Part 7 (1/2)
”In the afternoon his cousin Will came up to see him. 'Why, Chimbo!'
he cried. 'Why do you sit moping here in the house, when all the boys are out? Come and play marbles with me on the piazza. Ned and Harry are out there waiting for you. Come on!'
”'Oh, dear!' said Chimborazo.
”'What's the matter?' asked Will. 'Haven't you any marbles? Never mind. I'll give you half of mine, if you like. Come!'
”'Oh, DEAR!' said Chimborazo.
”'Well,' said Will, 'if that's all you have to say when I offer you marbles, I'll keep them myself. I suppose you expected me to give you all of them, did you? I never saw such a fellow!' and off he went in a huff.
”'Well, Chimborazo,' said the fairy G.o.dmother, 'what do you think of ”Oh, dear!” now?'
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Touching his lips with her wand.”]
”Chimborazo looked at her beseechingly, but said nothing.
”'Finding that forty-five times was not enough for you yesterday, I thought I would let you have all you wanted to-day, you see,' said the fairy wickedly.
”The boy still looked imploringly at her, but did not open his lips.
”'Well, well,' she said at last, touching his lips with her wand, 'I think that is enough in the way of punishment, though I am sorry you broke the bell-punch. Good-by! I don't believe you will say ”Oh, dear!” any more.'
”And he didn't.”
CHAPTER VI.
The rain continued for several days; and though Toto, mindful of the sad story of Chimborazo, tried hard not to say ”Oh, dear!” still he found the time hang very heavy on his hands. On the fourth day, however, the clouds broke away, and the sun came out bright and beautiful. Toto s.n.a.t.c.hed up his cap, kissed his grandmother, and flew off to the forest. Oh, how glad he was to be out of doors again, and how glad everything seemed to be to see him! All the trees shook down pearls and diamonds on him (very wet ones they were, but he did not mind that), the birds sang to him, the flowers nodded to him, the sunbeams twinkled at him; everything seemed to say, ”How are you, Toto? Hasn't it been a lovely rain, and aren't you glad it is over?”
He went straight to the forest pool, hoping to find some of his companions there. Sure enough, there was the racc.o.o.n, sitting by the edge of the pool, making his toilet, and stopping every now and then to gaze admiringly at himself in the clear mirror.
”Good-morning, c.o.o.n!” said Toto; ”admiring your beauty as usual, eh?”
”Well, Toto,” replied the racc.o.o.n complacently, ”my view of the matter is this: what is the use of having beauty if you don't admire it? That is what it's for, I suppose.”
”I suppose so,” a.s.sented Toto.
”And you can't expect other people to admire you if you don't admire yourself!” added the racc.o.o.n impressively. ”Remember that! How's your grandmother?”
”She's very well,” replied Toto, ”and she hopes to see you all this afternoon. She has made a new kind of gingerbread, and she wants you to try it. I have tried it, and it is very good indeed.”
”Your grandmother,” said the racc.o.o.n, ”is in many respects the most delightful person I have ever met. I, for one, will come with pleasure. I can't tell about the rest; haven't seen them for a day or two. Suppose we go and hunt them up.”
”With all my heart!” said Toto.
They had not gone far before they met the wood-pigeon flying along with a bunch of berries in her bill.
”Where are you going, Pigeon Pretty?” inquired Toto; ”and who is to have those nice berries? I am sure they are not for yourself; I believe you never get anything for yourself, you are so busy helping others.”
”These berries are for poor Chucky,” replied the wood-pigeon. ”Ah, c.o.o.n,” she added reproachfully, ”how could you hurt the poor fellow so? He is really ill this morning in consequence.”