Then proclaimed the Reverend Tee de Little Wit Blatherskite—who seemed to have naturally become the Master of Ceremonies—“Brethren, let us sing:

“My Country, ’tis of Thee,

Sweet land of Liberty,

Of Thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrim’s pride,

From every mountain side,

Let Freedom ring.

“My native country! Thee,

Land of the noble Free,