Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-05-12
THE SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT.
How Little Girl Delivered Her Keclt.

How "a Little Girl Delivered Her Reclta-
tiOn.
Last day was near at hand, and prep
arations for il filled our minds Even
those of US who were to be spectators
only looked on with delighted interest
at the daily drill taking place before
and between and after the regular les
sons. Echoes of it reached the outside
world. moreover, although the school
house 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 scholarly or
smart" or especially gifted in oratory
Deep in my own heart lay the pride
of new accomplishment, poem, long
for seven years old, that | could say
without the book 1t was a charming
little story of two robins told 10y them
selves To certain pleasant old gentle
man to be imagined. The story was full
of the tender det lis Of home-making
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
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 bedroom
small loolling-glass, hung high
against the wall. served my purpose,
Cor fitting it forward with a chip
could see almost down to my feet Il
practiced my bow before it. in all the
little moments alone that 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 winsome, con
fiding look on my face, betting the open
inS lines:
I'm little robin -redbreast, sir,
My nest is in tree;
If you look up in yonder elm
NY pleasant home you'll see
The bow once perfected, could go on
easily with the other seven verses to the
perfect satisfaction Of the audience be
hind the looking-glass
BY happy chance my mother dressed
me for last day" in my best blue me.
rino frocl1, with peaked jet buttons all
down the back 1t is true they wer,
hard to lean back against but the effect
would be pretty as ! stepped up on tc
the stage
The exercises went forward smoothly
and lost in delighted satisfaction in my
little friends listening and looking and
wondering. ! forgot my own part tin
the master smiled towards me and beck.
oned. went forward in dizzy shy.
ness. turned round to see before me rows
Of faces, eager children gazing. the
ueighhors' wives looking frankly aston.
ished, and among them my mother
flushed and troubled.
Far less gracefully | bowed to them
than to the looking-glasS, and began tc
speak, my heart beating So loudly from
ears of my own SO real that the robins
little story was sadly jumbled up. Not
u confidential robin was speaking now
but a frightened little girl instead.
hurrying whisperingly through the
dainty particulars of the elm-tree nest
| bowed again-this time 10 Mrs Reu-
ben Dydge, who sat directly in front;
then fled to my seat
There was 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
Site fingers, IA grimy penny | thrust
Il back coldly | trust She was glad
did With the sweet breath Of APP
proval round me. and in the flush of
delicious success, / needed no material
gift and pledge Of affection My cup
was fuli.-Louise Lyndon in Men and
Things,