The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04
THE MAJORS STORY.

Here comes the Major" cried Mollie,
from her place at the window. Hes on
time this tine"
"HooroarH- said Jack, dancing a Jig
on the librsry floor. I'm going TO ask
him about sharks to-day"
II don't believe he knows anything
about sharks" said Mollie. "He isn't a
sailor man. All the fine things he ever
did were on land"
II don't ccre," retorted Jack. I'm 60
ing to ask him just the same"
And then the Major arrived. and Jack
did as he said he would do.
Uncle Major Molie and think we'd
Ike TO hear about what's happened TO
you and sharks" he said
ME and sharks, eh?" said the Major,
scratching his head, obviously you
prefer to hear that experience, do you?
Like II better than hearing about how
1 captured the rhinoceros out in--er-dear
me. I've captured so many things in so
many places that sometimes ! can't for
the life of me think where and how I got
which Where do rhinoceroses grow any
how, Jack? You've been to school since
/ have"
ION the Rhine, I guess" said Jack,
with an uneasy glance at Mollie. He
frankly did not know where rhinoceroses
came from, fer the very good reason that
he had never needed any. but he, was
afraid that perhaps Mollie might nave
heard, and 1t would have been dreadful
TO be taken down by his younger sister.
1t was, therefore, with great measure
of relief that he received the Endorsement
of his statement involved in the little
maids remark, why. Of course, they
does. They wouldn't be rhinoceroses II
they didn't"
well, anyhow" said the Major.
wouldn't you rather hear about the
oseroses whether they were Rhineose-
roses, or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., or Missis-
sippioseroses?"
I'VE might hear about both" said Jack.
''only tell us about the shark first"
The Majors hesitation convinced the
boy that the story was a terrible one.
ard he was reluctant to give II up.
II want to hear about sharks, too"
said Mollie, because a friend Of mine
has two gold fishes and I like fish,"
"All right" said the Major. squeezing
Mollies hand, affectionately. about the
sharks II shall be. 1t was twenty years
ago last August that had this adventure
j was off yachting with some Russian
friends of mine. people had met at
dinner given in my honor by the Car
while was at st. Petersburg. where 1
had been sent upon secret mission by
the French Government"
what was the mission. Major?" asked
Jack, who liked to hear OF the important
doings Of his dear old friend.
81 never knew" said the Major, bland
~. "As / have said, 1t was n secret mis-
sion, and the French Government never
took rue into its confidence. The only
thing 1 know about 1t is that I was sent
there. and I went. and In the course of
time / made myself much beloved OF both
the people and His Majesty the Ca.
am the only person that ever lived
that was liked equally by both. and IL
had attached myself permanently to the
Car Russia would have been different
country to-day"
What country would 1t have been,
Uncle Maori" asked Mollie. innocently,
Germany
81 can't specify, my DEAR" the Major
replied. 1T wouldn't be fair. But, at any
rate, l went to Russia, and was treated
well by everybody except the climate,
which was. as 1t is at all times. very
freezing. That's the reason the Russian
people like the climate. 1t is the only
thing the Car can't change by Imperial
decree. and the people admire its ,nde-
pendence and endure II for that reason.
But as ] have said. everybody was
pleased with me. and the Car showed
me unusual attention. He gave fetes In
my honor. He gave the most prfncely
dinners, and met the very best people
In ST. Petersburg. and at one OF these
dinners was invited 10 Join this "a ,ht-
Ing party In a cruise.
We'll. OF courIs though landsman
In every sense Of the word. am Fond of
Yachtiny. ana Immediately accepted tho
DEVIATION. The yacht We went .n was
sne &>ssac zA0arnah. BELONGING to Prince