But King took it up.
"Yes, little Ethel," he said, "you recite very nicely, for such a young child.

Now, go to your seat, and Helen Maynard may recite next." "Mine is a Natural History Poem," said Mrs.Maynard, coming up to the teacher's desk.

"It is founded on fact, and it is highly instructive." "That's nice," said King.

"Go ahead with it." So Mrs.Maynard made her bow and though not bashful, like Mrs.Bryant, she was very funny, for she pretended to forget her lines, and stammered and hesitated, and finally burst into pretended tears.

But, urged on and encouraged by the teachers, she finally concluded this gem of poesy: "THE WHISTLING WHALE "A whistling whale once built his nest On the very tiptop of a mountain's crest.
He wore a tunic and a blue cocked hat, And for fear of mice he kept a cat.
The whistling whale had a good-sized mouth, It measured three feet from north to south; But when he whistled he puckered it up Till it was as small as a coffee-cup.
The people came from far and near This wonderful whistling whale to hear; And in a most obliging way He stood on his tail and whistled all day." "That's a truly noble poem," commented King, as she finished.