The exercises began. A very little boy stood up and sheepishly recited, “You’d scarce expect one of my age to speak in public on the stage,” etc. ⁠—accompanying himself with the painfully exact and spasmodic gestures which a machine might have used⁠—supposing the machine to be a trifle out of order. But he got through safely, though cruelly scared, and got a fine round of applause when he made his manufactured bow and retired.

A little shamefaced girl lisped, “Mary had a little lamb,” etc. , performed a compassion-inspiring curtsy, got her meed of applause, and sat down flushed and happy.