Give Or Take

A man had fallen between the rails in a subway station. People
were all crowding around trying to get him out before the train
ran him over. They were all shouting.

"Give me your hand!" but the man would not reach up.

Ralph elbowed his way through the crowd and leaned over the man.
"Friend," he asked, "what is your profession?"

"I am an income tax inspector," gasped the man.

"In that case," said Ralph, "take my hand!"

The man immediately grasped Ralph's hand and was hauled to
safety. Ralph turned to the amazed by-standers. "Never ask a
tax man to *give* you anything, you fools."