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."A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,Along the briny beach:We cannot do with more than four,To give a hand to each."The eldest Oyster looked at him.But never a word he said:The eldest Oyster winked his eye,And shook his heavy head --Meaning to say he did not chooseTo leave the oyster-bed.But four young oysters hurried up,All eager for the treat:Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,Their shoes were clean and neat --And this was odd, because, you know,They hadn't any feet.Four other Oysters followed them,And yet another four;And thick and fast they came at last,And more, and more, and more --All hopping through the frothy waves,And scrambling to the shore.The Walrus and the CarpenterWalked on a mile or so,And then they rested on a rockConveniently low:And all the little Oysters stoodAnd waited in a row."The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax --Of cabbages -- and kings --And why the sea is boiling hot --And whether pigs have wings.""But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,"Before we have our chat;For some of us are out of breath,And all of us are fat!""No hurry!" said the Carpenter.They thanked him much for that."A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,"Is what we chiefly need:Pepper and vinegar besidesAre very good indeed --Now if you're ready Oysters dear,We can begin to feed.""But not on us!" the Oysters cried,Turning a little blue,"After such kindness, that would beA dismal thing to do!""The night is fine," the Walrus said"Do you admire the view?"It was so kind of you to come!And you are very nice!"The Carpenter said nothing but"Cut us another slice:I wish you were not quite so deaf --I've had to ask you twice!""It seems a shame," the Walrus said,"To play them such a trick,After we've brought them out so far,And made them trot so quick!"The Carpenter said nothing but"The butter's spread too thick!""I weep for you," the Walrus said."I deeply sympathize."With sobs and tears he sorted outThose of the largest size.Holding his pocket handkerchiefBefore his streaming eyes."O Oysters," said the Carpenter."You've had a pleasant run!Shall we be trotting home again?"But answer came there none --And that was scarcely odd, becauseThey'd eaten every one.'`I like the Walrus best,' said Alice: `because you see he wasa LITTLE sorry for the poor oysters.'`He ate more than the Carpenter, though,' said Tweedledee.`You see he held his handkerchief in front, so that the Carpentercouldn't count how many he took: contrariwise.'`That was mean!' Alice said indignantly.`Then I like theCarpenter best -- if he didn't eat so many as the Walrus.'`But he ate as many as he could get,' said Tweedledum.This was a puzzler.After a pause, Alice began, `Well! Theywere BOTH very unpleasant characters -- ' Here she checkedherself in some alarm, at hearing something that sounded to herlike the puffing of a large steam-engine in the wood near them,thought she feared it was more likely to be a wild beast.`Arethere any lions or tigers about here?' she asked timidly.`It's only the Red King snoring,' said Tweedledee.`Come and look at him!' the brothers cried, and they each tookone of Alice's hands, and led her up to where the King wassleeping.`Isn't he a LOVELY sight?" said Tweedledum.Alice couldn't say honestly that he was.He had a tall rednight-cap on, with a tassel, and he was lying crumpled up into asort of untidy heap, and snoring loud -- `fit to snore his headoff!' as Tweedledum remarked.`I'm afraid he'll catch cold with lying on the damp grass,'said Alice, who was a very thoughtful little girl.`He's dreaming now,' said Tweedledee: `and what do you thinkhe's dreaming about?'Alice said `Nobody can guess that.'`Why, about YOU!' Tweedledee exclaimed, clapping his handstriumphantly.`And if he left off dreaming about you, where doyou suppose you'd be?'`Where I am now, of course,' said Alice.`Not you!' Tweedledee retorted contemptuously.`You'd benowhere.Why, you're only a sort of thing in his dream!'`If that there King was to wake,' added Tweedledum, `you'd goout -- bang! -- just like a candle!'`I shouldn't!' Alice exclaimed indignantly.`Besides, if I'Monly a sort of thing in his dream, what are YOU, I should like toknow?'`Ditto' said Tweedledum.`Ditto, ditto' cried Tweedledee.He shouted this so loud that Alice couldn't help saying, `Hush!You'll be waking him, I'm afraid, if you make so much noise
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