Calvin went to Pearson’s Pet Shop to

complain that his canary wouldn’t sing.

“File the beak just
a little,” said the owner, “and the bird will
sing. But if you file
it too much, the canary will die.”

Two weeks later Pearson ran
into Calvin on the street and asked about
his canary.

“He
died,” said Calvin.

“But I told you not to file the beak too
much.”

“I didn’t,” explained Calvin, “but by the time I got him
out of the
vise, he was already dead.”