Part 23 (2/2)

The Little Peetookle, his teeth he ground At the Mastodon's singular sense of sound; For he felt it a sort of a musical stain On the Rollicking Mastodon over in Spain.

”Alas! and alas! has it come to this pa.s.s?”

Said the Little Peetookle. ”Dear me!

It certainly seems your horrible screams Intended for music must be!”

The Mastodon stopped, his ditty he dropped, And murmured, ”Good morning, my dear!

I never will sing to a sensitive thing That shatters a song with a sneer!”

The Rollicking Mastodon bade him ”adieu.”

Of course 't was a sensible thing to do; For Little Peetookle is spared the strain Of the Rollicking Mastodon over in Spain.

_Arthur Macy_.

THE SILVER QUESTION

The Sun appeared so smug and bright, One day, that I made bold To ask him what he did each night With all his surplus gold.

He flushed uncomfortably red, And would not meet my eye.

”I travel round the world,” he said, ”And travelling rates are high.”

With frigid glance I pierced him through.

He squirmed and changed his tune.

Said he: ”I will be frank with you: I lend it to the Moon.”

”Poor thing! You know she's growing old And hasn't any folk.

She suffers terribly from cold, And half the time she's broke.”

That evening on the beach I lay Behind a lonely dune, And as she rose above the bay I b.u.t.tonholed the Moon.

”Tell me about that gold,” said I.

I saw her features fall.

”You see, it's useless to deny; The Sun has told me all.”

”Sir!” she exclaimed, ”how _can_ you try An honest Moon this way?

As for the gold, I put it by Against a rainy day.”

I smiled and shook my head. ”All right, If you _must_ know,” said she, ”I change it into silver bright Wherewith to tip the Sea.”

”He is so faithful and so good, A most deserving case; If he should leave, I fear it would Be hard to fill his place.”

When asked if they accepted tips, The waves became so rough; I thought of those at sea in s.h.i.+ps, And felt I'd said enough.

For if one virtue I have learned, 'Tis _tact_; so I forbore To press the matter, though I burned To ask one question more.

<script>