 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
PREPARING TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.
MOTHER wants to know
if you 'll lend her a
little merlasses to
starch a cap, to go and
see the President,”
said a little girl, coming into
Mrs. Partington's kitchen, bearing
in her hand a tin cup.
“Certainly, dear,” said the
good dame, pleasantly.
She never thought of the
unreasonableness of the request; she never dreamed of
guile. The treacle depository was brought out, the golden
liquid filled the tin receptacle, and the child departed.
“Well!” said the old lady, “everybody is going to
see the President. But what is a president, or a king,
or a justice of the peace, but a man, arter all, with flesh
and blood, and bones and hair, like any of us? And
thousands will come further to see him than they would
to see Saint Paul, or Hebrews, or Revelations, or any of
'em. Sich man-worship! sich man-worship!”
“The President 's coming, aunt!” said Ike, bursting
in; “and he is going by our door;” and the little fellow
was half crazy with delight, and threw his cap in a pan
of milk upon the table in his enthusiasm.
“How do I look, Isaac?” said the dame, with animation;
right on my neck, and my cap border even?” and she
took her place by the window, when these questions were
answered, as eager as any one to “see the President,”
and Ike stepped out. But her eyes were strangely dim,
and those hitherto faithful specs gave indications now of
failing her. She took them off to wipe them, and both
glasses were gone! An hour before, Ike had borrowed
them for a telescopic experiment. But it did n't make
any odds, for the procession had turned down another
street, and did n't go by her door at all.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |