“And now, children,” said the family story-teller in conclusion, “stand around—little and big, old and young—while I show you the beautiful, graphic, and animated drawings which the barrel-man made himself on the very day that the barn came down from Jorullo.”
THE FOURTEEN HUNGRY MEN SIT AROUND THE TABLE; AND SOPHRONY SAYS, “TEA, OR COFFEE, SIR?”
A POTATO STORY WHICH BEGINS WITH A BEAN-POLE.
The family story-teller, being asked to tell one of his “ten-minute” stories, said, “If it will content you, I will tell you a Potato story which begins with a Bean-Pole.
“Once there was a Bean-Pole which was stuck into the ground by the side of a Potato-Hill.
“‘Dear me!’ cried a young Cabbage, growing near, ‘what a stiff, poky thing that is! and of no earthly use, standing there doing nothing.’
“But very soon a Scarlet-Bean, running about in search of something to climb upon, found this same Bean-Pole.
“‘All right!’ cried the happy little Bean. ‘You are the very thing I want. Now I’ll begin my summer’s work.’