the last four weeks it was a common thing to find a boy declaiming to an
imaginary audience in the schoolroom, or to find a girl reciting in
some secluded spot in the yard, or on the hills in the pasture. In most
schools that is nothing worthy of remark, but to us it shows that the
young people are beginning to feel that their success depends on their
own efforts.

When the evening came we had an enjoyable entertainment. The house was
decorated with the tall, graceful stems of the Solomon's Seal, and the
platform had a rug and potted plants upon it, and our two beautiful
flags draped behind it.

Among the recitations, "Betty, the Bound Girl," and "The Peril of a
Passenger Train," were well rendered. Lowell's "A Day in June" was given
with a pleasant voice and manner that fitted the poem. There was an
organ solo, an organ duet, and a sprightly little song by a quartet,
"All Among the Barley." Among the best things were part of an address by
Channing on "Distinction of Mind and Material Forms," and one by
Mitchell on "The First View of the Heavens." The thoughts were noble and
nobly expressed, and the young men delivered them with thoughtfulness
and appreciation, which made us glad, especially as these addresses were
their own choice.

Immediately after these exercises we all adjourned to the dining room
to see what the girls had done in their little missionary society. Here
was a table gay with pretty articles they had made. Among them were a
nice comfortable, some embroidered doilies, chair pillows, handkerchief
cases, and other things. Most of them were quickly sold. There was also
ice-cream and cake for sale. The girls took about seventeen dollars by
their fair, and the proceeds are to go to the A.M.A.