"Now Squeaky," said the Unwiseman.
"'Scuse!" gasped Whistlebinkie.
And the Unwiseman went on:
"'For men who make an omlette
We really do not care;
To poach an egg already yet
Is easy everywhere;
But he who'll teach it etiquette—
He is a genius rare.
"'So if you say the Earth is round
We think it must be so.
Your reasoning's so very sound,
Columbus don't you know.
Come wizard, take your half-a-pound
Before you homeward go.'"
Whistlebinkie began to fidget again and his breath came in little short squeaks.
"But I don't see," he began. "It didn't prove——"
"Wait!" said the Unwiseman. "Don't you try to get in ahead of the finish. Here's the last verse, and it covers your ground.
"And thus it was, O children dear,
Who gather at my knee,
Columbus showed the Earth the sphere
It since has proved to be;
Though how the Egg trick made it clear,
I'm blest if I can see."
"Well I'm glad you put that last voyse in," said Whistlebinkie, "because I don't see either."