第8章

Acrowdofangrymenwaswaitingforthem,andBillstoodattheopenswitchinatoweringpassionasNo。11returnedtoherplaceunharmed,butbearingtwopaleandfrightenedboys,whosteppedslowlyandsilentlydown,withoutawordtosayforthemselves,whilethefreighttrainrumbledbyonthemaintrack。

FrankandGusneverhadaveryclearideaastowhatoccurredduringthenextfewminutes,butvaguelyrememberedbeingwellshaken,swornat,questioned,threatenedwithdirefulpenalties,andfinallyorderedoffthepremisesforeverbythewrathfuldepot—master。Joewasnowheretobeseen,andasthetwoculpritswalkedaway,tryingtogosteadily,whiletheirheadsspunround,andallthestrengthseemedtohavedepartedfromtheirlegs,Franksaid,inanexhaustedtone,"Comedowntotheboat—houseandrestaminute。"

Bothweregladtogetoutofsight,anddroppeduponthestepsred,rumpled,andbreathless,afterthelateexcitingscene。Gusgenerouslyforeboretospeak,thoughhefeltthathewastheleasttoblame;andFrank,aftereatingabitofsnowtomoistenhisdrylips,said,handsomely,"Now,don\'tyouworry,oldman。I\'llpaythedamages,foritwasmyfault。Joewilldodge,butIwon\'t,somakeyourmindeasy。

"Wesha\'n\'thearthelastofthisinahurry,"respondedGus,relieved,yetanxious,ashethoughtofthereprimandhisfatherwouldgivehim。

"Ihopemotherwon\'thearofittillItellherquietlymyself。Shewillbesofrightened,andthinkI\'msurelysmashedup,ifsheistoldinahurry";andFrankgaveashiver,asallthedangerhehadruncameoverhimsuddenly。

"Ithoughtweweredoneforwhenwesawthattrain。Guessweshouldhavebeenifyouhadnothadyourwitsaboutyou。Ialwayssaidyouwereacoolone";andGuspattedFrank\'sbackwithalookofgreatadmiration,for,nowthatitwasallover,heconsidereditaveryremarkableperformance。

"Whichdoyousupposeitwillbe,fineorimprisonment？"askedFrank,aftersittinginadespondentattitudeforamoment。

"Shouldn\'twonderifitwasboth。Runningoffwithanengineisnojoke,youknow。"

\'Whatdidpossessmetobesuchafool？"groanedFrank,repenting,alltoolate,ofyieldingtothetemptationwhichassailedhim。

"Bearup,oldfellow,I\'llstandbyyou;andiftheworstcomes,I\'llcallasoftenastherulesoftheprisonallow,"saidGus,consolingly,ashegavehisafflictedfriendanarm,andtheywalkedaway,bothfeelingthattheyweremarkedmenfromthatdayforth。

Meantime,Joe,assoonasherecoveredfromtheshockofseeingtheboysactuallygooff,ranaway,asfastashislegscouldcarryhim,toprepareMrs。Minotfortheiossofherson;fortheideaoftheircomingsafelybackneveroccurredtohim,hisknowledgeofenginesbeinglimited。AloudringatthebellbroughtMrs。Pecq,whowasguardingthehouse,whileMrs。Minotentertainedaparlorfullofcompany。

"Frank\'srunoffwithNo。11,andhe\'llbekilledsure。ThoughtI\'dcomeupandtellyou,"stammeredJoe,alloutofbreathandlookingwild。

Hegotnofurther,forMrs。Pecqclappedonehandoverhismouth,caughthimbythecollarwiththeother,andhustledhimintotheante—roombeforeanyoneelsecouldhearthebadnews。

"Tellmeallaboutit,anddon\'tshout。What\'scometotheboy？"shedemanded,inatonethatreducedJoetoawhisperatonce。

"Gorightbackandseewhathashappenedtohim,thencomeandtellmequietly。I\'llwaitforyouhere。Iwouldn\'thavehismotherstartledfortheworld,"saidthegoodsoul,whensheknewall。

"Oh,Idar\'sn\'t！Iopenedtheswitchastheytoldmeto,andBillwillhalfkillmewhenheknowsit！"criedJoe,inapanic,astheawfulconsequencesofhisdeedrosebeforehim,showingbothboysmortallyinjuredandseveraltrainswrecked。

