“And they’re pretty well packed after that supper we ate,” smiled Chot.
They kept urging Fleet to recite, but he stolidly refused. Finally, some one suggested a song, and in this Fleet joined with a zest. But when they tried to start the Winton song, and waited on the second verse for him to come in with his original lines, there was blank silence.
“What’s the matter with you?” asked Tom.
“Nothing,” replied Fleet, “only I’m not in the mood for original verses to-night.”
So they fell into the old-time darkey melodies, then into the choruses of several popular ballads, in all of which Fleet joined with enthusiasm; but at every suggestion of original matter from him, he turned a deaf ear.
“Well, if Fleet won’t recite, I’ll crack a joke,” said Pod. “Did you fellows ever hear of the man who had no flowers, yet kept a hot house?”
“No; how was that?” asked Bert.
“He had a scolding wife,” was Pod’s reply. “And did you ever hear of the little boy at school whom a visiting gentleman asked if his family ever played baseball?”
“No; starts off like a chestnut, but I’ve never heard it,” said Tom. “What did bright little Willie say?”
“Bright little Willie said: ‘Yes; me and mother play—I bawl and she makes the base hits.’”