54 . MOTHER MAGPIE S MISCHIEF. 



&quot;I really don t understand you, ma am,&quot; said poor Dr. 

 Bullfrog. 



&quot; What ! you have n t heard of a committee that is going 

 to call on you, to ask you to resign the care of the parish 

 music ? &quot; 



&quot; Madam,&quot; said Dr. Bullfrog, with all that energy of tone 

 for which he was remarkable, &quot; I don t believe it, I cant 

 believe it. You must have made a mistake.&quot; 



&quot; I mistake ! No, no, my good friend ; I never make 

 mistakes. What I know, I know certainly. Was n t it I 

 that said I knew there was an engagement between Tim 

 Chipmunk and Nancy Nibble, who are married this blessed 

 day ? I knew that thing six weeks before any bird or beast 

 in our parts ; and I can tell you, you are going to be 

 scandalously and ungratefully treated, Dr. Bullfrog.&quot; 



&quot; Bless me, we shall all be ruined ! &quot; said Mrs. Bullfrog ; 

 &quot;my poor husband &quot; 



&quot;O, as to that, if you take things in time, and listen to 

 my advice,&quot; said Mother Magpie, &quot;we may yet pull you 

 through. You must alter your style a little, adapt it to 

 modern times. Everybody now is a little touched with the 

 operatic fever, and there s Tommy Oriole has been to 

 New Orleans and brought back a touch of the artistic. If 

 you would try his style a little, something Tyrolean, you 

 see.&quot; 



&quot;Dear madam, consider my voice. I never could hit the 

 high notes.&quot; 