"Thentakeyourselfoffhomeandholdyourtongue。I\'llwatchthedoor,forIwon\'thaveanymoreridiculousboystearingintodisturbmylady。"

Mrs。Pecqoftencalledthisgoodneighbor"mylady"whenspeakingofher,forMrs。Minotwasatruegentlewoman,andmuchpleasantertolivewiththanthetitledmistresshadbeen。

Joescuddedawayasiftheconstablewasafterhim,andpresentlyFrankwasseenslowlyapproachingwithanunusuallysoberfaceandapairofverydirtyhands。

"Thankheaven,he\'ssafe！"and,softlyopeningthedoor,Mrs。Pecqactuallyhustledtheyoungmasterintotheante—roomasunceremoniouslyasshehadhustledJoe。

"Ibegpardon,buttheparlorisfullofcompany,andthatfoolofaJoecameroaringinwithacock—and—bullstorythatgavemequiteaturn。Whatisit,Mr。Frank？"sheaskedeagerly,seeingthatsomethingwasamiss。

Hetoldherinafewwords,andshewasmuchrelievedtofindthatnoharmhadbeendone。

"Ah,thedangeristocome,"saidFrank,darkly,asbewentawaytowashhishandsandpreparetorelatehismisdeeds。

Itwasaverybadquarterofanhourforthepoorfellow,whososeldomhadanygravefaultstoconfess;buthediditmanfully,andhismotherwassogratefulforthesafetyofherboythatshefounditdifficulttobesevereenough,andcontentedherselfwithforbiddinganymorevisitstothetoocharmingNo。11。

"Whatdoyousupposewillbedonetome？"askedFrank,onwhomtheideaofimprisonmenthadmadeadeepimpression。

"Idon\'tknow,dear,butIshallgoovertoseeMr。Burtonrightaftertea。Hewilltelluswhattodoandwhattoexpect。Gusmustnotsufferforyourfault。"

"He\'llcomeoffclearenough,butJoemusttakehisshare,forifhehadn\'topenedthatconfoundedswitch,noharmwouldhavebeendone。ButwhenIsawthewayclear,Iactuallycouldn\'tresistgoingahead,"saidFrank,gettingexcitedagainatthememoryofthatblissfulmomentwhenhestartedtheengine。

HereJackcamehurryingin,havingheardthenews,andrefusedtobelieveitfromanylipsbutFrank\'s。Whenhecouldnolongerdoubt,hewassomuchimpressedwiththedaringofthedeedthathehadnothingbutadmirationforhisbrother,tillasuddenthoughtmadehimclaphishandsandexclaimexultingly,"Hisrunawaybeatsmineallhollow,andnowhecan\'tcrowoverme！Won\'tthatbeacomfort？Thegoodboyhasgotintoascrape。

Hooray！"

Thiswassuchadrollwayoftakingit,thattheyhadtolaugh;andFranktookhishumiliationsomeeklythatJacksoonfelltocomfortinghim,insteadofcrowingoverhim。

Jillthoughtitamostinterestingevent;and,whenFrankandhismotherwentovertoconsultMr。Burton,sheandJackplannedoutforthedearculpritadramatictrialwhichwouldhaveconvulsedthesoberestofjudges。Hissentencewastenyears\'imprisonment,andsuchheavyfinesthatthefamilywouldhavebeenreducedtobeggarybutforthesumsmadebyJill\'sfancyworkandJack\'ssuccessasachampionpedestrian。

TheyfoundsuchcomfortandamusementinthissensationalprogrammethattheywereratherdisappointedwhenFrankreturned,reportingthatafinewouldprobablybeallthepenaltyexacted,asnoharmhadbeendone,andheandGusweresuchrespectableboys。WhatwouldhappentoJoe,hecouldnottell,buthethoughtagoodwhippingoughttobeaddedtohisshare。

Ofcourse,theaffairmadeastirinthelittleworldofchildren;andwhenFrankwenttoschool,feelingthathischaracterforgoodbehaviorwasforeverdamaged,hefoundhimselfalion,andwasindangerofbeingspoiledbytheadmirationofhiscomrades,whopointedhimoutwithprideas"thefellowwhoranoffwithasteam—engine。"

