George Ade

Ade's Fables George Ade

Ambition came, with Sterling Silver Breast-Plate and Flaming Sword, and sat beside a Tad aged 5. The wee Hopeful lived in a Frame House with Box Pillars in front and Hollyhocks leading downtoward the Pike."Whither shall I guide you?" asked Ambition. "Are you far enough from the Shell to have anydefinite Hankering?""I have spent many Hours brooding over the possibilities of the Future," replied the Larva. "Iwant to grow up to be a Joey in a Circus. I fairly ache to sit in a Red Wagon just behind the Bandand drive a Trick Mule with little pieces of Looking Glass in the Harness. I want to pull Mugs at allthe scared Country Girls peeking out of the Wagon Beds. The Town Boys will leave the Elephantand trail behind my comical Chariot. In my Hour of Triumph the Air will be impregnated withCalliope Music and the Smell of Pop-Corn, modified by Wild Animals."Ambition went out to make the proper Bookings with Destiny. When he came back the Boy wasten years old."We started wrong," whispered Ambition, curling up in the cool grass near the Day-Dreamer."The Trick Mule and the Red Cart are all very well for little Fraidy-Cats and Softies, but a braveYouth of High Spirit should tread the Deck of his own Ship with a Cutlass under his Red Sash. Aye, that is Blood gauming up the Scuppers, but is the Captain chicken-hearted? Up with the Black Flag!Let it be give and take, with Pieces of Eight for the Victor!"