Daily at four o'clock Rebecca scrubbed her hands almost to the
bone, brushed her hair, and otherwise prepared herself in body,
mind, and spirit for the consecrated labor of sewing on her star.
All the time that her needle cautiously, conscientiously formed
the tiny stitches she was making rhymes "in her head," her
favorite achievement being this:--
"Your star, my star, all our stars together,
They make the dear old banner proud
To float in the bright fall weather."

There was much discussion as to which of the girls should
impersonate the State of Maine, for that was felt to be the
highest honor in the gift of the committee.
Alice Robinson was the prettiest child in the village, but she
was very shy and by no means a general favorite.
Minnie Smellie possessed the handsomest dress and a pair of white
slippers and open-work stockings that nearly carried the day, but
she was not at all the person to select for the central figure on
the platform.
Huldah Meserve was next voted upon, and the fact that if she were
not chosen her father might withdraw his subscription to the
brass band fund was a matter for grave consideration.
"I kind of hate to have such a giggler for the State of Maine;
let Huldah be the Goddess of Liberty," proposed Mrs. Burbank,
whose patriotism was more local than national.
"How would Rebecca Randall do for Maine, and let her speak some
of her verses?" suggested the new minister's wife, who, could she
have had her way, would have given all the prominent parts to
Rebecca, from Uncle Sam down.
So, beauty, fashion, and wealth having been tried and found