n we come to speak and make our orations."

"Yes, Sneeze, an' Cynthia Ann, your father is goin' to be a speaker on
the stage; but you mus'n't feel set-up over the other girls an' boys
whose fathers an' mothers aint app'inted as speakers an' on the table
committee. You must listen to what father says."

They promised faithfully, and this is what Sneeze would have heard if he
had kept his pledge; but to tell the truth, he was at that time going
around with another boy looking into the baskets, and speculating on the
length of time before dinner.

"Deacon Ebenezer Dodson, the first speaker on the programme, will now
address the assembly," announced the chairman in a stentorian voice,
after the procession had formed, marched, settled down, and were ready
for the "exercises of the day." The Deacon stepped forward, and, with
very evident shaking of the knees, with coughs and ahems, glancing to
the right of him and to the left of him, to the heavens above and the
earth beneath, with trembling voice he began:

"Firstly, my friends and fellow-citizens of this great country, this
institution which we have come here to celebrate was instituted a great
many hundred years ago,--leastways, if not quite so long, since this
institution was instituted all men are free and equal"--(a long pause);
"and since this institution was instituted in this great country, we
have Sunday-schools and can go to church." Another pause.

"Secondly, little children, friends and fellow-citizens of this great
country, let us all use rightly and not abuse the advantages of this
institution which has been instituted for us, and go to church and
Sunday-school, and--and--I see Deacon Pogue is waiting to make some
remarks, and my friends and fellow-citizens of this great country, I
will detain you no longer to dwell upon this institution, which was
instituted to--to--" Here somebody benevolently thought to cheer, and
the "Hip, hip, hurrahs!" were taken up so lustily by the small boys,
that the magnetic sound warmed the Deacon into "Thirdly;" but Deacon
Pogue had stepped briskly forward, and so with a bow, and "Good-by, my
friends and fellow-citizens of this great country," he descended to his
delighted wife, who received him with many proud and joyful
congratulations.

[Illustration: DEACON DODSON'S ORATION.]

Deacon Pogue was more ready and noisy, but spoke quite as much to the
point as Deacon Dodson. He was followed by several others, none of whom
cou