"New" from A.A. Milne

The Guardian offers up an excerpt from A.A. Milne's The Sunny Side, "a long-forgotten collection of short stories and sketches for grown-ups ."

The piece begins: "Now that the "festive season" (copyright) is approaching, it behooves us all to prepare ourselves in some way to contribute to the gaiety of the Christmas house-party." Intriguing "tricks" follow, including "holding the lemon," "the illusory egg" (my favorite), "the mysterious pudding," and "the three questions."

For a good laugh (especially if the holiday season is already seeming a bit long), give it a read.