It was the first appearance of most of us on any platform, and some of us were very nervous.

We all had recitations, except Dan, who had refused flatly to take any part and was consequently care-free.
"I'm sure I shall die when I find myself up on that platform, facing people," sighed Sara Ray, as we talked the affair over in Uncle Stephen's Walk the night before the concert.
"I'm afraid I'll faint," was Cecily's more moderate foreboding.
"I'm not one single bit nervous," said Felicity complacently.
"I'm not nervous this time," said the Story Girl, "but the first time I recited I was." "My Aunt Jane," remarked Peter, "used to say that an old teacher of hers told her that when she was going to recite or speak in public she must just get it firmly into her mind that it was only a lot of cabbage heads she had before her, and she wouldn't be nervous." "One mightn't be nervous, but I don't think there would be much inspiration in reciting to cabbage heads," said the Story Girl decidedly.

"I want to recite to PEOPLE, and see them looking interested and thrilled." "If I can only get through my piece without breaking down I don't care whether I thrill people or not," said Sara Ray.
"I'm afraid I'll forget mine and get stuck," foreboded Felix.

"Some of you fellows be sure and prompt me if I do--and do it quick, so's I won't get worse rattled." "I know one thing," said Cecily resolutely, "and that is, I'm going to curl my hair for to-morrow night.

I've never curled it since Peter almost died, but I simply must tomorrow night, for all the other girls are going to have theirs in curls." "The dew and heat will take all the curl out of yours and then you'll look like a scarecrow," warned Felicity.
"No, I won't.