ButaninterviewwithJudgeKemble,afineoftwenty—fivedollars,andlecturesfromallthegrownpeopleofhisacquaintance,preventedhimfromregardinghisescapadeasafeattoboastof。

Hediscovered,also,howfickleathingispublicfavor,forverysoonthosewhohadpraisedbegantotease,andittookallhiscourage,patience,andpridetocarryhimthroughthenextweekortwo。TheladswerenevertiredofalludingtoNo。11,givingshrillwhistlesinhisear,askingifhiswatchwasright,anddrawinglocomotivesontheblackboardwhenevertheygotachance。

Thegirls,too,hadslynodsandsmiles,hintsandjokesofamildersort,whichmadehimcolorandfume,andoncelosehisdignityentirely。MollyLoo,whodearlylovedtotormentthebigboys,anddaredattackevensolemnFrank,leftoneofBoo\'soldtintrainsonthedoor—step,directedto"ConductorMinot,"who,Iregrettosay,couldnotrefrainfromkickingitintotheStreet,andslammingthedoorwithabangthatshookthehouse。ShrieksoflaughterfromwickedMollyandhercoadjutor,Grif,greetedthisexplosionofwrath,whichdidnogood,however,forhalfanhourlaterthesamecars,allinaheap,wereonthestepsagain,withtwoheadlessdollstumblingoutofthecab,andthedilapidatedenginelabelled,"No。

11afterthecollision。"

Nooneeversawthatruinagain,andfordaysFrankwasutterlyunconsciousofMolly\'sexistence,asproprietyforbadehishavingitoutwithherashehadwithGrif。ThenAnnettemadepeacebetweenthem,andtheapproachoftheTwenty—secondgavethewagssomethingelsetothinkof。

ButitwaslongbeforeFrankforgotthatcostlyprank;forhewasathoughtfulboy,whohonestlywantedtobegood;soherememberedthisepisodehumbly,andwheneverhefelttheapproachoftemptationhemadethestrongwillmasterit,sayingtohimself"Downbrakes！"thussavingthepreciousfreighthecarriedfrommanyoftheaccidentswhichbefalluswhenwetrytorunourtrainswithoutorders,andsooftenwreckourselvesaswellasothers。

Chapter12TheTwenty—SecondofFebruaryOfcourse,theyoungladiesandgentlemenhadaballontheeveningofthatday,buttheboysandgirlswerefullofexcitementabouttheir"ScenesfromtheLifeofWashingtonandotherbrillianttableaux,"astheprogrammeannounced。TheBirdRoomwasthetheatre,beingverylarge,withfourdoorsconvenientlyplaced。

Ralphwasinhiselement,puttingupalittlestage,drillingboys,arranginggroups,andunitinginhimselfcarpenter,scene—painter,manager,andgasman。Mrs。Minotpermittedthehousetobeturnedtopsy—turvy,andMrs。Pecqflewabout,lendingahandeverywhere。Jillwascostumer,withhelpfromMissDelano,whodidnotcareforballs,andkindlytookchargeofthegirls。Jackprintedtickets,programmes,andplacardsofthemostimposingsort,andtheworkwentgaylyontillallwasready。

Whentheeveningcame,theBirdRoompresentedafineappearance。Oneendwascurtainedoffwithreddrapery;andrealfootlights,withtinshades,gaveatrulytheatricalairtothelittlestage。Rowsofchairs,filledwithmammasandlittlepeople,occupiedtherestofthespace。ThehallandFrank\'sroomwerefullofamusedpapas,uncles,andoldgentlemenwhosepatriotismbroughtthemoutinspiteofrheumatism。Therewasagreatrustlingofskirts,flutteringoffans,andmuchlivelychat,tillabellrangandtheorchestrastruckup。

Yes,therereallywasanorchestra,forEddeclaredthatthenationalairsmustbeplayed,orthewholethingwouldbeafailure。Sohehadexertedhimselftocollectallthemusicaltalenthecouldfind,ahorn,afiddle,andaflute,withdrumandfifeforthemartialscenes。Edlookedmorebeamingthanever,ashewavedhisbatonandledoffwithYankeeDoodleasasafebeginning,foreveryoneknewthat。ItwasfuntoseelittleJohnnyCooperbangawayonabigdrum,andoldMr。Munson,whohadbeenaflEerallhisdays,blowtillhewasasredasalobster,whileeveryonekepttimetothemusicwhichputthemallingoodspiritsfortheopeningscene。

