Redcoat Captain: A Story of That Country — John Shaqi
Redcoat Captain: A Story of That CountryOllivant, Alfred
Science
Redcoat Captain: A Story of That Country
Ollivant, Alfred
English fiction; Parables
So Baby taught Tiny. And at last she got him so far that he even
learnt to stand on the rug, with his hands behind him, and say,
"Sorry," when he should, which was mostly always.
So that showed a good come on: for Tiny was like a lot more, he never
said Sorry when he could say anything else.
But Baby was in the wrong herself sometimes.
And when she was in the wrong, Tiny was in the right. And that pleased
Tiny; but it made Baby mad. For Baby wanted to be right all the time
always herself, and nobody else; only she couldn't, because you can't:
for that's how things aren't.
So she went under a cloud instead; and there was no more sun for Tiny
for that time.
Then Tiny nursed Baby to win the sun back. And when he had nursed her
till he was about dead, she forgave him for being in the right, and
took him back; and the sun came out again.
And after that Baby sat upon him very pleasantly, while they sang the
Sorry Song they had made, which goes,
"When you've been naughty, when you've done wrong,
When you've been sulky instead of a song,
When you've been stubbin, and think you've been strong,
Then be a good girl and say Sorry--
_I'll be a good girl and say Sorry._
"When you have said something sounds like a swear,
When you have been in a jolly old tear,
When you've behaved like a beast of a bear,
Then be a good boy and say Sorry--
_I'll be a good boy and say Sorry._
"When we are sad and yet remain dry,
When we feel sort of we wish we could die,
Perhaps we'd be better, perhaps we could cry,
If we'd only be good and say Sorry--
_We'll be good boy-and-girl and say Sorry."_
Then Tiny hugged Baby; and Baby squealed; and the landlady ran like a
lightning pudding, and looked in.
And when she saw, that pleased the landlady, so that she smiled.
15
So some time went by.
Then one evening after tea, as Tiny lay flat in a fat chair with his
legs out, and slept aloud, which he always did till bedtime, when he
woke up very spry and wanted to lecture on his favourite subject, Baby
came in with a secret smile and the great picture alphabet-book she had
given him for wedding-present under her arm.
But directly Tiny saw the book, he held tight to the chair with his
arms, and kicked towards Baby with both feet, and screamed,
"I won't! I won't! I won't!"
But Baby put the book on the table, and a little straight-up thin chair
by it, and called very bright and firm,
"Now, Tiny."
Then Tiny pretended asleep louder than ever, and said,
"Wharisit? wharamarrer?"
So Baby said,
"To work up E for promotion."
Then Tiny whimpered through his nose,
"Tiny don't want. Tiny tired," which was quite a lie.
But Baby only smiled and said,
"Tiny must. Else I won't be married to Tiny."
So Tiny climbed out of the fat chair, and lowered himself on the thin
one, saying rather tearfully,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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