He resumed his recitation:
“How beautiful the cow-slip
Upon the verdant mead,
How diligent the sower
Who drops the tiny seed.”
He continued and finished the piece amid great enthusiasm on the part of the boys behind the sheet, who applauded tumultuously. There was little movement on the part of the butter-tubs. They opened their eyes and stared wonderingly. Then they opened their mouths and grinned.
Charlie now appeared, announcing as his selection “Independence Bell,” a subject which he commenced to treat vigorously. The reference was to the bell at Philadelphia, rung at the Declaration of Independence, and somebody behind the sheet now began to shake a cowbell, a device which it was thought would heighten the effect of the performance.
“’Taint time!” called out Charlie, turning in despair to the curtain. Here Wort’s round, beaming face appeared at a rent which was growing larger every few minutes.
“Tell me when,” he whispered.
Charlie resumed his recitation. Soon he whispered, “Go it!” Didn’t Wort do his duty! No bell-ringer in Philadelphia could have been more enthusiastic, and no cow astray seeking after home ever wagged her bell so continuously. It was afterward found out that every boy behind the curtain had a chance to swing that bell, a fact accounting for the popularity of the piece and for the tumultuous applause following it. The applause came from brother-performers, but was none the less gratifying to the speaker.