAREWELL
by John T. Baker

The brilliant hues surrender one by one,
the first chill hint of early winter comes,
the weary leaves depart, their work all done,
the fields are stark without chrysanthemums.

A warning touch of frost veneers the lawn,
a half-forgotten prospect bleak unfolds;
all signs foretell soon autumn will be gone
without a trace, not even marigolds.

Now nothing grows but seeds of discontent,
the garden plots revert to barren clods;
despondent floral zealots long lament
the hollyhocks, bewail the goldenrods.

But recollection tempers all regrets,
for Spring will come, and so will violets.

[JustAmy]

A man walked into a curio store and was looking around. After awhile, he chose a brass rat and brought it up to the counter.

The proprietor said, that will be $10 for the brass rat and $1,000 for the story behind it. The man said, 'Thanks, but I'll just pay the $10 and pass on the story.'

He purchased the brass rat and left the store. As he was walking down the street, he started noticing all sorts of rats following him. The further he walked -- the more rats followed. He walked down to the wharf and still more rats came out and followed him. So, he decided to walk out into the water, which he did -- and all the rats drowned.

He returned to the store where he purchased the brass rat, and when he walked in, the proprietor said, 'Ah ha! You came back to pay the $1,000 for the story, right?'

'Nope,' replied the man, 'Just came back to see if you have any brass lawyers!'