Teacher—Now, children, we are very, very glad to have our esteemed an’ highly respected clerk of the Skule board here with us today. It was very, very nice for him to take so much interest in you an’ come to hear your pieces. Now we shall be very, very glad to have him make us a speech, won’t we, children?
Children—Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Judd (going to front and rubbing hands together as he talks)—Wal, teacher and children and visiters, I can say with great truth an’ much joy that I be glad to been here today. Yes, childern, I allus like fer to hear the childern speak pieces an’ I can said that I been proud of the way you speaked an’ sung. Yes, childern, I can say with truth an’ not a tellin’ nuthin’ that haint so, that you all done good, very good, in your speakin’. Your nice teacher has been a learnin’ you fine an’ as I said, you done good. Yes, childern. An’ you mus’ all been proper behaved in skule, childern, fer nobody can’t larn good when they been a cuttin’ up, an’ misbehavin’ an’ not a mindin’ the nice teacher’s rule. Yes, childern. So I want fer to tell you as how you mus’ study hard an’ behave good. Now, childern, do you know what I be? (pause).
Florildy—I guess mebbe you’re teacher’s beau (children giggle).
Teacher (smiling)—W’y, w’y, w’y, Florildy, dear, how can you SAY such a thing?
Mr. Judd (wiping face vigorously with bandanna)—Yes, yes, that is, I mean to said, I, yes, wal, (twists bandanna nervously) I wanted fer to have you said I were CLERK of the SKULE BOARD, childern, yes, CLERK of SKAGGS’S SKULE, childern, an’ I was goin’ fer to say as how if you study hard an’ been good mebbe some day—yes, who knows, childern, mebbe some o’ you’ll git to been clerk. Wouldn’t that be grand, childern? Yes. So you mus’ study hard an’ been good behaved. Now I can truthful say I been glad to been here today with you an’ your nice teacher, an’ I hope you can all said the same. An’ I wish you all a merry Chris’mus, childern, very merry. Yes (sits, mops face with bandanna).
Teacher (beaming)—Now, wasn’t that a splendid speech? An’ we thank Mr. Judd very, very much, don’t we, children?
Children—Yes, ma’am.
Teacher—An’ now, children, we will sing our Santy Claus song, an’ who knows, children, mebbe Santy Claus will come right here an’ serprise us all (beats time with ruler).