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<h2> Chapter XII. The Twenty-Second of February </h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Yes, there really was an orchestra, for Ed declared that the national airs
<i>must</i> 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 every one knew that. It was fun to see
little Johnny Cooper bang away on a big drum, and old Mr. Munson, who had
been a fifer all his days, blow till he was as red as a lobster, while
every one kept time to the music which put them all in good spirits for
the opening scene.</p>
<p>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 father of the hero also, that the family
traits of long legs and a somewhat massive nose might be preserved.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>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,—</p>
<p>"Can it have been my son?"</p>
<p>He evidently thought it <i>was</i>, for he called, in tones of thunder,—</p>
<p>"George! George Washington, come hither this moment!"</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"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
whispered, "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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
<p>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,—</p>
<p>"Papa, I tannot tell a lie. I did tut it with my little hanchet."</p>
<p>"Noble boy—come to my arms! I had rather you spoilt <i>all</i> 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.</p>
<p>The curtain descended on this affecting tableau; but the audience called
out both Washingtons, and they came, hand in hand, bowing with the cocked
hats pressed to their breasts, the elder smiling blandly, while the
younger, still flushed by his exertions, nodded to his friends, asking,
with engaging frankness, "Wasn't it nice?"</p>
<p>The next was a marine piece, for a boat was seen, surrounded by tumultuous
waves of blue cambric, and rowed by a party of stalwart men in
regimentals, who with difficulty kept their seats, for the boat was only a
painted board, and they sat on boxes or stools behind it. But few marked
the rowers, for in their midst, tall, straight, and steadfast as a mast,
stood one figure in a cloak, with folded arms, high boots, and, under the
turned-up hat, a noble countenance, stern with indomitable courage. A
sword glittered at his side, and a banner waved over him, but his eye was
fixed on the distant shore, and he was evidently unconscious of the
roaring billows, the blocks of ice, the discouragement of his men, or the
danger and death that might await him. Napoleon crossing the Alps was not
half so sublime, and with one voice the audience cried, "Washington
crossing the Delaware!" while the band burst forth with, "See, the
conquering hero comes!" all out of tune, but bound to play it or die in
the attempt.</p>
<p>It would have been very successful if, all of a sudden, one of the rowers
had not "caught a crab" with disastrous consequences. The oars were not
moving, but a veteran, who looked very much like Joe, dropped the one he
held, and in trying to turn and pummel the black-eyed warrior behind him,
he tumbled off his seat, upsetting two other men, and pulling the painted
boat upon them as they lay kicking in the cambric deep. Shouts of laughter
greeted this mishap, but George Washington never stirred. Grasping the
banner, he stood firm when all else went down in the general wreck, and
the icy waves engulfed his gallant crew, leaving him erect amid a chaos of
wildly tossing boots, entangled oars, and red-faced victims. Such god-like
dignity could not fail to impress the frivolous crowd of laughers, and the
curtain fell amid a round of applause for him alone.</p>
<p>"Quite exciting, wasn't it? Didn't know Gus had so much presence of mind,"
said Mr. Burton, well pleased with his boy.</p>
<p>"If we did not know that Washington died in his bed, December 14, 1799, I
should fear that we'd seen the last of him in that shipwreck," laughed an
old gentleman, proud of his memory for dates.</p>
<p>Much confusion reigned behind the scenes; Ralph was heard scolding, and
Joe set every one off again by explaining, audibly, that Grif tickled him,
and he couldn't stand it. A pretty, old-fashioned picture of the
"Daughters of Liberty" followed, for the girls were determined to do honor
to the brave and patient women who so nobly bore their part in the
struggle, yet are usually forgotten when those days are celebrated. The
damsels were charming in the big caps, flowered gowns, and high-heeled
shoes of their great-grandmothers, as they sat about a spider-legged table
talking over the tax, and pledging themselves to drink no more tea till it
was taken off. Molly was on her feet proposing, "Liberty forever, and down
with all tyrants," to judge from her flashing 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."</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 a camp in a snow-storm, and a
