The Twenty-second of FebruaryOf course, the young ladies and gentlemen had a ball on theevening of that day, but the boys and girls were full of excitementabout their "Scenes from the Life of Washington and other brillianttableaux," as the programme announced. The Bird Room was thetheatre, 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 beturned topsy-turvy, and Mrs. Pecq flew about, lending a handeverywhere. Jill was costumer, with help from Miss Delano, whodid not care for balls, and kindly took charge of the girls. Jackprinted 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 fineappearance. One end was curtained off with red drapery; and realfootlights, with tin shades, gave a truly theatrical air to the littlestage. Rows of chairs, filled with mammas and little people,occupied the rest of the space. The hall and Frank's room were fullof amused papas, uncles, and old gentlemen whose patriotismbrought them out in spite of rheumatism. There was a greatrustling of skirts, fluttering of fans, and much lively chat, till a bellrang 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 hehad exerted himself to collect all the musical talent he could find,a horn, a fiddle, and a flute, with drum and fife for the martialscenes. Ed looked more beaming than ever, as he waved his batonand led off with Yankee Doodle as a safe beginning, for everyoneknew that. It was fun to see little Johnny Cooper bang away on abig drum, and old Mr. Munson, who had been a flEer all his days,blow till he was as red as a lobster, while everyone kept time to themusic which put them all in good spirits for the opening scene.
Up went the curtain and several trees in tubs appeared, then astately gentleman in small clothes, cocked hat, gray wig, and animposing cane, came slowly walking in. It was Gus, who had beenunanimously chosen not only for Washington but for the f ather ofthe hero also, that the family traits of long legs and a somewhatmassive nose might be preserved.
"Ahem! My trees are doing finely," observed Mr. W., senior,strolling along with his hands behind him, casting satisfied glancesat the dwarf orange, oleander, abutilon, and little pine thatrepresented his orchard.
Suddenly he starts, pauses, frowns, and, after examining the lattershrub, which displayed several hacks in its stem and a broken limbwith six red-velvet cherries hanging on it, he gave a thump withhis cane that 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 honoredparent, knee breeches, cocked hat, shoe buckles and all. He was sofat that the little tails of his coat stuck out in the drollest way, hischubby legs could hardly carry the big buckles, and the rosy facedisplayed, when he took his hat off with a dutiful bow, was sosolemn, the real George could not have looked more anxious whenhe gave the immortal answer.
"Sirrah, did you cut that tree?" demanded the papa, with anotherrap of the cane, and such a frown that poor Boo looked dismayed,till Molly wispered, "Put your hand up, dear." Then heremembered his part, and, putting one finger in his mouth, lookeddown 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 shallchastise you, for it is my duty not to spare the rod, lest I spoil thechild. But if you lie about it you disgrace the name of Washingtonforever."This appeal seemed to convulse George with inward agony, for hesquirmed most effectively as he drew from his pocket a toyhatchet, which would not have cut a straw, then looking straight upinto the awe-inspiring countenance of his parent, he bravely lisped,"Papa, I tannot tell a lie. I'd id tut it with my little hanchet.""Noble boy--come to my arms! I had rather you spoilt all mycherry trees than tell one lie!" cried the delighted gentleman,catching his son in an embrace so close that the fat legs kickedconvulsively, and the little coat-tails waved in the breeze, whilecane and hatchet fell with a dramatic bang.
The curtain descended on this affccting tableau; but the audiencecalled out both Washingtons, and they came, hand in hand, bowingwith the cocked hats pressed to their breasts, the elder smilingblandly, while the younger, still flushed by his exertions, nodded tohis 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 ofstalwart men in regimentals, who with difficulty kept their seats,for the boat was only a painted board, and they sat on boxes orstools behind it. But few marked the rowers, for in their midst, tall,straight, and steadfast as a mast, stood one figure in a cloak, withfolded arms, high boots, and, under the turned-up hat, a noblecountenance, stern with indomitable courage. A sword glittered athis side, and a banner waved over him, but his eye was fixed onthe distant shore, and he was evidently unconscious of the roaringbillows, the blocks of ice, the discouragement of his men, or thedanger and death that might await him. Napoleon crossing theAlps was not half so sublime, and with one voice the audiencccried, 'Washington crossing the Delaware!" while the band burstforth with, "See, the conquering hero comes!" all out of tune, butbound to play it or 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. Theoars were not moving, but a veteran, who looked very much likeJoe, dropped the one he held, and in trying to turn and pummel theblack-eyed warrior behind him, he tumbled off his seat, upsettingtwo other men, and pulling the painted boat upon them as they laykicking in the cambric deep. Shouts of laughter greeted thismishap, but George Washington never stirred. Grasping thebanner, he stood firm when all else went down in the generalwreck, and the icy waves engulfed his gallant crew, leaving himerect amid a chaos of wildly tossing boots, entangled oars, andred-faced victims. Such god-like dignity could not fail to impressthe frivolous crowd of laughers, and the curtain fell amid a roundof applause for him alone.
"Quite exciting, wasn't it? Didn't know Gus had so much presenceof mind," said Mr. Burton, well pleased with his boy.
