THE REASON WHY

When the reading of the proclamation was finished, the hours betook themselves to their various resting places, where they gathered in little groups to talk over the proclamation and to praise the wisdom and thoughtfulness of the great Duke. But the little boy was very much disappointed, and bewildered withal, for it had seemed to him that the weather was almost ideal.

“I think I had better stay,” he said to himself, “for a day or two, at least, and see what they will do.” So he busied himself in talking with the various hours and in trying to find an hour who had seen some great historical event, but the only one he met who was at all interesting was a drowsy looking imp who said he had seen Rip Van Winkle go to sleep—or some one that looked very much like Rip Van Winkle, at any rate.

One day went by—two days went by—three days went by—but the army did not move. Finally at the end of seven days, it was rumored about that the Duke intended to deliver another and very important proclamation 222on the following day. There was a great deal of whispering among the hours who were in close touch with the Duke, and the little boy noticed that many of the imps were getting their belongings together as if preparing to start away. No one seemed to know what the proclamation was going to be, but there was a general expectation that it would be in connection with some important move. When the next day came, the entire army, including the little boy, gathered in the usual place to hear the Duke, but the renowned head of the army did not appear. The next day at the same time they assembled again, and this time it was given out that the Duke was very sorry but that the importance of what he had to say made it necessary for him to give more time to its preparation. The troops were ordered to make ready to start at two or three hours’ notice and to assemble the following morning to hear the proclamation. The little boy began to feel very nervous, for he knew, of course, that they were going to march against the King at last, and he did not know whether he ought to hasten at once to Tickerleen or to wait for the proclamation and make sure of his information. He decided that he would wait.

On the following morning there was great excitement in the camp. Every imp which came to join the throng that waited outside the Duke’s headquarters was armed with a warming-pan and seemed ready to start right away. And so the crowd increased and waited for the 223mighty Duke Procrastinate to appear. The little boy was in a fever of excitement. Finally, after much waiting, the great leader, with his warming-pan highly polished and his nightcap freshly laundered and highly starched, appeared upon the platform amid deafening cheers. He had a gallant, soldierly air about him as he glanced around at his faithful followers, as if he had accomplished wonderful deeds and thought the applause was no more than his due. The little boy was so nervous as he stood waiting that he could hardly keep still. He thought it a little strange that the Duke should be willing for him to hear the proclamation and then go and tell the King. “But I suppose,” said he to himself, “that he doesn’t really believe I’ll get there first.”

When the shouting began to die away, the renowned Duke raised his hand to command perfect silence, and stepping forward with a martial air, he said impressively,

“My brave and loyal followers,

“When coming from my castle grand,

And from my downy bed,

You will recall, my noble band,

I most distinctly said

“That when the fighting should be o’er,

Unquestionably, I,

224In case we failed to win the war,

Would know the reason why!”

“As nearly as we recollect,

Your memory is quite correct,

And then you heard us cry,

“As, doubtless, noble lord, you know,

That if we fled before the foe,

We’d know the reason why!”

“Yes, yes, I heard you all comply

That if our course was checked

We’d surely know the reason why—

Or words to that effect.

“The din of war has now been stilled,

And, let us hope, for good.

The prophesy has been fulfilled,

Just as I said it would.

“We cannot say we’ve won the day

Nor conquered any hours,

Yet let the bands of music play,

For victory is ours!”

“We’ll let them play, of course, my lord,

And cheer them as with one accord,

With all our feeble powers,

225“But hope we do not make too free

In stating that we cannot see

How victory is ours!”

“To that remark, my loyal host,

I’ll cheerfully reply,

Though martial spoils we cannot boast,

We know the reason why!”

“And surely, all we hours ought

To take some comfort in the thought,

As years go fleeting by,

“And justly claim for evermore,

We failed in taking Tockerlore,

Because we didn’t try!”

“And is it not a triumph grand,

And worthy of applause,

When we have failed to take a land,

We really know the cause?

“So let us yawn our loud hurrahs,

Until the forest rings,

With gapes of joy and long huzzas,

And several other things!”

“Indeed, my lord, we’ll do our best

To gape and yawn, as you suggest.

And sing huzzas and things,

226“Although our memories will not let

A single one of us forget,

The land is still the King’s!

“For though, in all our recent wars,

We finish up with wild applause,

To strangers it is odd because,

The land is still the King’s!”

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