Vassar demanded mutual apologies.
“He called me ‘Sausage,’ ” complained the Schultz kid.
“He calla me a Dago,” answered the Italian.
“Now salute each other with a handshake!” Billy commanded. “And remember that you’re good Americans.”
“He made them both take off their caps and yell:
“Hurrah for Uncle Sam!”
Virginia looked about the old hall with increasing amazement at the effective way in which the interior had been decorated. Around the walls in graceful festoons the beautiful red, white and blue emblems hung an endless riot of color. From the ceiling they fell in soft, billowing waves stirred by the breezes from the open windows. The eye of every child kindled with delight on entering.
The exercises began with a song.
A band of six pieces led them. Everybody rose and sang one stanza. John Vassar first wrote it in big plain letters on the blackboard where all could read:
MY COUNTRY, ’TIS OF THEE,
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY,
OF THEE, I SING!