Біла пташка

           Afterthat,Davidhadthemosthilarioushourofhislife,enteringintothechildishpleasuresofthisfamilyasheartilyasifhehadbeenbroughtuponsausages,andknockingthepantaloondownrepeatedly.Youmustnotthinkthathedidthisviciously;hedidittopleasetheoldgentleman,whobeggedhimtodoit,andalwaysshookhandswarmlyandsaid“Thankyou,”whenhehaddoneit.Theyarequiteasimplepeople.

           JoeycalledDavidandme“Sonny,”andaskedDavid,whoaddressedhimas“Mr.Clown,”tocallhimJoey.Healsotoldusthatthepantaloon’snamewasoldJoey,andthecolumbine’sJosy,andtheharlequin’sJoeykin.

           WeweresorrytohearthatoldJoeygavehimagooddealoftrouble.Thiswasbecausehismemoryissobadthatheoftenforgetswhetheritisyourheadoryourfeetyoushouldstandon,andheusuallybeginsthedaybystandingontheendthathappenstogetoutofbedfirst.Thusherequiresconstantwatching,andtheworstofitis,youdarenotdrawattentiontohismistake,heissoshrinkinglysensitiveaboutit.NosoonerhadJoeytoldusthisthanthepooroldfellowbegantoturnupsidedownandstoodonhishead;butwepretendednottonotice,andtalkedabouttheweatheruntilhecameto.

           JosyandJoeykin,allskirtsandspangles,werewithusbythistime,fortheyhadbeeninvitedtotea.Theycameindancing,anddancedoffandonmostofthetime.