Мхи старої садиби

           Andnow,darling,Ihavetakensomuchpainswiththeeandthouartsobeautiful,that,bymytroth,Ilovetheebetterthananywitch’spuppetintheworld;andI’vemadethemofallsorts—clay,wax,straw,sticks,nightfog,morningmist,seafoam,andchimneysmoke.Butthouarttheverybest.SogiveheedtowhatIsay."

           "Yes,kindmother,"saidthefigure,"withallmyheart!"

           "Withallthyheart!"criedtheoldwitch,settingherhandstohersidesandlaughingloudly."Thouhastsuchaprettywayofspeaking.Withallthyheart!Andthoudidstputthyhandtotheleftsideofthywaistcoatasifthoureallyhadstone!"

           Sonow,inhighgoodhumorwiththisfantasticcontrivanceofhers,MotherRigbytoldthescarecrowthatitmustgoandplayitspartinthegreatworld,wherenotonemaninahundred,sheaffirmed,wasgiftedwithmorerealsubstancethanitself.And,thathemightholduphisheadwiththebestofthem,sheendowedhim,onthespot,withanunreckonableamountofwealth.ItconsistedpartlyofagoldmineinEldorado,andoftenthousandsharesinabrokenbubble,andofhalfamillionacresofvineyardattheNorthPole,andofacastleintheair,andachateauinSpain,togetherwithalltherentsandincometherefromaccruing.Shefurthermadeovertohimthecargoofacertainship,ladenwithsaltofCadiz,whichsheherself,byhernecromanticarts,hadcausedtofounder,tenyearsbefore,inthedeepestpartofmid-ocean.Ifthesaltwerenotdissolved,andcouldbebroughttomarket,itwouldfetchaprettypennyamongthefishermen.