Page 34 - Adventures of Peterkin Paul

From which, through a pane in the door, he could "A s for tS(,1t,” spoke up Ftenjamin Franklin, " 1 must
teU In candor confess your remarks are quite just,
What his brothers were saying and doing, quite well, And, indeed, t should not be surprised, for a Lruth,
If, within hearing Mm (wh ere, that promising youth
“ N dw r'm ffee to confess,'’ began John Henry Were listening with all his ears this very minute ;
Jack l rfi just open this pantry door, — maybe he’s in i t ”
(“ Though 1 don’t like to- talk behind anyone's back), "Qh<?! " quoth Miltiades Petfirkin Paul,
“ 1 think I ’ll retreat, ere you make me i call.”

Blit poor litfk Miltiftde-1; Peterkin l?aul,
Being somewhat in haste, and sorc-frighleited withal,
As he stooped to climb down, somehow, tipped up
the Cover,
And, all at once, feeling'himself turn quite over.
He uttered a shriek, and n> one moment more most
Inglofiqusly sank in the barrel htad-foremOst, —
Where lie soon would hav£ smothered, without any
doubt,
Had not Benjamin Franktin straightway pulled him
out,

w How is th isf’’ r.riftd the latter, as, cohered with
white,
He held young Miliiades up to the lighL
rr Seems to me you're perpetually fated to fare i l l ;
Yet, white speaking of listerling, 1 K ilty must say You look like a snow-drift shut up in a barrel,
That out brother Miltiades his a. strange way Pray ho^v came you here ? if 1 ventured a guess
Of happening Ground very often, To hear f should say you'd been tuMStir&bping— cfimt, sir,
What is not intended for His Highness’s ear.” c o n fe s s !"
Ah, ’tis true,” sighed Miltiades Peterkin Paul, “ Well, the way of the listenei \sflwry— that’s all
" Listeners never hear good of themselves, after all." T can say,” gasped Mi] t Lades Peterkin Putt!,