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it。 〃Good…night。 Cut along in sharp； or you'll catch it！〃
Could it really be our own gate？ Yes； there it was； sure enough； with
the familiar marks on its bottom bar made by our feet when we swung on
it。
〃Oh； but wait a minute！〃 cried Charlotte。 〃I want to know a heap of
things。 Did the dragon really settle down？ And did〃
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DREAM DAYS
〃There isn't any more of that story；〃 said the man； kindly but firmly。
〃At least； not to…night。 Now be off！ Good…bye！〃
〃Wonder if it's all true？〃 said Charlotte； as we hurried up the path。
〃Sounded dreadfully like nonsense； in parts！〃
〃P'raps its true for all that；〃 I replied encouragingly。
Charlotte bolted in like a rabbit； out of the cold and the dark； but I
lingered a moment in the still； frosty air； for a backward glance at the
silent white world without； ere I changed it for the land of firelight and
cushions and laughter。 It was the day for choir…practice； and carol…time
was at hand； and a belated member was passing homewards down the road；
singing as he went：
〃Then St。 George： ee made rev'rence： in the stable so dim； Oo
vanquished the dragon： so fearful and grim。 So…o grim： and so…o fierce：
that now may we say All peaceful is our wakin'： on Chri…istmas Day！〃
The singer receded； the carol died away。 But I wondered； with my
hand on the door…latch； whether that was the song； or something like it；
that the dragon sang as he toddled contentedly up the hill。
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DREAM DAYS
A DEPARTURE
It is a very fine thing to be a real Prince。 There are points about a
Pirate Chief； and to succeed to the Captaincy of a Robber Band is a truly
magnificent thing。 But to be an Heir has also about it something
extremely captivating。 Not only a long…lost heiran heir of the
melodrama； strutting into your hitherto unsuspected kingdom at just the
right moment； loaded up with the consciousness of unguessed merit and of
rights so long feloniously withheldbut even to be a common humdrum
domestic heir is a profession to which few would refuse to be apprenticed。
To step from leading…strings and restrictions and one glass of port after
dinner； into property and liberty and due appreciation； saved up； polished
and varnished； dusted and laid in lavender； all expressly for youwhy；
even the Princedom and the Robber Captaincy； when their anxieties and
responsibilities are considered； have hardly more to offer。 And so it will
continue to be a problem； to the youth in whom ambition struggles with a
certain sensuous appreciation of life's side…dishes； whether the career he is
called upon to select out of the glittering knick…knacks that strew the
counter had better be that of an heir or an engine…driver。
In the case of eldest sons； this problem has a way of solving itself。 In
childhood； however； the actual heirship is apt to work on the principle of
the 〃Borough…English〃 of our happier ancestors； and in most cases of
inheritance it is the youngest that succeeds。 Where the 〃res〃 is 〃angusta；〃
and the weekly books are simply a series of stiff hurdles at each of which
in succession the paternal legs falter with growing suspicion of their
powers to clear the flight； it is in the affair of CLOTHES that the right of
succession tells； and 〃the hard heir strides about the land〃 in trousers long
ago framed for fraternal limbsfrondes novas et non sua poma。 A bitter
thing indeed！ Of those pretty silken threads that knit humanity together；
high and low； past and present； none is tougher； more pervading； or more
iridescent； than the honest； simple pleasure of new clothes。
It tugs at the man as it tugs at the woman； the smirk of the well…fitted
prince is no different from the smirk of the Sunday… clad peasant； and the
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DREAM DAYS
veins of the elders tingle with the same thrill that sets their fresh…frocked
grandchildren skipping。 Never trust people who pretend that they have
no joy in their new clothes。
Let not our souls be wrung； however； at contemplation of the luckless
urchin cut off by parental penury from the rapture of new clothes。 Just as
the heroes of his dreams are his immediate seniors； so his heroes' clothes
share the glamour； and the reversion of them carries a high privilegea
special thing not sold by Swears and Wells。 The sword of Galahadand
of many another heroarrived on the scene already hoary with history； and
the boy rather prefers his trousers to be legendary； famous； haloed by his
hero's renowneven though the nap may have altogether vanished in the
process。
But； putting clothes aside； there are other matters in which this
reversed heirship comes into play。 Take the case of Toys。 It is hardly
right or fittingand in this the child quite acquiesces that as he
approaches the reverend period of nine or say ten years； he should still be
the unabashed and proclaimed possessor of a hoop and a Noah's Ark。
The child will quite see the reasonableness of this； and； the goal of his
ambition being now a catapult； a pistol； or even a sword…stick； will be
satisfied that the titular ownership should lapse to his juniors； so far below
him in their kilted or petticoated incompetence。 After all； the things are
still there； and if relapses of spirit occur； on wet afternoons； one can still
（nominally） borrow them and be happy on the floor as of old； without the
reproach of being a habitual baby toy…caresser。 Also one can pretend it's
being done to amuse the younger ones。
None of us； therefore； grumbled when in the natural course of things
the nominal ownership of the toys slipped down to Harold； and from him
in turn devolved upon Charlotte。 The toys were still there； they always
had been there and always would be there； and when the nursery door was
fast shut there were no Kings or Queens or First Estates in that small
Rep