`` An Irishman who lived at Markdale had a little pig , '' she said , `` and he gave it a pailful of mush . The pig at the whole pailful , and then the Irishman put the pig IN the pail , and it did n't fill more than half the pail . Now , how was that , when it held a whole pailful of mush ? '' This seemed to be a rather unanswerable kind of conundrum . We discussed the problem as we roamed the wood , and Dan and Peter almost quarrelled over it , Dan maintaining that the thing was impossible , and Peter being of the opinion that the mush was somehow `` made thicker '' in the process of being eaten , and so took up less room . During the discussion we came out to the fence of the hill pasture where grew the `` bad berry '' bushes . Just what these `` bad berries '' were I can not tell . We never knew their real name . They were small , red-clustered berries of a glossy , seductive appearance , and we were forbidden to eat them , because it was thought they might be poisonous . Dan picked a cluster and held it up . `` Dan King , do n't you DARE eat those berries , '' said Felicity in her `` bossiest '' tone . `` They 're poison . Drop them right away . '' Now , Dan had not had the slightest intention of eating the berries . But at Felicity 's prohibition the rebellion which had smouldered in him all day broke into sudden flame . He would show her ! `` I 'll eat them if I please , Felicity King , '' he said in a fury : `` I do n't believe they 're poison . Look here ! '' Dan crammed the whole bunch into his capacious mouth and chewed it up . `` They taste great , '' he said , smacking ; and he ate two more clusters , regardless of our horror-stricken protestations and Felicity 's pleadings .
We feared that XXXXX would drop dead on the spot .
Dan Felicity Irishman King Markdale Peter conundrum day mush pleadings