If either of the ladies would like to say a few words to the children , I should be pleased to have them , '' said Teacher , politely , pausing before she dismissed school with a song . `` Please , 'm . I 'd like to speak my piece , '' answered Miss Celia , obeying a sudden impulse ; and , stepping forward with her hat in her hand , she made a pretty courtesy before she recited Mary Howitt 's sweet little ballad , `` Mabel on Midsummer Day . '' She looked so young and merry , and used such simple but expressive gestures , and spoke in such a clear , soft voice that the children sat as if spell-bound , learning several lessons from this new teacher , whose performance charmed them from beginning to end , and left a moral which all could understand and carry away in that last verse , -- '' 'T is good to make all duty sweet , To be alert and kind ; 'T is good , like Littie Mabel , To have a willing mind . '' Of course there was an enthusiastic clapping when Miss Celia sat down , but even while hands applauded , consciences pricked , and undone tasks , complaining words and sour faces seemed to rise up reproachfully before many of the children , as well as their own faults of elocution . `` Now we will sing , '' said Teacher , and a great clearing of throats ensued , but before a note could be uttered , the half-open door swung wide , and Sancho , with Ben 's hat on , walked in upon his hind-legs , and stood with his paws meekly folded , while a voice from the entry sang rapidly , -- `` Benny had a little dog , His fleece was white as snow , And everywhere that Benny went , The dog was sure to go . He went into the School one day , which was against the rule ; It made the children laugh and play To see a dog -- '' Mischievous Thorny got no further , for a general explosion of laughter drowned the last words , and Ben 's command `` Out , you rascal ! '' sent Sanch to the right-about in double-quick time . Miss Celia tried to apologize for her bad brother , and Teacher tried to assure her that it did n't matter in the least , as this was always a merry time , and Mrs. Moss vainly shook her finger at her naughty daughters ; they as well as the others would have their laugh out , and only partially sobered down when the Bell rang for `` Attention . '' They thought they were to be dismissed , and repressed their giggles as well as they could in order to get a good start for a vociferous roar when they got out . But , to their great surprise , the pretty lady stood up again and said , in her friendly way , -- `` I just want to thank you for this pleasant little exhibition , and ask leave to come again . I also wish to invite you all to my boy 's birthday party on Saturday week . The archery meeting is to be in the afternoon , and both clubs will be there , I believe . In the evening we are going to have some fun , when we can laugh as much as we please without breaking any of the rules . In Ben 's name I invite you , and hope you will all come , for we mean to make this the happiest birthday he ever had . '' There were twenty pupils in the room , but the eighty hands and feet made such a racket at this announcement that an outsider would have thought a hundred children , at least , must have been at it . Miss Celia was a general favorite because she nodded to all the girls , called the boys by their last names , even addressing some of the largest as `` Mr. '' which won their hearts at once , so that if she had invited them all to come and be whipped they would have gone sure that it was some delightful joke . With what eagerness they accepted the present invitation one can easily imagine , though they never guessed why she gave it in that way , and Ben 's face was a sight to see , he was so pleased and proud at the honor done him that he did not know where to look , and was glad to rush out with the other boys and vent his emotions in whoops of delight . He knew that some little plot was being concocted for his birthday , but never dreamed of any thing so grand as asking the whole school , Teacher and all . The effect of the invitation was seen with comical rapidity , for the boys became overpowering in their friendly attentions to Ben .
Even Sam , fearing he might be left out , promptly offered the peaceful olive-branch in the shape of a big apple , warm from his pocket , and Mose proposed a trade of jack-knives which would be greatly to XXXXX 's advantage .
Ben Celia Day Mabel Sancho afternoon evening fleece hind-legs right-about