Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/68



HERE were, once upon a time, five-and-twenty leaden soldiers, all brothers; for they had all been made out of an old metal spoon. They “carried arms,” and stood there every one of them with their “eyes right.” Their uniform was red and blue, and was quite beautiful. The very first thing they heard in this world when the cover was taken off the box, was, “Leaden Soldiers!” These words were