But not alone , for grouped all about his pedestal were Washington and his generals , the matrons and maids , with a background of troops shouldering arms , Grif and Joe doing such rash things with their muskets , that more than one hero received a poke in his august back . Before the full richness of this picture had been taken in , Ed gave a rap , and all burst out with `` Hail Columbia , '' in such an inspiring style that it was impossible for the audience to refrain from joining , which they did , all standing and all singing with a heartiness that made the walls ring . The fife shrilled , the horn blew sweet and clear , the fiddle was nearly drowned by the energetic boom of the drum , and out into the starry night , through open windows , rolled the song that stirs the coldest heart with patriotic warmth and tunes every voice to music . '' ` America ! ' We must have ` America ! ' Pipe up , Ed , this is too good to end without one song more , '' cried Mr. Burton , who had been singing like a trumpet ; and , hardly waiting to get their breath , off they all went again with the national hymn , singing as they never had sung it before , for somehow the little scenes they had just acted or beheld seemed to show how much this dear America of ours had cost in more than one revolution , how full of courage , energy , and virtue it was in spite of all its faults , and what a privilege , as well as duty , it was for each to do his part toward its safety and its honor in the present , as did those brave men and women in the past . So the `` Scenes from the Life of Washington '' were a great success , and , when the songs were over , people were glad of a brief recess while they had raptures , and refreshed themselves with lemonade . The girls had kept the secret of who the `` Princess '' was to be , and , when the curtain rose , a hum of surprise and pleasure greeted the pretty group . Jill lay asleep in all her splendor , the bonny `` Prince '' just lifting the veil to wake her with a kiss , and all about them the court in its nap of a hundred years . The `` King '' and `` Queen '' dozing comfortably on the throne ; the maids of honor , like a garland of nodding flowers , about the couch ; the little page , unconscious of the blow about to fall , and the fool dreaming , with his mouth wide open . It was so pretty , people did not tire of looking , till Jack 's lame leg began to tremble , and he whispered : `` Drop her or I shall pitch . '' Down went the curtain ; but it rose in a moment , and there was the court after the awakening : the `` King '' and `` Queen '' looking about them with sleepy dignity , the maids in various attitudes of surprise , the fool grinning from ear to ear , and the `` Princess '' holding out her hand to the `` Prince , '' as if glad to welcome the right lover when he came at last . Molly got the laugh this time , for she could not resist giving poor Boo the cuff which had been hanging over him so long . She gave it with unconscious energy , and Boo cried `` Ow ! '' so naturally that all the children were delighted and wanted it repeated . But Boo declined , and the scenes which followed were found quite as much to their taste , having been expressly prepared for the little people . Mother Goose 's Reception was really very funny , for Ralph was the old lady , and had hired a representation of the immortal bird from a real theatre for this occasion . There they stood , the dame in her pointed hat , red petticoat , cap , and cane , with the noble fowl , a good deal larger than life , beside her , and Grif inside , enjoying himself immensely as he flapped the wings , moved the yellow legs , and waved the long neck about , while unearthly quacks issued from the bill . That was a great surprise for the children , and they got up in their seats to gaze their fill , many of them firmly believing that they actually beheld the blessed old woman who wrote the nursery songs they loved so well . Then in came , one after another , the best of the characters she has made famous , while a voice behind the scenes sang the proper rhyme as each made their manners to the interesting pair .
`` Mistress Mary , '' and her `` pretty maids all in a row , '' passed by to their places in the background ; `` XXXXX Cole '' and his `` fiddlers three '' made a goodly show ; so did the royal couple , who followed the great pie borne before them , with the `` four-and-twenty blackbirds '' popping their heads out in the most delightful way .
Jill King Molly Queen Ralph heartiness matrons night right years