Thou hast a name that darkens all
On history’s wide page!”
The oration, which was well delivered by Marcus, consisted of the principal portion of Webster’s eloquent address on the centennial anniversary of the birth-day of Washington. The tableau was exhibited in an adjoining room, the door being opened to the “audience,” when the figure was arranged. It was a scene that had been enacted at a Christmas party in which most of the people of the town participated, two months previous. The figure represented was “Liberty,” which was personated by a beautiful girl, arrayed in flowing antique drapery, holding with one hand a staff, on the top of which hung a liberty cap, and with the other hand supporting a shield bearing the United States arms. As the company were crowded around the door,—which they were not allowed to pass,—gazing at the tableau, Rover, a handsome spaniel, who had been sleeping all the evening under a table in the room devoted to “Liberty,” now came forth to see what the stir was all about. At a sly signal from his young master, Ronald, he saluted the goddess with one of his loudest barks, at which everybody laughed except the statue-like figure; and it is not improbable that she moved the muscles of her face a trifle, for Rover seemed suddenly to recognize her and, wagging his shaggy tail, he lay down by her side, close to the shield, as much as to say,—
“Ah, yes, I understand it, now. This is Miss Liberty, and I am bound to be her protector and defender.”
This unexpected addition to the tableau was received with a shout that upset the gravity even of Liberty herself, and she joined in the laugh, while the piano-forte struck up “Yankee Doodle” in the liveliest style, and the guests began to hunt up their hoods and caps, in anticipation of the grand finale smuggled into the programme by Ronald, who, by the way, in consideration of his tender years, was excused from any participation in that performance.
So ended the memorable twenty-second. There were half a dozen sound sleepers in the house, that night, but dull Care and the dolorous Blues and Dumps could find no chance to lodge there!
CHAPTER II.
SOMETHING ABOUT DIARIES.
Jessie had one secret that she preserved very carefully from even her most intimate friends. She kept a “journal,” or daily record of her life. Not that she was ashamed to have this known, but regarding it as a strictly private matter, she preferred to keep it entirely to herself. She was induced to commence keeping a journal by some remarks made by Mr. Upton, the preceptor of the academy, to his older scholars, near the close of the previous year. He recommended the practice of journalizing very highly, and mentioned quite a number of benefits that were usually derived from it, by the young, the chief of which were these:
1. It aids in acquiring an improved and distinctive handwriting.
2. It promotes ease and rapidity of composition.