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〃Hail Columbia；〃 in such an inspiring style that it was impossible
for the audience to refrain from joining； which they did； all
standing and all singing with a heartiness that made the walls ring。
The fife shrilled； the horn blew sweet and clear； the fiddle was
nearly drowned by the energetic boom of the drum； and out into
the starry night； through open windows； rolled the song that stirs
the coldest heart with patriotic warmth and tunes every voice to
music。
〃'America！' We must have 'America！' Pipe up； Ed； this is too good
to end without one song more；〃 cried Mr。 Burton； who had been
singing like a trumpet； and； hardly waiting to get their breath； off
they all went again with the national hymn； singing as they never
had sung it before； for somehow the little scenes they had just
acted or beheld seemed to show how much this dear America of
ours had cost in more than one revolution； how full of courage；
energy； and virtue it was in spite of all its faults； and what a
privilege； as well as duty； it was for each to do his part toward its
safety and its honor in the present； as did those brave men and
women in the past。
So the 〃Scenes from the Life of Washington〃 were a great success；
and； when the songs were over； people were glad of a brief recess
while they had raptures； and refreshed themselves with lemonade。
The girls had kept the secret of who the 〃Princess〃 was to be； and；
when the curtain rose； a hum of surprise and pleasure greeted the
pretty group。 Jill lay asleep in all her splendor； the bonny 〃Prince〃
just lifting the veil to wake her with a kiss； and all about them the
court in its nap of a hundred years。 The 〃King〃 and 〃Queen〃
dozing comfortably on the throne； the maids of honor； like a
garland of nodding flowers； about the couch； the little page；
unconscious of the blow about to fall； and the fool dreaming； with
his mouth wide open。
It was so pretty； people did not tire of looking； till Jack's lame leg
began to tremble； and he whispered： 〃Drop her or I shall pitch。〃
Down went the curtain； but it rose in a moment； and there was the
court after the awakening： the 〃King〃 and 〃Queen〃 looking about
them with sleepy dignity； the maids in various attitudes of surprise；
the fool grinning from ear to ear； and the 〃Princess〃 holding out
her hand to the 〃Prince；〃 as if glad to welcome the right lover
when he came at last。
Molly got the laugh this time； for she could not resist giving poor
Boo the cuff which had been hanging over him so long。 She gave it
with unconscious energy； and Boo cried 〃Ow！〃 so naturally that all
the children were delighted and wanted it repeated。 But Boo
declined； and the scenes which followed were found quite as much
to their taste； having been expressly prepared for the little people。
Mother Goose's Reception was really very funny； for Ralph was
the old lady； and had hired a representation of the immortal bird
from a real theatre for this occasion。 There they stood； the dame in
her pointed hat； red petticoat； cap； and cane； with the noble fowl； a
good deal larger than life； beside her； and Grif inside； enjoying
himself immensely as he flapped the wings； moved the yellow
legs； and waved the long neck about； while unearthly quacks
issued from the bill。 That was a great surprise for the children； and
they got up in their seats to gaze their fill； many of them firmly
believing that they actually beheld the blessed old woman who
wrote the nursery songs they loved so well。
Then in came； one after another； the best of the characters she has
made famous； while a voice behind the scenes sang the proper
rhyme as each made their manners to the interesting pair。
〃Mistress Mary；〃 and her 〃pretty maids all in a row；〃 passed by to
their places in the background； 〃King Cole〃 and his 〃fiddlers
three〃 made a goodly show； so did the royal couple； who followed
the great pie borne before them； with the 〃four…and…twenty
blackbirds〃 popping their heads out in the most delightful way。
Little 〃Bo…Peep〃 led a wooiiy lamb and wept over its lost tail； for
not a sign of one appeared on the poor thing。 〃Simple Simon〃
followed the pie…man； gloating over his wares with the drollest
antics。 The little wife came trundling by in a wheelbarrow and was
not upset； neither was the lady with 〃rings on her fingers and bells
on her toes；〃 as she cantered along on a rocking…horse。 〃Bobby
Shafto's〃 yellow hair shone finely as he led in the maid whom he
came back from sea to marry。 〃Miss Muffet；〃 bowl in hand； ran
away from an immense black spider； which waggled its long legs
in a way so life…like that some of the children shook in their little
shoes。 The beggars who came to town were out in full force； 〃rags；
tags； and velvet gowns；〃 quite true to life。 〃Boy Blue〃 rubbed his
eyes； with hay sticking in his hair； and tooted on a tin horn as if
bound to get the cows out of the corn。 Molly； with a long…handled
frying…pan； made a capital 〃Queen；〃 in a tucked…up gown； checked
apron； and high crown； to good 〃King Arthur；〃 who； very properly；
did not appear after stealing the barley…meal； which might be seen
in the pan tied up in a pudding； like a cannon…ball； ready to fry。
But Tobias； Molly's black cat； covered himself with glory by the
spirit with which he acted his part in；
〃Sing； sing； what shall I sing？
The cat's run away with the pudding…bag string。〃
First he was led across the stage on his hind legs； looking very
fierce and indignant； with a long tape trailing behind him； and；
being set free at the proper moment； he gave one bound over the
four…and…twenty blackbirds who happened to be in the way； and
dashed off as if an enraged cook had actually been after him；
straight downstairs to the coal…bin； where he sat glaring in the
dark； till the fun was over。
When all the characters had filed in and stood in two long rows；
music struck up and they'd anced； 〃All the way to Boston；〃 a
simple but lively affair； which gave each a chance to show his or
her costume as they pranced down the middle and up outside。
Such a funny medley as it was； for there went fat 〃King Cole〃 with
the most ragged of the beggar…maids。 〃Mistress Mary；〃 in her
pretty blue dress； tripped along with 〃Simple Simon〃 staring about
him like a blockhead。 The fine lady left her horse to dance with
〃Bobby Shafto〃 till every bell on her slippers tinkled its tongue
out。 〃Bo…Peep〃 and a jolly fiddler skipped gayly up and down。
〃Miss Muffet〃 took the big spider for her partner； and made his
many legs fly about in the wildest way。 The little wife got out of
the wheelbarrow to help 〃Boy Blue〃 along； and Molly； with the
frying…pan over her shoulder； led off splendidly when it was
〃Grand right and left。〃
But the old lady and her goose were the best of all； for the dame's
shoes…buckles cut the most astonishing pigeon…wings； and to see
that mammoth bird waddle down the middle with its wings half
open； its long neck bridling