fell back helplessly, his mouth opened wide. He snored, but not very
loudly. I looked at Grandma, wondering why her vigilance had failed on
this occasion, and lo! her head was falling peacefully from side to
side. She was fast asleep, too. She woke up first, however, and then
Grandpa was speedily and adroitly aroused by some means, I think it was
a pin; and Grandma fed him with bits of unsweetened flag-root, which he
munched penitently, though evidently without relish, until he dropped
off to sleep again, and she dropped off to sleep again, and so they
continued.

But it always happened that Grandma woke up first. And whereas Grandpa,
when the avenging pin pierced his shins, recovered himself with a start
and an air of guilty confusion, Grandma opened her eyes at regular
intervals, with the utmost calm and placidity, as though she had merely
been closing them to engage in a few moments of silent prayer.




VIVE LA BAGATELLE

BY GELETT BURGESS


Sing a song of foolishness, laughing stocks and cranks!
The more there are the merrier; come join the ranks!
Life is dry and stupid; whoop her up a bit!
Donkeys live in clover; bray and throw a fit!

Take yourself in earnest, never stop to think,