A very intelligent boy was fortunate enough to be receiving a
far better education than his parents had enjoyed, and his
vocabulary far outstripped theirs.
One day he came home from school and said “Mommy, may I relate to
you a narrative?”
“What’s a narrative, Gerald?” she asked.
“A narrative, Mommy, is a tale.”
“Oh, I see,” said his mother nodding, and Gerald told her his
story. At bedtime as he was about to go upstairs he said, “Shall I
extinguish the light Mommy?”
“What’s extinguish?” she asked.
“Extinguish means to put out, Mommy,” said brainy Gerald
“Oh, I see. Yes, certainly.”
The next day the clergyman came to tea and the family dog began to
make a nuisance of himself, as a dog will, by begging for goodies
from the table.
“Gerald,” said his mother, trying to impress, “take that dog by the
narrative and extinguish him!”