"Couldn't help it," answered the Man in the Moon. "You must remember it's not such an easy thing to hit the exact spot you intend to when you jump all the way from the moon. It's almost impossible. I've even heard that an aeroplane has some difficulty in dropping bombs so that they hit the mark."
"Well, I've heard that, too," admitted Yankee Doodle Dandy, "although up to this time Yankeeville has not suffered from any air attacks."
"Well, don't be too sure," answered the Man in the Moon. "I've seen a few things from my moon house that you never even dreamed of."
"Did you never hear the rhyme about the Man in the Moon?" Puss asked, politely.
"No, I never did," said the Man in the Moon.
"What!" exclaimed Puss in surprise.
"The Man in the Moon came tumbling down
And asked the way to Norwich;
He went by the south and burnt his mouth
With eating cold pease porridge."
"Ha, ha!" laughed the Man in the Moon, "you are joking; I'm sure you are," and he turned his footsteps toward the south.
"'He went by the south and burnt his mouth,'" said Puss.
"We can't help it," said Yankee Doodle; "he will go that way."