Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/53
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1904 ]
THE LITTLE BROTHER OF LOO-LEE LOO.
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How, as fast as her feet could toddle (Her shoes were a Chinese model),She hurried him in, and almost turned his dear little wondering noddle.
“Oh, is it,” she bent to say In her courteous Chinese way,“Tn my very contemptible garden, dear, your illustrious wish to play?” And when he nodded his head She knew that he would have said,“My insignificant feet are proud your honored estate to tread!”
Oh, then, but the garden rang With laughter and joy—ting, tang!There was never a happier spot that day in the realm of the great Ching-Wang! And oh, but it waned too soon, That golden afternoon,When the princess played with her Ray of the Sun, her darling Beam of the Moon!
For when the shadows crept Where the folded lilies slept,Out into the garden all at once the prince her father stepped, With a dignified air benign, And a smile on his features fine,And a perfectly gorgeous gown of silk embroidered with flower and vine.
A fan in his princely hand, Which he waved with a gesture bland(Instead of a gentleman’s walking-stick it was carried, you understand), In splendor of girdle and shoe, In a glitter of gold and of blue,With the fair Su-See at his side came he, the lordly Prince Choo-Choo.
The princess bent her brow In a truly Celestial bow,Saluted her father with filial grace, and made him the grand kotow, {For every child that 's bright Knows well the rule that ’s right,That to knock your head on the ground nine times is the way to be polite.)
“And, pray, what have we here?” In language kind though queerThe prince observed. “It looks to me like a little boy, my dear!” “Why, that ’s what it is!” in glee The princess cried. “Fing-Wee—Most Perfectly Peerless Prince-Papa, a dear little brother for me!”
Prince Choo-Choo Loud laughed the Prince Choo-Choo, And I fancy he said “Pooh-pooh!”(That sounds very much like a Chinese word, and expresses his feelings, too!) And the fair Su-See leaned low. “My Bud of the Rose, you knowIf little Fing-Wee our son should be, your honors to him must go!
But the princess's eyes were wet, For her dear little heart was setOn having her way till she quite forgot her daughterly etiquette.