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The Reluctant Dragon
”
“WhenWHAThappened,please?”askedtheBoy.
“That’sjustwhatIdon’tpreciselyknow,”saidthedragon.“Isupposetheearthsneezed,orshookitself,orthebottomdroppedoutofsomething.Anyhowtherewasashakeandaroarandageneralstramash,andIfoundmyselfmilesawayundergroundandwedgedinastightastight.Well,thankgoodness,mywantsarefew,andatanyrateIhadpeaceandquietnessandwasn’talwaysbeingaskedtocomealongandDOsomething.AndI’vegotsuchanactivemind—alwaysoccupied,Iassureyou!Buttimewenton,andtherewasacertainsamenessaboutthelife,andatlastIbegantothinkitwouldbefuntoworkmywayupstairsandseewhatyouotherfellowsweredoing.SoIscratchedandburrowed,andworkedthiswayandthatwayandatlastIcameoutthroughthiscavehere.AndIlikethecountry,andtheview,andthepeople—whatI’veseenof’em—andonthewholeIfeelinclinedtosettledownhere.”
“What’syourmindalwaysoccupiedabout?”askedtheBoy.“That’swhatIwanttoknow.”
Thedragoncolouredslightlyandlookedaway.Presentlyhesaidbashfully:
“Didyouever—justforfun—trytomakeuppoetry—verses,youknow?”
“’CourseIhave,”saidtheBoy.“Heapsofit.Andsomeofit’squitegood,Ifeelsure,onlythere’snooneherecaresaboutit.Mother’sverykindandallthat,whenIreadittoher,andso’sfatherforthatmatter.Butsomehowtheydon’tseemto—”
“Exactly,”criedthedragon;“myowncaseexactly.Theydon’tseemto,andyoucan’targuewith’emaboutit.
