They had never been to the seaside before, so you can imagine how pleased they were when Mr. Merryweather said, "I think we will go to the sea this summer, it will do the children good."
They all began to jump about and get very excited, all except John. John had heard about the sea, but he didn't quite believe it. So he said to his Father:
"When you go to the theathide, do you weally thee the thea?"
All the other children laughed, and Mary the eldest, who knew everything, said, "Silly, of course you do!"
John kept his eyes on his Father, and said, "Do you weally?" And his Father said, "Yes, old boy, you do." Then John gave a great sigh of happiness and said, "I fort perhaps you did." And he walked round and round the garden, singing, "I'm going to thee the thea!"
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