Upwentthecurtainandseveraltreesintubsappeared,thenastatelygentlemaninsmallclothes,cockedhat,graywig,andanimposingcane,cameslowlywalkingin。ItwasGus,whohadbeenunanimouslychosennotonlyforWashingtonbutforthefatheroftheheroalso,thatthefamilytraitsoflonglegsandasomewhatmassivenosemightbepreserved。

"Ahem！Mytreesaredoingfinely,"observedMr。W。,senior,strollingalongwithhishandsbehindhim,castingsatisfiedglancesatthedwarforange,oleander,abutilon,andlittlepinethatrepresentedhisorchard。

Suddenlyhestarts,pauses,frowns,and,afterexaminingthelattershrub,whichdisplayedseveralhacksinitsstemandabrokenlimbwithsixred—velvetcherrieshangingonit,hegaveathumpwithhiscanethatmadethelittleonesjump,andcriedout,"Canithavebeenmyson？"

Heevidentlythoughtitwas,forhecalled,intonesofthunder,"George！GeorgeWashington,comehitherthismoment！"

Greatsuspenseonthepartoftheaudience,thenageneralburstoflaughterasBootrottedin,aperfectminiatureofhishonoredparent,kneebreeches,cockedhat,shoebucklesandall。Hewassofatthatthelittletailsofhiscoatstuckoutinthedrollestway,hischubbylegscouldhardlycarrythebigbuckles,andtherosyfacedisplayed,whenhetookhishatoffwithadutifulbow,wassosolemn,therealGeorgecouldnothavelookedmoreanxiouswhenhegavetheimmortalanswer。

"Sirrah,didyoucutthattree？"demandedthepapa,withanotherrapofthecane,andsuchafrownthatpoorBoolookeddismayed,tillMollywispered,"Putyourhandup,dear。"Thenherememberedhispart,and,puttingonefingerinhismouth,lookeddownathissquare—toedshoes,theimageofashame—strickenboy。

"Myson,donotdeceiveme。IfyouhavedonethisdeedIshallchastiseyou,foritismydutynottosparetherod,lestIspoilthechild。ButifyoulieaboutityoudisgracethenameofWashingtonforever。"

ThisappealseemedtoconvulseGeorgewithinwardagony,forhesquirmedmosteffectivelyashedrewfromhispocketatoyhatchet,whichwouldnothavecutastraw,thenlookingstraightupintotheawe—inspiringcountenanceofhisparent,hebravelylisped,"Papa,Itannottellalie。I\'didtutitwithmylittlehanchet。"

"Nobleboy——cometomyarms！Ihadratheryouspoiltallmycherrytreesthantellonelie！"criedthedelightedgentleman,catchinghissoninanembracesoclosethatthefatlegskickedconvulsively,andthelittlecoat—tailswavedinthebreeze,whilecaneandhatchetfellwithadramaticbang。

Thecurtaindescendedonthisaffcctingtableau;buttheaudiencecalledoutbothWashingtons,andtheycame,handinhand,bowingwiththecockedhatspressedtotheirbreasts,theeldersmilingblandly,whiletheyounger,stillflushedbyhisexertions,noddedtohisfriends,asking,withengagingfrankness,"Wasn\'titnice？"

Thenextwasamarinepiece,foraboatwasseen,surroundedbytumultuouswavesofbluecambric,androwedbyapartyofstalwartmeninregimentals,whowithdifficultykepttheirseats,fortheboatwasonlyapaintedboard,andtheysatonboxesorstoolsbehindit。Butfewmarkedtherowers,forintheirmidst,tall,straight,andsteadfastasamast,stoodonefigureinacloak,withfoldedarms,highboots,and,undertheturned—uphat,anoblecountenance,sternwithindomitablecourage。Aswordglitteredathisside,andabannerwavedoverhim,buthiseyewasfixedonthedistantshore,andhewasevidentlyunconsciousoftheroaringbillows,theblocksofice,thediscouragementofhismen,orthedangeranddeaththatmightawaithim。NapoleoncrossingtheAlpswasnothalfsosublime,andwithonevoicetheaudiencccried,\'WashingtoncrossingtheDelaware！"whilethebandburstforthwith,"See,theconqueringherocomes！"alloutoftune,butboundtoplayitordieintheattempt。

