Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-01-22
lCommunicated.l
COCK ROBIN.
Lancaster, Va.

1t has never been the writer's pleasure
to witness an entertainment so well
planned or better rendered than that
given by the High School teachers and
pupils at Ottoman on Friday last, and
Tor which they deserve great credit and
encouragement.
This school, just established last fall.
has, under the successful management of
Misses Neale, Dunaway and Cottingham,
fulfilled the expectations of its friends
ana promoters, and the failure shoals
have long since been passed. 1t prom
lses bright future to many little
country lad and lassie (of Ottoman)
who now cannot realize the difficulties
which enhedeed the paths of their
fathers and mothers in their school DAYS.
There were about twenty-five children
In the Cantata Cock Robin and each
took the part assigned exceedingly well.
Little Ford McGinnes, as the naughty
sparrow, accepted, with merry twinkle
In his eyes, the condemnatory song
You, naughty, naughty sparrow.
you ought to burn your bow and arrow. -
as sung well by the two flies and a
fish mildred Stoneham, Beatrice Became
and Hilda JetD.
The Parson Clarence Palmer) caught
the audience in lining his hymn,
Cock Robins life was short but brief.
At present he is dead
An arrow pierced his diaphragm.
And then he lost his head"
Now singh
The Peasants Song, by eight little
girls, Genevieve Haynie, Helen Towles.
Lillian Harper, Mary Palmer, Helen
Stoneham, Corinne Rogers. Lavinia Tap
scott and Blanche Stoneham, reflected
great credit on their instructors.
Carlyle Shackleford, Roy Dobyns and
Carroll Doggett, as the hunters, opening
the play by finding Cock Robin dead.
aroused the interests and caught the at
teniion of the audience. followed by
Purnell Warren, whose part was diff
cult as The Knight, in his query. "wbo
killed Cock Robin?
The Owl, the Beetle. the Kite. Linnet
Lark and Dove. Barron Didlake. Geo
ketnor. Fannie Bellfield) mourning the
loss or Cock Robin by the sparrow's
cruel hand, and Levson Ficklin. as
the Bull. en- Toll the BELL" brought
little Ford to judge by his humorous ex-
pression-back to the enormity of his
crime. While the Hermit, Kit Greene.
with his sign "Fm Deef and Dunn.
brought down the house by compli.
menting the girls loudly on their sing.
ing. Kit made hit.
The Thrush's Psalm. sung by Miss
Ella Beane, was touching and sweet.
The children were steered through !
the shoals of discord by Mr.. Howard /
brent's accompaniment on the violin.
while music by the Morattico brassE
band of Wheaton, insured the success
of the evening.
DR.. Lewis, the superintendent. was
and in short address con-
graduated the children and teachers
upon their years labor and the patrons
upon the excellent support given the
teachers, and called attention to the
fact that in another year an addition to
the present building would be necessary
IN order to accommodate the pupils.
Mr.. Chas. Shackleford, to whom
great credit is given for his persistent
and successful efforts to establish this
school, closed the evening by thanking
the audience for their liberal and en-
thusiastic attendance, and congratulate
ing the children and teachers upon the
great success of the evenings enter
tainment.
The proceeds, about seventy dollars
will be used for the benefit of the HIGH \
School. ONE OF THE AUDIENCE.