“We will have some exercises in our room for the last day,” went on Miss Riker, “and those who wish to may recite a piece or sing. We will make up a program. There will be no lessons, but just some exercises. Now, those of you who wish to recite will please tell me the name of their piece after school. Now you may go!”
There was a buzz of excitement, all the boys and girls talking about the joyous “last day” of school.
Examinations were over, Nan and Bert successfully “passed,” as did most of their chums, and Freddie and Flossie proudly brought home their report cards, showing that they had done well and could be advanced to a higher class next term.
“I’m going to speak that piece about the Indian Chief,” announced Bert, as the last day drew near.
“And I’m going to sing a duet with Nellie Parks,” said Nan.
The two children were practicing hard to have their numbers a success when they got up before the class on the last day of school.
There was in Bert’s class a boy named Sam Todd. He was a pretty good boy—sometimes; but he was very fond of playing tricks or jokes—on others, you must know. Bert didn’t remember that he ever played a trick or joke on himself, though.
Sam had heard about the piece Bert was going to speak, and just before the last day Sam said to his chum, Joe Norton:
“I’m going to play a good joke when Bert Bobbsey gets up to speak his piece.”
“What are you goin’ to do?” Joe asked.