“Oh, because I was all naked and had been lying behind a bush ever so long”—
“But, John dear!”
“Nils was so happy over the cakes. He took them home to that sick boy of his.”
“Didn’t you eat any of them yourself?”
“No—I gave them all to Nils; but that stout man pinched my ear pretty hard, I can tell you.”
“Had you done something wrong, John?”
“Well—that was because of the boat-hook, you see; but I asked him to excuse me and we shook hands.”
“Rather an involved story,” thought Mother. But she said: “Well, now you must say your prayers and go to sleep.”
So Johnny Blossom repeated the little prayers he had said every night since he was two years old, and was soon sleeping peacefully.