Chapter XII. The Twenty-Second of February
Of course, the young ladies and gentlemen had a ball on the evening ofthat 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 verylarge, with four doors conveniently placed. Ralph was in his element,putting up a little stage, drilling boys, arranging groups, and unitingin himself carpenter, scene-painter, manager, and gas man. Mrs. Minotpermitted the house to be turned topsy-turvy, and Mrs. Pecq flew about,lending a hand everywhere. Jill was costumer, with help from MissDelano, who did not care for balls, and kindly took charge of the girls.Jack printed tickets, programmes, and placards of the most imposingsort, and the work went gayly on till all was ready.
When the evening came, the Bird Room presented a fine appearance. Oneend was curtained off with red drapery; and real footlights, with tinshades, 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 oldgentlemen whose patriotism brought them out in spite of rheumatism.There was a great rustling of skirts, fluttering of fans, and muchlively chat, till a bell rang and the orchestra struck up.
Yes, there really was an orchestra, for Ed declared that the nationalairs _must_ be played, or the whole thing would be a failure. So he hadexerted 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. Edlooked more beaming than ever, as he waved his baton and led off withYankee Doodle as a safe beginning, for every one knew that. It was funto 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 goodspirits for the opening scene.
Up went the curtain and several trees in tubs appeared, then a statelygentleman in small clothes, cocked hat, gray wig, and an imposing cane,came slowly walking in. It was Gus, who had been unanimously chosen notonly for Washington but for the father of the hero also, that the familytraits of long legs and a somewhat massive nose might be preserved.
"Ahem! My trees are doing finely," observed Mr. W., senior, strollingalong with his hands behind him, casting satisfied glances at thedwarf orange, oleander, abutilon, and little pine that represented hisorchard.
Suddenly he starts, pauses, frowns, and, after examining the lattershrub, which displayed several hacks in its stem and a broken limb withsix red-velvet cherries hanging on it, he gave a thump with his canethat 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 oflaughter as Boo trotted in, a perfect miniature of his honored parent,knee breeches, cocked hat, shoe buckles and all. He was so fat that thelittle tails of his coat stuck out in the drollest way, his chubby legscould hardly carry the big buckles, and the rosy face displayed, whenhe took his hat off with a dutiful bow, was so solemn, the real Georgecould not have looked more anxious when he gave the immortal answer.
"Sirrah, did you cut that tree?" demanded the papa, with another rapof the cane, and such a frown that poor Boo looked dismayed, till Mollywhispered, "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 chastiseyou, for it is my duty not to spare the rod, lest I spoil the child. Butif you lie about it you disgrace the name of Washington forever."
This appeal seemed to convulse George with inward agony, for he squirmedmost effectively as he drew from his pocket a toy hatchet, which wouldnot have cut a straw, then looking straight up into the awe-inspiringcountenance of his parent, he bravely lisped,--
"Papa, I tannot tell a lie. I did tut it with my little hanchet."
"Noble boy--come to my arms! I had rather you spoilt _all_ my cherrytrees than tell one lie!" cried the delighted gentleman, catching hisson in an embrace so close that the fat legs kicked convulsively, andthe little coat-tails waved in the breeze, while cane and hatchet fellwith a dramatic bang.
The curtain descended on this affecting tableau; but the audience calledout both Washingtons, and they came, hand in hand, bowing with thecocked hats pressed to their breasts, the elder smiling blandly, whilethe younger, still flushed by his exertions, nodded to his friends,asking, with engaging frankness, "Wasn't it nice?"
The next was a marine piece, for a boat was seen, surrounded bytumultuous waves of blue cambric, and rowed by a party of stalwart menin regimentals, who with difficulty kept their seats, for the boat wasonly a painted board, and they sat on boxes or stools behind it. But fewmarked the rowers, for in their midst, tall, straight, and steadfast asa mast, stood one figure in a cloak, with folded arms, high boots, and,under the turned-up hat, a noble countenance, stern with indomitablecourage. A sword glittered at his side, and a banner waved over him, buthis eye was fixed on the distant shore, and he was evidently unconsciousof the roaring billows, the blocks of ice, the discouragement of hismen, or the danger and death that might await him. Napoleon crossingthe 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 itor die in the attempt.
