"Why, there's a war now, grandma," said Emma.
"Yes, yes, child," said Alice, hastily. "What is that noise?"
At that instant there was a shrill whoop from behind the breastwork of hay thrown up in the corner, and all the boys—except Ben, who, notwithstanding the glory of his dress, looked on sorrowfully—arrayed in tall caps adorned with rooster's feathers, and with such toy muskets and tin swords as are to be found in the garret of any house where there are four boys, rushed in and seized hold of the girls, who had risen with what was meant for a terrified look, though Emma could not refrain from snickering a little.
"In the name of Jefferson Davis, you are prisoners!" said Charley in a stentorian voice, who wore the tallest feathers and the longest sword.
Then the girl took to tears, and the boys to threats, and finally the boys led the girls off captives, after a very amusing and exciting scene.
Then George appeared again, and stated that in acting the syllables of the word they had acted the whole; and Aunt Mary won a great reputation for smartness, because she guessed it was "charade" (shay-raid).
Now followed a scene between Brutus and Cassius, performed by Charley and George.
Then Emma sang the touching ballad of the "Three little kittens." Fred was eloquent as Rienzi addressing the Romans, and the twins recited in concert,—
"Very little things are we;
O, how good we ought to be.
Never quarrel, never fight,
That would be a shocking sight."
After this Charley gave a finishing touch to the entertainment by an original epilogue.