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takes me back to the time when my boy was a little fellow and sat on my
knee to hear me read Little Journeys to Happyland。 How time flies！〃
And the big kind giant took his pocket handkerchief out again to wipe his
blue eyes； and after that he went over to the piano and sang：
〃If I had my little boy again How happy I should be； I'd piggy…
back him all around And trundle him on my knee。
〃But oh； dear me。 It's so long ago； And he's been away so long；
That all I can do is to wish and wish That he could hear this song。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said little Mary Louise； when the giant had finished。
〃You want your little boy and I want my mother。〃
Well pretty soon when Mary Louise walked into the dining room she
saw the most wonderful turkey that ever graced a Thanksgiving table。
Why； it weighed upty'leven pounds and was stuffed with a bushel of
chestnuts。
〃Now eat slowly and tuck your napkin under your chin；〃 said Mr。
Merry Laugh； 〃for we don't have Thanksgiving every day； although we
ought to be thankful every day； just the same。〃 And he stuck in the fork
which was as big as a pitch…fork and began to carve with a knife that was
even larger than General Pershing's sword。
Well； after a while； a mince pie was brought in； so large that it would
have taken Mary Louise thirteen minutes to walk around it if the giant had
placed it on the floor。 But of course he didn't。 No sireemam。 He first
cut a little piece for her and then a great big tremendous piece for himself；
and would you believe he ate two pieces while she was eating one！
At last； when the dinner was over； and the giant had dried the wish
bone on the steam heater till it was nice and dry； he handed little Mary
Louise the magic knife and told her to make it into a whistle。 And would
you believe it if I didn't say so； in less than five hundred short seconds she
had carved out the prettiest little whistle you ever saw。
〃Now； little girl；〃 said Mr。 Merry Laugh； 〃blow on it and make a wish。
But don't make the same wish you did before。〃
〃Oh dear me；〃 sighed the little girl。 〃I only wish one thing； and that
is to be home with mother。〃
〃Get your pony back and I'll help you；〃 said Mr。 Merry Laugh kindly。
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The Iceberg Express
So Mary Louise blew on her whistle and made a wish； when； all of a
sudden； quicker than a wink； they heard a neigh in the courtyard； and
looking out of the window； saw Dapple Gray。
〃Here； take this little ring；〃 said the giant； 〃and if ever you are in
trouble； turn it around your finger three times and a half。〃
Just then the little yellow bird began to sing：
〃'Tis a little golden ring； Such a tiny； pretty thing。 But be careful
lest you lose it； For you may have need to use it； It possesses such a
charm It will keep you from all harm。〃
〃Good luck；〃 said Mr。 Merry Laugh as he opened the castle door。
〃Good…by and good luck。 Drop in the next time you're in town； and don't
forget Castle Merry Laugh； Forest City； U。S。A。〃
〃Thank you；〃 answered Mary Louise。
Just then down flew the beautiful Dream Bird。
〃I'll take you home；〃 he said。 〃Climb up between my wings！〃
Then away he went through the air so softly that maybe the little girl
fell asleep； for when she woke up； there she was on the beach where she
had first met the little Mermaid Princess。
〃Oh； oh；〃 yawned Mary Louise； 〃am I really here？〃 But nobody
answered； so she jumped to her feet and ran home to her mother。
Well； well； have we come to the end of the story； you and I； little
reader？ I'm sorry I've nothing more to tell you in this book； but listen
lean over to me and listenI've written another book for the 〃Little
Journeys to Happyland〃 seriesit is called 〃The Wind Wagon。〃 Isn't that
a strange title？ But I know you'll like ityes； I'm sure you will。
So don't forget。 It will be published next year。
Yours for a story；
David Cory。
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