CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN CELEBRATING
The holiday spirit continued to pervade the little log schoolhouse, andDixie marveled, for was not this Monday, the day of the week whenlessons were usually the hardest? Then, at two o'clock, and right in themiddle of the spelling recitation, Miss Bayley closed the book, and,placing it in her desk, made an unprecedented announcement, "Suppose wespeak pieces for a while, and then I have a surprise planned for you."
Unable longer to keep from expressing her curiosity, the slim, freckledhand of Dixie went up. The beaming teacher nodded, and the little maidrose and inquired, "Miss Bayley, is it your birthday to-day?"
The girl-teacher laughed aloud. "I feel as though it were," sheconfessed. "I am almost sure it is, somehow. We might call it an extramake-believe birthday, for my real one comes in January when it'sblustery and cold."
Then, following up the idea suggested by the pupil she so loved, sheasked, "How many of you would like to come to my extra-birthday party?"
How the hands flew up! The suggestion of it was beyond the understandingof some of them, but "party" was a word known to all except the littleMexicans. However, even their small brown hands went up, and theirsmiles were as bright as the smiles of those who fully comprehended themeaning of the magical word.
"Very well, but first we will have an hour of reading and recitation.Now, Jimmy-Boy, will you begin by speaking one of your seven pieces?"
The curly-headed little fellow who sat at the big double desk withDixie, dangling feet that were too short to reach the floor, slippeddown and went very willingly up to the platform, where he made hislittle bow and began to recite, but instead of speaking one of his sevenpieces, he kept right on saying them all, for they were but Mother Gooserhymes, and none of them long.
He was so irresistibly cunning that every one clapped, even Mercedes andFranciscito. Miss Bayley, noting their dark, beaming faces, choosingwords that she had taught them, asked if they could not do something.
To her surprise, the little black-eyed girl arose and replied in hersoft, musical voice, "_Si, senorita._" Then, taking her brother by thehand, she led him to the rostrum, and together they sang a Spanishserenade, and so beautifully that Miss Bayley and Dixie were indeeddelighted.
Then the solemn-faced grandfather's clock, which perhaps was stillshocked at such unusual levity on a workaday Monday in the schoolroomover which it presided, very slowly announced that the hour was three.
"Good!" Miss Bayley cried, seeming very like a girl herself in the moodof the day. "Now we'll have that extra-birthday party."
Out of the little log schoolhouse they trooped, half an hour early, thatnone might be later than usual reaching their homes. Over to "dearteacher's" they went, and were served with very large slices of thatwonderful mountain chocolate cake, with more chocolate to drink. Then,with a loving pat for each little one, Miss Bayley dismissed them,holding fast all the time to the hand of the pupil she loved the best.When the others had gone on ahead, Josephine Bayley stooped, and kissingDixie on the forehead, she said softly, "Come over early next Saturdayafternoon, dear, and we will finish the blue-silk dress."
When she was alone the girl-teacher wondered if her joyous mood wasaltogether because of the departure of the troublesome pupil. Was it notrather a premonition of some new and wonderful interest that was to comeinto her life? If troubles cast their shadows ahead, even more does joyillumine the way it treads.