"The very same," said Mollie. "He was born right here in this town."
"Humph!" ejaculated the Unwiseman. "Queer place for a fellow like that to be born in. You'd think a man who was going to discover America would have been born a little nearer the United States than this. Up in Canada for instance, or down around Cuba, so's he wouldn't have so far to travel."
"Canada and Cuba weren't discovered either at that time," explained Mollie, smiling broadly at the Unwiseman's ignorance.
"Really?" said the Unwiseman. "Well that accounts for it. I always wondered why the United States wasn't discovered by somebody nearer home, like a Canadian or a Cuban, or some fellow down around where the Panama hats come from, but of course if there wasn't any Canadians or Cubans or Panama hatters around to do it, it's as clear as pie." The old gentleman paused a moment, and then he went on: "So this is the place that would have been our native land if Columbus hadn't gone to sea, is it? I think I'll take home a bottle of it to keep on the mantel-piece alongside of my bottle of United States and label 'em' My Native Land, Before and After.'"
"That's a very good idea," said Mollie. "Then you'll have a complete set."
"I wonder," said the Unwiseman, rubbing his forehead reflectively, "I wonder if he's alive yet."
"What, Christopher Columbus?" laughed Mollie.
"Yes," said the Unwiseman. "I haven't seen much in the papers about him lately, but that don't prove he's dead."
"Why he discovered America in 1492," said Mollie.