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"RIP VAN WINKLE."
The farmer's wife, the farmer's son,
These also did as those had done;
Lastly, the servant-girl came back—
"I'll teach them I can parritch mak'!"
With her left hand the salt she shook,
And in her right the "spurtle" took.
The lassie brought the porridge "ben"
With conscious rectitude, and then,
With folded hands and pious face,
The farmer rose and said the grace,
Next tucked a napkin 'neath his chin,
And all were ready to begin.
······
What followed next I will not state,
It is too painful to relate;
But this they all agreed upon:
That too much salt is worse than none.
"Rip van Winkle."
