Miss Powers (our Honored President) come out and say, "Come in and have
seat." Thereupon we sit. Dr. Ewing make entrance from balcony with much
redness of face and we donate birthday greetings unto her. A bell ring
and Miss Powers say, "Let us go into the dining-room."
When all seated Dr. Ewing, invited, makes little prayer and the foreign
feast begin, of a formality not like anything we know. We unfold napkins
and spread them upon our laps to preserve clothes clean, and eat soup
from the side of spoons which we push away from us, watching our
Honorable Teachers with so great care because we know not what is the
polite or what is the impolite. At close of feast Boy bring cups of
smallness filled with coffee. Miss Sterling (our Adorable Teacher) put
hand over cup, we do likewise, and say:
"Before we drink of the coffee, Young Ladies, I will tell you of an
American birthday custom. It is called a Toast, and each one drinks to
it standing. I will now make one to the health and longevity of Dr.
Ewing."
All persons get to feet and Miss Sterling hold up cup and shake yellow
curls and say to Dr. Ewing with so great solemnity, "May your path be
strewn with roses and your husband meek as Moses.
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