CHAPTER X
"If you promise to keep quite still," said the Poet Laureate. "I will read you my latest poem."
"I should be delighted," said Alice, whose manners never failed her.
The Poet Laureate cleared his throat and read:
The sun was shining in the sky,
The time was 2 A. M.
(No stand-pat luminary, he
Progressived with a slam),
And folks in bed were luncheoning
Exclusively on jam.
"This doesn't seem to be quite clear," said Alice.
"Of course it isn't," said the Poet Laureate. "This is just to create the proper atmosphere." And he went on:
The Colonel and the Harvester
Had found a shady spot.
They sorted Issues by the piece,
The dozen, and the lot.
And most of them were highly spiced,
And all were piping hot.
"For seven years," the Colonel said,
"I walked the quarter deck,
I smote the Trusts, and in their gore
I waded to the neck."
"I know it," sobbed the Harvester,
And signed another check.