And all the podgy and paunch-bellied fleas, at this lucky discovery of the beautiful hidden meaning of the fusing mass, set up a great asthmatic shout of praise, which contagious example caused the dogs to give out delirious howls of joy, too. For although it would have puzzled the smartest of them to discover the real actualities of the glorious things thus typified, they could see that the typification in the pot was all real and made a very fine show.
Then a herald came forth and proclaimed aloud that the potful was cooked enough, and was about to be solemnly poured out—the grandest libation to Liberty the world had ever seen—and that the Committee of Arrangements had decreed that as an appropriate ceremony, accompanying, all the dogs stand on their heads and kick their hind legs in the air, to signify Freedom and defiance to all the world.
And at a signal the great ladleful was tipped over, and the white hot stream ran into a great mould; the fleas shouted “Te Deum,” and fell down in as flat adoration as their rotund carcases allowed, the salaried barkers shed from their closed eyes great salt drops of ecstasy; the dogs stood on their heads and flourished their hind legs, and the Great Many Headed Gee Whizz stepped forth and announced that Liberty, glorious, heaven-born Liberty, had put on her metallic petticoat.
Now, some of the dogs who were so weak that they could not, and a few who were dull of comprehension and said they did not see the connection between standing on their heads and Liberty, objected to reverse themselves. Whereupon the police dogs drew their williamsticks and belabored them therewith, saying this was Liberty Day, and the beautiful show was not agoing to be spoilt by a lot of pesky dogs doing as they liked. They had got to stand on their heads and flourish; them was the orders, and, by Hokey, any dog that refused that day to honor Liberty, Freedom and Independence, was agoing to be made to; and what did they mean by refusing to be free, like everybody else?
And when those dogs replied that a Liberty that did not allow them to stand on their feet in a natural manner was tyranny, the police dogs smote them a smite on the jaw, and told them to shut up and do like the others; and on their refusal, they clubbed them out of the crowd, which hissed condemnation of their offence.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
More Liberty Bell.—Liberty Earth.—Liberty Tree.—Liberty Rope.—Liberty Tinklers.—Glorious End of Liberty.
