He was almost exhausted as he dove off Cape Finisterre into the broad Atlantic, and he would have sunk down deep, for fifteen or twenty miles, if a friendly dolphin hadn’t come along and invited him to ride on its shiny back!
The black men gave up the chase then, and the dolphin swam over to Massachusetts Bay, up Boston Harbor, to the Charles River, to the bridge by Sammy’s home. There the dolphin said good-by, told Sammy to always be a good boy, and then, with a flip of its tail, it rushed down the river—and Sammy awoke!
It had all been a dream, of course; but it cured Sammy of thoughtlesness, and nobody ever had cause again to say that Sammy Swattles wasn’t all a nice little boy should be. He told his employer all about it, and his employer said: “Well, be a good boy, and never do anything without thinking of whether it’s right or wrong to do it.”
He lit a candle for young Ted. This absent minded man. —Twas time to send the boy to bed— But something else came in his head, Some problem or some plan.
His thoughts were miles and miles away, But still the taper there, While he was thinking, seemed to say, “Bed! Bed! I’ll burn out if I stay!” And scolded with its glare.
And so he took Ted’s candle light —Ted grinned, the little elf— And bade, with manner most polite, His son a very sweet good-night, And went to bed himself.
[Illustration: Good King Grin. KING GRIN PRINCE LAUGH]
There is a King in Nonsense Land Whose castle, neither tall nor grand, Is gaily perched upon a hill Behind the town of Jolliville. A spangled jester lets you in— Whoever calls on good King Grin.
His height in feet is only four; Around his waist is one foot more; His mouth is wide; his eyes are twinkles Half hidden in a net of wrinkles; His beard is red; his hair is thin— In fact, quite bald is good King Grin.
His family—beneath the sun You never saw a happier one: The good Queen Smile, so fair to see; Prince Laugh, the heir-apparent he; And Princess Giggle’s baby din— Is life and joy to good King Grin.
Three ministers of state has he: Prime Minister is Pleasantry; In Foreign Matters, great and small, Good-Nature ministers to all; And Cheerfulness, when bills come in, Is Treasurer to good King Grin.
His courser is a palfry stout, And when the good king rides about, The very babies crow for joy: From peasant-man and peasant-boy, From landed knight and all his kin, Arise one cry: “Long live King Grin.”