I 'll show you acting that will make your hair stand on end , and you shall act too . Bab will be capital for the naughty girls , '' began Thorny , excited by the prospect of producing a sensation on the boards , and always ready to tease the girls . Before Betty could protest that she did not want her hair to stand up , or Bab could indignantly decline the role offered her , a shrill whistle was heard , and Miss Celia whispered , with a warning look , -- `` Hush ! Ben is coming , and he must not know any thing about this yet . '' The next day was Wednesday , and in the afternoon Miss Celia went to hear the children `` speak pieces , '' though it was very seldom that any of the busy matrons and elder sisters found time or inclination for these displays of youthful oratory . Miss Celia and Mrs. Moss were all the audience on this occasion , but Teacher was both pleased and proud to see them , and a general rustle went through the school as they came in , all the girls turning from the visitors to nod at Bab and Betty , who smiled all over their round faces to see `` Ma '' sitting up '' ` side of Teacher , '' and the boys grinned at Ben , whose heart began to beat fast at the thought of his dear mistress coming so far to hear him say his piece . Thorny had recommended Marco Bozzaris , but Ben preferred John Gilpin , and ran the famous race with much spirit , making excellent time in some parts and having to be spurred a little in others , but came out all right , though quite breathless at the end , sitting down amid great applause , some of which , curiously enough , seemed to come from outside ; which in fact it did , for Thorny was bound to hear but would not come in , lest his presence should abash one orator at least . Other pieces followed , all more or less patriotic and warlike , among the boys ; sentimental among the girls . Sam broke down in his attempt to give one of Webster 's great speeches , Little Cy Fay boldly attacked `` Again to the battle , Achaians ! '' and shrieked his way through it in a shrill , small voice , bound to do honor to the older brother who had trained him even if he broke a vessel in the attempt . Billy chose a well-worn piece , but gave it a new interest by his style of delivery ; for his gestures were so spasmodic he looked as if going into a fit , and he did such astonishing things with his voice that one never knew whether a howl or a growl would come next . When `` The woods against a stormy sky Their giant branches tossed ; '' Billy 's arms went round like the sails of a windmill ; the `` hymns of lofty cheer '' not only `` shook the depths of the desert gloom , '' but the small children on their little benches , and the school-house literally rang `` to the anthems of the free ! '' When `` the ocean eagle soared , '' Billy appeared to be going bodily up , and the `` pines of the forest roared '' as if they had taken lessons of Van Amburgh 's biggest lion . `` Woman 's fearless eye '' was expressed by a wild glare ; `` manhood 's brow , severely high , '' by a sudden clutch at the reddish locks falling over the orator 's hot forehead , and a sounding thump on his blue checked bosom told where `` the fiery heart of youth '' was located . `` What sought they thus far ? '' he asked , in such a natural and inquiring tone , with his eye fixed on Mamie Peters , that the startled innocent replied , `` Dunno , '' which caused the speaker to close in haste , devoutly pointing a stubby finger upward at the last line . This was considered the gem of the collection , and Billy took his seat proudly conscious that his native town boasted an orator who , in time , would utterly eclipse Edward Everett and Wendell Phillips . Sally Folsom led off with `` The Coral Grove , '' chosen for the express purpose of making her friend Almira Mullet start and blush , when she recited the second line of that pleasing poem , `` Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove . '' One of the older girls gave Wordsworth 's `` Lost Love '' in a pensive tone , clasping her hands and bringing out the `` O '' as if a sudden twinge of toothache seized her when she ended . `` But she is in her grave , and O , the difference to me ! ''
XXXXX always chose a funny piece , and on this afternoon set them all laughing by the spirit with which she spoke the droll poem , `` Pussy 's Class , '' which some of my young readers may have read .
Amburgh Bab Ben Billy Everett Fay Gilpin Wordsworth matrons mullet