d what
can? What is there like it? Has a church-bell any tone approximating it
even? Has a violin? Has a hautboy? Has a French horn? Has a jew's-harp?
Ay, that's the thing! A Jew's-harp has something like it; and so--so has a
bumble-bee. A thought strikes me! It is possible that Zounds and Sounds
are--Yes,' said I, rising and shouting with the excitement, 'Zounds and
Sounds are _bumble-bees_!--bumble-bees curiously prepared; gathered in
some warm climate where they abound, and pickled! Henceforth let no man
call that bee 'humble;' he is _bumble_, most decidedly!' And with this
thought I hurried off to bed. . . . It may have been an hour afterward,
while I was in the maze between sleeping and waking, that the words
'Zounds and Sounds' escaped me, unawares. 'What's that?' said FANNY,
starting up. 'Are you sure that I spoke?' said I. 'Indeed, I am; you said
something about going down town.' 'Did I? Well, I forgot to tell you. I
_am_ going down town; so you must not be surprised at my rising early
to-morrow. I think of breakfasting out.' 'You think! I should think you
did; thinking aloud, and asleep too! Don't think so again, dear; you woke
me out of a sound sleep.' . . . AT an early hour the next morning, I was
at my friend's house. _How_ I got there, I do not now remember; but I have
a distinct recollection of a ringing sensation in my head, and of not
being quite sure that I was awake, till the romping of a dozen children,
and a buzzing sound every where of Zounds and Sounds aroused me to a full
sense of the great treat that was coming. Then it was that I sang the last
night's song, and it took immensely, especially with the children. HARRY
was not there to hear it, and lost that pleasure, (as I have never
repeated it,) unless he heard it in the kitchen, where he was
superintending the burden of the song. Shortly after, came the call of
'breakfast,' and we all walked in, at least fifteen of us, and took seats
at the table before the Zounds and Sounds were brought in. HARRY was
already seated at the head. Presently the Zounds came in, piping hot; but
before they had reached the table, HARRY turned to me and asked if I had
any preference. 'Have you taken the stingers out?' said I, thinking of
bumble-bees. 'Stingers!' said HARRY. 'Oh, I beg your pardon,' said I;
'only a joke;' and making a bold guess at some white things that now
appeared on the table, added, 'A little of the breast.' HARRY smiled, but
said nothing. Plates we