Itwouldhavebeenverysuccessfulif,allofasudden,oneoftherowershadnot"caughtacrab"withdisastrousconsequences。Theoarswerenotmoving,butaveteran,wholookedverymuchlikeJoe,droppedtheoneheheld,andintryingtoturnandpummeltheblack—eyedwarriorbehindhim,hetumbledoffhisseat,upsettingtwoothermen,andpullingthepaintedboatuponthemastheylaykickinginthecambricdeep。Shoutsoflaughtergreetedthismishap,butGeorgeWashingtonneverstirred。Graspingthebanner,hestoodfirmwhenallelsewentdowninthegeneralwreck,andtheicywavesengulfedhisgallantcrew,leavinghimerectamidachaosofwildlytossingboots,entangledoars,andred—facedvictims。Suchgod—likedignitycouldnotfailtoimpressthefrivolouscrowdoflaughers,andthecurtainfellamidaroundofapplauseforhimalone。

"Quiteexciting,wasn\'tit？Didn\'tknowGushadsomuchpresenceofmind,"saidMr。Burton,wellpleasedwithhisboy。

"IfwedidnotknowthatWashingtondiedinhisbed,December14,1799,Ishouldfearthatwe\'dseenthelastofhiminthatshipwreck,"laughedanoldgentleman,proudofhismemoryfordates。

Muchconfusionreignedbehindthescenes;Ralphwasheardscolding,andJoeseteveryoneoffagainbyexplaining,audibly,thatGriftickledhim,andhecouldn\'tstandit。Apretty,old—fashionedpictureofthe"DaughtersofLiberty"followed,forthegirlsweredeterminedtodohonortothebraveandpatientwomenwhosonoblyboretheirpartinthestruggle,yetareusuallyforgottenwhenthosedaysarecelebrated。Thedamselswerecharminginthebigcaps,floweredgowns,andhigh—heeledshoesoftheirgreat—grandmothers,astheysataboutaspider—leggedtabletalkingoverthetax,andpledgingthemselvestodrinknomoreteatillitwastakenoff。Mollywasonherfeetproposing,"Libertyforever,anddownwithalltyrants,"tojudgefromherflashingeyesassheheldheregg—shellcupaloft,whiletheothersliftedtheirstodrinkthetoast,andMerry,ashostess,satwithherhandonanantiqueteapot,labelled"Sage,"readytofillagainwhenthepatrioticladieswerereadyforasecond"dish。"

Thiswasmuchapplauded,andthecurtainwentupagain,fortheproudparentsenjoyedseeingtheirprettygirlsinthefadedfineryofahundredyearsago。Thebandplayed"AuldLangSyne,"asagentlehintthatourfore—mothersshouldberememberedaswellasthefore—fathers。

Itwasevidentthatsomethingverymartialwastofollow,foragreattramping,clashing,andflyingabouttookplacebehindthesceneswhilethetea—partywasgoingon。Aftersomedelay,"TheSurrenderofCornwallis"waspresentedinthemostsuperbmanner,asyoucanbelievewhenItellyouthatthestagewasactuallylinedwithaglitteringarrayofWashingtonandhisgenerals,Lafayette,Kosciusko,Rochambeauandtherest,allinastonishinguniforms,withswordswhichwereevidentlytheprideoftheirlives。Fifeanddrumstruckupamarch,andincameCornwallis,muchcastdownbutfullofmanlyresignation,ashesurrenderedhissword,andstoodasidewithavertedeyeswhilehisarmymarchedpast,pilingtheirarmsatthehero\'sfeet。

Thisscenewasthedelightoftheboys,fortheriflesofCompanyF

hadbeensecured,andatleastadozensoldierskeptfilinginandoutinBritishuniformtillWashington\'saugustlegswerehiddenbytheheapsofarmsrattleddownbeforehim。Themartialmusic,thesteadytramp,andthepatrioticmemoriesawakened,causedthisscenetobeenthusiasticallyencored,andtheboyswouldhavegoneonmarchingtillmidnightifRalphhadnotperemptorilyordereddownthecurtainandclearedthestageforthenexttableau。

