The Wooden Guns

An artillery regiment of a state militia applied to the Governor for wooden guns to practice with. "Those," they explained, "will be cheaper than real ones."

"It shall not be said that I sacrificed efficiency for economy," replied the Governor. "You shall have real guns."

"Thank you, thank you!" cried the warriors, expressing their gratitude effusively. "We will take good care of them, and in the event of war, we will return them to the arsenal."