Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/364
Aunt Eleanor, with an expression of anxiety, opened the note; and having read, exclaimed—
"What on earth could have induced him to send this to you?"
"I can't imagine," replied Sylvester, "But read the song!"
She did so, and laughed most heartily.
Tol de rol, diddle lol, looral-li-day!"
"What is the meaning of all that, my dear?"
"That's the chorus," said Sylvester.
"Oh! the chorus: I understand!" she exclaimed, and merrily laughed again.
"I'll show this to Rouse, when he comes," said Sylvester.
"No, my dear: you must not do that."
"Why not? He'll be amused."
"Do you think so?"
"He's sure to be. Besides, he ought to know what a genius he has in his fold."
"I fear that this person is not in his fold. I do not believe he belongs to the flock. I never saw him at church in my life."
"Judkins believes him to be insane."
"It is possible; but I never before heard it even hinted. But he says here, my dear, that he presents the song 'as promised!' Did he ever promise to send a thing of the kind?"
"Certainly not."
"Then the inference is that he must be insane. But we shall hear what Mr. Rouse says about him."
They then sat down to breakfast, and while they were at it, Sylvester highly amused his aunt by occasionally chanting this celebrated chorus.
"We must have this song set to music," said he. "You can do it admirably. It's a capital song. There's plenty of scope for the development of musical genius: for example, those two happy lines—
It's wonderful bigamy's not more in vogue—'"
"Sylvester!" exclaimed Aunt Eleanor, "my dear!"
"Oh! but they are excellent: and might be rendered very effective! I don't know exactly whether he means 'precious plump,' or 'plump and precious,' but that you'll see. And then what effect may be given to these lines—
Good juxtaposition to welt the whole world!'"
"Sylvester! How can you go on so! You will not let me have half a breakfast."
"Well, but look at the 'tidy good juxtaposition.' There's a chance for a musical composer!"
"But what does he mean by the word 'welt?'"
"To welt, is to beat—to conquer! It ought to have been, perhaps, 'to towel the world;' but 'welt' will do. And then 'the flat flag of free-