Samantha at the World's Fair eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 532 pages of information about Samantha at the World's Fair.

Samantha at the World's Fair eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 532 pages of information about Samantha at the World's Fair.

And then there wuz the big seal of the United States.

I had read a description of it to Josiah that mornin’, and had explained it all out to him—­all about the Argant, and Jules, and the breast of the American Eagle displayed proper.

I sez, “That means that it is proper for a bird to display its breast in public places; and,” sez I, “though it don’t speak right out, it probable means to gin a strong hint to fashionable wimmen.

“And then,” says I, “it holds in its dexter talons a olive branch.  That means that it is so dextrous in wavin’ that branch round and gittin’ holt of what it wants.

“And holdin’ in its sinister talons a bunch of arrows.”  Sez I, “That means that in war it is so awful sinister, and lets them arrows fly onto its enemies where they are needed most.”

And then the Eagle holds in its beak a strip of paper with “E.  Pluribus Unum” on it, which means “One formed out of many.”

And how many countries will wheel into the procession and become part of the great one as the centuries go on?  I don’t believe Uncle Sam has the least idee; I know I hain’t, nor Josiah.

For on the back part is a pyramiad unfinished; no knowin’ how many bricks will yet be laid on top of that pyramiad, or how high it will shoot up into the heavens.

And then there is a big eye surrounded with a Glory.

The eye of the United States most likely, and I spozed mebby it meant big I and little You.

I didn’t know exactly what it did mean till I catched sight of the words above, meanin’ “The eye of Providence is favorable to our undertakin’s.”

And then I felt better, and hoped it wuz so.

Down under the pyramiad is words meanin’ “A New Order of Centuries.”

That riz me up still more, for I knew it wuz true.  Yes; when Columbus pinted the prow of that caraval of hisen towards the New World, the water broke on each side of it, a-washin’ back towards the Old World the decayin’ creeds and orders of the Old World, and the ripples that danced ahead on’t, clear acrost the Atlantic, wuz a-carryin’ new laws, new governments; and hoverin’ over the prow as it swept on in the darkness and the dawn, onseen to any eye, not even the prophetic eye of the discoverer, hovered the great angels Liberty, Equal Rights, and Human Brotherhood.

For them angels could see further than we can; they could see clear ahead when the iron chains should fall from black wrists, and as mighty chains, though wrought with gold, mebby, should fall from the delicate white wrists of mother, and wife, and sister.

It could see that this indeed wuz “A New Order of Centuries.”

And then we see—­kep jest as careful as though it wuz pure gold and diamonds—­the petition of the Colonies to the King of England.  And I’ll bet England has been sorry enuff to think it didn’t hear to ’em, and act a little more lenient to ’em.

And then there wuz the old Constitution of the United States, in the very handwritin’ of its immortal framer.

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Samantha at the World's Fair from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.