March 21 Sunday – From Susy Clemens’ diary:

Sunday — Here is another of papa’s stories told to me by Jean:

“The Generous Fender”

      Once there was a night — and a pair of tongs and a shuvel came into the library with the other tongs and shovels, and pulled out the anc-anifertent fender, from the fire-place, and began to kick it because they didn’t like it, but the fender was good; but they went on kicking till the fender was full of dents and spoiled. The people of the house had gone out to a party and staid away all night So the tongs and shovels kicked the poor fender till they were tired, and then put it back in its place

      Here Jean stopped, she had forgotten the rest of the story, and I could in no way persuade her to go on [Papa 209].