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。