Your letter would not have been too long, dear, had you told about the
fort before you concluded it. Little correspondents need not fear making
descriptive letters too long.
* * * * *
"I want to look wise," said Maud, one day;
"I want to look clever and wise."
"Oho!" said the Owl, as he sat on a spray,
And blinked, as in solemn surprise,
"You had better by far remain as you are,
And learn to _be_ clever and wise."
Then echoed the birds as they sat in a row,
"You hear what he says; you'd better, you know,
Just learn to be clever and wise."
* * * * *