Of course, the
other folks may listen to it, but it is understood betwixt me an' you
thet it's all yours, an' whatever goes inter their ears is jest ther
leavin's. Is that a go?"
The boy nodded eagerly, even though he didn't understand the drift of
Bud's remarks.
"What's the story about?" asked the boy.
"The goat, my boy. Perhaps you don't know it, but the goat is one of
the noblest animals what walks. He is also one o' ther smartest, an' in
former years used ter be able ter talk, but ez soon ez he got ter be so
popular in secret societies ther gift o' speech was withdrawed from him,
so thet he wouldn't be able ter give erway ther secret things what he
saw an' heard at ther meetin's."
"But, Bud, are they really smart?" asked Dick.
"Smart ain't no name fer it. All yer got ter do to find out if they're
smart is ter look at their whiskers. The smartest o' all animiles is
man, an' don't he wear whiskers? An' I want ter ast yer what other
animile hez whiskers exceptin' ther goat. Ther goat knew what he was
about when he begin ter raise whiskers.
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