"O beautiful cow," sang out the roguish Wort behind the sheet.

"Shut up!" shrieked the infuriated vocalist, rushing to the bed-sheet.
"Don't interrupt me!"

He resumed his recitation:

"How beautiful the cow-slip
Upon the verdant mead,
How diligent the sower
Who drops the tiny seed."

He continued and finished the piece amid great enthusiasm on the part of
the boys behind the sheet, who applauded tumultuously. There was little
movement on the part of the butter-tubs. They opened their eyes and stared
wonderingly. Then they opened their mouths and grinned.

Charlie now appeared, announcing as his selection "Independence Bell," a
subject which he commenced to treat vigorously. The reference was to the
bell at Philadelphia, rung at the Declaration of Independence, and
somebody behind the sheet now began to shake a cowbell, a device which it
was thought would heighten the effect of the performance.

"'Taint time!" called out Charlie, turning in despair to the curtain. Here
Wort's round, beaming face appeared at a rent which was growing larger
every few minutes.

"Tell me when," he whispered.

Charlie resumed his recitation. Soon he whispered, "Go it!" Didn't Wort do