"Yes, they must go to bed; and I will get the bed ready, Fluffy, if you will read them a story to amoose them."
"Oh! but, Puffy, if you put them both in the same bed it will be chills-and-fever, and then we shall catch it and be ill ourselves!" exclaimed Fluff with a distressed look.
"Fluff," said Miss Puff severely; "You are sometimes a foolish child!"
Well, Fluff knew that she was foolish, because she was often told so, and she was a child who always believed what was said to her, so she meekly sat down and read a story to the dolls. It was one of "Aunt Bathsheba's" stories, and they are so funny that I always write them down when I hear them. Listen to this, now!
| THE PUDDING-STICK AND THE ROLLING-PIN. Said the Pudding-stick so the Rolling-pin, "Let's take a dip in the sugar-bin!" Said the Rolling-pin to the Pudding-stick, "We'll eat and we'll stuff till we make ourselves sick." Off they set with a fine bold stride, That brought them soon to the sugar-bin's side. "Oh! how shall we reach that keyhole high? We might as well try to storm the sky!" |
| "Let me mount on your shoulder thin, And I'll pick the lock!" said the bold Rolling-pin. The Pudding-stick swelled with angry pride, "That my figure is fine has ne'er been denied, I'll give you a slap for your impudence!" "Well!" said the Roller: "This is immense!" So they rolled and they fought, |
| They thumped and they hit. Till they trod on the tail of the cook's pet kit. Then the cook rose up in dreadful wrath, And laid them out on the kitchen hearth. |