Thishadbeenartfullyslippedinbetweentwobrilliantones,toshowthattheFatherofhisCountryhadtopayahighpriceforhisglory。Thedarkenedstagerepresentedwhatseemedtobeacampinasnow—storm,andaveryforlorncamp,too;foron"thecold,coldground"（arecklessdisplayofcottonbatting）layraggedsoldiers,sleepingwithoutblankets,theirworn—outbootsturneduppathetically,andnosignoffoodorfiretobeseen。Averyshabbysentinel,withfeetboundinbloodycloths,andhisfaceaspaleaschalkcouldmakeit,gnawedadrycrustashekepthiswatchinthewintrynight。

Atentatthebackofthestageshowedasolitaryfiguresittingonalogofwood,poringoverthemapspreaduponhisknee,bythelightofonecandlestuckinabottle。Therecouldbenodoubtwhothiswas,forthebuff—and—bluecoat,thelegs,thenose,theattitude,allbetrayedthegreatGeorgelaboringtosavehiscountry,inspiteofprivations,discouragements,anddangerswhichwouldhavedauntedanyotherman。

"ValleyForge,"saidsomeone,andtheroomwasverystillasoldandyounglookedsilentlyatthislittlepictureofagreatandnoblestruggleinoneofitsdarkhours。Thecrust,thewoundedfeet,therags,thesnow,theloneliness,theindomitablecourageandenduranceofthesementouchedtheheartsofall,forthemimicscenegrewrealforamoment;and,whenachild\'svoicebrokethesilence,askingpitifully,"Oh,mamma,wasittrulyasdreadfulasthat？"ageneraloutburstanswered,asifeveryonewantedtocheerupthebravefellowsandbidthemfighton,forvictorywassurelycoming。

Inthenextsceneitdidcome,and"WashingtonatTrenton"wasprettilydone。Anarchofflowerscrossedthestage,withthemotto,"TheDefenderoftheMotherswillbethePreserveroftheDaughters";and,astheherowithhisgeneralsadvancedononeside,atroopofgirls,inold—fashionedmuslinfrocks,cametoscatterflowersbeforehim,singingthesongoflongago:

"Welcome,mightychief,oncemoreWelcometothisgratefulshore;

Nownomercenaryfoeeyesassheheldheregg—shellcupaloft,whiletheothersliftedtheirstodrinkthetoast,andMerry,ashostess,satwithherhandonanantiqueteapot,labelled"Sage,"readytofillagainwhenthepatrioticladieswerereadyforasecond"dish。"

Thiswasmuchapplauded,andthecurtainwentupagain,fortheproudparentsenjoyedseeingtheirprettygirlsinthefadedfineryofahundredyearsago。Thebandplayed"AuldLangSyne,"asagentlehintthatourfore—mothersshouldberememberedaswellasthefore—fathers。

Itwasevidentthatsomethingverymartialwastofollow,foragreattramping,clashing,andflyingabouttookplacebehindthesceneswhilethetea—partywasgoingon。Aftersomedelay,"TheSurrenderofCornwallis"waspresentedinthemostsuperbmanner,asyoucanbelievewhenItellyouthatthestagewasactuallylinedwithaglitteringarrayofWashingtonandhisgenerals,Lafayette,Kosciusko,Rochambeauandtherest,allinastonishinguniforms,withswordswhichwereevidentlytheprideoftheirlives。Fifeanddrumstruckupamarch,andincameCornwallis,muchcastdownbutfullofmanlyresignation,ashesurrenderedhissword,andstoodasidewithavertedeyeswhilehisarmymarchedpast,pilingtheirarmsatthehero\'sfeet。

Thisscenewasthedelightoftheboys,fortheriflesofCompanyF

hadbeensecured,andatleastadozensoldierskeptfilinginandoutinBritishuniformtillWashington\'saugustlegswerehiddenbytheheapsofarmsrattleddownbeforehim。Themartialmusic,thesteadytramp,andthepatrioticmemoriesawakened,causedthisscenetobeenthusiasticallyencored,andtheboyswouldhavegoneonmarchingtillmidnightifRalphhadnotperemptorilyordereddownthecurtainandclearedthestageforthenexttableau。

Thishadbeenartfullyslippedinbetweentwobrilliantones,toshowthattheFatherofhisCountryhadtopayahighpriceforhisglory。ThedarkenedstagerepresentedwhatseemedtobeAimsagainthefatalblow,Aimsattheethefatalblow。

