"We will draw up a petition," she said; "for we best enjoy our own
rights and pleasures when respecting those of others. This little
boy and girl shall take the petition around to all the ladies and
gentlemen in the room, and this shall be the petition:

"'Dear lady and kind sir: Please don't object to our dancing a
Virginia reel in the parlor.'"

"All who wish to dance can sign it. Now we will go to the office
and draw up the petition." And away they all started, the younger
children, wild with glee, capering in advance.

Stanton threw away his cigar and met her at the office register.

"Gentle shepherdess," he asked, "whither are you leading your
flock?"

"How behind the age you are!" she replied. "Can you not see that
the flock is leading me?"

"If I were a wolf I would not trouble the flock but would carry
off the shepherdess--to a game of billiards."

"What, then, would become of the flock?"

"that's a question that never troubles a wolf."

"A wolfish answer truly. I think, however, you have reversed the
parable, and are but a well-meaning sheep that has donned a wolf's