"It is very sad," said mother. "Your father, who is the finest
speaker in the country, has been commanded by a worshipful senate and
most honorable civic corporation of the Free City of Hamburg to
appear before the visiting king in full dress, and officiate as
orator of the day at a reception to be tendered his majesty by our
city"--here mother broke down completely, overwhelmed by grief and
wept copiously into her handkerchief.
"Oh, oh," I wailed, "do say it, mamma!"
"And--and your father has no coat!" she sobbed. "Poor man, he fears
disgrace and dreads the loss of preferment and of a royal decoration,
perhaps. He will have to feign sickness as an excuse for his absence;
but I hope he realizes now how degraded and unhappy I must feel with
my last year's gowns and made-over millinery--and your poor sister's
ancient bonnets, I dare not look at them any longer!"
"But papa has a coat," I said, "a royal Prince Albert!"
"True," answered mother, "but it has no swallow's tails!"
"A Prince Albert has no swallow-tails?" I gasped wonderingly; "but it
has great, long tails, surely!"
"Oh, now I see," an idea flashing through my mind; "it has
cock-tails, has it, mamma, and it can't swallow them, can it, mamma?"
"Oh my, oh my!" screamed mother, "you are the funniest little chap to
ask me questions.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150