The letters TIRED walk slowly forward, spell TIRED, and return to their places.
Teacher. So am I; we might sit. What do we stand for?
Here, for the first time, the letters speak. A steps forward two steps, answers immediately, and steps backward to her place. Then B does the same, followed by each letter of the alphabet in turn.
- A. A stands for Action, and that means to run.
- B. B stands for Baker and also for Bun.
- C. C stands for Catnip, the best of all tea.
- D. D stands for Darling, and that stands for me.
- E. E stands for Emerald, a most precious stone.
- F. F stands for Fun and my own Funny-bone.
- G. G stands for Gold, which is yellow and bright.
- H. H stands for Hope, Heaven, Holy and Height.
- I. I stands for Ink, which is not a good toy.
- J. J stands for Jelly and Jumping and Joy.
- K. K stands for Kitchen with a dear little stove.
- L. L stands for Laddie and Labor and Love.
- M. M stands for Maiden and Merry and May.
- N. N stands for Nonsense and Noddle and Neigh.
- O. O stands for Omelet and Only and Off.
- P. P stands for Painter and Palace and Puff.
- Q. Q stands for Quaker and Quiet and Queer.
- R. R stands for Rabbit and Racing and Rear.
- S. S stands for Sampler and Sewing and Shears.
- T. T stands for Taffy and Tar-drops and Tears.
- U. U stands for Upper and Under and Urn.
- V. V stands for Vane, which the winds always turn.
- W. W stands for Winter, snowy and white.
- X. X stands for Xylite, I think I am right.
- Y. Y stands for Yes, but never for no.
- Z. Z stands for Zero, and now we must go.
Music. Here the march music strikes up, the pianist playing “Marching Through Georgia.”
The teacher leads the procession, and the letters follow, singing to the air “Marching Through Georgia” these words:
We are going now, Alphabet at play,
Holding in our hands all that’s grave or gay;
See how we are marching all the letters in array,
Marching onward to Dreamland