George Washington going to deliver his last message to Congress!"
Everybody looked at Art, and Art turned red. "Shut up," he said. "You wait till you're all dolled up, and see what you look like!"
"Yes, and you'd better be getting dressed right away," said one of the teachers to Peanut, who scampered off laughing.
Art stood about, very uncomfortable, watching the other boys and girls come from the dressing rooms, in their costumes. It was the dress rehearsal for a Colonial pageant the Southmead High School was going to present. They were going to sing a lot of old-time songs, and dance old-time dances (the girls doing most of the dancing). The stage was supposed to represent a Colonial parlor. Several people had loaned the school old mahogany furniture, the light was to come largely from candles, and finally, while the party was supposed to be in full blast, a messenger was going to dash in, breathless, announce the Battle of Lexington, and call the men-folks of Southmead to arms. Then the men would run for their guns, say good-bye to the women, and march off. Art couldn't see why they should march off in all their best clothes, and had said so to the teacher who got up the play, but she had pointed out that they couldn't afford to hire two costumes for all the boys, so they'd just have to pre-
