Charles Edward Carryl

“ He gave one hand to Davy and the other to the goblin. “It’s a great improvement, isn’t it?” said Sindbad.
“What is?” said Davy, very much puzzled.
“Why, this way of playing the game,” said Sindbad, looking up at him complacently. “You see, you make all the moves at once.”
“It must be a very easy way,” said Davy.
“It’s nothing of the sort,” said Sindbad, sharply. “There are more moves in one of my games than in twenty ordinary games;” and here he stirred up the chessmen furiously for a moment, and then triumphantly calling out “Check!” clapped the turban on his head. ”

“ Davy looked around and saw an old man coming toward them across the lawn. He was dressed in a Turkish costume, and wore a large turban and red morocco slippers turned up at the toes like skates; and his white beard was so long that at every fourth step he trod upon it and fell flat on his face. He took no notice whatever of either Davy or the Goblin, and, after falling down a number of times, took his seat upon one of the little carpet footstools, and taking off his turban began stirring about in it with a large wooden spoon. ”

“ The fact is,” he continued, gravely shaking his head, “I’ve never laughed in my life. Does it hurt much?”
“It doesn’t hurt at all,” said Davy, beginning to laugh again.
“Well, there, there!” said the Hole-keeper, peevishly, resuming his walk again; “don’t keep it up forever. By the way, you’re not the postman, are you?”
“Of course I’m not,” said Davy.
“I’m glad of that,” said the Hole-keeper; “postmen are always so dreadfully busy. Would you mind delivering a letter for me?” he added, lowering his voice confidentially.
“Oh, no,” answered Davy, rather reluctantly; “not if it will be in my way.” ”

“ But the cook was Dutch, and behaved as such;
⁠For the food that he gave the crew
Was a number of tons of hot-cross buns,
⁠Chopped up with sugar and glue.
And we all felt ill as mariners will,
⁠On a diet that’s cheap and rude ”