But to
boys and girls he pointed a terrible lesson of the value
of one penny.
"How dangerous, papa, to drop it into a box for the
heathen!"
But little Tom found this talk tiresome, and asked
leave to slip away, teasing Clifford as he went about
some postage-stamps Clifford had promised him.
"Go bring the parcel I left on the hall table, and
your papa will give you some Spanish stamps."
So the boy brought the mail.
"What in the world is this?" cried Mr. Starr, as he
cut open the great envelope; and more and more amazed he
was as he ran down the lines:--
"`Much Esteemed and Respected Senor, Don JOHN STARR,
Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece:
"`SENOR,--It is with true yet inexpressible
satisfaction that I write this private note, that I may
be the first of your friends in Madrid to say to you that
the order for your creation as a Knight Companion of the
much esteemed and truly venerable Order of the Golden
Fleece passed the seals of the Chancellerie yesterday.
His Majesty is pleased to say that your views on the
pacification of Porto Rico coincide precisely with his
own; that the hands of the government will be
strengthened as with the force of giants when he
communicates them to the very excellent and much
honored governor of the island, and that, as a mark of
his confidence, he has the pleasure of sending to you the
cordon of the order, and of asking your acceptance.
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