The Water Goats, and Other Troubles
angrily. “You are insulting to me mit such questions Toole. So much will I tell you—never ask Germans what is dongolas. It is not for Germans to talk about such things. Ask Casey.”      

       Casey scratched his head thoughtfully.     

       “Dongolas?” he repeated. “I have heard th' word, Grevemeyer. Wait a bit!       'Tis something about shoes. Sure! I remimber, now! 'Twas dongola shoes wan of me kids had, last winter, an' no good they were, too. Dongolas is shoes, Grevemeyer—laced shoes—dongolas is laced shoes.”      

       The big mayor leaned his head far back and laughed long and loud. He pounded on the bar with his fist, and slapped Toole on the back.     

       “Laced shoes!” he cried, wiping his eyes, and then he became suddenly serious. “'Twould not be shoes, Casey,” he said gravely. “Thim dongolas was ricomminded by th' landscape-gardener from New Yorrk. 'Twould not be sinsible t' ricommind us put a pair of laced shoes in th' park lake fer th' kids t' ride on.”      

       “'Twould not seem so,” said Toole, shaking his head wisely. “I wisht me mind was like it always is. 'Tis a pity—”      

       “Stop!” cried Casey. “I have it! Thim was kid shoes. Thim dongolas was kid shoes.”      

       “So said, Casey,” said Duo'an “For th' kid.”      

       “No,” said Casey, “of th' kid.”      

       “Sure!” said Gravemeyer. “So it is—the shoes of the child.”      

       “Right fer ye!” exclaimed Casey. “Th' kid shoes of th' kid. 'Twas kid leather they were made out of, Dugan. Th' dongola is some fancy kind of a goat. Like box-calf is th' skin of th' calf of th' box-cow. Th' dongola is some foreign kind of a goat, Dugan.”      

       “Ho, ho-o-o!” cried Toole, suddenly, knocking on his forehead with the knuckles of his fist. The three men turned their eyes upon him and stared.     

       “What ails ye now, Mike?” asked Dugan, disgustedly.     

       “Ho-o-o!” he cried again, slapping 
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