"Virginsfairandmatronsgrave,Thosethyconqueringarmdidsave,Buildfortheetriumphalbowers;

Strew,yefair,hiswaywithflowers,Strewyourhero\'s—waywithflowers。"

Andtheydid,singingwithalltheirheartsastheyflungartificialrosesandliliesatthefeetofthegreatmen,whobowedwithbenigngrace。Jack,whodidLafayettewithalimp,coveredhimselfwithglorybypickinguponeofthebouquetsandpressingittohisheartwithallthegallantryofaFrenchman;andwhenWashingtonliftedthesmallestofthemaidsandkissedher,theaudiencecheered。Couldn\'thelpit,youknow,itwassoprettyandinspiring。

TheWashingtonFamily,afterthefamouspicture,camenext,withAnnetteasthesereneandsensibleMartha,inaverybecomingcap。

TheGeneralwasinuniform,therebeingnotimetochange,buthisattitudewasquitecorrect,andtheCustisboyandgirldisplayedthewidesashandruffledcollarwithhistoricfidelity。Thebandplayed"Home,"andeveryoneagreedthatitwas"Sweet！"

"NowIdon\'tseewhatmoretheycanhaveexceptthedeathbed,andthatwouldberatheroutofplaceinthisgaycompany,"saidtheoldgentlemantoMr。Burton,ashemoppedhisheatedfaceafterpoundingsoheartilyhenearlyknockedtheferuleoffhiscane。

"No;theygavethatup,formyboywouldn\'twearanight—gowninpublic。Ican\'ttellsecrets,butIthinktheyhavegotaverycleverlittlefinaleforthefirstpart——aprettycomplimenttoonepersonandapleasantsurprisetoall,"answeredMr。Burton,whowasingreatspirits,beingfondoftheatricalsandveryjustlyproudofhischildren,forthelittlegirlshadbeenamongtheTrentonmaids,andthemimicGeneralhadkissedhisownsmallsister,Nelly,verytenderly。

Agreatdealofinterestwasfeltastowhatthissurprisewastobe,andageneral"Oh！"greetedthe"MinuteMan,"standingmotionlessuponhispedestal。ItwasFrank,andRalphhaddonehisbesttohavethefigureasperfectaspossible,forthemakeroftheoriginalhadbeenagoodfriendtohim;and,whiletheyoungsculptorwasdancinggaylyattheball,thiscopyofhisworkwasdoinghimhonoramongthechildren。Franklookeditverywell,forhisfirm—setmouthwasfullofresolution,hiseyesshonekeenandcourageousunderthethree—corneredhat,andthemusclesstoodoutuponthebarearmthatclutchedtheoldgun。Eventhebuttonsonthegaitersseemedtoflashdefiance,asthesturdylegstookthefirststepfromthefurrowtowardthebridgewheretheyoungfarmerbecameaherowhenhe"firedtheshotheard\'roundtheworld。"

"Thatissplendid！""Asliketotheoriginalasfleshcanbetobronze。""Howstillhestands！""He\'llfightwhenthetimecomes,anddiehard,won\'the？""Hush！Youmakethestatueblush！"Theseveryaudibleremarkscertainlydid,forthecolorrosevisiblyasthemodestladheardhimselfpraised,thoughhesawbutonefaceinallthecrowd,hismother\'s,farback,butfullofloveandpride,asshelookedupatheryoungminutemanwaitingforthebattlewhichoftencallsuswhenweleastexpectit,andforwhichshehaddoneherbesttomakehimready。

IftherehadbeenanydangerofFrankbeingpuffedupbythesuccessofhisstatue,itwascounteractedbyirrepressibleGrif,who,justatthemostinterestingmoment,whenallweregazingsilently,gaveawhistle,followedbya"Choo,choo,choo！"and"Allaboard！"sonaturallythatnoonecouldmistakethejoke,especiallyasanotherlaughingvoiceadded,"Now,then,No。11！"

whichbroughtdownthehouseandthecurtaintoo。

Frankwassoangry,itwasverydifficulttokeephimonhisperchforthelastsceneofall。Hesubmitted,however,ratherthanspoilthegrandfinale,hopingthatitsbeautywouldeffacethatill—timedpleasantryfromthepublicmind。So,whentheagreeableclamorofhandsandvoicescalledforarepetition,theMinuteManreappeared,grimmerthanbefore。Butnotalone,forgroupedallabouthispedestalwereWashingtonandhisgenerals,thematronsandmaids,withabackgroundoftroopsshoulderingarms,GrifandJoedoingsuchrashthingswiththeirmuskets,thatmorethanoneheroreceivedapokeinhisaugustback。Beforethefullrichnessofthispicturehadbeentakenin,Edgavearap,andallburstoutwith"HailColumbia,"insuchaninspiringstylethatitwasimpossiblefortheaudiencetorefrainfromjoining,whichtheydid,allstandingandallsingingwithaheartinessthatmadethewallsring。

