The Typographer and the Dingbat

One fine evening a strolling man heard an exclamation for help from the bottom of a deep well.  "What's the matter?" he called down.

"I am a typographer," came the reply.  "I was taking a slash, dropped my dagger, and descended into this grave."

"Calm down, dear sir, or you'll have a stroke," said the man.

"One moment, please!" called the typographer.  "It's not a stroke; it's a virgule!"

"In that case, I'll go for a long dash," said the man.

"Ellipsis, you dingbat!" cried the typographer, but the man was long gone, and for good.

(We were inspired by a Sufi tale told by Rumi, as collected in Tales of the Dervishes by Idries Shah.  Our retelling is dedicated to Paul Dean.)