Chapter XII. The Twenty-Second of February

Ofcourse,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.Oneendwascurtainedoffwithreddraperyandrealfootlights,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,whohadbeenafiferallhisdays,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,tillMollywhispered,“Putyourhandup,dear.”Thenherememberedhispart,and,puttingonefingerinhismouth,lookeddownathissquare-toedshoes,theimageofashame-strickenboy. “Myson,donotdeceiveme.IfyouhavedonethisdeedIshallchastiseyou,foritismydutynottosparetherod,lestIspoilthechild.ButifyoulieaboutityoudisgracethenameofWashingtonforever.” ThisappealseemedtoconvulseGeorgewithinwardagony,forhesquirmedmosteffectivelyashedrewfromhispocketatoyhatchet,whichwouldnothavecutastraw,thenlookingstraightupintotheawe-inspiringcountenanceofhisparent,hebravelylisped,— “Papa,Itannottellalie.Ididtutitwithmylittlehanchet.” “Nobleboy—cometomyarms!Ihadratheryouspoiltallmycherrytreesthantellonelie!”criedthedelightedgentleman,catchinghissoninanembracesoclosethatthefatlegskickedconvulsively,andthelittlecoat-tailswavedinthebreeze,whilecaneandhatchetfellwithadramaticbang. ThecurtaindescendedonthisaffectingtableaubuttheaudiencecalledoutbothWashingtons,andtheycame,handinhand,bowingwiththecockedhatspressedtotheirbreasts,theeldersmilingblandly,whiletheyounger,stillflushedbyhis