BY-LAW NO. 2.
The members of the S. S. U. C. pledge themselves to inviolable secrecy about all Society proceedings.
BY-LAW NO. 3
The members of the S. S. U. C. will bring their Sat.u.r.day corn- b.a.l.l.s to swell the common entertainment.
BY-LAW NO. 4.
Members having boxes from home are at liberty to contribute such part of the contents as they please to the aforementioned common entertainment.
Here the By-Laws ended. There was much laughter over them, especially over the last.
"Why did you put that in, Rosy?" asked Ellen Gray: "it strikes me as hardly necessary."
"Oh," replied Rose, "I put that in to encourage Silvery Mary there.
She"s expecting a box soon, and I knew that she would pine to give the Society a share, but would be too timid to propose it; so I thought I would just pave the way."
"How truly kind!" laughed Clover.
"Now," said the President, "the entertainment of the meeting will begin by the reading of "Trailing Arbutus," a poem by C. E. C."
Clover had been very unwilling to read the first piece, and had only yielded after much coaxing from Rose, who had bestowed upon her in consequence the name of Quintia Curtia. She felt very shy as she stood up with her paper in hand, and her voice trembled perceptibly; but after a minute she grew used to the sound of it, and read steadily.
TRAILING ARBUTUS.
I always think, when looking At its mingled rose and white, Of the pink lips of children Put up to say good-night.
Cuddled its green leaves under, Like babies in their beds, Its blossoms shy and sunny Conceal their pretty heads.
And when I lift the blanket up, And peep inside of it, They seem to give me smile for smile, Nor be afraid a bit.
Dear little flower, the earliest Of all the flowers that are; Twinkling upon the bare, brown earth, As on the clouds a star.
How can we fail to love it well, Or prize it more and more!
It is the first small signal That winter time is o"er;
That spring has not forgotten us, Though late and slow she be, But is upon her flying way, And we her face shall see.
This production caused quite a sensation among the girls. They had never heard any of Clover"s verses before, and thought these wonderful.
"Why!" cried Sally Alsop, "it is almost as good as Tupper!" Sally meant this for a great compliment, for she was devoted to the "Proverbial Philosophy."
"A Poem by E.D." was the next thing on the list. Esther Dearborn rose with great pomp and dignity, cleared her throat, put on a pair of eye- gla.s.ses, and began.
MISS JANE.
Who ran to catch me on the spot, If I the slightest rule forgot, Believing and excusing not?
Miss Jane.
Who lurked outside my door all day In hopes that I would disobey, And some low whispered word would say?
Miss Jane.
Who caught our Rose-bud half way through The wall which parted her from two Friends, and that small prank made her rue?
Miss Jane.
Who is our bane, our foe, our fear?
Who"s always certain to appear Just when we do not think her near?
Miss Jane.
--"Who down the hall is creeping now With stealthy step, but knowing not how Exactly to discover"--
broke in Rose, improvising rapidly. Next moment came a knock at the door. It was Miss Jane.
"Your drawers, Miss Carr,--your cupboard,"--she said, going across the room and examining each in turn. There was no fault to be found with either, so she withdrew, giving the laughing girls a suspicious glance, and remarking that it was a bad habit to sit on beds,--it always injured them.
"Do you suppose she heard?" whispered Mary Silver.
"No, I don"t think she did," replied Rose. "Of course she suspected us of being in some mischief or other,--she always does that. Now, Mary, it"s you turn to give us an intellectual treat. Begin."
Poor Mary shrank back, blushing and protesting.
"You know I can"t," she said, "I"m too stupid."
"Rubbish!" cried Rose, "You"re the dearest girl that ever was." She gave Mary"s shoulder a rea.s.suring pat.
"Mary is excused this time," put in Katy. "It is the first meeting, so I shall be indulgent. But, after this, every member will be expected to contribute something for each meeting. I mean to be very strict."
"Oh, I never, never can!" cried Mary. Rose was down on her at once.
"Nonsense! hush!" she said. "Of course you can. You shall, if I have to write it for you myself!"
"Order!" said the President, rapping on the table with a pencil.
"Rose has something to read us."