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〃The Defender of the Mothers will be the Preserver of the
Daughters〃； and； as the hero with his generals advanced on one
side； a troop of girls； in old…fashioned muslin frocks； came to
scatter flowers before him； singing the song of long ago：
〃Welcome； mighty chief； once more
Welcome to this grateful shore；
Now no mercenary foe
eyes as she held her egg…shell cup aloft； while the others lifted
theirs to drink the toast； and Merry； as hostess； sat with her hand
on an antique teapot； labelled 〃Sage；〃 ready to fill again when the
patriotic ladies were ready for a second 〃dish。〃
This was much applauded； and the curtain went up again； for the
proud parents enjoyed seeing their pretty girls in the faded finery
of a hundred years ago。 The band played 〃Auld Lang Syne；〃 as a
gentle hint that our fore…mothers should be remembered as well as
the fore…fathers。
It was evident that something very martial was to follow； for a
great tramping； clashing； and flying about took place behind the
scenes while the tea…party was going on。 After some delay； 〃The
Surrender of Cornwallis〃 was presented in the most superb
manner； as you can believe when I tell you that the stage was
actually lined with a glittering array of Washington and his
generals； Lafayette； Kosciusko； Rochambeau and the rest； all in
astonishing uniforms； with swords which were evidently the pride
of their lives。 Fife and drum struck up a march； and in came
Cornwallis； much cast down but full of manly resignation； as he
surrendered his sword； and stood aside with averted eyes while his
army marched past； piling their arms at the hero's feet。
This scene was the delight of the boys； for the rifles of Company F
had been secured； and at least a dozen soldiers kept filing in and
out in British uniform till Washington's august legs were hidden by
the heaps of arms rattled down before him。 The martial music； the
steady tramp； and the patriotic memories awakened； caused this
scene to be enthusiastically encored； and the boys would have
gone on marching till midnight if Ralph had not peremptorily
ordered down the curtain and cleared the stage for the next
tableau。
This had been artfully slipped in between two brilliant ones； to
show that the Father of his Country had to pay a high price for his
glory。 The darkened stage represented what seemed to be
Aims again the fatal blow；
Aims at thee the fatal blow。
〃Virgins fair and matrons grave；
Those thy conquering arm did save；
Build for thee triumphal bowers；
Strew； ye fair； his way with flowers；
Strew your hero's …way with flowers。〃
And they did； singing with all their hearts as they flung artificial
roses and lilies at the feet of the great men； who bowed with
benign grace。 Jack； who did Lafayette with a limp； covered himself
with glory by picking up one of the bouquets and pressing it to his
heart with all the gallantry of a Frenchman； and when Washington
lifted the smallest of the maids and kissed her； the audience
cheered。 Couldn't help it； you know； it was so pretty and inspiring。
The Washington Family； after the famous picture； came next； with
Annette as the serene and sensible Martha； in a very becoming cap。
The General was in uniform； there being no time to change； but his
attitude was quite correct； and the Custis boy and girl displayed the
wide sash and ruffled collar with historic fidelity。 The band played
〃Home；〃 and everyone agreed that it was 〃Sweet！〃
〃Now I don't see what more they can have except the deathbed；
and that would be rather out of place in this gay company；〃 said
the old gentleman to Mr。 Burton； as he mopped his heated face
after pounding so heartily he nearly knocked the ferule off his
cane。
〃No； they gave that up； for my boy wouldn't wear a night…gown in
public。 I can't tell secrets； but I think they have got a very clever
little finale for the first parta pretty compliment to one person
and a pleasant surprise to all；〃 answered Mr。 Burton； who was in
great spirits； being fond of theatricals and very justly proud of his
children； for the little girls had been among the Trenton maids； and
the mimic General had kissed his own small sister； Nelly； very
tenderly。
A great deal of interest was felt as to what this surprise was to be；
and a general 〃Oh！〃 greeted the 〃Minute Man；〃 standing
motionless upon his pedestal。 It was Frank； and Ralph had done his
best to have the figure as perfect as possible； for the maker of the
original had been a good friend to him； and； while the young
sculptor was dancing gayly at the ball； this copy of his work was
doing him honor among the children。 Frank looked it very well； for
his firm…set mouth was full of resolution； his eyes shone keen and
courageous under the three…cornered hat； and the muscles stood
out upon the bare arm that clutched the old gun。 Even the buttons
on the gaiters seemed to flash defiance； as the sturdy legs took the
first step from the furrow toward the bridge where the young
farmer became a hero when he 〃fired the shot heard 'round the
world。〃
〃That is splendid！〃 〃As like to the original as flesh can be to
bronze。〃 〃How still he stands！〃 〃He'll fight when the time comes；
and die hard； won't he？〃 〃Hush！ You make the statue blush！〃 These
very audible remarks certainly did； for the color rose visibly as the
modest lad heard himself praised； though he saw but one face in
all the crowd； his mother's； far back； but full of love and pride； as
she looked up at her young minute man waiting for the battle
which often calls us when we least expect it； and for which she
had done her best to make him ready。
If there had been any danger of Frank being puffed up by the
success of his statue； it was counteracted by irrepressible Grif；
who； just at the most interesting moment； when all were gazing
silently； gave a whistle； followed by a 〃Choo； choo； choo！〃 and
〃All aboard！〃 so naturally that no one could mistake the joke；
especially as another laughing voice added； 〃Now； then； No。 11！〃
which brought down the house and the curtain too。
Frank was so angry； it was very difficult to keep him on his perch
for the last scene of all。 He submitted； however； rather than spoil
the grand finale； hoping that its beauty would efface that ill…timed
pleasantry from the public mind。 So； when the agreeable clamor of
hands and voices called for a repetition； the Minute Man
reappeared； grimmer than before。 But not alone； for grouped all
about his pedestal were Washington and his generals； the matrons
and maids； with a background of troops shouldering arms； Grif and
Joe doing such rash things with their muskets； that more than one
hero received a poke in his august back。 Before the full richness of
this picture had been taken in； Ed gave a rap； and all burst out with
〃Hail Columbia；〃 in such an inspiring style that it was impossible
for the audience to refrain from joining； which they did； all
standin