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and lectures from all the grown people of his acquaintance；
prevented him from regarding his escapade as a feat to boast of。
He discovered； also； how fickle a thing is public favor； for very
soon those who had praised began to tease； and it took all his
courage； patience； and pride to carry him through the next week or
two。 The lads were never tired of alluding to No。 11； giving shrill
whistles in his ear； asking if his watch was right； and drawing
locomotives on the blackboard whenever they got a chance。
The girls； too； had sly nods and smiles； hints and jokes of a milder
sort； which made him color and fume； and once lose his dignity
entirely。 Molly Loo； who dearly loved to torment the big boys； and
dared attack even solemn Frank； left one of Boo's old tin trains on
the door…step； directed to 〃Conductor Minot；〃 who； I regret to say；
could not refrain from kicking it into the Street； and slamming the
door with a bang that shook the house。 Shrieks of laughter from
wicked Molly and her coadjutor； Grif； greeted this explosion of
wrath； which did no good； however； for half an hour later the same
cars； all in a heap； were on the steps again； with two headless dolls
tumbling out of the cab； and the dilapidated engine labelled； 〃No。
11 after the collision。〃
No one ever saw that ruin again； and for days Frank was utterly
unconscious of Molly's existence； as propriety forbade his having
it out with her as he had with Grif。 Then Annette made peace
between them； and the approach of the Twenty…second gave the
wags something else to think of。
But it was long before Frank forgot that costly prank； for he was a
thoughtful boy； who honestly wanted to be good； so he
remembered this episode humbly； and whenever he felt the
approach of temptation he made the strong will master it； saying to
himself 〃Down brakes！〃 thus saving the precious freight he carried
from many of the accidents which befall us when we try to run our
trains without orders； and so often wreck ourselves as well as
others。
Chapter 12 The Twenty…Second of February
Of course； the young ladies and gentlemen had a ball on the
evening of that day； but the boys and girls were full of excitement
about their 〃Scenes from the Life of Washington and other brilliant
tableaux；〃 as the programme announced。 The Bird Room was the
theatre； being very large； with four doors conveniently placed。
Ralph was in his element； putting up a little stage； drilling boys；
arranging groups； and uniting in himself carpenter； scene…painter；
manager； and gas man。 Mrs。 Minot permitted the house to be
turned topsy…turvy； and Mrs。 Pecq flew about； lending a hand
everywhere。 Jill was costumer； with help from Miss Delano； who
did not care for balls； and kindly took charge of the girls。 Jack
printed tickets； programmes； and placards of the most imposing
sort； and the work went gayly on till all was ready。
When the evening came； the Bird Room presented a fine
appearance。 One end was curtained off with red drapery； and real
footlights； with tin shades； gave a truly theatrical air to the little
stage。 Rows of chairs； filled with mammas and little people；
occupied the rest of the space。 The hall and Frank's room were full
of amused papas； uncles； and old gentlemen whose patriotism
brought them out in spite of rheumatism。 There was a great
rustling of skirts； fluttering of fans； and much lively chat； till a bell
rang and the orchestra struck up。
Yes； there really was an orchestra； for Ed declared that the national
airs must be played； or the whole thing would be a failure。 So he
had exerted himself to collect all the musical talent he could find；
a horn； a fiddle； and a flute； with drum and fife for the martial
scenes。 Ed looked more beaming than ever； as he waved his baton
and led off with Yankee Doodle as a safe beginning； for everyone
knew that。 It was fun to see little Johnny Cooper bang away on a
big drum； and old Mr。 Munson； who had been a flEer all his days；
blow till he was as red as a lobster； while everyone kept time to the
music which put them all in good spirits for the opening scene。
Up went the curtain and several trees in tubs appeared； then a
stately gentleman in small clothes； cocked hat； gray wig； and an
imposing cane； came slowly walking in。 It was Gus； who had been
unanimously chosen not only for Washington but for the f ather of
the hero also； that the family traits of long legs and a somewhat
massive nose might be preserved。
〃Ahem！ My trees are doing finely；〃 observed Mr。 W。； senior；
strolling along with his hands behind him； casting satisfied glances
at the dwarf orange； oleander； abutilon； and little pine that
represented his orchard。
Suddenly he starts； pauses； frowns； and； after examining the latter
shrub； which displayed several hacks in its stem and a broken limb
with six red…velvet cherries hanging on it； he gave a thump with
his cane that made the little ones jump； and cried out；
〃Can it have been my son？〃
He evidently thought it was； for he called； in tones of thunder；
〃George！ George Washington； come hither this moment！〃
Great suspense on the part of the audience； then a general burst of
laughter as Boo trotted in； a perfect miniature of his honored
parent； knee breeches； cocked hat； shoe buckles and all。 He was so
fat that the little tails of his coat stuck out in the drollest way； his
chubby legs could hardly carry the big buckles； and the rosy face
displayed； when he took his hat off with a dutiful bow； was so
solemn； the real George could not have looked more anxious when
he gave the immortal answer。
〃Sirrah； did you cut that tree？〃 demanded the papa； with another
rap of the cane； and such a frown that poor Boo looked dismayed；
till Molly wispered； 〃Put your hand up； dear。〃 Then he
remembered his part； and； putting one finger in his mouth； looked
down at his square…toed shoes； the image of a shame…stricken boy。
〃My son； do not deceive me。 If you have done this deed I shall
chastise you； for it is my duty not to spare the rod； lest I spoil the
child。 But if you lie about it you disgrace the name of Washington
forever。〃
This appeal seemed to convulse George with inward agony； for he
squirmed most effectively as he drew from his pocket a toy
hatchet； which would not have cut a straw； then looking straight up
into the awe…inspiring countenance of his parent； he bravely lisped；
〃Papa； I tannot tell a lie。 I'd id tut it with my little hanchet。〃
〃Noble boycome to my arms！ I had rather you spoilt all my
cherry trees than tell one lie！〃 cried the delighted gentleman；
catching his son in an embrace so close that the fat legs kicked
convulsively； and the little coat…tails waved in the breeze； while
cane and hatchet fell with a dramatic bang。
The curtain descended on this affccting tableau； but the audience
called out both Washingtons； and they came； hand in hand； bowing
with the cocked hats