`` He learned that at the circus ` tunnyments , ' as he calls them . He is a nice boy , and I am much interested in him ; for he has the two things that do most toward making a man , patience and courage , '' answered Teacher , also as she watched the young knight play and the honored lady tearing about in a game of tag . `` Bab is a nice child , too , '' said Miss Celia ; `` she is as quick as a flash to catch an idea and carry it out , though very often the ideas are wild ones . She could have won just now , I fancy , if she had tried , but took the notion into her head that it was nobler to let Ben win , and so atone for the trouble she gave him in losing the dog . I saw a very sweet look on her face just now , and am sure that Ben will never know why he beat . '' `` She does such things at school sometimes , and I ca n't bear to spoil her little atonements , though they are not always needed or very wise , '' answered Teacher . `` Not long ago I found that she had been giving her lunch day after day to a poor child who seldom had any , and when I asked her why , she said , with tears , ' I used to laugh at Abby , because she had only crusty , dry bread , and so she would n't bring any . I ought to give her mine and be hungry , it was so mean to make fun of her poorness . '' `` Did you stop the sacrifice ? '' `` No ; I let Bab ` go halves , ' and added an extra bit to my own lunch , so I could make my contribution likewise . '' `` Come and tell me about Abby . I want to make friends with our poor people , for soon I shall have a right to help them ; '' and , putting her arm in Teacher 's , Miss Celia led her away for a quiet chat in the porch , making her guest 's visit a happy holiday by confiding several plans and asking advice in the friendliest way . CHAPTER XXI CUPID 'S LAST APPEARANCE A picnic supper on the grass followed the games , and then , as twilight began to fall , the young people were marshalled to the coach-house , now transformed into a rustic theatre . One big door was open , and seats , arranged lengthwise , faced the red table-cloths which formed the curtain . A row of lamps made very good foot-lights , and an invisible band performed a Wagner-like overture on combs , tin trumpets , drums , and pipes , with an accompaniment of suppressed laughter . Many of the children had never seen any thing like it , and sat staring about them in mute admiration and expectancy ; but the older ones criticised freely , and indulged in wild speculations as to the meaning of various convulsions of nature going on behind the curtain . While Teacher was dressing the actresses for the tragedy , Miss Celia and Thorny , who were old hands at this sort of amusement , gave a `` Potato '' pantomime as a side show . Across an empty stall a green cloth was fastened , so high that the heads of the operators were not seen . A little curtain flew up , disclosing the front of a Chinese pagoda painted on pasteboard , with a door and window which opened quite naturally . This stood on one side , several green trees with paper lanterns hanging from the boughs were on the other side , and the words `` Tea Garden , '' printed over the top , showed the nature of this charming spot .
Few of the children had ever seen the immortal Punch and Judy , so this was a most agreeable novelty , and before they could XXXXX out what it meant , a voice began to sing , so distinctly that every word was heard , -- `` In China there lived a little man , His name was Chingery Wangery Chan . ''
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