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The Remarkable Rocket
"Itmaybesowithyou,"heanswered;"indeed,Ihavenodoubtthatitis,butwithmeitisdifferent.IamaveryremarkableRocket,andcomeofremarkableparents.MymotherwasthemostcelebratedCatherineWheelofherday,andwasrenownedforhergracefuldancing.Whenshemadehergreatpublicappearanceshespunroundnineteentimesbeforeshewentout,andeachtimethatshedidsoshethrewintotheairsevenpinkstars.Shewasthreefeetandahalfindiameter,andmadeoftheverybestgunpowder.MyfatherwasaRocketlikemyself,andofFrenchextraction.Heflewsohighthatthepeoplewereafraidthathewouldnevercomedownagain.Hedid,though,forhewasofakindlydisposition,andhemadeamostbrilliantdescentinashowerofgoldenrain.Thenewspaperswroteabouthisperformanceinveryflatteringterms.Indeed,theCourtGazettecalledhimatriumphofPylotechnicart."
"Pyrotechnic,Pyrotechnic,youmean,"saidaBengalLight;"IknowitisPyrotechnic,forIsawitwrittenonmyowncanister."
"Well,IsaidPylotechnic,"answeredtheRocket,inaseveretoneofvoice,andtheBengalLightfeltsocrushedthathebeganatoncetobullythelittlesquibs,inordertoshowthathewasstillapersonofsomeimportance.
"Iwassaying,"continuedtheRocket,"Iwassaying——WhatwasIsaying?"
"Youweretalkingaboutyourself,"repliedtheRomanCandle.
"Ofcourse;IknewIwasdiscussingsomeinterestingsubjectwhenIwassorudelyinterrupted.