So down she went again, and this time brought a pitcher. On her return she found Dotty weeping in high displeasure.
"You told me to drink up that whole barrel, you did," cried the unreasonable child, shaking her head.
"Did I?" said Prudy; "well, dear, I didn't mean anything."
"But you said so—the whole, whole barrel," repeated Dotty rocking back and forth; "you talk to me just as if I—was—black!"
"Hush!" said Prudy, "or you'll wake grandma. Let me see; do you want me to tell you a conundrum? Why does an elephant carry his trunk?"
"I don't know; I s'pose he can't help it; it grows on the end of his nose."
"That isn't the answer, though, Dotty; it's because—because he's a traveller!"
"An elephant a traveller? Where does he travel to? I don't believe it."
"Well," replied Prudy, "I can't see any sense in it myself. O, stop a minute! Now I know; I didn't tell it right. This is the way; 'Why is an elephant like a traveller? Because he carries a trunk!' Isn't that funny?"
"I don't care anything about your elephants," said Dotty; "if you don't try to please me, Prudy Parlin, you'll have to wake up grandma, and call her in here, or I shall cry myself sick!"