and torpedo was a thing of the past, and each boy had
had a "pop" with the pop-gun.

Meanwhile Humpty Dumpty had been thinking of his second wish, and at
last decided to share it with Bo-peep, of whom he was very fond, and for
that purpose asked the little shepherdess to walk with him to the large
oak-tree on the edge of the village, and while resting in the shade of
its green boughs said,

"If you could have whatever you wished for, what would you choose,
Bo-peep?"

"Oh, some blue ribbons, and candy," said Bo-peep, "bolivars, and
chocolate drops, and such things."

"Then wish for them, and fire off this," said Humpty Dumpty, handing her
a cracker.

Bo-peep looked surprised, but did as she was bid; but to the boy's
surprise and disappointment, it only "fizzed," and went out.

"It is a poor one," said Bo-peep.

"We will make a squib of it," said Humpty Dumpty; and he quickly broke
it in two, and applied a match; and what a squib it was!--for in place
of the usual stream of fire, there issued forth a shower of such
sugar-plums and bonbons as neither of the children had ever even dreamed
of, and yards and yards of blue ribbon, the very color of the summer
sky.

Bo-peep clasped her hands, and sat down suddenly on the grass, but
Humpty Dumpty calmly heaped her lap with goodies, and twined the ribbon
in her sunny hair, and round the neck of her favorite lamb, which had
followed them from the village, and while they regaled themselves with
the confections under the oak-tree, told her of the wonderful gift given
him by dear old Mother Goose.

That afternoon the good people of Gooseneck were startled out of their
accustomed quiet by an invitation from Humpty Dumpty to an exhibition of
fire-works that evening on the village green; and John Stout, Nimble
Dick, and a number of other boys were engaged to build a platform for
the occasion.

"The boy must have gone out of his mind," said Mrs. Dumpty, when she
heard the news. "I'm afraid that last fall has affected his brain;" and
all the villagers shook their heads doubtfully.

They were all on hand, however, at the appointed time, Mother Goose
occupying a reserved seat in front; and loud was the laugh and many the
jokes made on Humpty Dumpty when he appeared on the platform carrying in
his chubby hand one small fire-cracker.

"Have we all come here to see a fat boy set off that little squib?" they
asked.

"Wait," said Mother Goose.

And in a few moments their rid