“Ladies at the same time,” concluded Dick.
“More s’imps! More s’imps! Mate Pina peel!” vociferated the little despot, for whom his mamma could not keep up the supply.
And Pina was called to help; but new hands are awkward at the shrimp peeling business; and as Pina took a minute to peel a delicate morsel that Master Lenny swallowed in a second, he soon called out again:
“More s’imps! more s’imps! Mate Nannan peel too!”
Anna good-naturedly complied. But even with her help the demand continued to be greater than the supply. And the tiny autocrat, looking around and seeing no more female slaves at hand, called out:
“More s’imps! more s’imps! And make Dit peel.”
And Dick obediently sacrificed his periwinkles, and cheerfully betook himself to the service of the liliputian tyrant.
But still the demand exceeded the supply, for these vassals were awkward at the work; so, after glancing dubiously at his venerable relative, Master Leonard sang out lustily:
“More s’imps! more s’imps! And mate Untle Granpa peel!”
And the veteran soldier of hard-won fields, the leader of tens of thousands, smiled submissively and obeyed the baby boy.