It is sufficient
to say that Toddie's weight was materially diminished, and that
his complexion was temporarily pallid. Father O'Kelley arrived at
a brisk run, and was honestly glad to find that his services were
not required, although I assured him that if Catholic baptism and
a sprinkling of holy water would improve Toddie's character, I
thought there was excuse for several applications. We rode quietly
back to the house, and while I was asking Maggie to try to coax
Toddie into taking a nap, I heard the patient remark to his
brother:--
"Budgie, down to the village I was a whay-al. I didn't froe up
Djonah, but I froed up a whole floor full of uvver fings." During
the hour which passed before it was time to start for the depot,
my sole attention was devoted to keeping the children from soiling
their clothes; but my success was so little, that I lost my temper
entirely. First they insisted upon playing on a part of the lawn
which the sun had not yet reached. Then, while I had gone into the
house for a match to light my cigar, Toddie had gone with his damp
shoes into the middle of the road, where the dust was ankle deep.
Then they got upon their hands and knees on the piazza and played
bear. Each one wanted to pick a bouquet for his mother, and Toddie
took the precaution to smell every flower he approached--an
operation which caused him to get his nose covered with lily-
pollen, so that he looked like a badly used prize-fighter.
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