FOLLEN
With Illustrations by Billings and others
THE OLD GARRET
Boys are not apt to forget a promise of a story. Frank and Harry did
not fail to call upon their mother for the history of the old
musket.
"It appeared to me," said the mother, "that the old musket was not
very willing to tell his story. He had a sort of old republican
pride, and felt himself superior to the rest of the company in
character and importance. When he had made himself heard in the
world hitherto, it had always been by one short, but very decided
and emphatic word; he despised any thing like a palaver; so he began
very abruptly, and as if he had half a mind not to speak at all,
because he could not speak in his own way.
"None but fools," said he, "have much to say about themselves--
'Deeds, not words,' is a good motto for all. But as I would not be
churlish, and as I have agreed, as well as the rest of my
companions, to tell my story, I will mention what few things worth
relating I can recollect.
I have no distinct consciousness, as my friend the pitcher or the
curling tongs has, of what I was before the ingenuity of man brought
me into my present form. I would only mention that all the different
materials of which I was formed must have been perfect of their
kind, or I could never have performed the duties required of me.
My first very distinct recollection is of being stood up in the way
I am standing now, with a long row of my brethren, of the same shape
and character as myself, as I supposed.
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