All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL L\ A GARDEX FAIR. 193
Revolution of 1848 failed for many liundred
millions ; or, that Sir Charles ruined famihes
by the dozen, and the Revolution ruined
families by the milhon, and so on ; each one
affording great matter of congratulation to the
obscure and unknown but genuine author of
the great movement.
'My little poems,' said Hector modestly,
* merely had the luck to precede the second
convulsion which shook llirones and made
priests tremble—that is all.'
'Your doing, your doing,' repeated Alk*n.
'My friend, I do not claim that honour.
I only remark a simple coincidence. That is
the story I wished to tell you. First, remark
that in spite of the remarkable success of those
verses I did not continue to write poetry.
That was because from being an active director
in modern history I had shortly to become a
a—what I am now. A mind, narrowed to so
small a thing as the verb irregular, and to so
contemptible a field as tlie intellect of Girl,
cannot write poetry.'
VOL. I. o