MOTUS AT THE FIRESIDE. 73 



" TlMt the tougue?" 



"The tongue?" 



"The tongue!" 



So the query and exclamation ran from one to an- 

 other, or, rather, rose from all in chorus. 



" Yes," I answered, " that is the tongue, and Madam 

 Sphinx certainly can't complain of its brevity. Here, 

 now, is where your 'stem' comes in. The long, slen- 

 der object which j-ou mistook for the cord by which a 

 cocoon hangs is a tnnyue-case. It is bent over, as you 

 see, from the head so as to touch the breast onl}' at the 

 end, causing the crysalis somewhat to resemble a 

 pitcher." 



My discourse was here interrupted by an unctuous 

 roll of laughter proceeding from the kitchen door, " IIo, 

 ho, ho!" 



All eyes were turned upon Dan, who Avas rocking 

 back and forth upon his stool, in an ecstacy of merri- 

 ment. Soon the entire group was laughing in pure 

 sympathy, for no one had suspected the cause of Dan's 

 mirth. 



" Beg pardon, Mars Maylier," he said, at length. "I 

 done forgot iny manners, dat's a fac' ; but it come over 

 me so Sudden ! I'se ies' thinkin' dat ef all de lonc- 

 tongued folkses could git dat kin' uv a spectakle-case 

 to stow away dar tongues in. "i would be mighty 

 handy round our kitchen o' nights ! ]);iv's Sarey Ann, 

 now, " 



Another out1)reak of hearty laughter interrupted 

 Dan's remarks, the point of which every one appre- 



