laughed whenever he told this story. I know not why, for it is
perfectly true.

Once, when all the men in the family were gone away,--it was since
we have lived in the country,--the children were in the upper
chamber, and the doors were open below, and they saw a frightful-
looking beggar coming up the avenue; he was lame and had a patch
over his eye. He looked terrible; but one of the girls ran for me,
and took me out of the scabbard, and shook me at him out of the
window, and screamed out to him to go off; whereupon he turned about
and hobbled off as fast as he could.

One of the little girls said she did not believe there was any harm
in the poor beggar, and that she would go down and let him in, and
give him something to eat, but the biggest boy shook me at her for
only saying so, so as to dazzle her eyes and frighten her, and she
became silent and remained where she was.

Many such feats I have performed, too many to relate. Children, to
be sure, especially big blustering rude boys, have occasionally
played tricks with me. When they play Bombastes Furioso they come
for me."

"All right," said the musket.

"These little rogues have gapped my fine edge, and one good-for-
nothing scamp used me to cut down cabbages, but, as he came very
near cutting down his younger brother at the same time, he was sent
to bed supperless by his father. I have really never performed any
drudgery. Like Caesar, 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'"