I thought I'd better provide against that probability. It
was an invention worthy of a poet, which I am."
"Que les poetes thoient pendus," said Augustus John, with vigour and
sincerity. "Ekthepting Homer and Tennython," he added, as if willing to
be just to all men.
"What for? they've done nothing to you."
"Haven't they! But for them I need not watht my life in making Latin
vertheth. The fighting, though, in Homer and Tennython I like."
In the meantime the four younger children were whispering together over
a large paper parcel, that crackled a good deal.
"Which do you think is the grandest word?" said Bertram.
"I _fallacious_, Janie."
"But you said you would put _umbrageous_," observed Hugh, in a
discontented tone.
"No, those words don't mean _it_," answered Janie. "I like _ambrosial_
best. Put 'For our dear ambrosial Johnnie.'"
The parcel contained as many squibs and crackers as the seller thereof
would trust with his young customers; also one rocket.
Johnnie's little brothers and sisters having written these words, rose
from the floor on which they had been seated, and with blushes and
modest pride presented the parcel.
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