. King Time; or The mystical land of the hours, a fantasy . him in a quizzical wray, and thensaid, What a queer child you are! And that was allthe conversation which took place until the strangemountains loomed up in full view before the. boyseyes. But he had made a resolution not to expressany surprise at anything he saw, for the Imp didntseem to see things in his way, and was very touchy. As they approached nearer and nearer to the mightyhills, the little boy could distinguish living figuresseated upon the rocks and ledges all about, and twanginglittle harps. They were very small - - these f
. King Time; or The mystical land of the hours, a fantasy . him in a quizzical wray, and thensaid, What a queer child you are! And that was allthe conversation which took place until the strangemountains loomed up in full view before the. boyseyes. But he had made a resolution not to expressany surprise at anything he saw, for the Imp didntseem to see things in his way, and was very touchy. As they approached nearer and nearer to the mightyhills, the little boy could distinguish living figuresseated upon the rocks and ledges all about, and twanginglittle harps. They were very small - - these figures -and they seemed to be singing an anthem, or some-thing of the sort, which the little boy couldnt makeout. But he hesitated to ask any question concerningthem and their business for fear of getting into adispute. 41 KING TIME There! said the Imp, finally; those are HisMajestys Minstrels on guard at the mountains. To keep them from running away ? asked theboy. To keep what from running away ? The mountains. Now, dont be absurd, said the Imp, do you. hear that song theyresinging? Thats thenational hymn. Ho\vbeautiful it is. Just listen! They were now close upon a mighty canyon whichran between two great hills and formed a gatewayinto the mystic land. The scented breeze wafted the voices of the tinysingers in the little boys direction, and he was struckwith consternation on hearing the words of the nationalsong. 42 KING TIME Song of the Minstrels on the Frontier Upon the snow-clad mountain tops The waves of ocean roar, And the ships that bear the milkmaids home, From their cabins out on the briny foam, Are tied again to the barnyard door:And all is stillOn the sun-kissed hillAs the rain begins to pour: And the codfish, com-ing out of his hole, -^He heaves a sigh ashe sips his bowlOf cod liver oil,and eats his roll —In the Land of Tockerlore. And the song that we singTo our mighty kingWill resound the wide world oer, 43
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Keywords: ., bookauthorfitzhughpercykeese187, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
