As they stood near the wharves, watching the shipment of grain, Tom remarked that he supposed a great deal of the grain went out of the country.
"Yes," said Mr. Jollytarre. "Bagdad ships immense quantities—last year as much as 50,000 tons. Every now and then there is a grain riot here, when the people take it into their heads there will be a failure of the next harvest. They insist that the government shall put a stop to the exportation of the grain. Sometimes these demands are yielded to, when there is any prospect of a famine. The government does not give in often, to be sure, but the thing has been done."
"Hello!" said Tom; "here's the Blosse Lynch."
"Yes, and it is time we were on board, for we've done a good day's work, haven't we?"
The naughty little girl that cries,
And rubs her fingers in her eyes,
And pouts and frets all day,
A ragged hat and gown must wear,
And in the garden stand, to scare
The thievish birds away.
| Have a jolly gallop |
| Over sticks and stones; |
| Do not get a tumble, |
| Or you'll break your bones. |
| That was a bouncer— |
| Very much too high— |
| But my little horseman |
| Is too brave to cry. |