'It was an
excess of generosity in which mankind could never have before indulged!'
'By no means!' said his companion, with great coolness; 'far from this
being an unparalleled affair, I assure you it is a matter of hourly
occurrence; make your mind quite easy. You are probably not aware that
you are now living in the richest and the most charitable country in the
world?'
'Wonderful!' said Popanilla; 'and what is the name, may I ask, of this
charitable city?'
'Is it possible,' said his companion, with a faint smile, 'that you are
ignorant of the great city of Hubbabub; the largest city not only that
exists, but that ever did exist, and the capital of the island of
Vraibleusia, the most famous island not only that is known, but that
ever was known?'
While he was speaking they were accosted by a man upon crutches, who,
telling them in a broken voice that he had a wife and twelve infant
children dependent on his support, supplicated a little charity.
Popanilla was about to empty part of his pocketfuls into the mendicant's
cap, but his companion repressed his unphilosophical facility.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56