"If we did not know that Washington died in his bed, December14, 1799, I should fear that we'd seen the last of him in thatshipwreck," laughed an old gentleman, proud of his memory fordates.
Much confusion reigned behind the scenes; Ralph was heardscolding, and Joe set everyone 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, forthegirls were determined to do honor to the brave and patient womenwho so nobly bore their part in the struggle, yet are usuallyforgotten when those days are celebrated. The damsels werecharming in the big caps, flowered gowns, and high-heeled shoesof their great-grandmothers, as they sat about a spider-legged tabletalking over the tax, and pledging themselves to drink no more teatill 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 anantique teapot, labelled "Sage," ready to fill again when thepatriotic ladies were ready for a second "dish."This was much applauded, and the curtain went up again, for theproud parents enjoyed seeing their pretty girls in the faded fineryof a hundred years ago. The band played "Auld Lang Syne," as agentle hint that our fore-mothers should be remembered as well asthe fore-fathers.
It was evident that something very martial was to follow, for agreat tramping, clashing, and flying about took place behind thescenes while the tea-party was going on. After some delay, "TheSurrender of Cornwallis" was presented in the most superbmanner, as you can believe when I tell you that the stage wasactually lined with a glittering array of Washington and hisgenerals, Lafayette, Kosciusko, Rochambeau and the rest, all inastonishing uniforms, with swords which were evidently the prideof their lives. Fife and drum struck up a march, and in cameCornwallis, much cast down but full of manly resignation, as hesurrendered his sword, and stood aside with averted eyes while hisarmy marched past, piling their arms at the hero's feet.
This scene was the delight of the boys, for the rifles of Company Fhad been secured, and at least a dozen soldiers kept filing in andout in British uniform till Washington's august legs were hidden bythe heaps of arms rattled down before him. The martial music, thesteady tramp, and the patriotic memories awakened, caused thisscene to be enthusiastically encored, and the boys would havegone on marching till midnight if Ralph had not peremptorilyordered down the curtain and cleared the stage for the nexttableau.
This had been artfully slipped in between two brilliant ones, toshow that the Father of his Country had to pay a high price for hisglory. The darkened stage represented what seemed to be a campin a snow-storm, and a very forlorn camp, too; for on "the cold,cold ground" (a reckless display of cotton batting) lay raggedsoldiers, sleeping without blankets, their worn-out boots turned uppathetically, and no sign of food or fire to be seen. A very shabbysentinel, with feet bound in bloody cloths, and his face as pale aschalk could make it, gnawed a dry crust as he kept his watch in thewintry 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 thelight of one candle stuck in a bottle. There could be no doubt whothis was, for the buff-and-blue coat, the legs, the nose, the attitude,all betrayed the great George laboring to save his country, in spiteof privations, discouragements, and dangers which would havedaunted any other man.
"Valley Forge," said someone, and the room was very still as oldand young 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 andendurance of these men touched the hearts of all, for the mimicscene grew real for a moment; and, when a child's voice broke thesilence, asking pitifully, "Oh, mamma, was it truly as dreadful asthat?" a general outburst answered, as if everyone wanted to cheerup the brave fellows and bid them fight on, for victory was surelycoming.
In the next scene it did come, and "Washington at Trenton" wasprettily done. An arch of flowers crossed the stage, with the motto,"The Defender of the Mothers will be the Preserver of theDaughters"; and, as the hero with his generals advanced on oneside, a troop of girls, in old-fashioned muslin frocks, came toscatter flowers before him, singing the song of long ago:
"Welcome, mighty chief, once moreWelcome to this grateful shore;Now no mercenary foeeyes as she held her egg-shell cup aloft, while the others liftedtheirs to drink the toast, and Merry, as hostess, sat with her handon an antique teapot, labelled "Sage," ready to fill again when thepatriotic ladies were ready for a second "dish."This was much applauded, and the curtain went up again, for theproud parents enjoyed seeing their pretty girls in the faded fineryof a hundred years ago. The band played "Auld Lang Syne," as agentle hint that our fore-mothers should be remembered as well asthe fore-fathers.
It was evident that something very martial was to follow, for agreat tramping, clashing, and flying about took place behind thescenes while the tea-party was going on. After some delay, "TheSurrender of Cornwallis" was presented in the most superbmanner, as you can believe when I tell you that the stage wasactually lined with a glittering array of Washington and hisgenerals, Lafayette, Kosciusko, Rochambeau and the rest, all inastonishing uniforms, with swords which were evidently the prideof their lives. Fife and drum struck up a march, and in cameCornwallis, much cast down but full of manly resignation, as hesurrendered his sword, and stood aside with averted eyes while hisarmy marched past, piling their arms at the hero's feet.
This scene was the delight of the boys, for the rifles of Company Fhad been secured, and at least a dozen soldiers kept filing in andout in British uniform till Washington's august legs were hidden bythe heaps of arms rattled down before him. The martial music, thesteady tramp, and the patriotic memories awakened, caused thisscene to be enthusiastically encored, and the boys wo............