And they promised her to be always kind and good to their little companions, and make the very best use of their time—as Philip Wiseman did at last—and to “practise true politeness” everywhere, and towards everybody, like Beppo and his friends.
After Aunt Fanny went away, the children were so anxious to impress upon her mind the serious importance of having the first volume of Pop-guns printed immediately, that they called a mass meeting in the corner, before they bid their parents good-night.
“I say,” said Fred, “let’s write one of those things papa reads out of the paper, when any great man dies, beginning with, ‘Whereas,’ and going on with a whole lot of ‘resolves’ full of compliments.”
“But I don’t want Aunt Fanny to die,” cried little Bob, beginning to rub his eyes.
“Oh no! She isn’t going to die. But we don’t want her to burn up our Pop-guns,” explained Lou, kindly.
“Oh!” said Bob, and looked quite comforted.
So Fred got a sheet of paper, and filling a pen very full of ink, for fear it might dry up before he got it to the paper, he began to write; and by dint of breathing very hard, and bouncing up and down in his chair after finishing every sentence, he soon completed this elegant set of resolutions:—
“Whereas, As we are afraid Aunt Fanny may burn up Pop-guns, which, would be awful; and