Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-03-17
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.

One BashfuI Little Girls Experience with
Her Recitation.
Last day" was near at hand, and
preparations for it filled our minds.
Even those Of us who were to be spec
tators only looked on with delighted in
terest at the daily drill taking place be-
fore and between and after the regular
lessons. Echoes of it reached the out
side world, moreover, although the
schoolhouse was buried deep in the
woods, far from the nearest house, and
back from the road. This little brown
house was the theater; the stage-the
masters platform cleared of desk and
chair-the actors, all who were scholar
ly or smart" or especially gifted in
oratory.
Deep in my own heart lay the pride
of a new accomplishment, poem. long
for seven years old, that could say
without the book. II was a charming
little story of two robins, told by them
selves to a certain pleasant old gentle
man to be imagined The story was
full of the tender details of homemade
ing and housekeeping in a tall elm tree.
The master smiled when | asked him
if | might speak piece on last day
so shy was always, fearing the sound
of my own voice in the daily primer
.lesson-but he did not refuse.
TO surprise those at home with the
performance was part of the plan, so |
had to watch my chance to practice un.
observed in the little kitchen bed room
A small looking-glass, hung high
against the wall, served my purpose,
for fitting it forward with a chip
| could see almost down to my feet. |
practiced my bow before it, in all the
little moments alone that l could steal.
Indeed, tried many kinds of bows be-
fore | hit upon one to suit-the one
when ] poised robin.wise. with head
tipped sideways, and a winsome, con-
fding look on my face, BETTING the
opening lines:
I'm little robin redbreast, sir,
My nest is in a tree;
II you look up in yonder elm
My pleasant home youI see.
The bow once perfected, | could go on
easily with the other seven verses to
the perfect satisfaction of the audience
behind the loolSing-glass.
by happy chance my mother dressed
me for last day" in my best blue
merino frock. with peaked jet buttons
all down the back 1t is true they
were hard to lean back against, but
the effect would be pretty as stepped
up on to the stage.
The exercises went forward smooth
", and lost in delighted satisfaction in
al F,.s. 4
and wandering, forgot my own part
till the master smiled towards me and
beekoned. / went forward in a dizzy
shyness, turned round to see before me
rows upon rows of faces, eager chill
dren gazing. the neighbors' wives look
ing frankly astonished, and among
them my mother flushed and troubled.
Far less gracefully l bowed to them
than to the loolSing-glass, and began to
speak, my heart beating so loudly
from fears of my own so real that the
robins little story was sadly jumbled
up Not confidential robin was
speaking now-but frightened little
girl instead, hurrying whisperingly
through the dainty particulars of the
elm-tree nest.
l bowed again-this time to Mrs.
Reuben Dodge. who sat directly in
front; then fed to my seat.
There was a murmur OF applause
everyone smiled pleasantly. Just then
= shabby little girl. my seat-mate,
never very dear to me, gave into my
hand, out OF the close clutch of her hot
little fingers, grimy penny. thrust
it back coldly. | trust she was glad
did. With the sweet breath of APP
prevail round me, and in the flush of
delicious success, | needed no material
gift and pledge OF affection. My cup
was full.-Louise Lyndon, in Wide
Awake.