It would have been very successful if, all of a sudden, one of therowers had not "caught a crab" with disastrous consequences. The oarswere not moving, but a veteran, who looked very much like Joe, droppedthe one he held, and in trying to turn and pummel the black-eyed warriorbehind him, he tumbled off his seat, upsetting two other men, andpulling the painted boat upon them as they lay kicking in the cambricdeep. Shouts of laughter greeted this mishap, but George Washingtonnever stirred. Grasping the banner, he stood firm when all else wentdown 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 impressthe frivolous crowd of laughers, and the curtain fell amid a round ofapplause for him alone.
"Quite exciting, wasn't it? Didn't know Gus had so much presence ofmind," said Mr. Burton, well pleased with his boy.
"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," laughedan old gentleman, proud of his memory for dates.
Much confusion reigned behind the scenes; Ralph was heard scolding, andJoe set every one off again by explaining, audibly, that Grif tickledhim, and he couldn't stand it. A pretty, old-fashioned picture of the"Daughters of Liberty" followed, for the girls were determined to dohonor to the brave and patient women who so nobly bore their part in thestruggle, yet are usually forgotten when those days are celebrated. Thedamsels were charming in the big caps, flowered gowns, and high-heeledshoes of their great-grandmothers, as they sat about a spider-leggedtable talking over the tax, and pledging themselves to drink no moretea till it was taken off. Molly was on her feet proposing, "Libertyforever, and down with all tyrants," to judge from her flashing eyesas she held her egg-shell cup aloft, while the others lifted theirs todrink the toast, and Merry, as hostess, sat with her hand on an antiqueteapot, labelled "Sage," ready to fill again when the patriotic ladieswere ready for a second "dish."
This was much applauded, and the curtain went up again, for the proudparents enjoyed seeing their pretty girls in the faded finery of ahundred years ago. The band played "Auld Lang Syne," as a gentle hintthat our fore-mothers should be remembered as well as the fore-fathers.
It was evident that something very martial was to follow, for a greattramping, clashing, and flying about took place behin
d the sceneswhile the tea-party was going on. After some delay, "The Surrender ofCornwallis" was presented in the most superb manner, as you can believewhen I tell you that the stage was actually lined with a glitteringarray of Washington and his generals, Lafayette, Kosciusko, Rochambeauand the rest, all in astonishing uniforms, with swords which wereevidently the pride of their lives. Fife and drum struck up a march, andin came Cornwallis, much cast down but full of manly resignation, as hesurrendered his sword, and stood aside with averted eyes while his armymarched past, piling their arms at the hero's feet.
This scene was the delight of the boys, for the rifles of Company F hadbeen secured, and at least a dozen soldiers kept filing in and out inBritish uniform till Washington's august legs were hidden by the heapsof arms rattled down before him. The martial music, the steadytramp, and the patriotic memories awakened, caused this scene to beenthusiastically encored, and the boys would have gone on marching tillmidnight if Ralph had not peremptorily ordered down the curtain andcleared the stage for the next tableau.
This had been artfully slipped in between two brilliant ones, to showthat 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 recklessdisplay of cotton batting) lay ragged soldiers, sleeping withoutblankets, their worn-out boots turned up pathetically, and no sign offood or fire to be seen. A very shabby sentinel, with feet bound inbloody cloths, and his face as pale as chalk could make it, gnawed a drycrust as he kept his watch in the wintry night.
A tent at the back of the stage showed a solitary figure sitting on alog of wood, poring over the map spread upon his knee, by the light ofone candle stuck in a bottle. There could be no doubt who this was, forthe buff-and-blue coat, the legs, the nose, the attitude, all betrayedthe great George laboring to save his country, in spite of privations,discouragements, and dangers which would have daunted any other man.
"Valley Forge," said someone, and the room was very still as old andyoung looked silently at this little picture of a great and noblestruggle in one of its dark hours. The crust, the wounded feet, therags, the snow, the loneliness, the indomitable courage and endurance ofthese men touched the hearts of all, for the mimic scene grew real fora moment; and, when a child's voice broke the silence, asking pitifully,"Oh, mamma, was it truly as dreadful as that?" a general outburstanswered, as if every one wanted to cheer up the brave fellows and bidthem fight on, for victory was surely coming.
