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THE

SPREAD EAGLE
AND OTHER STORIES
BY
GOUVERNEUR MORRIS
AUTHOR OF "THE FOOTPRINT, AND OTHER STORIES," ETC.

1910

TO ELSIE, PATSIE, AND KATE

     I had thought to sit in the ruler's chair,
     But three pretty girls are sitting there—
       Elsie, Patsie, and Kate.
     I had thought to lord it with eyes of gray,
     I had thought to be master, and have
my way;
     But six blue eyes vote
: nay, nay, nay!
       _Elsie, Patsie, and Kate.

     Of Petticoats three I am sore afraid,
     (Though Kate's is more like a candle-shade),
       Elsie, Patsie, and Kate.
     And I must confess (with shame) to you
     That time there was when Petticoats two
     Were enough to govern me through and through,
       Elsie, Patsie, and Kate.

     Oh Patsie, third of a bullying crew,
     And Elsie, and Kate, be it known to you—
       To Elsie, Patsie, and Kate,
     That Elsie_ alone _was strong enough
     To smother a motion, or call a bluff,
     Or any small pitiful atom thereof—
       Elsie, Patsie, and Kate.

     So, though I've renounced that ruler's part
     To which I was born (as is writ in my heart),
       Elsie, Patsie, and Kate,
     Though I do what I'm told (yes, you_ know I do)
     And am made to write stories (and sell them, too).
     Still—I wish to God I had more like you,
     Elsie, Patsie, and Kate
.

BAR HARBOR, August, 1910.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Certain persons have told me (for nothing) that "White Muscats of
Alexandria" resembles a tale in the Arabian Nights. And so it does.
Most damningly. And this is printed in the hope of saving other
persons postage.

CONTENTS

The Spread Eagle
Targets
The Boot
The Despoiler
One More Martyr
"Ma'am?"
Mr. Holiday
White Muscats of Alexandria
Without a Lawyer
The "Monitor" and the "Merrimac"
The McTavish
The Parrot
On the Spot; or, The Idler's House-Party

THE SPREAD EAGLE

In his extreme youth the adulation of all with whom he came in contactwas not a cross to Fitzhugh Williams. It was the fear of expatriationthat darkened his soul. From the age of five to the age of fourteen hewas dragged about Europe by the hair of his head. I use his ownsubsequent expression. His father wanted him to be a good American; hismother wanted him to be a polite American, And to be polite, in hermind, was to be at home in French and German, to speak English (orAmerican) with the accent of no particular locality, to know famouspictures when you saw them, and, if little, to be bosom friends withlittle dukes and duchesses and counts of the Empire, to play in thegravel gardens of St. Germain, to know French history, and to have forexercise the mild English variations of American games—cricket insteadof base-ball; instead of football, Ru

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