“There was a boy named Merrill Who climbed up a rock like a squirrel――――”
Kitty paused there, whether to receive applause for the ingenuity of the rhyme or to grope for the rest of the verse they didn’t know. The twins, however, encouraged him with expressions of delight, and after a moment he continued:
“And when he was on top Of the very big rock He shouted aloud in his peril!”
Kitty finished with a flourish and beamed self-approval. The applause was deafening. Tad said it was magnificent.
“I’m ready,” replied May. “Are you, Matty?”
“Well.” May took a long breath, fixed her eyes on the edge of the horizon and began:
“There was a young lady named Matty Who left home looking very natty――――”
“May Binner!” interrupted the subject of her poetic effusion, “if you use ‘fatty’ I――I’ll――――”
“Not going to,” replied May triumphantly.
“But when she got back She had torn her new sack, And her mother said, ‘My, you look ratty!’”
“I don’t think ‘ratty’ is a very nice word to use,” objected Matty. “Besides, I don’t wear a sack!”
“That’s just a metaphor,” returned May serenely. “I couldn’t very well make ‘dress’ rhyme with ‘back,’ could I?”
“It’s a perfectly good limerick,” laughed Rodney. “And I think it’s the best yet.”
“Wait!” cried Matty. “I’ve got a new one. Listen:
“There was a young lady named May, Who didn’t know just what to say, So the words of her verse From bad grew to worse, And her friends from her side turned away.”
“Too pathetic,” decided Tad. “A limerick should be cheerful, I think. That last line brought tears to my eyes, Matty.” But for some reason Kitty approved enthusiastically of the latest attempt and clapped loudly.
“We’ll have to vote to see who gets the prize, I guess,” said Rodney. “Who do you say, Tad?”
“It isn’t over yet,” announced Tad, pulling himself to a sitting posture. “I have another one.”
“But you’ve had your turn,” protested Matty.
“No, that was before the contest started. Shove the prize this way and lend me your ears. All set? Go!”
“There were two twins named Binner, You couldn’t tell which was the thinner, With one accord They said, ‘We feel bored, We had apple dumplings for dinner!’”
“Here you are!” laughed Rodney as he tossed the tin cup across. “Catch! You win!”