considered that the direct representative of the interests of Mr.
Clewe should take possession, and it was decided that Samuel Block
should add the north pole to the territory of his native land.

When this had been settled, a very great change came over the
mind of Sarah Block. That her husband should be the man to do
this great thing filled her with pride and alert enthusiasm.

"Sammy," she exclaimed, "when you are doin' that, you will be the
greatest man in this world, and you will stand at the top of
everything."

"Suppose there should be a feller standin' on the south pole,"
said Sammy, "wouldn't he have the same right to say that he was
on top of everything?"

"No," said Sarah, sharply. "The way I look at it, the north pole
is above and the south pole is below; but there ain't any other
feller down there, so we needn't talk about it. And now, Sammy,
if you are goin' to take possession of the pole, you ought to put
on your best clothes. For one thing, you should wear a pair of
those new red flannel socks that you haven't had on yet; it will
be a good way to christen 'em. Everything on you ought to be
perfectly fresh and clean, and just as nice as you've got. This
will be the first time that anybody ever took possession of a
pole, and you ought to look your very best. I would ask you to
shave, because you would look better that way, but I suppose if
you took off your beard you would take cold in your jaws. And I
want you to stand up straight, and talk as long about it as you
can. You are too much given to cuttin' off ceremonies mighty