214 Old Bays on the Farm 



best attire, and discover how clever they were. 

 Of course there would be a progranune of dia- 

 logues and recitations. Some of the real clever 

 ones would have to ''say a piece," that is give a 

 recitation. Some of us never get beyond ' ' saying 

 a piece" and, sometimes, when one has to listen 

 to certain long-winded abstractions in the forms 

 of addresses or lectures one wishes there had been 

 fewer graduates in oratory. 



"With infinite pains for weeks before the teacher 

 would preside at rehearsals that "Our School Ex- 

 hibition" might be a success. Many an oratorical 

 spell-binder got his first aid to the art of public 

 speaking at these school Exhibitions and it is a 

 matter for some regret that they are now as a tale 

 that is told. 



"But these 'Old School Exhibitions' they've departed 



evermore, 

 The log school-house is deserted and the weeds have 



blocked the door, 

 Breezes sweep around its corners, with a low and 



sorrowing whine 

 For the old boys 'born at Bingen — at Bingen on the 



Rhine.' " 



One can imagine with what pride those fond 

 parents of other days beheld the evidence of hoped- 

 for greatness in their boys and girls on Examina- 

 tion Day. Alas, that so many of us should fail 

 to fulfil the promises of youth! Often when one 

 gets a-wandering back in memory to other days — 