Thefifeshrilled,thehornblewsweetandclear,thefiddlewasnearlydrownedbytheenergeticboomofthedrum,andoutintothestarrynight,throughopenwindows,rolledthesongthatstirsthecoldestheartwithpatrioticwarmthandtuneseveryvoicetomusic。

"\'America！\'Wemusthave\'America！\'Pipeup,Ed,thisistoogoodtoendwithoutonesongmore,"criedMr。Burton,whohadbeensinginglikeatrumpet;and,hardlywaitingtogettheirbreath,offtheyallwentagainwiththenationalhymn,singingastheyneverhadsungitbefore,forsomehowthelittlescenestheyhadjustactedorbeheldseemedtoshowhowmuchthisdearAmericaofourshadcostinmorethanonerevolution,howfullofcourage,energy,andvirtueitwasinspiteofallitsfaults,andwhataprivilege,aswellasduty,itwasforeachtodohisparttowarditssafetyanditshonorinthepresent,asdidthosebravemenandwomeninthepast。

Sothe"ScenesfromtheLifeofWashington"wereagreatsuccess,and,whenthesongswereover,peopleweregladofabriefrecesswhiletheyhadraptures,andrefreshedthemselveswithlemonade。

Thegirlshadkeptthesecretofwhothe"Princess"wastobe,and,whenthecurtainrose,ahumofsurpriseandpleasuregreetedtheprettygroup。Jilllayasleepinallhersplendor,thebonny"Prince"

justliftingtheveiltowakeherwithakiss,andallaboutthemthecourtinitsnapofahundredyears。The"King"and"Queen"

dozingcomfortablyonthethrone;themaidsofhonor,likeagarlandofnoddingflowers,aboutthecouch;thelittlepage,unconsciousoftheblowabouttofall,andthefooldreaming,withhismouthwideopen。

Itwassopretty,peopledidnottireoflooking,tillJack\'slamelegbegantotremble,andhewhispered:"DropherorIshallpitch。"

Downwentthecurtain;butitroseinamoment,andtherewasthecourtaftertheawakening:the"King"and"Queen"lookingaboutthemwithsleepydignity,themaidsinvariousattitudesofsurprise,thefoolgrinningfromeartoear,andthe"Princess"holdingoutherhandtothe"Prince,"asifgladtowelcometherightloverwhenhecameatlast。

Mollygotthelaughthistime,forshecouldnotresistgivingpoorBoothecuffwhichhadbeenhangingoverhimsolong。Shegaveitwithunconsciousenergy,andBoocried"Ow！"sonaturallythatallthechildrenweredelightedandwanteditrepeated。ButBoodeclined,andthesceneswhichfollowedwerefoundquiteasmuchtotheirtaste,havingbeenexpresslypreparedforthelittlepeople。

MotherGoose\'sReceptionwasreallyveryfunny,forRalphwastheoldlady,andhadhiredarepresentationoftheimmortalbirdfromarealtheatreforthisoccasion。Theretheystood,thedameinherpointedhat,redpetticoat,cap,andcane,withthenoblefowl,agooddeallargerthanlife,besideher,andGrifinside,enjoyinghimselfimmenselyasheflappedthewings,movedtheyellowlegs,andwavedthelongneckabout,whileunearthlyquacksissuedfromthebill。Thatwasagreatsurpriseforthechildren,andtheygotupintheirseatstogazetheirfill,manyofthemfirmlybelievingthattheyactuallybeheldtheblessedoldwomanwhowrotethenurserysongstheylovedsowell。

Thenincame,oneafteranother,thebestofthecharactersshehasmadefamous,whileavoicebehindthescenessangtheproperrhymeaseachmadetheirmannerstotheinterestingpair。