"Now that's a good motto, aunty, but you see I can't pack the drum, and so it won't suit very well to say 'drums beat,'—will it?"
"There must be plenty of drums there, and perhaps Fani has one," said his aunt. "And I'm sure the motto is a very good one. However, let me hear the second. I've forgotten just how it goes."
"'Come to our Festival! come all!
Come from Switzerland!
Conductor, let your tickets fall!
And, fireman, stay your hand!
You who make boots, or who brew beer,
You one and all are welcome here.'
"Don't you think that is, after all, better than the other, aunty?"
"Yes, it is certainly very good, but it is too long. It would take Elsli such a time to embroider it."
"That settles it, then," said Oscar, well pleased that his aunt found a decisive reason for rejecting another. "Now, then, for the last, short and energetic:—
"'Freedom we shout! Freedom for all!
Freedom for ever and aye!
We will not yield till all chains fall,
And tyrants are banished or die!'
"Do you hear that, aunty?"
"Yes, my dear, I can't help hearing it, and it's very spirited, but it doesn't mean anything. I don't know of any 'tyrants' that need to be banished or die, do you? It isn't to be thought of. Take the first, or, if you don't like that, choose another from the list."
But Oscar was obstinate. The first he wouldn't have, and he must somehow or other bring his aunt over to accept this one.