In the next scene it did come, and "Washington at Trenton" was prettilydone. An arch of flowers crossed the stage, with the motto, "TheDefender 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, inold-fashioned muslin frocks, came to scatter flowers before him, singingthe song of long ago:--
"Welcome, mighty chief, once more Welcome to this grateful shore; Now no mercenary foe 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 artificialroses and lilies at the feet of the great men, who bowed with benigngrace. Jack, who did Lafayette with a limp, covered himself with gloryby picking up one of the bouquets and pressing it to his heart with allthe gallantry of a Frenchman; and when Washington lifted the smallestof the maids and kissed her, the audience cheered. Couldn't help it, youknow, it was so pretty and inspiring.
The Washington Family, after the famous picture, came next, with Annetteas the serene and sensible Martha, in a very becoming cap. The Generalwas in uniform, there being no time to change, but his attitude wasquite correct, and the Custis boy and girl displayed the wide sash andruffled 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 death-bed, andthat would be rather out of place in this gay company," said the oldgentleman to Mr. Burton, as he mopped his heated face after pounding soheartily 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 littlefinale for the first part--a pretty compliment to one person anda pleasant surprise to all," answered Mr. Burton, who was in greatspirits, being fond of theatricals and very justly proud of hischildren, for the little girls had been among the Trenton maids, and themimic 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 uponhis pedestal. It was Frank, and Ralph had done his best to have thefigure as perfect as possible, for the maker of the original had been agood friend to him; and, while the young sculptor was dancing gayly atthe ball, this copy of his work was doing him honor among thechildren. Frank looked it very well, for his firm-set mouth was full ofresolution, his eyes shone keen and courageous under the three-corneredhat, and the muscles stood out upon the bare arm that clutched the oldgun. Even the buttons on the gaiters seemed to flash defiance, as thesturdy legs took the first step from the furrow toward the bridge wherethe young farmer became a hero when he "fired the shot heard 'round theworld."
"That _is_ splendid!" "As like to the original as flesh can be tobronze." "How still he stands!" "He'll fight when the time comes, anddie hard, won't he?" "Hush! You make the statue blush!" These veryaudible remarks certainly did, for the color rose visibly as the modestlad 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 ather young minute man waiting for the battle which often calls us when weleast 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 ofhis statue, it was counteracted by irrepressible Grif, who, just at themost interesting moment, when all were gazing silently, gave a whistle,followed by a "Choo, choo, choo!" and "All aboard!" so naturally that noone 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 forthe last scene of all. He submitted, however, rather than spoil thegrand finale, hoping that its beauty would efface that ill-timedpleasantry from the public mind. So, when the agreeable clamor of handsand voices called for a repetition, the Minute Man reappeared, grimmerthan before. But not alone, for grouped all about his pedestal wereWashington and his generals, the matrons and maids, with a background oftroops shouldering arms, Grif and Joe doing such rash things with theirmuskets, 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 arap, and all burst out with "Hail Columbia," in such an inspiring stylethat it was impossible for the audience to refrain from joining, whichthey did, all standing and all singing with a heartiness that made thewalls ring. The fife shrilled, the horn blew sweet and clear, the fiddlewas nearly drowned by the energetic boom of the drum, and out intothe starry night, through open windows, rolled the song that stirs thecoldest heart with patriotic warmth and tunes every voice to music.
"'America!' We must have 'America!' Pipe up, Ed, this is too good to endwithout one song more," cried Mr. Burton, who had been singing likea trumpet; and, hardly waiting to get their breath, off they all wentagain with the national hymn, singing as they never had sung it before,for somehow the little scenes they had just acted or beheld seemedto show how much this dear America of ours had cost in more than onerevolution, how full of courage, energy, and virtue it was in spite ofall its faults, and what a privilege, as well as duty, it was for eachto do his part toward its safety and its honor in the present, as didthose brave men and women in the past.
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br /> 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 theyhad 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 prettygroup. Jill lay asleep in all her splendor, the bonny "Prince" justlifting the veil to wake her with a kiss, and all about them the courtin its nap of a hundred years. The "King" and "Queen" dozing comfortablyon 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 legbegan to tremble, and he whispered: "Drop her or I shall pitch." Downwent the curtain; but it rose in a moment, and there was the court afterthe awakening: the "King" and "Queen" looking about them with sleepydignity, the maids in various attitudes of surprise, the fool grinningfrom 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 poorBoo the cuff which had been hanging over him so long. She gave itwith unconscious energy, and Boo cried "Ow!" so naturally that all thechildren were delighted and wanted it repeated. But Boo declined, andthe 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 oldlady, and had hired a representation of the immortal bird from a realtheatre for this occasion. There they stood, the dame in her pointedhat, red petticoat, cap, and cane, with the noble fowl, a good deallarger than life, beside her, and Grif inside, enjoying himselfimmensely as he flapped the wings, moved the yellow legs, and waved thelong neck about, while unearthly quacks issued from the bill. That was agreat surprise for the children, and they got up in their seats to gazetheir fill, many of them firmly believing that they actually beheld theblessed old woman who wrote the nursery songs they loved so well.
