A long pause took place when the letter was finished; the children were so astonished, as well as delighted, at the new work prepared for them.
"Well!" cried Harry at last, "what would George say, if he knew the monkeys and crabs would turn actors next?"
"He would think it splendid," answered Anna. "You know the poor soldiers, who were made prisoners at that dreadful Bull Run battle, acted plays in their prisons, to keep themselves from dying of home-sickness."
"I want to act," said Willie.
"I want to act," echoed Bennie.
"Well," said the Little Mother, "let us see how many characters there are."
They all crowded round while she unrolled the paper. "Here is the mother, Mrs. Langdon. You must take that, Anna; and Harry will be Edward, your son."
"If he is the bad boy," said Anna, laughing, "I'll give him a thrashing every morning before breakfast."
"That will give you an excellent appetite," returned Harry; "for I shall run away, and you will have to catch me, first."
"Clara must be Mary Brown, Edward's nurse."