When they went
to bed, I accompanied them by special invitation, but they showed
no disposition to engage in the usual bedtime frolic and miniature
pandemonium. Budge, when in bed, closed his eyes, folded his hand
and prayed:--
"Dear Lord, bless papa an' mamma, an' Toddie, an' Uncle Harry, an'
everybody else; yes, an' bless just lots that lovely, lovely lady
that comforted me after the goat was bad to me, an' let her
comfort me lots of times, for Christ's sake, Amen."
And Toddie wriggled, twisted, breathed heavily, threw his head
back, and prayed:
"Dee Lord, don't let dat old goat fro me into de gutter on my head
aden, an' let Ocken Hawwy an' ze pitty lady be dere netst time I
dest hurted."
Then the good-night salutations were exchanged, and I left the
little darlings and enjoyed communion with my own thoughts which
were as peaceful and ecstatic as if the world contained no white
goods houses, no doubtful customers, no business competition, no
politics, gold rooms, stock-boards, doubtful banks, political
scandals, personal iniquity, nor anything which should prevent a
short vacation from lasting through a long lifetime.
The next morning would have struck terror to the heart of any one
but a newly accepted lover. Rain was falling fast, and in that
steady, industrious manner which seemed to assert an intention to
stick closely to business for the whole day.
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