“Like the story of the little pickaninny,” put in Van Reypen; “they said he was ill from eating too much watermelon. And a neighbour said, ‘Law sakes! Dey ain’t no such t’ing as too much watermillion!’ and the reply was, ’Den dere wasn’t enough boy!’”
“That’s it exactly,” and Helen smiled; “there aren’t too many kinds of cakes here,—but there isn’t quite enough me!”
But after some careful consideration, she selected the most irresistible dainties, and the others also made their choice.
“You never told us the ‘Eagle’ story,” Herron reminded, as they waited for their order to be served.
“That’s so,” said Patty, “what was it, Helen? Didn’t you say it had to do with the end of the war?”
“That’s as you look at it. Here’s the tale. You see, down at Beverly, just before the close of the Revolution, there appeared a few eagles——”
“Dunno if they were bald or long-haired or blonde,—but they were eagles,—real, live American eagles. And they had never been seen in that locality before. Well, their appearance heralded the end of the Revolution,—and immediately it ended.”
“Great!” cried Philip, a little ironically; “it reminds me of the slave who called out, ‘Oh, King live forever!’ and _immediately_ the King lived forever!”
“I shouldn’t wonder if that’s a better story than mine,” laughed Helen, “but I’ll proceed with mine, as, if I don’t, I may not get it done before my cakies come. Well, the Revolution ended, and no eagles were seen any more at all, in or near Beverly. Until,—near the close of the Civil War, those same eagles appeared in Beverly again!”
“Sure they were the same ones? Pretty old birds!”
“Oh, eagles live thousands of years! That’s _nothing_ for an eagle! Anyway, the eagles came, and the Civil War soon came to its close.”
“Now then for the point of this tale,” said Herron. “Has friend eagle showed up of late?”
“He has!” cried Helen triumphantly; “several eagles were seen there last week! Now, _I_ believe this war will soon end!”
“The American eagle is a war-ender, all right!” declared Phil, “and I hope to goodness, Helen, your pet scheme works out. Just how long after the eagles’ arrival is peace declared? Usually, I mean.”
“That I can’t say. Nor do I swear to the truth of the story. But I tell the tale as ’twas told to me, and you can take it or leave it.”