As it took too much time to have all read , they took turns , and on this Wednesday the younger pupils were the chief performers , while the elder ones listened with condescension and criticised freely . `` Ladies first ; so Nan may begin , '' said Mr. Bhaer , when the settling of stools and rustling of papers had subsided . Nan took her place beside the little table , and , with a preliminary giggle , read the following interesting essay on , `` THE SPONGE `` The sponge , my friends , is a most useful and interesting plant . It grows on rocks under the water , and is a kind of sea-weed , I believe . People go and pick it and dry it and wash it , because little fish and insects live in the holes of the sponge ; I found shells in my new one , and sand . Some are very fine and soft ; babies are washed with them . The sponge has many uses . I will relate some of them , and I hope my friends will remember what I say . One use is to wash the face ; I do n't like it myself , but I do it because I wish to be clean . Some people do n't , and they are dirty . '' Here the eye of the reader rested sternly upon Dick and Dolly , who quailed under it , and instantly resolved to scrub themselves virtuously on all occasions . `` Another use is to wake people up ; I allude to boys par-tic-u-lar-ly . '' Another pause after the long word to enjoy the smothered laugh that went round the room . `` Some boys do not get up when called , and Mary Ann squeezes the water out of a wet sponge on their faces , and it makes them so mad they wake up . '' Here the laugh broke out , and Emil said , as if he had been hit , `` Seems to me you are wandering from the subject . '' `` No , I ai n't ; we are to write about vegetables or animals , and I 'm doing both : for boys are animals , are n't they ? '' cried Nan ; and , undaunted by the indignant `` No ! '' shouted at her , she calmly proceeded , `` One more interesting thing is done with sponges , and this is when doctors put ether on it , and hold it to people 's noses when they have teeth out . I shall do this when I am bigger , and give ether to the sick , so they will go to sleep and not feel me cut off their legs and arms . '' `` I know somebody who killed cats with it , '' called out Demi , but was promptly crushed by Dan , who upset his camp-stool and put a hat over his face .
`` I will not be interruckted , '' said XXXXX , frowning upon the unseemly scrimmagers .
Ann Bhaer Dan Dick Dolly Nan camp-stool first sea-weed stools