CHAPTER XIX SPEAKING PIECES

gerupwardatthelastline. Thiswasconsideredthegemofthecollection,andBillytookhisseatproudlyconsciousthathisnativetownboastedanoratorwho,intime,wouldutterlyeclipseEdwardEverettandWendellPhillips. SallyFolsomledoffwith"TheCoralGrove,"chosenfortheexpresspurposeofmakingherfriendAlmiraMulletstartandblush,whensherecitedthesecondlineofthatpleasingpoem, "Wherethepurplemulletandgold-fishrove." OneoftheoldergirlsgaveWordsworth's"LostLove"inapensivetone,claspingherhandsandbringingoutthe"O"asifasuddentwingeoftoothacheseizedherwhensheended. "Butsheisinhergrave,andO, thedifferencetome!" Babalwayschoseafunnypiece,andonthisafternoonsetthemalllaughingbythespiritwithwhichshespokethedrollpoem,"Pussy'sClass,"whichsomeofmyyoungreadersmayhaveread.The"meou"andthe"sptzz"werecapital,andwhenthe"fondmammarubbedhernose,"thechildrenshouted,forMissBabmadeapawofherhandandendedwithanimpromptupurr,whichwasconsideredthebestimitationeverpresentedtoanappreciativepublic.Bettybashfullymurmurred"LittleWhiteLily,"swayingtoandfroasregularlyasifinnootherwaycouldtherhymesbegroundoutofhermemory. "Thatisall,Ibelieve.Ifeitheroftheladieswouldliketosayafewwordstothechildren,Ishouldbepleasedtohavethem,"saidTeacher,politely,pausingbeforeshedismissedschoolwithasong. "Please,'m.I'dliketospeakmypiece,"answeredMissCelia,obeyingasuddenimpulseand,steppingforwardwithherhatinherhand,shemadeaprettycourtesybeforesherecitedMaryHowitt'ssweetlittleballad,"MabelonMidsummerDay." Shelookedsoyoungandmerry,andusedsuchsimplebutexpressivegestures,andspokeinsuchaclear,softvoicethatthechildrensatasifspell-bound,learningseverallessonsfromthisnewteacher,whoseperformancecharmedthemfrombeginningtoend,andleftamoralwhichallcouldunderstandandcarryawayinthatlastverse,— "'Tisgoodtomakealldutysweet, Tobealertandkind 'Tisgood,likeLittieMabel, Tohaveawillingmind." OfcoursetherewasanenthusiasticclappingwhenMissCeliasatdown,butevenwhilehandsapplauded,consciencespricked,andundonetasks,complainingwordsandsourfacesseemedtoriseupreproachfullybeforemanyofthechildren,aswellastheirownfaultsofelocution. "Nowwewillsing,"saidTeacher,andagreatclearingofthroatsensued,butbeforeanotecouldbeuttered,thehalf-opendoorswungwide,andSancho,withBen'shaton,walkedinuponhishind-legs,andstoodwithhispawsmeeklyfolded,whileavoicefromtheentrysangrapidly,— "Bennyhadalittledog, Hisfleecewaswhiteassnow, AndeverywherethatBennywent, Thedogwassuretogo. HewentintotheSchooloneday, whichwasagainsttherule Itmadethechildrenlaughandplay Toseeadog—" MischievousThornygotnofurther,forageneralexplosionoflaughterdrownedthelastwords,andBen'scommand"Out,yourascal!"sentSanchtotheright-aboutindouble-quicktime. MissCeliatriedtoapologizeforherbadbrother,andTeachertriedtoassureherthatitdidn'tmatterintheleast,asthiswasalwaysamerrytime,andMrs.Mossvainlyshookherfingerathernaughtydaughterstheyaswellastheotherswouldhavetheirlaughout,andonlypartiallysobereddownwhentheBellrangfor"Attention."Theythoughttheyweretobedismissed,andrepressedtheirgigglesaswellastheycouldinordertogetagoodstartforavociferousroarwhentheygotout.But,totheirgreatsurprise,theprettyladystoodupagainandsaid,inherfriendlyway,— "Ijustwanttothankyouforthispleasantlittleexhibition,andaskleavetocomeagain.Ialsowishtoinviteyoual