"Oh, yes, please," cried all the children at once.

Motioning them to a seat on an onion bulb, the little man struck an
attitude, and began--

"I was brought up on Verbs of irregular kind,
With a Pronoun or two as a treat,
While a strict course of Logic, to strengthen my mind,
My pastors and masters thought meet.

I had Lessons for breakfast, and Sums for my tea,
Learnt to play the Arithmetic nicely,
And gained all the prizes at School--don't you see,
For construing Doggerel concisely.

They were Isms, and Ologies, Science, and Cram,
Quadratic Equations, and Butter,
The _Pons asinorum_, and Strawberry Jam,
And the Cane, did I mumble or mutter."

CHAPTER IV.

STORIES AND TAILS BY THE SAGE.

"Do you mean to say," inquired Dick, when the Sage had finished, "that
all those last things were prizes; because, if so, there isn't a single
one of them that I should have cared for much, except the Strawberry
Jam?"

"That only shows a great want of taste on your part," said the old Sage,
severely. "Isms and Ologies, and things of that sort, are very tasty,
when you become used to them."

"What are Isms and Ologies, if you please, Sir?" asked Marjorie.

"Oh, there are various kinds," was the reply. "There's Ge-Ology, for
instance, which is lovely spread on bread-and-butter; and Zo-Ology, with
Aphor-Ism sauce, is simply delicious."

"They don't sound very nice," said Marjorie, dubiously, making a wry
face.

"You don't know anything at all about it, I'm afraid, my dear," said the
little old man, decidedly. "You would probably prefer dolls and
foolishness of that sort!"

"Yes, I think I should," admitted Marjorie, candidly.

"Do you know _everything_, please, Mr. Sage?" inquired Fidge, who had
been very silent during this conversation, which he had not in the least
been able to understand.

"Yes, my dear," said the Sage, smiling affably.

"Stories?" inquired Fidge, his eyes wide open with excitement and
interest.

The old man nodded.

"Oh! do tell us one, please," begged the little boy. "The Three Bears,
or Little Red Riding Hood, or something of that sort."

"Fidge, Fidge," cried Dick, rebukingly, "you mustn't bother the
gentleman."

"Oh, I don't mind in the least," said the Sage, pleasantly. "I'll tell
him some stories, if he likes."

"Oh! thanks, that's jolly!" cried Fidge, clapping his hands, and they
all sat down again, while th