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said little Mary Louise。 And how she ever could have spoken in
poetry is more than I can tell； but perhaps the fairy maple sugar candy；
which she had eaten on her way to town； had lent magic to her tongue。
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Then the little old woman made a curtsy； and Mary Louise continued
on her way； and by and by； after a while； she came to a great big bear
sitting on a stone by the roadside。 On the ground by his side was a big
bundle tied with a thick leather strap。
Well； as soon as the bear saw Mary Louise； he took off his cap and
said；
〃I wish I had a pony； Either brown or gray； So I could ride
whate'er betide For many miles away。〃
〃Why； what's the matter？〃 asked little Mary Louise。
〃I have a splinter in my foot；〃 answered the bear。
So Mary Louise dismounted and looked at the bear's foot； and when
she found the splinter； she said：
〃Now don't you cry； and don't you pout； And I will pull the splinter
out。〃
And would you believe it； in less than five hundred short seconds； she
held the splinter under the bear's nose so he could see it； for the bear was
very near sighted and couldn't even see the end of his toes。
〃Dear me；〃 sighed little Mary Louise； 〃I wish I were safe at home with
Mother；〃 she set out once more； and by and by she came to Candy Town。
Now I guess many a little boy and girl wonders where all the
Christmas candies come from； but they wouldn't if they had once seen
Peppermint City； all painted white with red stripes； just like a stick of
peppermint candy。
Each house was built of white candy with columns of peppermint
sticks supporting the roof。 On either side the door stood lovely
peppermint statues and striped pillars held up the little porches and big
piazzas。
The opera house was guarded by a candy lion； and a fountain in the
middle of the town spouted maple syrup。 Rock candy crystal chandeliers
hung from the ceilings in the rich man's house and little peppermint
candlesticks made light for the workman's hut。 Even the lamp posts on
the corners were peppermint sticks and so were the barber poles。
〃Goodness me；〃 said Mary Louise to herself； 〃I wonder what would
happen if it rained。〃 But you see it never rained in Candy Country；
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which was mighty lucky。
〃What do you wish？〃 asked a Chocolate Man； as she knocked on the
Candy Town Gate。
The next moment the gate swung open and out marched a regiment of
Lemon Soldiers dressed in Lemon Khaki Uniforms。
〃Oh； I'm just lost；〃 replied Mary Louise with a sigh。
〃I'm a little traveler who goes For miles and miles upon her toes。
But sometimes when I'm tired out I think I hear a kind of voice shout；
'Come； ride with me upon my Goose；' And other times it is a Moose；
And then again a steed with wings； Or maybe some kind stranger brings
A ship that sails the ocean wide； And so instead of walk； I ride。〃
〃Well； well； your a little poetry maker；〃 said the Chocolate Man。 〃Now
you are the very person to write pretty little verses on our round
peppermint candies。〃 And then he held out his chocolate hand and drew
tired Mary Louise inside the gate； after which he locked it with a silver
key。
〃Come with me to our Candy Factory；〃 and he ran down the street；
which was paved with little red brick candies； until he came to a big Rock
Candy Building。
〃Look here；〃 gasped Mary Louise； all out of breath with running； for
that Chocolate Man was the best athlete in all Peppermint City； 〃I said I
was lost。 I'm not a poetry maker。 I wouldn't make poetry for anything。
I want to see things； not dream about them！〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the Chocolate Man； and he let go the lollypop door
handle； 〃I'm sorry。 I thought you'd like to stay here。〃
〃Don't feel badly about it；〃 said Mary Louise as he shook hands and
said good…by。 〃I must find my way home。 I've no time to lose。〃
〃Heigh ho； this is a big river；〃 she exclaimed a little later as she stood
on the bank of a swiftly flowing stream。
〃There isn't any bridge； how can you get across； There isn't any boat
and you haven't any horse That could swim across this river with you
upon its back； So I guess you'll have to turn about and go back upon
your track；〃
sang a cross voice。
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〃She won't have to do anything of the sort；〃 answered a kind voice and
a little white duck in a boat rowed up to the bank。
〃Come； jump aboard；〃 quacked Commodore Drake； for that was the
name of this duck sailor。
Mary Louise jumped in and away they went down the river to the deep
blue sea。 And after a while； maybe a mile； and perhaps a little more； they
came to the restless ocean。
〃Now；〃 said the duck； with a wheezy； breezy quack； 〃I'll take you to
the Hotel Wave Crest。〃
Presently they came to an island where a lovely coral building shone
pinky bright in the rays of the sun。 Right in front of it were two bell
buoys who rang little bells to tell the man who owned the hotel that
somebody wanted a room with a fresh salt water bath。
As soon as Commodore Drake had fastened the little boat to the wharf；
he and Mary Louise walked up the steps and into Wave Crest Hotel。
When the proprietor； a nice old Dolphin； saw Mary Louise's lovely sea
green coat； he at once asked where she had bought it。
〃The King of the Crabs gave it to me。〃
〃You don't tell me；〃 exclaimed the old Dolphin。 〃Do you know that
coat is a magic one？〃
〃What can it do？〃 asked Mary Louise； even more surprised than you
are。
〃Why； anybody who wears it can swim like a fish；〃 answered the
good…natured Dolphin。 〃It's better than a pair of water wings；〃 and he
turned over three times and began to sing；
〃Oh； many a mile I'v