“This wonderful child has created some interest in the medical and scientific world, from the fact that he was thirteen years old when he was born, and kept on growing older and older until he died, at the somewhat advanced age of two hundred and ninety-seven, in consequence of eating too freely of pies and cakes, his favorite food. He measured exactly two feet and seven inches from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, and two feet and ten inches back again. Was first discovered ten miles from any land, and twelve miles from any water, making the enormous total of ninety-one, which figure was never before reached by any previous exhibition. Wind him up, John.”
Dwarf eats very stiffly with a large spoon in his right hand; in his left hand he holds a bowl, which falls on the floor after a moment, and is broken.
“John, get your tools and screw up that dwarfs hand, for it has become so loose that it costs a fortune for the crockery he breaks.”
John screws up the hand, gets a new bowl, and again winds up the figure, which now moves with much greater energy.
vii. The Vocalist.
“Bring out the Vocalist. I now call your attention to the most costly of all my figures. This wonderful automaton singer represents Signorina Squallini, the unrivaled Vocalist, whose notes are current in every market, and sway all hearts, at her own sweet will.
“Wind her up, and let her liquid notes pour forth.”
She gesticulates wildly, and sings a few notes in a very extravagant manner, then stops with a hoarse sound.
Mrs. J.—“John, this figure needs oiling. Why do you not attend to your duties better?”
John gets oil-can, which he applies to each ear of the figure, which strikes a high note, and sings with much expression and many trills, then makes a gurgling sound, as if running down, and suddenly stops again.