u
won't see it."

"But I want to see it," retorted Tom. "What's the use of visiting the moon
if you can't see it?"

"Reminds me of a poem I wrote once," put in the Poker. "'What's the Use?'
was one of my masterpieces, and maybe if I recite it to you it will help
your eyes."

"Bosh!" growled the Bellows, who was beginning to get a little
short-winded with his labors, and, therefore, a trifle out of temper. "How
on earth will reciting your poem help Tom's eyes?"

"Easy enough," returned the Poker haughtily and with a contemptuous glance
at the Bellows. "My poem is so much brighter than the moon that the moon
will seem dull alongside of it."

"Go ahead anyhow," said Tom, interested at once and forgetting his eyes
for the moment. "Give us the poem."

"Here goes, then," said the Poker, with a low bow and then, standing
erect, he began. "It's called

WHAT'S THE USE.

What's the use of circuses that haven't any beasts?
What's the use of restaurants that haven't any feasts?

What's the use of oranges that haven't any peels?
What's the use of bicycles that haven't any wheels?

What's the use of railway trains that have no place to go?
What's the use of going to war if you haven't any foe?

What's the use of splendid views for those that cannot see?
What's the use of freedom's flag to folks that aren't free?

What's the use of legs to those who have no wish to walk?
What's the use of languages to those who cannot talk?

What's the use of kings and queens that haven't any throne?
What's the use of having pains unless you're going to groan?

What's the use of anything, however grand and good,
That doesn't ever, ever work the way it really should?"

"Humph!" panted the Bellows, "you don't call that bright, do you?"

"I do, indeed," said the Poker. "And I call it bright because I know it's
bright. It is so bright that not a magazine in all the world dare print
it, because they'd never be able to do as well again, and people would say
the magazine wasn't as good as it used to be."

"What nonsense," retorted the Bellows. "Why, I could blow a mile of poetry
like that in ten minutes:

What's the use of churches big that haven't any steeples?
What's the use of nations great that haven't any peoples?

What's the use of oceans grand that haven't any beaches?
What's the use of Delawares that haven't any peaches?

What's the use--"

"O,