THE merriment that followed was subdued -- As though the story-teller's attitude Were dual, in a sense, appealing quite As much to sorrow as to mere delight, According, haply, to the listener's bent Either of sad or merry temperament. -- "And of your two appeals I much prefer The pathos," said "The Noted Traveler," -- "For should I live to twice my present years, I know I could not quite forget the tears That child-eyes bleed, the little palms nailed wide, And quivering soul and body crucified. . . . But, bless them! there are no such children here To-night, thank God! -- Come here to me, my dear!" He said to little Alex, in a tone So winning that the sound of it alone Had drawn a child more loathful to his knee: -- "And, now-sir, @3I'll@1 agree if @3you'll@1 agree, -- @3You@1 tell us all a story, and then @3I@1 Will tell one." @3"But I can't."@1 "Well, can't you @3try?"@1 "Yes, Mister: he @3kin@1 tell @3one@1. Alex, tell The one, you know, 'at you made up so well, About the @3Bear@1. He allus tells that one," Said @3Bud@1, -- "He gits it mixed some 'bout the @3gun@1 An' @3ax@1 the Little Boy had, an' @3apples,@1 too." -- Then Uncle Mart said -- "There, now! that'll do! -- Let @3Alex@1 tell his story his own way!" And Alex, prompted thus, without delay Began. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PICKING AND CHOOSING by MARIANNE MOORE ALIEN WOMEN; SONGKHLA, THAILAND by KAREN SWENSON APRIL'S LAMBS by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES THE CITY AT THE END OF THINGS by ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT by ALEXANDER POPE FELISE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |