Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Itwasquitesurprisinghowmanythingstheyfoundtotalkabout—theFourthofJuly,forinstance.WhentheybegantotalkabouttheFourthofJulytherereallyseemednoendtoit.Mr.Hobbshadaverybadopinionof“theBritish,”andhetoldthewholestoryoftheRevolution,relatingverywonderfulandpatrioticstoriesaboutthevillainyoftheenemyandthebraveryoftheRevolutionaryheroes,andheevengenerouslyrepeatedpartoftheDeclarationofIndependence.

           Cedricwassoexcitedthathiseyesshoneandhischeekswereredandhiscurlswereallrubbedandtumbledintoayellowmop.Hecouldhardlywaittoeathisdinnerafterhewenthome,hewassoanxioustotellhismamma.Itwas,perhaps,Mr.Hobbswhogavehimhisfirstinterestinpolitics.Mr.Hobbswasfondofreadingthenewspapers,andsoCedricheardagreatdealaboutwhatwasgoingoninWashington;andMr.HobbswouldtellhimwhetherthePresidentwasdoinghisdutyornot.Andonce,whentherewasanelection,hefounditallquitegrand,andprobablybutforMr.HobbsandCedricthecountrymighthavebeenwrecked.

           Mr.Hobbstookhimtoseeagreattorchlightprocession,andmanyofthemenwhocarriedtorchesrememberedafterwardastoutmanwhostoodnearalamp-postandheldonhisshoulderahandsomelittleshoutingboy,whowavedhiscapintheair.

           Itwasnotlongafterthiselection,whenCedricwasbetweensevenandeightyearsold,thattheverystrangethinghappenedwhichmadesowonderfulachangeinhislife.Itwasquitecurious,too,thatthedayithappenedhehadbeentalkingtoMr.