human
Children, said the old man, as he took off his hat and made a low bow,
gpt
I heard there was a party here, and I came to play the fiddle for you. All the boys and girls like a fiddle, because it is so merry.
human
O mother! what did send that old man here?
gpt
He came of himself, I suppose,
human
I think it is too bad to laugh at an old man like him,
gpt
It would be, if he were in distress; but don't you see he is as merry as any of the children?
human
Play us some tunes,
gpt
I will, my little dears; and the old man raised the fiddle.
human
Let's see--I will play 'Napoleon's Grand March.'
gpt
Why, that's 'Yankee Doodle,' said Henry Vernon; and they all shouted at the idea of calling that tune
human
Napoleon's Grand March.
gpt
Now I will play you the solo to the opera of 'La Sonnambula,'
human
Whew!
gpt
Why, that's 'Yankee Doodle' too!
human
I guess he don't know any other tune.
gpt
You like that tune so well, I will play you 'Washington's March;' and the funny old fiddler, with a great flourish, began to play again; but still it was
human
Yankee Doodle.
gpt
Yankee Doodle.
human
Can't you tell us a story now?
gpt
O, yes, my little man, I can tell you a story. What shall it be?
human
Are you a soldier or a sailor?
gpt
Neither, my boy.
human
The story! the story!
gpt
Some years ago I was in New York,
human
Did you see me there?
gpt
Well, my little man, I don't remember that I saw you.
human
O, I was there;
gpt
I did see a very nice-looking little gentleman--
human
That was me,
gpt
He was stalking up Broadway. He thought everybody was looking at and admiring him; but such was not the case. He looked just like--just like--
human
Like me?
gpt
Like a sick monkey,
human
Go on with your story.
gpt
I will, children. Several years ago I was in New York. It is a great city; if you don't believe it, ask Master Tommy Woggs.
human
You tell the truth, Mr. Fiddler. It is a great city, and I have been all over it, and can speak from observation,
gpt
The story!
human
I was walking up Broadway. This street is always crowded with people, as well as with carts and carriages.
gpt
I have seen that street,
human
Now you keep still a few minutes, Tommy, if you can,
gpt
At the corner of Wall Street--
human
I know where that is,
gpt
At the corner of Wall Street there was a man with a kind of cart, loaded with apples and candy, which he was selling to the passers by. Suddenly there came a stage down the street, and ran into the apple cart.
human
I saw the very same thing done,
gpt
Keep still, Tom Woggs,
human
The apples were scattered all over the sidewalk; yet the man picked up all but one of them, though he was very angry with the driver of the stage for running against his cart.
gpt
Why didn't he pick up the other apple?
human
A well-dressed man, with big black whiskers, picked that up. 'Give it to me,' said the apple man. 'I will not,' replied the man with whiskers. The apple merchant was as mad as he could be; and then the man with black whiskers put his hand in his pocket and drew out a knife. The blade was six inches long.
gpt
O, dear me!
human
Raising the knife, he at once moved towards the angry apple merchant, and--and--
gpt
Well, what?
human
And cut a piece out of the apple, and put it in his mouth.
gpt
He then took two cents from his pocket, paid for the apple, and went his way, continued the old man.
human
Now, there is one thing more I can do. I want to run a race with these boys.
gpt
Pooh! You run a race!
human
I can beat you.
gpt
Try it, and see.