"Oh, you've got to say something, Tom," cried Stanley.
"What shall I talk about—earthquakes in India, or the spots on Tubbs' pants?" queried Tom, with a grin.
"Never mind what you talk about so long as you say something," came from Bob.
"All right then—here goes!" announced Tom after a little pause. "Catch this before it's too late. I'm glad to be here, otherwise I wouldn't be here. I'm glad you are here, otherwise you wouldn't be here. I think Brill College is the best college any fellow could ever go to, if that hadn't been so I'd never have gone to Brill. I'm sorry I couldn't stay here to graduate, but I've left the honor to Sam here, and I trust he'll get through and make a record for the whole family. Boys, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And here's wishing you all success at graduation and success through life," and thus concluding his little speech, Tom took a generous drink of ginger ale, while the others applauded vigorously.
"Very good!" cried Sam, but then added quickly: "For gracious sake! don't make too much noise or you'll have one of the monitors here and we'll get some black marks."
"That's right, fellows," announced Stanley. "After this we'll have to be as noisy as a mouse in a cheese factory."
"Now that I have been called on to make a speech," announced Tom, after quietness had been restored, "I am going to call on Songbird for one of his choice bits of poetry."
"Oh, now, Tom! please don't do that," pleaded the would-be poet of Brill. "You know I'm in no humor for writing poetry now."
"All the more reason why you should write some," announced Sam. "Come on now. You must have something tucked away in your system—I mean something brand new."
"Well—er—I've got something new, but I hardly think it is appropriate for this occasion," answered Songbird slowly.