“Broken nose and crooked eyes,
Broken heart and mournful sighs,—
Life’s a jest for a’ that.”
“No, it isn’t; not to me,” answered the little Marionette very sadly.
“It will be, by and by,” he said cheerfully.
“No; not to me,” she repeated.
The Clown looked at her with sympathy.
“Shall I tell you a good story?” he asked. “Quite one of my best?”
“You are very kind,” said the little Marionette. “I think, though, I would rather hear it another time, if you do not mind.”
“Not at all,” answered the Clown as he danced away, jingling his bells as he went. “I don’t mind, I’m not easily hurt. But take my advice, if the situation is not a jest in itself make a jest dove-tail into the situation. Good-bye, my little friend. Cheer up.”