very forlorn camp, too; for on "the cold, cold ground" (a reckless display
of cotton batting) lay ragged soldiers, sleeping without blankets, their
worn-out boots turned up pathetically, and no sign of food or fire to be
seen. A very shabby sentinel, with feet bound in bloody cloths, and his
face as pale as chalk could make it, gnawed a dry crust as he kept his
watch in the wintry night.</p>
<p>A tent at the back of the stage showed a solitary figure sitting on a log
of wood, poring over the map spread upon his knee, by the light of one
candle stuck in a bottle. There could be no doubt who this was, for the
buff-and-blue coat, the legs, the nose, the attitude, all betrayed the
great George laboring to save his country, in spite of privations,
discouragements, and dangers which would have daunted any other man.</p>
<p>"Valley Forge," said someone, and the room was very still as old and young
looked silently at this little picture of a great and noble struggle in
one of its dark hours. The crust, the wounded feet, the rags, the snow,
the loneliness, the indomitable courage and endurance of these men touched
the hearts of all, for the mimic scene grew real for a moment; and, when a
child's voice broke the silence, asking pitifully, "Oh, mamma, was it
truly as dreadful as that?" a general outburst answered, as if every one
wanted to cheer up the brave fellows and bid them fight on, for victory
was surely coming.</p>
<p>In the next scene it did come, and "Washington at Trenton" was prettily
done. An arch of flowers crossed the stage, with the motto, "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:—</p>
<p>"Welcome, mighty chief, once more<br/>
Welcome to this grateful shore;<br/>
Now no mercenary foe<br/>
Aims again the fatal blow,—<br/>
Aims at thee the fatal blow.<br/>
<br/>
"Virgins fair and matrons grave,<br/>
Those thy conquering arm did save,<br/>
Build for thee triumphal bowers;<br/>
Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers,—<br/>
Strew your hero's way with flowers."<br/></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 every one
agreed that it was "Sweet!"</p>
<p>"Now I don't see what more they can have except the death-bed, 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.</p>
<p>"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 part—a 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.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>"That <i>is</i> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 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.</p>
<p>"'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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 woolly 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.</p>
<p>But Tobias, Molly's black cat, covered himself with glory by the spirit
with which he acted his part in,</p>
<p>"Sing, sing, what shall I sing?<br/>
The cat's run away with the pudding-bag string."<br/></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>When all the characters had filed in and stood in two long rows, music
struck up and they danced, "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.</p>
<p>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."</p>
<p>But the old lady and her goose were the best of all, for the dame's
shoe-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, and its yellow legs in the first position as it curtsied to
its partner, was a sight to remember, it was so intensely funny.</p>
<p>The merry old gentleman laughed till he cried; Mr. Burton split his
gloves, he applauded so enthusiastically; while the children beat the dust
out of the carpet hopping up and down, as they cried: "Do it again!" "We
want it all over!" when the curtain went down at last on the flushed and
panting party, Mother G—— bowing, with her hat all awry, and
the goose doing a double shuffle as if it did not know how to leave off.</p>
<p>But they could not "do it all over again," for it was growing late, and
the people felt that they certainly had received their money's worth that
evening.</p>
<p>So it all ended merrily, and when the guests departed the boys cleared the
room like magic, and the promised supper to the actors was served in
handsome style. Jack and Jill were at one end, Mrs. Goose and her bird at
the other, and all between was a comical collection of military heroes,
fairy characters, and nursery celebrities. All felt the need of
refreshment after their labors, and swept over the table like a flight of
locusts, leaving devastation behind. But they had earned their fun: and
much innocent jollity prevailed, while a few lingering papas and mammas
watched the revel from afar, and had not the heart to order these noble
beings home till even the Father of his Country declared "that he'd had a
perfectly splendid time, but couldn't keep his eyes open another minute,"
and very wisely retired to replace the immortal cocked hat with a
night-cap.</p>
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