Budge bit a large piece, wedged it between his
cheek and his teeth, closed his eyes, folded his hands on his
breast, and prayed:--
"Dear Lord, bless papa an' mamma, an' Toddie an' me, an' that
turtle Uncle Harry found: and bless that lovely lady Uncle Harry
goes riding with an' make 'em take me too, an' bless that nice old
lady with white hair, that cried, and said I was a smart boy.
Amen."
Toddie sighed as he drew his stick of candy from his lips; then he
shut his eyes and remarked:
"Dee Lord, blesh Toddie, an' make him good boy, an' blesh zem
ladies zat told me to say it aden;" the particular "it" referred
to being well understood by at least three adults of my
acquaintances.
The course of Budge's interview with Mrs. Mayton was afterward
related by that lady, as follows:--She was sitting in her own room
(which was on the parlor-floor, and in the rear of the house), and
was leisurely reading "Fated to be Free," when she accidentally
dropped her glasses. Stooping to pick them up, she became aware
that she was not alone. A small, very dirty, but good-featured boy
stood before her, his hands behind his back, and an inquiring look
in his eyes.
"Run away, little boy," said she. "Don't you know it isn't polite
to enter rooms without knocking?"
"I'm lookin' for my uncle," said Budge, in most melodious accents,
"an' the other ladies said you would know when he would come
back.
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