Her mother was betwixt and between, and her father the same; but Rosie was as thin as a yard of pump-water, and could—and did—eat like a beagle without ever putting-on an extra ounce. Maybe she was abusing her good-fortune.

I had no idea that anything in the shape of a horse could be so limp as that, either living or dead. His wild mane hung down lumpily, a mere mass of inanimate horsehair; his aggressive ears had collapsed, but as he went swaying slowly across the front of the bridge I noticed an astute gleam in his dreamy, half-closed eye.

He doesn’t qualify as a new fan or an ‘05 import, but it would be unfair to salute achievements without recognizing his tremendous contributions. So here’s to the Dauntless Degafiate — James Taylor!

Her chores began in the morning with taking to Ewuraba, in a saucer, a piece of chewing sponge dipped in water to soften it somewhat.