Don’t beat me when you’re angry.
Love me a little if you can,
For I—love—you.”
CHAPTER XXVI
THE BEGINNING OF MY FAMILY CARES
WHEN he said, “I—love—you,” he rose still higher on his hoofs, blew the ladies a kiss with one of his forefeet, and spoke in such a tender kind of a voice that they just shrieked with laughter. Then he lost his head more than Sammy-Sam had, and, gamboling on the green, announced that he wished not money but souvenirs.
After a while he controlled himself and went soberly from one to another and had pinned on his pony coat neckties, a bangle, a ring or two, some purses and one lady put round one of his forefeet a handsome string of beads which she took from her own neck.
The children bowed, kissed their hands, then trooped down the street to tell our Mary, who had helped them dress, of the success of their entertainment.
Chummy gazed affectionately after them.
“Good children,” he said. “We sparrows love them.”