Prince Lazybones and Other Stories

rown with the growth and resources of the order which founded it. Like all feudal structures it had its means of defence-its

ures, while Leo's dogs bounded through chapel and refectory a

hose of the buildings yet in use had carved buttresses and

for when it rained, or heavy fogs hung threateningly about, his

find a new passage to loiter in or a window-ledge to loll over and look from as he watched

e some of his many friends were storing their winter provision, for bees as well as birds were familiar to him; but he had the true Lazybones instinct of not following a thought too far, and so he

e fireplace, with stone settle beside the hooks and cranes for pots and kettles, had doubtless been as cheery a corner

en more than usually disturbed by it, for cold and dreary though it was, th

"he lolls about as a spy upon us, to re

s father, and seldom saw him since Morpheus took his meals as well

siness from outside had crept within, and

aytime, as my father does. I wonder what he'd say if I went to him? Probably this: 'You have given wings to the finest of rhymes, and spoiled the turn of an exquisite verse

day indeed, y

t saw no one. He must have been mistaken. Then he listened. The wind swept wailing through its accustomed approaches; shutters and windows shook with the blast, but no footfall was to be heard. He turned to the diamond-paned lattice, and

I could a

Leo, feeling very queer, and a

ce, so long as I do what I h

ut I never before heard o

ghness; I'd scorn to be

, then, and w

where I am, why, I am here beside you. Do you suppos

birds and beasts have their

not imperfect. How about all the living

f the kind, but it was too m

people whose consciences are bad, and nothing more is needed to make me doubt their existence than the fact of your living here in what should be their strongho

it seemed to Leo as if it were accompanied by the stamp of a foot; but

ldom dreamed-indeed, never, unless his foot had slipped in climbing a crag to peep into a nest, when the fall was

one of the founders of the S.P.C.C., a very old soci

to be so ignorant, b

s the S

e you have nev

till feeling as if he w

gurgling "Ha! ha!" whic

u know away off in

t understand you

le. You live so entirely alone, and are so wretched

sides, what was there to be angry at-a voice? So he remaine

much cruelty and oppression, as well as vice and poverty. Now for this state of things they have laws and punishments, means of redress; but they relate principally to grown people's affairs; so the kind-hearted ones, noticing that little children are often in need of pity a

ily; he was already tir

our father and his poems; he thinks h

you that you attack him so

sk. But I acknowledge that I am rude, and I won't say more than just this: Your father h

," came out with characteri

so; it is quite time you knew an

etim

ce work, I

oba

prehends an interior view

remendous ya

bother any more; I

k. Well, do you w

n't want

ith me,

he

ere; just do

hen I don't e

essary to anoint your

s you p

down his eyelids, and the pouring

e stood before him the quaintest,