"No, I never tried. Because why? What's the use?" replied the Pen. "I do not try to touch the sky Or jump upon the stars; I do not try to make a pie Of rusty iron bars; I do not try to change into A baby elephant, Because I know--and always knew-- 'Tis useless, for I can't." "That's all very good," retorted Jimmieboy; "but a minute ago you were saying that "'A man might do a million things, If he would be less shy, That all his life he never does, Because he will not try.'" "You've got me there," said the Pen, with a smile. "Perhaps we had better use water. Now that I think of it, I have enough dried ink on me to make a mark if I am moistened up a bit with water. You get the water and the paper, and I'll see what I can do." Jimmieboy ran into the dining-room and brought a glass brimming over with water to the Pen, and in another minute he had a large pad of paper ready. [Illustration: "NOW," SAID THE PEN, "LET US BEGIN."] "Now," said the Pen, "let us begin. What shall I draw first?" "I don't know," Jimmieboy replied. "Why not make a--er--a zebra.'" "What's a zebra?" asked the Pen, who had never been to the circus, as Jimmieboy had, and who was therefore, of course, ignorant about some things of very great importance. "Is it a piece of furniture?" "The idea!" laughed Jimmieboy. "Of course not. It's a sort of a small animal like a horse, and has--" "Oh, I know," interrupted the Pen. "Here's one." Then he dipped his head lightly into the water, and wiggled himself about on the pad for a minute. "There," he said, "How's that for a zebra?" [Illustration: ZEBRA.] Jimmieboy laughed long and loud. "What on earth are those wiggle-waggles all over him?" he asked. "Those are the Zees," explained the Quill. "Isn't that right?" "No!" roared Jimmieboy. "He hasn't a Z to his name." "Oh yes, he has," replied the Quill. "I know that much, anyhow. I have written many a zebra, though I never drew one before. They always begin with a Z, and end with a bray--like a donkey." "I don't mean it that way. I mean he hasn't any Zees printed on him," explained Jimmieboy. "He's striped like the American flag." "Why didn't you say so in the beginning?" said the Quill. "I was going to, but you interrupted me, and said you knew all about it, and I supposed you did," said the boy. "Well, let's try it again. He's a horse that looks like the American flag, you say?" "Yes," said Jimmieboy--a little dubiously, however. He thought perhaps the zebra more closely resembled a piece of toast, but as he had mentioned the flag, he thought it would be better to stick to it. "How is this!" asked the Quill, presenting the following picture to Jimmieboy. "Is that any more like a zebra?" [Illustration: ZEBRA.] "It's the most ridiculous thing I ever saw," said Jimmieboy. "I didn't say he had stars on him." "I know you didn't," retorted the Pen. "But that square might pass for a chest-protector, if any body ever criticised it."