`` That is splendid ! '' `` As like to the original as flesh can be to bronze . '' `` How still he stands ! '' `` He 'll fight when the time comes , and die hard , wo n't he ? '' `` Hush ! You make the statue blush ! '' These very audible remarks certainly did , for the color rose visibly as the modest lad heard himself praised , though he saw but one face in all the crowd , his mother 's , far back , but full of love and pride , as she looked up at her young minute man waiting for the battle which often calls us when we least expect it , and for which she had done her best to make him ready . If there had been any danger of Frank being puffed up by the success of his statue , it was counteracted by irrepressible Grif , who , just at the most interesting moment , when all were gazing silently , gave a whistle , followed by a `` Choo , choo , choo ! '' and `` All aboard ! '' so naturally that no one could mistake the joke , especially as another laughing voice added , `` Now , then , No. 11 ! '' which brought down the house and the curtain too . Frank was so angry , it was very difficult to keep him on his perch for the last scene of all . He submitted , however , rather than spoil the grand finale , hoping that its beauty would efface that ill-timed pleasantry from the public mind . So , when the agreeable clamor of hands and voices called for a repetition , the Minute Man reappeared , grimmer than before . 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 XXXXX '' 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 .
America Choo Grif Joe Man Washington drowned heartiness matrons night