`` Hear ! hear ! '' cried Frank , in his deepest tone , for he heartily agreed to that , having talked the matter over with his mother , and received much light upon things which should always be set right in young heads and hearts . And who can do this so wisely and well as mothers , if they only will ? Feeling that his sentiments had been approved , and he need not be ashamed of the honest color in his cheeks , Ed sat down amid the applause of his side , especially of Jack , who pounded so vigorously with his crutch that Mrs. Pecq popped in her head to see if anything was wanted . `` No , thank you , ma'am , we were only cheering Ed , '' said Gus , now upon his legs , and rather at a loss what to say till Mrs. Pecq 's appearance suggested an idea , and he seized upon it . `` My honored friend has spoken so well that I have little to add . I agree with him , and if you want an example of what girls can do , why , look at Jill . She 's young , I know , but a first-rate scholar for her age . As for pluck , she is as brave as a boy , and almost as smart at running , rowing , and so on . Of course , she ca n't play ball -- no girl can ; their arms are not made right to throw -- but she can catch remarkably well . I 'll say that for her . Now , if she and Mabel -- and -- and -- some others I could name , are so clever and strong at the beginning , I do n't see why they should n't keep up and go along with us all through . I 'm willing , and will do what I can to help other fellows ' sisters as I 'd like to have them help mine . And I 'll punch their heads if they do n't ; '' and Gus subsided , assured , by a burst of applause , that his manly way of stating the case met with general approval . `` We shall be happy to hear from our senior member if he will honor us with a few remarks , '' said Frank , with a bow to Ralph . No one ever knew whom he would choose to personate , for he never spoke in his own character . Now he rose slowly , put one hand in his bosom , and fixing his eye sternly on Grif , who was doing something suspicious with a pin , gave them a touch of Sergeant Buzfuz , from the Pickwick trial , thinking that the debate was not likely to throw much light on the subject under discussion . In the midst of this appeal to `` Me lud and gentlemen of the jury , '' he suddenly paused , smoothed his hair down upon his forehead , rolled up his eyes , and folding his hands , droned out Mr. Chadband 's sermon on Peace , delivered over poor Jo , and ending with the famous lines : -- `` Oh , running stream of sparkling joy , To be a glorious human boy ! '' Then , setting his hair erect with one comprehensive sweep , he caught up his coat-skirts over his arm , and , assuming a parliamentary attitude , burst into a comical medley , composed of extracts from Jefferson Brick 's and Lafayette Kettle 's speeches , and Elijah Pogram 's Defiance , from `` Martin Chuzzlewit . ''
Gazing at XXXXX , who was convulsed with suppressed merriment , he thundered forth : -- `` In the name of our common country , sir , in the name of that righteous cause in which we are jined , and in the name of the star-spangled banner , I thank you for your eloquent and categorical remarks .
Brick Buzfuz Chadband Gus Jack Jill Jo Ralph coat-skirts rowing