Then in came, one after another, the best of the characters she has madefamous, while a voice behind the scenes sang the proper rhyme as eachmade their manners to the interesting pair. "Mistress Mary," andher "pretty maids all in a row," passed by to their places in thebackground; "King Cole" and his "fiddlers three" made a goodly show; sodid the royal couple, who followed the great pie borne before them, withthe "four-and-twenty blackbirds" popping their heads out in the mostdelightful way. Little "Bo-Peep" led a woolly lamb and wept over itslost tail, for not a sign of one appeared on the poor thing. "SimpleSimon" followed the pie-man, gloating over his wares with the drollestantics. The little wife came trundling by in a wheelbarrow and was notupset; neither was the lady with "rings on her fingers and bells on hertoes," as she cantered along on a rocking-horse. "Bobby Shafto's" yellowhair shone finely as he led in the maid whom he came back from seato marry. "Miss Muffet," bowl in hand, ran away from an immense blackspider, which waggled its long legs in a way so life-like that some ofthe children shook in their little shoes. The beggars who came to townwere out in full force, "rags, tags, and velvet gowns," quite true tolife. "Boy Blue" rubbed his eyes, with hay sticking in his hair, andtooted 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-upgown, checked apron, and high crown, to good "King Arthur," who, veryproperly, did not appear after stealing the barley-meal, which might beseen 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 spiritwith 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 fierceand indignant, with a long tape trailing behind him; and, being setfree at the proper moment, he gave one bound over the four-and-twentyblackbirds who happened to be in the way, and dashed off as if anenraged cook had actually been after him, straight downstairs to thecoal-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, musicstruck up and they danced, "All the way to Boston," a simple but livelyaffair, which gave each a chance to show his or her costume as theypranced down the middle and up outside.
Such a funny medley as it was, for there went fat "King Cole" with themost ragged of the beggar-maids. "Mistress Mary," in her pretty bluedress, tripped along with "Simple Simon" staring about him like ablockhead. The fine lady left her horse to dance with "Bobby Shafto"till every bell on her slippers tinkled its tongue out. "Bo-Peep" anda jolly fiddler skipped gayly up and down. "Miss Muffet" took the bigspider for her partner, and made his many legs fly about in the wildestway. The little wife got out of the wheelbarrow to help "Boy Blue"along, and Molly, with the frying-pan over her shoulder, led offsplendidly when it was "Grand right and left."
But the old lady and her goose were the best of all, for the dame'sshoe-buckles cut the most astonishing pigeon-wings, and to see thatmammoth bird waddle down the middle with its wings half open, its longneck bridling, and its yellow legs in the first position as it curtsiedto its partner, was a sight to remember, it was so intensely funny.
The merry old gentleman laughed till he cried; Mr. Burton split hisgloves, he applauded so enthusiastically; while the children beatthe dust out of the carpet hopping up and down, as they cried: "Do itagain!" "We want it all over!" when the curtain went down at last on theflushed 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 leaveoff.
But they could not "do it all over again," for it was growing late, andthe people felt that they certainly had received their money's worththat evening.
So it all ended merrily, and when the guests departed the boys clearedthe room like magic, and the promised supper to the actors was served inhandsome style. Jack and Jill were at one end, Mrs. Goose and her birdat the other, and all between was a comical collection of militaryheroes, fairy characters, and nursery celebrities. All felt the need ofrefreshment after their labors, and swept over the table like a flightof locusts, leaving devastation behind. But they had earned their fun:and much innocent jollity prevailed, while a few lingering papas andmammas watched the revel from afar, and had not the heart to order thesenoble beings home till even the Father of his Country declared "thathe'd had a perfectly splendid time, but couldn't keep his eyes openanother minute," and very wisely retired to replace the immortal cockedhat with a night-cap.
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