Children’s Priorities

            “Callia—fetch the faunts!” called Cosmo Chubb to his eldest daughter as Odo Proudfoot leaned on the wall dividing the two dooryards.

            “You are taking all nine children to the party?” asked Odo.  “Thought you didn’t find Bilbo Baggins quite respectable enough to take your children near him.”

            “Nor do I,” admitted the Chubb as he herded the children toward the wagon.  “But it takes a good deal of provender to keep so many these days.”

            Little Carnelian, however, beckoned for their neighbor to lean down to her.  “I like to go because he tells the best of stories!”